Patent Description:
Devices of the type mentioned above are known, for example, from <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>. A container with a pump is also known from <CIT>. With the known devices, the conveyor consists of a plurality of individual parts, which requires a high degree of installation work. In addition, the known devices use materials that are critical in connection with cosmetic substances, for example. Examples are return springs made of steel and valve bodies made of steel.

The invention is based on the object of developing the device of the type mentioned above in such a way that the number of parts is reduced. Furthermore, with regard to the substances to be applied, critical materials are to be avoided.

According to the invention, the object is solved by the conveyor having a cylinder, a first and a second closing device, both of which are arranged in an axially displaceable manner in the cylinder, a pump tappet for axially displacing the closing devices, a first connecting channel between the cylinder and the tank and a second connecting channel between the cylinder and the applicator, the first closing device opening or closing the first connecting channel depending on its position relative to the cylinder and the second closing device being adjustable relative to the pump tappet, opening or closing the second connecting channel depending on its position relative to the pump tappet, being designed as an O-ring and, together with the cylinder, forming a pump in which it serves as a piston or represents the piston.

According to the invention, it is provided, in accordance with the above statements, that the pump tappet has a dual function, namely on the one hand the axial displacement of the two closing devices and on the other hand the opening or closing of the second connecting channel by changing its position relative to the second closing device. Firstly, this reduces the number of components required. By way of example, no (additional) valve has to be provided. Since, for example, a sphere as a valve body, which is usually made of steel, is thus also saved, critical substances are also avoided in connection with the substances to be applied. The second closing device also has a double function: closing and forming part of a pump.

The mode of operation of the application device designed according to the invention is, for example, such that by suitable movement of the two closing devices under control by means of the pump tappet, the substance to be applied is conveyed from the tank into the cylinder and from there to the applicator.

An application device comparable to the present invention is known from the <CIT>. In comparison, the applicator according to the present invention achieves a finer response behaviour due to shorter idle strokes in the respective stroke movements. Furthermore, there are fewer frictional influences due to the omission of one of the two connection openings in the outer surface of the pump tappet. A possibly provided pump cage can be integrated into the tank, whereby simpler and cheaper injection moulding tools can be used. Finally, safe leakage protection is achieved. It is even possible to work with stable ink.

According to the invention, it is preferably provided that the second closing device rests against a first stop of the pump tappet in the pressure stroke with respect to the cylinder and against a second stop of the pump tappet in the suction stroke with respect to the cylinder.

In other words, two stops are provided, by means of which the movement of the second closing device can be controlled by means of the pump tappet.

According to the invention, it is further preferably provided that the second closing device is adjustable between a first and second stop on the pump tappet and opens the second connecting channel when it abuts the first stop and closes the second connecting channel when it abuts the second stop. The two stops are preferably identical to the two stops against which the second closing device abuts in the pressure stroke or in the suction stroke. In this way, it can be achieved that the second connecting channel is automatically opened by the second closing device with respect to the cylinder in the pressure stroke and automatically closed in the suction stroke. In this way, a suction stroke followed by a pressure stroke can be used to convey substance from the cylinder to the applicator.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the first closing device closes the first connecting channel in the pressure stroke relative to the cylinder and opens the first connecting channel at least in a partial section of the suction stroke relative to the cylinder.

In turn, this automatic closing or opening of the first connection channel ensures that substance is conveyed from the tank into the cylinder by means of a suction stroke.

According to the invention, successive pressure and suction strokes thus preferably cause the substance to be applied to be conveyed first from the tank into the cylinder and then further from the cylinder to the application element, wherein the opening and closing of the first and second connecting channel required for this purpose in each case takes place automatically, and in each case only by appropriate use of the two closing devices. According to the invention, it is further preferably provided that the second connecting channel lies at least in sections in the pump tappet. This makes the conveyor and thus the entire application device particularly compact.

According to the invention the second closing device surrounds the pump tappet in a ring-like or sleeve-like manner and is designed as an O-ring. These designs serve in turn to achieve greater compactness.

According to the invention, the cylinder can preferably be formed in one piece with the tank. In this way, the number of parts is reduced.

Further preferably, it can be provided that the first closing device is designed in one piece with the pump tappet. This again serves to reduce the number of parts. However, the first closing device cannot be designed in one piece with the pump tappet as well. Their separate production causes hardly any problems and increases cost only insubstantially.

The movement of the pump tappet to control the two closing devices can, in accordance with the invention, be carried out in any way. However, it is preferably provided that the applicator has two parts which can be rotated against each other and a transmission that converts a rotation of the two parts against each other into an axial movement of the pump tappet. The two parts that can be rotated against each other can, for example, be two parts of the device shaft. In this design, it is sufficient to rotate the named parts in relation to each other in order to generate a pressure stroke or a suction stroke.

According to the invention, the transmission also preferably has a cam guided by means of a guide curve, wherein the guide curve runs along a closed path. With this design, for example, a suction stroke is also generated after a pressure stroke when the two parts that can be rotated against each other are always rotated in the same direction against each other. This is because, due to the closed path described by the guide curve, the cam over the pump tappet will always move the two closing devices back and forth, regardless of the direction in which the two rotatable parts are rotated against each other.

All parts can be made of plastic, in particular of ABS or PP.

In the following, the invention is explained in more detail by means of preferred exemplary embodiments with reference to the appended drawing. Here are shown:.

<FIG> shows a sectional view of a first embodiment of the device <NUM> according to the invention for applying a viscous substance (hereinafter referred to as application device <NUM>). The application device <NUM> extends along a longitudinal axis L which is parallel to a Z-axis direction.

The X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction are defined in such a way that <FIG> is a sectional view in the Y-Z plane. The application device <NUM> has an applicator <NUM> for applying the viscous substance, for example for cosmetic, writing, painting, drawing and/or marking purposes. Furthermore, the application device <NUM> has a cartridge 50a connected to the applicator <NUM> and a shaft 50b connected to the cartridge 50a. The cartridge 50a and the shaft 50b can be rotated against each other around the longitudinal axis L. For this reason, the cartridge 50a is also referred to as the first rotatable part and the shaft 50b as the second rotatable part.

The shaft 50b has a hollow interior designed as a tank <NUM> to receive the viscous substance. A pump cage <NUM> is formed in the tank <NUM>, said pump cage being connected to the tank <NUM> via a first connecting channel <NUM> (<FIG>), wherein the first connecting channel <NUM> is also referred to as the first dosing opening. Through the first connecting channel <NUM>, the viscous substance can pass from the tank <NUM> into the pump cage <NUM>. A drag piston <NUM> is arranged in the tank <NUM>, which moves towards the applicator <NUM> when the viscous substance is discharged from the tank <NUM>. In this way, a constant pressure is maintained in the tank <NUM>. Instead of the drag piston <NUM>, a closing mass can also be used.

A conveyor <NUM> serves to convey the viscous substance from the tank <NUM> via the pump cage <NUM> to the applicator <NUM>. For this purpose, the conveyor <NUM> has a cylinder <NUM>, which in the exemplary embodiment shown in <FIG> is formed in one piece with the pump cage <NUM>. Furthermore, the conveyor <NUM> has an O-ring <NUM> arranged in an axially displaceable manner in the cylinder <NUM> and a pump tappet <NUM> for the axial displacement of the O-ring <NUM>. The O-ring <NUM> is pushed onto the pump tappet <NUM>. The pump tappet <NUM> has a front end 27a connected to the applicator <NUM> and a rear end 27b extending into the pump cage <NUM>. A tappet bore <NUM> extends from the front end 27a of the pump tappet <NUM> to its rear end 27b through the pump tappet <NUM>. At the rear end 27b of the pump tappet <NUM>, a second connecting channel <NUM> is formed, which represents a connection between the pump cage <NUM> and the tappet bore <NUM> and which is also referred to as the second dosing opening.

By rotating the cartridge 50a with respect to the shaft 50b around the longitudinal axis L, the pump tappet <NUM> is moved in the cylinder <NUM> along the longitudinal axis L (Z-axis). For this purpose, the application device <NUM> is designed with a transmission <NUM>, <NUM>. The transmission <NUM>, <NUM> has two cams <NUM> and a link <NUM>. The cams <NUM> are in engagement with the link <NUM> formed in the pump tappet <NUM>. As can be seen in <FIG> and <FIG>, the link <NUM> is designed as a sinusoidal channel. However, it is not restricted to this shape. If the two rotatable parts, i.e. the cartridge 50a and the shaft 50b, are rotated against each other, the engagement of the cams <NUM> into the link <NUM> results in the rotational movement being converted into an axial movement of the pump tappet <NUM> along the longitudinal axis L. As can be further seen in <FIG> and <FIG>, the link <NUM> runs along a closed path. If the cartridge 50a and the shaft 50b are rotated against each other, the cams <NUM> will move the pump tappet <NUM> up and down again and again regardless of the direction of rotation due to the closed path of the link <NUM>. A first anti-rotation device <NUM> on the tank <NUM> and a second anti-rotation device <NUM> on the pump tappet <NUM> serve to rotationally couple the pump tappet <NUM> to the tank <NUM>. In the same way, a third anti-rotation device <NUM> on the drive ring <NUM> and a fourth anti-rotation device <NUM> on the cartridge 50a serve to rotationally couple the drive ring <NUM> to the cartridge 50a.

If the pump tappet <NUM> is moved downwards from the position shown in <FIG> by rotating the cartridge 50a and the shaft 50b against each other, a first stop 24a will abut the O-ring <NUM>. The O-ring <NUM> is therefore pressed downwards. If the pump tappet <NUM> is then moved upwards, a second stop 24b of the pump tappet <NUM> comes into contact with the O-ring <NUM>. The piston <NUM> is then moved upwards by the pump tappet <NUM>. Therefore, when the cartridge 50a and the shaft 50b are rotated against each other, the O-ring <NUM> is moved upwards and downwards again and again not only with respect to the cylinder <NUM>, but also with respect to the pump tappet <NUM>, regardless of the direction in which the cartridge 50a and the shaft 50b are rotated against each other.

<FIG> and <FIG> show the pump tappet <NUM> of the conveyor <NUM> according to the invention having the sinusoidal link <NUM>. The pump tappet <NUM> shown in <FIG> is rotated by <NUM>° around the longitudinal axis L (Z axis) in <FIG>. At the rear end 27b of the pump tappet <NUM>, the second connecting channel <NUM> can be seen in <FIG>. Furthermore, the second anti-rotation device <NUM> can be seen in <FIG>, which engages with the first anti-rotation device <NUM>.

In the following, the functionality of the application device <NUM> in the embodiment according to <FIG> with reference to <FIG> is described by way of example:
<FIG>, like <FIG>, shows the application device <NUM> in the starting position. In this position, the pump tappet <NUM> and the O-ring <NUM> are arranged in the cylinder <NUM> in such a way that the O-ring <NUM> closes the second connecting channel <NUM> of the pump tappet <NUM>. The tank <NUM> and the pump cage <NUM> are connected to each other via the first connecting channel <NUM>. The pump cage <NUM> is filled with the viscous substance in this starting position.

Now the cartridge 50a and the shaft 50b are rotated against each other around the longitudinal axis L. Thus, the rotation can occur in any direction. Due to the interaction of the link <NUM> and the cams <NUM>, the pump tappet <NUM> is displayed along the longitudinal axis L in the direction of the tank <NUM> as explained above. The rotation of the cartridge 50a is thus translated into a movement of the pump tappet <NUM> along the longitudinal axis L via the cams <NUM>, which run in the link <NUM> of the pump tappet <NUM>, and via the second anti-rotation device <NUM> of the pump tappet <NUM>, which is guided in the first anti-rotation device <NUM> of the shaft 50b. Due to the axial movement of the pump tappet <NUM>, the first stop <NUM> of the pump tappet <NUM> comes into contact with the O-ring <NUM>. The O-ring <NUM> is then moved together with the pump tappet <NUM> in the direction of the tank <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a condition in which the pump tappet <NUM> has been moved in the direction of the tank <NUM>. Due to the movement of the pump tappet <NUM> and the filling of the pump cage <NUM> with the viscous substance, the plug <NUM> has also been moved in the direction of the tank <NUM> and now closes the first connecting channel <NUM> between the tank <NUM> and the pump cage <NUM>, which was still open in the position according to <FIG>. Since - as already mentioned - pressure is exerted on the viscous substance in the pump cage <NUM> by the movement of the pump tappet <NUM> in the pump cage <NUM>, this movement of the O-ring <NUM> in the direction of the tank <NUM> is also referred to as pressure stroke. This movement performed by the pump tappet <NUM> in the pressure stroke results in a displacement of the O-ring <NUM> to the left in relation to the pump tappet in <FIG>, whereby the second connecting channel <NUM> is opened. In this way, the pressure built up in the pump cage <NUM> is reduced by conveying the viscous substance through the second connecting channel <NUM> via the tappet bore <NUM> to the applicator <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a condition in which the pump tappet <NUM> has been pushed as far as possible into the pump cage <NUM>. The maximum movement of the pump tappet <NUM> in the direction of the longitudinal axis L is referred to as the axial stroke and is determined by the curve shape of the link <NUM>. Due to the design of the link <NUM>, for example sinusoidal, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a further rotation of the cartridge 50a in the direction of rotation results in a change in the direction of the movement of the pump tappet <NUM>, which now moves in the direction of the applicator <NUM>. Due to the static friction between the O-ring <NUM> and the cylinder <NUM>, the O-ring <NUM> is only moved in the direction of the applicator <NUM> when the second stop 24b comes into contact with the O-ring <NUM>. As a result, the second connecting channel <NUM> is closed by the O-ring <NUM> enclosing the pump tappet <NUM>. Thus no further viscous substance can enter the tappet bore <NUM> (see <FIG>).

If the cartridge 50a is rotated further, the condition shown in <FIG> is achieved. The movement of the O-ring <NUM> within the cylinder <NUM> towards the applicator <NUM> creates suction and thus a vacuum in the pump cage <NUM>. This vacuum causes a movement of the plug <NUM>, also in the direction of the applicator <NUM>. This opens the first connecting channel <NUM> and the vacuum is balanced by sucking viscous substance from the tank <NUM> into the pump cage <NUM>. This movement is therefore also referred to as suction stroke. The pump cage <NUM> is thus filled with fresh substance from the tank <NUM> for the next pump cycle. In addition, the drag piston <NUM> is trailed through the vacuum. If the cartridge 50a is now further rotated around the longitudinal axis L, the application device again reaches the operating condition according to <FIG> and the pump cycle starts again.

The second exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in <FIG> corresponds to the first exemplary embodiment except for the fact that the plug <NUM> (first closing device) specified separately in the first exemplary embodiment is designed in one piece with the pump tappet <NUM> in the second exemplary embodiment. The number of parts is therefore reduced accordingly.

The function is, however, substantially the same, wherein in the operating condition according to <FIG>, however, the two connecting channels <NUM> and <NUM> are both closed at the same time, such that only a vacuum is built up. Only at the last moment, i.e. in the operating condition according to <FIG>, is the connection to the tank <NUM> opened again and the vacuum replenishes the substance. In contrast to this, in the first embodiment, the mechanism in the substance to be conveyed moves the plug <NUM> already in the state according to <FIG>, which is why substance is conveyed all the way from the state according to <FIG> to the state according to <FIG>.

Claim 1:
Device (<NUM>) for applying a viscous substance, in particular for cosmetic, writing, painting, drawing and/or marking purposes, having
a tank (<NUM>) for the substance,
an applicator (<NUM>) and
a conveyor (<NUM>) designed to convey the substance from the tank (<NUM>) to the applicator (<NUM>),
wherein
the conveyor (<NUM>) has a cylinder (<NUM>), a first and a second closing device (<NUM>, <NUM>), which are both arranged in the cylinder (<NUM>) in an axially displaceable manner, a pump tappet (<NUM>) for axially displacing the closing devices (<NUM>, <NUM>), a first connecting channel (<NUM>) between the cylinder (<NUM>) and the tank (<NUM>) and a second connecting channel (<NUM>) between the cylinder (<NUM>) and the applicator (<NUM>),
the first closing device (<NUM>) opens or closes the first connecting channel (<NUM>) depending on its position relative to the cylinder (<NUM>), and
the second closing device (<NUM>) is adjustable relative to the pump tappet (<NUM>), opens or closes the second connecting channel (<NUM>) depending on the position relative to the pump tappet (<NUM>) and, together with the cylinder (<NUM>), forms a pump in which it serves as a piston,
characterised in that
the second closing device (<NUM>) is designed as an O-ring.