Metering and dispensing closure

• US 20080054014A1
• Filed: 04/14/2006
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diversey Incorporated (Sealed Air)
• Original Assignee: Diversey Incorporated (Sealed Air)
• Inventors: Webb, Christopher J., Bird, Kenneth J., Swain, Andy, Deeds, M. Rinley, Holden, David, Webb, Shirley A., Webster, Tyson L., Livingston, James W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,815,072 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/46 for fluent solid material

Abstract

A metering and dispensing closure for a container wherein two rotatable disks rotate in conjunction with a stationary cap member to afford accurate measuring of a powder material and dispensing of it. The disks and the container cap afford a consistent measuring of the powder material, as well as provide a variety of drive members which can be utilized with the dispensing closure.

Claims

1. A dispensing closure for a container, the dispensing closure comprising:

a cap adapted to be received on the container, the cap having an inside face, an outside face, and an aperture extending from the inside face to the outside face through the cap to allow materials within the container to be dispensed;

a first movable member positioned adjacent the inside face of the cap to selectively block the aperture in the cap, the first movable member being movable between a first position in which the aperture is blocked and a second position in which the aperture is not blocked;

a second movable member positioned adjacent the outside face of the cap to selectively block the aperture in the cap, the second moveable member being movable between a first position in which the aperture is blocked and a second position in which the aperture is not blocked, movement of the first moveable member and the second moveable member is sequenced such that at least one of the moveable members is always blocking the aperture; and

a plurality of resilient fingers coupled to the first movable member and extending from the first movable member toward the cap, the fingers being movable with the first movable member between a position in which the fingers are not aligned with the aperture and a position in which the fingers are aligned with the aperture, the resilient fingers extend into the aperture of the cap when the fingers are in the aligned position.

2. The dispensing closure of claim 1, wherein the fingers are aligned with the aperture in the cap when the first movable member is in a position that blocks the aperture and the second movable member is in a position in which the aperture is not blocked.

3. The dispensing closure of claim 1, wherein when the fingers are not aligned with the aperture in the cap, the fingers contact the cap and are biased by cap towards a bent over position, and when the fingers are aligned with the aperture in the cap, the fingers resiliently return to a substantially unbiased position and extend into aperture.

4. The dispensing closure of claim 1, wherein the fingers are positioned within a recessed portion of the first movable member, the recessed portion extending away from the cap.

5. The dispensing closure of claim 1, wherein the movable members rotate between the first and second position.

6. The dispensing closure of claim 5, wherein the first movable member has a first passage defined in the first movable member and the second movable member has a second passage defined in the second movable member, wherein rotation of the first and second movable members selectively and sequentially place the first and second passages in communication with the aperture.

7. The dispensing closure of claim 6, wherein the first passage is rotatably offset relative to the second passage.

8. The dispensing closure of claim 7, wherein the second movable member comprises an edge that contacts and passes over the aperture in the cap when the second movable member moves from the second position back to the first position, the edge comprises a generally angled surface terminating at a point defining an acute angle.

9. The dispensing closure of claim 8, wherein the generally angled surface of the edge includes a concave portion.

10. The dispensing closure of claim 1, further comprising a hook-liked member extending from the first movable member adjacent the cap, wherein the hook-liked member is configured to drive granular or powdered materials contacted by the hook-like members toward the center of the cap.

11. The dispensing closure of claim 1, wherein the cap and first moveable member have a substantially concave shape.

12. The dispensing closure of claim 11, wherein the second movable member has a substantially concave shape.

13. A dispensing closure for a container, the dispensing closure comprising:

a cap adapted to be received on the container, the cap having an inside face, an outside face, and an aperture extending from the inside face to the outside face through the cap to allow materials within the container to be dispensed;

a first movable member positioned adjacent the inside face of the cap to selectively block the aperture in the cap, the first movable member being movable between a first position in which the aperture is blocked and a second position in which the aperture is not blocked; and

a second movable member positioned adjacent the outside face of the cap to selectively block the aperture in the cap, the second moveable member being movable between a first position in which the aperture is blocked and a second position in which the aperture is not blocked, the second movable member comprises an edge that contacts and passes over the aperture in the cap when the second movable member moves from the second position back to the first position, the edge comprises a generally angled surface terminating at a point defining an acute angle, movement of the edge over the aperture removes a dispensed material coupled to an outer surface of the cap adjacent the aperture;

wherein the movement of the first moveable member and the second moveable member is sequenced such that at least one of the moveable members is always blocking the aperture.

14. The dispensing closure of claim 13, wherein the generally angled surface of the edge includes a concave portion.

15. The dispensing closure of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of resilient fingers coupled to the first movable member and extending from the first movable member toward the cap, the fingers being movable with the first movable member between a position in which the fingers are not aligned with the aperture and a position in which the fingers are aligned with the aperture, the resilient fingers extend into the aperture of the cap when the fingers are in the aligned position.

16. The dispensing closure of claim 15, -wherein the fingers, are aligned with the aperture in the cap when the first movable member is in a position that blocks the aperture and the second movable member is in a position in which the aperture is not blocked.

17. The dispensing closure of claim 13, wherein when the fingers are not aligned with the aperture in the cap, the fingers contact the cap and are biased by cap towards a bent over position, and when the fingers are aligned with the aperture in the cap, the fingers resiliently return to a substantially unbiased position and extend into aperture.

18. The dispensing closure of claim 13, wherein the fingers are positioned within a recessed portion of the first movable member, the recessed portion extending away from the cap.

19. The dispensing closure of claim 13, wherein the movable members rotate between the first and second position.

20. The dispensing closure of claim 19, wherein the first movable member has a first passage defined in the first movable member and the second movable member has a second passage defined in the second movable member, wherein rotation of the first and second movable members selectively and sequentially place the first and second passages in communication with the aperture.

21. The dispensing closure of claim 20, wherein the first passage is rotatably offset relative to the second passage.

22. The dispensing closure of claim 13, further comprising a hook-liked member extending from the first movable member adjacent the cap, wherein the hook-liked member is configured to drive granular or powdered materials contacted by the hook-like members toward the center of the cap.

23. The dispensing closure of claim 13, wherein the cap and first moveable member have a substantially concave shape.

24. The dispensing closure of claim 23, wherein the second movable member has a substantially concave shape.

25. A dispensing apparatus comprising:

a frame;

a funnel coupled to the frame and supported to rotated relative to the frame;

a drive member coupled to the frame and the funnel, the drive member actuatable to rotate the funnel relative to the frame;

a conduit in fluid communication with a water source and the funnel;

a container containing a granular or powdered material and having a closure that selectively dispenses the material from the container via rotation of at least a portion of the closure, the container and closure are supported by the frame and positioned adjacent the funnel, the closure and funnel being in rotational engagement such that rotation of the funnel causes rotation of at least a portion of the closure, wherein the closure dispenses the materials into the funnel.

26. The dispensing apparatus of claim 25, wherein the closure comprises:

a cap received on the container, the cap having an inside face, an outside face, and an aperture extending from the inside face to the outside face through the cap to allow materials within the container to be dispensed;

a first rotor positioned adjacent the inside face of the cap to selectively block the aperture in the cap, the first rotor being movable between a first position in which the aperture is blocked and a second position in which the aperture is not blocked; and

a second rotor positioned adjacent the outside face of the cap to selectively block the aperture in the cap, the second rotor being movable between a first position in which the aperture is blocked and a second position in which the aperture is not blocked, movement of the first rotor and the second rotor is sequenced such that at least one of the rotors is always blocking the aperture.

27. The dispensing apparatus of claim 26, wherein the second rotor comprising a projecting member that extends toward the funnel and engages a portion of the funnel, wherein the engagement of the projecting member with the funnel provides a driving engagement between the funnel and the second rotor.

28. The dispensing apparatus of claim 27, wherein the funnel comprises a projecting member that extends toward the second rotor and engages the projecting member on the second rotor.

29. The dispensing apparatus of claim 25, wherein the drive member comprises a motor and a transmission assembly extending between the funnel and the motor.

30. The dispensing apparatus of claim 29, wherein the transmission assembly comprises a belt extending between the motor and the funnel.

31. The dispensing apparatus of claim 30, wherein the transmission assembly comprises a gear train.

32. A method of dispensing a powder or granular material from a container, the method comprising:

providing a dispensing assembly comprising a frame, a funnel coupled to the frame and supported to rotated relative to the frame, a drive member coupled to the frame and the funnel, the drive member actuatable to rotate the funnel relative to the frame, a conduit in fluid communication with a water source and the funnel, and a container containing a granular or powdered material and having a closure that selectively dispenses the material from the container via rotation of at least a portion of the closure, the container and closure are supported by the frame and positioned adjacent the funnel;

actuating the drive member;

rotating funnel via actuation of the drive member;

engaging a portion of the closure with the funnel;

rotating at least a portion of the closure via rotation of the funnel; and

dispensing the powdered or granular material from the container and through the closure and into the funnel via rotation of at least a portion of the closure.

33. The method of dispensing a powdered or granular material from a container of claim 32, further comprising:

drawing water from the water source and through the conduit to the funnel; and

flushing the powdered or granular material from the funnel with the water.

34. A method of dispensing a powder or granular material from a container, the method comprising:

providing a dispensing assembly comprising a frame, a funnel coupled to the frame and supported to rotated relative to the frame, a drive member coupled to the frame and the funnel, the drive member actuatable to rotate the funnel relative to the frame, a conduit in fluid communication with a water source and the funnel, and a container containing a granular or powdered material and having a closure that selectively dispenses the material from the container via rotation of at least a portion of the closure, the container and closure are supported by the frame and positioned adjacent the funnel;

dispensing the powdered or granular material from the container and through the closure and into the funnel via rotation of at least a portion of the closure;

drawing water from the water source and through the conduit to the funnel;

actuating the drive member;

rotating funnel via actuation of the drive member; and

flushing the powdered or granular material from the funnel with the water while rotating the funnel.

35. The method of dispensing a powdered or granular material from a container of claim 34, further comprising:

engaging a portion of the closure with the funnel;

rotating at least a portion of the closure via rotation of the funnel; and

dispensing the powdered or granular material from the container and through the closure and into the funnel via rotation of at least a portion of the closure.

36. A system for dispensing a powder or granulated product having greater than 40% caustic, the dispensing assembly comprising:

a distributable container having an opening and containing the powder or granulated product having greater than 40% caustic;

a closure coupled to the distributable container, the closure configured to prevent moisture from entering the container and contacting the powder or granulated product having greater than 40% caustic, the closure comprising

a cap adapted to fit over and secure the opening of the distributable container, the cap having a central axis and an opening therein positioned off-center from the central axis, the cap having an inner surface and an outer surface;

a first rotor coupled to the inside of the cap and positioned to rotate about the central axis of the cap, the first rotor is rotatable between a position in which it blocks the opening of the cap and a position in which it does not block the opening of the cap; and

a second rotor coupled to the outside of the cap and positioned to rotate about the central axis of the cap, the second rotor is rotatable between a position in which it blocks the opening in the cap and a position in which it does not block the opening of the cap;

wherein the rotation of the first rotor and the second rotor is sequenced such that at least one of the rotors always block the opening in the cap to prevent moisture from entering the container and contacting the powder or granulated product having greater than 40% caustic;

a dispenser fixed at a dispensing location adapted to receive the closure of the container and selectively operate the closure to dispense the powder or granulated product having greater than 40% caustic;

a power source operatively coupled to the dispenser and adapted to rotate the rotors relative to the cap when the closure is mated to the dispenser thereby rotate the first rotor between the first position and the second position of the first rotor and thereby rotate the second rotor between the first position and the second position of the second rotor to allow for dispensing of the powder or granulated product having greater than 40% caustic from the distributable container to the dispenser.

37. The system for dispensing a powder or granulated product having greater than 40% caustic of claim 36, wherein the closure further comprises a plurality of resilient fingers coupled to the first rotor and extending from the first rotor toward the cap, the fingers being movable with the first rotor between a position in which the fingers are not aligned with the opening in the cap and a position in which the fingers are aligned with the opening in the cap, the resilient fingers extend into the opening of the cap when the fingers are in the aligned position.