UNIT FOR DISPENSING FLUIDS OR MIXTURES AND RELEVANT DISPENSING DEVICE

• US 20110297700A1
• Filed: 02/26/2010
• Published: 12/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Taplast S.P.A.
• Original Assignee: Taplast S.P.A.
• Inventors: Santagiuliana, Evans
• Application Number:
  US13/201,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20110297700A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/153.13
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1001 Piston pumps B05B11/1087, B05B11/1088, B05B11/109 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1008 by adjusting or modifying the pump end-of-dispensing-stroke position
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1053 combined with means, other than pressure, for automatically opening a valve during actuation; combined with means for automatically removing closures or covers from the discharge nozzle during actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1059 Means for locking a pump or its actuation means in a fixed position B05B11/1091 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/106 in a retracted position, e.g. in an end-of-dispensing-stroke position
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/107 Gate valves; Sliding valves
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1074 located outside pump chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1087 Combination of liquid and air pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0037 including sieves, porous members or the like

Abstract

The present invention is a unit (1, Ia) for dispensing fluids (L) suited to be applied to a container, and comprises: a hollow body (2) defining a suction/compression chamber (3) for a fluid (L), provided with a suction duct (4) for the fluid (L), to which a piston (5) is slidingly coupled, wherein said piston (5) can be moved from a first lower position to a second upper position; valve means (19) suited to regulate the flow of the fluid (L) from the suction duct (4) into the suction/compression chamber (3) and to regulate its outflow towards a communication duct (Ha) in hydraulic communication with an outlet duct (1 ib) of the device; locking means (16) that can be activated by the user to lock the piston (5) in one of the lower and upper positions. Said valve means (19) comprise two elements (20, 21) slidingly coupled with each other so that when the piston (5) is locked in the first lower position the first element (20) creates a first tight area (20a) suited to prevent the passage of the fluid (L) from the suction duct (4).

Claims

1-28. -28. (canceled)

29. Unit (1, 1a) for dispensing fluids (L) suited to be applied to a container, said unit comprising:

at least one hollow body (2) defining one suction/compression chamber (3) for a fluid (L) and provided with at least one suction duct (4) for the fluid (L), to which a piston (5) is slidingly coupled, wherein said piston (5) is movable from a first lower position to at least one second upper position;

valve means (19) suited to regulate the flow of the fluid (L) from said at least one suction duct (4) into said suction/compression chamber (3) and to regulate its outflow towards a communication duct (11a) in hydraulic connection with an outlet duct (11b) of said device;

locking means (16) that can be activated by the user to lock said piston (5) alternatively in said lower and upper positions;

said valve means (19) comprising two elements (20, 21) slidingly coupled with each other so that, when said piston (5) is locked in said first lower position, said first element (20) creates a first tight area (20a) suited to prevent the passage of the fluid (L) from said suction duct (4);

characterized in that when said piston (5) is locked in said second position, said elements (20, 21) are arranged in such a way that said first element (20) creates a second tight area (20b) suited to prevent the outflow of said fluid (L) from said suction chamber (3) to said communication duct (11a), and said second element (21) creates a third tight area (21a) suited to prevent communication between said communication duct (11a) and said outlet duct (11b).

30. Unit according to claim 29, characterized in that in said first locking position said second element (21) interacts with the first element (20) and locks it in such a way as to create said first tight area (20a).

31. Unit according to claims 29, characterized in that when said piston is moved from said second upper position to said first lower position in order to dispense said fluid (L), said first element (20) closes said suction duct.

32. Unit according to claim 29, characterized in that said locking/releasing means (16) can be activated by the user also to lock said plunger (5) in said second upper position.

33. Unit according to claim 29, characterized in that said two elements (20, 21) interact with each other through friction on the surfaces in contact with each other (22a, 23a).

34. Unit according to claim 29, characterized in that said first element (20) comprises a first body (22) with substantially longitudinal development having a longitudinal cavity (22b) suited to receive said second element (21), said longitudinal cavity ending in a first end (24).

35. Unit according to claim 29, characterized in that said first element (20) also comprises at one end (25) a first annular surface (26a), inclined in relation to the longitudinal axis of said first element (20) and suited to create said first tight area (20a).

36. Unit according to claim 35, characterized in that said end (25) is also provided with a coupling element (28) suited to cooperate with the edges (29) of said suction duct (4), in order to guarantee that said second tight area (20b) is created when said device is in said upper position.

37. Unit according to claim 36, characterized in that said coupling element (28) counteracts said edges (29) under the action of elastic means when the device is in said upper position.

38. Unit according to claim 29, characterized in that said second tight area (20b) is obtained from a second surface (26b) suited to interact with a corresponding surface (27) belonging to said piston.

39. Unit according to claim 29, characterized in that said second element (21) has a substantially longitudinal development and comprises a rod (30) suited to slidingly couple with said first element.

40. Unit according to claim 39, characterized in that said rod (30) is provided at one end (31) with an annular sealing surface (32).

41. Unit according to claim 29, characterized in that said second element (21) also comprises means for collecting the fluid that is not dispensed.

42. Unit according to claim 40, characterized in that said collection means (33) comprise a hollow collection element (34) arranged at one end of said element (21).

43. Unit (1) according to claim 29, characterized in that said locking/releasing means (16) comprise a first opposing element suited to selectively interfere with a second counteracting element and with a third counteracting element belonging to an annular element (12) integral with said hollow body.

44. Unit (1) according to claim 29, characterized in that said unit (1) also comprises elastic means (42) suited to ensure, once the fluid has been dispensed, the return of said piston (5) from said first position to said second position.

45. Unit (1) according to claim 29, characterized in that said at least one actuator element comprises a spout or nozzle (7a) removably connected to said rod (8).

46. Unit according to claim 29, characterized in that when said plunger is moved from said first lower position to said second upper position at least one of said elements (20, 21) is set moving by said piston (5) with such a delay to create a vacuum inside said dispensing duct (11b) in order to suck the fluid that may be present in the outlet (10) towards said dispensing duct (11b).

47. Device (500, 500a) for dispensing fluids, comprising a support element (501) for a unit for dispensing a fluid (L), provided with means (502) for connection to the neck (N) of a container (C) containing said fluid (L), characterized in that said at least one unit (1, 1a) for dispensing fluids is carried out according to claim 29.

48. Device (600) for dispensing fluids in the form of foam, comprising:

a support element (501) for a first unit (201) for dispensing fluids and/or for a second unit for dispensing pressurized air (202), said support element being provided with means for fastening to the neck (N) of a container (C) containing said fluid (L);

at least one mixing chamber (203) for the air and fluid dispensed by said units (201, 202);

means suited to facilitate the production of said foam positioned upstream of the outlet of said device (600);

characterized in that at least one of said units (201, 202) for dispensing fluids is carried out according to claim 29.

49. Device according to claim 47, characterized in that it also comprises a sealing element (92) arranged between said support element (501) and said unit (1, 1a), said sealing element (92) being suited to achieve water tightness and prevent any fluid from getting into said units (1, 1a) from the outside.

50. System for dispensing a fluid or a mixture, comprising a container for said fluid or mixture and a device for dispensing said fluid or mixture (500, 600), characterized in that said device is carried out according to claim 47.