Container for metered dispensing of liquid

Abstract

A container for metered dispensing of liquid. The container in an inverted orientation is connected at its withdrawal and venting aperture to an electromagnetically actuated metering valve, wherein the metering valve has a movable valve element. Within the inverted container there is a cup-shaped vessel having a tear-off cover which simultaneously forms the closure of the container and has its rim sealingly connected to the rim of the withdrawal and venting aperture.

Description

to from the inflow of liquid, by the actuation of the valve. The small tube 22 ensures that the liquid may flow into the metering chamber 18 only via the inflow openings 21, in all circumstances.

The actuating coil 9 is switched off after a predetermined period, so that the valve sleeve again drops into the original position under the action of gravity, in which the seal 17 on the armature cone shuts off the outflow openings 14 of the metering chamber, whereas the inflow openings 21 at the upper extremity of the metering chamber are freed at the same time. Liquid may thus flow into the metering chamber again from the container 1 under constant low static pressure according to the arrow 35 (FIG. 3). The air concomitantly displaced is displaced into the venting chamber 34 via the small tube 22, according to the arrow 42. The liquid level drops upon outflow of the liquid from the storage container. The negative pressure is maintained in the superjacent gas space 4 situated above the liquid. The atmospheric pressure prevailing in the venting chamber then ensures that a corresponding quantity of air in the form of bubbles flows upwards according to the arrows 40 over the lower rim 28 of the venting vessel 27 and through the column of liquid into the superjacent gas space 4, that is to say in such manner that the same static pressure always prevails above the inflow openings 21 of the withdrawal valve. The inflow thus occurs wholly uniformly, so that the filling of the metering chamber occurs in identical periods, that is to say independently of the liquid level in the storage vessel. After a predetermined period has elapsed, another withdrawal operation may be initiated by actuation of the electromagnetic coil 9.

After complete draining of the storage vessel 1, the withdrawal valve may be removed by means of the holder 7 and the container may be refilled, the venting vessel and the corresponding parts also being removed from the storage container, together with the removal of the withdrawal valve.

To avoid repeated refilling of one and the same storage vessel of a withdrawal device, a packaging and cartage container for the liquid which is to be metered, is specified in FIG. 4. This container 50 is in the form of a large flask comprising a container barrel 51 and a container neck 52 and may consist of any appropriate material, in particular of an inert plastics material. The container neck has an external screw-thread for a screw cap 53 which serves the purpose of hermetically shutting off the packaging and cartage container until its use. To this end, a flange 54 of an insert element, acting as a sealing ring, is incorporated between the cap 53 and the end face of the container neck 52. This insert element simultaneously forms a venting vessel 56 projecting into the packaging and cartage container 50, which in the area of the flange has an opening 59 into which the head portion 64 of a withdrawal valve may be sealingly inserted after the screw cap 53 has been removed and replaced by a screwable holder of the withdrawal valve. The parts of the withdrawal valve projecting into the inside of the venting vessel 56, are shown dash-dotted at 64. The venting vessel 56 encloses a venting chamber 58, which is filled with air or an inert gas, and closed off by the liquid 60 within the container.

FIG. 4 shows the packaging and cartage container in the cartage position, in which the container neck 52 points upwards. For use in combination with a withdrawal device, the container is inverted so that the opening openable by means of the screw cap 53 is a base opening of the container 51 during the withdrawal.

Close to the container neck 52, the venting vessel 56 has at least one prefabricated opening 62 which may be closed off for cartage, e.g. by means of a tear-off element 63. A closure of covering of the opening 62 is not absolutely necessary since the packaging container is outwardly sealed off by the screw cap 53 and the corresponding seal. If it is not wished however to seal the internal space 58 of the venting vessel 56 with the liquid which is to be metered, it may be appropriate to provide a cover 63 for the opening 62, for example in the form of a pull-off adhesive foil.

In the example illustrated, the flanges 54 should already be incorporated in one piece with the venting vessel 56 and the connecting passage 57 for the direct connection of the venting chamber 58 to the external atmosphere via an appropriate section 55. Upon placing the withdrawal valve in position, a corresponding extension of the withdrawal valve is automatically positioned in the externally situated extremity of the passage 57 and thereby establishes the required connection.

The liquid level 61 is situated close to the container neck 52 in the cartage or storage position. By contrast, the liquid level is initially situated close to the extremity facing away from the container neck, of the packaging and cartage container 50, in the withdrawal position.

The cartage and packaging container is appropriately constructed as a throw-away or non-returnable container and may be produced from appropriate materials at correlatively low cost. The venting vessel 56 is concomitantly associated with two tasks, namely the forming of the venting chamber during the withdrawal operation as well as the sealing of the container 50 by means of the flange prior to the first opening of the container.

Yet another task may be associated with the venting vessel, namely to ensure that all occurring pressure fluctuations or pressure differences from atmospheric pressure are reliably compensated during the filling of the packaging container or during cartage and storage. This may be of importance in particular, if the liquid charged is exposed to a temperature treatment, e.g. a freezing process.

An example for this is shown by FIGS. 5 and 6, wherein is specified a packaging and cartage container 70 of the kind described with reference to FIG. 4, on whose screw neck 71 is screwed on a screw cap 75 which sealingly co-operates with the end face of the container neck with interposition of the flange 74 of a venting vessel 72.

The venting vessel 72 is of omnilaterally closed construction and does not have any prefabricated opening for connection to the contents of the packaging container. The venting vessel 72 is so constructed however that it has at least one wall portion which is flexible or elastically outwardly bendable, which upon occurrence of pressure differences between the inside of the packaging container and the external atmosphere receives the concomitantly occurring volumetric change in major proportion or completely. It becomes possible thereby to fill the packaging container 70 completely, almost without superjacent space.

To obtain a connection to the inside of the packaging container for withdrawal purposes, the venting vessel 72 in the example illustrated has a shoulder extension 73 close to the neck 71, which may also extend throughout the periphery or over different peripheral portions. In the example illustrated, the shoulder 73 is limited to a small peripheral portion.

Upon installing the withdrawal valve 80 by means of a screw cap 81 according to FIG. 6, the shoulder 73 is preferably automatically transpierced, that is to say with one or more projections 82 sharpened at 83 in blade-like manner, of the insert appertaining to the withdrawal valve, whereon the venting passage 86 and the small tube 85 for the metering chamber, are also situated. The connection between the venting chamber 72 and the inside of the packaging container 70 is opened thereby, so that the liquid may flow into the metering chamber according to the arrow 84. The venting chamber is in direct communication with the external atmosphere at 87.

A hollow extension projecting into the inside of the venting chamber, which is severed by a cutting edge on the withdrawal valve upon installing the withdrawal valve, so that an opening lies open, which is lateral and projects radially with respect to the axis into the inside of the venting chamber, may also be provided as a portion of the venting vessel which is to be opened during the affixing of the withdrawal valve. A peripheral portion of the venting vessel 72 may however also be weakened beforehand, so that this part may easily be transpierced upon affixing the withdrawal valve or earlier by the operative.

In this packaging container, the screw cap 75 merely serves the purpose of protecting the internal space of the venting vessel 72 against soiling or the like. The screw cap 75 does not have a sealing function however, in respect of the inside of the venting vessel 72. On the contrary, the cap base should be air-permeable in this example of embodiment, so that the venting vessel may simultaneously be able to fulfil its other pressure compensating task. To this end, the two bores 76 for example are incorporated in the cap base through which the air may escape to the outside during incurvation of the walls of the venting vessel 72 into the position shown dash-dotted at 72a.

These openings may simultaneously serve the purpose of receiving the projections 77 of a spanner 78 whereby the screw cap 75 may be unscrewed by application of little force, upon placing the packaging container in operation.

It is pointed out in this connection that any other appropriate fastening system may be incorporated in the area of the aperture of the packaging container 70 for a closure cap and for the holder of the withdrawal valve, e.g. a catch closure or a bayonet joint or the like.

It was found to be particularly advantageous for the function of the exclusive sealing of the packaging container to be coordinated with the venting vessel which is firmly installed in the throw-away container. To this end, the area of the venting vessel 95 close 93 93 close to the open extremity may be firmly bonded or welded to the inner side of the container neck 91, according to FIG. 7. In this case, the flange 94 still has a sealing function only with the withdrawal valve installed. The flange 94 need not perform a sealing action during cartage or storage of the packaging container. In the example illustrated, the part of the venting vessel 93 situated within the packaging container 90 is constructed as a bellows having folds 95 parallel to the axis, so that the venting vessel 93 may compensate for great volumetric changes under pressure variations, without changing its shape fundamentally. The internal space 92 of the packaging container may thereby be filled reliably up to the brim. The losses of packaging space are thereby extraordinarily small and the packaging container itself may be constructed in adequately weak form since the possible pressure fluctuations cannot lead to any dangerous loading of the container barrel. An encircling shoulder is incorporated at 96, which may be transpierced by the withdrawal valve in the area of a fold 95 open towards the inside of the venting vessel, upon placing the container in operation. A fin or recess which cooperates with a corresponding projection or depression on the withdrawal valve, so that the withdrawal valve may be placed on the neck 91 of the storage container only in a predetermined relative peripheral position, may be situated at a particular peripheral point in the marginal area of the venting vessel. It is assured thereby that the shoulder 96 may in each case be transpierced only at a predetermined point. The folds 95 may also be situated transversely to the axis of the container.

A tear-off adhesive foil 97 comprising a gripping tab 98 which has venting openings at 99, may be drawn over the free end face of the flange, merely as a protection against dirt or dust and as a protection for the flange 94. Instead of this, a lightweight and air-permeable screw cap 100 may moreover be incorporated again however, as shown dash-dotted.

Claims

1. A container for metered dispensing of liquids, in particular for freezable or self-preserving liquids, an atmosphere external to the container, said container comprising a withdrawal and venting aperture which is pointing downwards in withdrawing position and is connected to a metering device, characterized in that in the inside of the container, there is provided an inverted cup-shaped compensating vessel with its rim arranged close to the withdrawal and venting aperture and open only towards this aperture, said compensating vessel having its rim sealingly connected to the rim of the withdrawal and venting aperture of the container.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the interior of the compensating vessel is in constant open communication with the atmosphere external to the container whilst the outside of the compensating vessel is in open communication only with the material inside of the container, and that said compensating vessel is provided with at least one wall deformable under differential pressure.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that in close vicinity of the withdrawal and venting aperture the compensating vessel is provided with an openable connecting section leading to the inside of the container.

4. A container as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the compensating vessel is outwardly protected by an air-permeable cover, especially a tear off cover.

5. A container as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the compensating vessel is outwardly protected by an air-permeable cover, especially a tear off cover.

6. A container as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the openable connecting section of the compensating vessel comprises an inwardly projecting shoulder section for transpiercing by means of a pierce device.

7. A container as claimed in claim 1 used as a freezing container, characterized in that for securing the metering device the container is provided with a section which is independent of the

compensating vessel which compensating vessel acts as a closure. 8. A container for metered dispensing of liquids, in particular for freezable or self-preserving liquids, including a withdrawal and venting opening which in operation is directed downwards in a dispensing position, an inverted cup-shaped pressure compensating vessel which has its rim situated close to the withdrawal and venting aperture and is open only towards this aperture incorporated within the container, the vessel simultaneously forming the closure of the container and having its rim sealingly connected to the rim of the withdrawal and venting aperture of the container, the interior of the pressure compensating vessel being in constant unobstructed communication with an atmosphere external of the container as well as being in communication with the material inside of the container, said pressure compensating vessel having at least one wall portion which is deformable under differential pressure, a withdrawal valve including a metering chamber connected to the inside of the container and to the pressure compensating vessel via an upwardly extending passage, which said withdrawal valve is being electromagnetically actuated and equipped with a movable valve element constructed as an armature, and a sleeve in which said valve element is movably mounted, characterized in that the valve element conjointly with a said sleeve guiding it delimits the metering chamber and that the guiding sleeve is constructed with individual entry openings for the liquid which is to be metered opening into the inside of the container at its upper extremity, and that the valve sleeve element is constructed as a valve slider for alternating alternatingly uncovering or covering the entry openings. 9. A container for metered dispensing of liquids, in particular for freezable or self-preserving liquids, including a withdrawal and venting opening which in operation is directed downwards in a dispensing position, an inverted cup-shaped pressure compensating vessel which has its rim situated close to the withdrawal and venting aperture and is open towards this aperture incorporated within the container, the vessel simultaneously forming the closure of the container and having its rim sealingly connected to the rim of the withdrawal and venting aperture of the container, the interior of the pressure compensating vessel being in constant unobstructed communication with an atmosphere external of the container as well as being in communication with the material inside of the container, said pressure compensating vessel having at least one wall portion which is deformable under differential pressure, a withdrawal valve including a metering chamber connected to the inside of the container and to the interior of the pressure compensating vessel via an upwardly extending passage for venting the withdrawal valve.

10. A container as claimed in claim 9, wherein the withdrawal valve is electromagnetically actuated and equipped with a movable valve element constructed as an armature, a sleeve in which said valve element is movably mounted, characterized in that the valve element conjointly with said sleeve guiding it delimits the metering chamber and that the guiding sleeve is constructed with individual entry openings for the liquid which is to be metered opening into the inside of the container at its upper extremity, and that the valve element is constructed as a valve slider for alternatingly uncovering or covering the entry openings.

A container for metered dispensing of liquids, in particular for freezable or self-preserving liquids, an atmosphere external to the container, said container comprising a withdrawal and venting aperture which is pointing downwards in withdrawing position and is connected to a metering device, characterized in that in the inside of the container, there is provided an inverted cup-shaped compensating vessel having an open end with a rim arranged close to the withdrawal and venting aperture and open towards said aperture, said compensating vessel having its rim sealingly connected to the rim of the withdrawal and venting aperture of the container, and further characterized in that the interior of said compensating vessel is in constant open communication with the atmosphere external to the container whilst the outside of the compensating vessel is in open communication only with the material inside of the container, and that said compensating vessel is provided with at least one wall

deformable under differential pressure. 12. A container for metered dispensing of liquids, in particular for freezable or self-preserving liquids, an atmosphere external to the container, said container comprising a withdrawal and venting aperture which is pointing downwards in withdrawing position and is connected to a metering device, characterized in that in the inside of the container, there is provided an inverted cup-shaped compensating vessel, through which liquid dispensed from the container passes, with its rim arranged close to the withdrawal and venting aperture and open towards said aperture, said compensating vessel having its rim secured to the rim of the withdrawal and venting aperture of the container, and further characterized in that the interior of the compensating vessel is in constant open communication with the atmosphere external to the container whilst the outside of the compensating vessel is in open communication only with the material inside of the container, and that said compensating vessel is provided with at least one wall deformable under differential pressure. 13. A container for use in conjunction with a metering device for metered dispensing of liquids, in particular for freezable or self-preserving liquids, said container including a withdrawal and venting aperture which is pointing downwards in withdrawing position, and being characterized in that in the inside of the container, there is provided an inverted cup-shaped compensating vessel having its rim secured to the rim of the withdrawal and venting aperture of the container, and further characterized in that the interior of the compensating vessel is in constant open communication with atmosphere external to the container whilst the outside of the compensating vessel is in open communication only with the material inside the container, and that said compensating vessel is provided with at least one wall deformable under differential

pressure. 14. A container as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the compensating vessel is outwardly protected by an air-permeable cover, especially a tear off cover.