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The present invention relates to a dispensing device comprising a cleaning device for cleaning a dispensing opening. Furthermore, the invention relates to a cleaning device for a dispensing device.
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Dispensing devices for dispensing high viscous fluids such as pastes, paint colorants, and hair-dyes are known in the art.
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For instance,
WO 2005/082510 , the contents of which is herein incorporated by reference, discloses several embodiments of dispensing devices for dispensing paint colorants or hair-dyes.
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A known dispensing device for dispensing paint colorants comprises for example a rotatable support supporting one or more dispensing assemblies, each dispensing assembly comprising a liquid reservoir and pump. The dispensing device further comprises a stationary dispensing station comprising a pump actuation device. To compose a paint with a desired color, the required quantities of paint colorants are subsequently dispensed from a number of dispensing assemblies, each respective dispensing assembly subsequently being aligned with the stationary dispensing station.
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After dispensing a paint colorant from a dispensing assembly, a certain quantity of the paint colorant may remain on the dispensing opening. This quantity of paint colorant may dry out and clog the dispensing opening. Also it may have a negative dosing or quality influence on further dispensing actions. Therefore, it is desirable to clean a dispensing opening of a pump after dispensing a quantity of paint colorant.
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US 5,647,411 , the contents of which is herein incorporated by reference, discloses a cleaning device for cleaning a dispensing opening of a dispensing device. In this cleaning device a cleaning brush is proposed for cleaning a dispensing opening of a pump. The cleaning brush comprises a central cylinder supporting a number of bristles. The cylindrical portion is rotatable about its longitudinal axis. Furthermore, the whole cleaning brush is translated along the dispensing opening for cleaning this dispensing opening.
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The translation of the cleaning brush requires considerable space within the dispensing device. Furthermore, a driving device is required for moving the complete cleaning brush. The translation of the cleaning brush also requires moving parts. This makes the cleaning device complex and vulnerable for wear.
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In an alternative embodiment the cleaning brush, which comprises bristles of the same length about the circumference of the central portion is mounted such that at least some bristles of the cleaning brush are in contact with a dispensing opening when positioned in the cleaning location. When the rotatable support supporting the dispensing assemblies is rotated, the dispensing openings may subsequently pass the cleaning brush therewith contacting the bristles of the cleaning brush. This may result in splashing of cleaning fluid and the forming of foam. Therefore, this solution is unsatisfactory.
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It is an object of the invention to provide an alternative cleaning device suitable for use in a dispensing device of the above type, having one or more advantages over prior art cleaning devices.
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The invention provides dispensing device for dispensing a number of fluids, comprising:
- a translatable or rotatable support,
- at least one dispensing assembly supported on said support, each dispensing assembly comprising a fluid reservoir and a pump having a dispensing opening,
- a stationary pump actuation device configure to cooperate with a pump, and
- a stationary cleaning device for cleaning a dispensing opening positioned at a cleaning location,
wherein said cleaning device comprises:
- a cleaning brush, said cleaning brush comprising a central portion rotatable about an axis of rotation, and at least one cleaning element arranged on said central portion, and
- a driving device for rotating said cleaning brush,
wherein said cleaning element is arranged on only a part of the circumference of said central portion and/or the radial height of said cleaning element or cleaning elements differs about the circumference of said central portion so that in a rotational rest position of said cleaning brush none of the cleaning element or cleaning elements contacts said dispensing opening when positioned in said cleaning location.
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In an embodiment the cleaning device does not have to be translated between a cleaning position and a rest position, while at the same time contact is avoided between the cleaning brush and the dispensing opening of pumps passing the cleaning location.
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This has the advantage that the cleaning device may be of relative small construction requiring a relative small space within the dispenser device.
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Another advantage may be that since there is no contact between the dispensing opening and the cleaning brush when a dispensing opening passes the cleaning location, there is less splashing and/or less forming of foam. This may also imply that less maintenance actions of the user are required for refilling of cleaning fluid and/or maintenance cleaning of the cleaning device.
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Yet another advantage of the cleaning device according to the invention may be that the chance on spilling and splashing of cleaning fluid from the cleaning device in the rest of the dispenser device is decreased.
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In an embodiment the cleaning device allows the combined use of multiple independent cleaning devices on a single dispensing device allowing the use of different cleaning fluids for different paint colorant types.
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Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will now be discussed, whereby reference will be made to the appended drawings, in which:
- Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a prior art paint colorants dispensing device;
- Fig. 2 shows a schematic end view of a first embodiment of a cleaning device according to the invention;
- Fig. 3 shows a schematic side view of the embodiment of Fig. 2;
- Fig. 4a-4c show alternative embodiments of a cleaning brush for use in a cleaning device according to the invention; and
- Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a cleaning device according to the invention.
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Figure 1 shows a dispensing device for dispensing different quantities of paint colorants into a collection container. The collection container may for instance contain a base color which is mixed with the different quantities of paint colorants to obtain a paint with a desired color.
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The dispensing device is generally indicated with the reference numeral 1, and comprises a rotatable support 2 supporting dispensing assemblies 3. Each dispensing assembly 3 comprises a liquid reservoir 4, for holding a fluid, in particular a viscous fluid such as a paint colorant or hair dye, and a pump 5. Each dispensing assembly is provided to dispense a particular liquid substance, for instance paint colorants having a different color. In the embodiment of Figure 1 three dispensing assemblies 3 are integrated in a single module which is supported by the rotatable support 2.
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The dispensing device comprises a stationary dispensing station 6. The pumps 5 are arranged in a circle so that by rotating the rotatable support including the dispensing assemblies, each pump can be aligned with the stationary dispensing station 6. The dispensing station 6 comprises a pump actuation device for actuation of a pump 5 in a dispensing position, i.e. aligned with said dispensing station.
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By positioning subsequently a series of respective pump assemblies in the dispensing position, and operate the pump actuation device different quantities of paint colorants can be dispensed into the collection container to obtain the paint with the required color.
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After dispensing a quantity of liquid substance, in particular in the case of high viscous fluids, it is possible that a certain quantity of liquid will stick to the dispensing opening. This is generally undesired. The liquid will dry out and clog the dispensing opening. Also, the dried out liquid may contaminate a new paint composition as it may be carried along with a newly dispensed quantity of liquid from the same dispensing assembly. Finally, since paint colorants are often only required in very small amounts, this quantity of liquid carried along may have a substantial influence on paint composition and thus the resulting color of the mixed paint.
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For this reason a stationary cleaning device 8 has been proposed to clean the dispensing opening of a pump 5 after dispensing a quantity of liquid with that pump. The cleaning device comprises bristles of the same length about the whole circumference of a cylindrical central portion. The cleaning brush is mounted such that always at least some bristles of the cleaning brush are in contact with a dispensing opening when positioned in the cleaning location. A dispensing opening is cleaned by rotation of the cleaning brush about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation. The rotation is accomplished by a driving device.
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When the rotatable support supporting the dispensing assemblies is rotated, the dispensing openings of the pumps may subsequently pass the cleaning brush therewith contacting the bristles of the cleaning brush. This may result in splashing of cleaning fluid which is undesirable.
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Dispensing devices as discussed above are for instance disclosed in
WO 2005/082510 , the contents of which is herein incorporated by reference. Further details with respect to the functioning of such dispensing devices are disclosed in that patent application. The inventive cleaning device of the present invention may advantageously be applied in such dispensing device.
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Figures 2 and 3 shows a schematic view of a cleaning device according to the invention generally indicated with the reference numeral 10. This cleaning device 10 may be applied in the dispensing device as shown in Figure 1. The cleaning device 10 is provided as a stationary cleaning device 10 which is arranged such that a dispensing opening 7 of each dispensing assembly 3 can be placed, by rotating the rotatable support, in a cleaning location above the cleaning device 10. The stationary cleaning device 10 is preferably arranged close to the stationary dispensing station so that the respective dispensing opening can quickly be moved from the dispensing location to the cleaning location after dispensing of a liquid. In figures 2 and 3 a pump 5 having a dispensing opening 7 is placed in the cleaning location.
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The cleaning device 10 comprises a cleaning brush 11 and a driving device 12 for rotating the cleaning brush 11 about an axis of rotation A-A. The driving device 12 is connected to the cleaning brush 11 via a driving axis 13 for driving the cleaning brush 11 in the desired direction.
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The cleaning brush 11 comprises a central portion 14 which has a cylindrical shape. The central portion 14 is arranged such that the longitudinal axis of the central portion 14 substantially corresponds with the axis of rotation A-A.
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The central portion 14 supports a number of bristles 15. The bristles 15 may be made of any material suitable for cleaning the dispensing opening. The bristles 15 or more generally the cleaning element(s) may be formed integrally with the central portion 14.
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On a part 16 of the circumference of the central portion 14 no bristles are arranged. This part 16 extends over angle α which is about 90 degrees of the circumference of the central portion 14. In general, the angle α will lie between 60 and 130 degrees. Preferably, the angle α will be at least 90 degrees. The part on which the bristles are arranged is preferably maximally 300 degrees, more preferably 270 degrees of the circumference of the central portion 14.
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As discussed above the pump 5 having dispensing opening 7 is arranged in the cleaning position, which is in the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3 above the cleaning brush 11. Upon rotation of the cleaning brush about its axis of rotation A-A, the bristles 15 will come into contact with the dispensing opening 7 (see dashed line in Figure 2) and therewith clean this dispensing opening including the surface of the pump surrounding the dispensing opening 7. It is remarked that in this application such surface is regarded to form part of the dispensing opening 7.
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After cleaning of the dispensing opening 7 the cleaning brush may return to its rotational rest position as shown in Figures 2 and 3. In this position the bristles 15 do not come into contact with the pump 5/the dispensing opening 7. Therefore, the rotatable support supporting the dispensing assemblies can be rotated to bring a desired dispensing assembly in line with the stationary dispensing station or the stationary cleaning location or any other desired position.
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During rotation of the rotatable support which is about a substantially vertical axis the pump 5 will move in one of the directions B. From Figure 2 it is clear that since in the rotational rest position of the cleaning brush 11 none of the bristles 15 contact the pump 5, pump 5 is free to move in one of the directions B. Also other pumps passing the cleaning location will not be contacted by the bristles 15.
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This has the advantage that any liquid present on the bristles which may contain liquid of one of the pumps will not be passed on to any of the other pumps. Thus, due to the shape of the cleaning brush 11 it is not required to translate the cleaning brush 11 to another location to avoid contact between cleaning brush 11 and the pump 5/dispensing opening 7.
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The cleaning device 10 comprises a cleaning liquid reservoir 17 comprising a cleaning liquid 18. The cleaning liquid promotes cleaning of the dispensing opening 7 and comprises for instance water or solvents. The bristles 15 of the cleaning brush will go through the cleaning liquid when the cleaning brush 11 is rotated. A cleaning liquid supply device may be provided for provision of fresh cleaning liquid. The fresh cleaning liquid may be new liquid or cleaning liquid which itself has been cleaned, for instance by filtering or sedimentation. A discharge may be provided for draining the used cleaning liquid.
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A sensor 19 is provided to detect at least whether the cleaning brush 11 is positioned in the rotational rest position. For this reason the cleaning brush 11 may be provided with a position mark 20. In an alternative embodiment the position mark 20 may also be provided on the driveshaft 13, the coupling between the drive shaft 13 and the cleaning brush 11, in the driving device 12 or at any other suitable location. When the position mark 20 is aligned with the sensor 19, the cleaning brush 11 is positioned in the rotational rest position. Any other suitable device for determining the position of the cleaning brush 11 may also be applied. In an alternative embodiment the cleaning brush may be biased in the rotational rest position, for instance by a spring or by gravity.
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Figure 4a shows an alternative embodiment of a cleaning brush of the invention which is also indicated with the reference numeral 11. The cleaning brush comprises bristles 15 about the complete circumference of the central portion 14. However, the bristles 15 arranged over the angle α have a smaller length than the bristles arranged over the rest of the circumference of the central portion 14.
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As a result, the bristles 15 in the area of angle α will not be able to contact the dispensing opening 7 and in the rotational rest position of the cleaning brush 11, the rotatable support will be free to rotate without the bristles of the cleaning brush 11 coming into contact with the dispensing opening of one of the pumps passing the cleaning device.
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Although the bristles 15 will not have any direct contact with the dispensing opening during cleaning as they are relatively short, the bristles 15 may have a function in the taking up of cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid reservoir 17.
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Figure 4b shows another alternative embodiment of a cleaning brush 11. In this embodiment, the central portion 14 does not have a fully circle cylindrical cross section, but it is flattened at one side 21 (top side in Figure 4b). In the rotational rest position of the cleaning brush 11, the flattened side 21 faces the dispensing opening 5. Due to the shape of the central portion 14 and the absence of bristles 15 on the flattened portion 21, the dispensing assemblies are free to be rotated in directions B without contacting the cleaning brush 11 when passing the cleaning location. The shape of the central portion 14 is in particular useful when it desired to use relatively short bristles 15.
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Figure 4c shows another alternative embodiment of a cleaning brush 11. The cleaning brush 11 is covered about its circumference with a cleaning element 15 which is made from a material suitable for cleaning a dispensing opening, such as a sponge, sponge-like material, or such. At one side of the central portion 14, the radial height of the cleaning element 15 is substantially lower than the rest of the circumference of the cleaning brush 11.
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In the rotational rest position of the cleaning brush 11 this side (top side in Figure 4c) will face the dispensing opening 7 of a pump 5 positioned in the cleaning position. As a result the cleaning element 11 will not come into contact with the dispensing opening 7, and the rotatable support of the dispensing assemblies is free to rotate. However, when the cleaning brush 11 is rotated, the cleaning element will come into contact with the dispensing opening 7 for cleaning it.
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Figure 5 shows a second embodiment of a cleaning device according to the invention, which also may be applied in the dispensing device of Figure 1. The same parts or substantially the same parts are indicated with the same reference numerals.
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The cleaning device 10 comprises a cleaning brush 11 and a driving device 12. The cleaning brush 11 is rotatable about an axis of rotation. The rotation is realized by a driving force of the driving device 12 via the drive shaft 13. The drive shaft is a flexible shaft, but a rigid shaft may also be applied.
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The cleaning brush 11 comprises a cylindrical central portion 14 and a number of bristles 15 extending radially from the central portion 14. The bristles 15 are only arranged about a part of the circumference of the central portion. The cleaning brush 11 is shown in a rotational rest position wherein the bristle-free part 16 of the central portion is directed upwards.
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The cleaning brush 11 is to be mounted under a cleaning location. As a result the pumps can move freely through the cleaning location without coming into contact with the bristles 15. When a pump is positioned in the cleaning location above the cleaning brush 11 may be rotated to bring the bristles 15 into contact with the dispensing opening therewith cleaning it.
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The cleaning device 10 comprises a cleaning fluid reservoir 17 configured to hold cleaning fluid. The cleaning brush 10 is at least partially arranged in the cleaning fluid or comes into contact with the cleaning fluid in another way, such as being sprayed with cleaning fluid or coming into contact with another device transporting the cleaning fluid towards the brush, so that the cleaning brush 11 will use the cleaning fluid for cleaning of a dispensing opening 10 positioned in the cleaning location.
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A screen 22 is provided to catch cleaning fluid which is splashed during a cleaning action, in particular caused by the bristles 15 passing a dispensing opening to be cleaned.
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A scraper unit 23 is provided to scrape or cut drips of fluid hanging from the dispensing opening when the respective pump is moved from the dispensing location to the cleaning location, therewith substantially increasing the cleaning result and/or reducing the required cleaning time.
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A covering 24 is provided which covers a part of the otherwise open top side of the cleaning fluid reservoir 17. The presence of the covering 24 decreases the risk on spilling of cleaning fluid during mounting of the cleaning device 10 in a dispensing device. The covering 24 is removable to make cleaning of the cleaning fluid reservoir 17 and/or replacement of the cleaning fluid during a maintenance action of the cleaning device more easy.
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In a method of cleaning the dispensing opening of a pump is cleaned directly after dispensing of a fluid for a short time, for instance one revolution of the cleaning brush. This reduces the chance that the machine is contaminated by drops falling from the pumps. When a recipe has finished, i.e. a number of different fluids have been dispensed with intermediate short cleaning, the used dispensing openings may, when required be cleaned for a longer period or at least as long as required for a sufficient clean . Additionally every pump can be automatically cleaned thoroughly after the dispensing device is idle for several hours, for instance at night.
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In an embodiment the cleaning device may comprise an inspection device which is configured to detect whether a dispensing opening is sufficiently cleaned.
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In an embodiment it is possible to provide two cleaning devices according to the invention in one dispensing device, each cleaning device having different cleaning elements and/or using different cleaning fluids. Such dispensing device may for instance be advantageous when the dispensing device uses two different types of liquid substances, for instance paint colorants, for each of which a different cleaning fluid is more suitable. Since the bristles of the cleaning brushes do not come into contact with the pumps when rotating the rotatable support, mixture of the cleaning fluids is avoided.
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The dispensing device may contain a control device to control the cleaning actions of the cleaning device. This control device may be integrated in a control device of the dispensing device.
