NL2025705B1 - Foam dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a foam dispenser, comprising a fluid supply, an air supply, a selectively activatable pump connected to the air supply and the fluid supply and a foam outlet 5 connected to the pump, wherein the pump is configured to draw fluid from the fluid supply and air from the air supply for priming and expel a mixture of fluid and air under pressure from the foam outlet for dispensing.

Description

FOAM DISPENSER The present disclosure relates to a foam dispenser.

Prior art foam dispensers, like an example known from WO-2011/012836, comprise a fluid cylinder connected to a fluid supply and dimensioned to draw in a metered amount of fluid; and a liquid cylinder configured to draw in a second metered amount of ambient air. The fluid cylinder and the air cylinder are coaxially arranged, with the air cylinder surrounding the fluid cylinder, and are operated in unison by a common actuator, to draw in and subsequently expel metered amounts of fluid and air, in respectively a priming operation and a dispensing operation. The metered amounts of fluid and air are rigidly set and dependent on the volumes and joint stroke of the air cylinder and the fluid cylinder, and are consequently only to be used for any particular foamable fluid requiring a pre-determined ratio of the metered amounts of fluid and air. Only during production of the known foam dispenser can the ratio be changed, and thereafter it is fixed. In the dispensing operation, the metered amounts of liquid and air are transferred from the fluid cylinder and the air cylinder into an input of a mixing chamber, having further an output nozzle, from which a foamed mixture of fluid and air is dispensed.

It is an object of the present disclosure to furnish a simplified yet more versatile foam dispenser.

Herein below, an embodiment description is provided with reference to the appended drawing, where the scope of protection of the present disclosure according to the appended claims is by no means limited to any specific aspect or feature of the below discussed and in the drawing shown embodiments. Such exemplary embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawing, which shows distinct embodiments wherein the same or similar elements, components and/or aspects can be designated with the same or a similar reference numeral, and in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a foam dispenser system according to the present disclosure; and Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment according to the present disclosure.

The foam dispenser system 1 of figure 1 comprises an actuator 2, connected to a pump cylinder 3. Actuator 2 comprises, in the shown embodiment, a foot operated hinge plate 4, with a spring 5 loading hinge plate 4 to, after depression thereof, resiliently return to an upturned position, Actuator 2 may comprise, in an alternative embodiment, a motor, for example an electric motor, combined with a proximity detector to set the motor in motion, when a user is detected. A linkage 6 is arranged between actuator 2 and pump cylinder 3. More in detail, linkage 6 connects hinge plate 4 and a piston rod 7 of pump cylinder 3. A cylinder housing 8 may be fixed to or in a frame (not shown).

A conduit 9 connects pump cylinder 3 with: - a foam outlet 10 comprising an non-return valve 13 for selectively allowing mixture of fluid and air to pass there through; - an air supply 11 comprising a non-return valve 14 for selectively allowing air to pass there through and a regulator valve 16 for restricting an amount of supplied air; and - a fluid supply 12 comprising a non-return valve 15 for selectively allowing fluid to pass there through. Fluid supply 12 connects to a replaceable container 17 with a fluid therein. The fluid may be any sanitary fluid, such as soap, disinfectant, antibacterial, antimicrobial and/or antiviral fluid or the like. In particular, the fluid may be or contain a solution of peraistic acid in powder form. When actuator 2 has been activated, in particular after hinge plate 4 has been depressed by a user’s foot, spring 5 pushes hinge plate 4 up, and piston rod 7 is drawn out from cylinder housing 8 in a priming stroke. Consequently, fluid from container 17 and a restricted amount of air (limited by regulator valve 16) are drawn into conduit 9 to mix therein. Regulator valve 16 may be adjustable to regulate the ratio of amounts of air and fluid to be drawn into conduit 9, and thereby, for a plurality of distinct fluids, an optimum mix ratio may be achieved. in a direction towards pump cylinder 3, air supply 11 comprises regulator valve 16 followed in line by non-return valve

14. When drawing in atmospheric air, the air first passes through regulator valve 16, but this may be reversed. Nevertheless, in particular though not exclusively when it is envisaged that regulator valve 16 may be embodied as a simple constriction to form a flow restriction, the shown arrangement may be considered preferable, to avoid that any fluid in air sapply 11 could reach regulator valve 16 and affect the function thereof. Alternatively or additionally, non-return valve 15 for selectively allowing fluid to pass there through may be combined with a regulator valve to restrict the amount of fluid drawn into conduit 9 in the priming stroke or at least adapt the amount of fluid to the amount of air from air supply 11, to achieve an optimum mix ratio. For an embodiment of a system according to the present disclosure, a regulator valve may even be embodied in as simple a form as correspondingly dimensioned constrictions, such as through holes, in conduits for supply of air and/or fluid. During the priming stroke, non-return valve 13 for selectively allowing mixture of fluid and air to pass there through is closed to prevent foam and/or air from being sucked from foam outlet 10 into conduit 9. The non-return valve 14 for selectively allowing air to pass there through and non-return valve 15 for selectively allowing fluid to pass there through open up in the priming stroke, under pressure generated by pump cylinder 3 and more in particular by piston rod 7 moving out of cylinder housing 8. to allow air and fluid to pass there through. In the dispensing stroke, a user operates hinge plate 4, for example with a foot or arm (preferably not a hand) and hinge plate 4 pushes piston rod 7 back into cylinder housing 8 for a mixture of fluid and air to be pressed through non-return valve 13 for mixture and expelled from foam outlet 10. At this time the other non-return valves 14, 15 for supply of air and fluid, respectively, remain closed. Foam outlet 10 comprises a foaming chamber 18, in which foam formation is promoted by a gauze, mesh or sieve 20, and/or churning blades 21 to dispense foam from a nozzle 19.

In the embodiment of figure 2, mixing air and fluid and foam formation is combined in pump cylinder 25. A conduit 9 is omitted, relative to the embodiment of figure 1. Pump cylinder 3 is directly connected with: - a foam outlet 10 comprising an non-return valve 13 for selectively allowing mixture of fluid and air to pass there through; -an air supply 11 comprising a non-return valve 14 for selectively allowing air to pass there through and a regulator valve 16 for restricting an amount of supplied air; and - a fluid supply 12 comprising a non-return valve 15 for selectively allowing fluid to pass there through. Fluid supply 12 connects to a replaceable container 17 with a fluid therein.

In the priming stroke, fluid from container 17 and a restricted amount of air (limited by regulator valve 16) are drawn into foaming chamber 18, which is in this embodiment formed within cylinder 3, to mix therein. Regulator valve 16 may be adjustable to regulate the ratio of amounts of air and fluid to be drawn into foaming chamber 18 of cylinder 3, and thereby, for a plurality of distinct fluids, an optimum mix ratio may be achieved. Alternative or additionally, non- return valve 15 for selectively allowing fluid to pass there through may be combined with a regulator valve to restrict the amount of fluid drawn into foaming chamber 18 of cylinder 3 in the priming stroke or to at least adapt this amount of fluid to the amount of air, to achieve an optimum mix ratio. For an embodiment of a system according to the present disclosure, a regulator valve may even be embodied in as simple a form as correspondingly dimensioned constrictions, such as through holes, in conduits for supply of air and/or fluid.

During the priming stroke, non-return valve 13 for selectively allowing mixture of fluid and air to pass there through is closed to prevent foam and/or air from being sucked from foam outlet 10 into foaming chamber 18 of cylinder 3. The non-return valve 14 for selectively allowing air to pass there through and non-return valve 15 for selectively allowing fluid to pass there through open up in the priming stroke, under the influence of pressure generated by pump cylinder 3, to allow air and fluid to pass there through.

In the dispensing stroke, piston rod 7 is moved back into cylinder housing 8, for example using a motor instead of the foot operated hinge plate 4 of the embodiment in figure 1, for a mixture of fluid and air to be pressed through non-return valve 13 for mixture and expelled from foam nozzle 19. At this time the other non-return valves 14, 15 for supply of air and fluid, respectively, remain closed.

Foam outlet 10 includes, in this embodiment, foaming chamber 18 in or of pump cylinder 3, in which foam formation is promoted by a gauze, mesh or sieve 20, and/or churning blades 21 to dispense foam from nozzle 19. lt will be apparent that diverse additional and alternative embodiments will occur to the skilled person after the foregoing disclosure of details and features of the possible embodiment shown specifically in the figures, to which the present invention is by no means limited.

It is thus possible for other types of actuators to be employed, other than the shown foot operated hinge plate 4 or the mentioned electric motor.

The fluid container may be replaceable but may also be refillable and form part of the system.

The regulator valve 16 may be adjustable, instead of fixed,

or may be replaced with a simple flow restricting through hole.

As an addition to or alternative for the air supply being regulated, the fluid supply may comprise a regulator valve.

Non return valves for air and for fluid may be embodied as a single non-return valve instead of two separate valves in the appended drawing.

Foam outlet 10 may be arranged after the air supply and the fluid supply, relative to the pump, and along the conduit, in the embodiment of figure 1, or the conduit may branch out at one point into four connections to the pump, the air supply, the fluid supply and the foam outlet.

Consequently, it is abundantly clear that the specific embodiments in the appended drawing are provided only by way of example an cannot serve to limit the scope of protection thereto, unless a scope of protection according to the present disclosure is explicitly restricted to particular features defined in the following independent claims, and may, at least in particular jurisdictions, include obvious alternatives.

Claims (13)

ConclusiesConclusions 1. Schuimdispenser, omvattende: - een vloeistofvoorraad; 5 - een luchtvoorraad; - een selectief activeerbare pomp die met de luchtvoorraad en de vloeistofvoorraad is verbonden; en - een schuimuitlaat die met de pomp is verbonden, waarbij de pomp is geconfigureerd om vloeistof vanuit de vloeistofvoorraad en lucht vanuit de luchtvoorraad te trekken voor pompaanzuiging en uitdrijving van een mengsel van vloeistof en lucht onder druk uit de schuimuitlaat voor het dispensen.A foam dispenser, comprising: - a liquid supply; 5 - an air supply; - a selectively activatable pump connected to the air supply and the liquid supply; and - a foam outlet connected to the pump, the pump being configured to draw liquid from the liquid supply and air from the air supply for pump suction and expulsion of a mixture of liquid and air under pressure from the foam outlet for dispensing. 2. Schuimdispenser volgens conclusie 1, waarbij ten minste één van de vloeistofvoorraad en de luchtvoorraad via een regelklep met de pomp is verbonden.The foam dispenser of claim 1, wherein at least one of the liquid supply and the air supply is connected to the pump via a control valve. 3. Schuimdispenser volgens conclusie 2, waarbij de regelklep verstelbaar is.The foam dispenser of claim 2, wherein the control valve is adjustable. 4. Schuimdispenser volgens conclusie 2, waarbij de regelklep een vernauwing in een tuchtvoorraadleiding en / of een vloeistofvoorraadleiding omvat.Foam dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the control valve comprises a constriction in a disciplinary supply line and/or a liquid supply line. 5. Schuimdispenser volgens een willekeurige voorgaande conclusie, waarbij de pomp door een gebruiker is aangedreven.Foam dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the pump is driven by a user. 6. Schuimdispenser volgens een willekeurige voorgaande conclusie, waarbij de pomp automatisch is aangedreven.Foam dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the pump is driven automatically. 7. Schuimdispenser volgens conclusie 6, waarbij de pomp elektrisch is en met een sensor is verbonden om op basis van nabijheidsdetectie te worden aangedreven.The foam dispenser of claim 6, wherein the pump is electrical and connected to a sensor to be actuated on a proximity sensing basis. 8. Schuimdispenser volgens een willekeurige voorgaande conclusie, waarbij de tuchtvoorraad en de vloeistofvoorraad ten minste één terugslagklep omvatten die is geconfigureerd om het mogelijk te maken dat de pomp vloeistof vanuit de vloeistof voorraad en lucht vanuit de lucht voorraad trekt voor de pompaanzuiging.The foam dispenser of any preceding claim, wherein the disciplinary supply and the liquid supply comprise at least one check valve configured to allow the pump to draw liquid from the liquid supply and air from the air supply for the pump suction. 9. Schuimdispenser volgens een willekeurige voorgaande conclusie, waarbij de schuimuitlaat een terugslagklep omvat die is geconfigureerd om het mogelijk te maken dat de pomp het mengsel van vloeistof en lucht uit de schuimuitlaat drijft voor het dispensen.The foam dispenser of any preceding claim, wherein the foam outlet includes a check valve configured to allow the pump to expel the mixture of liquid and air from the foam outlet for dispensing. 10. Schuimdispenser volgens claims 8 en 9, waarbij de ten minste één terugslagklep van de tuchtvoorraad en de vloeistofvoorraad aan de ene kant en de terugslagklep van de schuimuitlaat aan de andere kant tegenovergesteld zijn aangebracht ten opzichte van de pomp.The foam dispenser of claims 8 and 9, wherein the at least one check valve of the disciplinary supply and the liquid supply on one side and the check valve of the foam outlet on the other side are arranged opposite to the pump. 11. Schuimdispenser volgens een willekeurige voorgaande conclusie, waarbij ten minste IO één van de pomp en de schuimuitlaat een schuimkamer omvat.A foam dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the pump and the foam outlet comprises a foam chamber. 12. Schuimdispenser volgens conclusie 11, waarbij de schuimkamer ten minste één schuimvormend element omvat uit een groep, die ten minste omvat: een gaas, een netwerkstructuur, een zeef, en karnmessen.The foam dispenser of claim 11, wherein the foam chamber comprises at least one foam-forming element from a group comprising at least: a mesh, a mesh structure, a screen, and churning blades. 13. Schuimdispenser volgens een willekeurige voorgaande conclusie, verder omvattende een leiding die de pomp, de luchtvoorraad, de vloeistofvoorraad en de schuimuitlaat verbindt.A foam dispenser according to any preceding claim, further comprising a conduit connecting the pump, the air supply, the liquid supply and the foam outlet.