EP2781257B1 - Canister for pumpable media, in particular for colouring pigment preparations - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a canister for pumpable media, in particular for color pigment preparations, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such canisters or containers are used, for example, in the dispensing of paints in so-called paint dispensers. In this a large number of different shades is reproducibly composed of a much smaller number of primary colors (color pigment preparations). Such paint dispensers are well known in the art and regularly comprise a housing in which various, the color pigment preparations containing canisters are housed. These canisters are connected via fluid-conducting connections with a pumping device, which in turn is fluidically connected to a metering unit. By means of such a Farbdispensers thus predetermined shades can be reproducibly mixed together, the individual components are specifically controlled by means of a computer unit in which different color schemes are stored. The medium is dispensed regularly via a dosing head of the dosing unit, which usually has a plurality of dispensing nozzles for dosing into a container containing a base, for example a white or transparent paint.

Such a color dispenser is for example from the DE 695 15 042 T2 known, in which a plurality of pumps and a motor driving the pump are arranged and coupled together on a common base plate.

Specifically, for this purpose, the pumps are connected to pairs of sprockets to form an in-line drive system. The pumps have an inlet opening and an outlet opening, which are fluidically connected via hose lines to an associated canister and to a dispensing valve arranged at a distance above the pumps and the canisters. From the dispensing valve continues to lead another hose to the canister. With such a construction, fluid can be passed via the dispensing valve to a dosing head via the pump and the correspondingly assigned hose lines. Furthermore, however, the dispensing valve can also be switched or controlled so that the fluid is pumped via the hose lines and the dispensing valve in a circuit. This recirculation is to avoid the settling of the fluid in the various lines and in the canisters. The structure is relatively complex and maintenance-intensive here, in particular with regard to the pump arrangement on a base plate and the hose guide or piping.

A similar construction in principle is also from the US 5,328,057 known.

The document EP-A-2505259 discloses a canister according to the preamble of claim 1.

Next is from the WO 03/066510 A1 a Farbdispenser known with an impeller pump, which also has a similar structure as the principle DE 695 15 042 T2 and US 5,328,057 having. By means of the impeller pump, liquid can be withdrawn from a canister via a pipeline and led to a dispensing valve arranged at a distance from the pump and the canister, from which the withdrawn liquid is passed on to an outlet nozzle. The arrangement also allows circulation of fluid between the pump, valve and canister.

All of the prior art documents cited above thus show canister or container solutions which, together with a pump arranged at a distance therefrom and a likewise spaced metering valve, require a relatively large amount of installation space, which leads to large-volume and therefore expensive installations.

In contrast, it is an object of the present invention to provide a canister for pumpable media, in particular for color pigment preparations, by means of both the delivery of the pumpable medium from the canister and a recirculation of the pumpable medium to simple and reliable and space-saving and thus compact Way can be accomplished.

This object is achieved with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

According to claim 1, a canister (or a metering device) is proposed for pumpable media, in particular for color pigment preparations, with a conveying device associated with the canister, by means of which a pumpable medium received in the canister can be withdrawn from the canister in a controlled manner via a valve device, wherein the valve device Moreover, it is designed and controllable such that at least part of a quantity of pumpable medium withdrawn from the canister can be returned to the canister. According to the invention, it is proposed that the delivery device is formed by a pump arranged on the canister with a pump housing, the valve device designed as a multi-way valve being connected to the pump housing, in particular directly connecting the pump housing to a valve housing of the multiway valve.

With such a structure according to the invention, in which the pump is arranged together with multi-way valve directly on the canister, a particularly compact and space-saving canister construction can be achieved, which also also has an advantageous effect on a total compact design of a Farbdispensers.

The compact canister construction with there arranged pump and multi-way valve also causes only relatively little hose or pipe connections are necessary, so that quite a total of less component-intensive and thus inexpensive construction is provided.

The compact arrangement of the components also short fluid paths are possible, which has an advantageous effect on the delivery process of the pumpable media. In addition, large passage cross-sections can be realized in a simple manner, so that the arrangement tends to be less clogging overall, as is the case with structures with numerous and especially long hose and pipe connections.

The arrangement of the pump on the canister, the direct connection of the multi-way valve to the pump housing and also the attachment possibility of control electronics on the canister, for example on the pump housing, has the further advantage that an exchange of the respective canisters can be done quickly and easily. Because the associated control electronics can be staked easily and quickly in such a structure and then the canister unit are removed from the color dispenser.

The term canister is also to be understood here in a comprehensive sense. As the statements made above and also below show, the canister according to the invention is a metering device for use in a metering device, such as a paint dispenser, wherein the respective pumpable medium, in particular a color pigment preparation, in the metering device, is received and withdrawn from the metering device at predetermined times, a defined amount of the pumpable medium, in particular by means of the metering device is withdrawn. The term canister thus expressly represents a synonym for the term dosing device.

The pump can be formed for example by a hose or bellows pump. However, particularly preferred is a specific embodiment in which the Pump is formed by a arranged on the canister cylinder-piston pump with a pump cylinder as a pump housing and a piston displaceably guided therein, wherein the multi-way valve is connected to the pump cylinder, in particular the pump cylinder directly connects to a valve housing of the multi-way valve. Such a cylinder-piston pump allows for structurally simple, inexpensive and functionally reliable way a dosage with very high precision. In addition, such a cylinder-piston pump is characterized by a long service life.

The direct connection of the pump housing to a valve housing of the multi-way valve can basically be done in different ways. Particularly preferred is an embodiment in which a free end portion of the pump housing, in particular a pump cylinder of a cylinder-piston pump, connected in such a form to the valve housing, in particular plugged there by means of a Aufsteck- and / or Aufsetzverbindung and / or is placed, that the pump housing (For example, a piston of a cylinder-piston pump receiving cylinder cavity of a pump cylinder) directly and directly, in particular without hose and / or pipe connection (s), connects to the valve housing, in particular in the at least one displaceable shut-off of the multi-way valve receiving valve housing Interior passes over.

The multiway valve can basically be constructed in different ways. Particularly preferred is an embodiment in which the multi-way valve is constructed and / or switchable, that in at least one switching position, a flow connection between the canister and the pump housing is made, in, for example, in a direction away from the multi-way valve displacement of a piston of a cylinder Piston pump, pumpable medium from the canister into the pump housing is sucked and in, for example, in a directed to the multi-way valve displacement of a piston of a cylinder-piston pump, pumpable medium in the canister, for example, from the pump housing in the Canister is pumpable. In at least one other switching position is a flow connection between the pump housing and one of the Directional return line leading produced, in which, for example, in a directed to the multi-way valve displacement of a piston of a cylinder-piston pump, pumpable medium in the lead-away line is pumped and in, for example, in a direction away from the multi-way valve displacement of a piston Cylinder-piston pump, pumpable medium from the outgoing line in the pump cylinder (back) is sucked. Due to the direct connection of the pump housing, for example a pump cylinder of a cylinder-piston pump, to the valve housing of the multi-way valve thus an advantageous structural unit is created in which a portion of the pump housing thus simultaneously performs valve function and for intermediate storage or distribution of the fluid the corresponding flow paths is used. As already shown and executed, with such a construction, a particularly advantageous compact canister construction together with pumping arrangement and valve arrangement can be made available, which contributes to an overall compact construction of the paint dispenser. Furthermore, this results in a wide variety of circuit options of the multi-way valve with short flow paths, which significantly increases the structural variability and flexibility.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, a plurality of, in particular two, mutually independent flow paths are provided between the canister and the multi-way valve, which are assigned to different switching positions of the multi-way valve for establishing a flow connection between the pump housing and the respective flow path. With such a plurality, in particular two independent flow paths between the canister and the multi-way valve is advantageously achieved that, for example, during return pumping and suction or recirculation different flow paths are available, so there is no undesirable effects of the respective desired flow path by any remaining residues or media streams can come in the other flow path. Such a configuration according to the invention thus substantially increases the reliability and contributes to the maintenance intervals or the lifetime of the canisters being substantially increased.

According to a specific embodiment in particular two independent flow paths between the canister and the multi-way valve may be provided, which can be assigned such different switching positions of the multi-way valve that the multi-way valve in a first switching position forms a first flow path between the canister and the pump housing, over, for example in a displacement of a piston of a cylinder-piston pump directed away from the multi-way valve, pumpable medium from a first canister region, in particular from a lower canister region in the vertical axis direction, can be sucked into the pump housing. Of course, this flow path can also be designed so that via this, in particular in a directed to the multi-way valve displacement of a piston of a cylinder-piston pump, pumpable medium in the or a first canister area, in particular in a lower axis in the high-axis direction canister area, is pumpable, in particular from the pump housing back into the first canister area, is pumpable, because this way, for example, a good mixing of the first canister area can be achieved.

Furthermore, the multi-way valve can form a second flow path in a second switching position different from the first switching position, via which, in particular following pumping out of the canister via the first flow path described above, or in particular with a relocation of a piston to the multiway valve Cylinder-piston pump, pumpable medium in a second, opposite the first canister area and / or spaced from this canister area, in particular in a Hochachsenrichtung upper canister area, is pumpable, in particular pumpable from the pump housing into the second canister area. As a result, a functionally reliable mixing of the entire pumpable medium in the canister can be ensured in a simple manner, in particular in a recirculation operation. But it is also possible in connection with this second flow path, in particular in a direction away from the multi-way valve displacement of a piston of a cylinder-piston pump, pumpable medium from a second, relative to the first canister area different and / or from this beabstarideten canister area, in particular from a high-axis direction upper canister area to suck in the pump housing, for example, to perform a reverse recirculation operation from top to bottom, if so desired. There are thus a total of diverse drive options for such a construction of a multi-way valve.

The first flow path can be formed according to a preferred embodiment by a substantially valve housing side and possibly also canister side formed flow channel (a short Schlauchleitungs- or pipe connection between valve housing side and kanisterseitigem flow channel area is basically possible), based on a canister operating position, for Example opens in a seen in the vertical axis lower canister area. Alternatively or additionally, the second flow path can be formed by a flow channel formed on the valve housing side and further on the side of the canister (again, a short hose line or pipe connection between the valve housing side and the canister side flow channel region is in principle possible). This can, for example, open, based on a canister operating position, in an upper canister area seen in the vertical axis direction. With such a specific embodiment, in a recirculation operation, a functionally reliable mixing of the pumpable medium in the canister can be ensured in a simple manner.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the multi-way valve, which is for example a 4/3-way valve, a structure in which in a further, in particular third circuit position, the flow connection between the pump housing and the direction away from the multi-way valve line is made. With such a multi-way valve can thus be realized in a structurally simple manner, and especially in a structurally compact manner, the desired flow guidance in conjunction with a pump which is located directly on the canister. In principle, however, the multi-way valve can also have another, For example, have a fourth valve position, for example, a rest position in which no flow paths are open and the valve is thus shut off.

The multi-way valve itself has a plurality of, different flow paths associated orifices in the valve housing. These orifices are a covering and / or closing and rotatable relative to these perforated disc with at least one, preferably associated with a single disc opening, which opens at least one disc opening directly or indirectly into the pump housing. With such a structure is achieved in a functionally reliable manner that the at least one disc opening in a perforated disc rotation in alignment with one of the mouth openings brought and thus a flow connection between the pump housing on the one hand and, the respective orifice associated flow path on the other hand in a simple and compact manner can be produced ,

The rotatable perforated disk preferably has a drive axle protruding therefrom for its rotation or is coupled and / or connected to such a drive axle. This means that the drive axle can either be connected in the same material and / or in one piece with the perforated disk or can also be formed by a separate component which can be connected, for example, by means of the perforated disk by means of a form-locking and / or frictional connection. A cohesive connection would, of course, always be possible at any time. This drive axle is then guided through the valve housing to the outside and there coupled to a valve actuator or coupled with a valve actuator. This means that the drive axle can either be an immediate component of an actuating device arranged on the valve housing, but alternatively also the drive axle can be designed as a freely outwardly projecting drive axle, which can be coupled to the drive axle, for example by means of a movable or displaceable actuating device drive.

According to a further preferred specific embodiment, a further, stationary perforated disc can be provided between the valve housing side formed orifices and the rotatable perforated disc having recesses associated with the orifices and on which the rotatable perforated disc in a planar abutment connection rotates or tightly rests relative thereto the drive axis of the rotatable perforated disc in this case is preferably passed through an axis recess of the stationary perforated disc. In such a structure, for example, at least the mutually associated perforated disc sides or surfaces of the stationary and rotatable perforated disc from a very good sliding properties having material or provided with a corresponding coating or be formed, which is advantageous to the ease and reliability of Multiway valve affects. Particularly preferred here is the formation of both the stationary perforated disc and the rotatable perforated disc of a ceramic material.

As already indicated above, it is advantageous, in particular for a compact, physically small construction, that the actuating device is arranged on the canister and / or on the valve housing. Alternatively, however, the actuating device can also be designed as a displaceable unit which, in particular in the case of several canisters, can be brought into operative connection with the drive axle mounted on the valve housing side.

According to the invention, the rotatable perforated disc is formed in a wide part. It has a drive axle supporting the first component, which faces the pump housing and has a lower, the orifices facing and penetrated by the drive axle second component, which is rotationally connected to the first component, for example, rotationally connected by a positive connection , In such a structure, the two components are also preferably made of different materials, for example, the lower, second component made of a ceramic material, while the contrast, upper first component may then be formed of a low-cost plastic material. With such a multi-part construction is a simple way to one of the ease of movement of the valve during rotation of the perforated disc taken into account and on the other hand provided a suitable pad in the direction of the pump housing.

A particularly advantageous, functionally reliable and contributing to a compact structure arrangement of the valve actuator provides that a valve actuator is arranged directly or indirectly on the canister, preferably in such a way, on the valve housing a plurality of spaced apart screw domes are arranged, each having a is associated with the actuating device side Anschraubflanschbereich, and is preferably assigned such that the actuator can be determined by means of several screwed through the Anschraubflanschbereiche in the screw dome mounting screws on the valve housing.

As already stated above, it is particularly advantageous for a compact construction, if the pump, in particular the pump housing, as well as the valve housing and at least part of the existing actuators, in particular the valve actuator or the pump actuator, an elongated, columnar and form a structural unit connected to the canister or they are arranged essentially in a straight line extension next to or behind one another (depending on the viewing direction) on the canister. In other words, the valve housing can connect substantially in straight extension to the pump housing and the valve actuator substantially in straight extension to the valve housing and a pump actuator substantially in straight extension to the pump housing to the desired space-saving and compact canister design together with pump housing and multi-way valve to be able to train.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the canister has a rectangular or pie-shaped or wedge-shaped (for example, preferably symmetrical trapezoidal or triangular) outer geometry and is the Pump, in particular the pump housing, and associated therewith the valve housing of the multi-way valve or the valve housing associated therewith, together with actuating device on a narrow side of the canister outside or canister outer wall. This narrow side is preferably assigned in the mounted state of a dosing head unit of a dosing device or a Farbdispensers. With such a construction of the canisters, these can be arranged in a simple manner with their longitudinal sides next to each other or directly adjacent to each other in a color dispenser and thus results in an overall extremely compact design.

Furthermore, a pump actuating device can be arranged on an end region of the pump housing opposite the multiway valve. Particularly preferred in this context is a specific embodiment in which a piston actuator is arranged as a pump Betätigungsseiririchtung on one of the multi-way valve opposite end portion of the pump housing formed by a pump cylinder housing a cylinder-piston pump, which is connected to a piston with a cylinder. Piston-pump connected piston rod cooperates for a piston adjustment. A simple and reliable mounting option provides that the actuating device or its housing has a connecting flange, which is screwed by means of a plurality of screw substantially in rectilinear extension of the pump housing with this. Also, this pump actuator can thus be arranged in a rectilinear extension of the pump housing and thus, as described above in connection with the valve housing and the valve actuator, a total of very compact, small construction of the canister together with multi-way valve and actuators are provided.

Specifically, the piston actuator may have a controllable by a control device spindle nut which is rotatable about a Betätigungswerksseitige spindle nut axis and which cooperates with the at least partially designed as a threaded piston rod such that during a rotational actuation of the spindle nut of the piston in response to the respective direction of rotation in the direction Multi-way valve or in the direction of the multi-way valve is displaced away. Such a threaded spindle assembly allows a functionally reliable piston adjustment in conjunction with an advantageous for each desired piston position transmission self-locking.

According to a further particularly preferred embodiment in this regard, it can be provided that the piston rod projects beyond the piston actuating device with a free end region, wherein a contact and / or sliding element is arranged at the free end region, which is guided in a guide groove formed on the side of the canister. The guide can be designed in such a way that in each case a contact counter element is arranged in two mutually defined spaced Führungsnutpositionen, which switches off or controls the actuator on contact with the contact and / or sliding element. This results in a significant simplification of operation in the operation of the cylinder-piston pump.

Furthermore, a control device can be arranged on an outer wall of the canister, in particular on an outer wall of the pump housing, by means of which the pump and the multi-way valve, in particular their respective actuating devices, can be controlled in a fast, compact and simple manner. With such an arrangement of the control device or control electronics on the canister or on the outer wall of the pump housing thus a further space compression is achieved, which has a particularly advantageous effect on the total required space of a plurality of such canisters having Farbdispensers.

In addition, the canister can have a maintenance opening, which can be detachably closed by means of a closure element, at a top end of the canister in the operating position in the vertical axis direction. Such a preferably relatively large maintenance opening allows easy access into the canister interior, as may be the case, for example, during maintenance work. For a simple and user-friendly refilling of the canister, however, the closure element itself is smaller than the maintenance opening Refill formed, which is releasably closed with a second closure element. Preferably, the arrangement of the canisters in the color dispenser is such that only the refill opening of the canisters is visible and accessible, the container tops and thus the maintenance openings but for example under a corresponding cover and thus are not freely accessible.

A metering device according to the invention for the metered dispensing of pumpable media, in particular for the metered dispensing of color pigment preparations, is connected to a plurality of canisters according to the invention as described above. Particularly preferred are a plurality of pie-like and / or wedge-shaped canisters with their longitudinal sides with a defined gap spacing and / or directly adjacent to each other in the metering device in the manner of a circular ring or a circular ring section, in particular semicircular, arranged around a central and / or central Dosierkopfeinheit around, resulting in short flow paths and an overall compact arrangement.

Particularly preferred here is a construction of the metering device, in which the canister tops of the canisters are covered by a cover portion that forms a wall region of the metering device, such that only the closure elements closing the refill openings of the canisters are visible and / or accessible from the outside. The resulting benefits have already been mentioned above.

In addition, it is advantageous for a construction with short flow paths if the dosing head unit, together with one of these associated, the canister receiving housing unit of the dosing device spaced above a footprint of the dosing and / or spaced above a receptacle for a mixing vessel.

Furthermore, a method is described in which the pump In particular, a cylinder-piston pump, and the multi-way valve by means of a control device are controlled so that the multi-way valve, in particular in a direction away from the multi-way valve displacement of a piston of a cylinder-piston pump, in a first valve position (suction position) a defined amount of pumpable medium from the canister, in particular from a first or lower canister area, sucks, preferably in a pump housing, most preferably sucks in a pump cylinder of a cylinder-piston pump. It is further provided that the multi-way valve is then switched to either a second valve position (Ausschiebstellung), in particular in a taking place after a piston displacement and directed to the multi-way valve displacement of a piston of a cylinder-piston pump in which a defined amount the discharged from the canister pumpable medium via the multi-way valve is discharged or discharged, in particular via a coupled with the multi-way valve hose and / or pipe is conveyed to a dosing, or in a third valve position (recirculation position) is switched in the off the pumped aspirated medium is conveyed back into the canister, in particular in the first canister area or in a distance from the first canister area second or upper canister area is conveyed back.

The pump and the multi-way valve are also controllable by means of the control device according to a particularly preferred process control that the multi-way valve remains in the second valve position following the pushing out or running of the pumpable medium and, preferably by a directed away from the multi-way valve displacement of a piston Cylinder-piston pump, a defined residue amount of pumpable medium, in particular a remaining in a leading to a dosing head hose and / or pipe residue amount of pumpable medium is sucked back from the pump, in particular sucked back into the pump housing.

The invention will be explained in more detail below a drawing.

Fig. 1

schematisch und perspektivisch einen eine Dosiervorrichtung ausbildenden Farbdispenser zur dosierten Abgabe von pumpfähigen Medien, insbesondere zur dosierten Abgabe von Farbpigmentpräparationen, mit einer Mehrzahl von erfindungsgemäßen Kanistern,

Fig. 2

schematisch eine perspektivische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Kanisters gemäß einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform,

Fig. 3a

schematisch eine dem Kanister zugewandte Rückansicht der Zylinder-Kolben-Pumpe gemäß Fig. 2 mitsamt Kolben-Betätigungseinrichtung, Mehrwegeventil und Ventil-Betätigungseinrichtung,

Fig. 3b

eine um 90° gedrehte Ansicht der Fig. 3a,

Fig. 3c

schematisch eine Schnittansicht entlang der Linie B-B der Fig. 3a,

Fig. 4a

schematisch und beispielhaft eine Rückansicht auf die dem Kanister zugewandte Seite des Mehrwegeventils mitsamt daran nach unten anschließenden Ventil-Betätigungseinrichtung,

Fig. 4b

schematisch eine Schnittansicht entlang der Linie C-C der Fig. 4a,

Fig. 4c

schematisch eine Draufsicht auf die Darstellung gemäß Fig. 4a,

Fig. 5

schematisch eine perspektivische Explosionsdarstellung des Mehrwegeventils mitsamt Ventil-Betätigungseinrichtung der Fig. 4a bis 4c,

Fig. 6a bis 6d

schematisch und als Prinzipskizze einen Abpumpzyklus mitsamt Rückpumpzyklus, und

Fig. 7a, 7b

schematisch einen Rezirkulationszyklus.

Show it:

Fig. 1

schematically and in perspective, a metering device forming a color dispenser for the metered delivery of pumpable media, in particular for the metered dispensing of color pigment preparations, with a plurality of canisters according to the invention,

Fig. 2

1 is a schematic perspective view of a canister according to the invention according to a preferred embodiment,

Fig. 3a

schematically a the canister facing rear view of the cylinder-piston pump according to Fig. 2 including piston actuator, multi-way valve and valve actuator,

Fig. 3b

a rotated by 90 ° view of Fig. 3a .

Fig. 3c

schematically a sectional view taken along the line BB of Fig. 3a .

Fig. 4a

schematically and by way of example a rear view of the side of the multi-way valve facing the canister, together with a valve actuating device which subsequently adjoins it,

Fig. 4b

schematically a sectional view taken along the line CC of Fig. 4a .

Fig. 4c

schematically a plan view of the illustration according to Fig. 4a .

Fig. 5

schematically an exploded perspective view of the multi-way valve together with valve actuator of Fig. 4a to 4c .

Fig. 6a to 6d

schematically and as a schematic diagram a Abpumpzyklus together with Rückpumpzyklus, and

Fig. 7a, 7b

schematically a recirculation cycle.

In the Fig. 1 is and perspectively shown acting as a color dispenser 1 metering device for dispensing here, for example, colors or color pigment preparations shown. Around a central dosing head unit 2 around a plurality of, with their longitudinal sides substantially adjacent to each other or with a defined gap spacing spaced apart canisters 3 are arranged semicircular, of the canisters 3 here only one, a refill opening occlusive closure lid 4 is visible and the Canister tops otherwise covered by a part of a housing wall of the Farbdispensers 1 forming cover 5 are covered. The cover plate 5 is removable, so that the canisters 3 and their maintenance openings are accessible, which will be described in more detail below. The canisters 3 here preferably have a wedge-shaped outer contour, wherein, as in the Fig. 1 shown schematically, optionally also different lengths or large canisters 3 can be used.

The canisters 3 are filled with different color pigment preparations, and can, as will be explained in detail below, convey their respective color pigment paste to the dosing head (not shown) of the dosing head unit 2 by appropriate activation, where the respective color pigment paste in one, a base color, for example white, exhibiting mixing vessel 6 is introduced, which is arranged here for example on a podium-like receptacle 7 of the Farbdispensers 1.

The dosing head unit 2 together with one of these associated, the canister 3 receiving housing unit is as shown spaced above a footprint of the Farbdispensers 1 and spaced above the receptacle 7 for the mixing vessel 6 is arranged.

Furthermore, a control computer 8 is arranged on the dosing head unit 2, in which different color combinations are stored and accordingly different color mixtures can be provided by means of the color dispenser 1.

In the Fig. 1 canisters 3 which are preferably and exemplary designed as pie-like or wedge-shaped containers can, in principle, be constructed as described in particular in US Pat Fig. 2 to 5 is explained in more detail. The canisters 3 can therefore also be designed in particular as a rectangular container:

In principle, a cylinder-piston pump 10 extending over at least a partial area of the narrow side length is arranged on a narrow side 9 of the canister 3 assigned to the dosing head unit 2 (see in particular FIG Fig. 2 ), which, in particular, the Fig. 3a to 3c can be seen, a pump cylinder 11 which is connected to the canister 3 and its narrow side 9 and is arranged on this, optionally also of the same material and / or is integrally connected thereto. In this pump cylinder 11, a piston 12 of the cylinder-piston pump 10 is displaceably guided, for which purpose the piston is connected to a piston rod 13 designed here as a threaded rod.

At, seen in the vertical direction of the canister 3, the upper end of the pump cylinder 11, the piston rod 13 cooperates with a spindle nut not shown in detail a piston actuator 14, wherein the piston actuator 14 and whose housing has a connecting flange 15, by means of several not shown screwed connections with an associated flange portion of the upper end of the pump cylinder 11 is fixedly connected.

The piston actuator 14 may for example be formed by a stepper motor which drives the spindle nut not shown here in one or the other direction, whereby the piston rod 13 and thus the piston 12 can be displaced up or down in the pump cylinder 11 accordingly. The control of this stepping motor takes place For example, via the arranged on the outside of the pump cylinder 11 and here only extremely schematically and by way of example illustrated control device 16 (FIG. Fig. 2 ).

On a the piston actuator 14 superior free end portion of the piston rod 13, a sliding block 17 is further arranged, which is slidably guided and received in a formed on the narrow side 9 of the canister 3 guide groove 18. The guide groove 18 is here formed by two projecting away from the narrow side 9 and stiffened by ribs 19 guide walls 20, 21. These guide walls 20, 21 can pass directly into a housing of the piston actuator 14 or else be formed by separate components that are not connected to the piston actuator 14 of the same material.

At one of the piston actuator 14 opposite end portion of the pump cylinder 11 is here exemplified and preferably a 4/3-way valve arranged as a multi-way valve 22, in such a way that the pump cylinder 11 with a lower axis in the lower direction free end portion directly to a valve housing 23 of the multi-way valve 22 connects. In this case, the pump cylinder 11 preferably connects to the valve housing 23 of the multi-way valve 22 that the piston 12 receiving cylinder cavity or cylinder interior of the pump cylinder 11 directly and directly, that is, in particular from the Figure 3c and 5 can be seen, without hose and / or pipe connection (s), in the valve housing 23 and in the valve-housing element receiving the valve shut-off passes.

When viewed in the vertical axis direction downwards, the valve housing 23 is further adjoined by a valve actuating device 24. This, for example, an actuator having valve actuator 24 has a Anschraubflansch 25 which is associated with a plurality of circumferentially around the valve housing 23 around and spaced apart screw domes 26 such that the valve actuator 24 by means of several not shown here mounting screws through the Screw-on flange 25 into the Screw dome 26 are screwed to connect the valve actuator 24 and its housing fixed to the valve housing 23.

The control of the valve actuator 24 is also again preferably via the control device 16, which in turn is controlled by the program controlled by the control computer 8.

As can be seen in particular from the synopsis 2, 3a, 3b and 3c, the cylinder-piston pump 10 or its pump cylinder 11 together with associated piston actuator 14 and associated multiway valve 22 with associated valve actuator 24 are thus essentially columnar and elongated or straight arranged one behind the other on the narrow side 9 of the canister 3, so that an overall extremely compact construction of the canister 3 together with the components just described results, which in turn, as a whole, as in Fig. 1 shown, leads to a compact design of the Farbdispensers 1.

Such a compactly constructed canister 3 together with its entire components can be used in a simple manner in the color dispenser 1 and be coupled there, for example, electronically or via the valve-side hose connection 27 with the Dosierkopfeinheit 2 flow connected. This results in a total of short flow paths with little hose and pipe connections, in addition, a quick replacement of the canisters 3 is ensured.

The multi-way valve 22 is constructed as follows:

In the valve housing 23 ( Fig. 5 ) are exemplary here and preferably three, different flow paths associated with orifices 28, 29 and 30 are provided, which are covered with the interposition of a sealing element 31 of a first fixed orifice plate 32, the mouth openings 28 to 30 associated with and aligned with these recesses 33 to 35 having. This stationary perforated disc 32 is made of a ceramic material, for example. Immediately above the fixed perforated disc 32 is a rotatable perforated disc 36, for example, also made of a ceramic material is arranged, which rests in a planar abutment connection on the stationary perforated disc 32 and. This rotatable perforated disc 36 here has a single disc opening 37, which, as will be explained in more detail below, depending on the valve position in an aligned alignment with the recesses 33 to 35 and thus can be brought to the mouth openings 28 to 30.

In the example case shown here Fig. 5 Furthermore, an upper, for example, made of a plastic material cover 38 is provided, which has an annular collar 39 at the outer edge, which engages behind the rotatable perforated disc 36 state, this so that the cover plate 38 and the rotatable perforated disc 36 are rotationally connected , For this purpose, an edge-side projection 40 is provided on the rotatable perforated disc 36, which cooperates with the end faces of the annular collar 39.

In the cover 38 a aligned with the disc opening 37 recess 41 is introduced, which opens into the pump cylinder 11 in the assembled state of the multi-way valve 22.

On the underside of the cover plate 38 preferably made of a plastic material, a drive shaft 42 is arranged, in particular integrally formed, which is guided tightly through the two perforated discs 32, 36 and the valve housing 23 and is operatively connected to the valve actuator 24 and its actuator or drive element ,

How this is the synopsis of Fig. 3 to 5 can be seen further, the hose connection 27 is formed by a valve housing side flow channel 43, the valve housing side opens into the orifice 28 and thus forms a first flow path.

On the opposite side of the hose connection 27 and the flow channel 43, two flow channels 44, 45 are formed, which face in the assembled state of the narrow side 9 of the canister 3, wherein the both flow channels 44, 45 valve housing side and on the one hand (flow channel 44) in the mouth opening 30 and on the other (flow channel 45) open into the mouth opening 29. Thus, 22 different flow paths are formed on the valve housing or the multi-way valve 22. For example, what is in the Fig. 2 is shown only very schematically, a pipe 46 connected, which opens in high axis direction opens into a lower Känisterbereich. In contrast, a flow in the channel 45 in the Fig. 2 only shown schematically and dashed piping 47 connected, which is guided in the canister 3 upwards and there opens into an upper canister area.

With such a preferred and exemplary construction of a canister 3 can be exemplified in the Fig. 6a to 6d realize pumping and pumping cycle shown:

The control of the multi-way valve 22 and the cylinder-piston pump 10 takes place in each case via the control device 16, without this being explained in more detail below.

In one in the Fig. 6a shown rotatable perforated disc 36 is rotated relative to the stationary perforated disc 32, that the disc opening 37 with the recess 33 and thus the mouth opening 30 is aligned and thus in an upward (in the arrow direction) directed displacement of the piston 12 color pigment paste from the canister. 3 is sucked into the pump cylinder 11 (preferably from a lower canister area in the direction of the vertical axis), as shown by the arrow 48. This corresponds to a valve position I.

If the piston 12 is subsequently moved downward again in accordance with the dashed piston arrow, the color pigment paste can be pumped back into the canister 3, in particular into the lower canister area (dotted arrow 48 '), whereby, for example, a sediment can be fluidized. Alternatively, however, the rotatable perforated disc 36 can also be transferred into a valve position II ( Fig. 6b ), in which the disc opening 37 with a recess 35 of the stationary perforated disc 32 and thus the mouth opening 28 is aligned, so that according to the arrow 49 and a corresponding downward displacement of the piston 12, the color pigment paste from the pump cylinder 11 can be pumped in the direction of dosing unit 2.

Once this is completed, the valve may remain in the valve position II and the piston 12 again be moved upwards accordingly ( Fig. 6c ), whereby possibly in the lines to Dosierkopfeinheit 2 remaining color pigment paste can be sucked back into the pump cylinder 11 (arrow 50).

These residues can be pumped back into the canister 3, for example ( Fig. 6d ). For this purpose, the multi-way valve is brought into a valve position III, in which the rotatable perforated disc 36 is aligned with its disc opening 37 with the recess 34 of the stationary perforated disc 32 and thus with the associated orifice 29, so that in a downward displacement of the piston 12 accordingly of arrow 51 is again pumped Farpigmentpaste back into the pump cylinder 11.

Alternatively to the method steps according to Fig. 6c and 6d but also another valve control can be made. Like this in the Fig. 7a is shown, according to the valve position I in Fig. 6a For example, color pigment paste or possibly further color pigment paste are sucked out of the canister 3 into the pump cylinder 11 and then subsequently ( Fig. 7b ) in the valve position III, the color pigment paste are pumped back into the canister 3 again.

Due to the fact that both in the valve position according to Fig. 6d as well as in the valve position according to Fig. 7b the pumping back of the color pigment paste via the flow channel 45 and the pipe 47 is carried out, the pumped back color pigment paste is placed in the top of the canister whereby a desired recirculation of the color pigment paste can be achieved.

The just in conjunction with the Fig. 6 and 7 described piston and / or valve positions can of course be arbitrarily combined with each other depending on Dosierwunsch.

Like this further in particular the Fig. 2 can be seen, the canister at one in the operating position shown in the vertical direction of the upper canister end a here substantially over the entire container side extending maintenance opening, which is closable with a closure lid 52. For this purpose, the closure lid 52 overlaps with edge-side tabs 53 the opening edge region and is releasably latched to wall-side locking lugs 54 from opposite longitudinal sides 55 of the canister 3.

On the closure lid 52 is further formed a refill 4 with respect to the maintenance opening smaller opening diameter, which can be closed by means of Nachfüllöffnungs closure lid 4, as has already been explained above.

The canister 3 itself may be made of a plastic material, for example, as well as the valve housing and the housings of the actuators.

Claims (14)

1. Canister for pumpable media, in particular for colour pigment preparations,
   having a delivery device assigned to the canister (3), a pumpable medium held in the canister (3) being extractable in a controlled manner via a valve device by means of said delivery device, wherein the valve device is additionally configured and controllable such that at least a part of a quantity of pumpable medium extracted from the canister (3) is able to be delivered back into the canister (3),
   wherein the delivery device is formed by a pump (10), arranged on the canister (3), having a pump housing (11),
   wherein the valve device, which is configured as a multi-way valve (22), is connected to the pump housing (11),
   wherein the multi-way valve (22) has a plurality of mouth openings (28, 29, 30) assigned to different flow paths, characterized in that the multi-way valve (22) has a perforated disc (36) that covers and/or closes the mouth openings (28, 29, 30) and is rotatable relative thereto, said perforated disc (36) having at least one, preferably a single, disc opening (37) which leads into the pump housing (11) such that the at least one disc opening (37) is able to be aligned with one of the mouth openings (28, 29, 30) when the perforated disc is rotated, and thus a flow connection between the pump housing (11) and the flow path assigned to the respective mouth opening (28, 29, 30) is establishable, in that the rotatable perforated disc (36) has a driving pin (42) projecting therefrom or is coupled and/or connected to such a driving pin (42),
   in that the driving pin (42) is guided through the valve housing (23) towards the outside and is coupled there to a valve actuating device (24), and
   in that the rotatable perforated disc (36) is formed in two parts and has a first component carrying the driving pin (42), said first component facing the pump housing (11), and a second component that is lower with respect thereto, faces the mouth openings (28, 29, 30) and has the driving pin (42) passing through it, said second component being connected to the first component for conjoint rotation.
2. Canister according to Claim 1, characterized in that the pump (10) is formed by a cylinder/piston pump arranged on the canister (3), said cylinder/piston pump having a pump cylinder as pump housing (11) and a piston (12) guided in a displaceable manner therein, wherein the multi-way valve (22) is connected to the pump cylinder, and in particular the pump cylinder immediately adjoins a valve housing (23) of the multi-way valve (22).
3. Canister according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a free end region of the pump housing (11), in particular of a pump cylinder of a cylinder/piston pump, adjoins the valve housing (23), in particular is plugged and/or fitted thereon by means of a plug-on and/or fitting connection, such that the pump housing (11), in particular a cylinder cavity, accommodating a piston (12) of a cylinder/piston pump, of a pump cylinder, adjoins the valve housing (23) immediately and directly, in particular without hose and/or pipeline connection(s), and in particular transitions into the valve-housing interior that accommodates the at least one displaceable shut-off element of the multi-way valve (22).
4. Canister according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the multi-way valve (22) is constructed and/or switchable such that:

   - in at least one switching position, a flow connection is established between the canister (3) and the pump housing (11), pumpable medium being suckable out of the canister (3) and into the pump housing (11) in said switching position, in particular when a piston (12) of a cylinder/piston pump is displaced in a direction away from the multi-way valve (22), and pumpable medium being pumpable into the canister, in particular from the pump housing (11) into the canister (3), in said switching position, in particular when a piston (12) of a cylinder/piston pump is displaced in the direction of the multi-way valve (22), and

   - in at least one further switching position, a flow connection is established between the pump housing (11) and a line leading away from the multi-way valve (22), pumpable medium being pumpable into the line leading away in said further switching position, in particular when a piston (12) of a cylinder/piston pump is displaced in the direction of the multi-way valve (22), and pumpable medium being suckable out of the line leading away and into the pump cylinder (11) in said further switching position, in particular when a piston (12) of a cylinder/piston pump is displaced in a direction away from the multi-way valve (22).
5. Canister according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of, in particular two mutually independent flow paths are provided between the canister (3) and the multi-way valve (22), different switching positions of the multi-way valve (22) being assignable to said flow paths.
6. Canister according to Claim 5, characterized in that two mutually independent flow paths are provided between the canister (3) and the multi-way valve (22), different switching positions of the multi-way valve (22) being assignable to said flow paths such that,
   in a first switching position, the multi-way valve (22) forms a first flow path between the canister (3) and pump housing (11), pumpable medium being suckable out of a first canister region, in particular out of a lower canister region in the direction of the vertical axis, and into the pump housing (11) via said first flow path, in particular when a piston (12) of a cylinder/piston pump is displaced in a direction away from the multi-way valve (22), and/or pumpable medium being pumpable into a first canister region, in particular into a lower canister region in the direction of the vertical axis, in particular being pumpable back into the first canister region from the pump housing (11), via said first flow path, in particular when a piston (12) of a cylinder/piston pump is displaced in the direction of the multi-way valve (22), and
   in a second switching position that is different from the first switching position, the multi-way valve (22) forms a second flow path, pumpable medium being suckable out of a second canister region that is different from the first canister region and/or spaced apart therefrom, in particular into an upper canister region in the direction of the vertical axis, and into the pump housing (11) via said second flow path, in particular when a piston (12) of a cylinder/piston pump is displaced in a direction away from the multi-way valve (22), and/or pumpable medium being pumpable into a second canister region that is different from the first canister region and/or spaced apart therefrom, in particular into an upper canister region in the direction of the vertical axis, in particular being pumpable from the pump housing (11) into the second canister region, via said second flow path, in particular when a piston (12) of a cylinder/piston pump is displaced in the direction of the multi-way valve (22).
7. Canister according to one of Claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the multi-way valve (22), in particular a 4/3-way valve, is constructed such that, in a further, in particular third, switching position, said multi-way valve (22) exhibits a flow connection between the pump housing (11) and the line leading away from the multi-way valve (22) and/or such that said multi-way valve (22) blocks all the flow paths in a further switching position.
8. Canister according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a further, stationary perforated disc (32), preferably made of a ceramic material, is provided between the mouth openings (28, 29, 30) formed on the valve-housing side and the rotatable perforated disc (36), said further perforated disc (32) having cutouts (33, 34, 35) assigned to the mouth openings (28, 29, 30) and the rotatable perforated disc (36), preferably a rotatable perforated disc (36) produced from a ceramic material, resting on said further perforated disc (32) in a flat abutment connection in a rotatable manner relative thereto and/or in a sealing manner, wherein provision is preferably made for the driving pin (42) of the rotatable perforated disc (36) to be passed through a pin cutout (42) in the stationary perforated disc (32).
9. Canister according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two components of the rotatable perforated disc (36) formed in two parts are produced from different materials.
10. Canister according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a valve actuation device (24) is arranged indirectly or directly on the canister (3), in particular such that a plurality of spaced-apart screw bosses (26) are arranged on the valve housing (23), a respective screw-on flange region on the actuation-device side being assigned to said screw bosses (26) such that the valve actuation device (24) is securable to the valve housing (23) by means of a plurality of fastening screws that are screwable through the screw-on flange regions (25) into the screw bosses (26).
11. Canister according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pump (10), in particular the pump housing (11), the valve housing (23) and at least some of the actuation devices, in particular a valve actuation device (24) and/or a pump actuation device (14), form an elongate, column-like component connected to the canister (3), and/or are arranged on the canister (3) so as to lie substantially in rectilinear extension next to one another or one after another, in particular such that the valve housing (23) adjoins the pump housing (11) substantially in straight extension and the valve actuation device (24) adjoins the valve housing (23) substantially in straight extension and the pump actuation device (14) adjoins the pump housing (11) substantially in straight extension.
12. Canister according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a pump actuation device is arranged in an end region, opposite the multi-way valve (22), of the pump housing (11), in particular a piston actuation device (14) is arranged as pump actuation device in an end region, opposite the multi-way valve (22), of the pump housing (11), formed by a pump cylinder, of a cylinder/piston pump, said piston actuation device (14) interacting with a piston rod (13) connected to a piston (12) of the cylinder/piston pump, wherein provision is preferably made for the pump actuation device to have a connection flange (15) which is screwed together with the pump housing by means of a plurality of screw connections substantially in rectilinear extension of the latter.
13. Canister according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control device (16) is arranged on an outer wall of the canister (3), in particular on an outer wall of the pump housing (11), the pump (10) and the multi-way valve (22), in particular an actuation device (14) for the pump (10) and/or a valve actuation device (24) for the multi-way valve (22), being controllable by means of said control device (16).
14. Canister according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, at an upper canister end in the direction of the vertical axis in the operating position, the canister (3) has a maintenance opening extending over at least a subregion of the container top side, said maintenance opening being reversibly closable by way of a closure element (52), wherein a refill opening that is smaller than the maintenance opening is formed on the closure element (52), said refill opening being reversibly closable by way of a second closure element (4).

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