WO2004072592A1

WO2004072592A1 - Device for gripping and installing a pump

Info

Publication number: WO2004072592A1
Application number: PCT/FR2003/003634
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marc Tessier
Original assignee: S.P.C. France
Priority date: 2003-01-17
Filing date: 2003-12-09
Publication date: 2004-08-26
Also published as: AU2003296787A1; FR2850164A1; FR2850164B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for gripping and installing a pump comprising (i) a hollow cylindrical housing, with a feed and discharge line opening thereinto for the liquid to be dosed, and (ii) a coaxial piston which can move in translation inside the aforementioned cylindrical housing. The inventive gripping device comprises an element which is used to grip the cylindrical housing of the pump and an element which is used to grip the piston thereof.

Description

INSTALLATION FOR FILLING AND / OR DOSING QUANTITIES OF LIQUID

The invention relates to an installation for filling and / or dosing predetermined quantities of liquid, and more particularly small quantities.

In many industrial sectors, it is necessary to implement precise dosing and in small quantities of liquid, especially in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, chemical, but also agri-food industry.

These metering installations traditionally use a pump, at the level of which the liquid to be metered is supplied, and ensuring the effective delivery of the desired quantity of liquid.

If, for certain applications, it is not necessary to surround the handling of the pump with precautions, in particular health, on the other hand, in other fields, such as in particular pharmaceutical or agro-food, even medical analyzes, the most great vigilance must be observed at this level.

The pump must therefore be washed and sterilized after each use. However, manipulation of the pump by the operator may affect these sterility conditions.

On the other hand, the dosages to be carried out can be very small, typically between the microliter and five milliliters, so that the tools to be used, and in particular the pump, are of smaller dimensions, making conditions difficult. handling of said pump.

The object of the present invention is to provide a technical solution to these problems, aiming both to maintain sterility and to facilitate the handling of the pump.

This installation for filling and / or dosing of quantities of liquid, comprises: a pump, consisting of a cylindrical hollow body, into which opens a pipe for supplying the liquid to be dosed and for ejecting the dosed liquid, and receiving a coaxial piston capable of moving in translation within said cylindrical body; and means for holding and actuating said pump. According to the invention, the installation further comprises a device for gripping and positioning the pump at the level of the means for holding and actuating the latter, comprising a member for gripping the cylindrical body of the body of the pump and a gripping member of the piston of said pump, said gripping members being separated from each other by a fixed distance.

In so doing, direct manipulation of the pump by the operator is avoided, and what is more, the installation, and in particular the means for holding and actuating the pump, is provided with additional members capable of ensuring its fixing. in the absence of any manipulation.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the device for gripping the pump comprises a handle provided with means for gripping the cylindrical body of the pump and for gripping the piston of said pump.

The gripping member of the cylindrical body consists of an elastic blade with spring effect, which snaps on or snaps onto the cylindrical body of the pump.

The gripping member of the piston consists of two arms or axes, mounted on a rod integral with the handle, and which cooperate with a flat or equivalent formed at the free end of the piston.

In another embodiment of the invention, the gripping member of the piston consists of the same system mentioned above, and is further completed by a movable axis capable of sliding parallel to the main direction of the handle, and provided in the vicinity of its end with means intended to release the piston holding system at the level of the means for holding and actuating the installation.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the device for gripping and placing the pump comprises at least one cradle for receiving the cylindrical body of the pump, and in which the gripping member for the cylindrical body of the pump consists of two arms integral with a slide oriented in a direction parallel to the handle, and capable of being driven in a rotational movement through said slide, so as to come to position on the side and on the other side of the supply or ejection pipe, with which the cylindrical body of the pump is provided. According to this embodiment, the gripping member of the piston has two arms integral with the handle, and intended to cooperate with a flat, groove, groove or a keying member formed at the free end of the piston.

According to the invention, the actuating member of the pump within the installation comprises means for holding the cylindrical body, and means for translating the piston and vice versa.

This holding member may consist of an articulated hook which cooperates with the supply or ejection pipe of the cylindrical body of the pump.

The actuating member of the pump also comprises a silicone sheath with a spring effect, provided at the level of the device intended to receive the end of the piston.

The manner in which the invention can be implemented and the advantages which ensue therefrom will emerge more clearly from the examples of the various embodiments which follow, given by way of indication and not limiting in support of the appended figures.

Figures 1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the invention in its most simplified form. FIGS. 5 and 6 represent a more advanced embodiment of the invention, compared with the embodiment represented in relation to FIGS. 1 to 4.

Figures 7 and 8 are another advanced form of the embodiment of the invention.

Figures 9 and 10 are another embodiment of the invention, arising from the embodiment described in conjunction with Figures 7 and 8. Figures 11 to 15 correspond to another embodiment of the invention, different of those previously described.

FIG. 16 illustrates in more detail the zone of cooperation of the piston with the device ensuring its maintenance within the installation.

A first embodiment of the invention is therefore shown in relation to FIGS. 1 to 4.

Within it, the pump (1) has been represented in FIG. 2. Basically, it comprises a cylindrical body (4), at the level of which respectively lead a supply (3) and ejection (2) pipe. liquid to be dosed. Within this cylindrical body, a piston (5) is capable of sliding, in order to define, for example by differential volumetric metering, the effective quantity of liquid to be metered. Such a pump has for example been described in detail in document FR-A-2 597 046, or also FR 02.01675 by the Applicant, so there is no need to describe it in detail.

According to the invention, the installation comprises a gripping device (8), basically comprising a handle (9), oriented, as can be seen in Figure 1, substantially parallel to the main dimension of the pump .

This handle (9) firstly comprises a gripping member of the cylindrical body (4) of the pump, constituted in the present case of an elastic blade (10) with spring effect, coming to grip the cylindrical body at the level d 'a flat (11) formed for this purpose on said body. We can clearly observe this cylindrical blade or clip clip (10) in Figure 4.

As a corollary, the gripping device (8) also comprises a gripping member (12), (13) of the piston produced in the following manner.

A rod (12) extends from the handle (9) in the same direction as its main dimension, and comprises in the vicinity of its free end two arms (13), oriented perpendicularly to the rod (12), and intended to be inserted at a chute or groove (14) formed in the vicinity of the free end (6) of the piston (5).

In doing so, when the pump (1) rests in its sterilization box (7), the operator comes to take said pump, by inserting in a rectilinear movement, the gripping device (8), while making the leaf spring act simultaneously ( 10) and the arms (13).

The pump can then be fixed at the level of the holding and actuating members (16) of the installation, for example by means of screws (17), cooperating with through orifices, respectively (18) and (17) provided at level of the cylindrical body (4) and of the piston (5), and further cooperating with threaded orifices (19), formed for this purpose at the level of the actuation means of the installation (16).

It will be understood that, by the structure implemented, the distance separating the gripping member from the cylindrical body of the pump from the gripping member from the piston of said pump is fixed and constant. In doing so, there can be no actuation of the piston relative to the pump during the implementation of these gripping members. Another embodiment, more advanced of the device according to the invention, is shown in relation to FIGS. 5 and 6.

In it, the gripping device (8) further comprises an additional member, aimed at promoting the positioning of the pump within the holding and actuating means, but also its withdrawal from them.

These members consist on the one hand, of a push button (20), formed on the handle (9), and actuable in translation in the main direction of the handle (9), having the effect of acting on a rod (21), itself acting on arms (22) perpendicular to the rod (21).

In the absence of stress, the arm (22) comes to bear against a shoulder (23) located in the vicinity of the lower end of the piston (5) of the pump (1).

When the pump is positioned at the level of the holding and actuating means (16) of the installation, the operator acts on the plunger (20), inducing a displacement to the right in FIG. 6 of the rod ( 21), therefore arms (22) and therefore as a corollary its cooperation with holding means (26), integral with the actuating means (16), and thus releasing a chute (25), intended to cooperate with a complementary element in projection (24), located near the lower end of the piston (5).

These members (26) are subjected to the action of a spring (27), integral with the holding and actuating means (16), and aiming, in the absence of stress, to block the piston at this level by creation of an obstacle, preventing the piston from coming out of its housing.

It is therefore easily understood that the only manipulations to be carried out by the operator for the installation or, on the contrary, the withdrawal of the pump from the holding and actuating means (16) are carried out by the handle (9) and the button. pusher (20), thus avoiding any direct manipulation of the pump by the hands of the user.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in relation to FIGS. 7 and 8, however drawing inspiration from the same principle as the embodiments described in relation to the preceding figures. In this configuration, it is desired to be able to have a double system for holding and gripping the cylindrical body of the pump. To this end, the handle (9) is extended at its upper part, first of all by a gripping element (30), also in the form of a metal spring blade, coming to cooperate with flats (31) formed in the vicinity of the upper end of the pump cylinder.

In this configuration, the pipes for supplying and ejecting liquid to be dosed at the level of the cylindrical body are not diametrically opposed, as in the previous cases, but are situated substantially in the vicinity of the same sector.

These are, in this configuration, held by the gripper (8) also by means of a spring blade (34), mounted on a support (35), as can be seen in Figure 8 .

In addition, the handle (9) comprises, substantially in the middle zone, another leaf spring (70)), intended to snap into place at the cylindrical body.

As a corollary, the gripping member of the piston firstly comprises two arms (39), oriented perpendicular to the handle (9) and coming to cooperate with a circular recess (40), formed at the level of the piston.

On the other hand, in order to promote the insertion of the entire pump at the level of the holding and actuating means (16), the handle (9) also comprises a push button (26), actuable by the operator, acting on a slide (37) oriented parallel to the main direction of the handle (9), and acting on two arms (38) perpendicular to the slide (37), and cooperating with the upper end (41 ) a silicone spring system (42), described in more detail with reference to FIG. 16, integral with the holding and actuating means (16). In doing so, the action of the operator on the push button (36) induces the downward push of the means (41), thus freeing the insertion zone of the lower end of the piston at the level of the actuation means. .

As a corollary, the holding and actuating means (16) are also provided with members (33), capable of reversibly securing a protuberance (32), coming from the cylindrical body. These members (33) can be indifferently constituted by locking elements of the cam, pusher, or any other reversible means. Figures 9 and 10 illustrate a variant of the previous embodiment. The upper part of the gripping member is substantially identical.

On the other hand, the gripping member of the piston is limited to the mere presence of the two arms (39), fixed at the lower end of the handle (9), and cooperating with the obviously circular (40), provided at piston level.

In this configuration, the pump is held on the holding and actuating means (16) on the one hand, by a projection (32), like the previous embodiment, on the other hand, by a plate + screw assembly (71, 72), in the lower part of the cylindrical body, and finally by means of a nut (73) at the lower end of the piston.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in relation to FIGS. 11 to 16, different from the embodiments previously described.

The gripping device (9) is first of all provided with a handle of fairly elongated shape (9), since it exceeds the height of the pump quite widely. This handle firstly comprises two cradles (50), formed at its lower zone, and intended to receive the cylindrical body (5) of the pump.

In addition, the handle (9) receives a first slide (51), capable of being actuated by the user by means of a button (52), located at the upper end of the handle (9), said slide. being likely to be animated by a rotational movement.

This rotation induces the rotation of arms (53) and (54), integral with the slide (51), and intended to be positioned on either side of the supply or ejection pipe for the liquid to be dosed ( 2) and (3).

As a corollary, the handle (9) comprises a second slide (56), capable of being driven in a translational movement, parallel to the main direction of the handle, and actuable by the operator by means of a push button ( 55), also located at the upper end of the handle. This slide (56) has at its lower end, arms (60) oriented perpendicularly to the latter, and intended to act at the level of the upper end of the holding means (42), of the silicone sheath type with spring effect of the type previously described, ensuring the maintenance of the piston at the level of the actuating means (16) of the pump.

In addition, the lower end of the handle receives two arms (57), also oriented perpendicular to the main direction of the handle, intended to be positioned at the level of a polarizing member (58), provided with a groove ( 59), in order to ensure the correct positioning of the pump, within said actuating means.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the maintenance of the pump at the level of the actuating means (16) is carried out on the one hand, at the free end of the piston, at the level of the member (42) previously described, but also by means of a hook (61), articulated at (62) on said holding and actuating means (16), and the upper end (63) of which is intended to cooperate with the pipeline of supply or ejection (2) (3) of the liquid to be dosed, and more particularly with a groove (64) formed in the vicinity of the base of said pipe.

This spring (61) is provided with elastic return means (74), typically consisting of a silicone tube secured to the holding and actuating means (16), and acting on a detent (75) formed in the vicinity of the active end of said hook, inducing the hook to be kept in its closed position, that is to say blocking the supply or ejection pipe in the operational position.

The correct positioning of the pump within the holding and actuating means (16) is further achieved by inserting the intake or ejection pipe for the liquid to be dosed, within a through groove (76) ( see Figure 14, where the pump has not been shown), formed within the frame of the actuating means (16).

Thus, when said pipe has reached the end of this groove or groove (77) in abutment, the hook (61) comes to take position at the level of the aforementioned groove (64), thus blocking the cylindrical body. The pump is released from the holding and actuating means (16) by bringing the gripping device (8) above the pump and inserting it in the longitudinal direction and downwards in the figures. . The free end of the arms (60) is provided with a lug (65), coming to cooperate with the lower end (66) of the hook (61), having a sloping portion (67) intended to cooperate with this lug, and inducing the spacing of the hook, and hence the release of the cylindrical body of the pump. Simultaneously, this free end pushes the piston retaining sleeve (see Figure 16), releasing the latter.

It is therefore understandable that this particularly advanced pump of the invention allows easy handling and without risk of error for the operator, in particular in terms of positioning of the supply or ejection pipes of the pump at the level of the means of maintenance and actuation.

There is shown in relation to FIG. 16 a detailed view of the zone of cooperation of the piston with the device ensuring its maintenance within the installation.

The end or tail (77) of the piston is received in a housing (78) shaped for this purpose, and secured to the holding and actuating means (16). When the tail (77) is fully inserted and comes to bear against the bearing face (79) of said housing, a ball (80) is pushed by a substantially cylindrical holding sleeve (81) and integral with the silicone spring sheath (42) at the level of a recess (82) formed at the periphery of the tail (77). The silicone spring sheath (42) is itself secured to the holding and actuating means (16). In doing so, this ball (80) blocks the piston against the bearing face (79) of the housing (78). In order to present the recess (82) of the piston facing the ball (80), the upper end of the housing (78) is provided with a pin (83), intended to cooperate with a groove complementary to the tail of the piston .

It should be noted that the internal wall of the retaining sleeve (81) widens in the upward direction, that is to say in the direction of its free upper end, so as to allow, when the arms (38) are actuated , 60) of the gripping member of the piston at the upper end (41) of said sleeve, aiming to push down the sleeve, releasing the ball (80) into the space thus generated, and as a corollary the release of the tail (77) of the piston. This downward push is made possible by the compressible nature of the silicone sheath (42). The following various advantages emerge from the invention:

First of all, the elimination of any direct contact of the operator with the pump, thus eliminating the risks of pollution, and the maintenance of the sterility of the pump from the sterilization box to the actuating means.

One can also observe a significant reduction in the risk of positioning error of the pump, with the gripping member, through the implementation of the various means with which said gripping member is fitted, or even the pump itself.

For fully automated systems, we also observe the absence of risk of loss of small parts or deterioration of thread or bore frequently observed with parts of such precision.

In addition, since there is no direct manipulation of the operator, this leads to a significant reduction in overall dimensions, since the access necessary to the operator is thereby limited, so that 'It is possible to significantly reduce the size of the pump, which is particularly advantageous for micro-dosages.

Claims

1. Installation for filling and / or dosing quantities of liquid, comprising:

- a pump (1), consisting of a cylindrical hollow body (4), into which opens a supply pipe (3) for the liquid to be dosed and for ejection (2) of the dosed liquid, and receiving a piston ( 5) coaxial, capable of moving in translation within said cylindrical body;

- And actuation means (16) of said pump; characterized in that it further comprises a gripping and positioning device (8) of the pump (1) at the level of the holding and actuating means (16) thereof, comprising a gripping member of the cylindrical body of the pump and a gripping member of the piston of said pump, said gripping members being separated from each other by a fixed distance.

2. Installation for filling and / or dosing quantities of liquid according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for holding and actuating (16) of the pump (1) are provided with members (42, 61, 79-82) reversible fixing of the pump at their level.

3. Installation for filling and / or dosing of quantities of liquid according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the gripping device (8) of the pump (1) comprises a handle (9) provided with the members gripping (10, 30, 34, 35, 51-54) of the cylindrical body (4) of the pump, and gripping (12, 13, 39, 57) of the piston (5) of said pump.

Installation for filling and / or dosing quantities of liquid according to claim 3, characterized in that the gripping member of the cylindrical body (4) consists of an elastic spring effect blade (10, 30), which comes snap or snap onto the cylindrical body (4) of the pump.

Installation for filling and / or dosing quantities of liquid according to claim 4, characterized in that the cylindrical body (4) of the pump has a flat (11), intended to cooperate with the elastic spring effect blade (10, 30).

6. Installation for filling and / or dosing quantities of liquid according to one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the gripping member of the cylindrical body (4) of the pump further comprises an elastic blade with effect spring (34, 35), intended to snap on or snap into place at the supply (3) and ejection (2) pipes for the liquid to be dosed.

7. Installation for filling and / or metering quantities of liquid according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the gripping member of the piston (5) consists of two arms or axes (13, 39) , mounted directly or indirectly on the handle (9) of the gripping device, and intended to cooperate with a flat, groove, groove or a keying member formed at the free end of the piston.

8. Installation for filling and / or dosing quantities of liquid according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the member for gripping the piston is completed by a member for positioning within the means of holding and actuating (16) of the pump, consisting of a movable axis (21, 37), capable of sliding parallel to the main direction of the handle (9) under the action of the operator (20, 36 ), and provided in the vicinity of its end with means (22, 38) intended to release the piston retention system (5) at the level of the actuation means (16).

9. Installation for filling and / or dosing quantities of liquid according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the device for gripping and placing the pump comprises at least one cradle (50) for receiving of the cylindrical body (4) of the pump, and in that the gripping member of the cylindrical body of the pump consists of two arms (53, 54) integral with a slide (51) oriented in a direction parallel to the handle, said arms (53, 54) being capable of being rotated by said slide (51) under the action of the operator (52), so as to come to position themselves on either side of the supply (3) or ejection (2) pipe of the cylindrical body (4) of the pump.

10. Installation for filling and / or dosing quantities of liquid according to claim 9, characterized in that the gripping member of the piston comprises two arms (57) integral with the handle (9), and intended to cooperate with a flat, channel, groove or a polarizing member (58) formed at the free end of the piston.

11. Installation for filling and / or metering quantities of liquid according to claim 10, characterized in that the gripping member of the piston is completed by a fitting member within the holding and actuating means (16) of the pump, consisting of a movable axis (56), capable of sliding parallel to the main direction of the handle (9) under the action of the operator (55), and provided in the vicinity of its end means (60) intended to release the piston retention system (5) at the level of the actuation means of the installation.

12. Installation for filling and / or dosing quantities of liquid according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the means for holding and actuating (16) the pump within the installation include holding members of the cylindrical body, and means for holding and translating the piston.

13. Installation for filling and / or dosing of quantities of liquid according to claim 12, characterized in that the holding members of the cylindrical body (4) of the pump consist of a hook (61) articulated on said means of actuation, and intended to cooperate with the supply or ejection pipe of the cylindrical body of the pump.

14. Installation for filling and / or dosing quantities of liquid according to one of claims 12 and 13, characterized in that the piston holding members consist of a cylindrical holding sleeve (81), integral with a sheath spring effect silicone (42), surrounding a housing (78) for receiving the end or tail (77) of the piston, said housing and the sheath (42) being integral with the holding and actuating means (16), said sleeve inducing the thrust of a ball (80) within a recess (82) formed at the periphery of the tail (77) and causing the blocking of said piston against the bearing face (79) of said housing.

15. Installation for filling and / or dosing of quantities of liquid according to claim 14, characterized in that the internal wall of the retaining sleeve (81) widens in the direction of its free upper end, so as to allow , upon actuation of the arms (38, 60) of the gripping member of the piston at the upper end (41) of said sleeve, aiming to push the sleeve down, the release of the ball ( 80) in the space thus generated, and consequently the release of the tail (77) of the piston.