Suction pump for a dispenser unit and dispenser unit

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for filling and evacuating a dispenser unit for paste-like, foam-form or liquid media. In the known methods, a storage container is evacuated via a suction pump, which otherwise serves for the delivery of the medium, after filling. The risk exists hereby that medium is drawn in. In order to make the drawing-off process more effective and more reliable, a method and a filling insert for a dispenser unit are proposed according to the invention, wherein at least one air duct is provided parallel to the suction pump. The evacuation takes place by the application of a pressure difference between storage container and the environment, which is just so great that air can in fact be drawn through the air duct but no viscous medium can be drawn.

1 . A suction pump, in particular constructed as a bellows pump, for a dispenser unit for the delivery in paste, foam or liquid form of a medium, in particular for the delivery of a liquid soap, a skin protection cream or another liquid cleansing or care product for the skin, with a fastening means for the sealed fastening of the suction pump on a storage container for the liquid medium and with a pumping chamber having an elastic wall able to be compressed elastically as a result of a pumping force in a pumping direction, which is fluidically connected directly or indirectly on the one hand with intercalation of an outlet valve with a delivery means for the delivery of a defined quantity of the medium and on the other hand is able to be fluidically connected directly or indirectly with intercalation of an inlet valve with the storage container comprising guide means which are arranged such that they are able to eliminate a migration of the elastic wall of the pumping body transversely to the pumping direction during the compression of the pumping body. 
     
     
         2 . The suction pump according to  claim 1  comprising a pumping chamber having a head region movable as a result of the pumping movement in the pumping direction, having the outlet valve, a base region not movable in the pumping direction, having the inlet valve, and the elastic wall arranged between the head region and the base region which forms with the head region and the base region a closed pumping chamber with the exception of the inlet valve and the outlet valve, wherein the guide means act at least on the movable head region. 
     
     
         3 . The suction pump according to  claim 2  comprising a head region having a rim projecting outwards in the manner of a flange for connection with an actuating device of a dispenser housing. 
     
     
         4 . The suction pump according to  claim 3  comprising a head region having a plate-shaped wall region adjoining the pumping chamber wherein the rim, projecting outwards in the manner of a flange, for connection with the actuating device of the dispenser housing is arranged on the wall region or is connected with the wall region via a spacer. 
     
     
         5 . The suction pump for according to  claim 4  comprising a pumping chamber arranged on a pumping body, wherein the guide means are formed by an outer guide arranged on the pumping body, which guide at least parts of the region of the pumping chamber which is movable in the pumping direction, during the pumping movement in the pumping direction. 
     
     
         6 . The suction pump according to  claim 5  comprising a pumping body which comprises a ring surrounding the pumping chamber wherein the head region is formed from a central part connected with the elastic wall and of an outer wall part in the shape of a hollow cylinder, which is guided on the outer side or on the inner side of the ring in the manner of a telescopic connection. 
     
     
         7 . The suction pump according to  claim 6  comprising a base region for movement of the entire pump from a transportation position into a position of use is mounted displaceably inside the ring, wherein the height of the ring corresponds at least to the height of the pumping chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The suction pump according to  claim 6  comprising a base region formed by a central region and by a wall-like side region, extending in the manner of a bell in the direction of the head region wherein the elastic wall is connected on the lower rim of the lateral region with the base region and to form a transportation security the head region is movable by turning inward the elastic wall between the side region. 
     
     
         9 . The suction pump according to  claim 4  comprising an outer guide means formed by guide rods arranged parallel to the pumping direction, between which the pumping chamber is held transversely to the pumping direction. 
     
     
         10 . The suction pump according to  claim 9  comprising a head region having at least one guide region, projecting laterally and having at least one bearing eye, wherein the guide means are formed by guide rods which penetrate the bearing eye and along which the bearing eye and hence the head region is guided during the pumping movement. 
     
     
         11 . The suction pump according to  claim 4  comprising at least a portion of the guide means which are constructed as internal guide means which are arranged inside the pumping chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The suction pump for according to  claim 11  such that between the head region and the base region at least one telescope rod is arranged, connecting the head region and the base region with each other for the formation of the guide means. 
     
     
         13 . The suction pump according to  claim 12  such that the telescope rod is arranged centrally inside the pumping chamber and is constructed as a hollow rod, with the medium being able to be conveyed at least through the telescope rod. 
     
     
         14 . The suction pump according to  claim 11  such that the guide means is formed by a push rod of the inlet valve or of the outlet valve, wherein the push rod at least partially surrounds the valve means and is extended beyond the valve region with a guide section at least into the pumping chamber and the guide section is mounted so as to be movable in the pumping direction to form the guide means in the suction pump. 
     
     
         15 . The suction pump according to  claim 14  such that the inlet valve and the outlet valve have a shared push rod penetrating the pumping chamber wherein a switching element of the outlet valve is securely connected with the push rod and a switching element of the inlet valve is held movably on the push rod. 
     
     
         16 . The suction pump according to  claim 15  such that the switching element of the inlet valve has a sleeve-like part through which the push rod is guided in a longitudinally movable manner, wherein the mobility of the switching element relative to the push rod is limited by stops in both directions. 
     
     
         17 . The suction pump according to  claim 16  such that the bearing of the push rod is realized by the valve seat of the inlet valve and/or of the outlet valve. 
     
     
         18 . The suction pump according to  claim 17  such that the push rod is arranged inside or outside the pumping chamber so as to be movable in the pumping direction. 
     
     
         19 . The suction pump according to  claim 18  such that the outlet valve has a pusher forming the switching element and a plate region arranged therebeneath, wherein the plate region is able to be coupled with an actuating device of a dispenser and is able to apply the actuating force of the actuating device onto the elastically compressible pumping chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The suction pump according to  claim 19  such that the push rod of the outlet valve is constructed in the form of a hollow cylinder and the delivery of the medium takes place through the delivery duct arranged in the push rod. 
     
     
         21 . The suction pump according to  claim 20  such that in the delivery duct at least one additional valve or sealing means is arranged, in particular a membrane seal to form an additional drip protection. 
     
     
         22 . A dispenser unit for the delivery of an in particular liquid or paste medium in foam or liquid form with a suction pump according to  claim 21 , comprising a housing into which a filling insert is able to be inserted, wherein the filling insert is formed by the storage container and the suction pump connected therewith, and the dispenser has an actuating device which is connected with a part of the movable head region of the suction pump for the transfer of an actuating force when the dispenser is filled. 
     
     
         23 . The dispenser unit according to  claim 22  such that the housing has a mounting device constructed in particular in the form of a U-shaped clip with rounded or bent arms, which is constructed and arranged such that by the insertion of the filling insert into the final position, the head region of the suction pump, cooperating with the actuating device, is held by the mounting device automatically during the insertion, with a bending of the elastic pumping chamber being prevented by the guide means. 
     
     
         24 . The dispenser unit according to  claim 23  such that a further mounting aid is provided, which on insertion of the filling insert firstly comes into engagement with a mounting element connected with the base region wherein the further mounting aid and the mounting element are constructed such that through the insertion movement, the mounting element slides along a guide surface of the further mounting aid and hereby the displacement of the suction pump from the transportation position into the position of use is brought about. 
     
     
         25 . The dispenser unit according to  claim 22  such that the actuating force is applied directly or indirectly via an actuating button on the dispenser housing wherein the actuating button is constructed such that a triggering of the actuating button produces an actuating force of an actuator, which is connected with the head region of the suction pump such that the actuating force is able to be transferred to the head region. 
     
     
         26 . The dispenser unit according to  claim 25  such that the actuating button is a sensor switching in a contactless manner, and the actuator is an actuating member which is able to be switched electrically via the sensor and which acts on the head region directly or via a linkage.