The present invention concerns a modular dosing device to dispense a liquid or viscous substance from a container, whereby a specific volume of this substance is dispensed from this container by means of a regulating mechanism. Particularly, this invention also concerns a dispenser, comprising such a dosing device, whereby a manual or automatic action pushes a specific volume of liquid or viscous substance from a container through a flexible nozzle and whereby the dosing device consists of a combination of pressure elements to dispense the desired quantity.

Both in the food industry and in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries various substances, such as beverages, emulsions, dispersions, solutions, creams, gels and concentrated products based on nutrients, but also sauces, ointments and additives, are dosed with a variety of dispensers. Such a known soap-dispensing device, as described in EP127497, concerns a flexible bag with a substance, placed in a dispenser on which pressure is exerted to push the substance through a nozzle, attached to the bag, and a removable dosing valve which opens or closes the nozzle.

Various substances can be put in a flexible container, such as a plastic bag, or a rigid container and are connected to a dispenser. Furthermore, the container is fitted with a nozzle.

Various pressure means are used to push these substances from the container, such as pumps, suction, air pressure, mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic pressure means. In addition, the substance can be dispensed from the container by means of a so-called ^¾ self-emptying bag' , as described in EP1047616.

Anyhow, with such dispensers, the volumes of the

substances to be dispensed must be properly dosed. In case of improperly set dosing devices, the user runs the risk of dispensing too much substance, resulting in losses. In other cases the user will be forced to activate the dispensing mechanism several times to dispense the desired quantity of the substance.

Dosing a substance from a flexible nozzle by successive, compression and decompression is known from prior art. US2903165 describes a dispenser in which a substance is pushed into a spout which is compressed against a wall in specific places, by activating a solenoid which moves two sliding pressure plates in opposite directions.

Many dosing mechanisms can be used exclusively for liquids or viscous substances, since the dosing devices take insufficient account of the rheological properties of the substance. When dosing substances with different physical properties, the movement through the nozzle must be controlled.

In addition, after a dispenser is used, the nozzle drips, spilling superfluous content in unwanted places and causing hygienic problems for food and catering business. An additional problem is the connection of the container with the nozzle to the dosing mechanism. An improper seal may cause contamination and the spread of micro-organisms in the dispenser.

Prior art knows the use of elastic nozzles containing a control valve. Such devices are described in US6068162, EP54232 and US4349133. These devices contain a rubber or gum elastic spout, which can be compressed by an external force, but reverts back to its original shape without any pressure .

US4967940 and US2008/0118378, respectively provided with a needle valve and a pressure relief valve at the outlet of the dispensing tube, describe the closest prior art. US4967940 describes a squeeze tube pump with an anvil and an upper and lower squeezing means and whereby said lower squeezing mean is connected to a compensator valve with a hinge .

US2008/0118378 concerns a pump with a piston, engaging a sealing element.

WO92/16450 describes a pump with multiple squeezing means connected to a pressure generator. None of the aforementioned prior art describes a modular dosing device, comprising an anvil, provided with an upper and lower squeezing pin on a flattened tube without an outlet valve. Moreover, this invention enables a complete dosing operation by simultaneously displacing the anvil with connected squeezing means.

Another dosing device in accordance with GB1473688 also describes an elastic dispensing tube, through which a liquid is pushed by successively compressing a part of the tube .

The disadvantage of the above-mentioned devices is that they use dispensing tubes or nozzles made from a rubber or gum elastic material, in which the nozzle itself is fitted with a closing mechanism, such as a control valve

However, the present invention concerns a modular dosing device and a dispenser with a dosing mechanism, using a nozzle made from a flexible plastic, without any elastic properties; as such, it does not automatically revert to its original shape, without pressing the nozzle.

According to this invention, such a nozzle consists of a flat cylindrical tube, removable or otherwise, connected to a container with a connector.

Furthermore, the nozzle is not fitted with a control valve .

The dispenser consists of a housing in which a container with a substance is placed, fitted with a nozzle, positioned in the dosing direction. The modular dosing device consists of a first part containing a first pressure plate, closing the nozzle at the container, and an anvil connected with the first pressure plate.

Furthermore, there is a second pressure plate at the bottom of the nozzle and a third pressure plate at the outlet of the nozzle, in the opposite part. The anvil is located between the first and second pressure plates. A modular dosing device primarily refers to a dosing device consisting of different parts, of which various parts are removable .

The first characteristic of this invention is that various substances, both liquid and viscous, can be dispensed in accordance with the desired quantities.

The dosing device is fitted with a pressure plate, which prevents dripping of the substance after dispensing.

The dosing device also allows the use of a nozzle containing a flat cylindrical tube. This offers a number of economic advantages, such as a positive production costs and less space during storage and transport.

The desired dosing volume is the result of the nozzle diameter on the one hand and the size of the anvil on the other hand.

The invention is explained below, by means of the corresponding drawings. Figure 1: cross-section of the dosing device's initial position

Figure 2: cross-section of the anvil's activation

Figure 3: cross-section of the substance being pushed Figure 4: cross-section of the substance flowing out

According to figure 1 the dispenser (1) consists of a housing (2), in which a container (3) with a substance is placed. This container (3) may contain a flexible bag or a rigid bottle. Such containers (3) are usually made of plastic .

Furthermore, the container (3) is fitted with a nozzle

(4) . According to the invention, this nozzle (4) is also made of plastic and connected to the container (3) .

However, the nozzle (3) may also be manufactured as a single piece with the container (3) .

The nozzle (4) consists of a flat cylindrical tube, open at both extremities. A first extremity is connected to the container (3) and a second extremity is the outlet

(5) .

The nozzle (4) is placed in a slot in a modular dosing device (6) . This slot divides the dosing device (6) in two. The first part concerns a first pressure plate (7) , connected to an anvil (8) . The first pressure plate (7) is closest to the outlet of the container (3) . The anvil (8) may be fitted with a pressure pin (9) at the bottom. The second part of the dosing device (6) is on the other side of the slot, opposite the first part. This part consists of a second pressure plate (10) at the pressure pin (9), as well as a third pressure plate (11), at the bottom of the side of the second pressure plate (10) , closest to the outlet (5) of the nozzle (4) . The pressure plates (7,10,11) are fitted with a mechanism to change the device from a released to a tightened state. This mechanism, which is not indicated in the figures, may consist of an elastic body, including, but not limited to, a spring.

The operation of the dispenser (1) with the dosing device (6) is explained below.

According to figure 1, the container (3) is placed in the housing (2) and the nozzle (4) is located in the slot of the dosing device (6) . The container (3) is filled with a liquid or viscous substance. The second pressure plate (10) is in a released state and closes nozzle (4) . The third pressure plate (11) is also in a released sate, pressing against the bottom part of the nozzle (4) . This prevents the substance from flowing out of the nozzle (4) .

The first pressure plate (7) and the pressure pad (8) are also in a released state and do not press against the nozzle (4) . The substance flows from the container (3) through the nozzle (4) up to above the second pressure plate (10) . The nozzle (4) contains a specific volume (4a) , depending on the diameter of the nozzle (4) .

The substance is pushed from the container (3) by means of pressure build-up. Depending on the type of container, i.e. a flexible bag or a rigid bottle, an appropriate pressure means must be used. In case of a flexible bag, mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic pressure means may be used, which press against the container (3) when the dispenser (1) is operated. On the other hand, the substance can be pushed from the container (3) to the nozzle (4), by means of a pump, suction or gravitation. The pressure build-up can also be the result of starting a cycle with running water, pressing against the

container discontinuously . On the other hand, a gas such as an inert gas may be used to build up the necessary pressure on the container, externally or internally.

Furthermore, a combination of two or more chemicals may also result in a chemical reaction, providing the necessary pressure build-up. In particular, the substance can be pushed from the container (3) by means of a pressure chamber, as described in EP1047616. The above- mentioned pressure build-up techniques only serve to illustrate the principle, but do not necessarily limit this invention.

In figure 2 the anvil (8) is first moved in the direction of the nozzle (4), causing the first pressure plate (7) to move and closing the nozzle (4) . This movement may be manual or automatic. In case of a manual movement, a pushbutton or lever may be activated, causing the anvil (8) to move. This can also be done automatically, by means of a motor or solenoid, as well as with hydraulic or pneumatic means resulting in a movement. A control or programmed module may ensure a controlled movement of the parts. By closing the nozzle (4) with the first pressure plate (7), a volume (4b) is trapped between the first pressure plate (7) and the second pressure plate (10) . Figure 3 shows a further movement of the anvil (8), causing the nozzle (4) to be compressed depending on the anvil (8) . Depending on the size of the anvil (8) on the one hand and the diameter of the nozzle (4) on the other hand, a certain substance volume will be moved to the outlet (5) . This movement of the anvil (8) also causes the second pressure plate (10) to move, as a result of the movement of the pressure pin (9) on the one hand or pressure build-up in the nozzle (4) on the other hand. This second pressure plate (10) opens the nozzle (4) and is in a tightened state, causing the volume (4b) to move up to above the third pressure plate (11) . The release of the pressure plate (10) and the pressure above the third pressure plate (11) of the volume (4b) cause the third pressure plate (11) to move, allowing the substance to flow out through the outlet (5) , according to figure 4. After the release of the third pressure plate (11) , the nozzle (4) is closed again at the bottom, preventing dripping of the dispenser (1) . To dispense the appropriate quantities, the nozzle (4) or anvil (8) can be adjusted.

When starting a new cycle, the anvil (8) returns to its original position and the first pressure plate (7) simultaneously changes to a released state, thus

releasing the nozzle (4) at the top, up to above the second pressure plate (10) .

Furthermore, the dispenser (1) may be fitted with a meter, to record the number of presses on the anvil (8) and possibly store this number in a memory chip. This is not indicated in the figures.

However, the dispenser (1) may consist of several dosing devices (6), allowing a mixture of several substances. The various substances are in various containers (3) which are placed in a dispenser (1) . A control ensures that the desired substance from the correct container (3) is mixed with one or more substances from the other containers (3) . Using the dosing device (6) in accordance with this invention, accurate doses of various substances can be combined. To allow the consumer to make specific choices of mixtures, the dispenser (1) can be fitted with a control panel and/or touchscreen display. This is not indicated in the figures either.