Metering pump arrangement and method for the production of a filled metering pump arrangement

Abstract

A method for the production of a filled metering pump arrangement fills a product capable of flow into a film bag, which may be received in a container, for example. The film bag is closed by means of a pump that can be activated manually, which blocks a fluid connection between an outlet opening and the interior of the film bag, in the unstressed state, by means of at least one kick-back valve. The gas situated in the film bag is removed, at least substantially completely, by compressing the film bag, particularly by means of a punch or similar device.

1 . A metering pump assembly for metering, dispensing, or applying liquid cosmetics or pharmaceuticals comprising: 
 (a) a container having an interior portion with a changeable volume for accommodating a fluid;    (b) a manually-activatable pump connected with said container having an outlet opening and an intake opening connected with the interior portion of the container for drawing off gas situated in the container through the pump;    (c) at least one kick-back valve openable counter to a spring force, said at least one kick-back valve having an unstressed state where said at least one kick-back valve blocks a fluid stream from the outlet opening into the container; and    (d) a lid having a recess facing the container;    wherein said lid seals the container relative to said pump and said intake opening does not substantially project beyond said lid into said container.    
   
   
       2 . The metering pump assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the recess is concave.  
   
   
       3 . The metering pump assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the container comprises a collapsible film bag.  
   
   
       4 . The metering pump assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a substantially rigid sheath surrounding the container and connectable with the lid or the pump, said sheath having an air removal opening.  
   
   
       5 . The metering pump assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the lid has a circumferential edge and the container is attached to the circumferential edge.  
   
   
       6 . The metering pump assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the sheath comprises a second container having at least one open face closable via said lid.  
   
   
       7 . The metering pump assembly according to  claim 6  wherein said second container is cylindrical.  
   
   
       8 . The metering pump assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the concave recess in the lid extends from a circumferential edge connected with the container to the intake opening.  
   
   
       9 . The metering pump assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the circumferential edge of the lid lays against the film bag and the recess has a continuously increasing depth from the circumferential edge to the intake opening of the pump.  
   
   
       10 . The metering pump assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the pump comprises a pressure chamber and a piston guided in the pressure chamber and said at least one kick-back valve comprises a first kick-back valve and a second kick-back valve, said first kick-back valve connecting the pressure chamber with the container, said first kick-back valve permitting flow out of the container into the pressure chamber and blocking flow in an opposite direction, said second kick-back valve being associated with the outlet opening and permitting flow out of the pressure chamber into a surrounding area and blocking flow in an opposite direction.  
   
   
       11 . The metering pump assembly according to  claim 10  further comprising a dispensing head, said second kick-back valve being provided on the dispensing head.  
   
   
       12 . The metering pump assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the sheath comprises a sleeve with an opening for the introduction of a punch disposed on a side facing away from the lid.  
   
   
       13 . A method for metering, dispensing, or applying fluid cosmetics or pharmaceuticals comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a metering pump assembly comprising a container having an interior portion with a changeable volume for accommodating a cosmetic or pharmaceutical fluid, a manually-activatable pump connected with the container having an outlet opening and an intake opening connected with the interior portion of the container for drawing off gas situated in the container through the pump, at least one kick-back valve operable counter to a spring force having an unstressed slate where the at least one kick-back valve blocks a fluid stream from the outlet opening into the container, and a lid having a recess facing the contianer, wherein the lid seals the container relative to the pump and the intake opening does not substantially project beyond the lid into the container; and    (b) using the metering pump assembly to meter, dispense or apply the cosmetic or pharmaceutical fluid.    
   
   
       14 . A method for producing a filled metering pump assembly comprising the following steps: 
 (a) filling a product capable of flow into a film bag;    (b) subsequently closing the film bag via a manually-activatable pump, the pump blocking a fluid connection between an outlet opening of the pump and an interior portion of the film bag via at least one kick-block valve in an unstressed state; and    (c) compressing the film bag via a punch to substantially completely remove gases from the film bag by ejecting the gases through the pump or a bypass channel circumventing the pump.    
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein in order to remove the gases from the film bag, the film bag is brought into a position where the pump is disposed substantially vertically above the film bag.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the film bag is introduced into a more rigid container than the film bag before or after the film bag is filled, the container is closed off by the pump from the film bag, at least one opening remains in the container, and a punch can be introduced into the container through the at least one opening so that the film bag is compressed in the container and the gases situated in the film bag are ejected from the film bag through the pump or though a bypass channel surrounding the pump.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the film bag or the container is closed off via a lid connected with the pump.