Refillable dispensing container

Abstract

The present invention relates to a filling device ( 1 ) for filling a dispensing container with a fluid ( 7 ) with a filling nozzle ( 9 ), which has a non-return valve ( 16 ), the non-return valve ( 16 ) having an actuating portion ( 22, 36 ) for opening the non-return valve ( 16 ) by an actuating element ( 23, 42 ) of a filling valve ( 11 ) of the dispensing container ( 6 ). In order to provide a filling device and a combination of a dispensing container and a filling device, which permit reliable refilling of a dispensing container partially filled with fluid, it is proposed according to the invention that the filling nozzle ( 9 ) has an actuating element ( 23, 42 ) for opening the filling valve ( 11 ) of the dispensing container ( 6 ) on connecting the dispensing container ( 6 ) to the filling nozzle ( 9 ).

1 . Filling device ( 1 ) for filling a dispensing container with a fluid ( 7 ) with a filling nozzle ( 9 ), which has a non-return valve ( 16 ), the non-return valve ( 16 ) having an actuating portion ( 22 ,  36 ) for opening the non-return valve ( 16 ) by an actuating element ( 23 ,  42 ) of a filling valve ( 11 ) of the dispensing container ( 6 ),
 wherein   the filling nozzle ( 9 ) has an actuating element ( 23 ,  42 ) for opening the filling valve ( 11 ) of the dispensing container ( 6 ) on connecting the dispensing container ( 6 ) to the filling nozzle ( 9 ).   
     
     
         2 . The filling device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the actuating element ( 23 ,  42 ) of the filling nozzle ( 9 ) is a pin that can be engaged with an actuating portion ( 22 ,  36 ) of the filling valve ( 11 ). 
     
     
         3 . The filling device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the non-return valve ( 16 ) has a valve seat ( 21 ,  33 ), a closing body ( 17 ,  29 ), which is movable relative to the valve seat ( 21 ,  33 ) from a position closing the non-return valve ( 16 ) into a position opening the non-return valve ( 16 ), and a spring element, the spring element biasing the closing body ( 17 ,  29 ) into its position closing the non-return valve ( 16 ), the closing body ( 17 ,  29 ) having an actuating portion ( 22 ,  36 ), which can be engaged with the actuating element ( 23 ,  42 ) of the filling valve ( 11 ) of the dispensing container ( 6 ), so that the actuating element ( 23 ,  42 ) moves the closing body ( 17 ,  29 ) against the spring force of the spring element from the position closing the non-return valve ( 16 ) into the position opening the non-return valve ( 16 ). 
     
     
         4 . The filling device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the actuating portion ( 22 ,  36 ) of the filling nozzle ( 9 ) is a portion of the closing body ( 17 ,  29 ) of the non-return valve ( 16 ) forming a ring around the pin. 
     
     
         5 . A combination of
 a refillable dispensing container ( 6 ) for a fluid ( 7 ) with
 a dispensing valve ( 12 ) for dispensing the fluid ( 7 ) and 
 a filling valve ( 11 ) for filling the dispensing container ( 6 ) with the fluid ( 7 ) and a filling device ( 1 ) for filling the dispensing container ( 6 ) with the fluid ( 7 ) with 
 a filling nozzle ( 9 ), which has a non-return valve ( 16 ), 
   wherein   the filling valve ( 11 ) of the dispensing container ( 6 ) and the filling nozzle ( 9 ) of the filling device ( 1 ) are arranged so that on connecting the filling valve ( 11 ) to the filling nozzle ( 9 ) first the filling valve ( 11 ) is opened by an actuating element ( 23 ,  42 ) of the filling nozzle ( 9 ), so that the dispensing container ( 6 ) undergoes pressure equalization, and then the non-return valve ( 16 ) of the filling nozzle ( 9 ) is opened by an actuating element ( 23 ,  42 ) of the filling valve ( 11 ).   
     
     
         6 . The combination as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the filling valve ( 11 ) has a valve seat ( 21 ,  33 ), a closing body ( 17 ,  29 ), which is movable relative to the valve seat ( 21 ,  33 ) from a position closing the filling valve ( 11 ) into a position opening the filling valve ( 11 ), and a spring element, the spring element biasing the closing body ( 17 ,  29 ) into its position closing the filling valve ( 11 ), the closing body ( 17 ,  29 ) having an actuating portion ( 22 ,  36 ), which can be engaged with the actuating element ( 23 ,  42 ) of the filling nozzle ( 9 ), so that the actuating element ( 23 ,  42 ) moves the closing body ( 17 ,  29 ) against the spring force of the spring element from the position closing the filling valve ( 11 ) into the position opening the filling valve ( 11 ). 
     
     
         7 . The combination as claimed in  claim 5  or  6 , wherein the actuating element ( 23 ,  42 ) of the filling valve ( 11 ) is an annular portion of a valve housing ( 15 ,  27 ) of the filling valve ( 11 ). 
     
     
         8 . The combination as claimed in any one of  claims 5  through  6 , wherein in the connected state the actuating element ( 23 ,  42 ) of the filling valve ( 11 ) and the actuating portion ( 22 ,  36 ) of the non-return valve ( 16 ) concentrically surround the actuating element ( 23 ,  42 ) of the filling nozzle ( 9 ) and the actuating portion ( 22 ,  36 ) of the non-return valve ( 16 ). 
     
     
         9 . The combination as claimed in any one of  claims 5  through  6 , wherein the filling valve ( 11 ) and the filling nozzle ( 9 ) are arranged so that on connecting the filling valve ( 11 ) to the filling nozzle ( 9 ) after opening the filling valve ( 11 ) and before opening the non-return valve ( 16 ) of the filling nozzle ( 9 ), an annular sealing surface ( 20 ,  32 ) of the filling valve ( 11 ) and an annular sealing surface ( 20 ,  32 ) of the filling nozzle ( 9 ) come into sealing engagement with each other, so that a sealed fluid connection is provided between the filling nozzle ( 9 ) and the filling valve ( 11 ). 
     
     
         10 . The combination as claimed in any one of  claims 5  through  6 , wherein the filling valve ( 11 ) has a substantially hollow cylindrical valve housing ( 15 ,  27 ) projecting relative to an external wall of the dispensing container ( 6 ), the closing body ( 17 ,  29 ) being arranged inside the valve housing ( 15 ,  27 ) and a sealing surface ( 20 ,  32 ) being provided on the outside of the valve housing ( 15 ,  27 ) for sealing engagement with the filling nozzle ( 9 ). 
     
     
         11 . The combination as claimed in any one of  claims 5  through  6 , wherein the filling valve ( 11 ) has a sealing ring, which can be engaged with an annular sealing surface ( 20 ,  32 ) of the filling nozzle ( 9 ) so that a sealed fluid connection is provided between the filling nozzle ( 9 ) and the filling valve ( 11 ). 
     
     
         12 . The combination as claimed in any one of  claims 5  through  6 , wherein the filling nozzle ( 9 ) has a bush, which can receive the hollow cylindrical valve housing ( 15 ,  27 ) of the filling valve ( 11 ). 
     
     
         13 . The combination as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the bush of the filling nozzle ( 9 ) and the hollow cylindrical valve housing ( 15 ,  27 ) of the filling valve ( 11 ) are dimensioned so that on connecting the filling valve ( 11 ) to the filling nozzle ( 9 ), after opening the filling valve ( 11 ) and before opening the non-return valve ( 16 ), an annular gap ( 40 ) is formed between the valve housing of the filling valve ( 11 ) and the bush of the filling nozzle ( 9 ), forming a fluid connection to the surroundings. 
     
     
         14 . The combination as claimed in any one of  claims 5  through  6 , wherein a vent pipe ( 50 ) with a first and a second end ( 51 ,  52 ) is arranged in the dispensing container ( 6 ), the first end ( 51 ) of the vent pipe ( 50 ) being connected to the filling valve ( 11 ), so that a sealed fluid connection is provided from the filling valve ( 11 ) to the second end of the vent pipe ( 50 ). 
     
     
         15 . The combination as claimed in any one of  claims 5  through  6 , wherein the bush of the filling nozzle ( 9 ) has at least one venting channel, which connects the interior space of the filling nozzle to the surroundings.