A bulk dispenser

Abstract

A bulk dispenser for dispensing a flowable product includes: a receiving socket with a receiving area for receiving at least a bottom portion of a packaging containing a flowable product, a cutting element having a cutting edge for cutting the bottom portion, and a cutting actuator for actuating the cutting element to move the cutting edge along a piercing direction between a retracted position and an extended position, to cut a bottom opening in the bottom portion when being received in the receiving socket. The bulk dispenser further includes a locking element for locking the packaging in the receiving socket, a dispensing opening for allowing the flowable product to flow out of the packaging through the bottom opening cut into the bottom portion, and a dispenser element to control the flow of flowable product, flowing through the dispensing opening, out of the dispenser.

1 . A bulk dispenser comprising:
 a receiving socket with a receiving area for receiving at least a bottom portion of a packaging containing a flowable product,   a cutting element having a cutting edge for cutting the bottom portion,   a cutting actuator for actuating the cutting element to move the cutting edge
 along a piercing direction between a retracted position, in which the cutting edge is retracted from the receiving area, and an extended position, in which the cutting edge protrudes into the receiving area so as to enter the bottom portion when the packaging is received in the receiving area, and 
 along a defined trajectory, with the cutting edge being in or moving towards the extended position, to cut a bottom opening in the bottom portion when being received in the receiving socket, 
   a locking element for locking the packaging in the receiving socket at least in a direction parallel to the piercing direction,   a dispensing opening for allowing the flowable product to flow, by gravity, out of the packaging through the bottom opening cut into the bottom portion, and   a dispenser element to control the flow of flowable product, flowing through the dispensing opening, out of the dispenser.   
     
     
         2 . The bulk dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing opening is surrounded by the cutting element and/or the trajectory of the cutting edge. 
     
     
         3 . The bulk dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the trajectory, in a top view of the receiving socket, follows a two-dimensional path. 
     
     
         4 . The bulk dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the cutting actuator is configured for actuating the cutting element in a combined motion to move the cutting edge at least partially simultaneously along the piercing direction and along the trajectory. 
     
     
         5 . The bulk dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the cutting actuator comprises
 a piercing actuator for actuating the cutting element to move the cutting edge along the piercing direction, and   a rotary actuator for actuating the cutting element to move the cutting edge along the trajectory,   wherein the piercing direction extends transversely to a plane in which the trajectory lies.   
     
     
         6 . The bulk dispenser according to  claim 5 , wherein the piercing actuator comprises:
 a piercing handle for carrying out a translational piercing actuation motion, and   a transfer element for transferring the translational piercing actuation motion into a translational piercing motion to allow the cutting edge to be moved along the piercing direction,   wherein the piercing actuator comprises a pin actuator arranged between the piercing handle and the cutting element.   
     
     
         7 . The bulk dispenser according to  claim 5 , wherein the rotary actuator comprises
 a cutting handle for carrying out a translational cutting actuation motion, and   a transfer element for transferring the translational cutting actuation motion into a cutting motion to allow the cutting edge to be moved along the trajectory,   wherein the transfer element comprises:
 a gear arrangement, and/or 
 a rope start mechanism, 
   being arranged between the cutting handle and the cutting element.   
     
     
         8 . The bulk dispenser according to  claim 1 , further comprising a blade protection element covering the cutting edge,
 wherein the blade protection element is arranged to be actuated with the cutting actuator, so as to uncover the cutting edge when being moved from the retracted position to the extended position.   
     
     
         9 . The bulk dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking element comprises structural fixing elements protruding into the receiving area for locking the packaging,
 when being received in the receiving socket, at least in a direction parallel to the piercing direction.   
     
     
         10 . The bulk dispenser according to  claim 9 , wherein the structural fixing elements protrude into the receiving area from opposite sides thereof, and/or
 wherein the structural fixing elements comprise:
 pins protruding into the receiving area, and/or 
 rails each defining a groove together with the receiving socket, the grooves being open towards each other to receive a receiving section of the packaging therebetween. 
   
     
     
         11 . The bulk dispenser according to  claim 9 , further comprising a fixing actuator comprising at least part of the structural fixing elements, wherein the fixing actuator is configured for actuating at least part of the structural fixing elements to selectively enter the receiving area, and between a fixing position, in which the at least part of the structural fixing elements protrude into the receiving area, and a clearing position, in which the at least part of the structural fixing elements clear the receiving area to allow the packaging being received in the receiving socket. 
     
     
         12 . The bulk dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the cutting element comprises a ring or cylinder element having a longitudinal axis, wherein the cutting edge is provided at an axial face side of the ring or cylinder element, wherein the cutting element is moveable about its longitudinal axis so as to move the cutting edge along the trajectory, wherein the ring or cylinder element at least partially defines the dispensing opening. 
     
     
         13 . The bulk dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser element comprises:
 a flexible dispensing tube extending from the dispensing opening to allow the flowable product to be dispensed from the bulk dispenser, and   a pinch valve mechanism to selectively pinch the flexible dispensing tube to control the flow of flowable product.   
     
     
         14 . The bulk dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the cutting actuator is configured for manually actuating the cutting element. 
     
     
         15 . The bulk dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the cutting actuator and the dispenser element are arranged such that they are actuable from the same side of the bulk dispenser. 
     
     
         16 . The bulk dispenser according to  claim 3 , wherein the two-dimensional path is a segment of a circle. 
     
     
         17 . The bulk dispenser according to  claim 5 , wherein the piercing actuator is configured for manually actuating the cutting element. 
     
     
         18 . The bulk dispenser according to  claim 5 , wherein the rotary actuator is configured for manually actuating the cutting element. 
     
     
         19 . The bulk dispenser according to  claim 11 , wherein the fixing actuator is configured for manually actuating the at least part of the structural fixing elements.