Method and device for dispensing a liquid
Device and method for dispensing a liquid, comprising a liquid container; a plurality of dispensing openings connecting to the liquid container for controlled dispensing of the liquid to a substrate, and at least one membrane which connects onto the dispensing openings and which is displaceable between a first sealing position, in which the dispensing openings are covered by the membrane, and a second opened position in which the dispensing openings are left clear by the membrane, which device is also provided with a medium-filled control system which connects to the membrane such that the membrane is displaceable between the first and the second position by means of pressure variation on the medium.
1. A device for dispensing a liquid food material, comprising:
a liquid container;
a plurality of dispensing openings connected to the liquid container through a transfer channel for controlled dispensing of the liquid food material from each of the plurality of dispensing openings to a substrate;
at least one membrane which connects onto the dispensing openings and which is displaceable between:
a first sealing position, in which the dispensing openings are covered by the membrane;
a second opened position in which the dispensing openings are left clear by the membrane; and
a medium-filled control system which connects to the membrane such that the membrane is displaceable between the first and the second position by means of pressure variation on the medium, characterized by means for placing the liquid food material in the liquid container under pressure in order to dispense liquid through the transfer channel, past the open membrane in the second opened position to the dispensing openings, wherein the throughput area of the transfer channel is smaller than a throughput area of the liquid container for dividing the liquid food material and the pressure towards the various dispensing openings.
2. The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the transfer channel is embodied by a flat space, adjacent and in fluid communication with the liquid container.
3. The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the flat transfer channel has a thickness between 0.5 mm and 2 mm.
4. The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the flat transfer channel has a thickness between 1 mm and 1.5 mm.
5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a plurality of liquid containers, and wherein the transfer channel is in fluid communication with more than one liquid container.
6. The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the medium-filled control system is a pneumatic control system.
7. The device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that a wall of the container in which the dispensing openings are incorporated preferably extends connecting to the dispensing opening over more than 50% of the opening in the plane of the dispensing opening so as to thus create the most limited resistance possible during liquid passage.
8. The device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that a wall of the container in which the dispensing openings are incorporated preferably extends connecting to the dispensing opening over 100% of the opening in the plane of the dispensing opening so as to thus create the most limited resistance possible during liquid passage.
9. The device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the membrane forms part of the wall of the liquid container.
10. The device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the device is adapted to dispense a liquid with a viscosity above 15 centipoise.
11. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the dispensing openings have a diameter in the range between 0.25 and 1 mm.
12. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the dispensing openings have a diameter in the range between 0.4 and 0.7 mm.
13. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the dispensing openings have a diameter of 0.5 mm.
14. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the length of the dispensing openings is maximized between 4 and 10 mm.
15. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the length of the dispensing openings is maximized at 6 mm.
16. The device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that at least one dispensing opening has a cross-section between 0.25 and 5 mm.
17. The device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the membrane is made of an elastomer.
18. The device as claimed in claim 17 , characterized in that the membrane has a thickness between 0.3 and 1.5 mm.
19. A method for dispensing a liquid food material through a plurality of dispensing openings, comprising the processing steps of:
A) introducing a liquid for dispensing into a liquid container;
B) applying a pressure to the liquid food material which is higher than the ambient pressure;
C) carrying the liquid food material to the dispensing openings via a transfer channel, wherein the transfer channel is in fluid communication with the liquid container;
D) opening and closing the openings in controlled manner per dispensing opening by means of displacing a membrane,
wherein the membrane connects onto the dispensing openings and is displaceable between:
a first sealing position in which the dispensing openings are covered by the membrane;
a second opened position in which the dispensing openings are left clear by the membrane and
E) dispensing the liquid food material through the transfer channel, past the open membrane in the second opened position to the dispensing openings, wherein the throughput area of the transfer channel is smaller than a throughput area of the liquid container for dividing the liquid food material and the pressure towards the various dispensing openings,
characterized in that the membrane is displaced by means of varying a medium pressure.
20. The method as claimed in claim 19 , characterized in that the liquid food material is transferred to the dispensing openings with equal pressure by the transfer channel.