Granted Patent B2

US 12,492,930 · App. 17/297,893 · Granted Dec 9, 2025

Inventors: Mario Fliess (Munich, DE); Andreas Steinhauser (Munich, DE); Tobias Tetzner (Munich, DE)

Assignee: VERMES MICRODISPENSING GMBH

G01F11/08B05B1/24B05B1/306B05C5/0237B05C11/1034

Abstract

Claims (21)

1 . A dosing system ( 1 ) for dosing a dosing material, which dosing system ( 1 ) has a housing ( 11 ) comprising a nozzle ( 70 ) and a supply channel ( 62 ) for dosing material, a discharge element ( 80 ) movably mounted in the housing ( 11 ), a plunger bearing ( 83 ) surrounding the discharge element ( 80 ) for guiding the discharge element ( 80 ) in an axial direction, and an actuator unit ( 10 ) coupled to the discharge element,

the actuator unit ( 10 ) comprising an actuator ( 12 ) having a membrane ( 13 ) which is pressurized by a pressure medium to move the discharge element ( 80 ) in a discharge direction (RA), wherein a gaseous and/or liquid substance is used as the pressure medium, and the pressure medium hits directly on a side surface of the membrane ( 13 ) facing away from the discharge element ( 80 ), and

the discharge element ( 80 ) being formed separately and being pressed against a side surface ( 19 ) of the membrane ( 13 ) pointing in the direction of the discharge element ( 80 ) by a force acting on the discharge element ( 80 ) for coupling to the actuator unit ( 10 ),

wherein the plunger bearing ( 83 ) is disposed between the membrane ( 13 ) and the nozzle ( 70 ), the plunger bearing separating the supply channel ( 62 ) from the actuator unit ( 10 ); and

wherein the discharge element ( 80 ) comprises a plunger head ( 81 ) extending radially from one end of the discharge element ( 80 ), the plunger head ( 81 ) being urged toward the side surface ( 19 ) of the membrane ( 13 ) by a return spring ( 84 ) with one end resting on the plunger bearing ( 83 ) and the return spring ( 84 ) having an opposite end pressing on an underside of the plunger head ( 81 ) to couple the discharge element ( 80 ) with the membrane ( 13 ), such that the return spring ( 84 ) provides a force on the discharge element ( 80 ) in the axial direction.

2 . The dosing system according to claim 1 , wherein the dosing system ( 1 ) is formed so that the force acting on the discharge element ( 80 ) for coupling is directed in the opposite direction to a discharge direction (RA) of the discharge element ( 80 ).

3 . The dosing system according to claim 1 , wherein the membrane ( 13 ) is formed like a disk and/or free of cavities.

4 . The dosing system according to claim 1 , wherein the dosing system ( 1 ) comprises at least one sensor ( 18 ) for measuring a speed of a movement of the discharge element ( 80 ).

5 . The dosing system according to claim 1 , wherein the dosing system ( 1 ) comprises at least one pressure regulator ( 35 ) to control and/or regulate a pressure of the pressure medium as a function of an input parameter by a control and/or regulating unit ( 43 ) of the dosing system ( 1 ).

6 . The dosing system for dosing a dosing material according to claim 1 , further comprising a control valve ( 20 ) for controlling the actuator ( 12 ), the control valve having at least one throttle device ( 28 ) which is formed to control and/or regulate a pressure in the actuator ( 12 ) as a function of an input parameter, preferably by a control and/or regulating unit ( 43 ) of the dosing system ( 1 ).

7 . The dosing system for dosing a dosing agent according to claim 1 , wherein the dosing system ( 1 ) further comprises a control valve ( 20 ) for controlling the actuator ( 12 ), the control valve having at least one throttle device ( 28 ) which is formed to control and/or regulate a pressure profile during a filling of the actuator ( 12 ) and/or during emptying of the actuator ( 12 ).

8 . The dosing system according to claim 1 , wherein the dosing system ( 1 ) is formed such that a pressure is maintained in a region between the membrane ( 13 ) and a plunger seal ( 85 ), which pressure essentially corresponds to a cartridge pressure and/or wherein the dosing system ( 1 ) is formed such that a negative pressure is maintained in a region between an underside of the membrane ( 13 ) and the plunger seal ( 85 ).

9 . A method for controlling a dosing system ( 1 ) for dosing a dosing material, which dosing system ( 1 ) has a housing ( 11 ) comprising a nozzle ( 70 ) and a supply channel ( 62 ) for dosing material, a discharge element ( 80 ) movably mounted in the housing ( 11 ), a plunger bearing ( 83 ) surrounding the discharge element ( 80 ) for guiding the discharge element ( 80 ) in an axial direction, and an actuator unit ( 10 ) coupled to the discharge element,

a membrane ( 13 ) of an actuator ( 12 ) of the actuator unit ( 10 ) being pressurized by a pressure medium to move the discharge element ( 80 ) in a discharge direction (RA), wherein a gaseous and/or liquid substance is used as the pressure medium, and the pressure medium hits directly on a side surface of the membrane ( 13 ) facing away from the discharge element ( 80 ), and

the discharge element ( 80 ) being pressed against a side surface ( 19 ) of the membrane ( 13 ) pointing in the direction of the discharge element ( 80 ) by a force acting on the discharge element ( 80 ) for coupling to the actuator unit ( 10 );

wherein the plunger bearing ( 83 ) is disposed between the membrane ( 13 ) and the nozzle ( 70 ), the plunger bearing separating the supply channel ( 62 ) from the actuator unit ( 10 ); and

wherein the discharge element ( 80 ) comprises a plunger head ( 81 ) extending radially from one end of the discharge element ( 80 ), the plunger head ( 81 ) being urged toward the side surface ( 19 ) of the membrane ( 13 ) by a return spring ( 84 ) with one end resting on the plunger bearing ( 83 ) and the return spring ( 84 ) having an opposite end pressing on an underside of the plunger head ( 81 ) to couple the discharge element ( 80 ) with the membrane ( 13 ), such that the return spring ( 84 ) provides a force on the discharge element ( 80 ) in the axial direction.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein a pressure of the pressure medium is controlled and/or regulated as a function of an input parameter so that a speed of the discharge element ( 80 ) corresponds to a target value during a discharge movement.

11 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein a pressure of a pressure medium flowing into the actuator ( 12 ) and/or a pressure of a pressure medium flowing out of the actuator ( 12 ) is controlled and/or regulated as a function of an input parameter so that a speed of the discharge element ( 80 ) corresponds to a target value during a discharge movement and/or a retraction movement.

12 . The method for controlling a dosing system ( 1 ) for dosing a dosing material according to claim 9 , wherein a pressure of the pressure medium is controlled and/or regulated, preferably a throttle device ( 28 ) of the dosing system ( 1 ) is controlled by a control and/or regulating unit ( 43 ) of the dosing system ( 1 ) so that a speed of the discharge element ( 80 ) is varied during a discharge movement and/or during a retraction movement.

13 . The dosing system according to claim 1 , wherein the plunger bearing ( 83 ) is adjacent to the membrane ( 13 ).

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (46)