Patent Application
20130082071
This application claims priority from German Patent Application No. 10 2011 114 568.4, filed Sep. 30, 2011, and on German Patent Application No. 10 2011 116 054.3, filed Oct. 18, 2011, and on International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2011/073811, filed Dec. 22, 2011, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a dispenser for the dosed dispensing of at least two components received in a reservoir, wherein each reservoir is assigned a separate pumping device and the pumping devices are equipped with an actuation device for dispensing the components from an output device connected to the reservoirs, wherein the actuation device acts on the pumping devices indirectly via a dosing device, and the dosing device is equipped with a setting device that can be actuated to change the position of a transmission element acting on the pumping devices for setting the quantity ratio of the components.
Document EP 1 104 336 A1 discloses a dispenser of the type specified above, which has a setting device for setting the quantity ratio of the components, a transmission element that can be swivelled about a swivel axis and that acts on the pumping devices upon execution of a swivel movement. For the purpose of setting the dosing device, the swivel axis of the transmission element is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the dispenser by means of a setting device. Subsequent to setting the dosing device, an actuation force is exerted on an actuation section of the transmission element for dispensing the components from the reservoir, such that the transmission element is swivelled about the swivel axis, which runs transversely to the longitudinal axis of the dispenser, in response to the exertion of the actuation force.
One of the disadvantages of the known dispenser is that the translational actuation is necessary in the known dispenser for the purpose of executing a swivel movement of the transmission element about its swivel axis that is transversely oriented to the longitudinal axis, which, in practical applications permits only a very inaccurate dosing of the total quantity of the two components dispensed from the output device. Moreover, the output of a reproducible dispensing quantity of the two components using the known actuation devices is only possible when the transmission element executes a full cycle about the swivel axis. By contrast, the output of only a partial quantity of the possible maximum quantity is hardly possible in a reproducible manner, since the reproducible output of a partial quantity requires a correspondingly reproducible execution of a partial cycle of the transmission element. However, the execution of a defined cycle of the transmission element is scarcely possible in the light of the overall very short distance travelled by the transmission element when a swivel movement is executed.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dispenser that enables an accurate dosing of a dispensing quantity composed of two components. Moreover, it is an object of the invention to provide a dispenser that can be operated in a simple manner and, thus, provides a higher level of operating convenience on the part of the user.
To achieve this object, the inventive dispenser exhibits the features of a first embodiment of the present invention, which pertains to a dispenser (20, 88, 110) for the for dosed dispensing of at least two components received in a reservoir (26, 27), wherein each reservoir (26, 27) is assigned a separate pumping device (34, 35) and the pumping devices are equipped with an actuation device (24, 72, 90, 162) for dispensing the components from an output device (31) connected to the reservoirs (26, 27), wherein the actuation device (24, 72, 90, 162) acts on the pumping devices (34, 35) indirectly via a dosing device and the dosing device is equipped with a setting device (23, 71, 89, 161), which can be actuated to change the position of a transmission element (40, 75, 114, 146) acting on the pumping devices (34, 35) for setting the quantity ratio of the components, characterized in that both the setting device (23, 71, 89, 161) for setting the quantity ratio of the components and the actuation device (24, 72, 90, 162) for dispensing the components from the output device (31), for the purpose of actuation, can be rotated about a longitudinal axis (25) of the dispenser (20, 88, 110). In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, the first embodiment is modified so that the setting device (23, 71, 89, 161) of the dosing device has an adjusting housing (43, 73, 92, 131) that can be rotated about the longitudinal axis (25) of a reservoir housing (21), in which the reservoirs (26, 27) for receiving the components and the pumping devices (34, 35) are received, and in which the transmission element (40, 75, 114, 146) is disposed so as to be rotationally fixed with respect to the adjusting housing (43, 73, 92, 131) and so as to be axially displaceable on the longitudinal axis of the adjusting housing for actuating the pumping device (34, 35), wherein the transmission element features a contact surface (45, 159) of an annular design or is formed as a ring segment that has a surface contour changing in shape along its circumference and interacting with the pumping pistons (36, 37) of the pumping devices (34, 35).
In accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, the second embodiment is further modified so that the actuation device (24, 72, 90, 162) for dispensing the components has an actuating housing (54, 74, 93, 139), which can be rotated about the longitudinal axis (25) of the dispenser (20) relative to the adjusting housing (43, 73, 92, 131), and the actuating housing is equipped with a guide arrangement to enable the axial displacement of the transmission element (40, 75, 114, 146), wherein a first guide device of the guide arrangement, which is formed in the actuating housing (54, 75, 93, 139), interacts with a second guide device of the guide arrangement, which is formed independently of the actuating housing, for converting a rotary movement of the actuating housing into an axial movement of the transmission element. In accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention, the third embodiment is further modified so that the second guide device has a guide section (44, 76, 94, 132) having an axially oriented guide slot (50, 95, 135) and a pin arrangement positioned at the transmission element (40, 75, 114, 146) with at least one radial guide pin (49, 136) that penetrates through the guide slot, and with its contact end interacts with the first guide device of the actuating housing (54, 74, 93, 139).
In accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention, the third embodiment or the fourth embodiment are further modified so that the actuating housing (54, 74, 93, 139), for the purpose of forming the first guide device, on its inner wall (51, 83, 140), is coaxially disposed with respect to the guide section (44, 76, 94, 132) that has a guide path having a contact contour (64, 142) interacting with the contact end of the guide pin (49, 136) and that controls the axial movement of the transmission element (40, 75, 114, 146). In accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention, the fourth embodiment or the fifth embodiment are further modified so that the axially oriented guide slot (95, 135) formed in the guide section (94, 132) at its lower end features a pin catch (96) for accommodating the radial guide pin (49, 136) to define a direction of rotation of the actuation device (90, 162). In accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention, the first embodiment, the second embodiment, the third embodiment, the fourth embodiment, the fifth embodiment and the sixth embodiment, are further modified so that, for the purpose of defining an initial position of the actuation device (24, 162), in which the pumping devices (34, 35) are not acted upon by the transmission element (40, 146), a spring device is disposed between a stop (59, 147) formed at the guide section (44) and the transmission element (40, 146). In accordance with an eighth embodiment of the present invention, the seventh embodiment is further modified so that the stop (59, 147) is formed at the axial end of a pin (58, 144) formed at the bottom of the guide section (44, 132) and extending through an opening formed in a bottom (60, 143) of a central cup-shaped indentation of the transmission element (40, 146), wherein the spring device is configured in the form of a helical spring (61, 148), which is disposed in an annular space formed between the pin and the indentation and which extends between the stop and the bottom.
In accordance with a ninth embodiment of the present invention, the first embodiment, the second embodiment, the third embodiment, the fourth embodiment, the fifth embodiment and the sixth embodiment, are further modified so that, for the purpose of defining an initial position of the actuation device (72), in which the pumping devices are not acted upon by the transmission element (75), a latching device (80) is disposed at an axial end of a latching pin (78), which is arranged in the guide section (76), and in which the transmission element (75) is disposed in the initial position, engages behind an edge of a central opening (82) in the transmission element (75). In accordance with a tenth embodiment of the present invention, the first embodiment, the second embodiment, the third embodiment, the fourth embodiment, the fifth embodiment, the sixth embodiment, the seventh embodiment, the eighth embodiment, and the ninth embodiment, are further modified so that the guide path disposed in the inner wall (83) of the actuating housing (74) is designed in the form of a guide groove (85), wherein the groove edges (86, 87) thereof, which run in parallel to one another, receive the guide pin (49) between them. In accordance with an eleventh embodiment of the present invention, the first embodiment, the second embodiment, the third embodiment, the fourth embodiment, the fifth embodiment, the sixth embodiment, the seventh embodiment, the eighth embodiment, the ninth embodiment, and the tenth embodiment, are further modified so that, for forming the second guide device, the guide section (44, 76, 94) is formed by the adjusting housing (43, 73, 92) and the pin arrangement with the at least one guide pin (49) is formed at the transmission element (40, 75, 114, 146) so that when the adjusting housing is rotated the transmission element is correspondingly rotated as well.
In accordance with a twelfth embodiment of the present invention, the first embodiment, the second embodiment, the third embodiment, the fourth embodiment, the fifth embodiment, the sixth embodiment, the seventh embodiment, the eighth embodiment, the ninth embodiment, the tenth embodiment, and the eleventh embodiment, are further modified so that, for the purpose of the defined relative arrangement of the adjusting housing (43, 73, 92) with respect to the reservoir housing (21), a latching device (41, 97, 111) is formed between the adjusting housing (43, 73, 92) and the reservoir housing (21) and has a plurality of indexed positions for a defined assignment of contact regions of the transmission element (40, 75, 114) that is formed on the contact surface (45), and plungers (38, 39) act on the pumping pistons (36, 37) of the pumping devices (34, 35). In accordance with a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention, the twelfth embodiment is further modified so that the latching device (97) is formed as a modular latching unit that can be inserted between the reservoir housing (21) and the adjusting housing (92), and which can be actuated as a function of the direction of rotation with respect to the reservoir housing to enable the relative rotation of the adjusting housing.
In accordance with a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention, the thirteenth embodiment is further modified so that the latching unit features a first latching element (98) of an annular design, which can be connected to the reservoir housing (21) in a rotationally fixed manner, and a second latching element (99) of an annular design, which can be connected to the adjusting housing (92) in a rotationally fixed manner, wherein the latching elements interact with one another via a latching engagement that is produced in a common annular plane with the aid of latching projections, wherein the latching projections are formed by a toothed pawl section (106, 107). In accordance with a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention, the fourteenth embodiment is further modified so that one of the two latching elements (98, 99) features the toothed pawl section (106, 107) only in a ring segment. In accordance with a sixteenth embodiment of the present invention, the twelfth embodiment is further modified so that the latching device (11) features a latching axle (112) that is connected to the reservoir housing (21) and that engages with a hub of the transmission element (114) that is designed as a latching sleeve (113) to produce a latching engagement. In accordance with a seventeenth embodiment of the present invention, the sixteenth embodiment is further modified so that latching projections formed on the circumference of the latching axle (112) interact with latching projections that are formed on the bore wall of the latching sleeve (113) to produce the latching engagement. In accordance with an eighteenth embodiment of the present invention, the seventeenth embodiment is further modified so that the latching projections are formed by a toothed latching portion (124).
In accordance with a nineteenth embodiment of the present invention, the first embodiment, the second embodiment, the third embodiment, the fourth embodiment, the fifth embodiment, the sixth embodiment, the seventh embodiment, the eighth embodiment, the ninth embodiment, and the tenth embodiment, are further modified so that, for forming the second guide device, the guide section is connected to the reservoir housing (21) in a rotationally fixed manner, wherein the pin arrangement is formed as a guide ring (137) having at least one guide pin (136) and the transmission element (146) is received in the guide ring so as to be rotatable and is connected to the adjusting housing (131) in a rotationally fixed manner by means of a radial engagement device, such that when the adjusting housing is rotated, a relative rotation with respect to the guide housing is effected by the same as well. In accordance with a twentieth embodiment of the present invention, the nineteenth embodiment is further modified so that the engagement device features a setting sleeve (151) in which the transmission element (146) is received in a rotationally fixed manner and so as to be axially displaceable, wherein the setting sleeve produces an engaging connection with the adjusting housing (131) via a setting pin (152), which penetrates radially through the guide section in a setting groove (153). In accordance with a twenty-first embodiment of the present invention, the twentieth embodiment is further modified so that, for the purpose of the defined relative arrangement of the adjusting housing (131), a latching device is formed between the setting sleeve (151) and the guide section (132) and has a plurality of indexed positions for a defined assignment of contact regions of the transmission element (146) formed on the contact surface (159), and plungers (38, 39) act on the pumping devices (34, 35).
In accordance with a twenty-second embodiment of the present invention, the first embodiment, the second embodiment, the third embodiment, the fourth embodiment, the fifth embodiment, the sixth embodiment, the seventh embodiment, the eighth embodiment, the ninth embodiment, the tenth embodiment, the eleventh embodiment, the twelfth embodiment, the thirteenth embodiment, the fourteenth embodiment, the fifteenth embodiment, the sixteenth embodiment, the seventeenth embodiment, the eighteenth embodiment, the nineteenth embodiment, the twentieth embodiment and the twenty-first embodiment, are further modified so that the contact regions are formed on the contact surface (45, 159) of the transmission element (40, 75, 146) by contact ledges (46, 170) that are arranged in a stepped sequence. In accordance with a twenty-third embodiment of the present invention, the twenty-second embodiment is further modified so that the contact ledges (46) are formed by blind bores (48) that are arranged in a horizontal surface of the transmission element (40, 75).
In the inventive dispenser, both the setting devices for setting the quantity ratio of the components and the actuation device for dispensing the components from the output device, for the purpose of actuation, can be rotated about a longitudinal axis of the dispenser. According to the invention, use is made of the aspect that the user of a dispenser basically perceives it more convenient to execute the actuations or the settings, which are to be performed by the user at the dispenser, by carrying out similar manual movements. The reason can be seen, in particular, in the light of the aspect that in the inventive dispenser, the manipulation of the dispenser is not required to be altered between the setting of the mixing ratio of the components and the actuation for dispensing of the components in the set mixing ratio. Instead, in both cases, a rotational movement about the longitudinal axis of the dispenser needs to be executed. Moreover, the invention is based on the aspect that, for ergonomic reasons, it is much easier for the user of such a dispenser to execute a reproducible rotational movement than it is to execute a translational movement, in particular, in any instance where the travel path available for effecting the translational movement is rather short.
In a preferred embodiment of the dispenser, the setting device of the dosing device has an adjusting housing that can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of a reservoir housing, in which the reservoirs for receiving the components and the pumping devices are received, and in which the transmission element is disposed therein so as to be rotationally fixed with respect to the adjusting housing and so as to be axially displaceable on the longitudinal axis of the adjusting housing for actuating the pumping devices, wherein the transmission element features a contact surface of an annular design, or is formed as a ring segment, which has a surface contour changing in shape along its circumference and interacting with the pumping devices. In this advantageous embodiment, the special design of the setting device thus makes it possible to convert a manual rotational movement of the adjusting housing, caused by the user acting upon the adjusting housing from the outside, into an axial or else translational movement of the transmission element, such that, on the one hand, an advantageous rotational displacement of the setting device with a view to ergonomics is enabled by the user and, on the other hand, the axial adjusting movement of the transmission element enables a functionally reliable actuation of the pumping devices, wherein the horizontal orientation of the transmission element with respect to a vertical orientation of the longitudinal axis of the dispenser is always maintained.
In particular, when the transmission element acts upon the pumping devices, relative movements between the transmission element and the pumping devices are not produced, which may give rise to wear and tear, potentially preventing a reliable and desirably durable, as well as secure, use of the dispenser. The setting of the desired quantity ratio between the two components provided for the dispensing is performed by merely rotating the transmission element about the longitudinal axis of the dispenser and the adjusting housing until the relative position of the transmission element, with respect to the pumping devices, is reached, in which the different contact regions of the transmission element defining the quantity ratio are assigned to the pumping devices.
Advantageously, the actuation device can have an actuating housing that can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the dispenser relative to the adjusting housing for dispensing the components, wherein the actuating housing is equipped with a guide arrangement to enable the axial displacement of the transmission element, wherein a first guide device of the guide arrangement, which is formed in the actuating housing, interacts with a second guide device of the guide arrangement, which is formed independently of the actuating housing, for converting a rotary movement of the actuating housing into an axial movement of the transmission element. A particularly functionally reliable and, at the same time easily implementable, design of the second guide device is enabled if the second guide device has a guide section having an axially oriented guide slot and a pin arrangement positioned at the transmission element with at least one radial guide pin, which penetrates through the guide slot and with its contact end interacts with the first guide device of the actuating housing.
It is equally particularly advantageous if the actuating housing, for the purpose of forming the guide device, on its inner wall is coaxially disposed with respect to the guide section of the adjusting housing that has a guide path having a contact contour interacting with the contact end of the guide pin and controlling the axial movement of the transmission element, such that the coaxial arrangement of the actuating housing with respect to the adjusting housing enables an overall compact design of the dispenser. A detent for the direction of rotation, or a definition of a possible direction of rotation, can be realized if the axially oriented guide slot formed in the guide section, at its lower end, features a pin catch for accommodating the radial guide pin in order to define a direction of rotation of the actuation device.
A particularly advantageous embodiment of the dispenser, which contributes to further enhancing the reproducibility of defined dispensing quantities of the dispenser, for the purpose of defining an initial position of the actuation device, in which the pumping devices are not acted upon by the transmission element, includes a spring device disposed between a stop formed at the guide section and the transmission element, such that the initial position can be accurately detected by the user with a view to haptics and resistance against the rotational displacement of the actuation device is minimized. It is particularly advantageous if the stop is formed at the axial end of a pin formed at the bottom of the guide section and is extending through an opening formed in a bottom of a central cup-shaped indentation of the transmission element, and if the spring device is configured in the form of a helical spring that is disposed in an annular space formed between the pin and the indentation and that extends between the stop and the bottom. By means of this measure, a secure housing for the spring device is created such that the function of the spring device is ensured even over a long period of use of the dispenser.
Alternatively to the design of the dispenser with a spring device, for defining an initial position of the actuation device, it is also advantageously possible to make provision for a latching device that is disposed at an axial end of a latching pin, which is arranged in the guide section, and which in the transmission element is disposed in the initial position, and that engages behind an edge of a central opening in the transmission element. In this embodiment of the dispenser, wherein the constructional measures for defining the initial position of the actuation device are carried out in a particularly simple manner, it proves to be advantageous to ensure a reliable functioning if the guide path disposed in the inner wall of the actuating housing is designed in the form of a guide groove, wherein the groove edges thereof run in parallel to one another and receive the guide pin between them.
It is equally advantageous if, for forming the second guide device, the guide section is formed by the adjusting housing and the pin arrangement with the at least one guide pin is formed at the transmission element, such that when the adjusting housing is rotated, the transmission element is correspondingly rotated as well. In this way, the adjusting housing performs an advantageous double function, such that it is possible to correspondingly reduce the number of individual parts.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the dispenser, for purpose of the defined relative arrangement of the adjusting housing with respect to the reservoir housing, a latching device is formed between the adjusting housing and the reservoir housing and has a plurality of indexed positions for a defined assignment of contact regions of the transmission element formed on the contact surface, and plungers act on the pumping pistons of the pumping devices. On the one hand, the latching device facilitates the repeated setting of a relative rotational position between the adjusting housing and the reservoir housing for the purpose of reproducibly setting a mixing ratio. On the other hand, the setting of a once set mixing ratio between the components can also be secured by the latching device. If the latching device is formed as a modular latching unit that can be inserted between the reservoir housing and the adjusting housing and that can be actuated as a function of the direction of rotation with respect to the reservoir housing to enable the relative rotation of the adjusting housing, it is possible to set the direction of rotation by simply exchanging the latching device.
It is particularly advantageous if the latching unit features a first latching element of an annular design, which can be connected to the reservoir housing in a rotationally fixed manner, and a second latching element of an annular design, which can be connected to the adjusting housing in a rotationally fixed manner. In this way, latching elements interact with one another via a latching engagement, which is produced in a common annular plane with the aid of latching projections, wherein the latching projections are formed by a toothed pawl portion, such that the latching device can be realized by saving a great deal of material and space. An elastically resilient latching engagement is realized if one of the two latching elements has the toothed pawl portion only in a ring segment.
A particularly accurate relative alignment between the reservoir housing and the adjusting housing is enabled if the latching device features a latching axle, which is connected to the reservoir housing and which engages with a hub of the transmission element, that is designed as a latching sleeve to produce a latching engagement. It is advantageous if the latching projections formed on the circumference of the latching axle interact with latching projections formed on the bore wall of the sleeve to produce the latching engagement. A particularly functionally reliable design can be realized if the latching projections are formed by a toothed pawl portion.
In an advantageous embodiment for forming the second guide device, the guide section is connected to the reservoir housing in a rotationally fixed manner, and the pin arrangement is designed as a guide ring having at least one guide pin. Beyond that, the transmission element is received in the guide ring so as to be rotatable and is connected to the adjusting housing in a rotationally fixed manner by means of a radial engagement device, such that when the adjusting housing is rotated, a relative rotation with respect to the guide housing is effected by the same. In this way, it can be prevented that the plungers are acted upon by a torque when a force is exerted on the plungers of the pumping devices.
If the engagement device features a setting sleeve in which the transmission element is received in a rotationally fixed manner and so as to be axially displaceable, wherein the setting sleeve produces an engaging connection with the adjusting housing via a setting pin that penetrates radially through the guide section in a setting groove, the adjusting housing can be formed as an adjusting ring. If, for the purpose of the defined relative arrangement of the adjusting housing, a latching device is formed between the setting sleeve and the guide section and has a plurality of indexed positions for a defined assignment of contact regions of the transmission element that are formed on the contact surface, and plungers act on the pumping devices, in spite of a possible simple configuration of the adjusting housing in the form of a ring, a reproducible setting is enabled. If, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the contact regions are formed on the contact surface of the transmission element by contact ledges that are arranged in a stepped sequence, irrespective of the surface contour and topography changing along the circumference of the transmission element, it is ensured that identical contact conditions are always created between the transmission element and the plunger independently of the relative position of the transmission element with respect to the plungers. Moreover, if the contact ledges are formed by blind bores that are arranged in a horizontal surface of the transmission element, a particularly accurate adaptation between the contact regions and the plungers of the pumping devices is enabled, such that otherwise potentially occurring wear and tear can be avoided.
Advantageous embodiments of the dispenser will be described hereinafter in more detail with reference to the drawings.
In the drawings:
The manipulation device 22 shown in
In the latched engagement between the actuating housing 54 and the adjusting housing 43, as is in particular shown in
As is apparent from a comparison of
In
The contact contour 64 of the guide web 63 features an indentation 65 defining the initial position of the transmission element 40 in such a manner that, corresponding to the contact contour 64 illustrated in
As already specified beforehand with reference to
For defining the initial position of the actuation device 72, a latching pin 78 is provided in a guide section 76 of the adjusting housing 73 at the bottom 77. This latching pin 78, at its axial end, features a latching device 80 formed by elastically configured latching noses 79 and engage behind an opening edge 81 of a central opening 82 in the transmission element 75.
For guiding the guide pins, which are not illustrated in greater detail in the view according to
The manipulation device 91 is shown in an exploded view in
The manipulation device 91 of the dispenser 88 further differs from the manipulation device 22 of the dispenser 20 in that it features a modularly configured latching device 97 that has two latching elements 98, 99 of an annular design, which are formed independently from one another and which are arranged between the reservoir housing 21 and the adjusting housing 92, such that the latching element 98 is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the reservoir housing 21 via surface recessions 100, 101, into which projections 102, 103 of the reservoir housing 21 come into engagement. The latching element 99 has pawl projections 104, 105 via which the latching element 99 is connected to the adjusting housing 92 in a rotationally fixed manner. A latching engagement is produced between the latching element 98 and the latching element 99 with the aid of a toothed pawl portion 106, 107, which is formed at the latching element 98 and at the latching element 99, and which enables a relative rotation of the latching elements 98, 99 in the embodiment shown in
Furthermore, in particular,
Provision is made for a helical spring 148 on a pin 144 that is formed at a bottom 143 of the guide section 132. The helical spring 148 is provided with one end thereof supported against a bottom 145 of a transmission element 146 received in the guide section 132, and with the other end thereof supported against a stop 147 arranged on the pin 144. The helical spring 148 thus provides for the transmission element 146 to abut against the guide ring 137, wherein a cup-shaped projection 149 of the transmission element 146 engages with a ring opening 150 of the guide ring 137 (
As is particularly apparent from a combined view of
As is shown in particular in
For the purpose of the defined relative arrangement of the adjusting housing 131, the transmission element 146 and the guide section 132 are connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the reservoir housing 21. A latching device 171 shown in
Due to the advantageous guiding and accommodation of the transmission element 146 in the guide ring 137, during the axial displacement of the guide ring 137 within the guide section 132 in response to a rotation of the actuating housing 139 with respect to the guide section 132 that is arranged at the reservoir housing 139 in a rotationally fixed manner, a torque is not transmitted to the transmission element 146. Consequently, a torque of the transmission element 146 cannot act on the plungers 38, 39 of the pumping devices 34, 35, for instance shown in
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2011 114 568.4 | Sep 2011 | DE | national |
| 10 2011 116 054.3 | Oct 2011 | DE | national |
| PCT/EP2011/073811 | Dec 2011 | EP | regional |
