CN111886077B

CN111886077B - Filter device

Info

Publication number: CN111886077B
Application number: CN201880090145.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 毛林兴; S·王; F·李
Original assignee: Silgan Dispensing Systems Wuxi Co Ltd
Current assignee: Silgan Dispensing Systems Wuxi Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-02-24
Filing date: 2018-02-24
Publication date: 2022-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 2038-02-24
Also published as: EP3755466B1; EP3755466A4; WO2019161556A1; CN111886077A; EP3755466A1

Abstract

Filter device (1) for a system for dispensing a fluid product (18) mixed with fragments (19, 20) not intended to be dispensed, the filter device (1) comprising: -a first filter for filtering first type of debris (19); -a second filter for filtering second type of debris (20), said second type of debris (20) having a smaller dimension than the dimension of said first type of debris (19). The filter device 1 is provided with a hollow central cylinder (2), the hollow central cylinder (2) defining a channel (23) in which the filtered fluid product (18) flows, the channel (23) being delimited by an inlet nozzle (22) and an outlet nozzle (21), the second filter being positioned in the channel (23), the first filter comprising an open skirt (3), the open skirt (3) extending outwards from the cylinder (2) and surrounding the second filter, so that the first debris (19) is blocked by the skirt (3) and does not reach the second filter.

Description

Filter device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a filtering device for a system for dispensing a fluid product mixed with fragments (fragments) not intended to be dispensed. The filter device effects the separation of the debris from the fluid product.

The invention also relates to a system for dispensing such a fluid product, comprising a dip tube, at the end of which the filter device is fixed.

Finally, the invention relates to a dispensing container provided with such a filter device. The container stores the fluid product and the debris. The container includes a dispensing system coupled to the filter device for filtering debris and dispensing the fluid product.

Background

In specific applications, the fluid product is of the type in emulsion, gel, perfume or cream, for example for cosmetic use or for pharmaceutical treatment.

The known dispensing containers comprise a reservoir (reservoir) for holding the fluid product, a collar mounted on the reservoir, a pump received in the collar and a spout connected to the pump for dispensing the fluid product. The pump has a dip tube for dipping into the fluid product.

When the spout is depressed, the fluid product stored in the reservoir is drawn into the dip tube and eventually pumped out through the spout for use.

In some transparent or translucent fluid products, colored chips (such as flowers or petals) are incorporated into the cosmetic contents for decoration. These products are unsuitable for packaging with a dip tube, since these fragments are easily sucked by the dip tube to block the dip tube or even cause failure of the pump.

The object of the present invention is to provide a new dispensing container which has a dip tube and which is suitable for fluid products with coloured chips. The innovative dispensing container effectively prevents colored debris in the fluid product from blocking the dip tube and being drawn into the fluid product to damage the pump.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to avoid blocking the dip tube and damaging the pump of the dispensing system, the present invention solves the technical problem described above with a filtering device suitable for systems for dispensing fluid products mixed with debris not intended to be dispensed. The filter device filters debris and prevents them from being sucked into the dip tube.

The filtering device comprises:

-a first filter for filtering the first type of debris;

-a second filter for filtering second type of debris, said second type of debris having a smaller dimension than the dimension of said first type of debris.

This filter device is provided with a hollow central cylinder defining a passage in which the fluid product which has been filtered flows, said passage being delimited by an inlet nozzle and an outlet nozzle, the second filter being positioned in said passage, the first filter comprising an open skirt which extends outwards from the cylinder and surrounds the second filter, so that the first debris is blocked by the skirt and does not reach the second filter.

The main idea of the invention is to add a filter device in the dispensing container for filtering the debris. There are in fact two successive stages of filtration.

Small particles may be separated from the flower or petals when the flower or petals are directed into the fluid product, such as particles of pollen or pistils or stamens, etc. As a result, there are large fragments (petals, flowers) corresponding to the first type of fragments and small fragments (pollen, pistils, stamens) corresponding to the second type of fragments immersed in the fluid product. In order to filter these two types of debris, the filter device is provided with two different filters.

The first filter accomplishes filtering large debris. More precisely, the petals, flowers, etc. are stopped by the skirt. Large debris abuts the outer wall of the skirt, whereas fluent product and small debris can pass through the opening of the skirt and reach the second filter.

The second filter is designed to filter small debris. As a result, small fragments abut against the outer wall of the second filter, while the fluid product can pass through the second filter, enter the channel inside the cartridge, and then be ready to be dispensed.

A second filter is positioned in the passageway. This means that the second filter may be positioned inside the channel, also at the inlet or outlet of the channel. Any position is convenient.

According to different embodiments, they can be employed together or separately:

-the skirt has a dome shape, the cylinder being positioned axially into said dome shape: the skirt is deployed around the cylinder in some manner. This shape achieves a reduction in the fluid resistance and then the fluid product can be smoothly sucked into the channel.

The skirt has a hemispherical shape.

The skirt comprises a plurality of flared free ends separated by longitudinal slots.

The width of the notch is smaller than the dimension of the first type of chip: the first fragment abuts against the flared free end, whereas the second fragment and the fluid product can pass through the slot.

The flared free end of the skirt is shaped as an arc: they follow the general hemispherical shape of the skirt.

The skirt extends axially beyond the free end of the cylinder positioned in the vicinity of the inlet nozzle: this means that the skirt is longer than the cylinder: in this way, the skirt can rest on the bottom of the reservoir storing the fluid product and the debris, and in this way the debris cannot travel under the skirt and reach the second filter. There is no bypass under the skirt.

The second filter comprises a perforated disc closing the inlet orifice, each perforation being smaller in size than the second type of fragment: the second fragment abuts against the disc, while the fluid product is able to pass through the perforations.

The perforated disc comprises a mesh.

The perforated disc comprises intersecting ribs: for example they may be cross-ribs like stars.

The cylinder and skirt are made in one piece: they are manufactured in one process as one piece, such as for example injection molding.

The cylinder and skirt are two distinct pieces, fastened together by any known technique.

The cylindrical and perforated disc are made in one piece: they are manufactured in one process as one piece, such as for example injection molding.

The cylindrical and perforated disc are two distinct pieces, fastened together by any known technique: this is the case, for example, if the perforated disc is made of another material than the cylinder. The disc can then be attached to the bottom side of the cylinder by, for example, ultrasonic welding or by another known technique.

The cylinder, skirt and perforated disc are made in one piece: they are manufactured in one process as one piece, such as for example injection molding.

The perforated disc is provided with a protrusion centrally positioned in the disc and extending outwardly from the channel: thanks to this projection, if the first type of debris still manages to reach the second filter, it will repel it so that the latter will not stick to the disc and block the second filter. The protrusions improve the filtering effect.

The invention also relates to a system for dispensing a fluid product, comprising a dip tube, at the end of which a filtering device as has been previously described is fixed.

Finally, the invention relates to a dispensing container containing a fluid product mixed with fragments not intended to be dispensed, said container comprising a reservoir in which the fluid product and the fragments are stored, and further comprising a dispensing system having an extraction path of the fluid product starting from the reservoir and ending at a dispensing spout, said extraction path being formed in part by a dip tube, at the end of which a filtering device as has been previously described is fixed, enabling the filtration of the fragments.

Advantageously, the dip tube comprises a first end connected to the pump means of the distribution system and a second end inserted in the outlet nozzle of the cartridge of said filtering means. The diameter of the outer portion of the dip tube is designed to fit into the outlet nozzle of the barrel.

The filtering means rest on the bottom of the reservoir in order to filter all the fluid product stored in the reservoir.

Drawings

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a dispensing container according to the invention;

figure 2 illustrates a filtering device according to a first embodiment of the invention;

figure 3 illustrates the lower side of the filtering device of figure 2;

figure 4 presents the filtering device of figure 3 positioned in a corner of the reservoir;

figure 5 presents the filtering device of figure 3 positioned on the bottom of the reservoir;

figures 6a, 6b, 6c present the filtering device of the invention positioned in a corner of the reservoir;

figure 7 illustrates a filtering device according to a second embodiment of the invention;

figures 8 and 9 illustrate a second filter of a filtering device according to a third embodiment of the invention;

figure 10 is a perspective view of a filtering device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the filtering device of fig. 10.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 illustrates a dispensing container according to the present invention.

The prior art dispensing container generally includes:

a reservoir 5 for holding under pressure a fluid product 18 to be dispensed,

a collar 8 mounted on said reservoir 5,

a dispensing system of the pump 6 type, received in said collar 8,

and a push-button type spout 9 connected to said pump 6 for dispensing a fluid product 18.

The pump 6 has a dip tube 4 immersed in the fluid product 18.

When spout 9 is depressed, fluid product 18 stored in reservoir 5 is drawn into dip tube 4 and eventually pumped out for use through dispensing spout 10 of spout 9. The product 18 stored in the reservoir 5 is thus dispensed in the form of, for example, drops or a continuous stream.

In an example of application, the product 18 is an emulsion, a gel, a perfume or a cream for cosmetic use or for pharmaceutical treatment.

In the dispensing container of the invention, the reservoir 5 stores not only the fluid product 18, but also

coloured chips

19, 20, such as flowers or petals or any other kind of

decorative chips

19, 20.

The filter device 1 is mounted on the lower end of the dipleg 4. This lower end corresponds to the free end of the dipleg 4, which is usually positioned at the bottom of the reservoir 5. The filter device 1 is therefore completely immersed in the fluid product.

The filter device 1 is depicted more precisely in fig. 2 and 3.

The filter device 1 is provided with a cylinder 2, a skirt 3 and a perforated disc 13 at the bottom of the cylinder 2.

The cartridge 2 is hollow and defines a passage 23 for the fluid product 18 to be filtered, with an upper opening corresponding to the outlet nozzle 21 and a lower opening corresponding to the inlet nozzle 22 (see figure 11). The lower opening is closed by a perforated disc 13.

The dipleg 4 is inserted into the upper opening of this cylinder 2. The cylinder 2 is thus provided with a free end 17 oriented towards the bottom of the reservoir 5.

The skirt 3 extends radially outwards and downwards from the outer wall of the cylinder 2. The skirt 3 surrounds the cylinder 2. The cylinder 2 is axially positioned in the skirt 3.

In this embodiment, the skirt 3 is fixed approximately at the upper half of the cylindrical member 2 (half way up). The skirt 3 may be fixed to the upper end of the cylinder 2 or at any other height of the cylinder 2.

The skirt 3 comprises a plurality of flared free ends 11 separated by longitudinal slots 12. This means that the slot 12 is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder 2.

The skirt 3 comprises at least two flared free ends separated by two notches 12. The slot 12 is thin compared to the flared free end 11.

Preferably, the skirt 3 is divided into four flared free ends 11 separated by four notches 12. The purpose of this is to achieve that the fluid product 18 passes through the skirt 3 by means of a small inlet (i.e. the slot 12) in order to reach the cylinder 2.

The notches 12 are designed to let the fluid product 18 pass, but to block debris, in particular large debris 19 like petals or flowers. Each slot 12 is thus dimensioned to be smaller than the size of these kinds of chips 19 in the wet state. The slot 12 can be designed smaller or larger depending on the debris 19 stored in the reservoir 5.

For example, the width of the slot 12, i.e. the distance between the two flared free ends 11, is comprised between 3 mm and 0.5 mm. Preferably, the width of the notch 12 is comprised between 2.5 mm and 1 mm. More preferably, the width of the notch 12 is equal to 1.5 mm.

For example, the large fragments 19 are larger than 1 mm.

Advantageously, the notches 12 are not cut along the entire length of the skirt 3, which means that they do not contact the cylinder 2 where they extend from the skirt 3. For example, the notch 12 is cut at the upper half of the skirt 3. This achieves that the skirt 3 remains rigid and avoids any deformation of the flared free end 11 which may be caused by an overpressure entering the reservoir 5 at the time of pumping.

Preferably, the skirt 3 is a rotating member having a central X axis. The skirt 3 has a dome shape. For example, the skirt 3 may have an overall hemispherical shape. The flared free end 11 is shaped as an arc, with which the fluid product 18 can be sucked smoothly into the dipleg 4, in order to reduce the fluid resistance.

In another variant, the skirt 3 may have a spherical shape with identical notches 12 evenly distributed over the entire sphere. In this case, there are no longer flared free ends 11, or there may be free ends each having a petal shape, i.e. flared portions with a centre. The lower part of the cartridge 2 with the second filter will be hidden inside the skirt 3.

The perforated disc 13 provided at the bottom of the cylinder 2, i.e. at the lower opening of the cylinder 2, corresponds to the grid in fig. 2, 3 and 10.

The perforations 24 of the grid are designed to be smaller than the slots 12 of the skirt 3, since they function to stop small fragments that have not previously been blocked by the slots 12.

The skirt 3 with the notches 12 corresponds to a first filter for filtering large debris 19 and the perforated disc 13 corresponds to a second filter for filtering small debris 20.

These small fragments 20 may be particles from flowers, such as pollen, pistils, stamens, etc.

The fluid product 18 arriving in the channel 23 of the cartridge 2 has successfully passed through the first and second filters. These two levels of filters enable dispensing of good quality fluid product 18 without any coarse material entering it.

Both the dimensions of the slot 12 and the perforations 24 may be adjusted according to the

actual chip

19, 20 size requirements.

It is important for the first filter to have notches 12 designed to be larger than the perforations 24 of the second filter to stop larger debris 19 that might otherwise block the mesh 19. For example, the petals may cover the mesh and impede passage of the fluid product 18 through the second filter.

For this reason, the perforated disc 13 is advantageously provided with a centrally located protrusion 14, as depicted in fig. 10 and 11. Said projections 14 correspond to pins extending axially outwards from the disc 13, said pins having a height H1 comprised between 0.2 mm and 0.35 mm and preferably equal to 0.3 mm. This height H1 is dimensioned so as to keep large debris 19 away from the perforations 24. By such a projection 14, the petals or flowers cannot be attached to the perforations 24.

More precisely, the projections 14 enable the perforated disc 13 to have an irregular surface, so that:

the petals cannot be applied flat to the perforated disc 13;

no planar contact is obtained between the perforated disc 13 and the bottom of the reservoir 5, so that the fluid product can enter the inlet nozzle 22 of the channel 23.

This protrusion 14 enhances the filtering effect.

Advantageously, the cylinder 2, skirt 3 and perforated disc 13 are manufactured in one process (such as injection moulding) as one piece, as illustrated in fig. 2 and 3.

In this embodiment, the perforations 24 comprise an array of openings each having a square profile or a circular profile.

For example, each opening has a square profile with a length comprised between 0.2 mm and 6 mm. Preferably, the length of the square is between 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm. More preferably, the length of the square is 0.4 mm.

Alternatively, each opening has a rectangular profile with a long side having a length between 0.6 mm and 0.22 mm.

For example, the small fragments 20 have a size comprised between 0.5 mm and 1 mm.

In another embodiment, depicted in fig. 8 and 9, the perforated disc 13 comprises crossed ribs, forming for example a star shape at the bottom of the cylinder 2. Other shapes may be suitable. The free spaces between adjacent ribs correspond to the perforations 24. In these figures, the skirt 3 is not depicted for better clarity.

However, the opening size of the perforations 24 is limited due to limitations of the injection molding process. For this reason, alternatively, the filter device 1 may be manufactured in two pieces, as illustrated in fig. 7. In this embodiment, the cylinder 2 and skirt 3 are manufactured in one process as one piece, while the perforated disc 13 is another piece made of some material (such as nylon) so that the perforations 24 of the mesh can be sized smaller. In this case the grid is attached to the bottom side of the cylinder 2, for example by ultrasonic welding. Other kinds of well-known connection types may be used. Advantageously, the perforated disc 13 is made of sintered polypropylene or sintered polyethylene.

As shown in fig. 4 and 5, the immersion tube 4 is designed to be long enough for the filter device 1 to reach the bottom of the reservoir 5. More precisely, the flared free end 11 of the skirt 3 rests on the bottom of the reservoir 5 or in a corner of the reservoir 5. In this way, the fluid product 18 must first pass through the filtering device 1 before reaching the passage 23 and the dipleg 4.

Optionally, the skirt 3 extends axially beyond the free end 17 of the cylinder 2. This means that the skirt 3 is longer than the cartridge 2, so that the cartridge 2 does not rest on the bottom of the reservoir 5, otherwise the fluid product 18 cannot reach the second filter. The skirt 3 serves as a propulsion base. The skirt 3 projects from the barrel 2 by a height H2 as depicted in fig. 11. This height H2 is comprised between 0.4 mm and 0.6 mm. Preferably, said height H2 is equal to 0.5 mm.

The skirt 3 is dimensioned so as to create a sufficient annular volume between the skirt 3 (i.e. the first filter) and the perforated disc 13 (i.e. the second filter), to some extent to avoid the accumulation of small particles (i.e. particles passing through the first filter but blocked by the second filter).

For this purpose, as depicted in fig. 11, the radial distance D between the free end of the skirt 3 and the free end 17 of the cylinder 2 must be:

large enough to avoid accumulation of particles and clogging of the second filter;

an oversized skirt 3 small enough to avoid having an oversized gap resulting between the circular free end of the skirt 3 and the reservoir 5.

Such a gap is depicted in fig. 6a, when the filter device 1 is positioned in a corner, while the fluid product being sucked will bypass the first filter. Such gaps may correspond to the distances d1 and d2 between the circular free end of the skirt 3 and the lateral wall 5a of the reservoir 5, and to the distances d3 and d4 between the circular free end of the skirt 3 and the wall 5b of the bottom of the reservoir 5,

in this case, the skirt 3 has a contact point C1 with the lateral wall 5a of the reservoir 5 and a contact point C2 with the bottom wall 5b of the reservoir 5.

For example, the radial distance D is comprised between 1.5 and 5 mm, and preferably between 2 mm and 4 mm. More preferably, the radial distance D is comprised between 2.5 mm and 3.5 mm.

The diameter of the outer portion of the skirt 3 is comprised between 8 mm and 16 mm. Preferably, the diameter of the outer portion of the skirt 3 is comprised between 10 mm and 14 mm.

Fig. 6c illustrates a large skirt 3. The dashed lines present a boundary that allows occlusion of a large object 19 like a petal. Here, the large petals 19 can reach the second filter 13 as they travel in the Z direction between the walls 5a, 5b of the reservoir 5 and the dotted line. The petals 19 within the dotted lines are blocked by the skirt 3.

Fig. 6b illustrates that the skirt has such a small dimension that all large objects 19 like petals are stopped by the first filter, i.e. the skirt 3, and none of them can reach the second filter 13. Nevertheless, the volume between the walls 5a, 5b of the reservoir 5 and the dotted line is so narrow that small particles 20 (particles 20 that have passed the first filter 3) accumulate and eventually deteriorate the filtration quality of the second filter 13. In practice, this area is too narrow for small particles 20 to move freely without accumulating in front of the second filter 13.

Optionally, the dip tube 4 abuts against a shoulder 15 provided into the inner wall of the cylinder 2, as depicted in fig. 11.

Advantageously, the inner wall of the cylinder 2 is provided with a narrow section 16 in the vicinity of the outlet nozzle 21, enabling the creation of a seal at the junction between the cylinder 2 and the dip tube 4.

Preferably, in order to promote the desired low visibility optical effect of the filter device 1 when immersed in the liquid fragrance, the filter device 1 is made of a material having a suitable transparency. For this purpose, the filter device 1 is made of the following materials:

-has a refractive index in the range between about 1.36 and 1.44, since it corresponds to the refractive index of conventional perfumes made of acetone or ethanol;

-and comprising fluorine.

Although the filtering device 1 of the present invention has been described above with reference to the specific embodiments shown in the drawings, it should be understood that modifications and variations can be made to the first and second filters without departing from the intended scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. Filter device (1) for a system for dispensing a fluid product (18) mixed with debris (19, 20) not intended to be dispensed, said filter device (1) comprising:

-a first filter for filtering first type of debris (19);

-a second filter for filtering second type of fragments (20), said second type of fragments (20) having a smaller dimension than the dimension of said first type of fragments (19);

the filtering device (1) is provided with a hollow central cylinder (2), the hollow central cylinder (2) defining a channel (23) in which the fluid product (18) that has been filtered flows, the channel (23) being delimited by an inlet nozzle (22) and an outlet nozzle (21), the second filter being positioned in the channel (23), the first filter comprising an open skirt (3), the open skirt (3) extending outwards from the central cylinder (2) and surrounding the second filter, so that the first type of debris (19) is blocked by the skirt (3) and does not reach the second filter.

2. A filter device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the skirt (3) has a dome shape into which the central cylinder (2) is axially positioned.

3. A filter device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the skirt (3) comprises a plurality of flared free ends (11) separated by longitudinal slots (12).

4. A filter device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the width of the slot (12) is smaller than the dimension of the first type of debris (19).

5. A filter device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the flared free end (11) of the skirt (3) is shaped as an arc.

6. A filter device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the skirt (3) extends axially beyond a free end (17) of the central cylinder (2) positioned in the vicinity of the inlet nozzle (22).

7. A filter device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second filter comprises a perforated disc (13), the perforated disc (13) closing the inlet nozzle (22), each perforation having a size smaller than the size of the second type of fragments (20).

8. A filter device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the perforated disc (13) comprises a mesh.

9. A filter device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the perforated disc (13) comprises cross ribs.

10. A filter device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the central cylinder (2) and the skirt (3) are made in one piece.

11. A filter device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the central cylindrical piece (2) and the perforated disc (13) are made in one piece.

12. A filter device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the perforated disc (13) is provided with a protrusion (14), the protrusion (14) being centrally positioned in the perforated disc (13) and extending outwardly from the channel (23).

13. The filter device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the filter device (1) is made of a material having a refractive index in the range between 1.36 and 1.44.

14. A filter device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the filter device (1) is made of a material comprising fluorine.

15. System for dispensing a fluid product (18), comprising a dip tube (4), at the end of which dip tube (4) a filtering device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14 is fixed.

16. Dispensing container containing a fluid product (18) mixed with fragments (19, 20) not intended to be dispensed, said container comprising a reservoir (5) in which said fluid product (18) and said fragments (19, 20) are stored, and further comprising a dispensing system having an extraction path of the fluid product starting from said reservoir (5) and ending at a dispensing spout (10), said extraction path being formed in part by a dip tube (4), at the end of which dip tube (4) a filtering device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14 is fixed, enabling the filtration of said fragments (19, 20).

17. Dispensing container according to claim 16, wherein the dip tube (4) comprises a first end connected to a pump means (6) of the dispensing system and a second end inserted into the outlet spout (21) of the central cartridge (2) of the filtering means (1).

18. Dispensing container according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the filter device (1) rests on the bottom of the reservoir (5).