HK1190664B - System for closing a device for the low-pressure dispensing of a pasty liquid material - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for dispensing a pasty liquid material (2) by means of a low-pressure manual metering pump (5), which is provided with an system for closing an end (32), and which is intended for a rigid or flexible container (4), the operation of said pump being ensured by: a lower check valve (11) and a metering chamber (10) which consists of a resiliently deformable bellows (9) and which is in communication with an upper valve (14) consisting of, in series: a stopper (16) for the channel (13) of the spout (8), which ensures that the end (32) is closed; a resiliently deformable diaphragm (15) enabling the stopper (16) to be opened; an auxiliary return member (17) suitable for the low pressures causing the closing of the stopper (16); and a sealed vessel (18), characterized in that the resiliently deformable diaphragm (15) is combined with the vessel (18) that said diaphragm seals, wherein the auxiliary return member (17) is arranged inside said vessel so as to be permanently linked to the diaphragm (15), and said vessel includes two levels (19, 20) that are resiliently deformable according to various characteristics.

Description

System for closing an apparatus for low-pressure dispensing of pasty liquid materials

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a dispensing apparatus equipped with an end closure system for dispensing a liquid to a pasty product free of any preservative, the dispensing apparatus comprising a pump and a push button cooperating with an end closure device.

Background

It is well known to use pumps operating at high pressure to dispense products of this type, particularly in the pharmaceutical field, for example for preservative-free nasal sprays. These pumps have operating pressures varying from 3 bar to 7 bar. This has the disadvantage of dispensing small doses (less than 0.5ml) due to the small cross-section of the metering chamber required to generate these high pressures.

However, some products and some uses require larger metering. This is why in these cases it has to be resorted to pumps operating at low pressure, for example below 2 bar.

However, this type of pump has the disadvantage of requiring a low force for end closure, which results in the use of large shut-off valves and valve return members suitable for low pressures, making it sensitive to differences in external atmospheric pressure. This can result in improper opening of the valve, resulting in inadvertent dispensing of the product and/or accidental bacterial back contamination of the product, since the product is not protected by the antimicrobial preservative.

Disclosure of Invention

The latter type of pump is intended to be placed on the open end of a rigid or flexible tank (content) containing the product to be dispensed in a predetermined quantity.

The pump generally comprises:

-a base element added to the tank;

-an elastically deformable bellows defining a metering chamber arranged to be connected to:

-a button telescopically mounted on the base element, comprising:

-a closed-end system ensuring the functioning of the pump and formed by:

-a lower check valve, associated with the base element, allowing the passage of the product to:

-a metering chamber, constituted by an elastically deformable bellows of variable volume, communicating with:

-an upper check valve formed continuously from: a blocking member blocking the passage of the spout to ensure closing of the end; a resiliently deformable diaphragm capable of being excited to deform by the product when the pump is actuated to allow the barrier to open; an auxiliary return member adapted for a low pressure, urging the barrier closed; and a hermetically sealed container.

According to the invention, in order to remedy the drawbacks in the devices of the type cited at the outset, the elastically deformable membrane forming the upper valve is associated with a container that is hermetically sealed thereto, and an auxiliary return member permanently connected to the membrane is arranged axially inside the container, the auxiliary return member comprising two elastically deformable stages (etage) of different characteristics, the first stage maintaining a constant return force of a predetermined value pressing against said membrane and therefore against the barrier of the spout channel, the second stage being interposed between the first stage and the bottom of the container and maintaining a return force greater than that of the first stage, and acting only when a load is applied to the membrane, or vice versa.

The invention also relates to features which will become evident throughout the following description, and which are considered individually or in any possible technical combination thereof.

Drawings

The present description, given by way of non-limiting example, will give a better understanding of how the invention may be carried into effect with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

all the figures are axial cross-sectional views of a dispensing pump according to the invention arranged on a tank containing the product to be dispensed and showing the pump as follows:

FIG. 1: prior to initial use;

FIG. 2: during the first start-up phase of the pump, that is by pushing F1 of the push button downwards, which causes the volume of the metering chamber to decrease by compressing the bellows and the opening of the upper valve by increasing the air pressure on the diaphragm, which itself causes the compression of the auxiliary return member;

FIG. 3: in a second starting phase of the pump, i.e. when the upper valve is closed firstly by a reduction of the air pressure on the diaphragm and secondly by the force exerted by the auxiliary return member, the state of the push-button in the bottom position;

FIG. 4: in the third phase of the pump start-up, i.e. when the button is lifted F2 under the action of the resilient return force of the bellows, the effect is to increase the volume of the metering chamber, causing a pressure drop in the same chamber and the opening of the lower valve, so that the product can rise in the metering chamber formed by the bellows; this same pressure drop has the effect of enhancing the closing of the upper valve by acting on the elastically deformable diaphragm of the upper valve.

FIG. 5: during a fourth phase of activation of the pump, that is to say during the first dispensing of the product, by pushing down again the F3 button, this causes a reduction in the volume of the metering chamber by compressing the bellows and an opening of the upper valve by increasing the pressure of the product to be dispensed on the diaphragm, which itself causes the compression of the auxiliary return member and the appearance of the product through the dispensing spout;

FIG. 6: in the fifth and last phase of starting up of the pump, i.e. when the upper valve is closed firstly by the reduction of the pressure of the product to be dispensed on the membrane and secondly by the force exerted by the auxiliary return member, the condition of the push-button in the bottom position. After this final stage and the lifting of the push-button F5 as described in fig. 4, the device is in a standby state for further dispensing of the product by pressing down on the push-button according to F4 and its subsequent lifting according to F5.

Detailed Description

The apparatus, designated as a whole by 1 in the accompanying drawings, is used for dispensing a liquid into a pasty liquid 2 by means of a metering pump 5 equipped with a system for closing the end 32, which is placed on the open end 3 of a rigid or flexible tank 4 containing the product 2 to be dispensed in a predetermined quantity.

The manual low-pressure metering pump 5 comprises:

a base element 6, which is added to the tank 4;

an elastically deformable bellows 9 defining a metering chamber 10, the metering chamber 10 being arranged to be connected to:

a push-button 7 telescopically mounted on the base element 6, comprising:

a system for closing the end 32, which ensures the functioning of the pump and is formed by:

a lower check valve 11, associated with the base element 6, allowing the passage of the product 2:

a metering chamber 10, constituted by a bellows 9 of variable volume, elastically deformable, and communicating with:

an upper check valve 14, formed in succession by: a stop 16, which is intended to block the passage 13 of the spout 8, ensuring the closing of the end 32; an elastically deformable membrane 15 which can be excited by the product 2 to deform to allow the barrier 16 to open when the pump 5 is actuated; an auxiliary return member 17, suitable for low pressure, which causes the closing of the obstacle 16; and a gas-impermeable container 18.

According to the invention, the elastically deformable membrane 15 forming the upper valve 14 is associated with a container 18 hermetically sealed thereto, and the auxiliary return member 17 is arranged axially inside the container 18. This member is permanently connected to the diaphragm 15 and comprises two elastically deformable stages 19, 20 having different characteristics.

The first stage 19 maintains a constant return force of a predetermined value pressing against said diaphragm 15 and therefore against the stop 16 of the channel 13 of the spout 8. The second stage 20 is placed between the first stage 19 and the bottom 21 of the vessel 18 and maintains a return force greater than that of the first stage 19 and is only active when a load is applied to the diaphragm 15, or vice versa.

The first stage 19 and the second stage 20 may have different characteristics but the same geometry; but according to this example of embodiment it has different characteristics and different geometries.

Thus, the first and second stages 19, 20 forming the auxiliary return member 17 originate from a central core 22, the first stage 19 extending radially around it and having a first elastically hinged inner peripheral zone 23, the inner peripheral zone 23 being adjacent to the core 22 and being continued by an outer peripheral zone 24 exerting pressure on an inner wall 25 of the container 18, the second stage 20 extending axially from the same central core 22 and forming a bell, the inner peripheral zone 26 of which forms, adjacent to the core 22, an elastic hinge, said elastic hinge extending through the outer peripheral zone 27, the outer peripheral zone 27 exerting pressure on the bottom 21 of the container 18 and being also capable of exerting pressure on its inner wall 28 when a load is applied to the diaphragm 15.

Firstly, since the container 18 is hermetically sealed, it is the fact that, when the apparatus is at rest, the pressure P2 of the container 18 is equal to the pressure of the ambient air at the time of initial assembly of the apparatus 1, i.e. equal to atmospheric pressure. Secondly, since the tank 4 by virtue of its functioning without air admission necessarily has a variable volume and the lower valve 11 cannot be completely sealed, it is the fact that the pressure P3 of the metering chamber 12 varies following the ambient pressure P1.

For this reason, when the push-button 7 is lifted or when the device 1 is placed in an environment of low pressure P1(P1 lower than atmospheric pressure), for example when travelling by airplane, the pressure P3 of the metering chamber decreases and becomes lower than the initial atmospheric pressure and therefore lower than P2, P2 remaining unchanged and therefore equal to atmospheric pressure, since it is held hermetically inside the container 18.

P1 is not less than P3< P2 is atmospheric pressure P.

The pressure differential between P3 and P2 creates a force on diaphragm 15, thereby enhancing the force applied to barrier 16 and, thus, the seal.

According to the present example of embodiment, the outer peripheral zones 24, 27 of the first and second stages 19, 20 of the auxiliary return member 17, which extend the inner peripheral zones 23, 26 thereof, are continuous.

However, the peripheral zones 24, 27 may also form articulated arms.

The auxiliary return member 17 formed by the first and second stages 19, 20 is made in one piece by moulding a thermoplastic elastomer material (TPE) or a thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) or a silicon-based material or any other material providing similar properties.

Similarly, the elastically deformable diaphragm 15 and its barrier 16 (forming part of the upper valve 14) are made in a single piece by moulding a thermoplastic elastomer material (TPE) or a thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) or a silicon-based material or any other material providing similar characteristics.

According to another feature of the invention, said barrier 16 of the elastically deformable diaphragm 15 forming part of the upper valve 14 is reinforced by a rigid inner core 29, this rigid inner core 29 being exposed from said diaphragm 15 and being mechanically coupled with the first stage 19 of the auxiliary return member 17.

Preferably, the elastically deformable diaphragm 15 and its barrier 16 and rigid inner core 29 forming part of the upper valve 14 are obtained by means of a two-material injection.

According to the present structure, the elastically deformable membrane 15 forming part of the upper valve 14 is held clamped against the container 18 between a shoulder 30 of the push-button 7 and a peripheral zone 31 of said container 18.

The constituent materials of the push button 7, the elastically deformable diaphragm 15, the elastically deformable bellows 9, the lower valve 11, and the base member 6 contain an antibacterial agent.

Claims (12)

1. Device (1) for dispensing a liquid to a pasty product (2) by means of a manual metering pump (5), said manual metering pump (5) operating at low pressure and being equipped with an end closure system (32), said end closure system (32) being intended to be placed on the open end (3) of a rigid or flexible tank (4) containing said product (2) to be dispensed in a predetermined amount, said manual metering pump (5) comprising:

-a base element (6) added to said tank (4);

-an elastically deformable bellows (9) defining a metering chamber (10), the metering chamber (10) being arranged to be connected to:

-a button (7) telescopically mounted on said base element (6), comprising:

-an end closure system (32) ensuring the functioning of said manual dosing pump and formed by:

-a lower check valve (11) associated with said base element (6) allowing the passage of said product (2) to:

-a metering chamber (10) constituted by said elastically deformable bellows (9) of variable volume and communicating with:

-an upper check valve (14) formed in succession by: a blocking element (16) which blocks the passage (13) of the spout (8), ensuring the closing of the end (32); an elastically deformable diaphragm (15) capable of being excited by the product (2) to deform to allow the barrier (16) to open when the manual metering pump (5) is actuated; -an auxiliary return member (17) adapted to be depressed to cause the closing of the obstacle (16); and a gas-impermeable container (18),

the method is characterized in that: the elastically deformable membrane (15) being associated with a container (18) hermetically sealed thereto, and the auxiliary return member (17) permanently connected to the elastically deformable membrane (15) being arranged axially inside the container (18), the auxiliary return member (17) comprising two elastically deformable stages having different characteristics, a first stage (19) maintaining a constant return force of a predetermined value pressing against the elastically deformable membrane (15) and therefore against the barrier (16) of the channel (13) of the spout (8), a second stage (20) being interposed between the first stage (19) and the bottom (21) of the container (18) and maintaining a return force greater than that of the first stage (19), acting only when a load is applied to the elastically deformable membrane (15), or vice versa.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the first stage (19) and the second stage (20) have different characteristics and different geometries.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the first stage (19) and the second stage (20) have different characteristics but the same geometry.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 or 3, wherein: the first and second stages (19, 20) forming the auxiliary return member (17) originate from a central core (22), the first stage (19) extending radially around the central core (22) and having an inner peripheral zone (23) of a first elastically hinged first stage (19), the inner peripheral zone (23) of the first stage (19) being close to the central core (22) and being continued by an outer peripheral zone (24) of the first stage (19) exerting pressure on an inner wall (25) of the container (18) close to the first stage (19), the second stage (20) extending axially from the same central core (22) and forming a bell, the inner peripheral zone (26) of the second stage (20) forming an elastic hinge close to the central core (22), the elastic hinge extending through an outer peripheral zone (27) of the second stage (20), a peripheral zone (27) of the second stage (20) exerts pressure on the bottom (21) of the container (18) and is also able to exert pressure on an inner wall (28) of the container (18) close to the second stage (20) when a load is applied to the elastically deformable membrane (15).

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein: the outer peripheral zone (24) of the auxiliary return member (17) of the first stage (19) extending the inner peripheral zone (23) of the first stage (19) is continuous and the outer peripheral zone (27) of the auxiliary return member (17) of the second stage (20) extending the inner peripheral zone (26) of the second stage (20) is continuous.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein: an outer peripheral zone (24) of the auxiliary return member (17) of the first stage (19) extending an inner peripheral zone (23) of the first stage (19) forms an articulated arm of the first stage (19), and an outer peripheral zone (27) of the auxiliary return member (17) of the second stage (20) extending an inner peripheral zone (26) of the second stage (20) forms an articulated arm of the second stage (20).

7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: the auxiliary return member (17) formed by the first stage (19) and the second stage (20) is made in a single piece by moulding a thermoplastic elastomer material (TPE) or a thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV).

8. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: the elastically deformable diaphragm (15) and its barrier (16) forming part of the upper check valve (14) are made in one piece by moulding a thermoplastic elastomer material (TPE) or a thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV).

9. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: the barrier (16) of the elastically deformable diaphragm (15) forming part of the upper check valve (14) is reinforced by a rigid core (29), the rigid core (29) emerging from the elastically deformable diaphragm (15) and mechanically coupled with the first stage (19) of the auxiliary return member (17).

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein: the elastically deformable diaphragm (15) and its barrier (16) forming part of the upper check valve (14) and the rigid core (29) are obtained by bi-material injection.

11. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: the elastically deformable membrane (15) forming part of the upper check valve (14) is held clamped against the container (18) between a shoulder (30) of the push-button (7) and a peripheral zone (31) of the container (18).

12. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: the constituent materials of the push button (7), the elastically deformable diaphragm (15), the elastically deformable bellows (9), the lower check valve (11) and the base element (6) contain an antibacterial agent.