JP2009120245A - Foaming pump for easily solidifying liquid content - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that liquid often flows reversely to the inside of an air cylinder to make a spout impossible in a manual liquid pump of mixing liquid and air to foam and spout the mixture. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid flows reversely from an air-liquid mixing chamber (9f) where the liquid and air meet each other through an air passage (9b) to the air cylinder side. The reverse flow to the air cylinder is lessened by narrowing the air passage and lessening an amount of dwelling liquid in the passage. The spouted highly viscous liquid flowing reversely and attaching to an air valve element (10) impedes the operation of the air valve extremely to disable the pump. On the other hand, the pump has a funnel-like air valve element comprising an air suction valve on the large diameter side and a cylindrical spouting valve (10c) on the small diameter side. The cylindrical spouting valve is divided into thin pieces each having a small area by forming many slits (10s). By this, the valve can be easily opened or closed by the air pressure of the cylinder even if the highly viscous liquid is attached to the air valve. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention is a manual foam pump that converts a liquid in a container into a foam and discharges the liquid. In particular, the present invention is applied to a liquid having a property of increasing viscosity by evaporation.

Conventionally, a manual foam pump has a pair of cylinders and pistons for liquid (small diameter) and a cylinder and piston for air (large diameter), respectively, and pulls a trigger engaged with the piston or pulls the tip of the piston. By reciprocating by pressurizing with a finger, the outside air and the liquid in the bottle are taken into the cylinder, and then the gas is mixed with the liquid when discharged and discharged as a foam from the nozzle.

Thus, the pump for taking out the liquid by foaming seems to be effectively used for various liquids such as lotions, detergents, antifungal agents and the like, but has a drawback.

That is, as described above, the foam generating pump has an air cylinder and a liquid cylinder, and the gas and the liquid are merged at the upper end outlet thereof, and further integrated in the uniform mixing chamber. The valve provided in the air cylinder is responsible for sending the air in the cylinder to the gas-liquid mixing chamber when compressed by the piston, and for sucking the air outside the bottle into the air cylinder when the piston is restored. However, when the opening and closing of the piston is delayed with respect to the movement of the piston, the liquid remaining downstream from the gas-liquid junction is sucked into the air cylinder. As a result, the malfunction of the air valve to which the liquid has adhered becomes unusable. In the meantime, the amount of air discharged is reduced by the liquid staying in the air cylinder, and appropriate bubbles are not generated.

It is customary to consider that it is almost impossible to prevent liquid intrusion into the air cylinder in such a manual pump, and the manufacturer of a bottle with a pump has two packs per bottle with a pump. The present situation is that it is sufficient that the replenisher can be filled and used, in other words, if the air cylinder is not filled with liquid by the amount used. However, as a pump that can be used for a longer period of time, a mechanism has been developed in which a liquid staying in an air cylinder is discharged together with air to form bubbles by a normal pumping operation.

Further, depending on the nature of the liquid filled in the bottle, the liquid adhering to the ball as the air discharge valve dries and increases its viscosity so that the valve does not operate. Disc type valves have been disclosed as solutions to this operation.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-34035 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-39460 (FIG. 4)

When the liquid discharge pump attached to the bottle is operated, bubbles are discharged, but some bubbles remain downstream (nozzle side) of the air discharge valve. Over time, the bubbles separate from the gas and become liquid, and flow downward (mainly upstream). A part of the bubbles reaches the air discharge valve through the air passage, and adheres to the valve to make its operation difficult. Furthermore, the liquid staying in the valve part may flow back into the air cylinder when the valve is opened and closed, and one of the problems is to reduce the amount of staying liquid.

The liquid filled in the bottle has a large viscosity like a certain disinfectant and is difficult to discharge with a manual pump, or cannot be taken out in the form of foam. In this case, there is no problem in diluting the liquid with water or alcohol. However, if a certain degree of viscosity is required or the diluting liquid is likely to evaporate, the liquid will adhere to the discharge valve for air and dry. This makes it difficult to operate the valve. For this reason, the operability of the valve becomes a problem.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the invention of claim 1, the pneumatic valve body is formed in a funnel shape, and the small-diameter side cylinder portion is inserted and fitted into the peripheral wall surface of the circumferential groove-shaped valve seat formed in the liquid cylinder outer diameter portion. The air pressure in the cylinder is configured as an air discharge side valve, and on the other hand, the large diameter flange valve portion is brought into contact with a flange-like portion formed on the air piston shaft to form an air intake side valve for opening and closing the air intake side valve hole. A valve that can respond to changes instantly, reducing the amount of liquid flowing back into the air cylinder.

In the invention of claim 2, in the air valve body which is a funnel shape and the outer diameter of the small-diameter side cylindrical portion is inserted and fitted into the circumferential groove-shaped valve seat, the small-diameter side cylindrical portion is 2-4 from the lower end edge. A valve body sensitive to changes in atmospheric pressure in the cylinder was obtained by means of making the bottom part into pieces by means of a longitudinal slit of the book.

In the invention of claim 3, in the air valve body which is a funnel shape and the outer diameter of the small diameter side cylindrical portion is fitted to the circumferential groove-shaped valve seat, the inner diameter of the small diameter side cylindrical portion faces the inner diameter. The distance between the outer diameter 6b of the liquid piston shaft 6 is set to 0.5 to 1.0 mm, the movable distance of the skirt strip of the small diameter side cylinder portion is reduced, and the liquid stays in a reverse flow from the upper end of the liquid piston shaft. The amount was small.

The air valve body of the liquid discharge pump according to the present invention has a funnel shape with a large diameter at the top and a small diameter at the bottom, and by slicing a slit at the skirt of the small diameter side cylindrical portion, Even if the discharged liquid adheres to this part, any strip is opened and closed in response to the pressure change in the cylinder. That is, at the same time as the inside of the air cylinder becomes negative pressure, the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter portion of the valve body is in close contact with the surrounding valve seat, blocking the communication between the cylinder and the air passage, and the flange portion on the large-diameter side is Release the air intake hole by releasing the close contact with the flange part of the shaft. Conversely, when the pressure in the air cylinder rises, the flange portion on the large diameter side closes the intake hole, and the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion releases the close contact to allow ventilation.

In addition, by reducing the movable space (D) of the air discharge valve, that is, the small-diameter side cylinder, all the liquid remaining in this space is discharged from the nozzle to the outside together with the discharge air at the next pump operation. As a result, the amount of air sucked into the air cylinder was extremely small.

When the viscosity of the liquid to be discharged as a foam is large, it is usually diluted appropriately and put into a container for use. However, depending on the properties of the diluted liquid, there are some which are easily evaporated and solidified. Some are used in a state of high viscosity. When such liquid adheres to the air discharge valve and solidifies it, the valve becomes inoperable. In the valve body of the discharge container of the present invention, a slit is formed in the cylindrical discharge valve portion on the small diameter side. During operation, if some of the strips are finely moved, the pressure will concentrate there and the valve will be opened, air will flow there, and air mixing with the content liquid will occur. It becomes possible to erupt as a normal foam.

  The present invention is a manual liquid discharge foam pump mainly for a liquid having a viscosity of 1 or more. Usually, in a manual-type liquid discharge foam pump, the backflow of liquid to the air cylinder occurs along the air discharge path, and it is necessary to reduce the air discharge path as a backflow prevention measure. In the present invention, the valve body is structured such that the passage from the air cylinder until the gas-liquid is mixed is made small and that it is easy to operate even when a highly viscous liquid adheres.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a state where the pneumatic valve body of the present invention is mounted on a manual liquid discharge pump and the head is pushed in (foam liquid discharge), and the right side of the center line is shown in cross section. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the main part showing the path of the liquid and air from the air cylinder through the air valve body to the gas-liquid mixing chamber, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the air valve body and a side view of a partial cross section thereof. FIG. 4 shows a conventional example.

  The pump mechanism of the manual liquid ejector 1 will be described with reference to FIG. An accumulator 2 having an air cylinder 2a having an outer diameter that can be inserted into a bottle (not shown) and a liquid cylinder 2b having a smaller diameter on a concentric circle is near the upper end of the air cylinder 2a. The liquid cylinder 2b is formed with a flange 2c overhanging, and a liquid-absorbing valve seat 2d is formed at the lower end of the liquid-cylinder 2b, and a small-diameter cylindrical portion 2e is formed below the liquid-absorbing valve seat 2d. Are mated.

The inner diameter R of the liquid cylinder 2b is a liquid passage, and a valve shaft 5 is inserted and erected on the upper part of the ball valve 3. The valve shaft 5 engages with a lower end portion of the inner diameter of the piston shaft for liquid described later to prevent liquid leakage when not in use.

The liquid piston shaft 6 is inserted into the liquid cylinder 2b against the spring 14 by fitting and mounting a liquid piston 7 on the outer diameter portion (downward in the drawing). A ball valve 8 is provided above the inner diameter R of the piston shaft 6 for liquid, and a circumferential groove-shaped valve seat 6a having a groove width of 1.0 to 2.0 mm is provided on the outer diameter. An outer peripheral surface of a later-described air valve body 10 is fitted to the groove wall surface of the circumferential groove-shaped valve seat 6a, and air is discharged or blocked by its elasticity.

The first cylinder portion 9a of the air piston shaft 9 is externally fitted to the upper portion of the liquid piston shaft 6 above the circumferential groove-shaped valve seat 6a, and a gap groove 9b is provided in the fitting portion. Air circulation is possible. The piston 9d is provided around the first cylinder portion 9a through the flange portion 9c so as to be airtightly slid on the body wall surface of the air cylinder 2a. Further, the flange portion 9c is provided with one to several valve holes 9h for sucking air, and a second cylindrical portion 9p is extended below the flange 9c. Mated.

A cross-shaped path 9e and a gas-liquid mixing chamber 9f are formed above the upper half upper end of the air piston shaft 9, that is, above the fitting portion with the liquid piston shaft 6. It is connected to the attached bubble generation chamber 11b. A head 11 is fitted and attached to the outer diameter portion of the tip of the air piston shaft 9 via a tee holder 12, and a nozzle 11a is integrally formed at the tip of the head.

FIG. 2 shows the circumferential groove-shaped valve seat 6a formed on the outer diameter of the piston shaft 6 and the air valve body in which the skirt portion is fitted in the groove, and only the air valve body 10 is shown. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of FIG.

The air valve body 10 formed in a funnel shape includes a cylindrical body portion 10a that is closely fitted to the second cylinder portion 9p of the air piston shaft 9, and a flange-like intake valve portion 10b that projects from the upper end of the body portion to the outer periphery. The cylindrical discharge valve portion 10c hangs down from the lower end of the cylindrical body portion 10a. The cylindrical discharge valve portion 10c has an outer diameter closely fitted to the outer wall surface of the groove portion of the circumferential groove-shaped valve seat 6a, and several pieces (four in the embodiment) are vertically carved from the lower edge. ). The length of the slit 10s is substantially the same as the height of the groove wall surface of the circumferential groove-shaped valve seat 6a.

In the air valve body 10 fitted to the second cylinder portion 9p of the air piston shaft 9, the circumferential upper surface of the flange-like intake valve portion 10b is elastic to the lower surface of the flange portion 9c of the air piston shaft 9. And close the air suction valve hole 9h. Further, the cylindrical discharge valve portion 10c is in close contact with the outer peripheral wall in the circumferential groove-shaped valve seat 6a, but each piece of the cylindrical discharge valve portion 10c divided by the slit has a small area. The adhesion is not strong.

The pump mechanism portion of the present invention comprising the main parts described above is fitted in a state in which the container cap 15 and the upper cap 16 are partially overlapped on the flange 2c formed on the peripheral edge of the upper end of the accumulator 2, and this upper The cap is attached to the bottle mouth end via the packing 17. On the other hand, the head 11 is fitted to and integrated with the tee holder 12, and the tee holder 12 is fitted to the upper portion of the second cylinder portion 9 p of the air piston shaft 9.

When not in use, the head 11 of the liquid ejector is at the highest position by the spring 14, and when the head 11 is pressed, the liquid and air piston shafts 6, 9 engaged with the head 11 and the piston 7 at the tip thereof, 9d descends against this spring 14. Next, when the pressing force is removed, they rise by the restoring force of the spring 14. When the piston 7 is lowered, the liquid in the liquid cylinder passes through the inner diameter of the shaft 6, while the air in the air cylinder is separated from the outer peripheral wall of the circumferential groove-shaped valve seat 6a and the air valve as indicated by the arrow A1 in FIG. Breaking the close contact with the cylindrical discharge valve portion 10c of the body 10 (the movable distance of the valve strip is D in FIG. 3), the liquid piston shaft 6 and the air piston shaft 9 are fitted. Through the gap groove 9b provided in the section, the liquid is discharged into the encounter chamber M at the upper end of the liquid piston shaft 6 and meets the liquid. Thereafter, the gas enters the gas-liquid mixing chamber 9f through the cross-shaped path 9e, passes through the mesh or the porous body 13, is bubbled, and is discharged from the nozzle.

When the pressure on the head is released, the piston shaft for the liquid and the air rises due to the repulsive force of the spring 14, and the liquid in the bottle is sucked into the liquid cylinder 2b via the liquid absorbing pipe 4. The inside of the air cylinder 2a becomes a negative pressure, releases the close contact with the circumferential upper surface of the flange-like intake valve portion 10b, and sucks air outside the accumulator (arrow A2 in FIG. 2). Thus, one pumping cycle is completed.

After such a cycle is completed, the gasified liquid is separated from the bubbled liquid downstream of the ball valve 8 (upward in the drawing), the gas-liquid is separated and defoamed with time, and liquefied to the upper part of the liquid piston shaft 6. Furthermore, the liquid piston shaft 6 drops and stays in the movable space E of the air valve through the gap groove 9b formed on the outer periphery from the upper end edge of the liquid piston shaft 6. However, since the liquid targeted by the manual liquid ejector 1 has a viscosity of 1 or more, the liquid reaching the space E breaks the liquid tightness of the air valve body 10 and flows out to the air cylinder. There is little to do.

Further, the air valve movable space E in which the liquid stays is, for example, in the embodiment of a liquid 1 cc discharge bubble pump (circumference of the piston shaft 6 for liquid 10 mm × 3.14) × (circular groove-shaped valve seat 6a. Valve movable width 0.5 to 1.5 mm) × (height of movable space E 2 to 5 mm) = 0.0314 to 0.2355 cm ³ , even if the liquid accumulates in reverse flow here When the pump is operated next time, everything is discharged together with the discharged air. In the conventional liquid discharge pump, the air valve movable space E is large, and the liquid remaining therein cannot be discharged completely by the next pump operation and remains from the discharge of the pump. It was to be sucked by the negative pressure of the air cylinder generated when switching to suction.

If a high-viscosity liquid filled in a bottle adheres to, for example, a discharge valve for air, or if a liquid with a low viscosity evaporates and dries, the normal valve body closes the valve opening and becomes inoperable. The air valve body of the present invention is a cylindrical body, but is divided by the vertical slits, so that the adhesive force of each piece is small, and the air valve body is easily peeled and operated by the increase in the internal pressure of the air cylinder.

Water-soluble oils and fats as hairdressing agents, iodine as disinfectant and the like are prepared to a viscosity suitable for use by a dilution medium, and filled in a foam liquid dispenser. In the liquid discharger for the liquid having a viscosity of 1 or more according to the present invention, the operation of the air valve is easy and the back flow of the liquid to the air cylinder is eliminated.

It is the side view which showed the state which pushed in the head of the manual type liquid discharge pump, and is a cross-sectional display on the right side from the center line. It is the principal part cross section which showed the path | route part of the liquid which reaches the gas-liquid mixing chamber from the air cylinder through the air valve body. It is the top view of the valve body for air, and the front view of the partial cross section. The prior art example of the valve body for air is shown.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Manual type liquid discharger 2 Accumulator 2a Air cylinder 2b Liquid cylinder 2c Flange 2d Liquid absorption valve seat 2e Small diameter cylindrical part 3 Ball valve 4 Liquid absorption pipe 5 Valve shaft 6 Liquid piston shaft 6a Circumferential groove valve seat 7 Piston for liquid 8 Ball valve 9 Piston shaft 9a for air 1st cylinder part 9b Gap groove 9c Flange part 9d Piston 9e Cross-shaped path 9f Gas-liquid mixing chamber 9h Valve hole 9p 2nd cylinder part 10 Air valve body 10a Cylindrical shape Body portion 10b Flange-shaped intake valve portion 10c Cylindrical discharge valve portion 10s Slit 11 Head 11a Nozzle 12 Tee holder 13 Porous body 14 Spring

Claims (3)

Each cylinder for liquid and air is formed concentrically and a piston is inserted into each cylinder. A liquid absorption pipe is inserted into the liquid cylinder to absorb the liquid, and the liquid absorbed is supplied to the liquid cylinder. In a manual liquid pump that mixes with air discharged from an air cylinder downstream and discharges the liquid in the form of bubbles from a nozzle, the air valve element (10) has a funnel shape and its cylindrical discharge The valve portion is inserted and fitted into a circumferential groove-like valve seat (6a) formed on the outer diameter portion of the liquid cylinder to form an air discharge side valve, and the flange-like intake valve portion (10b) formed on one large diameter side cylinder portion is air A foam pump, characterized in that the air intake side valve opens and closes the air intake side valve hole (9h) by contacting a flange portion (9c) formed on the piston shaft (9). In the air valve body (10) which is a funnel shape and the outer diameter of the small-diameter side cylindrical discharge valve portion (10c) is inserted and fitted into the circumferential groove-shaped valve seat (6a), the cylindrical discharge valve portion is arranged at the lower end. The foam pump according to claim 1, wherein 2 to 4 longitudinal slits are cut from the edge so that the skirt is cut into pieces. In the air valve body (10) that is funnel-shaped and has the outer diameter of the small-diameter cylindrical discharge valve portion (10c) inserted and fitted into the circumferential groove-shaped valve seat (6a), the cylindrical discharge valve portion (10c) The distance between the inner diameter of the liquid piston shaft and the outer diameter (6b) of the liquid piston shaft (6) facing the inner diameter is set to 0.5 to 1.0 mm (D). The foam pump as described in.

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