DK156547B

DK156547B - APPARATUS FOR EXPORTING FLUIDUM AND PROCEDURE FOR MANUFACTURING SUCH APPLIANCES

Info

Publication number: DK156547B
Application number: DK135687A
Authority: DK
Inventors: Billy Nilsson
Original assignee: Sterisol Ab
Priority date: 1985-07-18
Filing date: 1987-03-17
Publication date: 1989-09-11
Also published as: EP0231255A1; FI870967A; FI870967A0; DK135687D0; WO1987000599A1; SE8503511D0; SE8503511L; DK135687A; SE449912B

Description

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Den foreliggende opfindelse angâr et apparat som angivet i krav l's indledning til udportionering af fluidum fra en beholder samt en fremgangsmâde som angivet i krav 6's indledning til fremstilling af et sâdant apparat.The present invention relates to an apparatus as set forth in the preamble of claim 1 for dispensing fluid from a container as well as to a method as set forth in the preamble of claim 6 for the manufacture of such apparatus.

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Fra US patentskrift nr. 4.249.675 kendes et sâdant apparat, hvor doseringskammeret i sin overste ende har et ssde for en i doseringskammeret anbragt flydeventil, som pà grund af sin egen flydeevne normalt er i kontakt med nævnte sæde og 10 derigennem holder det indesluttede fluidum adskilt fra fluidumet i beholderen. Ved at man med hânden fatter om og trykker doseringskammeret sammen, opnâs en udtomning, hvis storrelse afhænger af denne sammentrykning. Nâr trykket op-horer, genindtager doseringskammeret sin oprindelige form, 15 og gennem det derved opstâende undertryk âbner flydeventilen sig, og fluidum fra beholderen suges ind i doseringskammeret. Flydeventilen har langstrakt form og tjener ogsâ til at begrænse den nævnte sammentrykning.US Patent No. 4,249,675 discloses such an apparatus in which the metering chamber at its top end has a seat for a flow valve arranged in the metering chamber which, due to its own flowability, is normally in contact with said seat and thereby holds the enclosed fluid. separated from the fluid in the container. By grasping and pressing the metering chamber by hand, an emptying is obtained, the size of which depends on this compression. As the pressure ceases, the dosing chamber resumes its original shape, and through the resulting pressure, the flow valve opens and fluid from the container is sucked into the dosing chamber. The float valve has an elongated shape and also serves to limit said compression.

20 Et sâdant apparat har vist sig at fungere godt i de tilfæl- de, hvor de indesluttede fluida har relativt hoj viskosi-tet, men mindre godt, nâr der er taie om udtomning af tyk-ke cremer og lignende. En anden ulempe er, at doseringskammeret skal holdes lodret, for at flydeventilen skal 25 kunne arbejde rigtigt.Such an apparatus has been found to work well in cases where the contained fluids have relatively high viscosity, but less well when there is no depletion of thick creams and the like. Another disadvantage is that the metering chamber must be held vertically in order for the flow valve to be able to work properly.

Formâlet med opfindelsen er at anvise et apparat for udportionering af fluidum, som i modsætning til det kendte apparat med godt résultat kan anvendes til sâvel letflydende 30 som trægtflydende medier, som ikke er afhængig af en særlig orientering af doseringskammeret, og som, da den bestâr af fâ let fremstillede dele, kan fremstilles til lav pris.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for dispensing fluid which, in contrast to the known apparatus with good results, can be used for both liquid and inert liquids which do not depend on a particular orientation of the dosing chamber and which, as it consists of easily manufactured parts, can be manufactured at low cost.

Dette opnâs ifolge opfindelsen ved den i krav 1 anviste 35 udformning.This is achieved according to the invention in the embodiment of claim 1.

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Ved at kontravent.ilen effektivt lukker forbindelsen mellem beholderen og doseringskainmeret, nâr fluidet i doserings-kammeret udsættes for et tryk ved sammentrykning af kammer-væggen, bliver fluidets viskositet af underordnet betydning 5 samtidig med, at funktionen bliver meget sikker og frem- stillingen forenkles ved, at flydelegemet bortfalder.By effectively closing the check valve between the container and the dosing chamber, when the fluid in the dosing chamber is pressurized by compressing the chamber wall, the viscosity of the fluid becomes of secondary importance while at the same time making the operation very safe and the production simplified. know that the floating body lapses.

Opfindelsen angâr som nævnt ogsâ en fremgangsmâde til frem-stilling af apparatet. En sâdan fremgangsmâde er anvist i 10 krav 6.The invention also relates, as mentioned, to a method of manufacturing the apparatus. Such a method is described in claim 6.

Ved denne fremgangsmâde opnâs ikke blot, at doseringskamme-rets inderdel og kontraventilen udgor et eneste stykke, men ogsâ at kontraventilens tunge allerede ved sprojtestobnin-15 gen bringes til fjedrende at ligge an mod det sæde, som in- derdelens vssg udgor, og fremstillingsomkostningerne reduce-res væsentligt, ikke mindst ved, at en monteringshandling bortfalder. Ved delenes automatiske indpasning, som bestem-mes af værktojskonstruktionen, opnâs ogsâ en meget sikker 20 ventilfunktion.This method not only achieves that the inner chamber of the metering chamber and the non-return valve constitute a single piece, but also that the tongue of the non-return valve is already resiliently applied to the seat formed by the inside of the injector and reduces the production costs. -significantly, not least by the fact that a mounting action lapses. By the automatic fitting of the parts, as determined by the tool construction, a very safe valve function is also obtained.

Opfindelsen skal i det folgende forklares nærmere i for-bindelse med tegningen, hvor 25 fig. 1 viser et snit gennem et apparat ifolge opfindelsen forbundet med en beholder, fig. 2 et delsnit i storre mâlestoksforhold gennem en ovre del af apparatet, 30 fig. 3 set skrât fra neden en i apparatet indgâende tunge og nærliggende dele af en dermed samvirkende væg, og fig. 4 en del af det i fig. 2 viste i storre 35 mâlestoksforhold.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be explained in more detail in connection with the drawing, in which 1 shows a section through an apparatus according to the invention connected to a container; FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of a larger scale through an upper part of the apparatus; FIG. 3 is a view from below of a heavy and adjacent portions of a co-operative wall included in the apparatus; and FIG. 4 is a part of the embodiment of FIG. 2 showed in larger 35 scaling ratios.

Pâ tegningen er vist den nedre del af en beholder 1. Behol-The lower part of a container is shown in the drawing.

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- 3 - deren kan hâve enhver passende form, og den kan valgfrit udformes som en stiv beholder, en pose, eller en tube. Ved den viste udforelsesform har beholderen i sin nedre del en tilslutningsstuds 2, som hensigtsmæssigt har et par rundt-5 gâende spor, og beholderen har ogsâ en plan nedre flade 3.It can be of any suitable shape and can optionally be designed as a rigid container, a bag, or a tube. In the embodiment shown, the container has at its lower part a connecting rod 2 which conveniently has a pair of circumferential grooves and the container also has a flat lower surface 3.

Doseringsapparatet 4, der er fremstillet af plast med ela-stisk eftergivende egenskaber, har et doseringskammer 5 og en tilslutningsdel 6, som i sin ovre endeflade har ringfor-10 mede, profilerede spor 7, der er komplementære til beholde- rens tilslutningsstuds 2 med dennes spor. Udformningen er derved en sâdan, at doseringsapparatet 4 kan forbindes med beholderen 1, ved at forstnævntes tilslutningsstuds ved snapforbindelse fastgores ud i sidstnaevntes spor 7. Alter-15 nativt eller ydermere kan den tætnende forbindelse, som tilsigtes, afstedkommes ved sâkaldt plastsvejsning, og her-for har tilslutningsdelen 6 en plan ringformet flange 8 til samvirke med beholderens 1 plane flade 3.The dispensing apparatus 4, made of plastics with elastically resilient properties, has a dispensing chamber 5 and a connecting part 6, which has in its upper end surface annular 10, profiled grooves 7 which are complementary to the container connection plug 2 with its track. The design is thereby such that the dosing apparatus 4 can be connected to the container 1 by fastening the connecting plugs by snap connection to the latter groove 7. Alternatively or in addition, the sealing connection which is intended can be effected by so-called plastic welding. for, the connection portion 6 has a flat annular flange 8 for cooperating with the planar surface 3 of the container 1.

20 Via en ringformet væg 9 stâr tilslutningsdelen 6 i forbind else med en i fig. 1 nedadrettet, rorformet del 10. I denne rorformede del 10 findes en gennemgâende, forholdsvis smal slids 11, som strækker sig op til i nærheden af den rorfor-mede dels 10 ovre ende. I et stykke med delen 10 og udgâen- 25 de fra det forholdsvis tykke vægparti 9 er udformet en skrâtstillet tunge 12, der, som det vil fremgâ af det folg- ende virker som en kontaventil og derved henholdsvis lukker og âbner forbindelsen mellem den rorformede dels 10 indre og en fordybning 13, som danner doseringsapparatets avre 30 munding og stâr direkte i forbindelse med beholderens 1 indre.20 Via an annular wall 9, the connecting member 6 communicates with a connection shown in FIG. 1, downwardly rudder-shaped part 10. In this rudder-shaped part 10 is a continuous, relatively narrow slot 11 extending up to the upper end of the rudder-shaped part 10. In a section with the part 10 and extending from the relatively thick wall portion 9 is formed an inclined tongue 12 which, as will be seen from the following, acts as a check valve and thereby closes and opens, respectively, the connection between the tubular part. 10 and an indentation 13 which forms the mouth 30 of the dosing apparatus and is directly connected to the interior of the container 1.

Fra tilslutningsdelen 6 udgâr endvidere i retning nedad en tyndvægget, rorformet del 14, som i sin nedre frie ende op- 35 tager et selvlukkende organ 15 med evne til at âbne for et vist tryk i doseringskammeret.Furthermore, from the connection part 6, a thin-walled, tubular part 14, which at its lower free end, accommodates a self-closing member 15 with the ability to open a certain pressure in the metering chamber, is directed downwards.

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Ved den viste udf0relsesform er doseringskammeret 5 med sin tilslutningsdel 6, vægpartiet 9, inderdel 10 og ydre, r<sr-formede del 14 samt tungen 12 fremstillet i et stykke ved formsprojtning af plast med fjedrende egenskaber, sâsom 5 eksempelvis polypropen, og som det fremgâr af fig.3 og 4, er tungen 12 tyndvægget og har elliptisk form. Den 0vre del 17 af tungen hænger sammen med vaeggen 9, som jo ved den viste udf0relsesform i praksis udg0r inderdelens 10 0vre del.. Ved formsprojtningen opstâr mellem tungen 12 og inder-10 delens 10 indre en smal spalte 16 (se fig.3), som folger tungens kontur.In the embodiment shown, the metering chamber 5 with its connecting part 6, the wall part 9, inner part 10 and outer, r <sr-shaped part 14 and the tongue 12 is made integrally by plastic injection molding with resilient properties, such as for example polypropylene, and as the As shown in Figures 3 and 4, tongue 12 is thin-walled and has an elliptical shape. The upper part 17 of the tongue is related to the wall 9, which, in practice in the embodiment shown, constitutes the upper part of the inner part 10. In the mold injection between the tongue 12 and the inner part of the 10 forms a narrow gap 16 (see Fig. 3). , which follows the contour of the tongue.

Formsprojtningsværkt0jet kan derved hâve indbyrdes modret-tede kerneelementer, som nuader hinanden i en smal kantzone, 15 og det er denne kantzone, som frembringer den smalle spal te.The injection molding tool can thereby have mutually directed core elements that are approaching each other in a narrow edge zone, and it is this edge zone which produces the narrow gap tea.

Hvis vægpartiet 9 og inderdelen 10 har en godstykkelse, som er væsentlig st0rre end tungens 12 godstykkelse, opstâr 20 forskellig krympning i tungen respektive dens umiddelbare omgivelser i forbindelser med plastmaterialets st0rkning, og ved at tilpasse disse materialeansamling.er pâ passende mâde har det vist sig muligt at afstedkomme den effekt, at den ved formningen uundgâelige spalte 16 elimineres, hvor-25 ved det opnâs, at tungen trods denne oprindelige spalte ef- ter fremstillingen kommer til at tætne mod inderdelens in-dervæg, og det indses, at der herved pâ enkel mâde opnâs en enkel og billig kontraventil.If the wall portion 9 and the inner member 10 have a thickness substantially larger than the thickness of the tongue 12, 20 different shrinkage occurs in the tongue and its immediate surroundings in connection with the strength of the plastic material, and by adapting these material accumulations it has been found to be appropriate. it is possible to produce the effect of eliminating the unavoidable slot 16 during forming, whereby it is obtained that, despite this initial gap after manufacture, the tongue will close to the inner wall of the inner part, and it will be realized that simple way a simple and cheap check valve is obtained.

30 Hvis plastmaterialet udgores af polypropen, har det vist sig, at den tilsigtede effekt opnâs, hvis vægpartiet 9 gives en tykkelse, som hensigtsmæssigt bor være 4-5 gange tungens 12 tykkelse, men som kan ligge inden for omrâdet 3-6 gange. Tungens vægtykkelse b0r være 0,2-0,6 mm og fore-35 trukket 0,4-0,5 mm.If the plastic material is made of polypropylene, it has been found that the intended effect is obtained if the wall portion 9 is given a thickness which should conveniently be 4-5 times the thickness of the tongue 12, but which may be within the range of 3-6 times. The wall thickness of the tongue should be 0.2-0.6 mm and preferably 0.4-0.5 mm.

Det beskrevne apparat forberedes og anvendes pâ f0lgende - 5 -The apparatus described is prepared and used as follows - 5 -

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mâde :mode:

Beholderen fyldes f0rst med det fluidum, f.eks. hândcreme, som skal udportioneres. Fluidet str0iraner ned i doserings-5 kammeret 5. For at-den i doseringskammeret indesluttedeThe container is first filled with the fluid, e.g. hand cream to be dispensed. The fluid is injected into the dosing chamber 5. To enclose it in the dosing chamber

Xuft derved skal kunne evakueres og til et yderligere formâl er slidsen 11 anordnet.Xuft should thereby be evacuated and for a further purpose the slot 11 is arranged.

Da slidsen 11 ikke strækker sig helt op til tungen 12, vil 10 nemlig en lille mængde luft forblive i doseringsapparatets 0vre del, og ved doseringsapparatets funktion vil denne luftpude blive komprimeret og derigennem udfylde en elastisk udjævnende funktion.Since the slot 11 does not extend all the way up to the tongue 12, 10 will remain a small amount of air in the upper part of the dosing apparatus and, by the function of the dosing apparatus, this air cushion will be compressed and thereby perform an elastic smoothing function.

15 Nâr man onsker at iværksætte en udt0mning, fatter man med hânden om den sammentrykkelige tyndvæggede rordel 14 og sammenpresser den mere eller mindre. Hvis man f.eks. onsker maksimal udtomning, trykker man den rorformede del 14 sâ meget sammen, at den kommer til anlæg mod inderdelen 10.15 When one wishes to initiate an emptying, one grasps the hand with the compressible thin-walled pipe part 14 and compresses it more or less. For example, if If maximum drainage is desired, the rudder-shaped part 14 is pressed so much that it comes into contact with the inner part 10.

20 Ved sammentrykningen vil den i doseringsapparatet indeslut tede mængde fluidum blive sat under tryk, fordi kontraven-tilen 12 lukker og derved forhindrer tilbagestromning af fluidum fra doseringsapparatet til beholderen. Nâr trykket har nâet det forudbestemte niveau, hvor lukkeorganet 15, 25 der ogsâ er en kontraventil, âbner, sker udtomning gennem den af lukkeorganet 15 tidligere tildækkede udlobsâbning.20 At compression, the amount of fluid contained in the dosing apparatus will be pressurized because the check valve 12 closes, thereby preventing backflow of fluid from the dosing apparatus to the container. When the pressure has reached the predetermined level, at which the closing member 15, 25, which is also a non-return valve, opens, discharge is effected through the outlet opening previously covered by the closing member 15.

Nâr trykket pâ rordelen 14 ophorer, sker der en trykudlig-ning, og kontraventilen 12 âbner og tillader derved nyt 30 fluidum at stromme ind i doseringsapparatet fra beholderen, til doseringsapparatet pâ ny er fyldt og sâledes klar til nye udtomninger. Som nævnt sker der en komprimering af den indesluttede luft i doseringskammeret, og denne luft tjener som en fjedrende buffer og gor udtomningen blodere og mere 35 distinkt.When the pressure on the tube part 14 ceases, a pressure equalization occurs and the check valve 12 opens and thereby allows new fluid to flow into the dosing apparatus from the container until the dosing apparatus is again filled and thus ready for new discharges. As mentioned, there is a compression of the trapped air in the metering chamber and this air serves as a resilient buffer and makes the discharge bleed and more distinct.

Lukkeorganet 15 bestâr hensigtsmæssigt ogsâ af formsprojte- - 6 -The closure means 15 also conveniently consists of injection molds - 6 -

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de plastkomponenter, der kan snappes ind i hinanden og i den r0rformede dels 14 munding. Det kan derved pâ kendt mâde bestâ af en f0rste komponent, som har en relativ tyk-vægget ringformet del 18, der gennem radiale ribber 19 stâr 5 i forbindelse med en central, aksialt forlobende tap 20, og en anden komponent, som hensigtsmæssigt omslutter den ring-formede del 18 og gâr over i en membran 21 med en central udlobsâbning 22, der gennem membranens forspænding normalt holdes lukket af tappens 20 endeparti. Membranen skal na-10 turligvis være fjedrende, og polypropen har vist sig at være et egnet materiale til fremstilling af begge lukkeorganets komponenter.the plastic components that can be snap into each other and into the mouth of the tubular member 14. It may thus, in known manner, consist of a first component having a relatively thick-walled annular portion 18 which, through radial ribs 19, supports 5 in connection with a central, axially extending pin 20, and a second component which conveniently encloses the ring-shaped portion 18 and passes into a diaphragm 21 with a central outlet opening 22 which is normally closed by the bias of the diaphragm closed by the end portion of the pin 20. The membrane must, of course, be resilient, and polypropylene has been found to be a suitable material for producing both components of the closure member.

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Claims

An apparatus for dispensing fluid from a container and comprising a metering chamber (5) having a flexible, tubular portion (14) whose interior through an inlet port (13) is adjacent to the container (1), - that fluid from this through said inlet opening may pass into the metering chamber (5) and that the latter further has an outlet opening normally held closed by a self-closing member (15) adapted to open for a predetermined pressure on the fluid in the metering chamber, characterized in that there is present in the metering chamber a preferably coaxial, tubular and suitably relatively rigid inner portion (10) of the metering chamber (14), which is designed to communicate with its interior. the inlet opening (13) of the dosing chamber, that a check valve (12) is provided in said inner part (10) which allows fluid to pass from the container (1) to the dosing chamber (5) but not in the opposite direction, and that the inner part (10) is dimensioned relative to the flexible tubular portion (14) of the metering chamber such that a space is formed between the latter portions, the volume of which corresponds to the maximum amount of fluid which it is desired to dispense when the wall of said flexible tubular portion (14) ) is pressed against the inner part.

Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the dosing chamber (5) and its inner part (10) are formed of a single, plastic material having elastic resilient properties, which comprises an outer, thin walled part (14) comprising the dosing chamber. flexible tubular portion, an annular, preferably relatively thick-walled end portion (9) formed so that it can be connected to the container (1), and an interior extending from said interior of said annular end portion (9), relatively thick-walled, rudder-shaped portion (10), constituting the inner portion of the metering chamber. - 8 - DK 156547 B

Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the non-return valve has a resilient tongue (12) acting against the inner surface of the inner part. 5,

Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the tongue (12) is formed integrally with the inner part (10) and is connected therewith in a front zone (17) seen in the blocking direction.

Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner part has an axially extending slot (11) extending from its free end which extends up to the vicinity of the opposite end of the inner part.

A method of manufacturing an apparatus according to claims 1-5, wherein a metering chamber with a flexible tubular member is manufactured by injection molding and connected to a fluid container and wherein the metering chamber at the opposite end is connected to a self-closing member, e.g. n-20, characterized in that at least one inner portion (10) and the check valve (12) intended for placement in the metering chamber is manufactured in one another by injection molding, the check valve being thereby formed as an elliptical tongue (12) the container (1) near the end of the inner portion (10) and thereafter extends downwardly, and that the material accumulation in the wall portion from which the tongue is formed is selected in such a way that the gap which is inevitably present in the mold spray the part of the tongue (12) which is not related to the inner part (10) and the corresponding wall of the inner part, through the contraction of the material, will be eliminated after the solidification of the material, and that the unit thus obtained is sealingly connected to the container (1).

Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the wall portion from which the tongue is made is given a thickness of 3-6 times the thickness of the tongue's goods and that the thickness of the tongue is chosen within. about 0.2-0.6 mm.

Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the inner part of the dosing chamber is formed with an axial, through-going slot (11) extending from its free end, or extends up to near the opposite end of the inner part. 10 15 20 25 30 35