EP0941208A4

EP0941208A4 -

Info

Publication number: EP0941208A4
Application number: EP97917858A
Authority: EP
Priority date: 1996-04-05
Filing date: 1997-04-03
Publication date: 1999-09-15
Also published as: EP0941208A1; JPH09272559A; JP3569384B2; WO1997042124A1

Abstract

A bellows pump with a depression nozzle head, comprising: a body cylinder (1) with a suction pipe (2) and a suction valve (3); the body cylinder including a bellows fitting portion (4) surrounding the suction valve; a bellows (5) having a lower fitted portion (6) fitted to the bellows fitting portion, an upper end fitting portion (7), a depression nozzle head (9) with a nozzle (10) on the front edge of the upper fitting portion such that a radial direction of the nozzle head with respect to the upper fitting portion may be constant; means (11) for regulating a constant radial direction, which is interposed between the bellows fitting portion and the lower end fitted portion (6), and an actuating cylinder (12) depending from the nozzle head and covering the bellows. The bellows pump is preferably used for hair care products such as shampoo products and conditioner products.

Description

Bellows Pump having Depression Nozzle Head

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bellows pump having a depression nozzle head (i.e., a depression head having a nozzle) for a liquid emitting container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In general, the existing bellows pump comprises a bellows communicating with a suction port having a suction valve and with a discharge port having a discharge valve, and the bellow is adapted to suck a liquid thereinto from the suction port and to discharge it out through the discharge port by the expansion and contraction of the bellows.

In recent years, it is customary in the art to use such bellows pumps wherein the liquid emitting container is provided in its neck portion with the bellows pomp, at the upper end of which the depression nozzle head is attached. In this construction, however, there are following problems:

Firstly, the nozzle is allowed to orient into a random direction in an assembly line and in a condition when the bellows pump is mounted in the container's neck portion accordingly.

Secondly, the appearances of the containers are deteriorated by that each nozzle orients into the random direction at every container and also that the bellows pumps are exposed to the eyes of the customers when the liquid emitting containers with the bellows pumps are filled with the contents and provided as commercial goods for sale. In such a case, the image of the contents may be degraded by the unfavorable appearance of the container.

Thirdly, the position and the orientation of the nozzle are unstable, due to the flexibility of the bellows. The unstableness makes it hard to operate and use the container.

Fourthly, it is difficult to emit a regular amount of the liquid, because of the difficulty in depressing the bellows to a constant level.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a bellows pomp which guarantees that the nozzle 10 is oriented reliably into the constant radial direction with respect to the bellows, a later-described base cylinder, or a guidrail in an assembly line at the time of assembling, and finally, with respect to the container when the bellows pomp is mounted therein. Another object of the present invention is to provide a bellows pomp which does not deteriorate the appearance of the liquid emitting container when the bellows pomp is used in the container which is filled with the contents and provided for sale.

^" Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a bellows pomp which facilitates the use of the container by regulating the position and direction of the bellows.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a bellows pomp by which the equal amount of the emission is guaranteed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, a bellows pump according to the invention comprises a body cylinder mounted on a neck of a container, the body cylinder having a lower end from which a suction pipe is depending; a suction valve mounted on the body cylinder and communicating with the suction pipe; a bellows fitting portion which is provided in the body cylinder and surrounding the suction valve; a bellows having a lower end fitting portion which is fitted gastight and watertight to the bellows fitting portion, and an upper end fitting portion, in which a discharge valve is provided; a nozzle head for depression having a nozzle protruding forward, the nozzle head being fitted on the upper end fitting portion such that a radial direction of the nozzle head with respect to the upper end fitting portion may be constant; an actuating cylinder depending from the nozzle head for depression and covering the bellows, the actuating cylinder being fitted vertically slidably and irrotatably in the body cylinder, and means for regulating a constant radial direction, the means being interposed between the bellows fitting portion and the lower end fitting portion. The means provides such an engagement between the bellows fitting portion and the lower end fitting portion that the engagement is allowed only when the nozzle takes the constant radial direction, while the bellows fitting portion and lower end fitting portion are allowed to fit each other only when the engagement is established.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section showing one embodiment of a bellows pump according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cut-away and exploded perspective view showing essential members of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 is an inverted perspective view showing an essential portion of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 4 is a transversely sectional top plan view showing the essential portion of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the state for assembling the essential portions of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a shuttle to be used for assembling the essential portion of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 ; and

Fig. 7 is a cut-away and exploded perspective view showing essential members of another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to Fig. 1, a body cylinder 1 has a suction pipe 2 depending from its lower end. A suction valve 3 is so mounted in the body cylinder 1 as to communicate with the suction pipe 2. A bellows fitting portion 4 is provided in the body cylinder 1 around the suction valve 3. A bellows 5 has a lower end fitted portion 6 fitted gastight and watertight in the bellows fitting portion 4, and an upper end fitting portion 7. A discharge valve 8 is fitted in the upper end fitting portion 7. A depression nozzle head 9 is fitted to the outer circumference of the upper end fitting portion 7 such that a radial direction of the nozzle head with respect to the upper end fitting portion may be constant. The depression nozzle head has a nozzle 10 protruding forward. A means 1 1 regulates a constant radial direction. The means 1 1 is inteφosed between the bellows fitting portion 4 and the lower end fitting portion of the bellows 5. An actuating cylinder 12 is depending from the depression nozzle head 9 and covering the bellows 5 for improving the appearance of the liquid container mounted with the bellows pump. The actuating cylinder is fitted in the body cylinder 1 as to slide vertically freely but not to rotate. The actuating cylinder 12 also functions to regulate the position and direction of the bellows. As a result, position and direction of the depression nozzle head is stabilized, facilitating the depression operation.

The body cylinder 1 is inserted and fitted in the neck portion (Aa) of a container (A). The body cylinder is formed into a cup-shape to make the fitting easy. The body cylinder 1 has a bottom wall 25 which bulges upwardly at its middle part. The middle part is formed into two upper and lower cylindrical portions, the upper one of which forms the bellow fitting portion 4. An upright cylinder 24 for holding the bellows 5 is extending upwardly from a top of the lower cylindrical portion. The bellow fitting portion 4 has at its top a rising bottom 26 from the center of which a fitting small cylinder 27 is depending. The outside of the fitting small cylinder is fitted into the top of the suction pipe 2 depending therefrom. On the other hand, the body cylinder 1 has at its top end an outward flange 28 for resting on the neck portion (Aa) of the container (A). Slightly below the outward flange, an inverse hook ridge 29 is formed around the outside of the body cylinder 1 for providing a press-fit to the inside of the neck portion (Aa). Moreover, a plurality of receiving members 30 are arranged on the circumferential edge of the bottom wall 25 at the inner face of thereof for receiving the actuating cylinder 12.

The suction valve 3 is formed by a taper valve seat 31 equipped in the upper end portion of the fitting small cylinder 27, a rod-shaped valve member 32 movably seated in the valve seat, and a plurality of valve member stoppers 34 raised from the rising bottom 26. The rod-shaped valve member 32 has a spherical valve portion 33 at the intermediate portion thereof.

The bellows 5 is radically enlarged at the lower end fitted portion 6 corresponding to the bellows fitting portion 4, and an obliquely downward elastic flange 23 is formed integrally around the outer circumference of the lower end fitted portion 6 and press-fitted in the upright cylinder 24. On the other hand, the upper end fitting portion 7 is so radically reduced as to be fitted in a fitting depending cylinder 35 formed in the depression nozzle head 9. A notched mouth 36 for providing a communication with the nozzle 10 is formed in the front edge of the upper end fitting portion 7.

The discharge valve 8 is provided at the lower end portion of the upper end fitting portion 7 with a taper valve seat 37, on which is movably seated a rod-shaped valve member 38 having a spherical valve portion 39 at its intermediate portion.

The depression nozzle head 9 has a head body 40, in which the fitting depending cylinder is extending downward from an inner central surface of the head body and the nozzle 10 is projected forward from the front face of the same. The root portion of the nozzle is communicating with the upper end of the fitting cylinder 35. Preferably, the head body 40 may have a short plug cylinder 41 for fitting to the inner top edge of the upper end fitting portion 7 so as to prevent the deformation of the upper end fitting portion. Outside of the fitting depending cylinder 35, on the other hand, an engaging cylinder 16 is depending from the head body 40 and fitted to the upper inner surface of the actuating cylinder 12. The actuating cylinder has a retaining ridge 17 for providing an engagement with an engaging ridge formed circumferentially on an outer edge of the engaging cylinder. The actuating cylinder 12 is also provided at its front edge with a notched aperture 18 which engages with the root portion of the nozzle 10. As a result, the actuating cylinder 12 can be reliably jointed firmly and stably in the constant radial direction to the depression nozzle head 9.

The means 11 for regulating the constant radial direction provides such an engagement between the bellows fitting portion 4 and the lower end fitting portion 6 that the engagement is allowed only when the nozzle 10 takes the constant radial direction, while, the bellows fitting portion 4 and the lower end fitting portion 6 are allowed to fit each other only when the engagement is established. The means is preferably composed of a pair of direction setting grooves 13, formed in the lower face of the body cylinder 1, as shown in Fig. 3, and a plurality of engaging projections 14 and a plurality of engaging recesses 15 which are formed between a lower portion of the bellows fitting portion 4 and a low edge of the lower end fitting portion 6 as shown in Fig. 2. In this embodiment, the engaging projections 14 are formed at the lower portion of the bellows fitting portion 4 and the engaging recesses 15 are formed at the lower edge of the lower end fitted portion 6. The engaging projections 14 are disposed at unequal pitches, i.e., unequal angle intervals each other, and the engaging recesses 15 are disposed at unequal pitches, i.e., unequal angle intervals corresponding to those of the engaging projections. These engaging projections and the engaging recesses meet each other only when the nozzle takes the constant radial angle. In this preferred embodiment, the means is embodied only by providing grooves, projections, and recesses, without making the construction of the bellows pump complicated.

In an assembly line, the body cylinder 1 is held in a specific radial direction or a specific angle by the action of the direction setting grooves 13. The bellows 5 is fixed in the body cylinder 1 only in another specific radial direction or another specific angle predetermined on a basis of the constant radial direction of the body cylinder 1 set by the direction setting grooves 13. In a preferred mode of embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, a conveyor line for the assembly is equipped with a guide rail (B) having a square transverse section, and the body cylinder 1 is set in the constant radial direction by fitting the direction setting grooves 13 at the lower face of the body cylinder 1 to the guide rail (B). As a result, the bellows 5 is assembled in the constant radial direction predetermined on the basis of the direction of the body cylinder 1. Since the depression nozzle head is fitted on the upper end fitting portion 7 of the bellow 5 in the constant radial direction with respect to the upper end fitting portion, it is guaranteed that nozzle 10 is oriented reliably into the constant radial direction at the time of assembling and also when the bellows pump is mounted on the neck portion of the container. This contributes to improve the appearance of the liquid containers provided for sale by preventing the random orientations of the nozzles of the containers. Fig. 6 shows another preferable mode of embodiment, in which a shuttle (C) is used in the conveyor line for holding the stability of the body cylinder 1.

The unequal pitches may be set for three at 150 degrees, 150 degrees and 60 degrees, as shown in Fig. 4, but should not be limited thereto. Due to the unequal pitches, these engaging projection suffer uneven stress. Accordingly, it is preferable that an engaging projection 14 located in an area in which there are wide pitches is made thicker to increase its strength as shown in Fig. 4. The width of the engaging is to be set in accordance with the engaging projection.

The actuating cylinder 12 has a vent hole for preventing a pressure difference from being established between the inside and outside thereof. Preferably, this vent hole is formed in such a position that the outside water may not steal into the inside of the actuating cylinder 12. For example, it can be formed just below the depression nozzle head or the nozzle. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the retaining edge 17 is transversely formed on the inner circumference of the actuating cylinder 12 at the upper end portion thereof, and the notched aperture 18 is formed in the front edge. The retaining ridge 17 is removed partially in the notched aperture 18 to establish the ventilation thereby. The upper portion of the notched aperture 18 engages with the root portion of the nozzle 10, while the lower portion provides the vent hole communicating with the inside and outside of the actuating cylinder. As shown in Fig. 7, the three notched apertures 18 may bear ranged equidistantly together with the later-described longitudinal guide grooves 20 to increase the vent holes and to increase a freedom in the posture of the actuating cylinder at the time of assembling. These vent holes and the removal of the retaining ridge at the notched aperture provide a communication between the inside and the outside of the actuating cylinder, so as to prevent the pressurization and evacuation of the internal air at the up-and- down movement of the actuating cylinder 12 and to smoothen the movement without any trouble.

Moreover, the lower end portion of the actuating cylinder 12 is formed into a stepped large-diameter portion 19, which is vertically slidably fitted in the inner circumference of the body cylinder 1. The stepped large-diameter portion 19 and the body cylinder 1 have the three longitudinal guide grooves 20 and three longitudinal guide ridges 21, which are formed equidistantly in a corresponding manner for providing mutual engagements when the depression nozzle head 9 is depressed, so that this depression nozzle head 9 and the actuating cylinder 12 do not rotate. Moreover, a mounting cylinder 22 is provided at a upper end of the body cylinder for being attached to the neck portion (Aa) of the container (A). The mounting cylinder has an inner circumferential portion which acts as a stopper to prevent the stepped large-diameter portion 19 from coming out from the body cylinder 1. Projections 47, 48 prevent jolting of the depression nozzle head.

The mounting cylinder 22 has an annular top wall 42 which abuts against the top face of the body cylinder 1. An engaging short cylinder 43 is depending from the inner edge of the annular top wall 42, and fitted to engage with an engaging groove 44 formed in the inner upper end portion of the body cylinder 1. The lower end of the engaging short cylinder 43 forms the stopper for preventing the actuating cylinder 12 from coming out, as described above. The mounting cylinder 22 also has a mounting cylinder portion 45 depending from the outer edge of the annular top wall 42, and having several retaining projections 46 which engage with a retaining ridge (Ab) formed on the outer circumference of the neck portion (Aa) of the container (A). For use, the mounting cylinder 22 is placed on the neck portion (Aa) of the container containing a liquid.

In a preferred mode of embodiment, the bellows pump is given a function to prevent the contained liquid from being released from the pump while it is unused or while it is being transported (i.e., the shipping seal function). The structure for a preferred shipping seal function is disclosed in International Laid-Open No. WO95/01226, the disclosure of which is incoφorated by reference into the present invention. While the bellows pump is unused or being shipped, the output opening for discharging the liquid, i.e., the notched mouth 36 is not connected to the nozzle 10. When the bellows pump is to be used, the notched mouth 36 is connected to the nozzle 10, as shown in Fig. 1, by manually turning the depression nozzle head 9.

When the liquid is to be emitted, the depression nozzle head 9 is depressed to compress and release the bellows 5 so that the bellows 5 is elongated to restore its raising position by its own elastic force. In accordance with the compression/extension of the bellows 5, the suction valve 3 and the discharge valve 8 associate with each other so that the bellows 5 sucks, compresses and delivers the liquid in the container (A). Upon each action, therefore, the liquid in the container (A) is emitted from the nozzle 10 of the depression nozzle head 9.

At the lower limit of depression of the depression nozzle head 9, the lower end of the actuating cylinder 12 abuts against the receiving members 30 in the body cylinder 1 so that the equal amount of the emission is guaranteed by depressing the depression nozzle head until the abutment occurs.

The bellows pumps according to the invention can be used for variety of liquid products, preferably for hair care products such as shampoo products and conditioner products.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A bellows pump having a depression nozzle head, comprising: a body cylinder mounted on a neck of a container, the body cylinder having a lower end from which a suction pipe is depending; a suction valve mounted on the body cylinder and communicating with the suction pipe; a bellows fitting portion which is provided in the body cylinder and surrounding the suction valve; a bellows having a lower end fitting portion which is fitted gastight and watertight to the bellows fitting portion, and an upper end fitting portion, in which a discharge valve is provided; a nozzle head for depression having a nozzle protruding forward, the nozzle head being fitted on the upper end fitting portion such that a radial direction of the nozzle head with respect to the upper end fitting portion may be constant; an actuating cylinder depending from the nozzle head for depression and covering the bellows, the actuating cylinder being fitted vertically slidably and irrotatably in the body cylinder, and means for regulating a constant radial direction, the means being inteφosed between the bellows fitting portion and the lower end fitting portion; wherein the means provides such an engagement between the bellows fitting portion and the lower end fitting portion that the engagement is allowed only when the nozzle takes the constant radial direction, while, the bellows fitting portion and lower end fitting portion is allowed to fit each other only when the engagement is established.

2. The bellows pump according to Claim 1 , wherein the means for regulating the constant radial direction includes: a plurality of direction setting grooves formed in a lower face of the body cylinder for setting a constant radial direction of the body cylinder; and a plurality of engaging projections and a plurality engaging recesses for providing mutual engagements, which are formed between a lower portion of the bellows fitting portion and a lower edge of the lower end fitting portion; wherein the engaging projections are disposed at unequal pitches each other, and the engaging recesses are disposed at unequal pitches corresponding to those of the engaging projections, such that the engaging projections and the engaging recesses are allowed to be engaged when the nozzle takes the constant radial direction predetermined on a basis of the fixed posture of the body cylinder set by the direction setting grooves.

3. The bellows pump according to Claim 1, wherein the nozzle head for depression further comprises an engaging cylinder, from which the actuating cylinder is depending, the engaging cylinder is depending from a body of the nozzle head for depression and has an engaging ridge which is formed circumferentially on an outer edge of the engaging cylinder, and a retaining ridge for providing an engagement with the engaging ridge is provided in a upper inner surface of the actuating cylinder, while the upper inner surface is fitted to an outer surface of the engaging cylinder, wherein the actuating cylinder also has a notched aperture for air ventilation, the notched aperture is formed by notching the retaining ridge air permeably at a front edge of the actuating cylinder, the notched aperture has a upper part which engages with a base of the nozzle, and a lower part which forms a vent hole for providing a communication between an inside and an outside of the actuating cylinder.

4. The bellows pump according to Claim 1, wherein a lower end portion of the actuating cylinder is formed into a stepped large-diameter portion which is vertically slidably fitted in an inner circumference of the body cylinder, and the stepped large- diameter portion and the body cylinder are provided with a plurality of longitudinal guide grooves and a plurality of longitudinal guide ridges for providing mutual engagements so as to prevent the stepped large-diameter portion from rotating with respect to the body cylinder, wherein a mounting cylinder is provided at a upper end of the body cylinder for being attached to a neck portion of a container, the mounting cylinder has an inner circumferential portion which acts as a stopper to prevent the stepped large-diameter portion from coming out from the body cylinder.

5. The bellows pump according to Claim 1, wherein the bellows is provided at an outer circumference of the lower end fitting portion with an obliquely downward elastic flange, which is integrally formed with the lower end fitting portion, wherein the body cylinder is provided with an upright cylinder extending vertically around the bellows fitting portion in a manner that the obliquely downward elastic flange is press-fitted to the upright cylinder.