EP0945185B1 - Fluid dispensing device and its manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a dispenser for media. Such media may have piece form or be flowable media that are gaseous, liquid, pasty, creamy or powdery or free-flowing. The dispenser is convenient to carry one hand and to press with the supporting hand at the same time for the media discharge. He can only be provided for the one-time media discharge or for any repeatable media outlets. For example, he may return to his starting position by himself after each discharge. Suitably consist of, the or most or all components of the dispenser made of plastic or injection molding, which is insensitive to the medium.

Cooperating and therefore more complicated components of the dispenser are usually made separately and then assembled together. This requires a lot of effort. Even if the components are produced in one piece, then separated by separation and then assembled. It is expedient, therefore, not only to produce the components in one piece, but to dispense with the production of a separation and to transfer them from their mutual manufacturing directly into their mutual operating position. In the operating position, the components can be mutually movable, ie several operations occupy they can also be rigidly connected. In this production, the fragments may interfere with the severed connection. You can damage guide surfaces or other surfaces with their parting surfaces. Depending on the separation behavior, the separation or fracture surfaces may have different shapes, such as jagged shapes, and require receiving space in the operating position.

EP 0 790 079 A2 shows a dispenser in which a nozzle plate with incorporated swirl device is integrally molded and then displaced into the operating position. When moving to the functional position, the connection is severed by breakage.

US Pat. No. 3,685,933 describes a process for the production of plastic articles, in which individual parts are injection-molded in a multi-part mold and joined together after the injection process. The same is shown by FR 2 206 176.

The invention has for its object to provide a dispenser, in which disadvantages of known training or the type described avoided or to achieve the benefits mentioned in an appropriate manner. In particular, it should be possible to create separation surfaces that are as precisely determinable as possible when the connection is severed. Furthermore, the dispenser should be easy to manufacture and safe to use.

This object is achieved by claim 1.

Particularly useful is the inventive design for an outlet or nozzle unit whose nested components or nozzle body are used for one or multiple transverse deflection of the medium. To incorporate the features and effects in the present invention, reference is made to EP-A-790079.

The separable connection between the two components is achieved, for example, by shearing or another equivalent separation process. Due to the cutting force profile occurring during cutting in the connection, a slight plasticization of the connecting material and a crack-free or smooth separating surface can be achieved without particles detaching. The maximum separation shear stress should only reach the shear flow limit of the connection material. By contrast, in the case of a state of stress in which the higher shear failure limit is achieved, the separation surface may become grainy and rough. Shear cutting is particularly easy to achieve when the two components are designed as a punch and cutting box analogous to a punch.

The construction according to the invention is suitable for numerous components of a dispenser or the like. For example, The components may be two housing parts, such as a main housing and a cover of a pressure cylinder, a pump, a valve, a piston unit, a discharge head o. The like. Or two valve body. The components are sections of a conduit for the medium. The components can be divided transversely or parallel to its axis or against each other in the operating position can be transferred.

The connecting member is expediently a projection. It connects in one piece directly to two mutually angled, smooth surfaces of the two components. It extends into the common corner zone of these areas. He connects these surfaces over an inclined surface. It can be flat, concave or convex curved. In cross section, the projection is therefore triangular or isosceles. Its legs connect to the aforementioned pads of the two components.

The connecting member is spaced from one or both surfaces facing away from each other of the respective component. Close these surfaces transverse to the associated pad. Thus, no fracture surfaces occur during the cut through at these surfaces. These surfaces form with the pad edges, which connect similar to a mikrodünnen connection directly to the associated edges of the other component. This stapling compound has a much lower strength than the connecting member, such as shear strength. So it can be separated by shear or shaving practically without additional effort. It may already be disconnected if the link has not yet been completely severed. Appropriately, only a single link is provided. Also, opposing links can be provided only on two opposite sides. On the transverse sides are missing such links, but here are the stitching provided. The micro-thin stitch can therefore be closed in a curved or annular manner. In this case, adjoining edges of both components at a sharp angle directly to each other. Thus, the associated inner surface of a component on the associated edge joint in cross section in a straight line in the outer surface of the other component.

The largest cross section of the connecting link is expediently below two, one, half or two tenths of a millimeter. The length of said terminal legs may be e.g. a tenth of a millimeter. Over its length, the connecting link expediently has constant cross sections. Also, this length is less than one of the above values, in particular a third of a millimeter, so that it is greater than all edge dimension of the cross section of the connecting member. As a material is advantageously polyethylene or a material with similar properties.

To secure the components in the operating position latching or snap-action members are advantageously provided. They jump when the operating position is reached spring-loaded in mutual, positive engagement. Before reaching this working or operating position, they press each other back resiliently. Only one snap element is resilient, while the other remains stable.

In the operating position, the respective component can also be secured by a stop on the other component. This stop acts against the blocking effect of the locking member. The stop of a component is expedient only in a last small part of the entire displacement in contact with the other component.

The adjoining corner edges of the two components or the associated micro-connection can not be annular. For example, they are interrupted along an unangular continuous edge. Accordingly, the serving as a cutting sleeve guide opening in cross-section on this side be open. In the state of shape then the male component is not performed at all on this side on a first part of the displacement. Then he enters a guide part, which leads him positively on this side. In view, this guide page may be overlapped left and right of guide projections. In between, she is free. Between the guide projections, a medium passage is formed. It starts from the opposite guide surface of the receiving component and passes through the recorded component in a straight line. Between these guide surfaces of both components, the medium flows.

The connecting member is completely provided after the severing only on a single of the components, in particular on the recorded component. The separation surface of the other component is used over the entire displacement as a sliding surface for the first-mentioned component and ensures its operating position by permanent concern. For these as well as the other mentioned effects are the cold flow properties chosen of the material used. Of the edge or width dimensions of the male component to be measured at the junction zone transverse to the direction of displacement, the largest is below thirty, twenty, ten or five millimeters. The smallest of these dimensions is less than five, three, two or one millimeter. The component is therefore a small plate and non-destructive flexurally flexible or flexible. In the operating position, he is then rigidly stiffened by the other component. A media channel that penetrates this component has a smallest width of less than three, two, one or half millimeter. The channel is conical at an angle of less than 5 ° or 2 °. As a result, this passage is suitable as a spray nozzle. It forms either the media outlet opening into the open or it lies upstream at a distance from it.

Fig. 1

eine erfindungsgemäße Baueinheit im Axialschnitt und Formzustand, nämlich ein Austrag- bzw. Betätigungskopf,

Fig. 2

die Baueinheit gemäß Fig. 1 in teilweise geschnittener Ansicht von unten,

Fig. 3

die Baueinheit gemäß Fig. 1 in Ansicht von oben,

Fig. 4

einen Ausschnitt der Fig. 1 in vergrößerter Darstellung mit strichpunktiert angedeuteter Betriebslage,

Fig. 5

den Ausschnitt gemäß Fig. 4 in Ansicht von links,

Fig. 6

einen Ausschnitt der Fig. 5 in nochmals vergrößerter Darstellung.

These and other features of the invention will become apparent from the description and drawings. Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be explained in more detail below. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1

an assembly according to the invention in axial section and shape state, namely a discharge or actuating head,

Fig. 2

1 in a partially sectioned bottom view of the assembly of FIG.

Fig. 3

the assembly of FIG. 1 in top view,

Fig. 4

1 in an enlarged view with dash-dotted lines indicated operating position,

Fig. 5

the detail of FIG. 4 in a view from the left,

Fig. 6

a section of Fig. 5 in a further enlarged view.

All parts according to FIGS. 1 to 6 form a structural unit 1 and are made in one piece with each other. The components 2, 3 are the cap-shaped discharge and actuating head of the piston unit of a pump of the type mentioned and the second component 3 to be accommodated therein. The statements made for the respective component 2 or 3 can also apply to the other component. In the first position and manufacturing form of the part 3 is virtually complete and free on the component 2 before. The parts 2, 3 are immovably connected only via a staple or compound 4. Only after separation or destruction of the stapling 4, the part 3 relative to the part 2 is displaceable. Thereafter, the outermost surfaces of the part 3 close flush and gap to the corresponding outermost surfaces of the part 2. The surfaces are then continuous continuations.

In part 2, a guide 5 is provided. It serves for displacement and is immediately adjacent to the stitch 4, which is partially enveloped by the guide 5. The first and outermost longitudinal section of the guide 5 forms a cutting or hole bushing 6 of a punching tool. The immediately and alone adjoining end of the part 3 forms the associated slide or punch 7. Thus, the staple 4 is smoothly sheared off already at the beginning of the mutual movement. The guide 5 is located immediately adjacent to the inside of an outermost shell 8 of the part 2. Within the shell 8 and with a radial distance coaxial to an inner shell 9 in the same direction is free. The jacket 9 is opposite the jacket 8 back and is shorter. In the jacket 9, the piston skirt of a piston unit is received. It is penetrated by an opening into the jacket 9 outlet channel. The central axis 10 of the part 2 is then in the center axis of the pump. From the part 2, the medium enters the outside in the axis 11, which is perpendicular to the axis 10 at right angles.

In the second position, the part 3 is displaced parallel to the axis 10 in the direction 12 and against the flow direction in the jacket 9. The axis migrates from the position 11 'to position 11. In all positions, the part 3 on the part 2 in all directions 13, 14, which are transverse to the direction 12, free of play or it is a transverse play of at most two or one tenth of a millimeter intended. This is the location of the two parts 2, 3 over the entire path 15 exactly defined. In the forming position, the parts 2, 3 of a plane 16 close to each other, which is perpendicular to the direction 12 at right angles and parallel to the axis 11. Via the plane 16, the connection 4 projects in the direction 12 only by the mentioned edge dimension of connecting links. The plane 17 is perpendicular to the plane 16 transversely or parallel to the axis 11 and is an axial plane of the axis 10, 11 and a Symmetriebene of the part 2 and 3. Fig. 4 shows dash-dotted parts of the tool 18, 19 and the injection mold or from their trains. Further, Fig. 4 shows the second position in phantom the second position of the part 3. The parts 2, 3 secured by securing means 20 against each other immovable.

The guide 5 is rectangular in cross-section. It is bounded by four guide surfaces 21 to 24 which adjoin each other at right angles and lie in one plane. For each of these surfaces, the flat plate 7 has a mating surface, namely a sliding or guide surface 25 to 28. Each of these surfaces is also continuous in a plane. Two opposing surfaces are continuous parallel edge surfaces 25,26. The other two surfaces are the large plate surfaces 27,28. All surfaces 25-28 are adjacent to a front or breast surface 29 facing 12 and the foremost edge surface of the stamper 7 is.

The surfaces 21 to 24 form in the plane 16 edges, namely an uninterrupted continuous sharp edge. Also, the surfaces 25 to 29 form sharp edges, which are integrally connected in the plane 16 with the sharp edges of the part 3 via a micro-compound 30. This stitch 30 has a thickness of less than one or one-half tenths of a millimeter. In addition to the stapling 30, the compound 4 only two opposing connections in the form of links 31. These protrude by at most 1½ tenths of a millimeter over the inner surface 21, 22 or the surface 29. The links 31 connect integrally to each of these surfaces. On the punch 7, the surfaces 25 to 28 with the surface 29 form the edges 32 to 35. Each member 31 forms a continuation of one of the edges 25, 26 and protrudes in the direction 12 decreasing over the associated surface 21 and 22 respectively. At this surface 21 and 22, the member 31 connects continuously and integrally with a pad 36 at. To the surface 29, the member 31 connects with a correspondingly continuous pad 37 at. Thus, the same length connecting legs 36, 37 are formed. The member 31 is triangular in cross-section at right angles. It forms a flat base edge 38, which connects the surfaces 21, 29 and 22, 29 directly.

The surface 24 faces the axis 10 and is open in a view U-shaped parallel to the direction 13. The surface 24 is formed by a U-shaped projection 39 of the part 2. As a result, the part 3 is guided with the surface 28 only along edge strips that connect to the surfaces 25, 26 and 29. Likewise, the part 3 is held in the operating state. For transfer into the operating position, the part 3 has a pressure surface 40 which points away from the surface 29. The surface 40 is the extreme end of the part 3 and away from the connection 4. Except breakthroughs and a thickening 41, the part 7 on outer cross-sections, which are constant throughout. The thickening 41 is formed at the outermost end by a projection 42. It points away from the axis 10 in the direction of the outer circumference of the part 2 and forms the much shorter leg of the angle plate 3. The projection 42 projects only over the surface 28. It forms with its inside a stop 43, which points to the connection 4. The part 2 forms a recessed pocket 44, the between the surfaces 21, 22 and connects to the plane 16 in the direction 12. The pocket 44 receives the projection 42 completely. For this purpose, the side legs of the projection 39 are set back in the direction 12 with respect to the plane 16. In operation position, the surface 40 is in the plane 16. The sides 25, 26 of the projection 42 then close completely to the side surfaces 21, 22 of the pocket 44th at.

The securing means 20 include snap members 46, 47. They are sunk when reaching the operating position within the part 2 and jump springing into each other. Then they engage positively. The securing member 46 of the part 2 is located on the inside of the shell 8, at the end of the guide 5 and subsequent to the surface 24 which is farther from the axis 10. The member 46 is formed by an inner or shoulder surface which is transverse to the direction 12. The securing member 47 of the part 3 protrudes over the surface 28 counter to the direction 12 increasingly. The member 47 connects to the surface 29 and the edge 35, but not to the connection 30. The thickest portion of the member 47 forms a securing edge for engagement with the latching shoulder 46. A member 47 could also protrude over the surface 27. The ends of the member 31 have a lateral distance of at least a tenth of a millimeter from the respective opposing surface 23 and 24. Between the surfaces 23, 24, the member 31 has a length which is at least two times greater than the length of its legs 36, 37.

The plane 16 is defined by the outside of an end wall 48. From her stand the coats 8, 9 only in the direction of 12 in one piece freely. The outside of the wall 48 forms the pressure handle for actuating the dispenser. The outside the jacket 9, the inside of the jacket 8 and the inside of the end wall 48 are connected to each other via a projection 49. He is closer to the coat 8 as the coat 9 passes through the guide 5 and takes in the operating state, the part 3 completely. Thus, the part 3 according to FIG. 4 projects in the direction 12 with the links 31, 47 via the transverse web 46, 49. The projection 49 also forms the member 46. Following the opening 6, which passes through the wall 48, the projection 49 forms the longer part of the guide 5. This part is then only of the surfaces 23, 24, but not the surfaces 21, 22 limited. In this area, the projection 49 has a width which is equal to the distance between the surfaces 25, 26. The latter are available in this area in the operating state. In between is the member 47. It passes without contact between the side legs of the projection 39 therethrough. In axial view of FIG. 2, the projection 49 is T-shaped. His T-crossbar is interspersed by the leadership 5. His T-foot connects to the coat 9.

The part 3 forms the media outlet 50, which opens into the open and at a distance between the side legs of the projection 39 and at a distance between the plane 16 and the transverse leg of the projection 39 is located. The interior of the shell 9 forms a media channel 51, which is circular in cross section. The channel 51 merges with the bottom or on the inside of the wall 48 in a narrowed transverse groove 52. The channel 51 is to be connected to the outlet channel of the piston skirt. The groove 52 leads radially and connects to a transverse channel 53, which is radial to the axis 10. The channel 53 passes through the projection 49 to the surface 23 and closes in the operating position close to the surface 27 and the outlet 50, namely eccentric to the axis 11 so that it is closer to the plane 16.

The plate 7 is interspersed at a distance between the surfaces 25, 26 on the one hand and between the surfaces 29, 43 on the other hand by a channel 54. It is flared in or against the direction of flow. The diameter of the channel 54 is less than one or a half micrometer. The channel 54 is integrally bounded by the plate 7 and forms in the plane 17, the nozzle channel of a spray nozzle, which has a sharp end edge. In the surface 27, a recess 55 is provided, which is flat and spherical cap-shaped. In the surface 28 a corresponding spherical cap depression 56 is provided, which has a much larger width and the same depth. Compared to this depth or twice thereof, the channel 54 is two to four times longer. Its ends connect to the center of the respective cavity 55, 56.

The outlet 50 is associated with a guide for the medium, which connects to the upstream end of the channel 54. It is a twisting device, which sets the medium in a rotational flow about the axis 11 and directs with this flow directly into the channel 54. It has conductive recesses 57 to 59, which form channels and only the surface 23, but possibly only the surface 27 or both surfaces prevail. The width or depth of the recesses is less than two, one or half millimeter. They comprise in the axis 11 a circular annular groove 57 within which a circular cup 58 and a plurality, in particular at least three about the axis 11 uniformly distributed transverse or Tangentialnuten 59 lie. The channels 59 connect the channel 57 tangentially to the swirl chamber 58. All channels 57 to 59 have a common, continuous flat bottom surface. The width of the channels 59 is smaller than the width or width of the channels 57, 58. The width of the channel 57 is smaller than the width of the chamber 58. The channel 53 opens directly into the channel 57, namely with circumferential distance between two channels 59. The width of the chamber 58 is equal to the width of the recess 55. Both are congruent in operation. The medium therefore flows from the channel 53 between the surfaces 23, 27 initially in opposite circumferential directions only in the channel 57. Only then does it flow through the channels 59 radially inwardly into the chamber 58th

In the manufacture of the unit 1 in the mold 18, 19 is produced by injection molding. Then, a tool part 18, which forms the surface 43 and a subsequent part of the surface 28, withdrawn. The remaining tool parts which form the surfaces 25 to 28 remain in their mold position; or they are lifted to detach from the workpiece only briefly and then moved back to its shape position. At the same time, the tool part, which forms the guide 5, the surface 29 and the links 31, is moved back, thus releasing the guide 5. With a tool punch, for example with the tool part for the surface 40, is then pressed in the direction 12 against the surface 40. Thereby, the connection 30 and the legs 36 are sheared off in the plane of the surfaces 21, 22 by shear cutting. The U-shaped edge 32 to 34 and the same U-shaped opening edge 6, which lies in the plane 16, are the cutting edges. The tool part, which forms the member 47, the pocket 44 and between the side legs of the projection 39, the gap may also be slightly withdrawn to pass the member 47 undamaged. The sheared limbs 31 remain completely on the surface 29. The associated parting surfaces 36 guide the surfaces 25, 26, which do not form a clearance angle, but continuously determine a cutting game tending towards 0.

With increasing displacement path 15 and the tool part 19 is withdrawn progressively as a whole or in parts. Thus, the projection 42 is allowed to pass, however, the support and guidance obtained on the surface 28 before it dips into the guide 5. When the member 47 reaches the cross bar of the projection 39, it pushes it back against its own resilience. Thus, the member 47 passes and jumps at the end of the path 15 behind the surface 46. The edge of the projection is convexly bent and forms in view of FIG. 3 is a continuous continuation of the outer periphery of the part 2. About the path 15 of the channel 54 runs at the mouth of the channel 53 and the channel 57 over until it has reached the covering position with the chamber 58. The workpiece 1 is then completely removed from the mold or released from the mold 18, 19.

Each of the surfaces 23, 27 alone may have a projection, such as a bead, which bears against the counter surface with increased pressure. The bead may be annular around the axis 11 and within it are the channels 53 and 57 to 59 and their openings in the surface 23. Are provided on both surfaces 23, 27 beads, so expediently their side edges with pressure to each other. As a result, better sealed between the surfaces 23, 27.

The jacket 8 has on the inner circumference protruding latching or snap-action members 61 of a trigger device. With the links 61, the unit 1 is positively secured against removal after the axial plug connection with the pump. When attaching the links 61 are pressed by means of inclined surfaces to the outside, which accumulate on the mating members and are movable due to the inherent resilience of the unit 1. The abutment surfaces of the links 61 then jump springing behind corresponding mating surfaces. The links 61 lie only in an axial plane, which is perpendicular to the plane 17. Of the Handle or outside of the wall 48 is provided with a recess that does not reach to the guide 5.

Starting from an outer diameter of the part 2 of at most 30 mm or 20 mm and a comparatively greater length of at most 40 mm or 30 mm, the dimensional ratios shown are particularly favorable.

Claims (10)

1. A medium dispenser including a module (1) comprising at least two components (2, 3) defining an operating posture, namely a first and a second component (2, 3) which in a first position are substantially integrally connected to each other via a frangible knockout joint (4, 30) adjoining zones (32 to 34, 36) connected thereto, the module (1) forming a passage unit, such as a nozzle unit for communicating the medium, the passage opening (54 to 58) of which is defined by the components (2, 3) to define communication and at least one of the components (2, 3) forms a shear zone (32 to 34) for parting the joint (4, 30) on leaving the first position, characterized in that the receiving component (2) comprises a passage recess (57 to 59) covered by the received component in the direction of flow oriented roughly in the plane of the mutual direction of displacement (12).
2. The dispenser as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the shear zone comprises snugly sliding shear surface areas (21 to 23 and 25 to 27), more particularly the joint (4, 30) adjoining the shear surface area (21 to 23) of the one component (2) and a breasting surface area (29) of the other component (3) located transversely thereto and preferably at least one of the surface areas formed by the shear surface areas (21 to 23), the breasting surface area (29) or jointing surface areas being an edge surface area.
3. The dispenser as set forth in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that emanating from the shear zone is a guide (5) with substantially zero clearance in at least one direction (13, 14) located transversely to the shearing movement (12) for mutually locking in place the two components (2, 3) in the shearing movement (12), more particularly the guide (5), after having left the first position, having only a single degree of freedom (12) and having zero clearance in all directions (13, 14) transversely thereto and preferably the guide (5) comprising a guide opening (6) at one component (2) and guiding surface areas (25 to 27) of the other component (3) adapted to the guide opening (6).
4. The dispenser as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that as compared to the mutual displacement (15) of the two components (2, 3) extending up to a second position, the guide (5) is shorter at at least two opposing sides, more particularly the joint (4) being spaced away from one or two outer surface areas (27, 28) facing away from each other of the component (3) to be received and preferably the jointing zone (29, 32 to 34) of the component (3) to be received being provided at the frontmost end thereof in the direction of displacement (12).
5. The dispenser as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide (5) of the one component (2) covers the other component (3) only partly over the majority of the mutual displacement (15) or in the operating posture at a guide side, more particularly the guide (5) not covering this component at the guide side (24) at two opposing sides and thereby and preferably the guide (5) transversely covering the component (3) in the operating posture at the guide side (24) along its front end in the direction of displacement (12).
6. The dispenser as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that one component (3) is penetrated by a passage (54) whose narrowest section is conical, more particularly the passage (54) connecting by its downstream end the bottom of a shallow recess (56) and preferably the length of the passage (54) being greater than half the corresponding cross-sectional thickness of the component (3).
7. The dispenser as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the passage recess (57 to 59) forming swirler pilot surface areas for the medium and preferably the received component (3) comprising a recess (55) located substantially flush with a central chamber section (58) of the passage recess.
8. The dispenser as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the components is a plate (3) having at least one thickened portion (41), more particularly the thickened portion (41) being formed by a protuberance (42) protruding beyond only a sole plate surface area (28) and preferably the thickened portion (41) forming a passage recess (40) for introducing the displacement force in parting the joint (4, 30).
9. The dispenser as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that locking means (20) for mutually locking in place the two components (2, 3), as for example in positive locking, are provided, more particularly the locking in place involving interengaging connecting member (42, 44, 46, 47) such as positive locking members separate from the guide (5) and preferably the connecting members comprising, prior to mutual locking engagement, snap-action members (46, 47) springingly engaging each other.
10. The dispenser as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mutual displacement (15) of the two components (2, 3) is defined by a stop (43), more particularly the stop (43) of the component (3) to be received being located at the outer end thereof and preferably the stop (43) not laterally adjoining the definitions of a receiving pocket (44) of the one component (2) until the operating posture is achieved.

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