Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
  • B65D83/14—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant for a product delivered by a propellant
  • B65D83/44—Valves specially adapted therefor; Regulating devices
  • B65D83/46—Tilt valves
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
  • B65D83/14—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant for a product delivered by a propellant
  • B65D83/42—Filling or charging means
  • B65D83/425—Delivery valves permitting filling or charging

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a dispensing valve according to the preamble of claim 1 of a product, especially a liquid, to a container intended to contain this product and equipped with this valve according to the preamble of claim 17 as well as to a process for pressurized packaging of such a container under the action of a propellant gas according to claim 20.
• the valve according to the invention is designed to simplify its mounting on such a container and to facilitate, from the point from an industrial point of view, pressurization.
• Such a container commonly called an aerosol dispenser
• a fluid product such as a cosmetic, dermatological, household, food product or a workshop product, such as for example a hairspray or hair mousse, disinfectant spray, lubricant spray, paint or cleaning product.
• the valve fitted to this type of aerosol container comprises a control rod disposed axially in a valve body.
• the control rod has a passage for the product to be dispensed.
• the valve comprises sealing means, capable of closing said passage.
• the control rod can be moved elastically by lateral tilting of the rod, in the valve body between a first position for closing the passage, where the rod occupies a position, in which the passage is isolated from the product under pressure by the means sealing, and a second open position. In this second position, the rod is inclined relative to the axis of the valve body, said passage being in communication with the product under pressure, to allow the product to be dispensed.
• the valve further comprises elastic return means, urging the rod into said first position.
• the opening of the valve can also be caused by axial depression, which is advantageous for filling the container on a packaging line.
• the packaging of an aerosol product is carried out as follows: through the open orifice of a container, the product to be dispensed, generally liquid, is introduced, then the container is closed by crimping a valve-holder cup fitted with a valve. In order to pressurize the product, an appropriate quantity of propellant is then injected through the valve stem, keeping the latter in a depressed position.
• a valve of the aforementioned kind is described in patent application EP-A-0 850 851, in the name of the applicant. In practice, such a valve works satisfactorily. However, the applicant has noted that a distributor equipped with such a valve has a drawback, namely that the speed of filling with a propellant on an industrial packaging tool leaves something to be desired.
• Document GB-A-2 143 590 describes a valve which makes it possible to increase the speed of filling with a propellant.
• the valve has a passage, larger than that passing through the valve stem, through which the thruster is introduced.
• the passage is formed when the valve stem is pushed in, between the upper surface of the internal seal ensuring the tightness of the valve mechanism and the valve body.
• the applicant also sought a solution to make it faster and easier to pressurize an aerosol container, in particular on an automatic packaging line.
• the present invention aims to remedy the drawbacks of the valve described in document EP-A-0 850 851, while proposing a valve of simple construction and easy to fix on any type of pressure container.
• the cost price of the valve targeted by the invention must be advantageous.
• the invention relates to a dispensing valve, intended to equip a container containing a product pressurized by means of a propellant gas, comprising a valve body made of elastomeric material, and activation means for, in response to an actuation command, passing the valve from a closed position to a position authorizing the dispensing of the product via an outlet passage of said valve body, said valve being, in the absence of an actuation command, constrained in the closed position, said valve body comprising first mounting means to allow mounting of the valve, in a first position, in which the valve body defines with an edge of the container, at least one passage in communication with the container, so as to allow the filling of the container with propellant gas, and second mounting means, to allow the mounting of the valve, in a second position, in which the valve body is mounted sealingly on said edge of the container.
• the first and second mounting means are arranged such that, in the first position, the valve is positioned at a first axial height relative to the container, and that said valve is, in said second position, arranged at a second axial height relative to the container.
• the valve body has a suitable profile, after filling the container with propellant gas, to promote the passage of the valve from the first position to the second.
• the first and second mounting means are disposed on the valve body, at different axial heights, the first mounting means being disposed between the second mounting means and a lower end of the body of the valve. valve, said valve body having between said first and second means, a decreasing section in the direction of the first means.
• the second mounting means may be formed, for example, of an annular groove, formed on the exterior surface of the valve body, and able to cooperate, in a sealed manner, with a corresponding edge of the container, for example with the edge of an opening made at the top of the container.
• the containers which can be used for mounting this valve can be chosen from the containers usually used, for example aluminum, tin or plastic cans, having a generally cylindrical shape.
• the container may have an open end, a free edge of which delimits an orifice, capable of cooperating directly with the means for mounting the valve body.
• the container may be provided with a cup crimped onto the container provided with said orifice, in which the valve body is engaged.
• any elastomeric material having a Shore A hardness of between 30 and 70 can be provided, for example natural or synthetic rubbers, in particular thermoplastic or vulcanizable elastomers.
• the elasticity of the material constituting the valve body ensures, on the one hand the deformation necessary for mounting it on the container, according to the first position and its passage to the second position. On the other hand, the elasticity of this material also ensures sufficient sealing in the second position, to withstand the internal pressure of the container.
• these can also be formed of an annular groove, formed on the outer surface of the valve body and able to cooperate with the corresponding edge of the container, said groove being interrupted by at least one passage, formed at outside the valve body and opening into the interior of the container, said passage being of depth greater than the depth of said groove.
• said passage is oriented substantially perpendicular to said groove.
• the first and second mounting means are able to cooperate by snap-fastening with said edge of the container.
• the valve can be a valve whose opening is ensured by lateral tilting of a control rod crossed by said outlet passage and constituting the activation means, this rod being mounted in an outlet channel, formed inside the valve body and opening into an internal chamber.
• the outlet channel has a longitudinal axis
• the valve stem being provided inside the outlet channel with a profile capable of cooperating with a profile complementary to the channel of outlet, to define an articulation substantially around a determined point, so that whatever the angular position of the rod relative to the longitudinal axis, said rod is in sealed annular contact with the channel.
• the rod has inside the outlet channel, an annular portion projecting from the rest of the rod, and whose cross section is spherical, having a geometric center, the channel outlet having a portion, forming a recess of a shape complementary to that of the protruding portion, and capable of receiving, in a sealed manner, said protruding portion, the point of articulation of the rod substantially coinciding with the geometric center.
• the activation means to selectively put the internal valve chamber in communication with the outside of the valve, advantageously comprise a sealing ring, integral with the rod, urged by elastic return means, in sealing contact on an annular seat formed by said body.
• the outlet passage of the rod opens into the internal valve chamber via a passage, passing through the rod radially and located at the level of the sealing ring.
• the rod and the sealing ring are advantageously made of a rigid thermoplastic material, such as polypropylene or polyoxymethylene (POM).
• a rigid thermoplastic material such as polypropylene or polyoxymethylene (POM).
• the elastic return means consist of at least one elastomeric stud carried by an internal wall of the valve chamber and integral with it, this (or these) stud (s) being in elastic support against part of the rod carrying the sealing ring.
• a valve comprising this kind of return means is described, for example, in the aforementioned European patent application EP-A-0 850 851.
• Another object of the invention consists of a container for the distribution under pressure of a pressurized product by means of a propellant gas, this container being equipped with a valve as defined above.
• this valve is mounted on the container via a cup having an opening whose inner edge is intended to come into engagement with said first or second valve mounting means.
• the cup is crimped onto the container.
• the product is introduced through the opening of the container used for mounting the valve.
• the passage of the valve from the filling position to the dispensing position is effected by axially moving the valve relative to the container. This procedure greatly facilitates the automation of filling the tank on a packaging line.
• a plurality of passages are arranged in a regular manner all around the valve body, the filling of the container with gas being effected by covering the valve by means of a gas inlet cane, said cane having an edge, capable of coming into tight contact all around the valve with a surface of the container.
• this surface of the container is part of a valve-holder cup mounted on the container, this cup having an opening, the edge of which is able to cooperate with the first and second valve mounting means.
• valve body which has just been described has other advantages, compared to a conventional valve.
• the valve body is given both sufficient elasticity to be able to directly mount the operating rod in the valve body, without the need to assemble several parts.
• the return means are produced in the form of studs carried by one of the walls delimiting the internal chamber, these studs can be deformed by crushing, when the valve is actuated. In this way, it is possible to avoid having to resort to a metal return spring capable of coming into contact with the product to be dispensed, risking if necessary, degrading the product.
• the valve 1 according to the invention is intended to equip a dispenser provided with a reservoir 3.
• the reservoir is intended to contain a product liquid, such as a hair spray, the reservoir being pressurized by the action of a propellant gas G.
• the valve 1 comprises a body 2 having a central portion 2a in a truncated cone with an axis of revolution A, and an operating rod 11, of generally cylindrical shape, provided with an X axis In the valve rest position, the axes A and X are merged.
• the rod 11 is made in two parts 22 and 30 (see FIG. 3) in a rigid thermoplastic material, such as polyoxy methylene (POM).
• POM polyoxy methylene
• the valve body 2 is made of an elastically deformable material, for example an elastomer of nitrile rubber, whose Shore A hardness is advantageously in the range between 30 and 70.
• the body has a large base 2b and a small base 2c, connected by the generally frustoconical portion 2a and a cylindrical portion 2d.
• valve body 2 Inside the valve body 2 is formed an internal chamber 4 of circular section, delimited by peripheral walls 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d.
• the wall 4a is cylindrical in shape and is connected to a frustoconical portion 4b, the bottom of which opens towards the reservoir 3 by an axial inlet channel 5 of product P.
• the valve body 2 substantially at a third of its height (starting from the lower end of the valve body), comprises an annular groove 16 delimited in part by an annular bead 16a.
• the position of the groove 16 on the valve body is listed by the reference H 1.
• the annular groove 16 is interrupted by several zones in depression 18, regularly distributed and generally 2 to 4 in number. These zones 18 form open passages , when the valve body is mounted in the opening 7 of the cup 8, in the position H 1 , that is to say in a position where the edge of the opening 7 cooperates with the annular groove 16. In in other words, in this position, the passages 18 open on either side of the cup 8. In this position, the reservoir can be filled with propellant G from the outside, via the passages 18. It is at note that the depth of each passage 18 is greater than the depth of the groove 16.
• the annular groove 16 constitutes the first means of mounting the valve.
• the valve body comprises, between the cylindrical part 2d and the frustoconical part 2a of the body 2, at a height H 2 , second mounting means, produced in the form of an annular groove 14.
• the axial intake channel 5, intended for the admission of the product to be dispensed, is formed in the center of the small base 2b and opens into the chamber 4.
• This intake channel 5 is connected to a dip tube 19, the free end (not shown) plunges permanently into the product, via a connection tube 32 carried by the second part of the control rod 11.
• the cylindrical internal wall 4a of the valve body is connected to an annular sealing zone 4c situated in a plane perpendicular to the axis A.
• the annular zone 4c is extended upwards by a second frustoconical portion 4d, facilitating the tilting of the valve stem 11.
• the top of the frustoconical portion 4d opens into a recess 13 of substantially spherical shape.
• This recess 13 is part of an outlet channel 10, arranged in the extension of the intake channel 5, the channel 10 meanwhile, connecting the internal chamber 4, to the outside.
• the outlet channel 10 is crossed by the first part 22 of the rod 11, the external wall of the valve stem 11 being in perfect sealing contact against the wall of the valve body delimiting the outlet channel 10.
• the stem 11 has an annular portion 15 projecting from the rest of the rod, and whose axial cross section is spherical in shape, complementary to the shape of the recess 13 and having a geometric center Q.
• the geometric center Q constitutes a tilting point of the rod when the valve is actuated.
• the first part 22 of the valve stem 11 has a central distribution channel 23 passing through the stem from the emerging end 11a to a height situated substantially at the height of the annular zone 4c. At this height, the central channel 23 opens into a passage 25 passing through the rod radially and ending in the upper part of the chamber 4.
• the first part 22 of the rod comprises, in addition a cylindrical end 24, provided with a peripheral bead 26. This bead 26 is able to cooperate with a complementary annular groove 33 formed inside a blind chimney 34, provided on the upper end of the second part 30 of the valve stem.
• the blind chimney 34 is surrounded by a cylindrical crown 9, of larger diameter than the chimney 34 and of greater height.
• the free edge 9a of the crown has a chamfer, thus forming a more or less sharp edge, intended to bear on the annular zone 4c of the chamber 4, thus forming a seat.
• the second part comprises a portion in a truncated cone 30a connected to the crown 9 by a cylindrical portion 30b and whose section decreases towards its lower end 30d.
• the frustoconical surface 30a of the valve stem has a plurality of grooves 30c, oriented in a plane passing through the axis X.
• the lower end 30d of the frustoconical portion 30a is extended by the connection tube 32 mentioned above.
• a passage 36 leading radially in the grooves 30c In the junction zone between the frustoconical portion 30a and the connection tube 32 is made a passage 36 leading radially in the grooves 30c.
• the center of the radial passage 36 opens into a suction channel 38, defined inside the tube 32, in communication with the dip tube 19.
• the elastic support of the crown 9 against the seat 4c is provided by several studs or bulges 20 of small dimension, distributed regularly on the internal frustoconical wall 4b of the valve chamber 4 and in elastic support against the frustoconical part 30a of the rod valve 11.
• the free edge 9a of the crown 9 enters by some 10 th of mm in the seat 4c and creates a perfect seal between the valve chamber and the distribution channel.
• the emerging part of the valve stem has a flange 29, serving as a support for a tool, during mounting of the stem in the valve body.
• valve 1 The mounting of the valve 1 is simple to carry out. After assembly of the two stem parts 22 and 30, the valve stem is introduced axially into the valve body through the outlet channel 10, in this way, in two successive stages, as will be seen later.
• the introduction of the rod into the valve body is favored, on the one hand by the frustoconical portion 30c of the valve rod 11, and on the other hand by the elasticity of the elastomeric material constituting the valve body 2.
• the axial stroke of the valve stem 11 is limited by the flange 29, and the stem is positioned correctly in the valve chamber 4. Note that unlike some conventional valves, no ball or spring is necessary to operate this valve.
• the cup 8 is introduced into the reservoir 3, onto which has been previously fixed, for example by crimping, an appropriate quantity of product P.
• the valve is positioned in the filling position H 1 . In this position, the edge 7 of the cup is in engagement with the groove 16.
• an inlet cane C of propellant gas provided for the delivery of a propellant gas G in the container, on the cup , in a zone 40 surrounding the valve.
• the free end 38 of the filling rod C is able to be placed, in a sealed manner, on the cup 8.
• it is chooses the internal diameter of the filling cane C slightly greater than the largest diameter of the valve body.
• An appropriate quantity of propellant G is then introduced into the interior of the container, via the passages 18.
• a mounting element (not shown) can be provided, axially movable at the inside the filling rod and able to be placed on the upper face 2b of the valve body and push the latter towards the container.
• this mounting element is tubular, so as to be able to receive at its hollow center the emerging part 11a of the valve stem.
• the rod 11 is inclined relative to the axis A. This inclination can be performed in any radial direction relative to the axis A, as symbolized in Figure 4 by the arrows B.
• the axis X of the rod is inclined relative to the axis A of the body valve, the angle formed between the two axes being typically of the order of 2 ° to 15 °.
• part of the crown 9 moves away from the seat 4c.
• the stud (s) 20 which is (are) on the frusto-conical wall 4b, on the side opposite to the zone of separation of the crown, is (are) crushed by the part frustoconical 30a of the stem.
• four pads 20 of elongated shape were made, about 1 mm high, about 1.5 mm wide and about 1.5 mm long.
• the product P is then conveyed into the chamber 4 via the dip tube 19, the suction channel 38, the radial passage 36, the grooves 30c. Then, the product P is conveyed by the area spaced from the crown 9 in the passage 25 to arrive in the distribution channel 23.
• valve stem 11 Conventionally, the emerging end of the valve stem 11 is engaged in an actuating member also ensuring the distribution of the product.
• actuating member also ensuring the distribution of the product.

Landscapes

• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
• Fluid-Driven Valves (AREA)
• Nozzles (AREA)
• Basic Packing Technique (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=9533069

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Families Citing this family (16)

Family Cites Families (9)

• 1998
  • 1998-11-23 FR FR9814724A patent/FR2786167B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1999
  • 1999-10-19 DE DE69911147T patent/DE69911147T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1999-10-19 AT AT99402579T patent/ATE249379T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1999-10-19 EP EP99402579A patent/EP1004523B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-10-19 ES ES99402579T patent/ES2207148T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-11-01 CA CA002288243A patent/CA2288243A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-11-17 BR BR9905510-4A patent/BR9905510A/pt active Search and Examination
  • 1999-11-22 JP JP33203199A patent/JP3242093B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1999-11-23 US US09/447,562 patent/US6170537B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

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