EP1561512B1 - Unite de pompe et recipient - Google Patents

Unite de pompe et recipient Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1561512B1
EP1561512B1 EP03811082A EP03811082A EP1561512B1 EP 1561512 B1 EP1561512 B1 EP 1561512B1 EP 03811082 A EP03811082 A EP 03811082A EP 03811082 A EP03811082 A EP 03811082A EP 1561512 B1 EP1561512 B1 EP 1561512B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
piston
shaft
liquid
shaft case
case
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP03811082A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Japanese (ja)
Other versions
EP1561512A4 (fr
EP1561512A1 (fr
Inventor
Akira c/o Advanex Inc. MIZUOCHI
Kiyoshi c/o Advanex Inc. CHIKASHIGE
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Advanex Inc
Original Assignee
Advanex Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Advanex Inc filed Critical Advanex Inc
Publication of EP1561512A1 publication Critical patent/EP1561512A1/fr
Publication of EP1561512A4 publication Critical patent/EP1561512A4/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1561512B1 publication Critical patent/EP1561512B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B11/00—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
    • B05B11/0005—Components or details
    • B05B11/0027—Means for neutralising the actuation of the sprayer ; Means for preventing access to the sprayer actuation means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B11/00—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
    • B05B11/0005—Components or details
    • B05B11/0037—Containers
    • B05B11/0039—Containers associated with means for compensating the pressure difference between the ambient pressure and the pressure inside the container, e.g. pressure relief means
    • B05B11/0044—Containers associated with means for compensating the pressure difference between the ambient pressure and the pressure inside the container, e.g. pressure relief means compensating underpressure by ingress of atmospheric air into the container, i.e. with venting means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B11/00—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
    • B05B11/01—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use characterised by the means producing the flow
    • B05B11/10—Pump arrangements for transferring the contents from the container to a pump chamber by a sucking effect and forcing the contents out through the dispensing nozzle
    • B05B11/1028—Pumps having a pumping chamber with a deformable wall
    • B05B11/1035—Pumps having a pumping chamber with a deformable wall the pumping chamber being a bellow
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B11/00—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
    • B05B11/01—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use characterised by the means producing the flow
    • B05B11/10—Pump arrangements for transferring the contents from the container to a pump chamber by a sucking effect and forcing the contents out through the dispensing nozzle
    • B05B11/1042—Components or details
    • B05B11/1059—Means for locking a pump or its actuation means in a fixed position
    • B05B11/106—Means for locking a pump or its actuation means in a fixed position in a retracted position, e.g. in an end-of-dispensing-stroke position
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B11/00—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
    • B05B11/01—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use characterised by the means producing the flow
    • B05B11/10—Pump arrangements for transferring the contents from the container to a pump chamber by a sucking effect and forcing the contents out through the dispensing nozzle
    • B05B11/1042—Components or details
    • B05B11/1052—Actuation means
    • B05B11/1053—Actuation means combined with means, other than pressure, for automatically opening a valve during actuation; combined with means for automatically removing closures or covers from the discharge nozzle during actuation
    • B05B11/1054—Actuation means combined with means, other than pressure, for automatically opening a valve during actuation; combined with means for automatically removing closures or covers from the discharge nozzle during actuation the valve being located upstream of an outlet valve

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a pump unit that is used, for example, in a pump type container for a hair shampoo or the like used in the home, and also to a container.
  • pump type containers are used as containers for containing, for example, hair shampoo or soap that are used in the home.
  • These pump type containers are composed of a container body and a pump unit that is removably inserted into the container body. Normally, the pump unit is constructed such that when a piston portion is pressed, the piston portion pumps liquid up from the container body as it returns to its original position. The next time the piston portion is pressed, this liquid is discharged from a discharge aperture.
  • Such pump units include those that utilize a return operation in which a bellows that contracts when the piston portion is pressed once again expands when the piston portion is released so as to pump liquid into the bellows.
  • the bellows is contracted so as to discharge the liquid inside the bellows from the discharge aperture (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication Nos. H10-101115 and H10-211947 ).
  • a suction valve and discharge valve are provided on the bellows upstream side and downstream side.
  • the direction of the discharge aperture that discharges the liquid can be freely changed. This is because, when the container is, for example, a container for hair shampoo that is used in the home, when the container is used, normally, it is not lifted up and used, but instead the head portion alone is operated so as to discharge liquid while the container itself is left standing.
  • a pump unit for pumping liquid from the inside of a container body to the outside of the container body is disclosed in EP 1 486 261 A1 which was published after the priority date of the present application, but claims a priority date earlier than that of the present application.
  • Such a pump unit comprises a liquid containing portion adapted to be inserted into the container body; and a piston portion inserted into the liquid containing portion, said piston portion being movable inside the liquid containing portion to move liquid from the liquid containing portion to the outside of the container body by reducing the volume of the interior of the liquid containing portion, and to move liquid from the inside of the container body to the liquid containing portion by increasing the volume of the interior of the liquid containing portion;
  • said piston portion comprising a shaft case provided inside the liquid containing portion and having a female thread portion formed on an internal circumferential surface of said shaft case, an unthreaded portion formed on said internal circumferential surface of said shaft case and a first engaging portion formed at a top end of the shaft case, said first engaging portion extending inward
  • the user rotates the piston head to unscrew the male-threaded part of the piston shaft and the bottom female-threaded part of the shaft case, and after pulling the piston head upwards, again rotates the piston head to screw the male-threaded part of the piston shaft into the upper female-threaded part of the shaft case, and locks the piston shaft and the shaft case together.
  • a pump unit to be attached to the container body of a container is known from US 6,230,942 B1 .
  • the pump unit comprises a liquid discharging cover, a cap, a liquid storing pipe, a liquid suction valve, a bottle cap, a spring, a valve film, and a pipe-like seat.
  • a first end of the cap is provided with a tapered pipe and a thread, while a second end of the cap is provided with a mouth and an inner threaded portion.
  • a mouth of the tapered pipe is higher than the cap, and the tapered pipe is separated from the thread of the cap and is in communication with the mouth of the cap.
  • the thread of the cap can be locked onto the liquid discharging cover, and a groove is formed by the thread and is sealed on a bottom.
  • a peripheral wall of the liquid storing pipe has an obliquity and tightly contacts the inner wall of the tapered pipe of the cap at positions away from the obliquity.
  • the obliquity of the peripheral wall and the mouth of the tapered pipe on the cap form an annual gap therebetween.
  • the present invention was conceived in view of the above described circumstances and it is an object thereof to provide a pump unit and container that enable the direction of the discharge aperture to be freely changed when in use, and that when not in use, such as when being transported, prevent liquid from running out, and that also prevent any deterioration in operability that is caused by the bellows and the like being compressed for an extended period of time.
  • a pump unit as defined in claim 1.
  • a container as defined in claim 4.
  • an apparatus for solving the above described problems includes: a liquid containing portion that is inserted into a container body; and a piston portion that is inserted into the liquid containing portion so as to be able to move inside the liquid containing portion, and that causes liquid to be discharged from the liquid containing portion to the outside of the container body by narrowing the volume of the interior of the liquid containing portion, and causes liquid from inside the container body to move to the liquid containing portion by increasing the volume of the liquid containing portion, wherein the piston portion has: a shaft case that is provided inside the liquid containing portion and has a female thread portion formed on an internal circumferential surface thereof; and a piston head portion that protrudes outside the liquid containing portion and has a discharge aperture formed thereon, and that has a male thread portion which screws into the female thread portion formed on an external circumferential surface thereof, and that is inserted into the shaft case so as to be able to move inside the shaft case, and wherein an unthreaded portion that allows the male thread
  • the piston head portion can be rotated freely inside the shaft case. Accordingly, the piston head portion can be rotated without moving the shaft case, namely, without changing the volume inside the liquid containing portion. As a result, it is possible to freely rotate the discharge aperture of the piston head portion in a separate operation from the operation to discharge the liquid inside the container body.
  • an urging member (including urging members that are resilient bodies made from resin that are able to return from a direction in which they have extended) that is made from resin is provided on the shaft case and that, when the shaft case is moved in a direction that causes the volume of the liquid containing portion to be narrowed, the urging member being adapted to urge the shaft case in a return direction.
  • the piston head portion is contained inside the shaft case so that the overall size thereof is made more compact, and the unit can be packaged in that state. Furthermore, because the piston head portion only is moved without the shaft case being moved, during packaging or the like, any reduction in workability is prevented that is caused by failures such as the resin urging member losing its strength and becoming fatigued by receiving a compression force opposing its own urging force for an extended period of time.
  • the above described pump unit is provided in the container of the present invention.
  • this container it is possible to freely rotate the discharge aperture of the piston head portion separately from the operation to discharge the liquid inside the container body. Furthermore, any deterioration in operability is prevented that is caused by the urging member being contracted for an extended period of time.
  • FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a container that is provided with the pump unit of the present invention.
  • the symbol 10 in FIG. 1 is a pump unit, while the symbol 11 is a container.
  • the container 11 is constructed by attaching the pump unit 10 to a container body 12 that contains a hair shampoo or the like in liquid form.
  • the container body 12 is a cylindrical member having a bottom that is formed from synthetic resin.
  • An aperture portion 12a is formed at a top end portion thereof, and a male thread portion 13 is formed on an outer circumference of the aperture portion 12a.
  • a screw cap 15 that is made from synthetic resin and is provided with a female thread portion 14 that screws together with the male thread portion 13 is removably attached to the aperture portion 12a.
  • the pump unit 10 is attached to the container body 12 by means of this screw cap 15. Namely, a hole (not shown) is formed in a center portion of the screw cap 15, and by inserting a pipe shaped case 16 that is formed from synthetic resin inside this hole, the pump unit 10 is attached to the container body 12 via the screw cap 15. Note that the case 16 functions as the liquid container portion of the present invention.
  • a flange 16a is formed on an outer circumferential portion of the case 16, and this flange 16a is placed in contact with an internal surface (i.e., a bottom surface) of the screw cap 15.
  • Packing 17 is provided on a bottom surface side of the flange 16a, and the internal surface (i.e., the bottom surface) side of the screw cap 15 is placed in pressure contact via the packing 17 with a top edge portion of the aperture portion 12a so that an airtight seal is formed.
  • a chaplet 18 is attached to a portion of the case 16 that protrudes above the screw cap 15.
  • This chaplet 18 has an external cylindrical portion 18a that fits together with the outer circumferential portion of the case 16, an internal cylindrical portion 18b that is inserted inside the case 16, and an apex portion 18c that is formed at a portion directly above the internal cylindrical portion 18b.
  • This chaplet 18 is attached to a top end portion of the case 16, and by nipping the screw cap 15 between the external cylindrical portion 18a and the flange 16a of the case 16, the case 16 is fixed to the screw cap 15.
  • the pump unit 10 is provided with a case 16, a bellows 19 that is formed from synthetic resin and is inserted into the case 16, a shaft case 20 that is connected to the bellows 19, a piston shaft 21, a piston head 22, and a suction pipe 23.
  • the shaft case 20, the piston shaft 21, and the piston head 22 constitute the piston portion of the present invention, while the piston shaft 21 and the piston head 22 constitute the piston head portion of the present invention.
  • the suction pipe 23 is inserted into the container body 12, and is positioned at a bottom end side of the bellows 19. A suction end 23a that is positioned at a bottom end of the suction pipe 23 is cut on a slant.
  • a top end side of the suction pipe 23 is inserted into a connecting pipe 16b that is formed on an external side of a bottom portion of the case 16.
  • a suction valve 24 that only allows liquid to flow from the container body 12 towards the case 16 is provided inside the connecting pipe 16b.
  • the suction valve 24 is formed by a valve chamber 25 that is formed integrally with the connecting pipe 16b, a spherical valve body 26 that is housed inside the valve chamber 25, and a lid member 27 that is positioned at a bottom portion of the case 16.
  • An aperture 25a that leads to the suction pipe 23 side is formed on a bottom portion of the valve chamber 25. Liquid inside the container body 12 flows into the valve chamber 25 through this aperture 25a via the suction pipe 23.
  • the valve body 26 is housed inside the valve chamber 25 from the top portion aperture side of the case 16. If an external circumferential surface of the valve body 26 is placed in tight contact with an internal circumferential surface of the valve chamber 25 on the aperture 25a side thereof, liquid can be prevented from flowing backwards.
  • the shape of the valve body 26 is not limited to a spherical shape and, provided that the valve body 26 is able to block of the aperture 25a in the valve chamber 25, it is possible to employ a variety of configurations for the valve body 26.
  • the lid member 27 is a disk shaped member that is formed having a larger diameter than that of the top portion aperture of the connecting pipe 16b, namely, than that of the aperture on the top portion side of the valve chamber 25.
  • An aperture 27a is formed in the lid member 27 at a position covering the top portion aperture of the valve chamber 25 that allows liquid to pass through but does not allow the valve body 26 to pass through. Examples of the shape of the aperture 27a include a shape that is cut like a cross, however, naturally the shape is not limited to this and a variety of shapes can be employed.
  • the lid member 27 is fixed to the bottom portion of the case 16 by a mechanical device such as a fitting, or by adhesion or fusion, however, it is preferable that the valve body 26 is prevented from accidentally coming out from the interior of the valve chamber 25.
  • the bellows 19 is fixed to the lid member 27.
  • the bellows 19 is inserted together with the case 16 into the container body 12 and pumps liquid from inside the container body 12 to the outside of the container body 12.
  • the bellows 19 is an example of the resilient body of the present invention.
  • the bellows 19 is formed like an accordion that is able to be extended or compressed in the longitudinal direction thereof inside the case 16 (i.e., in a vertical direction), and is consequently able to return to its original position along the direction in which it has been extended.
  • a bottom end portion of the bellows 19 is fixed to the lid member 27, as is described above, and is linked to the interior of the valve chamber 25 and the suction pipe 23 via the aperture portion 27a of the lid member 27.
  • the bellows 19 is manufactured from low density polyethylene, and is provided with a predetermined spring constant.
  • the bellows 19 is easily contracted by being pressed, which results in the volume of the interior thereof being reduced.
  • this pressing force is released, the bellows 19 is easily restored to its original state, namely, to its original position in the direction in which has extended.
  • This causes the volume of the interior thereof to increase. Namely, when the volume inside the case 16 is narrowed by the piston portion, the volume inside the bellows 19 is also narrowed. Conversely, when the volume inside the case 16 is increased, the volume inside the bellows 19 is also increased.
  • a cylindrical press insertion portion 19a is formed on a top end side of the bellows 19.
  • the press insertion portion 19a is inserted from below into a piston base 29 that is made from synthetic resin in the shape of a cylinder having a lid.
  • a first connecting hole 30 that connects the interior of the bellows 19 with the interior of the case 16 is provided in the piston base 29.
  • the first connecting hole 30 enables liquid that has been pumped into the bellows 19 from the container body 12, as is described below, to be temporarily discharged to the outside of the bellows 19.
  • the shape and size of the first connecting hole 30 are not particularly restricted and may be optionally set insofar as they do not obstruct the flow of liquid.
  • the number of first connecting holes 30 is also optional.
  • the piston base 29 is formed having a smaller diameter than the internal diameter of the case 16.
  • a concave portion (not shown) that fits together with the press insertion portion 19a is formed on a bottom surface side of the piston base 29.
  • a toroidal groove (not shown) that fits together with a bottom end of the shaft case 20 is formed in a top portion side of an outer circumferential portion of the piston base 29.
  • the shaft case 20 is formed from synthetic resin in the shape of a pipe. A bottom portion aperture in the shaft case 20 is sealed when a bottom end portion of the shaft case 20 is fitted to the piston base 29.
  • the shaft case 20 is fixed to the chaplet 18 by inserting a top end portion of the shaft case 20 into the internal cylinder 18b of the chaplet 18.
  • a female thread portion 20a is formed on an inner circumferential surface of the shaft case 20.
  • an unthreaded portion 20b is formed at a top end portion of the inner circumferential surface of the shaft case 20, namely, above the position where the female thread portion 20a is formed.
  • the female thread portion 20a meshes with the male thread portion 21a of the piston shaft 21 (described below).
  • the unthreaded portion 20b is formed in a groove shape that runs in the circumferential direction around the inner circumferential surface of the shaft case 20, and rotatably supports the piston shaft 21 in the circumferential direction thereof without interfering with the male thread portion 21a of the piston shaft 21.
  • FIG 2A shows a case in which the shaft case 20 is formed integrally.
  • FIG. 2B shows a case in which the top end portion side where the unthreaded portion 20b is formed and the bottom portion side where the female thread portion 20a is formed are formed separately, and these are mechanically bonded by being forcibly fitted together or the like, or by adhesion or fusion so as to form a single body.
  • a second connecting hole 34 (described below) is omitted.
  • a first engaging portion 20c that extends slightly inwards is formed on a top end of the shaft case 20 running in a circumferential direction of the shaft case 20. As is described below, the first engaging portion 20c is formed so as to extend inwards slightly beyond the apex portion 18c of the chaplet 18.
  • a protruding bar 31 is formed on an outer circumferential portion of the shaft case 20 extending in the longitudinal direction of the shaft case 20. As is shown in FIG. 3 , the protruding bar 31 fits into a groove 32 that is formed in the internal cylinder 18b of the chaplet 18. When the piston head 22 is rotated, as is described below, the protruding bar 31 functions as a rotation brake to stop the shaft case 20 rotating in conjunction with the piston head 22.
  • the protruding bar 31 is able to move in the longitudinal direction of the groove 32 and, accordingly, the rising and lowering of the shaft case 20 that accompanies a pressing operation of the piston head 22 (described below) is not obstructed by the fitting of the protruding bar 31 in the groove 32.
  • a single protruding bar 31 is formed in the shaft case 20, and a single groove 32 is also formed in the internal cylinder 18b of the chaplet 18 to correspond to this.
  • this number is not particularly restricted, and two or more protruding bars and grooves may be provided.
  • a protruding portion 33 is formed substantially in a center portion of an outer circumferential portion of the shaft case 20 running in the circumferential direction thereof.
  • This protruding portion 33 may be formed intermittently or continuously along its entire length provided that it is formed away from the protruding bar 31 so as not to interfere with the protruding bar 31.
  • a second connecting hole 34 that connects the interior of the case 16 to the interior of the shaft case 20 is provided at a bottom end portion of the shaft case 20.
  • This second connecting hole 34 enables liquid that has been discharged to the outside from the bellows 19 and has been stored in the case 16, as is described below, to be supplied to the interior of the shaft case 20.
  • the shape and size of the second connecting hole 34 are not particularly restricted and may be optionally set insofar as they do not obstruct the flow of liquid. The number thereof is also optional.
  • a toroidal piston ring 35 is mounted on an outer circumferential portion of a bottom end portion of the shaft case 20.
  • the piston ring 35 is placed between the protruding portion 33 and a circumferential edge portion 29a of the piston base 29, and is formed by joining together an inner ring 35a that is positioned on the shaft case 20 side and an outer ring 35b is positioned on the case 16 side in a central portion in the vertical direction thereof.
  • a top portion of the inner ring 35a is in contact with the shaft case 20 such that it is able to slide easily, while a bottom portion of the inner ring 35a is formed having a smaller thickness compared to the top portion thereof so as not to cover the second connecting hole 34.
  • the outer ring 35b is tightly attached to the inner circumferential surface of the case 16 such that a sufficient degree of fluid-tightness is secured, while the outer ring 35b is still able to slide.
  • top and bottom end portions of the outer ring 35b form lip portions (not shown) so that the aforementioned fluid-tightness and slidability are excellent.
  • the space between the protruding portion 33 and a circumferential edge portion 29a of the piston base 29 is sufficiently wider than the height of the inner ring 35a of the piston ring 35.
  • the piston ring 35 is in press contact with the circumferential edge portion 29a of the piston base 29.
  • the second connecting hole 34 is blocked by the inner ring 35a of the piston ring 35 so as to be fluid-tight.
  • the piston ring 35 and the piston base 29 function as a discharge valve for discharging liquid.
  • an air hole 36 is formed in the case 16 higher than the highest position to which the piston ring 35 is able to be raised.
  • This air hole 36 connects the interior of the container body 12 to the outside via the space between the case 16 and the internal cylindrical portion 18b of the chaplet 18 and via the space between the case 16 and the external cylindrical portion 18a of the chaplet 18.
  • the air hole 36 prevents what is known as "collapse" that is caused by a change in the liquid volume inside the container body 12.
  • the top portion side of the case 16 that provides the area of movement of the piston ring 35 has a larger diameter than the bottom portion side thereof where the bellows 19 are housed.
  • the piston shaft 21 is a circular cylinder shaped member made from synthetic resin that is continuous with the shaft case 20 and is inserted from above so as to be able to move in the shaft case 20. As is shown in FIG. 5 , a male thread portion 21 a is formed on a bottom end portion of the piston shaft 21.
  • the male thread portion 21a screws together with the female thread portion 20a that is formed on the shaft case 20, and is able to be rotated in the circumferential direction thereof by means of an unthreaded portion 20b. Namely, as a result of the male thread portion 21 a of the piston shaft 21 being screwed into the female thread portion 20a, the piston shaft 21 is able to move relatively to the shaft case 20. If, however, the male thread portion 21a is not screwed into the female thread portion 20a so that the piston shaft 21 is able to rotate at the unthreaded portion 20b, the piston shaft 21 is able to rotate freely without causing the shaft case 20 to move.
  • a second engaging portion 21b is formed on the piston shaft 21 slightly above the male thread portion 21a.
  • This second engaging portion 21b protrudes outwards from the outer circumferential surface of the piston shaft 21, and is formed by a protruding bar that runs in the circumferential direction of the piston shaft 21.
  • the second engaging portion 21b is constructed so as to removably engage with the first engaging portion 20c of the shaft case 20. Namely, as is shown in FIG.
  • a narrow-diameter connecting pipe 21c is formed at a top end portion of the piston shaft 21, and the piston head 22 is connected to the connecting pipe 21c.
  • the piston head 22 is integrally connected to the connecting pipe 21c, and is formed by a head body 22a and a discharge pipe 22b that is connected to the piston shaft 21.
  • the head body 22a is able to be removably fitted onto the external cylinder portion 18a of the chaplet 18.
  • the discharge pipe 22b is connected to the piston shaft 21, and liquid inside the container body 12 is discharged from a discharge aperture 22c that is formed by a distal end aperture of the connecting pipe 22b.
  • the piston head 22 When the container 11 is not in use such as when it is being transported or stored, the piston head 22 is first pushed down slightly from the state shown in FIG. 1 so that the bottom end of the male thread portion 21 a of the piston shaft 21 is moved from the unthreaded portion 20b to the female thread portion 20a side. In this state, the piston shaft 21 is rotated. As a result, due to the meshing of the male thread portion 21 a with the female thread portion 20a, the piston shaft 21 moves to the bellows 19 side inside the shaft case 20 so that the second engaging portion 21b of the piston shaft 21 is lifted over the first engaging portion 20c and drops down. By then moving (i.e., dropping) it further, as is shown in FIG. 7 , the piston shaft 21 is contained inside the shaft case 20. In addition, the piston head 22 fits into the external cylinder portion 18a of the chaplet 18 so that this portion is covered.
  • the bellows 19 are not compressed but are maintained in an expanded state. Accordingly, no failures such as fatigue and the like are generated in the bellows 19 by the bellows 19 being compressed for an extended period of time.
  • the piston head 22 is rotated so that the male thread portion 21 a of the piston shaft 21 is made to lift up along the female thread portion 20a of the shaft case 20.
  • the second engaging portion 21b of the piston shaft 21 passes the unthreaded portion 20b, is lifted over the first engaging portion 20c of the shaft case 20, and moves to the top portion side thereof where it is engaged.
  • the piston shaft 21 and the shaft case 20 are integrated, and the container 11 is placed in the working state shown in FIG. 1 .
  • the piston head 21 and the shaft case are integrated, and a fluid-tight state between these two is further secured.
  • the piston shaft 21 i.e., the piston head 22
  • the piston shaft 21 can be freely rotated without interfering with the shaft case 20.
  • the bellows 19 are restored in the extension direction and are returned to the state shown in FIG. 1 .
  • the interior of the bellows 19 changes to a negative pressure.
  • the piston base 29 moves upwards to accompany the return of the bellows 19 in the extension direction.
  • the piston ring 35 is also pushed upwards by the piston base 29. Consequently, the circumferential edge portion 29a of the piston base 29 is once again placed in tight contact with the internal ring 35a of the piston ring 35, and the second connecting hole 34 is once again blocked.
  • the liquid holding portion 16c also changes to a negative pressure. This results in liquid being suctioned from the container body 12 into the bellows 19 and from the interior of the bellows 19 into the liquid holding portion 16c.
  • the interiors of the liquid holding portion 16c and the bellows 19 each become filled with liquid.
  • the piston base 29 is in tight contact with the internal ring 35a of the piston ring 35, the second connecting hole 34 is closed and back flow of liquid from the piston head 22 side to the container body 12 interior side is obstructed.
  • the resin bellows 19 are maintained in an expanded state and are not compressed even during packaging and the like.
  • the bellows 19 and the shaft case 20 are connected together via the liquid holding portion 16c inside the case 16 by the first connecting hole 30 and the second connecting hole 34. Accordingly, liquid that has been suctioned into the bellows 19 is held not only inside the bellows 19 but also in the liquid holding portion 16c.
  • the resin bellows 19 is used as a member that urges the shaft case 20 in a direction that restores the volume inside the case 16.
  • a resin coil spring i.e., an urging member
  • another optional structure namely, a structure that is cylindrical and has returning force (i.e., urging force) equivalent to a spring as the resilient body instead of the bellows 19.
  • FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of a container provided with the pump unit of the present invention.
  • the symbol 40 in FIG. 1 is a pump unit, while the symbol 41 is a container. Note that, in the pump unit 40 and container 41 shown in FIG. 9 , the same symbols are given to component elements that are the same in the pump unit 10 and container 11 shown in FIG. 1 , and a description thereof is omitted.
  • valve rod 44 is placed above the lining pipe 16b inside the case 16.
  • This valve rod 44 is a rod shaped member that extends upwards from a bottom portion side (i.e., the connecting pipe 16b side) of the case 16.
  • a through hole for liquid 44a that is connected to the connecting pipe 16b is formed inside the valve rod 44.
  • a valve portion 44b that expands outwards is formed on a top end portion of the valve rod 44.
  • a lidded, cylindrical fixing portion 44c that fixes the valve rod 44 to an inner surface of the case 16 is also formed at a bottom portion side of the valve rod 44, and a bottom end portion of the bellows 42 is fixed to the fixing portion 44c.
  • the hole (i.e., the liquid through hole 44a) that is formed in the fixing portion 44c has a smaller diameter than that of the spherical valve body 26 of the suction valve 24 so that the valve body 26 is prevented from being removed from the top of the valve chamber 25.
  • the bellows 42 is manufactured from low density polyethylene in an accordion shape that is able to be extended or contracted in the longitudinal direction thereof inside the case 16 (i.e., in a vertical direction), and is consequently able to return to its original position along the direction in which it has extended.
  • the bellows 42 is connected to the suction pipe 23 via the liquid through hole 44a in the valve rode 44 and the connecting pipe 16b.
  • the bellows 42 is easily contracted by being pressed, which results in the volume of the interior thereof being reduced.
  • this pressing force is released, the bellows 42 is easily restored to its original state, namely, to its original position in the direction in which has extended. This causes the volume of the interior thereof to increase.
  • the bellows 42 also has a predetermined spring constant.
  • a cylindrical press insertion portion 42a is formed at a top end side of the bellows 42, and a partition 42b is formed inside the press insertion portion 42a.
  • a hole (not shown) is formed in a center portion of the partition 42b. This hole is formed such that it can be removably engaged with the valve portion 44b of the valve rod 44, and the aperture of this hole is blocked so as to be fluid-tight when the hole is engaged with the valve portion 44b.
  • the valve portion 44b and the partition 42b function as a valve.
  • the press insertion portion 42a is inserted into the bottom end side of the shaft case 43 so as to be fluid-tight.
  • the shaft case 43 is provided with a female thread portion 20a, an unthreaded portion 20b, and a first engaging portion 20c (not shown).
  • the shaft case 43 differs from the shaft case 20 in that a large diameter portion 45 is formed on a bottom end portion of an outer circumferential portion of the shaft case 43, and in that a concave portion 46 (see FIG. 10 ) is formed at a position corresponding to the air hole 16d that is formed in the case 16, and a shut-off valve 47 is mounted inside this concave portion 46.
  • the diameter of the large diameter portion 45 is larger than that of other locations on the shaft case 43 by an amount that corresponds to the thickness of the internal cylindrical portion 18b of the chaplet 18. As a result, the large diameter portion 45 is substantially in contact with an internal surface of the case 16. By employing this type of structure, rattling of the shaft case 43 inside the case 16 is prevented.
  • the shut-off valve 47 is formed from polyethylene or another elastomer, and, as is shown in FIG. 10 , is constructed by integrally connecting an engaging portion 47a, which is mounted inside the concave portion 46, with a valve body 47b, which is positioned on the case 16 side and opens and shuts the air hole 16d, in central portions in the height direction of each.
  • the valve body 47b is formed so as to be tightly attached to the inner circumferential surface of the case 16 such that fluid-tightness is secured, while the valve body 47b is still able to slide along the case 16.
  • top and bottom portions of the valve body 47b are formed as lip portions (not shown) so that excellent fluid-tightness and slidability are secured.
  • a piston head portion that is formed by the piston shaft 21 and the piston head 22 is provided with a male thread portion 21a and a second engaging portion 21b.
  • This piston head portion differs from the example shown in FIG. 1 in that a discharge valve 48 that only allows the discharge of liquid from the piston shaft 21 side to the piston head 22 side is provided inside the connecting pipe 21c.
  • the discharge valve 48 has the same structure as the above described suction valve 24.
  • the discharge valve 48 is provided with a valve chamber 49 that is formed integrally with the connecting pipe 21c, and has a spherical valve body 50.
  • the piston head 22 When the container 11 is not in use such as when it is being transported or stored, as is shown in FIG. 11 , the piston head 22 is first rotated so that the piston shaft 21 is contained inside the shaft case 43. In addition, the piston head 22 fits into the external cylinder portion 18a of the chaplet 18 so that this portion is covered. As a result, because the piston shaft 21 and the piston head 22 are contracted, packaging and the like of the container 11 is easy. Moreover, in this state, because the piston head 22 is not able to be further pressed down, it is not possible for the liquid inside to be forcibly discharged.
  • the bellows 42 are not compressed but are maintained in an expanded state. Accordingly, no failures such as fatigue and the like are generated in the bellows 42 by the bellows 42 being compressed for an extended period of time.
  • valve portion 44b of the valve rod 44 fits into the hole (not shown) in the partition 42b of the press insertion portion 42a of the bellows 42 so that the aperture of the hole is blocked so as to be fluid-tight, even if the container 41 falls over, the liquid inside the container body 12 is unable to be discharged from the discharge aperture 22c via the bellows 42.
  • the shut-off valve 4 blocks the air hole 16d. As a result, even if the container 41 is inadvertently knocked over, liquid inside the container body 12 is prevented from leaking outside through the gap between the chaplet 18 and the shaft case 43 via the air hole 16d.
  • the piston shaft 21 and the shaft case 43 are integrated, and the container 41 is placed in the working state shown in FIG. 9 .
  • the piston head 21 and the shaft case 43 are integrated, and a fluid-tight state between these two is further secured.
  • the piston shaft 21 i.e., the piston head 22
  • the piston shaft 21 can be freely rotated without interfering with the shaft case 43.
  • the air inside the bellows 42 is compressed as a result of the bellows 42 being compressed, because the suction valve 24 is shut, the air inside the bellows 42 flows into the shaft case 43, and is discharged to the outside through the hole in the piston shaft 21, the discharge valve 48, and the discharge pipe 22b.
  • the resin bellows 42 are maintained in an expanded state and are not compressed even during packaging and the like. Accordingly, no failures such as fatigue and the like are generated in the bellows 42 by the bellows 42 being compressed for an extended period of time. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent any deterioration in the workability of the pump unit 40 that 29 is caused by the bellows 42 being compressed for an extended period of time.
  • shut-off valve 47 is provided at a position on the shaft case 43 that corresponds to the air hole 16d formed in the case 16, during use, the air hole 16d is opened by the operation of the piston portion, resulting in the pressure inside the container body 12 being maintained at substantially atmospheric pressure. In addition, when not in use, the air hole 16d is shut by the shut-off valve 47 so that leakages of liquid from the air hole 16d are prevented.
  • the shaft case 43 does not rotate around the case 16 in the circumferential direction of the case 16, irrespective of the fact that the bellows 42 are formed in a spiral configuration, the shaft case 43 is not rotated by the torque of the bellows 42. As a result, the shut-off valve 47 that is provided on the shaft case 43 is kept at a position corresponding to the air hole 16d. Moreover, it is possible to prevent torque from the spiral-shaped bellows 42 being transmitted to the piston head 22 so that malfunctions such as deteriorations in the operability thereof are prevented.

Abstract

L'invention concerne une unité de pompe (10) qui évacue un liquide dans un corps de récipient (12) et possède une partie de réception de liquide ainsi qu'une partie piston insérée mobile dans la partie de réception de liquide. La partie piston comprend une gaine d'arbre (20) montée dans la partie de réception de liquide et possédant une partie de vis femelle (20a) formée à sa périphérie intérieure, ainsi qu'une partie tête de piston (21, 22) insérée mobile dans la gaine d'arbre. La partie tête de piston fait saillie à l'extérieur de la partie de réception de liquide, une partie d'ouverture (22c) est formée dans la partie faisant saillie, et une partie de vis mâle (21a) est vissée dans la partie de vis femelle (20a), à la périphérie extérieure de la partie de tête de piston. A l'intérieur de la gaine de l'arbre on a formé une partie non vissable (20b) permettant à la partie mâle vissable du piston de pivoter librement dans une direction circulaire à l'intérieur la gaine de l'arbre. Dans cette unité de pompe, l'ouverture de sortie de la partie de tête de piston peut pivoter librement, indépendamment du mouvement pendant l'opération de sortie du liquide dans le corps de récipient.

Claims (4)

  1. Une unité de pompe (10) pour pomper du liquide à partir de l'intérieur d'un corps de récipient (12) vers l'extérieur du corps de récipient (12), ladite unité de pompe (10) comprenant :
    une partie contenant du liquide (16) adaptée pour être insérée dans le corps de récipient (12) ; et
    une partie formant piston (20, 21, 22) insérée dans la partie contenant du liquide (16), ladite partie formant piston (20, 21, 22) étant susceptible de se déplacer à l'intérieur de la partie contenant du liquide (16) pour déplacer du liquide à partir de la partie contenant du liquide (16) vers l'extérieur du corps de récipient (12) en diminuant le volume de l'intérieur de la partie contenant du liquide (16), et pour déplacer du liquide à partir de l'intérieur du corps de récipient (12) vers la partie contenant du liquide (16) en augmentant le volume de l'intérieur de la partie contenant du liquide (16) ; ladite partie formant piston (20, 21, 22) comprenant un boîtier d'arbre (20) disposée à l'intérieur de la partie contenant du liquide (16) et présentant une partie à filetage femelle (20a) formée sur une surface interne circonférentielle dudit boîtier d'arbre (20), une partie dépourvue de filetage (20b) formée sur ladite surface interne circonférentielle dudit boîtier d'arbre (20) et une première partie de mise en prise (20c) formée au niveau d'une extrémité supérieure du boîtier d'arbre (20), ladite première partie de mise en prise (20c) s'étendant vers l'intérieur et se développant selon une direction circonférentielle du boîtier d'arbre (20) ; et
    un arbre de piston (21) présentant une partie d'extrémité inférieure insérée dans le boîtier d'arbre (20) et une partie d'extrémité supérieure reliée à une tête de piston (22) faisant saillie en dehors de la partie contenant du liquide (16) et qui présente une ouverture de refoulement (22c) formée en son sein, ledit arbre de piston (21) présentant une partie de filetage mâle (21a) formée sur une surface circonférentielle externe de ladite partie d'extrémité inférieure de l'arbre de piston (21), ladite partie à filetage mâle (21a) étant adapté pour se visser sur la partie à filetage femelle (20a) pour loger l'arbre de piston (21) dans le boîtier d'arbre (20), dans laquelle
    ladite partie dépourvue de filetage (20b) est formée au niveau d'une partie d'extrémité supérieure de la surface interne circonférentielle du boîtier d'arbre (20), ledit arbre de piston (21) présentant une deuxième partie de mise en prise (21b) formée sur une surface circonférentielle externe de l'arbre de piston (21), ladite deuxième partie de mise en prise (21b) étant formée par une barre qui s'étend vers l'extérieur à partir de ladite surface circonférentielle externe de l'arbre de piston (21) et qui se développe selon une direction circonférentielle de l'arbre de piston (21), ladite première partie de mise en prise (20c) étant prise en sandwich entre ladite deuxième partie de mise en prise (21b) et la partie à filetage mâle (21 a) lorsque ladite partie à filetage mâle (21a) est placée à l'intérieur de ladite partie dépourvue de filetage (20b) pour permettre une rotation libre de ladite partie à filetage mâle (21a) selon la direction circonférentielle du boîtier d'arbre (20).
  2. Unité de pompe selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle un organe de sollicitation (19) qui est réalisé en résine est prévu sur le boîtier d'arbre (20), ledit organe de sollicitation (19) étant adapté pour solliciter le boîtier d'arbre (20) selon une direction de renvoi lorsque le boîtier d'arbre (20) est déplacé selon une direction tendant à diminuer le volume de l'intérieur de la partie contenant du liquide (16).
  3. Unité de pompe selon la revendication 2, dans laquelle l'organe de sollicitation (19) est un corps élastique réalisé en résine susceptible de revenir à partir d'une direction selon laquelle il a été étendu.
  4. Un récipient (11) présentant un corps de récipient (12) auquel est fixée une unité de pompe selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3.
EP03811082A 2002-11-14 2003-11-07 Unite de pompe et recipient Expired - Lifetime EP1561512B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2002330475A JP3986947B2 (ja) 2002-11-14 2002-11-14 ポンプユニット及び容器
JP2002330475 2002-11-14
PCT/JP2003/014205 WO2004043610A1 (fr) 2002-11-14 2003-11-07 Unite de pompe et recipient

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1561512A1 EP1561512A1 (fr) 2005-08-10
EP1561512A4 EP1561512A4 (fr) 2009-04-29
EP1561512B1 true EP1561512B1 (fr) 2011-08-17

Family

ID=32310595

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03811082A Expired - Lifetime EP1561512B1 (fr) 2002-11-14 2003-11-07 Unite de pompe et recipient

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1561512B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP3986947B2 (fr)
AU (1) AU2003301898A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2004043610A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015017910A1 (fr) * 2013-08-07 2015-02-12 Waste-Not-Basket, Inc. Dispositif de distribution de fluide à gicleur amovible
US10953421B2 (en) 2017-05-25 2021-03-23 Rieke Packaging Systems Limited Dispenser pumps and dispensers
US11173508B2 (en) 2017-11-15 2021-11-16 Rieke Packaging Systems Limited Pump dispensers
US10335816B1 (en) * 2018-08-29 2019-07-02 Armin Arminak All plastic water resistant pump

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS60145282U (ja) * 1984-03-08 1985-09-26 株式会社吉野工業所 手動ポンプ
JP2529553Y2 (ja) * 1991-08-29 1997-03-19 株式会社吉野工業所 液体吐出器
JPH0624762U (ja) * 1992-09-01 1994-04-05 株式会社三谷バルブ 噴出ポンプ
JP3924821B2 (ja) 1996-09-30 2007-06-06 株式会社吉野工業所 液体噴出ポンプ
JPH10211947A (ja) 1997-01-28 1998-08-11 Yoshino Kogyosho Co Ltd 液体噴出ポンプ用の支持ケース
US6230942B1 (en) 1999-10-21 2001-05-15 Roy Kuo Metered dispensing pump device preventable of water permeation
WO2003078074A1 (fr) 2002-03-15 2003-09-25 Advanex Inc. Unite de pompe et contenant
WO2004016517A1 (fr) * 2002-08-16 2004-02-26 Advanex Inc. Pompe et contenant

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP3986947B2 (ja) 2007-10-03
WO2004043610A1 (fr) 2004-05-27
EP1561512A4 (fr) 2009-04-29
EP1561512A1 (fr) 2005-08-10
JP2004160387A (ja) 2004-06-10
AU2003301898A1 (en) 2004-06-03

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