Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
  • B05B1/34—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to influence the nature of flow of the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to produce swirl
  • B05B1/3405—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to influence the nature of flow of the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to produce swirl to produce swirl
  • B05B1/341—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to influence the nature of flow of the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to produce swirl to produce swirl before discharging the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. in a swirl chamber upstream the spray outlet
  • B05B1/3415—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to influence the nature of flow of the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to produce swirl to produce swirl before discharging the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. in a swirl chamber upstream the spray outlet with swirl imparting inserts upstream of the swirl chamber
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F9/00—Methods or devices for treatment of the eyes; Devices for putting-in contact lenses; Devices to correct squinting; Apparatus to guide the blind; Protective devices for the eyes, carried on the body or in the hand
  • A61F9/0008—Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
  • B05B1/30—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages
• • 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
  • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
  • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
  • B65D47/06—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages
  • B65D47/18—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages for discharging drops; Droppers
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
  • F04C—ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
  • F04C2270/00—Control; Monitoring or safety arrangements
  • F04C2270/04—Force
  • F04C2270/042—Force radial
  • F04C2270/0421—Controlled or regulated

Definitions

• Liquid product dispensing device provided with a flow reduction member
• the present invention relates to a liquid dispensing tip, particularly in the pharmaceutical field, such as auricular liquid, oral or ophthalmic.
• liquid product means a non-solid and non-gaseous product. It is understood that the product can be more or less liquid, depending on its viscosity. Also, it includes in “liquid product” a pasty or semi-liquid product.
• Document WO 2004/069679 discloses a liquid distribution tip attached to a tank with a deformable wall.
• This dispensing nozzle comprises a longitudinal liquid outlet channel and an insert defining with a wall of the nozzle a substantially longitudinal flow limiting channel.
• this tip can be bulky, especially when the liquid is low viscosity, because, in order to increase the pressure loss created within the liquid, it is necessary to increase the length of the flow limiting channel and therefore increase the size. longitudinal of the insert.
• Another solution may be to increase the length of the channel and / or reduce the section of the flow limiting channel.
• the realization of flow rate limiting channels of low passage section is particularly difficult to achieve for mass production, especially when these channels have a significant length.
• the present invention is intended to provide a compact distribution device and simple to achieve.
• the subject of the invention is in particular a device for dispensing liquid product, the device comprising:
• a dispensing nozzle comprising a cavity having a bottom from which extends a longitudinal outlet channel of the liquid
• a flow reduction member reported in the cavity of the nozzle, having a transverse surface defining, with the bottom of the nozzle, a liquid deflection channel extending in a transverse plane, the deflection channel being not rectilinear.
• non-rectilinear channel means a channel having a trajectory which makes it possible to increase the pressure losses within the liquid, either by increasing the length of the channel or by creating local disturbances of the flow of the liquid (such as abrupt change of direction of flow or abrupt change of channel section).
• this channel may be curved and, for example, take the form of a spiral.
• the channel may also comprise several consecutive non-aligned segments, that is to say that two consecutive segments form an angle between them different from 180 °, preferably between 10 and 90 °.
• the longitudinal liquid outlet channel generally opens directly onto the outlet orifice of the liquid formed on the nozzle.
• liquid deflection channel extends in a transverse plane, that is to say that the generatrix of this channel is in a transverse plane.
• This channel is distinguished for example from a helical channel.
• the device may also include other flow limiting channels, such as a helical channel, a restricted section channel, etc.
• a simple and compact liquid distribution device is thus obtained for controlling the distribution of the liquid. Indeed, since the liquid deflection channel is arranged in a transverse plane, it is possible to provide a flow reduction device of reduced size in the longitudinal direction. More precisely, the geometry of the deflection channel in the transverse plane is modified so as to create the desired head losses without necessarily having to increase the height of the flow reduction member in the longitudinal direction.
• the flow deflection channel can be modified to define a channel of a different section, of a different length and / or a different geometry.
• This device is particularly interesting for better controlling the size of the droplet delivered, that is to say the amount of drug delivered, by eliminating the external parameters involved during the delivery of a drop of liquid, such as that the rigidity of the tank, the state of the surfaces, the force and the speed with which the user presses on the walls of the tank, or even possible tremors of the user.
• the rigidity of the tank such as that the rigidity of the tank, the state of the surfaces, the force and the speed with which the user presses on the walls of the tank, or even possible tremors of the user.
• the device may further include one or more of the following features.
• the bottom of the nozzle comprises a substantially flat transverse surface and the transverse surface of the flow reduction member comprises reliefs defining, with the bottom of the nozzle, the liquid deflection channel. It is therefore possible to modify the reliefs of the transverse surface of the member to define, with the transverse surface of the tip, a channel of a different section, of a different length and / or a different geometry. It is thus possible to use a standard-shaped nozzle and adapt only the reduction member depending on the type of liquid that is dispensed.
• the flow reduction member comprises a base having a support function, bearing the reliefs, the height in the longitudinal direction is greater than the height of the reliefs.
• the large thickness of the base ensures a plating reliefs against the transverse surface of the tip.
• the flow reduction member is non-porous, that is to say that the liquid can not pass through the walls of the organ. Consequently, the liquid is forced to traverse the entire liquid deflection channel, that is to say that the liquid pressure can not deform the organ and therefore the channel so as to bypass a portion of the channel deviation.
• the transverse surface of the flow reduction member is substantially flat and the bottom of the nozzle comprises reliefs defining, with the transverse surface of the flow reduction member, the liquid deflection channel. It is therefore possible to modify the reliefs of the bottom of the mouthpiece to define with the transverse surface of the member, a channel of different section, of a different length and / or a different geometry. It is thus possible to use a flow reducing member of simple shape.
• the flow reduction device has the general shape of a disk. It is delimited, for example, by two flat transverse surfaces and an annular peripheral surface, through which is crossed by a liquid passage channel.
• the height of the reliefs in the longitudinal direction is less than 0.6 mm and preferably between 0.05 and 0.5 mm.
• the height of the base in the longitudinal direction is greater than 0.6 mm and preferably between 1 and 1.5 mm.
• the flow reduction member comprises a substantially longitudinal liquid passage channel, said feed channel, and the liquid deflection channel makes a junction between the outlet channel and the feed channel.
• This supply channel makes it possible to bring the liquid coming from the reservoir to the channel of deflection of the liquid.
• the supply channel is entirely delimited by the flow reduction device.
• its dimensions are easier to control than when it is delimited by the junction of two parts, which could be the case when the channel is delimited by an annular surface of the body of flow reduction and an annular surface of the mouthpiece.
• the annular seal between the annular wall of the nozzle and the annular wall of the flow reduction member is therefore easier to guarantee, and the feed channel has a section less subject to manufacturing tolerances.
• the feed channel may be disposed on the periphery of the member, being delimited by an annular surface of the tip.
• the flow reduction member is clamped against the transverse surface of the nozzle in the longitudinal direction, being fixed for example by snapping, clamping or ultrasonic welding.
• the member is pushed against the bottom of the nozzle in the longitudinal direction and the reliefs are in abutment and preferably slightly crushed against the bottom of the tip or the flow reduction member, which ensures more reliably sealing between the reliefs of the member or the tip and the bottom of the tip or the flow reduction member, respectively.
• the device has only two parts: the dispensing nozzle and the flow reduction member. So we have a very simple device to implement.
• the flow reduction member comprises a closure wall of the outlet channel, elastically movable between a rest configuration, in which the liquid can pass, and a deformed configuration, in which the wall is pressed against the outlet channel to seal it.
• the closure wall is connected to a base of the flow reduction member by a deformable wall, this deformable wall having a small thickness relative to the thickness of the base.
• the small thickness of the deformable wall ensures the mobility of the closure wall between the rest configurations and deformed while allowing to realize the flow reduction member in one piece.
• the device is attached to a tank, and the dispensing tip mounted tightly on the tank.
• the tip is molded in one piece.
• the flow reduction member is molded in one piece.
• the flow reduction member is made of a flexible material, for example an elastomeric material.
• the reduction member advantageously adapts to dimensional clearances and / or surface irregularities that may be present, thereby improving the seal between the flow reduction member and the tip.
• FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view in longitudinal section of a dispensing device according to a first embodiment, the device being attached to a reservoir and capped with a cap,
• FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrammatic views, respectively in perspective and from above, of the flow reduction device of the embodiment of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 is a schematic view in longitudinal section of a dispensing device according to a second embodiment
• FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrammatic views, respectively in perspective and from above, of the flow reduction device of the embodiment of FIG. 3,
• FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a device for reducing the flow rate of a device according to a third embodiment
• FIG. 6 is a schematic view in longitudinal section of a device according to a fourth embodiment
• FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the flow reduction device of the embodiment of FIG. 6.
• FIG. 1 shows the upper part of the neck 10 of a reservoir containing liquid to be dispensed.
• this liquid is a pharmaceutical liquid such as an ophthalmic liquid, oral or ear, which may include preservatives.
• a liquid product dispensing device is sealingly attached, snap-fitting in this example, to the neck 10 of the reservoir.
• the device comprises a dispensing nozzle 20 and can be capped, as shown in Figure 1, by a cap 12 screwed on the neck 10 of the reservoir.
• the tip 20 comprises a cavity 22 delimited by a bottom 24 having a substantially flat transverse surface and an annular skirt inserted inside the neck 10 of the tank.
• the cavity 22 is substantially cylindrical in shape.
• the transverse surface is traversed by a longitudinal outlet channel of the liquid 26.
• This outlet channel 26 forms a liquid dispensing nozzle through which the liquid is delivered in the form of drops.
• This channel 26 opens, at its upstream end, on the bottom 24 of the nozzle and, at its downstream end, on a liquid dispensing orifice 28, which often comprises drop forming means, being flared.
• This tip 20 is preferably molded in one piece, for example polypropylene, polyethylene or elastomeric material.
• the longitudinal direction is defined as the direction of the outlet channel 26 and that the transverse direction is perpendicular to it.
• the references made upstream and downstream are made taking into account the direction of flow of the liquid from the reservoir to the dispensing orifice 28.
• the liquid dispensing device includes a flow reduction member 30 having the general shape of a disk. This member 30 is mounted in the cavity 22 of the nozzle 20. Note that the device here comprises only two parts: the dispensing nozzle 20 and the flow reduction member 30.
• the member 30 comprises a base 32 whose transverse surface swallows 34 comprises reliefs 36. These reliefs 36 are integrally molded with the base 32. This base 32 has a support function and carries the reliefs 36. It also makes it possible to stiffen the organ 30.
• the height of the base 32 in the longitudinal direction is greater than the height of the reliefs 36.
• the height of the reliefs is less than 0.6 mm, preferably between 0.05 and 0.5 mm and the height of the base is greater than 0.6 mm, preferably between 1 and 1.5 mm.
• the member 30 also comprises a longitudinal liquid passage channel, said feed channel 40, visible in Figure 2B.
• This supply channel 40 passes through the flow reduction member 30 from one side to the other. It allows the liquid contained in the reservoir to pass through the member 30 to reach the transverse surface 34 of the nozzle.
• the feed channel 40 is entirely delimited by the flow reduction member 30.
• the feed channel 40 is not carried by an annular surface 48 of the flow reduction member 30 , and is therefore not delimited in part by an annular surface 50 of the tip.
• the annular seal between the annular wall 50 of the nozzle 20 and the annular wall 48 of the flow reduction member 30 and the dimension of the channel 40 are therefore easier to guarantee.
• this feed channel 40 may be delimited by the annular surfaces 48 of the flow reduction member and 50 of the nozzle.
• the member 30 is preferably molded in one piece, for example polypropylene, polyethylene or elastomeric material.
• the tip 20 comprises a circular bead 42 which allows to clamp the member 30 against the bottom 24 of the nozzle and to fix the member 30 in this position, snap.
• the reliefs 36 are pressed against the transverse surface of the bottom 24 of the nozzle and, in this example, slightly deformed by compression, so as to ensure sealing.
• These reliefs 36 delimit, with the bottom 24, a liquid deflection channel 38.
• This liquid deflection channel 38 makes a junction between the supply channel 40 and the outlet channel 26.
• the channel 38 extends in a transverse plane, that is to say that the generator of this channel 38 is in a transverse plane.
• the liquid deflection channel 38 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B is non-rectilinear, that is to say that the path that the liquid must travel from the supply channel 40 to the outlet channel 26 is not law. Indeed, while remaining in a transverse plane, the channel 38 has a general shape of "square" spiral. Thus, this channel 38 is formed by a succession of segments.
• the base 32 may also comprise a reinforcement 52, in its central part, integrally molded with the member 30.
• this reinforcement 52 has the general shape of a cross and this, to limit the additional material to be molded while ensuring a very good rigidity of the body.
• the channel 38 may be formed by a circular spiral.
• the flow reduction member 30 further comprises a wall 44 for closing the outlet channel 26.
• This closure wall 44 has the shape essentially of a disc and is connected to the base 32 of the member 30 by a deformable wall 46, here corresponding to a necking thickness.
• This deformable wall 46 has the shape of a ring and has a small thickness relative to the thickness of the base 32, that is to say with respect to the height in the longitudinal direction of the base 32. Parts of the member 30 are molded together and the member 30 can be molded in one piece.
• the closure wall 44 is movable between a rest configuration, in which the liquid can pass from the liquid deflection channel 38 to the outlet channel 26, and a deformed configuration, in which the wall of the shutter 44 is pressed against the outlet channel 26 to seal, partially or completely.
• the equilibrium of the liquid pressures on each side of the flow reduction member 30 keeps the closure wall 44 in an undistorted or slightly deformed configuration and the liquid can pass from the channel diverting the liquid 38 towards the outlet channel of the liquid 26.
• the base 32 of the flow reduction member 30 is of annular shape, more precisely of toric shape.
• this base 32 which carries the reliefs 36, has a height in the longitudinal direction which is greater than the height of the reliefs 36 in the same direction. This ensures that the reliefs 36 are properly tightened against the bottom 24 of the nozzle 20.
• the flow reduction member 30 is fixed on the tip 20 by ultrasonic welding. However any other method of attachment, such as snapping or tightening, may be considered.
• Figure 5 shows a third embodiment of the flow reduction member 30. This member comprises two supply channels 40 'and 40 "and two liquid deflection channels 38' and 38".
• each channel 38 'and 38" provides a junction between each supply channel 40' and 40 ", respectively, and the outlet channel 26 located at the center of the channel.
• the flow restrictor 30 The arrows represent the flow direction of the liquid.
• each channel 38 ', 38 “comprises a plurality of non-aligned segments, specifically, each liquid deflection channel 38', 38” comprises 5 segments, including a common segment 38 "'.
• the first and second segments form an angle of approximately 45 °
• the second and third segments form an angle of approximately 45 °
• the third and fourth segments form an angle of approximately 90 °
• the fourth and the fifth segment form an angle of about 60 °.
• channels may comprise more or fewer segments, a different number of channels and / or angles between each segment.
• Figures 6 and 7 show a fourth embodiment in which elements similar to those of the other embodiments are identified by the same reference numerals.
• This embodiment differs from the previous modes in that the bottom 24 of the dispensing nozzle 20 comprises reliefs 54 integrally molded with the nozzle and the flow reduction member 30 comprises a base 32 having the shape of a disk.
• the end piece 20 comprises, for example, a circular bead 42 which makes it possible to tighten the member 30 against the bottom 24 of the endpiece comprising the reliefs 56 and to fix the member 30 in this position, by snapping.
• the reliefs 56 are pressed against the transverse surface 34 of the flow reduction member 30, and deform slightly by compression the transverse surface 34 of the flow reduction member, so as to ensure sealing.
• These reliefs 56 delimit, with the surface 34, the channel of deflection of the liquid 38.
• the flow reduction member 30 is a very simple piece to produce, namely a disc comprising a transverse feed channel 40.
• the flow reduction member 30 may advantageously be made of a flexible material, for example an elastomeric material.
• the flow reduction member 30 is adapted to the dimensional clearances and / or surface irregularities of the nozzle 20 that may be present, thus making it possible to improve the seal between the flow reduction member 30 and the tip 20.
• a flow reduction device 30 comprising a spiral channel 38 may be fixed on the tip 20 by snapping and do not include a closure wall.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Vascular Medicine (AREA)
• Ophthalmology & Optometry (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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Citations (2)

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• 2011
  • 2011-04-21 FR FR1153488A patent/FR2974350B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2012
  • 2012-04-18 EP EP12724675.9A patent/EP2699478A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 2012-04-18 US US14/113,150 patent/US20140054400A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2012-04-18 JP JP2014505701A patent/JP2014516331A/ja active Pending
  • 2012-04-18 WO PCT/FR2012/050848 patent/WO2012143664A1/fr active Application Filing

Patent Citations (2)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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