EP2723504B1 - System for closing a device for the low-pressure dispensing of a pasty liquid material - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a dispensing device provided with an end closure system, for liquid pasty products that do not contain preservatives, consisting of a pump and a push button provided with a closure. end.

It is known to distribute this type of products by means of pumps operating by high pressure, especially in the field of pharmacy, for example in the case of nasal sprays without preservatives. These pumps have operating pressures ranging from 3 to 7 bar. This has the disadvantage of distributing small doses (less than 0.5 ml) because of the small sections of the metering chambers needed to generate the high pressures.

But some products and uses require a higher dosage. This is why in these cases, we use pumps operating at low pressure, that is to say less than 2 bar.

Nevertheless, this type of pump has the disadvantage of requiring low end closing forces which result in the use of large closure valves and valve return members adapted to low pressures, making them more sensitive to differences. external atmospheric pressure. This can cause a inadvertent opening of the valves, causing the accidental distribution of the product and / or the accidental bacterial retro-contamination of the product because the product is not protected by anti-bacterial preservatives.

The latter type of pump is intended to be put in place at the open end of a rigid or flexible container containing the product to be dispensed in a predetermined amount.

• un élément de base rapporté sur le contenant,
• un soufflet élastiquement déformable définissant une chambre de dosage disposé en liaison avec
• un bouton poussoir monté télescopiquement sur l'élément de base, comprenant
• un système de fermeture d'extrémité, assurant le fonctionnement de ladite pompe et constitué par :
• un clapet bas anti-retour en liaison avec l'élément de base, permettant le passage du produit vers
• une chambre de dosage, composée par le soufflet élastiquement déformable et à volume variable, communiquant avec
• un clapet haut anti-retour constitué consécutivement par : un obturateur du conduit du bec assurant la fermeture d'extrémité ; une membrane élastiquement déformable susceptible d'être sollicitée en déformation par le produit lors de l'actionnement de la pompe permettant d'ouvrir l'obturateur; un organe de rappel auxiliaire adapté aux basses pressions sollicitant la fermeture de l'obturateur et une cuve hermétique.

Said pump (disclosed by US5819990 ) includes, in a general way:

• a basic element attached to the container,
• an elastically deformable bellows defining a metering chamber arranged in connection with
• a push button telescopically mounted on the base member, comprising
• an end closure system, ensuring the operation of said pump and consisting of:
• a low check valve in connection with the base element, allowing the passage of the product to
• a dosing chamber, composed by the elastically deformable bellows and variable volume, communicating with
• a high non-return valve constituted consecutively by: a shutter of the nozzle duct ensuring the end closure; an elastically deformable membrane that can be biased by the product during actuation of the pump to open the shutter; a reminder auxiliary adapted to low pressures soliciting closure of the shutter and a sealed tank.

According to the invention, so as to overcome the drawbacks mentioned initially, in devices of this type, the elastically deformable membrane constituting the top valve is associated with a tank which it closes hermetically, and inside which is arranged axially the auxiliary return member, in permanent connection with the membrane and comprising two elastically deformable stages according to different characteristics, the first stage maintaining a permanent restoring force of predetermined value against said membrane, and therefore on the shutter of the duct beak, the second stage being interposed between the first stage and the bottom of the tank, and maintaining a restoring force greater than that of the first stage, acting only when the membrane is stressed, or vice versa.

The present invention also relates to the features which will emerge during the following description, which should be considered in isolation or in all their possible technical combinations.

This description given by way of nonlimiting example, will better understand how the invention can be made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• la figure 1 : avant une première utilisation ;
• la figure 2 : dans une première phase de l'amorçage de la pompe, c'est-à-dire en poussée F1 sur le bouton poussoir vers le bas, qui entraine une diminution du volume de la chambre de dosage par compression du soufflet et une ouverture du clapet haut par augmentation de la pression d'air sur la membrane entrainant elle-même la compression de l'organe de rappel auxiliaire ;
• la figure 3 : dans une seconde phase de l'amorçage de la pompe, c'est-à-dire à l'état de position basse du bouton poussoir, où le clapet haut se referme par diminution d'une part de la pression d'air sur la membrane et d'autre part de la force exercée par l'organe de rappel auxiliaire ;
• la figure 4 : dans une troisième phase de l'amorçage de la pompe, c'est-à-dire en remontée F2 du bouton poussoir sous l'action de la force de rappel élastique du soufflet, ayant pour effet d'augmenter le volume de la chambre de dosage, créant une dépression dans cette même chambre, et ouvrant le clapet bas, permettant au produit de remonter dans la chambre de dosage, constituée par le soufflet ; cette même dépression a pour effet de renforcer la fermeture du clapet haut par action sur sa membrane élastiquement déformable ;
• la figure 5 : dans une quatrième phase de l'amorçage de la pompe, c'est-à-dire en cours de la première distribution du produit, en repoussant une nouvelle fois, selon F3, le bouton poussoir vers le bas qui entraine une diminution du volume de la chambre de dosage par compression du soufflet et une ouverture du clapet haut par augmentation de la pression du produit à distribuer sur la membrane entrainant elle-même la compression de l'organe de rappel auxiliaire et la sortie du produit par le bec de distribution ;
• la figure 6 : dans une cinquième et dernière phase de l'amorçage, c'est-à-dire à l'état de position basse du bouton poussoir, où le clapet haut se referme par diminution d'une part de la pression du produit à distribuer sur la membrane et d'autre part de la force exercée par l'organe de rappel auxiliaire. Après cette dernière phase et la remontée du bouton poussoir selon F5 comme décrit à la figure 4, le dispositif est en attente d'une nouvelle distribution de produit par appui sur le bouton poussoir vers le bas selon F4, et sa remontée ensuite selon F5.

All the figures are views in axial section of a dispensing pump according to the invention, arranged on a container of a product to be dispensed and showing it according to:

• the figure 1 : before first use;
• the figure 2 : in a first phase of priming the pump, that is to say pushing F1 on the push button down, which causes a decrease in the volume of the metering chamber by compressing the bellows and an opening of the high valve by increasing the air pressure on the membrane itself causing the compression of the auxiliary return member;
• the figure 3 : in a second phase of priming the pump, that is to say in the low position of the push button, where the top valve closes by decreasing on the one hand the air pressure on the membrane and secondly the force exerted by the auxiliary return member;
• the figure 4 : in a third phase of the priming of the pump, that is to say, up the push button F2 under the action of the elastic restoring force of the bellows, having the effect of increasing the volume of the chamber dosing, creating a vacuum in the same chamber, and opening the bottom valve, allowing the product to go back into the dosing chamber, constituted by the bellows; this same depression has the effect of reinforcing the closure of the high valve by action on its elastically deformable membrane;
• the figure 5 : in a fourth phase of priming the pump, that is to say during the first dispensing of the product, by pushing again, according to F3, the push button down which causes a decrease in the volume of the dosing chamber by compression of the bellows and an opening of the upper valve by increasing the pressure of the product to be dispensed on the membrane itself causing the compression of the auxiliary return member and the outlet of the product by the dispensing spout;
• the figure 6 : in a fifth and last phase of the boot, that is to say in the low position of the push button, where the top valve closes by decreasing on the one hand the pressure of the product to be dispensed on the membrane and secondly the force exerted by the auxiliary return member. After this last phase and the raising of the pushbutton according to F5 as described in FIG. figure 4 , the device is waiting for a new product distribution by pressing the push button down according to F4, and its recovery then according to F5.

The device 1 generally designated in the figures is intended for dispensing a liquid pasty product 2, via a metering pump 5 provided with an end closure system set up at the end. open 3 of a rigid or flexible container 4 containing the product 2 to be dispensed, in a predetermined amount.

• un élément de base 6 rapporté sur le contenant 4,
• un soufflet 9 élastiquement déformable définissant une chambre de dosage 10 disposé en liaison avec
• un bouton poussoir 7 monté télescopiquement sur l'élément de base 6, comprenant
• un système de fermeture d'extrémité, assurant le fonctionnement de ladite pompe et constitué par :
• un clapet bas anti-retour 11 en liaison avec l'élément de base 6, permettant le passage du produit 2 vers
• une chambre de dosage 10, composée par le soufflet 9 élastiquement déformable et à volume variable, communiquant avec
• un clapet haut anti-retour 14 constitué consécutivement par : un obturateur 16 du conduit 13 du bec 8 assurant la fermeture d'extrémité ; une membrane 15 élastiquement déformable susceptible d'être sollicitée en déformation par le produit 2 lors de l'actionnement de la pompe 5 permettant d'ouvrir l'obturateur 16 ; un organe de rappel auxiliaire 17 adapté aux basses pressions sollicitant la fermeture de l'obturateur 16 et une cuve hermétique 18.

The manual low pressure dosing pump 5 comprises:

• a base element 6 attached to the container 4,
• an elastically deformable bellows 9 defining a metering chamber 10 arranged in connection with
• a push button 7 telescopically mounted on the base member 6, comprising
• an end closure system, ensuring the operation of said pump and consisting of:
• a low check valve 11 in connection with the base element 6, allowing the passage of the product 2 to
• a metering chamber 10, composed of elastically deformable and variable volume bellows 9, communicating with
• a high non-return valve 14 consecutively constituted by: a shutter 16 of the duct 13 of the spout 8 ensuring the end closure; an elastically deformable membrane 15 which can be biased by the product 2 during the actuation of the pump 5 to open the shutter 16; an auxiliary return member 17 adapted to the low pressures requesting closure of the shutter 16 and a hermetic tank 18.

According to the invention, the elastically deformable membrane 15 constituting the top valve 14 is associated with a tank 18 which it closes hermetically, and inside which is disposed axially the auxiliary return member 17. This is in permanent connection with the membrane 15 and comprises two stages 19,20 elastically deformable according to different characteristics.

The first stage 19 maintains a permanent restoring force of predetermined value against said membrane 15, and consequently on the shutter 16 of the duct 13 of the spout 8. The second stage 20 is interposed between the first stage 19 and the bottom 21 of the tank 18, and maintains a higher restoring force than that of the first stage 19, acting only when the membrane 15 is stressed, or vice versa.

The first and second stages 19,20 could be of different characteristics, but identical geometries; but according to the present embodiment, they are of different characteristics and different geometries.

Thus, the first and second stages 19, 20 forming the auxiliary return member 17 come from a central core 22, the first stage 19 extending radially around it, first having a zone internal peripheral 23 of elastic articulation, close to the core 22, extending by an outer peripheral zone 24 bearing on the inner wall 25 of the vessel 18, the second stage 20 extending axially from the same central core 22, by forming a bell whose inner peripheral zone 26 near the core 22 constitutes an elastic articulation extending by an outer peripheral zone 27, resting on the bottom 21 of the vessel 18 and able to bear also on the inner wall 28 of the when the membrane 13 is stressed.

On the one hand, the tank 18 being hermetically sealed, it is established that, when the device is at rest, the pressure P2 of the tank 18 is equivalent to the ambient air pressure at the time of the initial assembly of the device. 1, that is to say equivalent to the atmospheric pressure. On the other hand, the container 4 necessarily having a variable volume by its function without air intake and that the bottom valve 11 can not be perfectly sealed, it is established that the pressure P3 of the metering chamber 12 follows the evolution of the pressure of the environment P1.

Therefore, when the push button 7 rises or when the device 1 is placed in a low pressure environment P1 (P1 less than atmospheric pressure), for example during an airplane ride, the pressure P3 of the chamber of dosage decreases and becomes lower than the initial atmospheric pressure, and therefore P2 that remains invariable and therefore equivalent to the atmospheric pressure because kept tightly in the tank 18. $$\mathrm{P}\mathrm{1}\le \mathrm{P}\mathrm{3}<\mathrm{P}\mathrm{2}=\mathrm{Atmospheric}\mathrm{.}$$

The pressure difference between P3 and P2 generates a force on the membrane 15, thus reinforcing the support on the shutter 16, and therefore the seal.

According to the present embodiment, the outer peripheral zones 24,27 of the first and second stages 19,20 of the auxiliary return member 17 extending their inner peripheral zones 23,26 are continuous.

But they could also form hinge arms.

The auxiliary return member 17 consisting of the first and second stages 19, 20 is produced integrally by molding a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) or thermoplastic vulcanized (TPV) or silicone-based material or any other material with characteristics Similar.

Similarly, the elastically deformable membrane 15 and its shutter 16 forming a portion of the top valve 14 are made integrally by molding a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) or thermoplastic vulcanized (TPV) or silicone-based or any other material offering similar characteristics.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the shutter 16 of the elastically deformable membrane 15 forming part of the top valve 14 is reinforced by an inner rigid core 29 opening from said membrane 15 and in mechanical connection with the first stage 19 of the auxiliary return member 17.

Preferably, the elastically deformable membrane 15 and its shutter 16 forming part of the top valve 14 and the inner rigid core 29 are obtained by bi-material injection.

According to the present construction, the elastically deformable membrane 15 forming a portion of the top valve 14 is held in clamping against the tank 18, between a shoulder 30 of the push button 7 and a peripheral zone 31 of said tank 18.

The material constituting the push button 7, the elastically deformable membrane 15, the elastically deformable bellows 9, the bottom valve 11 and the base element 6 comprise antibacterial agents.

Claims (12)

1. Distribution device (1) for distributing a liquid to pasty product (2) by a manual dosing pump (5) operating at low pressure and equipped with an end closing system intended to be placed at the open end (3) of a rigid or flexible container (4) enclosing the product (2) to be distributed according to a predetermined quantity, said pump (5) comprising:

   - a base element (6) added to the container (4),

   - bellows (9) elastically deformable defining a dosing chamber (10) disposed in conjunction with

   - a pushbutton (7) telescopically mounted on the base element (6), comprising

   - an end closing system ensuring the operation of said pump and consisting of:

   - a lower non-return valve (11) in conjunction with the base element (6) allowing the product (2) to pass to

   - a dosing chamber (10) consisting of the bellows (9) elastically deformable and of variable volume communicating with

   - an upper non-return valve (14) comprised consecutively by: a blanking device (16) blanking the conduit (13) of the spout (8) ensuring the closing of the end, a membrane (15) elastically deformable liable to be loaded in deformation by the product (2) during the operation of the pump (5) allowing the blanking device (16) to be opened, an auxiliary return element (17) adapted to low pressures causing the closing of the blanking device (16) and a hermetically sealed tank (18),

   characterised in that the elastically deformable membrane (15) is associated with a tank (18) that it hermetically closes and inside which is axially disposed the auxiliary return element (17), in permanent conjunction with the membrane (15) and comprising two stages (19,20) elastically deformable according to different characteristics, the first stage (19) maintaining a permanent return force of predetermined value against said membrane (15) and, consequently, on the blanking device (16) of the conduit (13) of the spout (8), the second stage (20) being inserted between the first stage (19) and the bottom (21) of the tank (18) and maintaining a return force higher than that of the first stage (19), acting only when the membrane (15) is loaded or vice versa.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the first and second stages (19,20) have different characteristics and different geometries.
3. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the first and second stages (19,20) have different characteristics but identical geometries.
4. Device according to claims 2 and 3, characterised in that the first and second stages (19,20) forming the auxiliary return element (17) come from a central core (22), the first stage (19) extending radially around it presenting first an elastically articulated inner peripheral area (23), near to the core (22), extended by an outer peripheral area (24) bearing on the inner wall (25) of the tank (18), the second stage (20) extending axially from the same central core (22), forming a bell where the inner peripheral area (26) close to the core (22) comprises an elastic articulation extended by an outer peripheral area (27) bearing on the base (21) of the tank (18) and liable to also bear on the inner wall (28) of the tank when the membrane (15) is loaded.
5. Device according to claim 4, characterised in that the outer peripheral areas (24,27) of the first and second stages (19,20) of the auxiliary return element (17) extending their inner peripheral areas (23,26) are continuous.
6. Device according to claim 4, characterised in that the outer peripheral areas (24,27) of the first and second stages (19,20) of the auxiliary return element (17) extending their inner peripheral areas (23,26) form articulation arms.
7. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the auxiliary return element (17) consisting of the first and second stages (19,20) is made as a single part by the moulding of an elastomer thermoplastic (ETP) or a vulcanised thermoplastic (VTP) material.
8. Device according one of the claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the elastically deformable membrane (15) and its blanking device (16) forming a part of the upper valve (14) are made as a single part by the moulding of an elastomer thermoplastic (ETP) or a vulcanised thermoplastic (VTP) material.
9. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the blanking device (16) of the elastically deformable membrane (15) forming a part of the upper valve (14) is reinforced by a rigid inner core (29) leading from said membrane (15) and mechanically linked with the first stage (19) of the auxiliary return element (17).
10. Device according to claim 9, characterised in that the elastically deformable membrane (15) and its blanking device (16) forming a part of the upper valve (14) and the inner rigid core (29) are obtained by bi-material injection.
11. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the elastically deformable membrane (15) forming a part of the upper valve (14) is maintained clamped against the tank (18), between a shoulder (30) of the pushbutton (7) and a peripheral area (31) of said tank (18).
12. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the material comprising the pushbutton (7), the elastically deformable membrane (15), the elastically deformable bellows (9), the lower valve (11) and the base element (6) comprises antibacterial agents.

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