EP2885084A1 - Applicator head for a dispenser, as well as a dispenser comprising such an applicator head - Google Patents

Applicator head for a dispenser, as well as a dispenser comprising such an applicator head

Info

Publication number
EP2885084A1
EP2885084A1 EP13739421.9A EP13739421A EP2885084A1 EP 2885084 A1 EP2885084 A1 EP 2885084A1 EP 13739421 A EP13739421 A EP 13739421A EP 2885084 A1 EP2885084 A1 EP 2885084A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
reservoir
discharge head
housing
actuating handle
plastics
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP13739421.9A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2885084B1 (en
Inventor
Thomas Bruder
Tobias Baumann
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.)
Aptar Radolfzell GmbH
Original Assignee
Aptar Radolfzell GmbH
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 Aptar Radolfzell GmbH filed Critical Aptar Radolfzell GmbH
Publication of EP2885084A1 publication Critical patent/EP2885084A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2885084B1 publication Critical patent/EP2885084B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

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
    • B05B11/01—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
    • B05B11/1043—Sealing or attachment arrangements between pump and container
    • B05B11/1046—Sealing or attachment arrangements between pump and container the pump chamber being arranged substantially coaxially to the neck of the container
    • B05B11/1047—Sealing or attachment arrangements between pump and container the pump chamber being arranged substantially coaxially to the neck of the container the pump being preassembled as an independent unit before being mounted on the container
    • 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
    • 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
    • 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
    • B05B11/0008—Sealing or attachment arrangements between sprayer and container
    • 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
    • B05B11/1001—Piston pumps
    • B05B11/1004—Piston pumps comprising a movable cylinder and a stationary piston
    • 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
    • B05B11/1043—Sealing or attachment arrangements between pump and container
    • 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
    • B05B11/1064—Pump inlet and outlet valve elements integrally formed of a deformable material
    • 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
    • B05B11/1073—Springs
    • B05B11/1074—Springs located outside pump chambers
    • 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
    • B05B11/1073—Springs
    • B05B11/1077—Springs characterised by a particular shape or material
    • 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
    • B05B11/1001—Piston pumps
    • B05B11/1015—Piston pumps actuated without substantial movement of the nozzle in the direction of the pressure stroke

Definitions

  • Dispensing head for a dispenser and a dispenser with such
  • a generic discharge head comprises a housing with a coupling device for coupling to a reservoir, which serves to receive a liquid or pasty medium, an inlet opening facing the reservoir and a discharge opening for discharging the medium into a surrounding atmosphere, a conveying device for conveying the medium from the Inlet opening to the discharge opening and an actuating handle for actuating the conveyor, which is manually movable relative to the housing.
  • Such discharge heads and dispensers with such discharge heads are well known in the art. They are used for dispensing pharmaceutical media. In particular, they are also used to deliver cosmetic creams, lotions and other cosmetic media.
  • Known generic discharge heads usually have many individual components that are assembled during an assembly process. This leads to a complicated and costly installation depending on the complexity of the discharge head. Task and solution
  • the object of the invention is to provide a discharge head, the high reliability with a simple form of Production connects.
  • the task is also to provide a dispenser with such a discharge head available.
  • a discharge head has a one-piece sealing and valve device, which has a sealing ring area and a vent valve, wherein the sealing ring area is arranged on the discharge head, that he sealing the coupling to the reservoir at the reservoir, in particular on a Outlet opening of the reservoir surrounding the end face, is applied, and the vent valve is formed by an opening in the one-piece sealing and valve device, which is closed only at negative pressure on the side of the reservoir by elastic deformation of the sealing and valve device.
  • a discharge head in the sense of these and further variants of the invention is that part of a dispenser which is coupled to the preferably bottle-like reservoir in order to allow the metered discharge of the medium stored in the reservoir.
  • the housing of the discharge head is that part which provides at least the coupling device, by means of which the discharge head is connected to the reservoir.
  • the coupling means of the housing surrounds at least said inlet opening, for example a nozzle intended for attachment of a riser tube, which serves the purpose of guiding medium out of the reservoir for the purpose of discharging into the discharge head.
  • the discharge head comprises the said conveyor, which may be formed, for example, as a piston pump. Actuates the conveyor by means of the actuating handle, the head against the housing and thus at least with respect to the coupling device of the discharge, it is movable and serves the purpose by manual Applying a force caused by the conveyor discharge process to effect.
  • a single component which may consist of a single plastic, but could also be made of multi-component injection molding (overmolding), performs two functions and is arranged according to these functions on the discharge head.
  • the component has a sealing ring region, which has approximately the shape of a sealing ring, and is arranged between a housing of the discharge head and the reservoir.
  • the sealing ring area assumes the same functions as a conventional sealing ring.
  • one-piece part of the sealing and valve means is a vent valve, which is completely formed by the sealing and valve means and for this purpose has an opening in the same, which by the shape of the sealing and valve device in the event of overpressure in the reservoir or a substantially identical pressure is kept closed on both sides of the valve and opens at negative pressure in the reservoir.
  • a separate component to the housing is provided as a sealing and valve device, which must be coupled during assembly with other parts of the discharge head and in particular the housing. Since only a single component is required for this, which takes over both the function of a sealing ring and the function of a ventilation valve, the assembly is easier compared to conventional discharge heads. In particular, since soft and elastic plastics are advantageous for both functions, the assembly process can be facilitated without significant disadvantages.
  • the Housing is made as a one-piece injection molded part of at least two plastics of different properties.
  • the coupling device consists of a first of said plastics and another portion of the housing of the second of the two plastics.
  • the said other portion of the housing may be a sealing ring which surrounds the inlet opening and is arranged such that it rests sealingly on the reservoir after the reservoir has been coupled to the discharge head.
  • the section made of the second plastic can form a vent valve with a pressure-dependent opening, preferably a slot-shaped opening, through which ambient air from the surrounding atmosphere can flow into the reservoir. If the discharge head has a one-piece sealing and valve device, this sealing and valve device is formed by the section made of the second plastic in eienr embodiment.
  • the housing is constructed as a plastic component of at least two plastics. It is a one-piece component, the different sections of different plastics are materially interconnected, in particular by means of the manufacturing technique of multi-component injection molding (overmolding).
  • the coupling device and preferably also the remainder of the housing, in particular its outer surfaces, consists of the first plastic, which in particular is preferably comparatively hard and / or has a high modulus of elasticity.
  • a sealing ring is produced which surrounds the inlet opening is part of the housing and thus directly after the coupling of the discharge head to a reservoir the desired Achieved sealing, which is achieved in the transition area between the Reservoir and the discharge head no liquid can escape. This eliminates the sometimes difficult arrangement of a soft sealing ring between the discharge head and the preferably bottle-shaped reservoir during assembly.
  • vent valve which is also an integral part of the housing, made of the second of the two plastics.
  • This vent valve serves the purpose of allowing an inflow of ambient air through the discharge head into the reservoir. This inflow is necessary in order to prevent a negative pressure in the reservoir from developing as the medium discharges into the medium reservoir.
  • the attachment of such a ventilation valve as a separate component is problematic during assembly, so that its direct Anformung leads to the housing to a significant facilitation of the assembly process.
  • both for the sealing ring and for the venting valve still applies that they must be tight against surrounding components in order to fulfill their purpose. Due to the one-piece design with other parts of the housing, this is ensured in a particularly good manner. Thus, in the case of the sealing ring between this and other parts of the housing caused by improper mounting leakage can not be caused. In the case of the vent valve is effectively prevented that air can get past the valve in the bottle and in particular liquid can pass unintentionally into an environment through the corresponding ventilation duct. With regard to the ventilation valve and the sealing ring, the use of a soft and / or particularly elastic plastic is advantageous in the manner already mentioned. For this purpose, in particular TPE (thermoplastic elastomers) is suitable.
  • TPE thermoplastic elastomers
  • the coupling device and most other portions of a housing of a discharge head in particular the outer surfaces of the housing accessible to the end user, it is more important to their dimensional stability and the suitability for receiving the assembly forces.
  • These parts are therefore preferably made of a harder plastic, in particular polypropylene or HDPE (high density polyethylene).
  • the ventilation valve may be formed by a curved and preferably approximately bell-shaped surface, in which the opening is provided as a slot-shaped opening.
  • the two surface portions on both sides of the slot press the slot in a relaxed position and open only in the presence of the above-mentioned pressure conditions, ie the negative pressure in the reservoir.
  • the housing of the discharge head provides the coupling device by means of which the discharge head is connected to the reservoir.
  • this coupling device is designed as a latching coupling device, which is intended to be coupled to the reservoir by engaging a widening at the neck of the reservoir.
  • Another possibility of designing a coupling device is that of a threaded coupling device, which is designed to cooperate with a thread on a neck of the reservoir.
  • the housing preferably comprises further components in addition to the said coupling device, the sealing ring and the venting valve and / or a one-piece sealing and valve device.
  • part of the one-piece housing is preferably also a guide surface for guiding the actuating handle in relation to the housing and / or a cylinder surrounding the pumping chamber at least in sections, opposite to which a piston operatively coupled to the actuating handle is slidable.
  • the said additional components are preferably also made of the first of said plastics and thus preferably consist of the same material as the coupling device.
  • the guide surface is a surface of the housing on which the actuating handle is slidably guided. This is preferably made of the first plastic to effectively prevent deformation.
  • the cylinder, which together with the piston forms a volumetrically variable pumping chamber of the conveyor is preferably formed from the first plastic.
  • both the piston and the cylinder are formed by cylindrical walls which can be pushed into one another and abut against one another in an annular contact area. Which of these components is referred to as a cylinder and which as a piston, is irrelevant.
  • injection-molded part which consists of several plastics and forms the housing, additionally forms a return spring made of plastic.
  • This return spring serves to return the actuating handle in the direction of its initial position and / or the provision of a functionally coupled to the actuating handle, optionally integrally connected, a piston of a pumping chamber of the conveyor in the direction of enlargement of the pumping chamber.
  • the return spring is preferably made of the second mentioned plastic or of a third plastic, the other Has properties as the first two plastics mentioned.
  • a further simplified mounting is made possible by the direct molding of the return spring on the housing.
  • the discharge head has only two main components, namely the housing, which also includes a vent valve, the sealing ring and the spring in one piece, and an actuating handle coupled thereto.
  • the discharge head is designed such that the return spring is completely relaxed when the actuating handle or the piston is arranged in an end position. It has been shown that this complete relaxation of the restoring spring can avoid relaxation processes in the plastic of the spring, which with increasing aging of the discharge head can cause at least a changed haptic impression of the actuation or can impair the functionality of the discharge head. Even with a separate plastic spring, which is used in a generic or inventive discharge head, it is considered advantageous if this spring is relaxed in an end position of the piston or the actuating handle. This is especially true for discharge heads, in which due to a radial seal of the pumping chamber is no requirement, in a non-actuated rest position, the force of the piston permanently in the direction of the rest position.
  • the invention further relates, according to a third aspect, to a generic discharge head in which a one-piece component is provided, which is produced as an injection molded part from two plastics of different properties, this component comprising the actuating handle and / or a piston of the delivery device on the one hand and a spring acting between the actuating handle or the piston and the housing as a return spring on the other hand forms.
  • this component comprising the actuating handle and / or a piston of the delivery device on the one hand and a spring acting between the actuating handle or the piston and the housing as a return spring on the other hand forms.
  • the piston for cooperation with a cylinder of the conveyor of a first of the two plastics is made and the spring made of a second of the two plastics.
  • the first plastic is preferably a harder plastic with a higher modulus of elasticity and the second plastic is a softer plastic with a lower modulus of elasticity and good elastic properties.
  • the actuating handle and provided for resetting the actuating handle return spring are integrally formed with each other, which in turn allows easier installation, since the easily deformable and therefore difficult to handle spring during assembly does not need to be handled separately. Instead, there is a joint handling with the at least partially comparatively rigid actuating handle or the at least partially comparatively rigid piston.
  • the spring may be formed as a helical spring. However, it can also be designed as a closed bellows-like spring.
  • a particular advantage is obtained when the second of said plastics, of which at least the return spring is made, is also used on an outer surface of the actuating handle. This makes it possible to create a so-called soft-touch surface, which is perceived as particularly pleasant to the touch.
  • the provided on the inside of the actuating handle spring and provided on the outside of the actuating handle soft-touch surface are directly connected to each other, in particular by a made of the first plastic base body of the actuating handle has openings through which extends the second plastic. This facilitates the injection molding process, since the softer plastic must be supplied only in one place.
  • the invention further relates to a dispenser with a preferably bottle-like reservoir and a discharge head, wherein the discharge head is formed in the manner described.
  • Figures 1 and 2 a first embodiment of a discharge head according to the invention in a respective sectional view
  • Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of a discharge head according to the invention in a sectional view
  • Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of a discharge head according to the invention in a sectional view.
  • FIGS 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a discharge head 10 according to the invention, which is provided for attachment to a liquid reservoir 8 indicated by dashed lines.
  • an inlet opening 22 is provided on the side of the housing 20 facing the liquid reservoir 8, which is provided with an attachment pipe for a riser provided neck is formed. From this, a liquid channel 24 extends into a pumping chamber 26, which is volumetrically variable by displacement of the actuating handle 80 relative to the housing 20. To form the pumping chamber, both the housing 20 and the actuating handle 80 in approximately cylindrical walls 28, 82 which bear radially sealingly against each other and form walls of the pumping chamber 26. To the pumping chamber 26, a discharge channel 30 connects, which opens into a discharge opening 32.
  • valve component 70 produced in two-component injection molding is provided on the housing 20, which valve module provides both an inlet valve 72 and an outlet valve 74.
  • the inlet valve 72 opens at negative pressure in the pumping chamber 26 with respect to the liquid reservoir 8.
  • the outlet valve 74 opens at overpressure in the pumping chamber with respect to a surrounding atmosphere.
  • a helical spring 90 is provided made of plastic, which can press the actuating handle and thus also the cylindrical surface 82 in the direction 2a, ie in the direction of its initial position.
  • This spring is designed so that it is completely relaxed in the unactuated state of Figs. 1 and 2, whereby relaxation processes are avoided in the material of the spring. Only upon actuation of the actuating handle 80, the spring 90 is elastically compressed.
  • That component 20 which forms the housing also forms, in particular, a coupling device 40 of this housing 20 in the form of an internal thread, by means of which the coupling of the discharge head 10 to the liquid reservoir 8 takes place.
  • an essential part of the one-piece housing 20 is a portion 50 surrounding the inlet socket 22, which is formed integrally with the other components of the housing 20, but at least compared to the coupling device 40 is made of a softer and more flexible plastic.
  • This section 50 performs two functions. First, it forms a voltage applied to the neck of the liquid reservoir 8 sealing ring portion 52 which is compressed by screwing the discharge head 10 to the liquid reservoir 8 and thereby avoids leakage of liquid in this transition region.
  • the section 50 forms a bell-shaped ventilation valve 54, which has a slot-like opening 54a.
  • This vent valve 54 serves the purpose of allowing the negative pressure in the reservoir, which is produced by the discharge of liquid, the subsequent flow of air. there prevents the valve 54 that the corresponding path of the air, which is illustrated by the dashed line 4 in the opposite direction unintentionally allows the escape of liquid. Only at negative pressure in the liquid reservoir 8, the vent valve 54 opens.
  • the housing 20 including the portion 50 is manufactured as a one-piece component from two different plastics in multi-component injection molding, in this case TPE for the section 50 and PP or HDPE for all other sections.
  • TPE multi-component injection molding
  • PP PP or HDPE for all other sections.
  • the discharge head 110 of FIG. 3 differs from the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular with regard to two aspects.
  • the portion 50 is not integrally connected to the housing 20 in this embodiment. Instead, it forms a separate component made of a uniform, soft plastic, in particular made of TPE, which is arranged in a downwardly open recess 20a of the housing 20 and is frictionally held here.
  • this section 50 again comprises both a sealing ring region 52 and a ventilation valve 54, each of which is constructed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • the portion 50 is not an integral part of the housing 20, the integration of the sealing ring and the vent valve in a component can achieve a substantial simplification of the assembly. Nevertheless, of course, in the embodiment of FIG. 2, a cohesive integral of the housing 20 and the portion 50 may be provided.
  • the return spring 92 and the actuating handle 80 are provided as a common one-piece component. These are also produced in the manner already described by two-component injection molding. While the cylindrical outer wall 84 and the conveying means associated cylindrical wall 82 and a cylindrical walls 82, 84 connecting end face 86 made of a hard plastic, in particular PP or HDPE exist, the present purely exemplary belgesturned return spring 92 made of a softer and formed for a provision well suited plastic, in this case for example from LDPE. By merging in a common component, the assembly of the actuating handle 80 with the integrally formed return spring 92 is facilitated.
  • a particular advantage results from the fact that the material of the return spring 92 is also used on an outer side 88 of the actuating handle 80. This outer side 88 is directly connected via openings in the end face 86 with the return spring 92. By using the soft, elastic material also on the outside 88 a very pleasant haptic impression is conveyed during the operation.
  • the entire discharge head 1 10 of Figure 3 thus consists of only four components to be assembled during assembly, namely the housing 20, the sealing and valve portion 50, the valve unit 70 and the actuating handle 80 with integrally formed return spring 92nd
  • the spring 94 is also not formed as a separate component. Notwithstanding the embodiment of Figure 3, however, it is not designed as a one-piece component with the actuating handle 80, but instead as well as the sealing and valve portion 50 also integrally formed on the housing 20.
  • apertures 34a are provided in a transverse wall 34 of the housing 20 facing the liquid reservoir 8, through which the softer material of the sealing ring and valve unit 50 extends into the region of the return spring 94 and forms the same there.
  • the discharge head 210 of Figure 4 is adapted to be assembled during assembly of only three separate components: the housing 20 integrally formed by multi-component injection molding sealing and valve portion 50 and the likewise integrally molded spring 94, the valve unit 70 and the actuating handle 80.

Landscapes

  • Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
  • Coating Apparatus (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to an applicator head to be coupled to a reservoir. An applicator head (10; 210) for coupling to a reservoir (8) is known for the purpose of applying liquid or paste-like media from the reservoir (8), comprising a housing (20) with a coupling device (40) for coupling to the reservoir (8), an inlet opening (22) facing said reservoir (8), and an applicator opening (32) for discharging the medium into a surrounding atmosphere, a conveyor device (26, 70) for conveying the medium from the inlet opening (22) to the applicator opening (32), and an actuating handle (80) which can be moved manually with regard to the housing (20) in order to actuate the conveyor device (26, 70). According to a key aspect of this document, the housing (20) is produced as a single-piece injection-moulded part consisting of at least two plastics that have different properties, the coupling device (40) consisting of a first of the two plastics, and a sealing ring (52) which surrounds the inlet opening (22) and is arranged, following coupling of the reservoir (8) to the applicator head (10; 210), so as to lie thereupon in a sealing manner, and/or an aerating valve (54) that has a pressure-dependent opening aperture (54a) through which ambient air can flow from the surrounding atmosphere and into the reservoir (8), consisting of the second of the two plastics.

Description

Beschreibung  description
Austragkopf für einen Spender sowie einen Spender mit einem solchen  Dispensing head for a dispenser and a dispenser with such
Austrag köpf Anwendungsgebiet und Stand der Technik  Discharge köpf field of application and state of the art
Die Erfindung betrifft einen Austragkopf für einen Spender sowie einen Spender mit einem solchen Austragkopf. Ein gattungsgemäßer Austragkopf umfasst ein Gehäuse mit einer Kopplungseinrichtung zur Ankopplung an ein Reservoir, welches der Aufnahme eines flüssigen oder pastösen Mediums dient, eine dem Reservoir zugewandte Einlassöffnung und eine Austragöffnung zur Abgabe des Mediums in eine umgebende Atmosphäre, eine Fördereinrichtung zur Förderung des Mediums von der Einlassöffnung zur Austragöffnung und eine Betätigungshandhabe zur Betätigung der Fördereinrichtung, die gegenüber dem Gehäuse manuell bewegbar ist. The invention relates to a dispensing head for a dispenser and a dispenser with such a dispensing head. A generic discharge head comprises a housing with a coupling device for coupling to a reservoir, which serves to receive a liquid or pasty medium, an inlet opening facing the reservoir and a discharge opening for discharging the medium into a surrounding atmosphere, a conveying device for conveying the medium from the Inlet opening to the discharge opening and an actuating handle for actuating the conveyor, which is manually movable relative to the housing.
Derartige Austragköpfe sowie Spender mit solchen Austragköpfen sind aus dem Stand der Technik allgemein bekannt. Sie finden zur Abgabe pharmazeutischer Medien Verwendung. Insbesondere finden sie auch Verwendung, um kosmetische Cremes, Lotionen und anderweitige kosmetische Medien abzugeben. Bekannte gattungsgemäße Austragköpfe verfügen üblicherweise über viele einzelne Bauteile, die während eines Montagevorgangs zusammengefügt werden. Dies führt zu einer je nach Komplexität des Austragkopfes komplizierten und kostenträchtigen Montage. Aufgabe und Lösung Such discharge heads and dispensers with such discharge heads are well known in the art. They are used for dispensing pharmaceutical media. In particular, they are also used to deliver cosmetic creams, lotions and other cosmetic media. Known generic discharge heads usually have many individual components that are assembled during an assembly process. This leads to a complicated and costly installation depending on the complexity of the discharge head. Task and solution
Aufgabe der Erfindung ist es, einen Austragkopf zur Verfügung zu stellen, der hohe Zuverlässigkeit mit einer einfachen Form der Herstellung verbindet. Aufgabe ist es auch, einen Spender mit einem solchen Austragkopf zur Verfügung zu stellen. The object of the invention is to provide a discharge head, the high reliability with a simple form of Production connects. The task is also to provide a dispenser with such a discharge head available.
Gemäß einem ersten Aspekt eines erfindungsgemäßen Austragkopfes verfügt dieser über eine einstückige Dicht- und Ventileinrichtung, welche einen Dichtringbereich und ein Belüftungsventil aufweist, wobei der Dichtringbereich derart am Austragkopf angeordnet ist, dass er nach Ankopplung des Reservoirs am Austragkopf dichtend am Reservoir, insbesondere an einer eine Auslassöffnung des Reservoirs umgebenden Stirnfläche, anliegt, und das Belüftungsventil durch eine Durchbrechung in der einstückigen Dicht- und Ventileinrichtung gebildet ist, welche nur bei Unterdruck auf Seite des Reservoirs durch elastische Verformung der Dicht- und Ventileinrichtung verschlossen ist. Ein Austragkopf im Sinne dieser und weiterer Varianten der Erfindung ist jener Teil eines Spenders, der an das vorzugsweise flaschenartige Reservoir angekoppelt wird, um den dosierten Austrag des im Reservoir gespeicherten Mediums zu gestatten. Das Gehäuse des Austragkopfes ist dabei jenes Teil, welches zumindest die Kopplungseinrichtung zur Verfügung stellt, mittels derer der Austragkopf mit dem Reservoir verbunden ist. According to a first aspect of a discharge head according to the invention this has a one-piece sealing and valve device, which has a sealing ring area and a vent valve, wherein the sealing ring area is arranged on the discharge head, that he sealing the coupling to the reservoir at the reservoir, in particular on a Outlet opening of the reservoir surrounding the end face, is applied, and the vent valve is formed by an opening in the one-piece sealing and valve device, which is closed only at negative pressure on the side of the reservoir by elastic deformation of the sealing and valve device. A discharge head in the sense of these and further variants of the invention is that part of a dispenser which is coupled to the preferably bottle-like reservoir in order to allow the metered discharge of the medium stored in the reservoir. The housing of the discharge head is that part which provides at least the coupling device, by means of which the discharge head is connected to the reservoir.
Die Kopplungseinrichtung des Gehäuses umgibt zumindest die genannte Einlassöffnung, beispielsweise einen Stutzen, der zur Anbringung eines Steigrohrs vorgesehen ist, die dem Zweck dient, Medium aus dem Reservoir zum Zwecke des Austrags in den Austragkopf zu führen. Weiterhin umfasst der Austragkopf die genannte Fördereinrichtung, die beispielsweise als Kolbenpumpe ausgebildet sein kann. Betätigt wird die Fördereinrichtung mittels der Betätigungshandhabe, die gegenüber dem Gehäuse und somit zumindest gegenüber der Kopplungseinrichtung des Austrag köpf es, beweglich ist und dem Zweck dient, durch manuelle Kraftbeaufschlagung einen durch die Fördereinrichtung bewirkten Austrag Vorgang zu bewirken. The coupling means of the housing surrounds at least said inlet opening, for example a nozzle intended for attachment of a riser tube, which serves the purpose of guiding medium out of the reservoir for the purpose of discharging into the discharge head. Furthermore, the discharge head comprises the said conveyor, which may be formed, for example, as a piston pump. Actuates the conveyor by means of the actuating handle, the head against the housing and thus at least with respect to the coupling device of the discharge, it is movable and serves the purpose by manual Applying a force caused by the conveyor discharge process to effect.
Gemäß dem ersten Aspekt ist somit vorgesehen, dass ein einzelnes Bauteil, welches aus einem einheitlichen Kunststoff bestehen kann, jedoch auch aus Mehrkomponenten-Spritzguss (Overmolding) hergestellt sein könnte, zwei Funktionen übernimmt und entsprechend dieser Funktionen am Austragkopf angeordnet ist. Zum einen verfügt das Bauteil über einen Dichtringbereich, der in etwa die Form eines Dichtrings aufweist, und zwischen einem Gehäuse des Austragkopfes und dem Reservoir angeordnet ist. Der Dichtringbereich übernimmt dabei die gleichen Funktionen, wie ein herkömmlicher Dichtring. Zusätzlich ist jedoch einstückiger Teil der Dicht- und Ventileinrichtung ein Belüftungsventil, welches vollständig durch die Dicht- und Ventileinrichtung gebildet ist und zu diesem Zweck eine Durchbrechung in derselben aufweist, welche durch die Formgebung der Dicht- und Ventileinrichtung im Falle eines Überdrucks im Reservoir oder eines im Wesentlichen identischen Drucks auf beiden Seiten des Ventils geschlossen gehalten ist und bei Unterdruck im Reservoir öffnet. According to the first aspect is thus provided that a single component, which may consist of a single plastic, but could also be made of multi-component injection molding (overmolding), performs two functions and is arranged according to these functions on the discharge head. On the one hand, the component has a sealing ring region, which has approximately the shape of a sealing ring, and is arranged between a housing of the discharge head and the reservoir. The sealing ring area assumes the same functions as a conventional sealing ring. In addition, however, one-piece part of the sealing and valve means is a vent valve, which is completely formed by the sealing and valve means and for this purpose has an opening in the same, which by the shape of the sealing and valve device in the event of overpressure in the reservoir or a substantially identical pressure is kept closed on both sides of the valve and opens at negative pressure in the reservoir.
Dabei ist in einer Ausgestaltung ein zu dem Gehäuse separates Bauteil als Dicht- und Ventileinrichtung vorgesehen, welches während der Montage mit anderen Teilen des Austragkopfes und insbesondere dem Gehäuse gekoppelt werden muss. da nur ein einzelnes Bauteil hierfür erforderlich ist, welches sowohl die Funktion eines Dichtrings als auch die Funktion eines Belüftungsventils übernimmt, ist die Montage gegenüber herkömmlichen Austragköpfen erleichtert. Insbesondere, da für beide Funktionen weiche und elastische Kunststoffe vorteilhaft sind, kann ohne signifikante Nachteile der Montageprozess erleichtert werden. In one embodiment, a separate component to the housing is provided as a sealing and valve device, which must be coupled during assembly with other parts of the discharge head and in particular the housing. since only a single component is required for this, which takes over both the function of a sealing ring and the function of a ventilation valve, the assembly is easier compared to conventional discharge heads. In particular, since soft and elastic plastics are advantageous for both functions, the assembly process can be facilitated without significant disadvantages.
Gemäß einem zweiten Aspekt eines erfindungsgemäßen Austragkopfes ist dieser alternativ oder zusätzlich derart ausgebildet, dass das Gehäuse als einstückiges Spritzgussteil aus mindestens zwei Kunststoffen unterschiedlicher Eigenschaften hergestellt ist. Dabei besteht die Kopplungseinrichtung aus einem ersten der genannten Kunststoffe und ein anderer Abschnitt des Gehäuses aus dem zweiten der beiden Kunststoffe. Der genannte andere Abschnitt des Gehäuses kann ein Dichtring sein, der die Einlassöffnung umgibt und derart angeordnet ist, dass er nach Ankoppeln des Reservoirs am Austragkopf dichtend am Reservoir anliegt. Zusätzlich oder alternativ kann der aus dem zweiten Kunststoff hergestellte Abschnitt ein Belüftungsventil mit einer druckabhängig öffnenden Durchbrechung, vorzugsweise einer schlitzförmigen Durchbrechung, bilden, durch welche Umgebungsluft aus der umgebenden Atmosphäre in das Reservoir strömen kann. Sofern der Austragkopf über eine einstückige Dicht- und Ventileinrichtung verfügt, ist in eienr Ausgestaltung diese Dicht- und Ventileinrichtung durch den aus dem zweiten Kunststoff hergestellten Abschnitt gebildet. According to a second aspect of a discharge head according to the invention this is alternatively or additionally formed such that the Housing is made as a one-piece injection molded part of at least two plastics of different properties. In this case, the coupling device consists of a first of said plastics and another portion of the housing of the second of the two plastics. The said other portion of the housing may be a sealing ring which surrounds the inlet opening and is arranged such that it rests sealingly on the reservoir after the reservoir has been coupled to the discharge head. Additionally or alternatively, the section made of the second plastic can form a vent valve with a pressure-dependent opening, preferably a slot-shaped opening, through which ambient air from the surrounding atmosphere can flow into the reservoir. If the discharge head has a one-piece sealing and valve device, this sealing and valve device is formed by the section made of the second plastic in eienr embodiment.
Gemäß dem zweiten Aspekt der Erfindung ist vorgesehen, dass das Gehäuse als Kunststoffbauteil aus mindestens zwei Kunststoffen aufgebaut ist. Es handelt sich dabei um ein einstückiges Bauteil, dessen unterschiedliche Abschnitte aus verschiedenen Kunststoffen stoffschlüssig miteinander verbunden sind, insbesondere mittels der Herstellungstechnik des Mehrkomponenten-Spritzgusses (Overmolding). Die Kopplungseinrichtung und vorzugsweise auch im Übrigen der überwiegende Teil des Gehäuses, insbesondere dessen Außenflächen, besteht aus dem ersten Kunststoff, welcher insbesondere vorzugsweise vergleichsweise hart ist und/oder einen hohen E-Modul aufweist. Aus einem zweiten Kunststoff, welcher vorzugsweise gegenüber dem ersten Kunststoff weicher ist und/oder einen geringeren E-Modul aufweist, ist insbesondere ein Dichtring gefertigt, der die Einlassöffnung umgebend Teil des Gehäuses ist und hierdurch nach der Ankopplung des Austragkopfes an ein Reservoir unmittelbar die gewünschte Abdichtung erzielt, durch die erreicht wird, dass im Übergangsbereich zwischen dem Reservoir und dem Austragkopf keine Flüssigkeit austreten kann. Hierdurch entfällt die zum Teil schwierige Anordnung eines weichen Dichtrings zwischen dem Austragkopf und dem vorzugsweise flaschenförmigen Reservoir während der Montage. According to the second aspect of the invention it is provided that the housing is constructed as a plastic component of at least two plastics. It is a one-piece component, the different sections of different plastics are materially interconnected, in particular by means of the manufacturing technique of multi-component injection molding (overmolding). The coupling device and preferably also the remainder of the housing, in particular its outer surfaces, consists of the first plastic, which in particular is preferably comparatively hard and / or has a high modulus of elasticity. From a second plastic, which is preferably softer compared to the first plastic and / or has a lower modulus of elasticity, in particular a sealing ring is produced which surrounds the inlet opening is part of the housing and thus directly after the coupling of the discharge head to a reservoir the desired Achieved sealing, which is achieved in the transition area between the Reservoir and the discharge head no liquid can escape. This eliminates the sometimes difficult arrangement of a soft sealing ring between the discharge head and the preferably bottle-shaped reservoir during assembly.
Alternativ oder vorzugsweise zusätzlich zum aus dem zweiten Kunststoff gefertigten Dichtring ist vorzugsweise ein Belüftungsventil, welches ebenfalls einstückiger Teil des Gehäuses ist, aus dem zweiten der beiden Kunststoffe gefertigt. Dieses Belüftungsventil dient dem Zweck, ein Einströmen von Umgebungsluft durch den Austragkopf hindurch in das Reservoir zu gestatten. Dieses Einströmen ist erforderlich, um zu verhindern, dass mit fortschreitendem Austragen des Mediums im Mediumspeicher ein Unterdruck im Reservoir entsteht. Auch die Anbringung eines solchen Belüftungsventils als separates Bauteil ist während der Montage problematisch, so dass dessen unmittelbare Anformung am Gehäuse zu einer signifikanten Erleichterung des Montageprozesses führt. Alternatively or preferably in addition to the sealing ring made of the second plastic is preferably a vent valve, which is also an integral part of the housing, made of the second of the two plastics. This vent valve serves the purpose of allowing an inflow of ambient air through the discharge head into the reservoir. This inflow is necessary in order to prevent a negative pressure in the reservoir from developing as the medium discharges into the medium reservoir. The attachment of such a ventilation valve as a separate component is problematic during assembly, so that its direct Anformung leads to the housing to a significant facilitation of the assembly process.
Sowohl für den Dichtring als auch für das Belüftungsventil gilt weiterhin, dass diese an umgebenden Komponenten dicht anliegen müssen, um ihren Zweck jeweils zu erfüllen. Durch die einstückige Gestaltung mit anderen Teilen des Gehäuses ist dies in besonders guter Weise gewährleistet. So kann im Falle des Dichtrings zwischen diesem und weiteren Teilen des Gehäuses keine durch unsaubere Montage bedingte Leckage verursacht werden. Im Falle des Belüftungsventils wird wirksam verhindert, dass Luft am Ventil vorbei in die Flasche gelangen kann und insbesondere Flüssigkeit durch den entsprechenden Belüftungskanal ungewollt in eine Umgebung gelangen kann. Hinsichtlich des Belüftungsventils und des Dichtrings ist in schon erwähnter Weise die Verwendung eines weichen und/oder besonders elastischen Kunststoffs vorteilhaft. Hierfür eignet sich insbesondere TPE (Thermoplastische Elastomere). Hinsichtlich der Kopplungseinrichtung und der meisten anderen Abschnitte eines Gehäuses eines erfindungsgemäßen Austragkopfes, insbesondere der für den Endbenutzer zugänglichen Außenflächen des Gehäuses, kommt es in höherem Maße auf deren Formstabilität und die Eignung zur Aufnahme der Montagekräfte an. Diese Teile bestehen daher vorzugsweise aus einem härteren Kunststoff, insbesondere aus Polypropylen oder HDPE (High Density Polyethylen). Both for the sealing ring and for the venting valve still applies that they must be tight against surrounding components in order to fulfill their purpose. Due to the one-piece design with other parts of the housing, this is ensured in a particularly good manner. Thus, in the case of the sealing ring between this and other parts of the housing caused by improper mounting leakage can not be caused. In the case of the vent valve is effectively prevented that air can get past the valve in the bottle and in particular liquid can pass unintentionally into an environment through the corresponding ventilation duct. With regard to the ventilation valve and the sealing ring, the use of a soft and / or particularly elastic plastic is advantageous in the manner already mentioned. For this purpose, in particular TPE (thermoplastic elastomers) is suitable. With regard to the coupling device and most other portions of a housing of a discharge head according to the invention, in particular the outer surfaces of the housing accessible to the end user, it is more important to their dimensional stability and the suitability for receiving the assembly forces. These parts are therefore preferably made of a harder plastic, in particular polypropylene or HDPE (high density polyethylene).
Insbesondere kann das Belüftungsventil durch eine gewölbte und vorzugsweise etwa glockenförmige Fläche gebildet sein, in der die Durchbrechung als schlitzförmige Durchbrechung vorgesehen ist. Die beiden Flächenabschnitte beidseitig des Schlitzes drücken den Schlitz dabei in einer entspannten Lage zu und öffnen nur beim Vorhandensein der genannten hierfür erforderlichen Druckverhältnisse, also des Unterdruck im Reservoir. In particular, the ventilation valve may be formed by a curved and preferably approximately bell-shaped surface, in which the opening is provided as a slot-shaped opening. The two surface portions on both sides of the slot press the slot in a relaxed position and open only in the presence of the above-mentioned pressure conditions, ie the negative pressure in the reservoir.
Das Gehäuse des Austragkopfes stellt wie erwähnt die Kopplungseinrichtung zur Verfügung, mittels derer der Austragkopf mit dem Reservoir verbunden ist. Diese Kopplungseinrichtung ist in einer Ausgestaltung als Rastkopplungseinrichtung ausgebildet, die dafür vorgesehen ist, durch Hintergreifen einer Aufweitung am Hals des Reservoirs an dieses angekoppelt zu werden. Eine andere Möglichkeit der Gestaltung einer Kopplungseinrichtung ist die einer Gewindekopplungseinrichtung, die zum Zusammenwirken mit einem Gewinde an einem Hals des Reservoirs ausgebildet ist. As mentioned, the housing of the discharge head provides the coupling device by means of which the discharge head is connected to the reservoir. In one embodiment, this coupling device is designed as a latching coupling device, which is intended to be coupled to the reservoir by engaging a widening at the neck of the reservoir. Another possibility of designing a coupling device is that of a threaded coupling device, which is designed to cooperate with a thread on a neck of the reservoir.
Wie bereits erwähnt, umfasst das Gehäuse vorzugsweise weitere Komponenten neben der genannten Kopplungseinrichtung, dem Dichtring und dem Belüftungsventil und/oder einer einstückigen Dicht- und Ventileinrichtung. So ist Teil des einstückigen Gehäuses vorzugsweise auch eine Führungsfläche zur Führung der Betätigungshandhabe gegenüber dem Gehäuse und/oder ein die Pumpkammer zumindest abschnittsweise umgebender Zylinder, gegenüber dem ein mit der Betätigungshandhabe wirkgekoppelter Kolben gleitbeweglich ist. Die genannten zusätzlichen Komponenten sind vorzugsweise ebenfalls aus dem ersten der genannten Kunststoffe hergestellt und bestehen somit vorzugsweise aus dem gleichen Material wie die Kopplungseinrichtung. Bei der Führungsfläche handelt es sich um eine Fläche des Gehäuses, an der die Betätigungshandhabe gleitend geführt ist. Diese besteht vorzugsweise aus dem ersten Kunststoff, um eine Verformung wirksam zu verhindern. Auch der Zylinder, der zusammen mit dem Kolben eine volumetrisch veränderliche Pumpkammer der Fördereinrichtung bildet, ist vorzugsweise aus dem ersten Kunststoff gebildet. As already mentioned, the housing preferably comprises further components in addition to the said coupling device, the sealing ring and the venting valve and / or a one-piece sealing and valve device. Thus, part of the one-piece housing is preferably also a guide surface for guiding the actuating handle in relation to the housing and / or a cylinder surrounding the pumping chamber at least in sections, opposite to which a piston operatively coupled to the actuating handle is slidable. The said additional components are preferably also made of the first of said plastics and thus preferably consist of the same material as the coupling device. The guide surface is a surface of the housing on which the actuating handle is slidably guided. This is preferably made of the first plastic to effectively prevent deformation. Also, the cylinder, which together with the piston forms a volumetrically variable pumping chamber of the conveyor, is preferably formed from the first plastic.
Es ist im Zusammenhang mit der Fördereinrichtung von Relevanz festzustellen, dass der Begriff des Kolbens und der Begriff des Zylinders, die zur volumetrischen Veränderlichkeit der Pumpkammer zusammenwirken, im Kontext des hier beschriebenen Austragkopfes austauschbar sind. Vorzugsweise werden sowohl der Kolben als auch der Zylinder durch ineinander einschiebbare zylindrische Wandungen gebildet, die in einen ringförmigen Kontaktbereich aneinander anliegen. Welche dieser Komponenten als Zylinder und welche als Kolben bezeichnet wird, ist unerheblich. It is relevant in the context of the conveyor that the concept of the piston and the notion of the cylinder, which co-operate with the volumetric variability of the pumping chamber, are interchangeable in the context of the dispensing head described herein. Preferably, both the piston and the cylinder are formed by cylindrical walls which can be pushed into one another and abut against one another in an annular contact area. Which of these components is referred to as a cylinder and which as a piston, is irrelevant.
Bei einer Weiterbildung der Erfindung ist vorgesehen, dass jenes Spritzgussteil, welches aus mehreren Kunststoffen besteht und das Gehäuse bildet, zusätzlich eine Rückstellfeder aus Kunststoff bildet. Diese Rückstellfeder dient zur Rückstellung der Betätigungshandhabe in Richtung ihrer Ausgangsstellung und/oder der Rückstellung eines mit der Betätigungshandhabe wirkgekoppelten, gegebenenfalls einstückig verbundenen, Kolbens einer Pumpkammer der Fördereinrichtung in Richtung einer Vergrößerung der Pumpkammer. In a further development of the invention, it is provided that that injection-molded part, which consists of several plastics and forms the housing, additionally forms a return spring made of plastic. This return spring serves to return the actuating handle in the direction of its initial position and / or the provision of a functionally coupled to the actuating handle, optionally integrally connected, a piston of a pumping chamber of the conveyor in the direction of enlargement of the pumping chamber.
Die Rückstellfeder ist dabei vorzugsweise aus dem zweiten genannten Kunststoff oder aus einem dritten Kunststoff hergestellt, der andere Eigenschaften als die ersten beiden genannten Kunststoffe aufweist. Bei der Gestaltung gemäß dieser Weiterbildung wird durch das unmittelbare Anformen der Rückstellfeder am Gehäuse eine nochmals vereinfachte Montage ermöglicht. Jenseits möglicherweise noch erforderlicher Ventile der Pumpkammer kann somit bewirkt werden, dass der Austragkopf lediglich zwei Hauptbestandteile aufweist, nämlich das Gehäuse, welches auch ein Belüftungsventil, den Dichtring und die Feder einstückig umfasst, und eine hieran angekoppelte Betätigungshandhabe. The return spring is preferably made of the second mentioned plastic or of a third plastic, the other Has properties as the first two plastics mentioned. In the design according to this development, a further simplified mounting is made possible by the direct molding of the return spring on the housing. Beyond possibly still required valves of the pumping chamber can thus be effected, that the discharge head has only two main components, namely the housing, which also includes a vent valve, the sealing ring and the spring in one piece, and an actuating handle coupled thereto.
Als besonders vorteilhaft wird es angesehen, wenn der Austragkopf derart gestaltet ist, dass die Rückstellfeder vollständig entspannt ist, wenn die Betätigungshandhabe bzw. der Kolben in einer Endlage angeordnet ist. Es hat sich gezeigt, dass diese vollständige Entspannung der Rückstellfeder Relaxationsvorgänge im Kunststoff der Feder vermeiden kann, welche mit fortschreitender Alterung des Austragkopfes zumindest einen veränderten haptischen Eindruck der Betätigung bewirken können oder auch die Funktionstüchtigkeit des Austragkopfes beeinträchtigen können. Auch bei einer separaten Kunststofffeder, die bei einem gattungsgemäßen oder erfindungsgemäßen Austragkopf Verwendung findet, wird es als vorteilhaft angesehen, wenn diese Feder in einer Endlage des Kolbens bzw. der Betätigungshandhabe entspannt ist. Dies gilt insbesondere für Austragköpfe, bei denen aufgrund einer radialen Abdichtung der Pumpkammer keine Erfordernis besteht, in einer unbetätigten Ruhestellung den Kolben permanent in Richtung der Ruhestellung kraftzubeaufschlagen. It is considered to be particularly advantageous if the discharge head is designed such that the return spring is completely relaxed when the actuating handle or the piston is arranged in an end position. It has been shown that this complete relaxation of the restoring spring can avoid relaxation processes in the plastic of the spring, which with increasing aging of the discharge head can cause at least a changed haptic impression of the actuation or can impair the functionality of the discharge head. Even with a separate plastic spring, which is used in a generic or inventive discharge head, it is considered advantageous if this spring is relaxed in an end position of the piston or the actuating handle. This is especially true for discharge heads, in which due to a radial seal of the pumping chamber is no requirement, in a non-actuated rest position, the force of the piston permanently in the direction of the rest position.
Die Erfindung betrifft gemäß einem dritten Aspekt weiterhin auch einen gattungsgemäßen Austragkopf, bei dem ein einstückiges Bauteil vorgesehen ist, welches als Spritzgussteil aus zwei Kunststoffen unterschiedlicher Eigenschaften hergestellt ist, wobei dieses Bauteil die Betätigungshandhabe und/oder einen Kolben der Fördereinrichtung einerseits und eine zwischen der Betätigungshandhabe bzw. dem Kolben und dem Gehäuse als Rückstellfeder wirkende Feder andererseits bildet. Dabei ist zumindest die an der Betätigungshandhabe vorgesehene Führungsfläche zur Führung derselben bzw. eine Gleitdichtungsfläche des Kolbens zum Zusammenwirken mit einem Zylinder der Fördereinrichtung aus einem ersten der beiden Kunststoffe gefertigt und die Feder aus einem zweiten der beiden Kunststoffe gefertigt. Hinsichtlich dem ersten und dem zweiten Kunststoff gilt das gleiche wie für die oben im Zusammenhang mit den ersten beiden Aspekten der Erfindung genannten Kunststoffe. Wiederum handelt es sich bei dem ersten Kunststoff vorzugsweise um einen härteren Kunststoff mit höherem E-Modul und bei dem zweiten Kunststoff um einen weicheren Kunststoff mit geringerem E-Modul und guten elastischen Eigenschaften. The invention further relates, according to a third aspect, to a generic discharge head in which a one-piece component is provided, which is produced as an injection molded part from two plastics of different properties, this component comprising the actuating handle and / or a piston of the delivery device on the one hand and a spring acting between the actuating handle or the piston and the housing as a return spring on the other hand forms. In this case, at least provided on the actuating handle guide surface for guiding the same or a Gleitdichtungsfläche the piston for cooperation with a cylinder of the conveyor of a first of the two plastics is made and the spring made of a second of the two plastics. With regard to the first and the second plastic, the same applies as for the plastics mentioned above in connection with the first two aspects of the invention. Again, the first plastic is preferably a harder plastic with a higher modulus of elasticity and the second plastic is a softer plastic with a lower modulus of elasticity and good elastic properties.
Gemäß diesem dritten Aspekt der Erfindung sind somit insbesondere die Betätigungshandhabe und die zur Rückstellung der Betätigungshandhabe vorgesehene Rückstellfeder einstückig miteinander ausgebildet, was wiederum eine erleichterte Montage ermöglicht, da die leicht verformbare und daher schwierig handhabbare Feder während der Montage nicht separat gehandhabt werden muss. Stattdessen erfolgt eine gemeinsame Handhabung mit der zumindest abschnittsweise vergleichsweise starren Betätigungshandhabe oder dem zumindest abschnittsweise vergleichsweise starren Kolben. According to this third aspect of the invention, in particular the actuating handle and provided for resetting the actuating handle return spring are integrally formed with each other, which in turn allows easier installation, since the easily deformable and therefore difficult to handle spring during assembly does not need to be handled separately. Instead, there is a joint handling with the at least partially comparatively rigid actuating handle or the at least partially comparatively rigid piston.
Bei der Formgebung der Feder können verschiedene Möglichkeiten genutzt werden. So kann die Feder als Schraubenfeder ausgebildet sein. Sie kann jedoch auch als geschlossene balgartige Feder ausgebildet sein. Ein besonderer Vorteil ergibt sich, wenn der zweite der genannten Kunststoffe, aus dem zumindest die Rückstellfeder besteht, auch bei einer Außenfläche der Betätigungshandhabe Verwendung findet. Hierdurch lässt sich eine so genannte Soft-Touch-Oberfläche erzeugen, die haptisch als besonders angenehm empfunden wird. Vorzugsweise sind die an der Innenseite der Betätigungshandhabe vorgesehene Feder und die an der Außenseite der Betätigungshandhabe vorgesehene Soft-Touch-Oberfläche unmittelbar miteinander verbunden, insbesondere indem ein aus dem ersten Kunststoff gefertigter Grundkörper der Betätigungshandhabe Durchbrechungen aufweist, durch die hindurch sich der zweite Kunststoff erstreckt. Dies erleichtert den Spritzgussvorgang, da der weichere Kunststoff nur an einer Stelle zugeführt werden muss. Die Erfindung betrifft weiterhin einen Spender mit einem vorzugsweise flaschenartigen Reservoir und einem Austragkopf, wobei der Austragkopf in beschriebener Weise ausgebildet ist. When shaping the spring various possibilities can be used. Thus, the spring may be formed as a helical spring. However, it can also be designed as a closed bellows-like spring. A particular advantage is obtained when the second of said plastics, of which at least the return spring is made, is also used on an outer surface of the actuating handle. This makes it possible to create a so-called soft-touch surface, which is perceived as particularly pleasant to the touch. Preferably, the provided on the inside of the actuating handle spring and provided on the outside of the actuating handle soft-touch surface are directly connected to each other, in particular by a made of the first plastic base body of the actuating handle has openings through which extends the second plastic. This facilitates the injection molding process, since the softer plastic must be supplied only in one place. The invention further relates to a dispenser with a preferably bottle-like reservoir and a discharge head, wherein the discharge head is formed in the manner described.
Kurzbeschreibung der Zeichnungen Brief description of the drawings
Weitere Aspekte und Vorteile der Erfindung ergeben sich aus den Ansprüchen sowie aus den nachfolgenden Beschreibungen bevorzugter Ausführungsbeispiele der Erfindung, welche anhand der Figuren erläutert sind. Dabei zeigen: Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the claims and from the following descriptions of preferred embodiments of the invention, which are illustrated by the figures. Showing:
Figuren 1 und 2 eine erste Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Austragkopfes in einer jeweils geschnittenen Darstellung, Figur 3 eine zweite Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Austragkopfs in einer geschnittenen Darstellung und Figures 1 and 2 a first embodiment of a discharge head according to the invention in a respective sectional view, Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of a discharge head according to the invention in a sectional view and
Figur 4 eine dritte Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Austragkopfs in einer geschnittenen Darstellung. Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of a discharge head according to the invention in a sectional view.
Detaillierte Beschreibung der Ausführungsbeispiele Zu den Figuren ist vorab zu erwähnen, dass bei Komponenten, die aus verschiedenen Kunststoffen im Mehrkomponenten-Spritzguss hergestellt sind, die unterschiedlichen Abschnitte verschiedenen Materials zeichnerisch als separate Teile dargestellt sind, wobei sie jeweils eine Übereinstimmende Art der Schraffierung aufweisen, so beispielsweise die Komponenten 20, 50 in Fig. 1. Detailed description of the embodiments With regard to the figures, it should be mentioned in advance that, for components made of different plastics in multi-component injection molding, the different sections of different material are shown graphically as separate parts, each having a matching type of hatching, such as the components 20 , 50 in FIG. 1.
Die Figuren 1 und 2 zeigen eine erste Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Austragkopfs 10, welcher zur Anbringung auf einem gestrichelt angedeuteten Flüssigkeitsreservoir 8 vorgesehen ist. Figures 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a discharge head 10 according to the invention, which is provided for attachment to a liquid reservoir 8 indicated by dashed lines.
Der Austragkopf 10 verfügt über ein Gehäuse 20 sowie eine demgegenüber in einer Betätigungsrichtung 2 beweglichen Betätigungshandhabe 80. Zur Förderung von Flüssigkeit aus dem Flüssigkeitsreservoir 8 ist an der dem Flüssigkeitsreservoir 8 zugewandten Seite des Gehäuses 20 eine Einlassöffnung 22 vorgesehen, welche durch einen zur Anbringung eines Steigrohrs vorgesehenen Stutzen gebildet wird. Von diesem erstreckt sich ein Flüssigkeitskanal 24 bis in eine Pumpkammer 26, welche volumetrisch durch Verlagerung der Betätigungshandhabe 80 gegenüber dem Gehäuse 20 veränderlich ist. Zur Bildung der Pumpkammer weisen sowohl das Gehäuse 20 als auch die Betätigungshandhabe 80 in etwa zylindrische Wandungen 28, 82 auf, die radial abdichtend aneinander anliegen und Wandungen der Pumpkammer 26 bilden. An die Pumpkammer 26 schließt sich ein Austragkanal 30 an, der in einer Austragöffnung 32 mündet. Zur Ermöglichung eines Pumpvorgangs ist am Gehäuse 20 ein im Zwei-Komponenten-Spritzguss hergestelltes Ventilbauteil 70 vorgesehen, welches sowohl ein Einlassventil 72 als auch ein Auslassventil 74 zur Verfügung stellt. Das Einlassventil 72 öffnet dabei bei Unterdruck in der Pumpkammer 26 gegenüber dem Flüssigkeitsreservoir 8. Das Auslassventil 74 öffnet bei Überdruck in der Pumpkammer gegenüber einer umgebenden Atmosphäre. Somit ist eine Fördereinrichtung gebildet, die bei Niederdrücken der Betätigungshandhabe 80 Medium aus der Pumpkammer 26 austrägt und während des Niederdrückens Medium aus dem Mediumreservoir 8 ansaugt. To discharge liquid from the liquid reservoir 8, an inlet opening 22 is provided on the side of the housing 20 facing the liquid reservoir 8, which is provided with an attachment pipe for a riser provided neck is formed. From this, a liquid channel 24 extends into a pumping chamber 26, which is volumetrically variable by displacement of the actuating handle 80 relative to the housing 20. To form the pumping chamber, both the housing 20 and the actuating handle 80 in approximately cylindrical walls 28, 82 which bear radially sealingly against each other and form walls of the pumping chamber 26. To the pumping chamber 26, a discharge channel 30 connects, which opens into a discharge opening 32. To enable a pumping operation, a valve component 70 produced in two-component injection molding is provided on the housing 20, which valve module provides both an inlet valve 72 and an outlet valve 74. The inlet valve 72 opens at negative pressure in the pumping chamber 26 with respect to the liquid reservoir 8. The outlet valve 74 opens at overpressure in the pumping chamber with respect to a surrounding atmosphere. Thus, one is Formed conveying device which discharges medium from the pumping chamber 26 at depression of the actuating handle 80 and sucks medium from the medium reservoir 8 during the depression.
Zwischen dem Gehäuse 20 und der Betätigungshandhabe 80 ist eine Schraubenfeder 90 aus Kunststoff vorgesehen, die die Betätigungshandhabe und damit auch die Zylinderfläche 82 in Richtung 2a, also in Richtung ihrer Ausgangsstellung, drücken kann. Diese Feder ist derart ausgelegt, dass sie im unbetätigten Zustand der Fig. 1 und 2 vollständig entspannt ist, wodurch Relaxationsprozesse im Material der Feder vermieden werden. Erst bei Betätigung der Betätigungshandhabe 80 wird die Feder 90 elastisch komprimiert. Jenes Bauteil 20, welches das Gehäuse bildet, bildet insbesondere auch eine Kopplungseinrichtung 40 dieses Gehäuses 20 in Form eines Innengewindes, mittels dessen die Ankopplung des Austragkopfes 10 an das Flüssigkeitsreservoir 8 erfolgt. Weiterhin wesentlicher Teil des einstückigen Gehäuses 20 ist ein den Einlassstutzten 22 umgebender Abschnitt 50, welcher zwar einstückig mit den anderen Komponenten des Gehäuses 20 ausgebildet ist, jedoch zumindest verglichen mit der Kopplungseinrichtung 40 aus einem weicheren und flexibleren Kunststoff besteht. Dieser Abschnitt 50 erfüllt zweierlei Funktionen. Zum einen bildet er einen am Flaschenhals des Flüssigkeitsreservoirs 8 anliegenden Dichtringbereich 52, der durch das Aufschrauben des Austragkopfes 10 auf das Flüssigkeitsreservoir 8 komprimiert wird und hierdurch ein Austreten von Flüssigkeit in diesem Übergangsbereich vermeidet. Zum anderen bildet der Abschnitt 50 ein glockenförmiges Belüftungsventil 54, welches eine schlitzartige Durchbrechung 54a aufweist. Dieses Belüftungsventil 54 dient dem Zweck, bei Unterdruck im Reservoir, welcher durch Austrag von Flüssigkeit erzeugt wird, das Nachströmen von Luft zu gestatten. Dabei verhindert das Ventil 54, dass der entsprechende Pfad der Luft, welcher durch die gestrichelte Linie 4 verdeutlicht ist in entgegengesetzter Richtung ungewollt das Entweichen von Flüssigkeit gestattet. Nur bei Unterdruck im Flüssigkeitsreservoir 8 öffnet das Belüftungsventil 54. Between the housing 20 and the actuating handle 80, a helical spring 90 is provided made of plastic, which can press the actuating handle and thus also the cylindrical surface 82 in the direction 2a, ie in the direction of its initial position. This spring is designed so that it is completely relaxed in the unactuated state of Figs. 1 and 2, whereby relaxation processes are avoided in the material of the spring. Only upon actuation of the actuating handle 80, the spring 90 is elastically compressed. That component 20 which forms the housing also forms, in particular, a coupling device 40 of this housing 20 in the form of an internal thread, by means of which the coupling of the discharge head 10 to the liquid reservoir 8 takes place. Furthermore, an essential part of the one-piece housing 20 is a portion 50 surrounding the inlet socket 22, which is formed integrally with the other components of the housing 20, but at least compared to the coupling device 40 is made of a softer and more flexible plastic. This section 50 performs two functions. First, it forms a voltage applied to the neck of the liquid reservoir 8 sealing ring portion 52 which is compressed by screwing the discharge head 10 to the liquid reservoir 8 and thereby avoids leakage of liquid in this transition region. On the other hand, the section 50 forms a bell-shaped ventilation valve 54, which has a slot-like opening 54a. This vent valve 54 serves the purpose of allowing the negative pressure in the reservoir, which is produced by the discharge of liquid, the subsequent flow of air. there prevents the valve 54 that the corresponding path of the air, which is illustrated by the dashed line 4 in the opposite direction unintentionally allows the escape of liquid. Only at negative pressure in the liquid reservoir 8, the vent valve 54 opens.
Das Gehäuse 20 einschließlich des Abschnitts 50 wird als einstückiges Bauteil aus zwei verschiedenen Kunststoffen im Mehrkomponenten- Spritzguss hergestellt, vorliegend aus TPE für den Abschnitt 50 und PP oder HDPE für alle übrigen Abschnitte. Durch diese einstückige Gestaltung wird die Montage erleichtert. Außerdem wird die Zahl jener Kontaktstellen zwischen Bauteilen vermindert, an denen Flüssigkeit in nicht bestimmungsgemäßer Weise aus dem Flüssigkeitsreservoir 8 entweichen kann. Der Austragkopf 1 10 der der Figur 3 unterscheidet sich insbesondere hinsichtlich zweier Aspekte von der Ausführungsform der Figuren 1 und 2. The housing 20 including the portion 50 is manufactured as a one-piece component from two different plastics in multi-component injection molding, in this case TPE for the section 50 and PP or HDPE for all other sections. By this one-piece design, the assembly is facilitated. In addition, the number of contact points between components is reduced, at which liquid can escape in an improper manner from the liquid reservoir 8. The discharge head 110 of FIG. 3 differs from the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular with regard to two aspects.
Zum einen ist der Abschnitt 50 bei dieser Ausgestaltung nicht einstückig mit dem Gehäuse 20 verbunden. Er bildet stattdessen ein separates Bauteil aus einem einheitlichen, weichen Kunststoff, insbesondere aus TPE, welches in einer nach unten offenen Vertiefung 20a der Gehäuses 20 angeordnet ist und hier kraftschlüssig gehalten wird. Allerdings umfasst dieser Abschnitt 50 wiederum sowohl einen Dichtringbereich 52 als auch ein Belüftungsventil 54, die jeweils derart aufgebaut sind, wie es die Fig. 1 und 2 zeigen. Auch wenn der Abschnitt 50 nicht einstückiger Teil des Gehäuses 20 ist, lässt sich durch die Integration des Dichtrings und des Belüftungsventils in einem Bauteil eine wesentliche Montagevereinfachung erzielen. Dennoch kann natürlich auch bei der Ausgestaltung der Fig. 2 eine stoffschlüssige Einstückigkeit des Gehäuses 20 und des Abschnitts 50 vorgesehen sein. Der zweite wesentliche Unterschied zur vorbeschriebenen Ausgestaltung der Fig. 1 und 2 liegt darin, dass zur erleichterten Montage vorgesehen ist, dass die Rückstellfeder 92 und die Betätigungshandhabe 80 als gemeinsames einstückiges Bauteil vorgesehen sind. Auch diese sind in der schon beschriebenen Weise durch Zwei-Komponenten-Spritzguss hergestellt. Während die zylindrische Außenwandung 84 sowie die der Fördereinrichtung zugehörige zylindrische Wandung 82 und eine diese zylindrischen Wandungen 82, 84 verbindende Stirnfläche 86 aus einem harten Kunststoff, insbesondere aus PP oder HDPE, bestehen, wird die vorliegend rein beispielhaft balgartig ausgebildete Rückstellfeder 92 aus einem weicheren und für eine Rückstellung gut geeigneten Kunststoff gebildet, vorliegend beispielsweise aus LDPE. Durch die Zusammenführung in einem gemeinsamen Bauteil wird die Montage der Betätigungshandhabe 80 mit der angeformten Rückstellfeder 92 erleichtert. First, the portion 50 is not integrally connected to the housing 20 in this embodiment. Instead, it forms a separate component made of a uniform, soft plastic, in particular made of TPE, which is arranged in a downwardly open recess 20a of the housing 20 and is frictionally held here. However, this section 50 again comprises both a sealing ring region 52 and a ventilation valve 54, each of which is constructed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Although the portion 50 is not an integral part of the housing 20, the integration of the sealing ring and the vent valve in a component can achieve a substantial simplification of the assembly. Nevertheless, of course, in the embodiment of FIG. 2, a cohesive integral of the housing 20 and the portion 50 may be provided. The second essential difference from the above-described embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 is that it is provided for facilitated assembly that the return spring 92 and the actuating handle 80 are provided as a common one-piece component. These are also produced in the manner already described by two-component injection molding. While the cylindrical outer wall 84 and the conveying means associated cylindrical wall 82 and a cylindrical walls 82, 84 connecting end face 86 made of a hard plastic, in particular PP or HDPE exist, the present purely exemplary belgesturned return spring 92 made of a softer and formed for a provision well suited plastic, in this case for example from LDPE. By merging in a common component, the assembly of the actuating handle 80 with the integrally formed return spring 92 is facilitated.
Ein besonderer Vorteil ergibt sich daraus, dass das Material der Rückstellfeder 92 auch an einer Außenseite 88 der Betätigungshandhabe 80 Verwendung findet. Dieser Außenseite 88 ist über Durchbrechungen in der Stirnfläche 86 mit der Rückstellfeder 92 unmittelbar verbunden. Durch die Verwendung des weichen, elastischen Materials auch an der Außenseite 88 wird ein sehr angenehmer haptischer Eindruck bei der Betätigung vermittelt. A particular advantage results from the fact that the material of the return spring 92 is also used on an outer side 88 of the actuating handle 80. This outer side 88 is directly connected via openings in the end face 86 with the return spring 92. By using the soft, elastic material also on the outside 88 a very pleasant haptic impression is conveyed during the operation.
Der gesamte Austragkopf 1 10 der Figur 3 besteht somit nur aus vier während der Montage zusammenzufügenden Komponenten, nämlich dem Gehäuse 20, dem Dicht- und Ventilabschnitt 50, der Ventileinheit 70 sowie der Betätigungshandhabe 80 mit angeformter Rückstellfeder 92. Beim Austragkopf 310 der Figur 4 ist die Feder 94 ebenfalls nicht als separates Bauteil ausgebildet. Abweichend von der Ausgestaltung der Figur 3 ist sie jedoch nicht als einstückiges Bauteil mit der Betätigungshandhabe 80 konzipiert, sondern stattdessen ebenso wie der Dicht- und Ventilabschnitt 50 ebenfalls am Gehäuse 20 einstückig angeformt. Hierfür sind in einer dem Flüssigkeitsreservoir 8 zugewandten Querwandung 34 des Gehäuses 20 Durchbrechungen 34a vorgesehen, durch den sich das weichere Material der Dichtring- und Ventileinheit 50 bis in den Bereich der Rückstellfeder 94 erstreckt und dort dieselbe bildet. Somit ist der Austragkopf 210 der Figur 4 dafür ausgebildet, während der Montage aus nur drei separaten Komponenten zusammengesetzt zu werden: Dem Gehäuse 20 mit durch Mehrkomponenten-Spritzguss einstückig angeformten Dicht- und Ventilabschnitt 50 und der ebenfalls einstückig angeformter Feder 94, der Ventileinheit 70 und der Betätigungshandhabe 80. The entire discharge head 1 10 of Figure 3 thus consists of only four components to be assembled during assembly, namely the housing 20, the sealing and valve portion 50, the valve unit 70 and the actuating handle 80 with integrally formed return spring 92nd In the discharge head 310 of Figure 4, the spring 94 is also not formed as a separate component. Notwithstanding the embodiment of Figure 3, however, it is not designed as a one-piece component with the actuating handle 80, but instead as well as the sealing and valve portion 50 also integrally formed on the housing 20. For this purpose, apertures 34a are provided in a transverse wall 34 of the housing 20 facing the liquid reservoir 8, through which the softer material of the sealing ring and valve unit 50 extends into the region of the return spring 94 and forms the same there. Thus, the discharge head 210 of Figure 4 is adapted to be assembled during assembly of only three separate components: the housing 20 integrally formed by multi-component injection molding sealing and valve portion 50 and the likewise integrally molded spring 94, the valve unit 70 and the actuating handle 80.

Claims

Patentansprüche claims
1. Austragkopf (10; 1 10; 210) zur Kopplung an ein Reservoir (8) zum Zwecke des Austrags von flüssigen oder pastösen Medien aus dem Reservoir (8) mit 1. Discharge head (10, 1 10, 210) for coupling to a reservoir (8) for the purpose of discharging liquid or pasty media from the reservoir (8) with
einem Gehäuse (20) mit einer Kopplungseinrichtung (40) zur a housing (20) with a coupling device (40) for
Ankopplung an das Reservoir (8), Coupling to the reservoir (8),
einer dem Reservoir (8) zugewandtem Einlassöffnung (22) und einer Austragöffnung (32) zur Abgabe des Mediums in eine umgebende Atmosphäre,  an inlet opening (22) facing the reservoir (8) and a discharge opening (32) for discharging the medium into a surrounding atmosphere,
einer Fördereinrichtung (26, 70) zur Förderung des Mediums von der Einlassöffnung (22) zur Austragöffnung (32) und einer Betätigungshandhabe (80) zur Betätigung der Fördereinrichtung (26,70), die gegenüber dem Gehäuse (20) manuell bewegbar,  a conveying device (26, 70) for conveying the medium from the inlet opening (22) to the discharge opening (32) and an actuating handle (80) for actuating the conveying device (26, 70), which can be moved manually relative to the housing (20),
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass  characterized in that
der Austragkopf (10; 1 10; 210) über eine einstückige Dicht- und Ventileinrichtung (50) verfügt, welche einen Dichtringbereich (52) und ein Belüftungsventil (54) aufweist, wobei  the discharge head (10; 1 10; 210) has an integral sealing and valve device (50) which has a sealing ring region (52) and a ventilation valve (54), wherein
der Dichtringbereich (52) derart am Austragkopf (1 10) angeordnet ist, dass er nach Ankopplung des Reservoirs am Austragkopf (1 10) dichtend am Reservoir anliegt, und das Belüftungsventil (54) durch eine Durchbrechung (54a) in der einstückigen Dicht- und Ventileinrichtung gebildet ist, welche nur bei Unterdruck auf Seite des Reservoirs durch elastische Verformung der Dicht- und Ventileinrichtung (50) verschlossen ist. the sealing ring region (52) is arranged on the discharge head (1 10) so that it rests sealingly on the reservoir after coupling of the reservoir to the discharge head (1 10), and the vent valve (54) through an opening (54 a) in the one-piece sealing and Valve device is formed, which is closed only at negative pressure on the side of the reservoir by elastic deformation of the sealing and valve device (50).
2. Austragkopf (10; 1 10;210) nach Anspruch 1 oder nach dem Oberbegriff von Anspruch 1 , dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Gehäuse (20) als einstückiges Spritzgussteil aus mindestens zwei Kunststoffen unterschiedlicher Eigenschaften hergestellt ist, wobei 2. Discharge head (10, 10, 210) according to claim 1 or according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the housing (20) is made as a one-piece injection molded part of at least two plastics of different properties, wherein
die Kopplungseinrichtung (40) aus einem ersten der beiden the coupling device (40) from a first of the two
Kunststoffe besteht und Plastics exists and
der Dichtringbereich (52) und/oder  the sealing ring region (52) and / or
ein Dichtring (52), der die Einlassöffnung (22) umgibt und derart angeordnet ist, dass er nach Ankopplung des Reservoirs (8) am Austragkopf (10; 210) dichtend an diesem anliegt und/oder  a sealing ring (52) which surrounds the inlet opening (22) and is arranged such that it bears sealingly against the discharge head (10; 210) after the reservoir (8) has been coupled thereto and / or
ein Belüftungsventil (54) mit einer druckabhängig öffnenden Durchbrechung (54a), durch welches Umgebungsluft aus der umgebenden Atmosphäre in das Reservoir (8) strömen kann,  a ventilation valve (54) having a pressure-dependent opening (54a) through which ambient air from the surrounding atmosphere can flow into the reservoir (8),
aus dem zweiten der beiden Kunststoffe besteht.  consists of the second of the two plastics.
3. Austragkopf (10; 1 10; 210) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass 3. discharge head (10; 1 10; 210) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that
das Belüftungsventil (54) durch eine gewölbte Fläche gebildet wird, in der eine schlitzförmige Durchbrechung (54a) vorgesehen ist.  the venting valve (54) is formed by a curved surface in which a slot-shaped opening (54a) is provided.
4. Austragkopf (10; 1 10; 210) nach Anspruch 1 , 2 oder 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass 4. discharge head (10; 1 10; 210) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that
die Kopplungseinrichtung (40)  the coupling device (40)
als Rastkopplungseinrichtung (40) ausgebildet ist, die zum Hintergreifen einer Aufweitung an einem Hals des Reservoirs (8) ausgebildet ist, oder als Gewindekopplungseinrichtung (40) ausgebildet ist, die zum Zusammenwirken mit einem Gewinde an einem Hals des Reservoirs (8) ausgebildet ist. is formed as a latching coupling device (40), which is designed for engaging behind a widening at a neck of the reservoir (8), or is formed as a threaded coupling device (40) which is designed to cooperate with a thread on a neck of the reservoir (8).
Austragkopf (10; 1 10; 210) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass Discharge head (10; 1 10; 210) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that
das einstückige Gehäuse (20) zusätzlich mindestens eine der Komponenten umfassend die folgenden Komponenten umfasst: eine Führungsfläche zur Führung der Betätigungshandhabe the one-piece housing (20) additionally comprises at least one of the components comprising the following components: a guide surface for guiding the actuating handle
(80) gegenüber dem Gehäuse (20), (80) opposite the housing (20),
einen die Pumpkammer (26) umschließenden Zylinder (28), gegenüber dem ein mit der Betätigungshandhabe (80) wirkgekoppelter Kolben (82) gleitbeweglich ist.  a cylinder (28) enclosing the pumping chamber (26), against which a piston (82) operatively coupled to the actuating handle (80) is slidable.
Austragkopf (210) nach einem der Ansprüche 2 bis 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass Discharge head (210) according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that
das Spritzgussteil, das das Gehäuse (20) bildet, eine Rückstellfeder (94) aus Kunststoff aufweist, durch die  the injection molded part forming the housing (20) has a return spring (94) made of plastic through which
die Betätigungshandhabe (80) in Richtung einer unbetätigten Ausgangsstellung kraftbeaufschlag bar ist und/oder  the actuating handle (80) in the direction of an unactuated initial position kraftbeaufschlag bar and / or
ein mit der Betätigungshandhabe (80) wirkverbundener und gegenüber dem Gehäuse (20) beweglicher Kolben (82) einer Pumpkammer (26) der Fördereinrichtung in Richtung einer Vergrößerung der Pumpkammer kraftbeaufschlag bar ist.  an operatively connected to the actuating handle (80) and relative to the housing (20) movable piston (82) of a pumping chamber (26) of the conveyor in the direction of enlargement of the pumping chamber kraftbeaufschlag bar.
7. Austragkopf nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass 7. Discharge head according to claim 6, characterized in that
die Rückstellfeder (94) aus dem zweiten der beiden Kunststoffe besteht. the return spring (94) consists of the second of the two plastics.
8. Austragkopf (1 10) nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche oder nach dem Oberbegriff von Anspruch 1 , dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass 8. discharge head (1 10) according to any one of the preceding claims or according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that
ein einstückiges Bauteil (80, 92) vorgesehen ist, welches als Spritzgussteil aus zwei Kunstoffen unterschiedlicher Eigenschaften hergestellt ist, wobei dieses Bauteil (80, 92)  a one-piece component (80, 92) is provided, which is produced as an injection molded part from two plastics of different properties, wherein this component (80, 92)
die Betätigungshandhabe (80) und/oder einen Kolben (82, 86) der Fördereinrichtung einerseits und  the actuating handle (80) and / or a piston (82, 86) of the conveyor on the one hand and
eine zwischen der Betätigungshandhabe (80) und/oder dem Kolben (82, 86) einerseits und dem Gehäuse (20) andererseits als Rückstellfeder wirkenden Feder (92) bildet, und wobei mindestens eine Führungsfläche (82, 84) der Betätigungshandhabe (80) zur Führung der Betätigungshandhabe (80) gegenüber dem Gehäuse (20) und/oder mindestens eine Gleitdichtungsfläche (82) des Kolbens (82, 86) zur Abdichtung der Pumpkammer (26) aus einem ersten der beiden Kunststoffe und die Feder (92) aus einem zweiten der beiden Kunststoffe gefertigt ist.  a spring (92) which acts as a return spring between the actuating handle (80) and / or the piston (82, 86) on the one hand and the housing (20), and at least one guide surface (82, 84) of the actuating handle (80) Guide the actuating handle (80) relative to the housing (20) and / or at least one Gleitdichtungsfläche (82) of the piston (82, 86) for sealing the pumping chamber (26) of a first of the two plastics and the spring (92) of a second the two plastics is made.
9. Austragkopf (1 10) nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass 9. discharge head (1 10) according to claim 8, characterized in that
eine zur unmittelbaren Berührung vorgesehene Außenfläche (88) der Betätigungshandhabe (80) aus dem zweiten der beiden Kunststoffe besteht.  an outer surface (88) of the actuating handle (80) provided for immediate contact consists of the second of the two plastics.
Spender mit Austragkopf (10; 1 10; 210) und einem Reservoir (8) zur Aufnahme eines flüssigen oder pastösen Mediums vor dem Austrag, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Austrag köpf (10; 1 10; 210) nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche ausgebildet ist. Dispenser with discharge head (10; 1 10; 210) and a reservoir (8) for receiving a liquid or pasty medium before discharge, characterized in that the discharge head (10; 1 10; 210) according to one of the preceding claims is formed ,
EP13739421.9A 2012-08-20 2013-07-18 Applicator head for a dispenser, as well as a dispenser comprising such an applicator head Active EP2885084B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102012214789.6A DE102012214789A1 (en) 2012-08-20 2012-08-20 Dispensing head for a dispenser and a dispenser with such a discharge head
PCT/EP2013/065178 WO2014029568A1 (en) 2012-08-20 2013-07-18 Applicator head for a dispenser, as well as a dispenser comprising such an applicator head

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2885084A1 true EP2885084A1 (en) 2015-06-24
EP2885084B1 EP2885084B1 (en) 2020-12-02

Family

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP13739421.9A Active EP2885084B1 (en) 2012-08-20 2013-07-18 Applicator head for a dispenser, as well as a dispenser comprising such an applicator head

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US9468941B2 (en)
EP (1) EP2885084B1 (en)
KR (1) KR102164249B1 (en)
CN (1) CN104684654B (en)
DE (1) DE102012214789A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2014029568A1 (en)

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RU2018114870A (en) * 2015-09-25 2019-10-25 Эссити Хайджин Энд Хелт Актиеболаг PUMP WITH COMBINED SPRING AND VALVE DEVICE
KR20190061248A (en) * 2017-11-27 2019-06-05 서의석 Home pump dispenser
JP2022535154A (en) 2019-07-18 2022-08-04 ジェーベー デヴェロップメント fluid distribution device
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US9468941B2 (en) 2016-10-18
WO2014029568A1 (en) 2014-02-27
EP2885084B1 (en) 2020-12-02
DE102012214789A1 (en) 2014-05-22
KR20150043362A (en) 2015-04-22
US20150202644A1 (en) 2015-07-23
CN104684654A (en) 2015-06-03
KR102164249B1 (en) 2020-10-12
CN104684654B (en) 2017-08-15

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