FR2489791A1 - DISPENSING DEVICE FOR PASTY OR VISCOUS AGENTS - Google Patents

Abstract

DISPENSING DEVICE FOR PASTY OR VISCOUS AGENTS COMPRISING A TANK, A PUMP DELIMITED BY AN ELASTIC WALL PART, AS WELL AS AN OUTLET VALVE AND AN INTAKE VALVE; THE ELASTIC PUMP WALL PART 32 IS SWELLED AS A DOME OR CUP AND IS MOUNTED BY A LOCKING SYSTEM ON A COVER PART 21 PROVIDED ON THE TANK 18, THE OUTLET VALVE 34 IS A SPOUT VALVE OF WHICH LIPS 35 ARE FORMED BY THE MATERIAL OF THE ELASTIC WALL PART 32 AND WHICH IS PROVIDED ON AN OUTLET CONNECTION 14 PROJECTING IN RELATION TO THE REINFORCED SECTION OF THE PUMP WALL AND CONSTITUTED BY THE MATERIAL THEREOF.

Description

i

  Dispensing device for pasty or viscous agents.

  The invention relates to a dispensing device for pasty or viscous agents comprising a reservoir and a pump mounted on it, which is delimited by a part of the pump wall which is elastically deformable and returns automatically in place, and which comprises an outlet valve as well as a inlet valve in the form of a flap valve or elastic spout; the tank comprising a mobile wall part under

  the suction effect of the delivered agent.

  From US Patent No. 3,361,305 there is known a device of this type in which a membrane pump is mounted on a cylindrical tank which comprises an elastic membrane in the form of a flat cone on which is formed laterally an outlet fitting comprising a ball outlet valve. The admission into the pump chamber in the form of a double flat cone takes place by means of flap valves. In the cylindrical tank is guided a piston which returns back under the effect of suction

upon delivery of the agent.

  According to the German patent application published under No. 2,637,132, a diaphragm pump is known which comprises a semi-spherical diaphragm. It is tensioned by means of a massive cover part in which is arranged a valve which can be in the form of a ball valve or of a valve.

  membrane using the bottom edge of the membrane.

  The outlet fitting is formed laterally in the membrane and is opened or closed by increasing the

  periphery of the membrane during actuation.

  We also know from the German patent application published under No. 2,901,717, a dispenser for pasty products which comprises, on a cylindrical tank comprising an automatically returning piston closure, a pump which comprises a pump housing

  rigid which can move axially with respect to.

  a flap valve is mounted on the outlet and on the outlet connection, while the inlet valve is formed by an elastically loaded disc valve. The return force for the pump and simultaneously for sealing the pump chamber is provided by an elastic annular sleeve which is housed between the part of the tank cover and the part of the chamber of the

pump.

  All of these dispensing devices have the drawback that they consist partially of several constituent elements or, for example, as a result of the use of types of valves which tend to stick, are not suitable for domestic use or

  another requiring great robustness.

  The invention therefore proposes to provide a dispo-

  distributor for pasty or viscous agents which can be produced and assembled from a small number

  of simple individual elements, and that works perfectly-

  even under unfavorable conditions and in

any position.

  This problem is solved according to the invention thanks to the fact that the elastic pump wall part is swollen in the form of a dtme or a cup and is mounted by a click system on a part of the cover provided or capable of being placed on the tank, that the outlet valve is constituted by a spout valve, the lips of which are formed by the material of the elastic pump wall part and which is arranged on an outlet fitting projecting from the bulged section of

  pump wall and made of the material thereof.

  Thanks to this combination, all of the

  pump is simply made up of three elements

  tifs and despite everything we are assured of a perfect functioning and tightness. It is therefore possible to consider using the device for example in place of usual tubes, which offers the following particular advantages: thanks to a delivery with a precise dosage it cannot happen, as is common in the case of tubes, inadvertently popping out too large

  quantity. There is no inadvertent return suction.

  tance, which is particularly important in pharmacy for

  Be absolutely sure that no contamination appears.

  The operation is very simple and requires no explanation.

  cation or clarification. There is also no danger of leaks, as may be the case.

  when a tube tears while being pressed on it.

  Particularly in the case where the reservoir containing the agent is a synthetic reservoir which folds back by itself under the suction effect, for example a pleated bag or a reservoir which folds laterally, there is practically no limitation regarding the configuration of the device, so that it can be optimally designed in accordance with the requirements

technical or optical.

  The present invention will be better understood from

  using the following description of several modes of

  preferred but nonlimiting embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention;

  Figures 2 and 3 are sectional views along

  dinal of the device of Figure 1, in two working positions; Figure 4 is a sectional view of a variant; Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views of two other embodiments; and Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view

  partial view of the device in Figure 6.

  FIG. 1 represents a device 11 for delivering pasty or viscous masses which can be used for example for food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical products or similar products. It consists of a reservoir part 12 and a pump 13 mounted on it and comprising an outlet connector 14 with an outlet opening 15. The reservoir 12 is cylindrical or its section decreases slightly towards the far end of the pump, and the pump connects directly

  to the tank in the axial direction.

  In FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be seen that the reservoir part 12 comprises an external shoemaker 16 whose cross section decreases from its upper part connecting to the pump, in the direction of the bottom 17, and which, like all the other elements of the entire device is made of a synthetic material. In the outer casing 16 is arranged a reservoir 18 for the agent 19, reservoir

  in the form of a pleated bag of synthetic material

  tick and whose bottom 20 has a shape swollen inwardly to adapt to the corresponding constitution of a cover portion 21 on which are fixed all the constituent elements of the device. The reservoir 18 is fixed in leaktight manner to the cover part 21, at the

  level of a neck 22, by screwing or by a click system.

  The cover part 21 has the shape of a disc with respect to which two concentric annular ribs 23, 24 24 protrude towards the side of the pump, and in which protrudes, also concentrically, an intake valve seat 25 posing under the

  shape of a substantially spherical projection on the outside.

  The neck 22 of the tank is fixed in a leaktight manner, by means of a sealing lip, inside the seat 25 of the intake valve. The inlet opening 26 of the pump

  is in the form of a relative central opening-

  important in the intake valve seat.

  On the intake valve seat is fixed, by means of an annular flange, an intake valve 27 which is clicked in an annular groove 28 formed in the intake valve seat. It has the form of a semi-spherical cap in which, in the central part, a valve flap 30 in the form of a cap of the outlet valve 31 is insulated by a horizontal opening which does not, however, pass completely through the other side. The valve flap is dimensioned so as to completely cover the intake opening 26 and its edge rests on the semi-spherical outer surface of the intake valve seat when the valve is closed. The intake valve is supported by the annular rib 24, which forms an annular groove together with the intake valve seat in the region of the peripheral groove 28 inwardly directed, and therefore is protected against

automatic release.

  Between the annular ribs 23 and 24 is equal

  An annular groove is formed in which an elastic pump wall part 32 is fixed by means of two projecting parts directed inwards which engage in corresponding peripheral grooves of the rib 24. For locking in position after the mounting, the rib 23 can be deformed plastically inward at the places where it rests on the pump wall part 32 between the two projecting parts. This part 32 has the shape of a d8me or of a cup, with a substantially cylindrical wall section in the fixing region, and a section 3 which is elastically deformable and swollen in a substantially semi-spherical shape on which is formed, in the middle. , the outlet connector 14 extending axially which, as seen in Figure 1, has the shape of a channel

  slightly conical, with a rectangular cross-section

laire.

  Inside the outlet fitting is disposed the outlet valve 34 which is in the form of a spout valve comprising two sealing lips 35 obliquely directed towards the outlet opening and formed by the material of the pump wall 32. The triangular or blade-shaped sealing lips bear against each other on both sides. They are

  arranged in the immediate vicinity of the outlet opening 15.

  the device operates as follows.

  FIG. 2 shows the device with a reservoir which is still largely filled, immediately after actuation, at the end of the suction stroke of the pump 13. It can be seen that the pleated bag is largely unfolded and almost reaches the bottom 17 of the outdoor housing. In this position, the pleated bag is in the relaxed state and completely filled by the agent 19. The pump wall part 32 and indeed its elastic bulged section 33 has been crushed by the finger 36 of a person , by decreasing the volume of the chamber 37 of the pump formed between the pump wall part 32 and the intake valve, and, because the finger has been withdrawn in the direction of arrow 38, is in the position where it has almost returned to its original dimensions. For this purpose, the pump wall part 32 is made of a very elastic material which, however, together with the advantageous bulging shape, provides a sufficient restoring force to suck the agent, sometimes flowing very difficultly, out of the reservoir. A very advantageous material for the pump wall part 32 and the inlet valve 27 is polyurethane with the help of which these elements can be

injection molded.

  Under the suction effect exerted by this restoring force in the pump chamber, as indicated by arrow 39, the agent leaves the reservoir 18 through the intake opening 26, the valve 30 of the pressure valve. intake being raised elastically but, due to the elasticity of the material and the fact that the section connected with the rest of the intake valve is swollen, closing again as soon as the suction stroke is completed. The lips 35 of the outlet valve 34 are pressed firmly against each other under the suction effect and seal the outlet opening. Due to the fact that the outlet valve is located directly at the outlet opening and to the elastic movement of the lips 35 to remove the material outside the outlet valve, bonding of the outlet valve

are not to be feared.

  Figure 3 shows the following delivery stroke. The finger 36 now presses in the direction of the arrow 40 one side of the elastic pump wall part 32, which reduces the volume of the chamber 37 of the pump and, under the effect of the resulting pressure, opens the lips 35 of outlet valve 34, so that agent 19 comes out of

  the outlet opening 15. The valve 30 of the inlet valve

  sion is then sealed.

  In Figure 3 the tank is shown

  as having already been largely emptied, which is not natural-

  the case only after many delivery strokes.

  We see that the pleated bag is folded back on itself and that thanks to the shape of its bottom corresponding to the inside of the intake valve seat there is hardly any agent remaining in the empty reservoir. It will be noted in this regard that thanks to the bulge of the inlet valve in the pump chamber and to the correspondence of its shape with the cup shape of the pump wall part, the volume inside the pump is kept low. The volume of the

  pump chamber can, depending on the deformation deter-

  mined during the backflow, be still significantly weaker

  than that shown in the drawing for reasons of clarity.

  The agent in the pump chamber is however not lost for use but even represents a desirable reserve in certain cases which can for example still be expelled by pressing on the pump chamber from several sides. Consequently, the user realizes in good time that the tank itself

is empty.

  In the embodiment of Figure 4, the tank 1ia simultaneously constitutes the outer housing

  and has a cylindrical shape of circular section.

  Inside is mounted a piston 44, with sealing lips, the bottom 20a of which is adapted to the internal shape of the seat 25a of the intake valve and consequently comprises on a cylindrical projecting part a semi-spherical projecting part. facing the pump side. This is to keep as few agents as possible

in the empty tank.

  In this embodiment, the intake valve seat and the corresponding cover portion are in one piece with the reservoir 18a. Also in this embodiment, two annular ribs 23a, 24a are provided which are used for fixing the semi-spherical inlet valve 27a and the pump wall part 32a.

  as previously described.

  The inlet valve 27a differs from that of FIGS. 2 and 3 in that in the center of the semi-spherically swollen elastic part is formed a cross cut which defines in the central region four triangular tongues 3a which can be lifted from the way indicated in dotted lines during the suction process and thereby release the opening 26a of the seat 25a spherical from the seat intake valve which enters the chamber of the pump. Note that either the opening 26a is small enough to prevent the tabs from passing from the side of the reservoir during the compression stroke, or

  the opening is provided with corresponding support strips.

  The bulge of the tongues 30a serves of course to prevent them from bending downwards, on the one hand because they have a greater rigidity in this direction and on the other hand they reinforce each other in the manner of a vault by leaning one against the other. The pump wall part 32a is also constituted by an elastic material having good return characteristics, has the shape of a dome or a cup, and has an outlet connector 14â which

  however in this case enters the pump chamber.

  The outlet valve 34a, comprising sealing lips, is made in one piece by the material of the

  part of the pump wall is provided on this fitting.

  There is provided a closure cap 45 which is placed on the reservoir 18a in a corresponding housing 46 and which covers the entire pump part 13a. An inner lug 47 of the closure cap 45 engages in the outlet opening 15a of the outlet connector 14a and serves to ensure that this opening is always free when the cap is removed. This embodiment can be used

  for particularly easily drying agents.

  The operating mode is similar to that of the device in FIGS. 1 to 3. Instead of folding the pleated bag, in this case the piston moves upwards in the reservoir 18a under the effect of suction of the agent which leaves . However, there is no need for any downward locking as it is always held in position by this suction effect. The lower section of the reservoir 18a has a widening which can serve as a stand. This embodiment has the advantage that the wall of the reservoir 18a is smooth on the outside and therefore does not require any external shoemaker. For this, the tank must be

  cylindrical, which limits the freedom of choice of confi

  guration and adaptation to specific housing.

  The embodiment shown in perspective in Figure 5 has the same constitution as that of Figures 1 to 3. Identical elements are designated by the same references. However, in this case the cover part 21b is extended by one side in the direction of the outlet opening 15 and its internal shape is adapted to the shape of the pump wall part with the outlet connector so that the advanced 50 constitutes a unilateral support for the pump wall part 32 and

  the outlet fitting 14. Consequently, the elastic section

  that the pump wall part is accessible only from one side to be actuated by pressure and no bending force is exerted on the fixing of the pump wall part on the cover part. In addition, it is ensured that during a strong actuation the outlet fitting does not move laterally, so that the agent is

  delivered to the place where desired.

  The projecting support section 50 has the conical shape, visible in FIG. 5, which first has a steep slope of the actuation side, then a gentler slope. We see that in this case the outer boot 16a has, in addition to its slight conical narrowing towards the bottom, a square cross section with rounded corners. This configuration is possible because the tank is in the form of a pleated bag

  which can have an arbitrary cross section.

  The embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7 corresponds to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3 with regard to the technical characteristics of the pump. In the slightly conical outer casing 16c having a square cross section with rounded corners, there is disposed a reservoir 18c constituted by a relatively thin elastic synthetic material, and having zones of folding predetermined by reinforcements and

  wall thickness losses expected alternately

  in the longitudinal direction, to fold back under the suction effect of the outgoing agent. In the simplest case the wall sections can be folded flat on top of each other, but a star folding is

also possible.

  A cover 52 is provided for the pump 13 which is either mounted with a click on the cover part, or in one piece with it. This cover extending conically forward surrounds the outlet connector 14 in the form of a flat channel, the outlet opening 15 of which however protrudes slightly beyond the cover. The cover provides support for the cup-shaped elastic pump wall portion. On one side is mounted an actuation button 53, an actuation surface 54 of which acts on the elastic wall of the pump and transmits the pressure from the finger to the pump. This round actuation button is held in an opening of the cover 52 by a shoulder 55. In this case, the elastic pump wall part is completely enclosed and the actuation is carried out in a defined manner by means of a button that must have corresponding characteristics. This increases the possibilities of choice for the configuration and when choosing the material for the elastic pump wall part does not impose any requirements with regard to color or surface condition. The operating mode is

  the same as that described with the aid of FIGS. 1 to 3.

  In each case, the device according to the invention has the advantage that it always retains the same appearance regardless of the degree of filling and that its seat is always the same or that it can be received in supports of corresponding constitution. It is particularly suitable for example to be placed, as a toothpaste reservoir, in a housing of corresponding shape of the support for an electric toothbrush. Thanks to the arrangement of the inlet valve and the outlet valve, in a relatively small volume of the pump chamber, it is ensured for example that in case of thermal expansion there is practically no agent who

  leaves the outlet channel. Although the regular spherical shape

  the part of the pump wall surrounding the pump chamber is particularly advantageous for operation, it is also possible, for example in the case of a unilateral support provided by the cover 52 according to FIG. 7 or by the advanced 50 according to FIG. 5, to give another shape to a side of the pump wall part, for example to flatten it or to modify the elasticity properties at this location by means of a shape or a

corresponding wall thickness.

  In the case of the embodiment comprising a pleated bag or an automatically folding tank 18c, the outer case can have an arbitrary shape without

  that we have to take into account a significant loss of volume.

  Thanks to the advantageous manufacturing, despite its value of

  significantly higher service, such a device distribu-

  tor is not much more expensive than a metal tube and

  can therefore be used as a disposable tank.

  It is however also possible to equip the tank

  a central screwing system and make it rechargeable.

  It is also possible in certain cases to deliver the reservoir 18 or the reservoir 18o in the form of a

  full packaging and place it in the distri-

  striker like a cartridge. In the embodiment of Figure 7, it is particularly easy to ensure an exact dosage when the button is pressed

  up to a predetermined stop.

  As goes without saying and as it already follows from the above, the invention is in no way limited to that of its modes of application, no more than to those of the embodiments of its various parts, having have been more particularly envisaged; she embraces it, at

otherwise, all variants.

Claims (13)

  1. Dispensing device for pasty or viscous agents comprising a reservoir and a pump mounted thereon, which is delimited by a portion of the pump wall which is elastically deformable and returns automatically in place and which comprises an outlet valve as well as a valve. intake in the form of a flap valve or elastic spout; the reservoir comprising a mobile wall part under the suction effect of the delivered agent, characterized in that the elastic pump wall part (32; 32a) is swollen in the shape of a cup or cup and is mounted by a click system on a cover part (21) provided or able to be placed on the tank (18, 18a, 18c), that the outlet valve (34, 34a) is constituted by a spout valve whose lips (35, 35a) are formed by the material of the elastic pump wall portion (32, 32a) and which is disposed on an outlet fitting (14) projecting from the bulged section   pump wall and made of the material thereof.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the outlet connector (14, 14a) is formed in the central region of the swollen pump wall part (32, 32a), and is preferably in the form of '' a relatively long flat fitting with a   outlet opening (15) in the form of a slot.   3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cover part (21) or respectively the part of the reservoir (18a) carrying the pump comprises a seat (25), of intake valve, penetrating into the chamber of the pump and having openings (26) between the reservoir and the chamber (37) of the pump, which is covered by an elastic intake valve (27), the intake valve and the seat having   preferably a semi-spherically swollen shape.   4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the intake valve (27, 27a) is   fixed by click on the seat (25). -   5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the intake valve (27) comprises at least one valve (30) preferably of the type of a cap or respectively a cutout (29) delimiting valves (3qa). 6. Device according to claim 5,   characterized in that the cutouts are in the form of a cross.   7. Device according to any one of   Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the pressure relief valve   outlet (34, 34a) is provided in the vicinity close to the end   mite from the outlet fitting (14, 14a) and comprises two lips (35) pressing one against the other and cooperating one with the other.   8. Device according to any one of   Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the part of   elastic pump wall (32) can be operated by a push button (53) which is guided in a cover (52)   at least partially surrounding the pump (13).   9. Device according to any one of   Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the wall portion   of elastic pump (32) can rest on one side on a housing part (50, 52), and that the housing part (50) surrounds the pump wall part (32) only one c8té so that it is freely accessible from   the other side to be operated directly by hand.   10. Device according to any one of   claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the tank   (18, 18a) containing the agent (19) consists of a pleated plastic bag which folds automatically under the suction effect and which is surrounded by a shoemaker exterior (16, 16a, 16c).   11. Device according to any one of   Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the bottom   (20, 20a) of the reservoir (18) or respectively of a piston (44) guided in the reservoir (18a) has a shape adapted from the side of the pump to the turned section (25, 25a) of his side.   12. Device according to any one of   Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the part of   pump wall (32, 32a) and / or the inlet valve (27, 27a) are mounted with snap in annular grooves, preferably concentrically arranged, of the cover part (21) or respectively of the tank (18a).   13. Device according to any one of   claims 1 to 12, characterized in that on-the-pump   (13a) can be placed a closure cap (45) which comprises a lug (47) engaging in the opening of outlet (15a).