FR2851484A1 - Fluid product distributor for use in e.g. perfumery field, has output channel connecting supply pipe output to distribution orifice of perforated vibrant plate, and spring section soliciting valve unit in blocking position - Google Patents

Abstract

The distributor has a valve to block a fluid product supply pipe with a valve unit movable between blocking and passing positions. An output channel (32) formed by a mantle connects an output of a supply pipe (12) to a distribution orifice of a perforated vibrant plate. The mantle has a return spring section soliciting the valve unit in the blocking position so that the valve unit stops waterproof against a valve seat. The fixed valve seat is formed at an outlet of the supply pipe.

Description

The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser

  comprising a fluid reservoir, at least one dispensing orifice through which the fluid is dispensed, a fluid supply conduit connecting the reservoir to the dispensing orifice, a valve for selectively closing the conduit supply and actuation means for moving the valve between a closed position and a position allowing passage. Such a dispenser can in particular be used in the fields of perfumery, cosmetics or even pharmacy.

  The present invention applies more particularly to dispensers 10 provided with a vibrating plate generating vibrations in the fluid product for dispensing it through the dispensing orifice (s). To vibrate this vibrating plate, vibration means are generally provided in the form of a piezoelectric element or also of an ultrasonic resonant element. However, the present invention is not limited to this particular type of vibrating plate dispenser. Indeed, it can be applied to other types of dispenser without a vibrating plate.

  In this particular type of vibrating plate dispenser, document FR 2 820 408 is known, which describes a dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir, a vibrating perforated plate dispensing member, a supply conduit 20 connecting the reservoir to the vibrating plate as well as an inlet valve able to open and cut the passage formed by the supply duct. The valve comprises a metal ball urged by a metal spiral spring on a valve seat formed inside the supply duct. To disengage the ball from its seat, electromagnetic means are provided making it possible to attract the ball away from its seat. The ball moves axially inside the duct and the actuation means are electrically controlled.

  The present invention provides an alternative solution to the metal ball intake valve biased by a metal spring.

  According to one embodiment of the invention, the fluid dispenser comprises a fluid reservoir, at least one dispensing orifice through which the fluid is dispensed, a fluid supply conduit from the reservoir to the dispensing orifice, said conduit comprising an inlet and an outlet, a valve for selectively closing the supply conduit, said valve comprising a movable valve member movable between a closed position and a passage position, the member of movable valve being translatable movable along a valve axis, the movable valve member coming into leaktight abutment against a fixed valve seat formed at the outlet of the supply duct, in the closed position, and remaining distant from said seat in passage position, the dispenser further comprising an outlet channel formed by a sleeve connecting the outlet of the conduit to the dispensing orifice, said ma nchon comprising an elastically deformable section, said movable valve member being located inside said channel, said elastically deformable section urging the movable valve member in the closed position.

  Thus, the movable valve member is displaceable by deforming the sleeve elastically, which advantageously has a shape memory which urges it towards a state of least stress, here corresponding to the closed position. The movable valve member and the sleeve are preferably made in one piece.

  According to one aspect of the invention, said sleeve comprises a connection end mounted on the duct and a movable distribution end forming receiving means for an element of porous material urged away from said at least one distribution orifice by the elastic section deformable.

  Advantageously, the dispenser further comprises actuating means for moving the movable valve member towards its obstructed position, said actuating means being electromagnetic means.

  According to a practical embodiment, the actuating means 30 comprise a fixed element and a movable element pushed away from the fixed element when supplied with current, said movable element being integral in displacement with the outlet channel.

  Advantageously, which the fixed element is integral in displacement with the connection end and the movable element is integral in displacement with the dispensing end.

  Advantageously, the movable valve member is integral in displacement with the dispensing end.

  According to another aspect of the invention, the sleeve is formed by a support piece further comprising an elastically deformable membrane having an outer peripheral edge fixedly held, said membrane ensuring a translational axial movement of the movable member and the Advantageously, element of porous material, in which the support part is produced in a single piece.

  Advantageously, in which the sleeve comprises a substantially rigid section disposed between the dispensing end and the elastically deformable section.

  Advantageously, the movable valve member is integral in displacement with the rigid section.

  Advantageously, the support part comprises an elastically deformable membrane having an external peripheral edge fixedly held, said membrane ensuring a translational axial displacement of the movable member and of the element of porous material. Thus, the support piece can be produced in a single piece by integrating the movable member, spring means, the outlet channel, the support for the element of porous material, as well as the elastically deformable membrane.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the dispenser comprises a vibrating plate generating vibrations in the fluid product, said plate being advantageously driven in vibration by a piezoelectric element. Advantageously, said at least one dispensing orifice is formed through the vibrating plate. The use of such an inlet valve is particularly advantageous in the case where the dispenser comprises a vibrating plate advantageously perforated for dispensing the fluid product in sprayed form.

  This avoids any risk of fluid leaking when the dispenser is not in operation.

  The principle of displacement of the element of porous material in contact and away from the dispensing orifice (s) can be implemented independently, that is to say with or without the presence of a check valve. admission, and with any means of actuation. In other words, the movement of the porous material element can be protected per se. The deformable sleeve, with or without a valve, constitutes a nonlimiting mode of movement and the electromagnetic actuation means constitute a nonlimiting actuation mode.

  The invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings which give by way of nonlimiting example an embodiment of the invention.

  In the figures: FIG. 1 is an overall cross-section view of a fluid dispenser according to the invention, FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged vertical cross-section view of the dispensing part of a dispenser of fluid according to the invention in the rest position, and Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2 in the use position.

  The fluid dispenser according to the invention shown in Figure 25 1 comprises a fluid reservoir 1 comprising a bottom or bottom wall 13 and an upper dome-shaped wall 11 defining between them the useful volume of the reservoir. Of course, the particular shape of the reservoir should not be considered as limiting, so that the reservoir can have any shape without departing from the scope of the invention. The upper wall 1 1 of the tank is also provided with an actuating button 8 which is an electrical contact button as will be seen below. In addition, a venting passage can be formed at the level of the upper wall 11 under the actuation button 8.

  The dispenser also comprises a bottom shell 5 on which the reservoir 1 is mounted so as to define several compartments between the bottom wall 5 and the bottom shell 5. The bottom shell 5 comprises a substantially flat bottom wall 50 which serves support surface on which the dispenser rests when placed on a substantially flat surface. The bottom shell 5 also includes a peripheral edge 51 on which the tank 1 is fixed. Among the compartments defined between the bottom wall 13 and the bottom shell 5, there is a compartment containing control electronics 7 for controlling the dispenser. In a neighboring compartment, there are two batteries 71 to power the dispenser. In its right part in FIG. 1, the dispenser also forms a supply conduit 12 which leaves from the reservoir 1 so as to supply fluid product to a complex dispensing member which makes it possible to dispense fluid product outside the dispenser. This dispensing member is disposed between the outlet of the conduit 12 and a window 52 formed in the edge 51 of the bottom shell 5. This complex dispensing member is shown in greatly enlarged form in FIGS. 2 and 3, which represent this member dispensing in the rest position and in use. Reference is therefore made to these Figures 2 and 3 to describe in detail the structure and operation of the complex dispensing member according to the invention.

  The complex dispensing member in this non-limiting embodiment of the invention comprises a vibrating plate 2 which here is advantageously perforated with several dispensing orifices 22. The dispensing orifices 22 can for example be arranged in the form of a network comprising rows and columns of distribution orifices. The vibrating plate, which may have a certain flexibility, can be associated with a vibration generating element such as a piezoelectric element or a very high frequency resonant element such as an ultrasonic element.

  However, preferably the vibrating plate can consist of a piezoelectric layer associated with a non-piezoelectric layer so that the plate thus formed will undergo flexural deformation when supplied with a given current and frequency. The plate 2 is held at its peripheral edge 21 fixedly against the edge 51 of the bottom shell 5. 5 Thus, when adequately supplied with current, voltage and frequency, the vibrating plate will start to vibrate by a phenomenon of bending deformation which has the effect of ejecting fine droplets of fluid product through the network of distribution orifices 22. Of course, for this it is necessary that fluid product from the reservoir 1 or 10 supplied on the rear face of the vibrating plate 2, that is to say the face facing the interior of the dispenser. The front face facing the outside of the dispenser is located in the window 52 formed by the bottom shell 5.

  To send fluid to the rear face of the vibrating plate 2, the outlet end 121 of the supply conduit 12 communicates with the rear face of the vibrating plate 2 via an outlet channel 32 which connects the conduit 12 to the plate 2. This outlet channel 32 is formed by a sleeve 33 which is an integral part of a support piece 3. More specifically, the outlet end 121 of the supply conduit 12 is in engaged in a ring 6 which is engaged at its external peripheral edge 63 20 with the edge 51 of the bottom shell 5. The ring 6 forms a nozzle 62 inside which the end 121 of the conduit 12 is in waterproof plug. On the other hand, this endpiece 62 forms an intake valve seat 61 which is located just after the end 121 of the duct 12. The sleeve 33 forms a sealed fixing collar 341 engaged around the endpiece 62 of the ring 6. This collar 341 forms an upstream connection end of the sleeve 33 internally defining the outlet channel 32. Beyond this collar, the sleeve 33 forms an elastically deformable section 34 which however has a shape memory so as to be able to provide a return spring function. Beyond this section of return spring 34, the sleeve 33 forms a more rigid part 37 and therefore is substantially non-deformable inside which is formed a needle 31 which acts as a movable valve member intended to selectively come into tight bearing contact on the valve seat 61 formed by the ring 6. In FIG. 2, the needle 34 is away from the seat 61, while in FIG. 3, the needle is in tight contact on its seat 61. According to the invention, the return spring section 34 urges the needle 31 towards and onto the seat 61 so as to close the passage for the fluid product at the outlet of the conduit 12. This position corresponds to the position of rest or storage of the dispensing member. The needle 34, which acts as a movable valve member, occupies part of the section of the sleeve 33, so that an annular passage is formed around the needle 34 in the sleeve 33 to allow the fluid product from the conduit 10 12 to pass beyond the needle 34 towards the vibrating plate 2.

  The sleeve 33 also forms a fixing housing 35 for an element of porous material 30. This fixing housing 35 is formed at the downstream end of the sleeve 33. The element of porous material 30 fixedly received in the housing 35 blocks the outlet. of the channel 32, so that the fluid 15 coming from the conduit 12 and passing around the needle 34 is forced to penetrate inside the element of porous material 30. In this way, the element of porous material 30 will soak up or soak in fluid. Preferably, the porous material element 30 has capillary absorption properties.

  The element of porous material 30 is biased away from the rear face of the vibrating plate 2, at the level where the distribution orifices are formed, by the section of return spring 34 formed by the support part 3. Consequently , this section of return spring 34 urges both the needle 34 towards its seat 61 and the piece of porous material 30 away from the perforated vibrating plate 2.

  The support piece 3 also forms a corollary membrane 36 which extends from the fixing housing 35 radially outwards and forms at its external periphery a fixing cord 361 engaged between the ring 6 and the peripheral edge 21 of the vibrating plate 2. More precisely, the fixing edge 63 of the ring 6 pushes the cord 361 in contact pressed against the periphery 21 of the vibrating plate 2. The membrane 36 can have an elastic return function to assist the return section 34. However, the membrane 36 has mainly a function of guiding or holding in the axis of the sleeve 33, so that the element of porous material 30 always comes into contact with the vibrating plate 2 in the same place and can move along an axis of movement perpendicular to the plane of the plate 2. This axis of movement of the piece of porous material 30 is coincident with the axis of movement of the needle 31. This axial displacement trans The sleeve 33 is allowed because of the elastic deformation characteristics of the section 34 and of the membrane 36. However, the sleeve 33 is held at its two ends, namely at the level of the collar 341 and of the cord 361.

  We have just seen that the support piece 3 which supports both the movable valve member, namely the needle 34, and the piece of porous material 30 is capable of moving axially translatively along an axis of perpendicular movement. in the plane of the vibrating plate 2.

  The complex dispensing member according to the invention also comprises actuating means which make it possible to move the sleeve 33 between a first starting position (FIG. 2) in which the element of porous material 30 is away from the vibrating plate and the needle 34 in leaktight support on the seat 61 and a second final position (FIG. 3) in which the needle 34 is away from the seat 61 and the piece of porous material 30 in contact with the rear face of the vibrating plate 2. These actuation means are electromagnetic actuation means. The actuation means comprise a fixed element 41 fixed to the ring 6 and therefore integral with the conduit 12 and the connection end of the sleeve 33. The actuation means also comprise a movable element 42 fixed to the part or rigid section 25 37 of the sleeve 33. When the actuating means are supplied with current, a repulsive force is created between the fixed and mobile elements which has the effect of displacing the mobile element away from the fixed element. Of course, the displacement of the movable element has the consequence of displacing the rigid section 37, the housing 35, the needle 31 and the element of porous material 30 30 away from the valve seat 61 and towards the plate 2. The element of porous material will then be pressed against the rear face of the plate and the needle will break its contact with its seat to free a passage at the outlet of the conduit 12.

  The mobile element can be a ferromagnetic element and the mobile element an electromagnet, or vice versa.

  The two elements can also be electromagnets.

  An elastically deformable sleeve connecting the outlet of the supply duct to the distribution openings may comprise a valve which acts elsewhere than at the outlet of the duct, for example at the distribution openings, in place of or in addition to the porous material element 10.

  The sleeve can be an integral part of the conduit.

  The valve seat can be formed by the sleeve or the support piece.

  Thanks to the invention, it is ensured that the fluid dispenser cannot leak at the outlet of its supply duct 12.

Claims (13)

claims   1.- Fluid product dispenser comprising: - a fluid product reservoir (1), - at least one dispensing orifice through which the fluid product is distributed, - a fluid product supply duct (12) starting from the reservoir (1) towards the dispensing orifice, said conduit comprising an inlet and an outlet, - a valve (34, 61) for selectively closing the supply conduit, said valve comprising a movable valve member (34) movable between a io closed position and a passage position, the movable valve member being translatable movable along a valve axis, the movable valve member (34) abutting against a fixed valve seat (61) formed at the outlet of the supply duct (12), in the closed position, and remaining distant from said seat in the passage position, characterized in that it further comprises an outlet channel (32) formed by a sleeve (33) connecting the outlet of the conduit (12) to the orifice distribution ice, said sleeve comprising an elastically deformable section (34), said movable valve member being located inside said channel, said elastically deformable section urging the movable valve member in the closed position.   2. A dispenser according to claim 1, in which said sleeve comprises a connection end (341) mounted on the duct and a movable distribution end (35) forming receiving means for an element of porous material (30) stressed. away from said at least one dispensing orifice by the elastically deformable section (34).   3. A dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising actuating means (41, 42) for moving the movable valve member (31) towards its obstructed position, said actuating means being means electromagnetic.   4. Dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the actuating means comprise a fixed element (41) and a movable element (42) pushed away from the fixed element when supplied with current, said element mobile being integral in displacement of the outlet channel.   5. A dispenser according to claim 4, wherein the fixed element is integral in displacement of the connection end and the movable element is integral in displacement of the distribution end.   6. A dispenser according to any one of claims 2 to 4, in which the movable valve member is integral in displacement with the dispensing end.   7. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the sleeve is formed by a support piece (3) further comprising an elastically deformable membrane (36) having an outer peripheral edge (361) fixedly held, said membrane (36) ensuring axial translational movement of the movable member (31) and of the porous material element (30).   8. A dispenser according to claim 7, wherein the support part 25 is made in one piece.   9. A dispenser according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the sleeve comprises a substantially rigid section (37) disposed between the dispensing end and the elastically deformable section.   10. A dispenser according to claim 9, wherein the movable valve member is integral in displacement of the rigid section.   11. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the movable valve member and the sleeve are made in one piece.   12. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a vibrating plate (2) generating vibrations in the fluid product 1o, said plate being advantageously driven in vibration by a piezoelectric element.   13. A dispenser according to claim 12, wherein said at least one dispensing orifice (22) is formed through the vibrating plate (2).