FR3102940A1 - Device for dispensing a product, comprising a pump - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (10) for dispensing a product, which comprises: • a pump (40) provided with a dispensing head comprising a pump body (30) configured to be mounted fixed on a reservoir (50) for storing the product to distribute. The pump (40) comprises at least one air passage (60) from the exterior to the interior of the reservoir (50) and passes through at least one air passage orifice (80) closed off by a so-called purification device. air (70), permeable to air, arranged on a peripheral surface of the pump body (30), • a reinforcing casing (20) of the air purification member (70) covering the air purification unit (70). Figure for abstract: figure 1

Description

Device for dispensing a product, comprising a pump

The invention relates to the technical field of the distribution of liquid, semi-liquid or even viscous products, in particular in the medical field, more particularly a device for the distribution of a product by spraying. This device more specifically comprises a pump, making it possible to suck up and dispense a product contained in a reservoir. The device can be used in particular for nasal sprays.

Already known in the state of the art, in particular from document EP3074142, is a device for delivering a product by spraying. This device comprises a reservoir for storing the liquid to be dispensed and a pump. The pump comprises a pump body fixedly mounted on the reservoir and the pump body comprises an orifice for the passage of air from the exterior to the interior of the reservoir. The device also comprises an air passage from the exterior to the interior of the reservoir, passing through the air passage orifice, the air passage being closed off by a member made of polymer material permeable to air and non-porous.

Such a device makes it possible to compensate for the air depression that appears during the delivery of the product thanks to the passage of purified air through the air-permeable membrane. Thus, the use of preservatives is avoided to ensure the sterility of the product contained in the reservoir.

It turns out that the polymer material used to make this breathable organ is relatively flexible. However, if the new machines can be provided for handling such a flexible member, it is not the same for the existing assembly machines used hitherto for the assembly of devices such as that described in the document EP3074142.

The aim of the invention is in particular to provide a device for dispensing a product provided with an easy-to-handle air purification member for any type of assembly machine.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a device for dispensing a product, characterized in that it comprises:

• a pump comprising a dispensing head and a pump body configured to be fixedly mounted on a reservoir for storing the product to be dispensed, the pump comprising at least one air passage from the outside to the inside of the reservoir, passing through at least one air passage orifice, the air passage orifice being closed off by a so-called air purification member, permeable to air, arranged on a peripheral surface of the pump body,

• an air purification component reinforcement casing covering the air purification component.

Thus, a reinforcement envelope for the air purification member is proposed, which is generally made of flexible material, which makes it possible to ensure the assembly of the device with assembly lines not provided for the manipulation of parts. in flexible material.

It is understood that the air purification member can comprise or consist of a porous filter or else of a non-porous air diffusion membrane, for example a membrane comprising silicone.

In the present description, the term "distal part" of an element designates a part configured to be oriented towards the bottom of the reservoir when the dispensing device is assembled to the reservoir, by "proximal part" a part configured to be oriented on the side opposite the bottom of the reservoir and by "axial" the direction between the distal part and the proximal part.

Following other optional features of the product delivery device, taken alone or in combination:

- The reinforcement casing comprises spacing ribs on its internal surface, imposing between the spacing ribs a space between the reinforcement casing and the air purification device. These spacing ribs thus ensure the circulation of air in the vicinity of the purification member and also limit any swelling or any deformation of the air purification member, likely to generate air leaks around of the air purification unit.

In other words, it is understood that there remains a space between the outer face of the air purification member and the inner face of the reinforcement casing once the reinforcement casing has been put in place in its final position.

- The means for fixing the reinforcing casing to the pump comprise means for fixing, for example by clamping, snap-fastening, gluing or screwing, an internal surface of the reinforcing casing on a part of the pump body not covered by the air purification member, preferably on a distal part of the pump body, configured to be oriented towards the bottom of the reservoir. Such fastening means simplify manufacture and assembly. In particular in the case of tightening or snap-fastening, the fixing requires no addition of material, no tools, and no manipulation other than the simple positioning of the reinforcement casing on the pump.

- A proximal end of the reinforcement envelope, configured to be in an opposite direction with respect to the bottom of the reservoir, has a chamfered or rounded interior edge. Such an edge makes it possible to limit damage to the air-permeable member in the event of contact with the reinforcement casing.

- A clearance is provided between a proximal end of the reinforcement casing, configured to be in an opposite direction with respect to the bottom of the tank, and the air purification member. This makes it possible to avoid contact between the air purification member and the reinforcement casing, and therefore to avoid any damage to the air purification member and/or to allow the circulation of air. 'air.

- The reinforcement envelope comprises at least one opening chosen from the group comprising at least one lateral opening or an axial opening arranged at at least one of the ends of the reinforcement envelope. This makes it possible to improve the circulation of air, or even of liquid, in the vicinity of the purification device. The term "opening" herein means a through opening, crossing the surface of the reinforcing shell. It will be noted that it is particularly advantageous to be able to release the circulation of liquid between the reinforcement casing and the air purification unit because this makes it possible to reduce the volume occupied by the pump in the tank, therefore to limit the overflow when inserting the pump into the tank.

- The reinforcement casing comprises a distal end forming a stop with a distal end of the pump body, the distal lower ends corresponding to the ends configured to be oriented towards the bottom of the reservoir. This makes it easy to ensure axial positioning of the reinforcement casing with respect to the pump body. Thus, a positioning force determined as adequate to obtain the tightening makes it possible, when the reinforcing casing can no longer move in translation on the pump, to know that the reinforcing casing has reached its adequate position. By adequate position, we mean the positioning which makes it possible to ensure that the retention of the reinforcing envelope is sufficient so as not to come off during transport and handling of the dispensing device, while possibly leaving a clearance between one end proximal reinforcement envelope and the air purification organ.

- The reinforcement envelope comprises a distal surface of a shape complementary to at least one distal part of the pump body so that the distal surface of the reinforcement envelope is flush with the distal surface of the pump body. The distal parts correspond to the parts configured to be oriented towards the bottom of the reservoir, the distal internal surface of the reinforcing casing is preferably provided with a shape complementary to a chamfered or rounded shape of the distal part of the pump body . Thanks to said flush, the assembly of the reinforcement casing on the pump body is facilitated, because the assembly force of the reinforcement casing can be transmitted uniformly on the pump body and therefore facilitate assembly on the rest of the pump, simply by pressing on the distal end of the reinforcement envelope while maintaining the rest of the pump in a fixed position.

- The reinforcement envelope comprises a distal end whose periphery has a chamfered or rounded edge, the distal end of the reinforcement envelope corresponding to the end configured to be oriented towards the bottom of the reservoir. This facilitates the insertion of the pump, equipped with the reinforcement casing, through the neck of the tank.

- The air purification member comprises a porous filter or an air diffusion membrane, for example a membrane comprising silicone.

The term "air diffusion membrane" preferably means a membrane made of air-permeable polymer material, this material being non-porous. By "non-porous" material is meant a solid material, without holes, blocking the passage of particles such as bacteria, for example the bacterium Brevundimonas diminuta having a size of the order of 0.2 micrometers. This non-porous material is different from a porous filter. Indeed, the proposed non-porous material is composed of a polymer used in its raw form, having undergone for example a simple injection or compression, whereas a porous material such as that of a porous filter is composed of a polymer having also undergone steps for generating pores or interstices, such as stretching on the material or addition of a chemical solvent to the polymer. The non-porous material is liquid-tight and does not allow particles such as dust or microorganisms to pass through. On the other hand, this material is permeable to air, due to the fact that it allows elements of the size of a molecule to pass through. In other words, the nonporous material has a gas permeability that allows air molecules to pass through, through a cross-linked network of long, tangled molecular chains. It will be noted that, because the material is non-porous, the passage of air through the air-permeable member is a process which takes several minutes or even several hours, and not a few seconds, as is the case for a porous filter. Thus, it is easier to check by short-term tests the absence of leakage from the device in the case of a non-porous filter.

- The reinforcing envelope has a substantially tubular shape covering the air purification member, which preferably also has a substantially tubular shape.

The invention also relates to a method for assembling a dispensing device as presented above, during which the air purification member is firstly assembled on the pump body, then the reinforcement casing is fitted over the air purification unit. A dispensing device is thus obtained in the form of a single module to be attached to a reservoir neck.

Brief description of figures

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description given solely by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial front and cross-sectional view of a dispensing device 10 according to one embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2a is a perspective view from above of the reinforcing casing 20 according to a first embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2b is a perspective view from above of the reinforcing casing 20 according to a second embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2c is a perspective view from above of the reinforcing casing 20 according to a third embodiment of the invention,

Figure 3 is a top view of the reinforcing casing 20 according to the first embodiment of the invention,

Figure 4 is a front view of the pump 40 alone according to one embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the pump 40 alone from above from the top of the support 220 of the embodiment of Fig. 1.

FIG. 6 is a side view (on the left) and in section (on the right) of the reinforcement casing 20 and of the air purification member 70 coupled according to one embodiment of the invention.

detailed description

There is shown in Figures 1, 2a, 4 and 5 according to a first embodiment of the invention a dispensing device 10 of a product.

The dispensing device 10 comprises a pump 40 comprising a pump body 30 (FIG. 1) configured to be fixedly mounted on a reservoir 50 and a dispensing head 45 (FIG. 4) mounted to move relative to the pump body 30 so as to enable product distribution.

The pump body 30 comprises an air passage orifice 80 (FIG. 1) closed off by a so-called air purification member 70, permeable to air. A reinforcing casing 20 of the air purification member 70 is held in position around the air purification member 70.

As can be seen in Figure 1, the reinforcing casing 20 is mounted on the pump body 30 by means of clamping an inner surface of the reinforcing casing 20 on a part of the pump body 30 not covered by the air purification member 70, more precisely on a distal part 35 (FIG. 3) of the pump body 30. The reinforcing casing 20 thus covers the air purification member 70. Furthermore, the reinforcing casing 20 comprises a distal surface 25 of a shape complementary to the distal part 35 of the pump body 30, so that the distal surface 25 of the reinforcing casing 20 is flush with the distal surface 35 of the pump body 30. More specifically, the pump body 30 comprises a distal end in the form of a chamfer 37, and the distal internal surface of the reinforcing casing 20 is provided with a shape complementary to this chamfered shape 37. Alternatively, shape 37 could be rounded. The arrangement of these elements makes it possible to fix the pump 40 on the tank 50 while keeping an air circuit 60 free (arrow in FIG. 1) between the outside of the pump 40 and an air purification device. 70 which in this example is permeable to air and which surrounds the pump body 30, with the exception of the distal part 35 of the pump body 30. This air purification member 70 is arranged in contact around the pump body 30 and the pump body 30 comprises at least one air passage orifice 80. The air purification member 70 flares out at the junction between the pump 40 and the reservoir 50 of so that the exterior face of the air purifier member 70 is in contact with the rim of the orifice of the reservoir 50, that the interior face of the air purifier member 70 is in contact with the sealing element 90 of the pump 40, and that these two contacts are maintained by the pressure exerted by the fixing collar 100. The air passage orifice 80 is closed off by the air purification member 70.

The air purifying member 70 is substantially tubular in shape, of substantially similar size and general shape to those of the reinforcement envelope 20 which has a substantially tubular shape and covers the air purifying member 70 without being in contact with said air purification member 70 over its entire surface thanks to a slightly larger circumference. Thus, the air purification member 70 has for example a diameter of approximately 10 mm over a length of approximately 18 mm. Indeed, a spacing of about 1 mm is provided between the outer surface of the air purification member 70 and the inner surface of the reinforcing casing 20. Furthermore, the reinforcing casing 20 comprises ribs spacer 110 on its inner surface, imposing between the spacer ribs 110 a space between the reinforcing casing 20 and the air purification member 70. The spacer ribs 110 have a thickness of approximately 0.5mm. This arrangement makes it possible to create a space between the reinforcing casing 20 and the air purification member 70, this space allowing air to pass through the surface of the air purification member 70 which is not in contact with the reinforcement envelope 20. Thanks to the spacer ribs 110 and the circumference of the reinforcement envelope 20 slightly larger than that of the air purification member 70 a once in place on the pump body 30, a large part of the surface of the air purification member 70 allows the passage of air in the event of a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the tank 50. The air purification member 70 is positioned on a peripheral surface of the pump body 30, excluding the distal part 35 of the pump body 30. Indeed, like the distal part 35 of the pump body pump 30 is intended to be covered by clamping by the reinforcing casing 20, this surface of the pump body 30 cannot be used to allow air to pass between the outside and the inside of the tank 50. At the level of a proximal end 26 of the reinforcing casing 20, the inner edge of the reinforcing casing 20 has a chamfer and, once the reinforcing casing 20 is in its final position and held by tightening on the pump body 30, there remains an axial clearance, i.e. an empty space of approximately one millimeter, between the proximal end 26 of the reinforcing casing 20 and the air purification member 70.

Other parts of the pump 40 are shown in Figure 1, which are useful for the proper operation of the pump 40. The following elements can thus be seen in Figure 1: a dip tube 200, a supply channel 210, a support 220, a non-return membrane 230, a metering chamber 240, a first cylinder 250 forming part of the part of the pump 40 mounted to move relative to the pump body 30, as well as a second cylinder 260 and a means reminder 270.

Figures 2b and 2c show alternative embodiments of the reinforcement envelope 20, which can be combined for the purpose of improving air circulation. There is shown in Figure 2b a reinforcement envelope 21 alone before assembly and which comprises longitudinal through side openings 280 and parallel to each other by about 2 mm, each spaced 5 mm distributed over the circumference of the reinforcement envelope 21 Figure 2c shows another alternative reinforcing casing 22 which comprises through axial openings 290 in the form of notches at both ends of the reinforcing casing 22.

FIG. 3 shows a single reinforcing envelope 20 seen from above which comprises 16 spacing ribs 110 1 mm thick arranged radially and with regular spacing and whose distal part 35 has a circular chamfer shape which leaves free a central hole 300 of the reinforcement casing 20 suitable for passing a dip tube 200.

Figure 4 shows a pump 40 assembled with the reinforcement casing. The distal end 25 of the reinforcement casing 20 has a chamfer and is perforated in order to allow the dip tube 200 to pass. The flared part of the air purification member 70 is located just below the sealing element 90 of pump 40 and is intended to be compressed between reservoir 50, not shown in FIG. 4, and sealing element 90 of pump 40. On this sealing element 90 of pump 40, a dispensing head 45 includes a centering ring 400 which is positioned around a conduit casing 410.

Figure 5 shows a pump 40 sectional view from above from the top of the bracket 220 with the following items listed starting from the center of the pump 40 and working outward from the pump 40:

• a conduit 510
• the pump body 30
• the air purification organ 70
• reinforcement envelope 20

In another embodiment visible in Figure 6, the air purification member 70 and the reinforcing casing 20 can be coupled, being made in a single bi-material piece, for example following an overmoulding. In other words, the air purification member 70 is made in a flexible part made of an elastomeric material, for example Silopren LSR4060 (Momentive) characterized by a hardness of approximately 60 plus or minus 10 on the shore A scale. The flexible part 70 and the rigid part 20 are made of different materials, the flexible part being more elastic than the rigid part. It is understood that this embodiment is particularly advantageous for simplifying the assembly of the device.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown and other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is in particular possible to configure the shapes of the reinforcing casing 20, of the pump body 30 and of the reservoir 50 with different outer surface geometries, to implement the invention on other types of product equipped with a different pump, or which dispense a product under the effect of pressure on a flexible tank.

List of references

10: delivery device

20: reinforcement envelope

21: an alternative embodiment of the protective envelope 20

22: an alternative embodiment of the protective envelope 20

25: distal surface (protective envelope 20)

26: Proximal end of shroud 20

27: Distal end of shroud 20

28: inner edge of a proximal end 26 of the protective envelope 20

30: pump body

35: distal part of pump body 30

37: chamfered distal end of the pump body 30

40: pump

45: distribution head

50: tank

60: air passage

70: air purification organ

80: air passage hole

90: sealing element

100: mounting collar

110: spacer ribs on inner surface

200: dip tube

210: supply channel

220: support

230: Diaphragm

240: dosing chamber

250: first cylinder

260: second cylinder

270: recall medium

280: side openings

290: axial openings

300: central hole of the reinforcement envelope 20

400: centering ring

510: driven

Claims (10)

Dispensing device (10) for a product, characterized in that it comprises:
• a pump (40) comprising a dispensing head (45) and a pump body (30) configured to be fixedly mounted on a reservoir (50) for storing the product to be dispensed, the pump (40) comprising at least one air passage (60) from the exterior to the interior of the reservoir (50), passing through at least one air passage orifice (80), the air passage orifice (80) being closed off by a air-permeable so-called air purification member (70), arranged on a peripheral surface of the pump body (30),
• a reinforcing casing (20) of the air purification member (70) covering the air purification member (70). Dispensing device (10) according to the preceding claim, in which the reinforcing envelope (20) comprises spacer ribs (110) on its internal surface, imposing between the spacer ribs (110) a space between the shroud (20) and air purifier (70). Dispensing device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the means for attaching the reinforcing casing (20) to the pump (40) comprise means for attaching an internal surface of the casing reinforcement (20) on a part of the pump body (30) not covered by the air purification member (70), preferably on a distal part of the pump body (35), configured to be oriented towards the bottom of the tank (50). A dispensing device (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein a proximal end (26) of the reinforcing shroud (20), configured to face in an opposite direction relative to the bottom of the reservoir (50), has an inner edge (28) chamfered or rounded. A dispensing device (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein clearance is provided between a proximal end (26) of the backing shroud (20), configured to face in an opposite direction relative to the bottom of the tank (50), and the air purification unit (70). Dispensing device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the reinforcing envelope (20) comprises at least one opening selected from the group comprising at least one lateral opening (280), an axial opening (290) arranged at at least one of the ends of the reinforcing casing (20). Dispensing device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the reinforcing casing (20) comprises a distal end (27) forming an abutment with a distal end (37) of the pump body (30), the distal ends (27, 37) corresponding to the ends configured to face the bottom of the reservoir. Dispensing device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the reinforcing envelope (20) comprises a distal surface (25) of a shape complementary to at least a distal part (35) of the pump body (30 ) so that the distal surface (25) of the reinforcement casing (20) is flush with the distal surface (35) of the pump body (30), the distal surface and part (25, 35) corresponding to the parts configured to be oriented towards the bottom of the reservoir (50), the distal internal surface of the reinforcement envelope (20) being preferably provided with a shape complementary to a chamfered or rounded shape of the distal part (35) of the pump body (30). A dispensing device (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the air purifying member (70) comprises a porous filter or an air diffusion membrane, for example a membrane comprising silicone . Method of assembling a dispensing device according to any one of the preceding claims, during which the air purification member (70) is firstly assembled on the pump body (30), then the reinforcing casing (20) is fitted over the air purification member (70).