GB2262137A

GB2262137A - Dispenser for media

Info

Publication number: GB2262137A
Application number: GB9223796A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Karl-Heinz Fuchs
Original assignee: Erich Pfeiffer GmbH
Current assignee: Aptar Radolfzell GmbH
Priority date: 1991-11-16
Filing date: 1992-11-13
Publication date: 1993-06-09
Also published as: GB9223796D0; ITMI922607A0; DE4137799A1; IT1256390B; ITMI922607A1

Abstract

In a discharge apparatus (1), a spring-loaded overpressure valve (25) encloses the outlet opening (19) and its valve body (27) forms a component of a closure cap (9) for a discharge connector (8), which carries over a pump piston (14) a cylindrical container (12) of a discharge pump (11). On engaging the medium-filled cylindrical container (12) on the pump piston (14), air can escape to the outside via the outlet channel (17) and accompanied 5 by the opening of the valve (25), the latter automatically closing again. When the cap (9) is removed for using the discharge apparatus (1), the outlet opening (19) of the valve (25) is automatically freed. The apparatus forms a one-shot dispenser for medical, cosmetic or other liquids or lotions. <IMAGE>

Description

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-1DESCRIPTION DISPENSER FOR MEDIA

The invention relates to a discharge apparatus or dispenser for media, which is in particular suitable for single-handed or merely hand-held use and e.g. more particularly for the discharge of medical, cosmetic, technical or similar substances or lotions.

The discharge apparatus advantageously has a discharge actuating means for starting up or finishing the discharge of at least one medium discharge portion and the actuating operation e.g. takes place over a single discharge stroke. The medium is conveyed out of the pressure chamber via an outlet channel to an outlet opening and from the latter into the open for direct use.

The discharge apparatus assumes different states, the outlet channel being substantially tightly closed to the outside in a ready-to-operate initial state, prior to its very first use or prior to discharging the first discharge portion. This initial state can include different production or assembly states, in which the discharge apparatus following a partial assembly or production is suitable for storage, supply or transfer to the user. In this initial state, at least the outlet channel with the outlet opening belongs to an assemblable subassembly of the discharge -2apparatus. During this initial state during assembly, storage, etc. with respect to the discharge apparatus difficulties can occur in that the pressure chamber pressure changes occur due to assembly processes, temperature fluctuations, etc., which can lead to an escape of fluid, e.g. liquid and/or air or gas through seals of the pressure chamber. If a line connection is provided for this pressure relief, it must e.g. be closed following the assembly process leading to a pressure rise and this is difficult from the manufacturing standpoint.

Some discharge apparata e.g. have a medium or fluid container, which simultaneously forms the only medium reservoir, as well as a volumevariable pump chamber, a pump cylinder, etc. and during assembly is to be engaged in the filled state on a pump piston or its volume is to be changed. The air located above the medium level then escapes from the container through the outlet channel and outlet opening into the open air, so that said outlet opening must be open throughout the entire assembly process and must not be closed with a closure formed e.g. by a cap and which is provided for the finished assembled discharge apparatus or for the equipping thereof in the ready-to-operate initial state. Thus, said closure, which is a component of the subassembly having the -3outlet opening, cannot be combined with the latter to form an assembly subassembly and is instead only fitted following the assembly of said subassembly. This leads to difficulties, e.g. with respect to storage, assembly, etc.

An object of the invention is to provide a discharge apparatus, which avoids the disadvantages of known constructions of the afore-mentioned type and which, in particular, permits a pressure relief in the case of a pressure rise or fall in the pressure chamber, if said pressure change is not intended, as during operation, for a discharge process or for the sucking of medium into the pressure chamber.

According to the invention means are provided for compensating such pressure changes in the pressure chamber, which are not linked with a discharge process and which can instead occur in the initial state of the discharge apparatus, namely in that by means of an opened line connection medium flows into the pressure chamber or can flow out of the latter. As a result of this line connection the pressure chamber can communicate with a separate chamber of the discharge apparatus which is substantially closed to the outside and/or with the atmosphere surrounding the discharge apparatus. Advantageously, the line connection in a starting state is substantially closed and is constructed in such a way that it is opened as a function of said pressure change and as a function of the pressure compensation which has taken place it can automatically substantially close again, so that the active substance medium enclosed in the pressure chamber and possibly in the outlet channel is tightly sealed in hermetic manner with respect to the external atmosphere until the first discharge stroke is performed.

As a function of whether one or more line connections, openings of such line connections, pressure chambers, etc. are provided, the pressure relief means can have one or more valves, which can have an identical or different construction and can act in different ways. Such a valve can e. g. be a self-closing or for self-closing spring-loaded overpressure valve and which is located substantially outside the line connection or the outlet channel or the pressure chamber on the outside of the discharge apparatus or the associated assembly subassembly, so that it is freely accessible for manual actuation on the outside thereof. For example, the valve can have a valve body manually grippable from the outside, so that, following the non-destructive removal thereof with its valve seat, it forms a line connection opening remote from the pressure chamber and which can 1 -5therefore serve as a discharge opening. This opening can then be closed again by the mounting of the valve body.

If the valve has a valve chamber, it can be formed by two or more interengaging and nondestructively separable components, in such a way that, following the removal or adjustment of the component, it is opened and its inner boundaries are adequately accessible from the outside. Therefore if one component has the valve seat and the other the valve body, on opening the valve chamber the valve is simultaneously also opened and the line connection opening or discharge opening is freely accessible.

In a preferred embodiment, the discharge apparatus has a cover closure, which is nondestructively detachable by disengagement for the particular area in which the discharge opening is located and said cover closure can e.g. be an elongated closure cap, which substantially completely covers to the outside a discharge connection and which is secured with a snap connection. Within said discharge connection is provided a piston stem with a piston pump directed away from the outlet opening and on which the filled cylindrical container can be engaged for the final assembly of the discharge apparatus.

Due to the displacement of the entering pump piston, on engagement the air above the medium level must escape, so that a pressure builds up in the pressure chamber, in the line connection or in the outlet channel and at the opening or outlet opening. On reaching the valve opening pressure, said valve is opened, so that the air can escape to the outside, although the closure cap has been engaged in preassembled or final assembled manner on the discharge apparatus.

If it is only fitted in preassembled manner or is axially displaced with respect to its final assembled state about a locking stage of the snap connection, then following the assembly of the cylindrical container it must be transferred by a locking stage axially into its finally assembled state, in which it tightly seals the outlet opening. However, if it is already finally assembled, the valve opens during the assembly of the cylindrical container until pressure compensation has taken place and then automatically closes again, so that then the ready-to-operate discharge apparatus can be stored, despatched, delivered and initially used. For this first or initial use it is merely necessary for the user to remove the cap, so that the overpressure valve automatically opens and can be closed again merely by re-engagement.

The invention is further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig.1 illustrates a discharge apparatus according to the invention, partly in axial section; Fig.2 is a detail of Fig.1 on a larger scale; Fig.3 is a component of the discharge apparatus on a larger scale; Fig.4 is a plan view of the component of Fig.3; and Fig.5 is a detail of another embodiment in a representation corresponding to that of Fig.2.

For the manual application of the force necessary for discharge purposes, the discharge apparatus 1 has a discharge actuating means 2. which is essentially formed by two components 3,4 respectively provided with gripping portions 5 and 6. Oppositely directed pressure applied to said gripping portions moves the components 3,4 counter to one another over a discharge stroke. one component 3 is in the form of a substantially cupshaped, thin-walled casing 7, which, at its end forming the associated gripping portion 5, is closed by an end wall and, at the opposite end, is open over its full width. This casing 7 substantially completely surrounds the other component 4 and its gripping portion 6 and has a skirt which is oval, as -8seen in axial view and is provided with finger cutouts, so that it is possible to reach the gripping portion 6, e.g. with the extended thumb through the casing jacket, for actuation purposes.

A substantially straight discharge connector 8 projects beyond the outside of said end wall and is constructed substantially integrally with the remainder of the casing 7. In the initial state of the discharge apparatus 1, the connector 8 is substantially sealingly embraced by an elongated closure cap 9. All the aforementioned components, including a discharge pump 11 are arranged or constructed substantially symmetrically to a central axis 10 of the discharge apparatus 1.

The discharge pump 11 has a cup-shaped cylindrical container 12 elongated in its depth direction and which solely forms the component 4 in unitary form and can e.g. bp made from glass. A pump piston 14 of a piston unit 13 is inserted from the open side into the cylindrical container 12, whose bottom wall is integrally closed at the bottom and forms the gripping portion 6 and at the other end is provided with a collar projecting to the outside and open over its full width. In the initial state of the discharge apparatus, the pump piston 4 is located roughly in the centre of the length of the cylindrical container 12 or closer to its bottom than to its open end. The piston unit 13 is a preassembled part of the component 3, and is provided as a closure unit for the component 3 during the finished assembly of the discharge apparatus 1, because, for closing the cylindrical container 12 pre-filled with medium, the pump piston 14 is inserted in sealing manner like a plug into the interior of the cylindrical container 12 without it being necessary to subsequently have a further closure in the vicinity of the open end of the cylindrical container 12. Subsequent engagement of the container 12 with respect to the component 3 is effected solely by the engaging connection with the piston unit 13, because the cylindrical container 12 is not further supported, with respect to the component 3 by its outer circumference or in the vicinity of its end faces. The pump piston 14 has, following onto its front end and its outer circumference, several axially spaced successive annular sealing lips integral therewith, which appropriately have a sawtooth profile in crosssection, such that they form a selflocking means inhibiting the removal of the cylindrical container 12 from the pump piston 14.

The pump piston 14 is provided at the end of a piston stem 15 constructed integrally therewith and having approximately constant external cross-sections _10over its entire length. The pump piston 14 and stem 15 are inserted in a tubular supporting sleeve 16 in such a way that the latter extends approximately up to the first piston lip, in the initial state of the discharge apparatus, and engages into the interior of the cylindrical container 12 so that its outer circumference engages in an approximately full-surface manner the inner circumference of the cylindrical container 12. This inner circumference forms a piston path for the pump piston 14 up to the container bottom and/or up to the container opening. The supporting sleeve 16 is constructed integrally with the discharge connection 8 and/or the casing 7 and is surrounded in spaced manner by a conical outer skirt of the discharge connection 8. The supporting sleeve 16 projects freely from the inside of the end wall of the casing 7 into the casing chamber and is provided as a support spigot for retaining the component 4.

From the front face, an outlet channel 17 passes further through the pump piston 14 substantially along the axis 10, next as a transverse channel beyond the piston lips and then downstream between the outer circumference of the piston stem 15 and the inner circumference of the supporting sleeve 16 as a channel portion, which leads into a swirling device 18 in the vicinity of the inside of the free end of the discharge connector 8. This end, formed by an end _11wall, is traversed by an outlet opening 19 in the form of an atomizing nozzle located on the axis 10, the piston stem 15 extending up to the inside of said end wall and consequently contributing to limiting the flow paths of the swirling device 18. Between the container bottom and the pump piston 14, the cylindrical container 12 bounds a pressure chamber 20, which is cross-sectionally and/or volume-significantly widened compared with the outlet channel 17. In the initial state of the discharge apparatus 1, said chamber simultaneously constitutes a bubble- free, completely filled storage container for the medium and, by performing a stroke movement, is emptied through the outlet channel 17 and the outlet opening 19 to the outside 23 of the discharge apparatus 1.

For compensating or relieving pressure rises in the pressure chamber 20, particularly if, after filling during assembly, the cylindrical container 12 is engaged on the closure plug of the component 3, means 21 are provided which have a line connection 22 from the pressure chamber 20 to the outside 23. This line connection 22 is wholly or partly formed by the outlet channel 17, so that no separate channel is required. The means 21 have a manually easily and non-destructively detachable closure 24 for the outlet opening 19, said closure simultaneously forming part -12of an overpressure valve by means of which the outlet opening 26 is closed in an only pressure dependent manner from the pressure in the pressure chamber 20 or in the outlet channel 17, in such a way that, in the case of a correspondingly high overpressure in said regions it is opened and then immediately automatically closes again.

In the outside vicinity of the outlet opening 19, the end wall of the discharge connector 8 forms an annular valve seat 26 surrounding the outlet opening 19. An acute-angled, frusto-conically shaped valve body 27 is inserted from the outside into the opening 19 in equiaxial manner in such a way that the conical outer circumferential or closure surface of the body 27 substantially sealingly engages the valve seat 26, which has a sharp-edged cross-section and can be bounded by flanks which are approximately at right angles to one another. The valve body 27 is constructed integrally with a valve spring 28 or with part or all of the cap 9, so that it is so firmly connected to the cap 9 counter to its closing movement direction and so that it is manually removed therewith from the valve seat 26 or can be completely removed and separated from the discharge apparatus 1.

In the initial state of the discharge apparatus, the valve seat 26 is surrounded by an annular valve chamber 29, which is bounded by a two-part valve -13casing 30. On a casing or chamber part 31 is provided the valve body 27 and on the other chamber part 32 the valve seat 26, because the casing or wall part 31 is firmly connected to the closure cap 9 or is formed by the latter, whereas the casing or wall part 32 is firmly connected to the discharge connector 8 or is formed by the latter. The two casing parts 31, 32 are interconnected sealingly and by frictional resistance by a plug connection 33 located roughly along the axis 10, so that any medium passing out of the outlet opening 19 into the valve chamber 29 cannot pass into the remaining interior of the cap 9 and would instead remain in the valve chamber 29, which would be much smaller than said interior.

At a limited distance close to the free end of the discharge connector 8, the closure cap 9 has an end wall 34. which has an obtuse-angled, frustoconically-shaped construction in such a way that, on its outside, it forms a flat depressed cup 36, whereas the valve body 27, is connected by the base of its conical circumferential surface integrally to the inside of the cap 36.

in spaced manner within its outer circumference and in an annular region around the valve body 27 and within the casing part 31, the end wall 34 is so provided with part spiral openings 37, that said -14annular region forms uniformly circumferentially distributed, part spiral spring portions 35 of the valve spring 28. From the radially outer area connected integrally to the end wall 35, the spring portions 35, considered with respect to the axis 10, radially inwardly decrease in width and are connected by their radially inner ends integrally to a base portion of the valve body 27, which, like the spring portions 35 extends over the thickness of the end wall 34. As a result of the inherent elasticity of the three spring portions 35, the valve body 27 is not only resiliently movable in a direction along the axis 10 with respect to the valve seat 26 or the closure cap 9, but also, during said movement, it can perform a radial movement, a rotary movement about its axis and/or a tilting movement in a resilient manner, so that it operates in particularly good closing manner in the valve seat 26.

The gaps between adjacent spring portions 25 form the openings 37 on the outside of the end wall 34 and, with the cap 9 fitted, these constitute the only connection of the valve chamber 29 to the outside 23 and within the shallow cup 36 are recessed compared with the remaining regions of the outside of wall 34.

The closure cap 9 has a cover skirt 38 which surrounds the casing or wall part 31 with a spacing therebetween and which projects relatively far beyond -15the free end of the casing part 31 and in the vicinity of its open end is so axially secured under stress with a self-resilient locking means 39 with respect to the discharge connector 8 or the casing 7. that the locking means 39 is automatically released on applying a correspondingly high axial detaching force and then engages again on re-applying the closure cap 9.

The retaining force of the locking means 39 in the direction of the opening movement of the valve body 27 is sufficiently large that all opening forces acting on the valve body 27 and which are transferred via the valve spring 28 and the cover skirt 38 to the locking means 39 can be safely absorbed by the latter. so that there is no risk that, during the compensating operation of the valve 25 the rest of the closure cap 9 will move relative to the discharge connector 8. The closure force of the plug connection 33 can be incorporated into this retaining force. The frictional retaining force of the pump piston 14 in the cylindrical container 12 is also sufficiently large for the pressure in the pressure chamber 20 necessary for opening the valve 25 not to lead to a displacement of the cylindrical casing 12 relative to the pump piston 4 and instead prior to any such displacement the valve 25 is always opened.

During the assembly of the discharge apparatus 1, the filled cylindrical container 12 is engaged on the piston unit 13 until the medium has risen over part of the height of the outlet channel 17, but not up to the discharge opening 19. As a result of the pressure rise occurring in the outlet channel 17 the valve 25 is opened and the air flowing out via the outlet channel 17 or the line connector 22 can flow into the valve chamber 29 and from there outwards via the openings 37. As soon as the pressure rise is ended, the valve 25 automatically returns to its closed position, where the discharge opening 19 is tightly closed.

For correctly using the discharge apparatus, the closure cap 9 and with it the valve body 27, must be removed, so that the discharge opening is now free for discharging a medium charge. If the closure cap 9 is subsequently re-engaged on the discharge connector 8, the valve body 27 automatically returns to its closed position, because it is then precisely centred with respect to the valve seat 26 via the cover skirt 38 or the casing part 31. The discharge apparatus is intended for single use or a single discharge of a single medium charge, but by the subsequent sucking of medium into the pressure chamber 20 or a correspondingly large volume therein, it would also be possible to construct it to supply successive charges -17at intervals. The closure 24 is also appropriately provided where no valve 25 is required.

In the embodiment of Fig.5, the valve body 27a of the valve 25a, instead of having the construction of Figs. 1 to 4, or in addition thereto, can also be provided with a valve seat 26a in the form of a planar or end face, on which the valve body 27a engages by an annular sealing lip frontally projecting parallel to the valve axis and whose external diameter can be the same as that of the remainder of the valve body 27a. The sealing lip engaging by line contact at an annular zone delimits, together with the valve seat 26a, a flat hollow chamber, into which a small amount of medium can flow through the outlet opening, without it being able to pass outside the sealing lip to the outside of the discharge connector 8a. The valve seat 26a is formed by the end face of said discharge connector 8a, the sealing lip surrounding the discharge opening with a radial spacing. Here again the valve body 27a is spring- loaded by the axially resilient end wall 34a, so that it engages with prestress on the valve seat 26a.

In the case of a corresponding overpressure in said flat chamber, the sealing lip is slightly raised in translatory and/or tilting manner and the air passing out of the outlet opening can enter the valve -18chamber 29. As the valve 25 or 25a closes with an overpressure in the line connector 22, the finished discharge apparatus is under a limited overpressure in the pressure chamber, the outlet channel 17, the line connector 22, the swirling device 18 and the outlet opening 19. As a result of said overpressure, a rise of medium to the outlet opening 19 is prevented, because, between the latter and the medium, there is an air cushion in the pressure chamber 20, which at least extends over part of the line connector 22 and optionally also the outlet channel 17.

1

Claims

1. A dispenser for discharging media comprising:

an outlet channel connectable to a pressure chamber and enclosing an outlet opening, and means for substantially pressure relieving said outlet channel substantially independently from a discharge operation.

2. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein discharge actuating means are provided for manually discharging at least one medium discharge portion as function of a priming discharge stroke corresponding to an initial use of the dispenser and determining a discharge process, in a ready-to-use initial state of the dispenser and, prior to the initial use, said outlet channel is substantially tightly sealed to the outside, means being provided for the pressure relief of the pressure chamber through at least one opened line connector.

3. -A dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pressure relief means provided in at least one line connection comprises at least one relief valve.

4. A dispenser according to claim 3, in which the relief valve is a pressure-controlled valve.

5. A dispenser according to claim 4, in which the pressure controlled valve is constructed in self- a -20closing manner and/or for performing at least one discharge process and is shut down in its valve function in a positively controlled manner.

6. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one valve of the pressure relief means is located at a distance from a pressure chamber for the medium in the vicinity of a channel portion constricted significantly with respect thereto.

7. A dispenser according to claim 6 in which the channel portion is provided in a closing unit for the closure of one end of the pressure chamber free of any additional cover.

8. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one valve of the pressure relief means is manually transferable into at least one valve function position by an actuation independently of the discharge process, in particular into an opened state and closed state.

9. A dispenser according to claim 8, in which a valve body is removable in a non-destructive and/or not further disassembling manner from the dispenser independently of the discharge actuation.

10. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one valve of the pressure relief means is formed by an overpressure valve, a valve body movable over a spring-loaded path being -21transferable by manual non-destructive actuation into an open position and back into a closed position.

11. A dispenser according to claim 10, in which said at least one valve operates in case of an overpressure in a pressure chamber and/or in a relief channel.

12. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one line connection of the pressure relief means passes as a capillary-like, narrow channel out of the discharge apparatus and into the open.

13. A dispenser according to claim 12, in which said line connection is at least partly formed by the outlet channel.

14. A dispenser according to claim 12 or 13, in which said line connection forms a valve seat of a valve in the vicinity of an issue mouth located remote from a pressure chamber for the medium and on the outside of the dispenser.

15. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one discharge opening is provided with a manually removable closure.

16. A dispenser according to claim 15, in which the closure comprises a closure cap mounted on a discharge connector.

17. A dispenser according to claim 16, in which the closure cap is mounted over a valve closure -22comprising a valve body of a valve of the pressure relief means.

18. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein a valve body of a valve of the pressure relief means comprises a plug mandrel engaging from the outside in the discharge opening and/or a closure cover applied in spaced manner around the discharge opening.

19. A dispenser according to claim 18, in which said valve body is arranged on the inside of an end wall of the closure cap guided in centered manner with respect to the dispenser.

20. A dispenser according to claim 19, in which the closure cap is positionally secured in the closed position by snap locking means with a holding force which is higher thanthe valve operating forces acting on the valve body as a function of pressure changes in a pressure chamber for the medium.

21. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein a valve body of at least one valve of the pressure relief means is constructed integrally with at least one valve spring, a mounting support for transferring the valve body between two positions and at least a part of a closure cover.

22. A dispenser according to claim 21, in which the valve body has a width decreasing towards its free -23end and/or with its other end being directly connected to the inner face of a closure end wall.

23. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein a valve spring of at least one valve of the pressure relief means has spring sections substantially completely located in a common plane, bounded in spiral manner and arranged about a central axis.

24. A dispenser according to claim 23, in which said valve spring is located in an end wall of a closure cover and/or is formed integrally by said end wall.

25. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one valve of the pressure relief means has at least one issue opening leading into the open and spaced from an associated valve seat.

26. A dispenser according to claim 25, in which said issue opening is formed by an opening in a closure cover and/or gaps between juxtaposed spring sections.

27. A dispenser according to claim 25 or 26, in which the issue opening is recessed in the bottom region of a cup.

28. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein a valve chamber of at least one valve of the pressure relief means is manually openable.

29. A dispenser according to claim 28, in which the valve chamber is openable for actuating the valve.

30. A dispenser according to claim 28 or 29, in which the valve chamber is formed by two casing members detachably plug-inserted into one another and substantially sealingly interengaged under frictional resistance.

31. A dispenser according to claim 28, 29 or 30, in which the valve chamber extends annularly around the axis of the valve.

32. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein a valve chamber of at least one valve of the pressure relief means has a chamber skirt spacedly surrounded by a cover skirt located on the outside of the dispenser, the chamber skirt being shorter than the cover skirt.

33. A dispenser according to claim 32, in which the chamber skirt and the cover skirt, or at least one of them project freely and integrally from a common end wall and are constructed integrally with the valve body of the valve.

34. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein a pressure chamber for the medium is bounded by a storage vessel having at one end a vessel opening and being plug-like mounted in substantially 1 freely supported manner on a pump piston of a piston unit.

35. A dispenser according to claim 34, in which a line connection passes through the pump piston and along a piston shank connected to the pump piston.

36. A dispenser according to claim 35, in which at least one valve of the pressure relief means is located on the end of the piston unit remote from the pump piston.

37. A dispenser constructed and adapted to be operated substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.