JP2009195846A - Foam injector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a foam injector for producing fine foam excellent in quality while reducing the pushing force applied on a head part. <P>SOLUTION: The foam injector 10 includes a head part 40 provided so as to be able to reciprocate on a cap 20 fixed to a mouth part 1A of a container body 1, wherein by reciprocally moving the head part 40, a content liquid from a volume variable liquid chamber L and air from a volume variable air chamber A are fed respectively to a mixing part 80A to mix the content liquid with air in the mixing part 80A, and the mixture is caused to pass through a foam forming member 82 of a foam forming part provided on a discharge pipe 42 from the mixing part 80A to the discharge port 42A of the head part 40 to form the foam, and the formed foam is injected from a discharge port 42A, wherein the foam forming member 82 of the foam forming part is arranged obliquely to the pipe axial direction of the discharge pipe 42. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a foam dispenser.

As described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the foam discharger has a head portion that can be reciprocated with respect to a cap fixed to the mouth portion of the container body, and the volume can be changed by reciprocating the head portion. The content liquid from the liquid chamber and the air from the volume-variable air chamber are respectively sent to the mixing unit, and the content liquid and air are mixed in the mixing unit. There is one in which foaming is performed through a foam generating member of a provided foam generating unit, and the generated foam is discharged from a discharge port.
5-51758 JP2005-342571

  In the foam discharge devices described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the foam generation members of the foam generation unit are arranged orthogonal to the tube axis direction of the discharge pipe. The content liquid mixed with air passes through pores such as a mesh constituting the foam generating member, thereby generating fine bubbles. In order to generate fine high-quality bubbles, the smaller the pores of the bubble generating member, the greater the passage resistance between the air and the content liquid in the bubble generating member, and the greater the pressure applied to the head.

  An object of the present invention is to generate fine high-quality bubbles while reducing the pressure applied to the head in the foam discharger.

  The invention of claim 1 has a head portion that is reciprocally movable with respect to a cap fixed to the mouth portion of the container main body. Air from the variable air chambers is sent to the mixing unit, and the content liquid and air are mixed in the mixing unit, and the bubbles in the foam generation unit provided in the discharge conduit from the mixing unit to the discharge port of the head A foam discharger that foams through a generating member and discharges the generated foam from a discharge port, so that the foam generating member of the foam generating unit is arranged obliquely with respect to the tube axis direction of the discharge conduit It is what.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the foam discharger 10 fixes the mounting portion 20 </ b> A of the cap 20 to the mouth portion 1 </ b> A of the container body 1 in which the content liquid such as a detergent is accommodated. The upper end portion of the large diameter portion 30A of the cylinder 30 is abutted against the inner portion of the attachment portion 20A of the cap 20, and the inner portion of the attachment portion 20A of the cap 20 and the container body together with the packing 31 at the upper end portion of the large diameter portion 30A. It is pinched and fixed between the 1 mouth part 1A. The cylinder 30 has a small diameter portion 30B connected to the large diameter portion 30A. A dip tube 32 is fitted into the small diameter portion 30B, and the dip tube 32 is inserted into the container body 1. The cylinder 30 forms an air chamber A inside the large diameter portion 30A, and forms a liquid chamber L inside the small diameter portion 30B. A stem 41 of the head 40 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 20B of the cap 20 so as to reciprocate in the vertical direction. The foam discharger 10 reciprocates the head portion 40, so that the content liquid from the variable volume liquid chamber L and the air from the variable volume empty chamber A are provided in the stem 41, respectively. While mixing with 80A, it is made to foam with the foam production | generation part 80, and the produced | generated foam is discharged from the discharge port 42A provided in the head 40. FIG.

  In the foam discharger 10, the hollow piston guide 51 is fitted and fixed to the lower end hollow portion of the stem 41 that communicates with the discharge conduit 42 leading to the discharge port 42 </ b> A of the head 40, and the hollow liquid piston 52 is fixed to the lower end hollow portion of the piston guide 51. The hollow cylindrical portion 52A is fitted and fixed, the outer peripheral piston portion 52B of the liquid piston 52 is slidably inserted into the inner wall of the small diameter portion 30B of the cylinder 30, and the lower end side spring receiving portion 33 of the small diameter portion 30B and a poppet to be described later A compression coil spring 53 is interposed between the upper end surface of the lower end valve 62 of 60 and the liquid piston 52. That is, when the head 40 is pushed, the lower end portion of the compression coil spring 53 is supported by the lower end side spring receiving portion 33 of the small diameter portion 30B, and the upper end surface of the lower end valve 62 of the poppet 60 is the lower end of the compression coil spring 53. Leave the department. When the hand is released from the head 40, the lower end portion of the compression coil spring 53 is supported by the lower end side spring receiving portion 33 of the small diameter portion 30B, and the upper end surface of the lower end valve 62 of the poppet 60 is the lower end of the compression coil spring 53. Touch the part. The bubble discharger 10 uses a hollow portion of the piston guide 51 and the liquid piston 52 as a liquid discharge passage 54 extending from the liquid chamber L, and an upper end side valve seat 51A is provided at the upper end portion of the liquid discharge passage 54 in the piston guide 51. The ball valve 55 that is opened by the pressure from the liquid discharge passage 54 is placed in close contact with the valve seat 51A.

  The foam discharger 10 has a poppet 60 extending from the small diameter portion 30 </ b> B of the cylinder 30 along the liquid piston 52 and the piston guide 51, and the upper end portion 61 of the poppet 60 is arranged on the inner periphery of the piston guide 51 and the liquid piston 52. The lower end valve 62 of the poppet 60 is disposed in close contact with the lower end side valve seat 34 of the small diameter portion 30 </ b> B, and the liquid chamber L is opened and closed with respect to the inside of the container body 1. The liquid discharge path 54 is formed between the outer peripheral groove of the poppet 60 and the inner periphery of the liquid piston 52 and further between the inner peripheral groove of the piston guide 51. A part of the lower end side of the poppet 60 extends to the center of the coil spring 53. The lower end valve 62 of the poppet 60 is pressed and closed by the lower end side valve seat 34 (the reduced diameter region formed at the lower end of the small diameter portion 30B) by the hydraulic pressure of the liquid chamber L which is contracted and pressurized by the liquid piston 52. It is said. In the initial state of FIG. 1 in which the liquid chamber L is at the maximum extended end, the coil spring 53 is in contact with the upper end surface of the lower end valve 62 so that the poppet 60 does not move upward.

  The foam discharger 10 has a piston guide 51 and a liquid piston 52 that move up and down in the liquid chamber L in conjunction with the vertical reciprocation of the head 40, and the lower end valve 62 of the poppet 60 is connected to the piston guide 51 and the liquid piston. The liquid in the container body 1 is sucked into the liquid chamber L which is separated from the valve seat 34 in conjunction with the upward movement of the liquid 52 and expanded by the upward movement of the liquid piston 52, and the lower end valve 62 of the poppet 60 is connected to the piston guide 51 and A ball opened in contact with the valve seat 34 in conjunction with the downward movement of the liquid piston 52 and separated from the valve seat 51A via the liquid discharge path 54 for the liquid in the liquid chamber L contracted by the downward movement of the liquid piston 52. From the valve 55, it discharges to the mixing part 80A and the foam production | generation part 80 which are mentioned later.

  That is, the foam discharger 10 has a liquid piston 52 that moves up and down in the liquid chamber L in conjunction with the up and down reciprocation of the head 40, and the top of the liquid piston 52 in the suction stroke in which the head 40 moves up. The liquid contained in the container body 1 is sucked into the liquid chamber L expanded by the movement, and the contents of the liquid chamber L contracted by the downward movement of the liquid piston 52 in the discharge stroke in which the head 40 is pushed down. The liquid is discharged to a mixing unit 80A and a bubble generation unit 80 described later.

  In the bubble discharger 10, the hollow cylindrical portion 70 </ b> A of the air piston 70 is loosely inserted on the outer periphery of the piston guide 51, and the outer peripheral ring portion 70 </ b> C of the piston portion 70 </ b> B of the air piston 70 is slidable on the inner wall of the large diameter portion 30 </ b> A. Insert into. In the present embodiment, when the upper end portion of the cylindrical portion 70A of the air piston 70 is inserted into the lower end stepped inner peripheral hole of the stem 41 of the head portion 40, and the head portion 40 is moved slightly downward from the initial state of FIG. Furthermore, after a certain time difference in which the step surface of the inner peripheral hole of the stem 41 hits the upper end surface of the cylindrical portion 70A of the air piston 70, the air piston is moved downward by the downward movement of the head 40 (the piston guide 51 and the liquid piston 52 are also integrated). 70 is also moved down. Therefore, the air piston 70 is slightly movable up and down along the outer periphery of the piston guide 51, and an air discharge port 73A described later can be formed between them (FIG. 2).

  The foam discharger 10 is provided with an outside air intake chamber 71 on the back side of the air piston 70 with respect to the air chamber A, and a small annular gap between the stem 41 of the head 40 and the cylindrical portion 20B of the cap 20 is provided to the outside air intake chamber 71. The intake path 71A is used. The bubble discharger 10 is provided with an air inlet 72A communicating with the outside air intake chamber 71 and the air chamber A in the piston portion 70B of the air piston 70, and opens and closes the air inlet 72A to open the air chamber A from the outside air intake chamber 71. An intake check valve 72 that allows the intake of air into the piston portion 70B of the air piston 70 is provided on the side facing the air chamber A.

  The foam discharger 10 continues from the space between the outer peripheral groove of the piston guide 51 and the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion 70 </ b> A of the air piston 70 to the top and bottom continuous between the outer periphery of the piston guide 51 and the inner peripheral groove of the stem 41. An air discharge path 73 is provided, and an intermediate flange portion 51B of the piston guide 51 and a lower end of the cylinder portion 70A of the air piston 70 form an opening / closing valve 74 that opens and closes the air discharge port 73A. The on-off valve 74 separates the intermediate flange portion 51B of the piston guide 51 that moves downward together with the head portion 40 when the head portion 40 moves downward from the lower end of the cylindrical portion 70A of the air piston 70, and an air discharge port 73A therebetween. Opening (FIG. 3), the intermediate flange portion 51B of the piston guide 51 that moves up together with the head portion 40 when the head portion 40 moves upward is brought into contact with the lower end of the cylinder portion 70A of the air piston 70 from below, and the space between the lower ends thereof. The air outlet 73A is closed (FIG. 4).

  The head 40 suspends the cylindrical cover 75, surrounds the upper region of the stem 41 and the cylindrical portion 20 </ b> B of the cap 20 with the cover 75, and forms a minute gap around the cylindrical portion 20 </ b> B of the cap 20 with the lower end of the cover 75. Form. The cover 75 makes it difficult for the outside water to enter the outside air intake path 71A.

  That is, the foam discharger 10 has an air piston 70 that moves up and down in the air chamber A in conjunction with the up and down reciprocation of the head 40, and the air piston 70 moves upward in the suction stroke in which the head 40 moves up. 80A, a mixing unit 80A, which will be described later, sucks external air into the air chamber A that is expanded by movement, and the air in the air chamber A that is contracted by the downward movement of the air piston 70 in the discharge stroke in which the head 40 is pushed down. It discharges to the foam generation unit 80.

  The foam discharger 10 includes a mixing unit 80 </ b> A and a foam generation unit 80 in the discharge pipeline 42 of the head 40. The mixing unit 80A is provided in a meeting region (directly above the ball valve 55) of the liquid discharge path 54 and the air discharge path 73, and mixes the content liquid discharged from the liquid chamber L and the air discharged from the air chamber A. To do. The foam generation unit 80 is provided in the discharge pipe line 42 extending from the mixing unit 80A to the discharge port 42A of the head 40, foams the content liquid and air mixed in the mixing unit 80A, and generates the generated bubbles to the discharge port 42A. Discharge from.

  In the foam generation unit 80, the content liquid and air are mixed and foamed inside the jet ring 81 that is disposed by being fitted to the vertical pipeline of the discharge pipeline 42 extending vertically upward from the mixing unit 80 </ b> A. The content liquid is made into fine bubbles by the bubble generating member 82 arranged on the upper side of the jet ring 81. The foam generating member 82 includes a mesh ring 83 fitted immediately above the jet ring 81 in the discharge pipe 42, and a mesh 84 (mesh, woven fabric, knitted fabric, non-woven fabric, foamed resin, etc.) pasted on one end surface of the mesh ring 83. Material member can be used).

  In the present embodiment, the bubble generation unit 85 is also provided at a position close to the discharge port 42 </ b> A of the discharge pipeline 42. The foam generation unit 85 makes the foam generated by the foam generation member 82 of the foam generation unit 80 finer by the foam generation member 86 disposed at a position close to the discharge port 42A of the discharge pipe line 42. The foam generating member 86 is a mesh ring 87 fitted at a position close to the discharge port 42A of the discharge pipe 42, and a mesh 88 (mesh, woven fabric, knitted fabric, non-woven fabric, foamed resin, etc.) attached to one end surface of the mesh ring 87. Can be adopted).

  The foam discharger 10 is connected to the inside of the container main body 1 through an air inlet 91 in which the above-described outside air intake chamber 71 provided on the back side of the air piston 70 is formed in the upper end side of the large-diameter portion 30A of the cylinder 30. Communication is possible. In the initial state of the foam discharger 10 (FIG. 1), the air introduction port 91 is covered by the ring part 70C of the piston part 70B of the air piston 70 and closed with respect to the outside air intake chamber 71, and the head 40 is reciprocated up and down. Sometimes, the air introduction port 91 is opened to the outside air intake chamber 71 with the cover of the ring portion 70C of the piston portion 70B of the air piston 70 removed, and the air introduction port 91 is always blocked from the air chamber A.

  However, the foam discharger 10 has the following configuration in order to generate fine high-quality foam while reducing the pressure applied to the head 40. That is, the mesh 84 constituting the foam generating member 82 of the foam generating unit 80 is disposed obliquely with respect to the pipe axis direction of the vertical pipe of the discharge pipe 42. Further, the mesh 88 constituting the foam generating member 86 of the foam generating unit 85 is disposed obliquely with respect to the tube axis direction at a position close to the discharge port 42A of the discharge pipe line 42. As a result, the passage areas of the meshes 84 and 88 of the foam generating members 82 and 86 are increased by an amount corresponding to the diagonal arrangement, and the passage resistance exerted by the meshes 84 and 88 on the air and the content liquid is reduced. Note that the mesh 88 constituting the foam generating member 86 of the foam generating unit 85 is provided in the vicinity of the discharge port 42A of the discharge pipe 42 and in the vicinity of the position where the discharge pipe 42 is bent. Even when the discharge pipe 42 is bent, the mesh 88 is on the side where the air and the content liquid collide against the mesh 88 with respect to the mesh 88 (the side opposite to the discharge port 42A or the side of the mixing unit 80A). It is preferable to dispose the discharge pipe 42 obliquely with respect to the pipe axis direction.

The foam dispenser 10 operates as follows.
(Operation 1) (Fig. 2)
(1) When the head 40 is pushed from the initial state of FIG. 1, the piston guide 51, the piston 52, and the poppet 60 are lowered downward together with the head 40 first.

  (2) The lower end valve 62 of the poppet 60 hits the valve seat 34 provided on the lower end side of the small diameter portion 30B of the cylinder 30 (IA portion), and the liquid chamber L is closed.

  (3) Since the air piston 70 does not move at this point (the gap between the head 40 and the upper end of the air piston 70 becomes narrower) (IB portion), the lower end of the cylindrical portion 70A of the air piston 70 and the intermediate flange of the piston guide 51 A gap is formed between the portions 51B and becomes the discharge port 73A of the air chamber A (IC portion).

(Operation 2) (FIG. 3)
(1) When the head 40 is further pushed, the piston guide 51, the piston 52, and the air piston 70 are lowered downward together with the head 40.

  (2) The air in the air chamber A passes through the air discharge path 73, and the liquid in the liquid chamber L passes through the liquid discharge path 54 and is mixed in the mixing unit 80A to become bubbles. The foamed content liquid becomes fine bubbles at the portions of the meshes 82B and 84B of the bubble generation units 80 and 83, and is discharged from the discharge port 42 of the head 40.

  (3) Since the air introduction port 91 on the side surface of the air chamber A that has been closed by the air piston 70 is opened while the head 40 is being pushed, air is introduced into the container body 1.

(Operation 3) (FIG. 4)
(1) When the pressing of the head 40 is stopped and the hand is released from the head 40, the piston guide 51, piston 52, and poppet 60 are lifted by the spring force of the coil spring 53 together with the head 40.

  (2) The lower end of the poppet 60 is separated from the valve seat 34 of the small diameter portion 30B of the cylinder 30 to form a gap (IIIA portion), and the liquid chamber L is opened.

  (3) Since the air piston 70 does not move at this time (the gap between the head 40 and the upper end of the air piston 70 becomes wider) (IIIB portion), the lower end of the cylindrical portion 70A of the air piston 70 and the intermediate flange of the piston guide 51 The gap of the part 51B is closed, and the air discharge port 73A is closed (IIIC part).

(Operation 4) (FIG. 5)
(1) When the head 40 further rises, the piston guide 51, the piston 52, and the air piston 70 rise together with the head 40.

  (2) Since the air chamber A has a negative pressure, the suction check valve 72 is opened, and air is sucked into the air chamber A through the air suction port 72A. Since the liquid chamber L also has a negative pressure, the content liquid in the container body 1 is introduced into the liquid chamber L through the dip tube 32.

  (3) Return to the initial state of FIG.

According to the present embodiment, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(Claim 1)
(a) The foam generating members 82 and 86 (mesh 84 and 88) of the foam generating units 80 and 85 are disposed obliquely with respect to the tube axis direction of the discharge conduit 42. Accordingly, the passage area of the foam generating members 82 and 86 (mesh 84 and 88) with respect to the flow of the air and the content liquid being pumped through the discharge pipe 42 is increased by an oblique arrangement, and as a result, the foam generating members 82 and 86 ( The passage resistance that the meshes 84, 88) exert on the air and the content liquid is reduced. Accordingly, the pores of the foam generating members 82 and 86 (mesh 84 and 88) can be miniaturized while reducing the pressure applied to the head 40, and fine high-quality foam can be generated.

(Claim 2)
(b) The foam generating member 82 can be obliquely arranged in the vertical pipe line of the discharge pipe line 42 extending vertically upward from the mixing unit 80A.

(Claim 3)
(c) The foam generating member 86 (mesh 88) can be disposed obliquely at a position close to the discharge port 42A of the discharge pipe line 42.

(Claim 4)
(d) As the foam generating members 82 and 86, porous members 84 and 88 such as mesh, woven fabric, knitted fabric, non-woven fabric, and foamed resin can be employed.

  In addition, the bubble production | generation part 80 can be deform | transformed as shown in FIG. 6, FIG. The foam generating unit 80 in FIG. 6 attaches meshes 84A and 84B to both end faces of the mesh ring 83 fitted to the discharge pipe 42, and these meshes 84A and 84B are attached to the pipe axis direction of the discharge pipe 42. It is arranged diagonally. The foam generating unit 80 in FIG. 7 attaches a mesh 84A to the lower end surface of the lower mesh ring 83A fitted to the discharge conduit 42, and applies the mesh 84B to the upper end surface of the upper mesh ring 83B fitted to the discharge conduit 42. The meshes 84A and 84B are pasted and arranged obliquely with respect to the tube axis direction of the discharge conduit 42. In addition, it is not always necessary to provide the foam generating units 80 and 85 at two locations. For example, only the foam generating unit 80 may be provided. However, by providing the foam generating units 80 and 85, finer high quality bubbles can be generated and discharged. .

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an initial state of the foam discharger. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a discharge start state of the foam discharger. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an intermediate discharge state of the foam discharger. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a discharge completion / inhalation start state of the foam discharger. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an intermediate suction state of the foam discharger. FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a modification of the foam generating member. FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a modification of the foam generating member.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container main body 1A Mouth part 10 Foam discharger 20 Cap 40 Head 42 Discharge port 52 Liquid piston 70 Air piston 71 Outside air intake chamber 72 Intake check valve 72A Air suction port 80, 85 Foam production part 80A Mixing part 82, 86 Foam production Members 84, 88 Mesh A Air chamber L Liquid chamber

Claims (4)

It has a head that can be reciprocated with respect to a cap fixed to the mouth of the container body. By reciprocating the head, the liquid content can be changed from the volume variable liquid chamber and the air from the volume variable air chamber. , Send them to the mixing section,
The content liquid and air are mixed in the mixing section, and the foam is passed through the foam generating member of the foam generating section provided in the discharge conduit from the mixing section to the discharge port of the head, and the generated bubbles are discharged from the discharge port. A foam dispenser that dispenses from
A foam discharger in which the foam generation member of the foam generation unit is disposed obliquely with respect to the tube axis direction of the discharge conduit.   The foam discharger according to claim 1, wherein the foam generating member is disposed obliquely on a vertical pipe line of a discharge pipe line extending vertically upward from the mixing unit.   The foam discharger according to claim 1, wherein the foam generation member is disposed obliquely at a position close to the discharge port of the discharge pipe.   The foam discharger according to claim 1, wherein the foam generating member is a porous member.

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