JP2011156445A - Air bubble discharger - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air bubble discharger which can prevent the leakage of a contained liquid in the stage of circulation or when a consumer brings the purchased discharger back home and also, can prevent an outside water from penetrating into the internal air chamber of a cylinder which is expanded and contracted by an air piston and suck the outside air into the air chamber under a simple construction. <P>SOLUTION: This air bubble discharger 10 is equipped with a forced closing means 90 which can forcibly close an air sending path 75 for guiding the internal air of the air chamber A to an air bubble forming part 80. In addition, an opening/closing valve 76 is installed in the air sending path 75 and closes when the air chamber A is not pressurized, and opens when the air chamber A is pressurized. Besides, the forced closing means 90 keeps the opening/closing valve 76 closed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,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 variable volume air chamber are respectively sent to the foam generation unit, the content liquid and air are mixed and foamed by the foam generation unit, and the generated foam is discharged from the discharge port provided in the head. In doing so, an air piston that expands and contracts the air chamber in conjunction with the reciprocation of the head is provided, and external air is drawn into the air chamber that is expanded by the air piston and becomes negative pressure, and is compressed by the air piston and compressed. There is one that sends the air in the air chamber to the bubble generator. In these bubble dischargers, an outside air intake chamber is provided in the upper part on the back side of the air piston with respect to the air chamber, an air intake port that communicates the outside air intake chamber and the air chamber is provided in the air piston, and the air intake provided in the air piston is provided. An intake check valve that opens and closes the mouth to allow air to be sucked into the air chamber from the outside air intake chamber is provided, and a minute gap between the head and the cap serves as an outside air intake path.

JP2005-193972 JP2004-121898

  In the foam discharge devices described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, external air taken into the outside air intake chamber provided at the upper back side of the air piston with respect to the air chamber is sucked into the air chamber from the air suction port provided in the air piston. Yes. At this time, the outside air taken into the outside air intake chamber may be mixed in depending on the usage environment (for example, when a foam dispenser is placed in a bathroom and shower water is applied). The outside water enters the air chamber together with the external air, and the outside water that has once entered the air chamber is likely to stay, which may cause bacteria and the like and impair the bubble generation in the bubble generation unit.

  In the foam discharger, it is necessary to prevent the liquid content from leaking at the distribution stage or at the time of take-out after purchase by the consumer.

  An object of the present invention is to prevent leakage of liquid contents in a foam discharger at the distribution stage or at the time of take-out after purchase by a consumer, and with a simple configuration, the inside of a cylinder expanded or contracted by an air piston. It is to prevent outside water from entering the air chamber and to suck outside air into the air chamber.

  The invention of claim 1 has a head provided in a reciprocating manner with respect to a cap fixed to the mouth of the container main body, and a cylinder installed inside the container main body. The content liquid from the liquid chamber and the air from the variable volume air chamber are respectively sent to the foam generating unit, and the generated liquid and air are mixed and foamed by the foam generating unit from the discharge port provided in the head. An air piston that can be discharged and interlocked with the reciprocating movement of the head is slidably disposed inside the cylinder, and an air chamber that is expanded and contracted by the air piston is formed on the front side of the air piston inside the cylinder, A bubble discharger that sucks external air into an air chamber that is expanded by an air piston and becomes negative pressure, and sends air in the air chamber that is contracted and pressurized by the air piston to a bubble generation unit. Air piston back An outside air intake path is provided on the side, and a vent hole provided in the cylinder so as to communicate the outside air intake path with the upper space of the container body is provided at a position closed by the air piston at the top dead center of the air piston, Air in which a suction check valve is formed inside the cylinder that is always closed when the air chamber is not negatively pressured and opened by the negative pressure of the air chamber to allow air to be sucked into the air chamber from the upper space of the container body. In addition to being provided at the bottom of the chamber, there is provided forcibly closing means for forcibly closing the air delivery path for guiding the air in the air chamber to the bubble generating part.

  According to the present invention, in the foam dispenser, the liquid content is prevented from leaking at the distribution stage or at the time of take-out after purchase by the consumer, and the inside of the cylinder expanded and contracted by the air piston with a simple configuration. Intrusion of outside water into the air chamber can be prevented, and external air can be sucked into the air chamber.

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 cross-sectional view showing an open / close valve of an air delivery path of the foam discharger. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the inverted state of the foam dispenser. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the forced closing means of the foam dispenser. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a liquid leakage prevention state by the forced closing means.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.
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 upper end portion of the large-diameter portion 30A together with the packing 31, the inner portion of the attachment portion 20A of the cap 20 and the container body 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 bubble discharger 10 reciprocates the head 40 to generate the later-described bubble generation in which the content liquid from the volume variable liquid chamber L and the air from the volume variable air chamber A are respectively provided in the stem 41. The foam is mixed and foamed by the foam generation unit 80, and the generated foam is discharged from the discharge port 42 provided in the head 40.

  In addition, in this specification, the up and down means the direction along the forward direction in which the head 40 of the foam discharger 10 is pushed against the urging force of the compression coil spring 53 described later as the up and down direction. The forward side to be pushed in is the lower side, and the backward side in which the head 40 is raised by the biasing force of the compression coil spring 53 is the upper side.

  The content liquid such as a detergent contained in the foam dispenser 10 has antibacterial properties by adding a preservative or an antibacterial agent. Examples of the antiseptic or antibacterial agent include benzoic acid, benzoic acid pantothenyl ethyl ether, alkyldiaminoethyl glycine hydrochloride, salicylic acid, sorbic acid, dehydroacetic acid, trichlorohydroxydiphenyl ether, paraoxybenzoic acid ester, phenoxyethanol, phenol, lauryl diaminoethyl glycine Sodium, isopropylmethylphenol, benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, chlorhexidicin hydrochloride, chlorhexidine gluconate, orthophenylphenol, alkylisoquinolinium bromide, thymol, trichlorocarbanilide, halocarban, hinokitiol, 2- Methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 1,2-benzisothiazoline- - can be used on, polylysine, zinc salts, one or more combinations of a silver salt.

  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 port 42 of the head 40, and the hollow cylindrical portion 52 </ b> A of the hollow liquid piston 52 is fitted to the lower end hollow portion of the piston guide 51. Are fitted and fixed, and 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 the lower end valve 62 of the poppet 60 described later. A compression coil spring 53 is interposed between the upper end surface of the liquid piston 52 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 upper end side 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 placed in close contact with the lower end side valve seat 34 of the small diameter portion 30B (the reduced diameter region formed at the lower end of the small diameter portion 30B). The liquid chamber L is opened and closed. 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. The poppet 60 extends to the center of the compression coil spring 53 in the lower end side region. The lower end valve 62 of the poppet 60 is closed by being pressed against the lower end side valve seat 34 by the hydraulic pressure of the liquid chamber L which is contracted and pressurized by the liquid piston 52 and the frictional resistance between the upper end portion 61 of the poppet 60 and the piston guide 51. State. In the initial state of FIG. 1 in which the liquid chamber L is at the maximum expansion end, the compression 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 lower end side valve seat 34 in conjunction with the upward movement of the 52 and expanded by the upward movement of the liquid piston 52, and the lower end valve 62 of the poppet 60 is moved to the piston guide. 51 and the liquid piston 52 are in contact with the lower end side valve seat 34 in conjunction with the downward movement of the liquid piston 52, and the liquid in the liquid chamber L contracted by the downward movement of the liquid piston 52 passes through the liquid discharge path 54 with the upper end side valve seat 51A. It discharges to the foam production | generation part 80 mentioned later from the ball valve 55 opened apart.

  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 chamber L that is expanded by movement sucks the antibacterial content liquid of the container body 1, and the content of the liquid chamber L is 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 foam generation unit 80 described later.

  The bubble discharger 10 is loosely inserted so that the hollow cylindrical portion 70A of the air piston 70 can move relative to the outer periphery of the piston guide 51 by a fixed length range L along the axial direction (FIG. 6). The outer ring portion 70C of 70B is slidably inserted into the inner wall of the large-diameter portion 30A of the cylinder 30, and is expanded or contracted by the air piston 70 on the front side (opposite side to the head 40) of the air piston 70 inside the cylinder 30. The air chamber A to be formed is formed. 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. Accordingly, the air piston 70 is slightly movable up and down along the outer periphery of the piston guide 51 until it abuts with the intermediate flange portion 51B of the piston guide 51, and an air delivery port 75A described later can be formed therebetween. (FIG. 2).

  The foam discharger 10 is provided with an outside air intake path 71 on the back side (the head 40 side) of the air piston 70 in the cylinder 30. The outside air intake path 71 has a minute annular gap between the stem 41 of the head 40 and the cylinder portion 20B of the cap 20, and a gap between the cap 20 and the upper surface of the piston portion 70B of the air piston 70, and the cylinder portion of the cap 20 An outside air intake port 71A is provided on the upper end side of 20B.

  When the bubble discharger 10 communicates the outside air intake passage 71 with the upper space of the container body 1 through the vent hole 72 provided in the cylinder 30, the vent hole 72 is connected to the top dead center (head) of the air piston 70 in the cylinder 30. The piston 40 is provided at a position that is closed by the piston portion 70B (outer peripheral ring portion 70C) of the air piston 70 at the upper moving end position of the air piston 70 that is interlocked with the vertical reciprocation of the portion 40. In the present embodiment, when the outer peripheral ring portion 70C of the piston portion 70B of the air piston 70 is below the top dead center, the vent hole 72 is opened and the outside air intake path 71 is communicated with the upper space of the container body 1. . The outer peripheral ring portion 70C of the piston portion 70B of the air piston 70 closes the vent hole 72 at the top dead center and blocks communication between the outside air intake path 71 and the upper space of the container body 1.

  In addition, the air hole 72 is configured so that the amount of air to be sucked into the air chamber A and the amount of air commensurate with the decrease in the content liquid introduced from the container body 1 into the liquid chamber L in order to generate bubbles in the foam discharger 10. The total amount of air can be taken into the upper space of the container main body 1 from the outside air intake path 71, and it is necessary to have the number of holes and the hole diameter sufficient to introduce the total amount of air.

  The foam discharger 10 has a suction check valve 73 that allows suction of air from the upper space of the container body 1 into the air chamber A at the bottom of the air chamber A formed inside the cylinder 30. Further, the foam discharger 10 is provided with an air suction port 74 opened and closed by a suction check valve 73 at the bottom of the air chamber A. In the present embodiment, the air inlet 74 is provided at each of a plurality of positions along the outer periphery of the small diameter portion 30B, which is the bottom of the large diameter portion 30A of the cylinder 30. The suction check valve 73 includes an annular support portion 73A that is fixedly fitted and supported directly above the air suction port 74 on the upper end side outer periphery of the small diameter portion 30B inside the cylinder 30. The suction check valve 73 is operated by a pressure difference between the air chamber A and the upper space of the container body 1 due to a pressure change in the air chamber A, and opens and closes the air suction port 74. A flexible annular valve body 73B that comes in contact with and separates from a valve seat provided around the air inlet 74 at the bottom of 30A is provided.

  Thus, in the standby state and the discharge stroke of the foam discharger 10, the suction check valve 73 is always closed when the air chamber A is not negatively pressured (including the standby state of the foam discharger 10). The suction check valve 73 pushes the flexible annular valve body 73B against the valve seat at the bottom of the large-diameter portion 30A of the cylinder 30 by this pressure when the air chamber A is contracted and pressurized by the downward movement of the air piston 70. The flexible annular valve body 73 </ b> B itself has a closing behavior that hits the valve seat at the bottom of the large-diameter portion 30 </ b> A of the cylinder 30 in the standby state (initial state) of the foam dispenser 10.

  On the other hand, in the suction stroke of the foam discharger 10, when the air chamber A is expanded by the upward movement of the air piston 70 and the suction check valve 73 is made negative pressure, the negative pressure causes the flexible annular valve body 73 B to move to the cylinder 30. The large-diameter portion 30A is bent and opened so as to be separated from the valve seat at the bottom of the large-diameter portion 30A, and air suction from the upper space of the container body 1 to the air chamber A is allowed.

  Therefore, in the foam discharger 10, the outside air taken in from the outside air intake port 71A on the upper end side of the cylinder portion 20B of the cap 20 is a minute gap between the cylinder portion 20B of the cap 20 and the stem 41 of the head 40, and the cap. 20 and the air piston 70 through the outside air intake path 71 having a minute gap and the vent hole 72 provided in the upper portion of the large diameter portion 30A of the cylinder 30 and led to the upper space of the container body 1. The water mixed in the outside air introduced into the upper space of the container body 1 (the same as foreign matter such as dust) falls into the container body 1 due to the action of gravity and is separated, and the air from which the water is separated is large. From the side of the outer side of the diameter portion 30A, the air is taken into the air chamber A through the air suction port 74 and the suction check valve 73 provided at the bottom of the large diameter portion 30A.

  The foam discharger 10 has an air delivery path that extends between the outer peripheral groove of the piston guide 51 and the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion 70A of the air piston 70, and further between the outer periphery of the piston guide 51 and the inner peripheral groove of the stem 41. 75, and the lower end surface of the cylindrical portion 70A of the air piston 70 is in contact with and separated from the concave inner surface 51C of the intermediate flange portion 51B, which is a flange portion of the outer periphery of the piston guide 51, and opens and closes the air outlet 75A of the air delivery passage 75 A valve 76 is formed (FIG. 6). The on-off valve 76 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 is moved downward from the lower end of the cylindrical portion 70A of the air piston 70, and provides an air outlet 75A therebetween. Opening (FIGS. 2 and 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 cylindrical portion 70A of the air piston 70 from below. The air outlet 75A between the lower ends is closed (FIG. 4).

  Thereby, in the standby state of the foam discharger 10 or the suction stroke, the on-off valve 76 is closed when the air chamber A is not pressurized. On the other hand, the opening / closing valve 76 is opened when the air chamber A is pressurized in the discharge stroke of the foam discharger 10.

  The head 40 suspends the cylindrical cover 77, surrounds the upper region of the stem 41 and the cylindrical portion 20 </ b> B of the cap 20 with the cover 77, and forms a minute gap around the cylindrical portion 20 </ b> B of the cap 20 with the lower end of the cover 77. Form. The cover 77 makes it difficult for the outside water to enter the outside air intake path 71.

  That is, the bubble discharger 10 slidably inserts 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 into the large diameter portion 30A of the cylinder 30 to External air is sucked into the air chamber A, which is expanded by the upward movement of the air piston 70 in the suction stroke in which the portion 40 moves upward and becomes negative pressure, and the air piston 70 is moved in the discharge stroke in which the head 40 is pushed down. The air in the air chamber A that is contracted and pressurized by the downward movement is sent to the foam generation unit 80 described later.

  The foam discharger 10 includes a foam generation unit 80 at the discharge port 42 of the head 40. The bubble generation unit 80 mixes and foams the air and the content liquid by the jet ring 81 provided in the meeting region (directly above the ball valve 55) of the liquid discharge path 54 and the air delivery path 75, and the foamed content liquid is used. Fine bubbles by passing a mesh 82A attached to a mesh ring 82 arranged inside the jet ring 81 (in this embodiment, two mesh rings 82 attached with the mesh 82A are arranged in the jet ring 81). Is generated and can be discharged from the discharge port 42.

The foam dispenser 10 operates as follows.
(Operation 1) (FIG. 2)
(1) When the head 40 is pushed from the standby state (initial state) in FIG. 1, the piston guide 51, the liquid 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 lower end side valve seat 34 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 intermediate portion between the lower end surface of the cylindrical portion 70A of the air piston 70 and the piston guide 51 The opening / closing valve 76 formed by contact with and separating from the concave inner surface 51C of the flange portion 51B is opened, and the gap opened by the opening / closing valve 76 becomes the delivery port 75A of the air chamber A (IC portion).

(Operation 2) (FIG. 3)
(1) When the head 40 is further pushed, the piston guide 51, the liquid 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 delivery path 75 from the air delivery port 75A, and the liquid in the liquid chamber L passes through the liquid discharge path 54 and is mixed at the jet ring 81 portion of the foam generating unit 80 to generate bubbles. It becomes. The bubbles pass through the mesh 82A attached to the mesh ring 82 and are discharged as fine bubbles from the discharge port 42 of the head 40.

  (3) When the air piston 70 moves downward by a fixed stroke from the top dead center according to the above (1), the outer peripheral ring portion 70C of the piston portion 70B of the air piston 70 is separated downward from the vent hole 72 in the upper portion of the cylinder 30. Accordingly, the vent hole 72 is opened, and the outside air guided from the outside air intake path 71 is introduced into the upper space of the container body 1 through the vent hole 72.

(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, the liquid piston 52, and the poppet 60 are raised by the spring force of the compression coil spring 53 together with the head 40.

  (2) The lower end of the poppet 60 is separated from the lower end side 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 70B of the air piston 70 and the intermediate flange of the piston guide 51 The clearance of the on-off valve 76 formed by contacting and separating from the concave inner surface 51C of the part 51B is closed, and the air outlet 75A is closed (IIIC part).

(Operation 4) (FIG. 5)
(1) When the head 40 further rises, the piston guide 51, the liquid 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 73 is opened, and the outside air introduced into the upper space of the container body 1 is sucked into the air chamber A through the air suction port 74. 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 standby state (initial state) in FIG.
However, when the foam discharger 10 is inverted or laid down at a high temperature, for example, as shown in FIG. May open and the liquid in the container body 1 may enter the air chamber A. The content liquid that has entered the air chamber A passes through the bubble generating unit 80 from the air delivery port 75A of the air chamber A through the air delivery path 75 and eventually leaks from the discharge port 42 of the head 40. It will cause.

  Therefore, in the present invention, in order to prevent the above-described liquid leakage of the foam dispenser 10 at the distribution stage of the foam dispenser 10 or at the time of take-out after purchase by the consumer, etc., as shown in FIGS. As described above, forcibly closing means 90 for forcibly closing the air delivery path 75 that guides the air in the air chamber A to the bubble generating unit 80 is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the forced closing means 90 of this embodiment holds the open / close valve 76 of the air delivery path 75 in a closed state. Specifically, the concave inner surface 51C of the intermediate flange portion 51B of the piston guide 51 that forms the on-off valve 76 is maintained in pressure contact with the lower end surface of the cylindrical portion 70A of the air piston 70, and the on-off valve 76 is held in a closed state. It is.

  The forced closing means 90 of the present embodiment can be constituted by a stopper 91 as shown in FIG. The stopper 91 is sandwiched by a gap H formed along the axial direction between the lower end surface of the cover 77 of the head 40 and the tapered surface 20D of the shoulder portion 20C between the mounting portion 20A and the cylindrical portion 20B. . The stopper 91 has a size larger than the above-mentioned distance H and is inserted into the distance H, pushes up the head 40 against the cap 20, and is fixed to the head 40 as described above with an intermediate flange portion of the piston guide 51. The air piston 70 in contact with the concave inner surface 51C of 51B is pressed against the annular lower end surface 20E of the cylindrical portion 20B which is the inner surface of the cap 20. Thereby, the concave inner surface 51C of the intermediate flange portion 51B of the piston guide 51 forming the on-off valve 76 is maintained in pressure contact with the lower end surface of the cylindrical portion 70A of the air piston 70, and the on-off valve 76 is held in a closed state. .

  At this time, in the forced closing means 90, as shown in FIG. 8, the inner peripheral side surface a of the concave inner surface 51C of the intermediate flange portion 51B of the piston guide 51 (in the example shown, the inner peripheral side surface a is formed into a tapered surface. The outer peripheral edge of the lower end surface of the cylindrical portion 70A of the air piston 70 is pressed into a line seal shape.

  In the forced closing means 90, as shown in FIG. 8, when the concave inner surface 51C of the intermediate flange portion 51B of the piston guide 51 is maintained in pressure contact with the lower end surface of the hollow cylindrical portion 70A of the air piston 70, the piston guide 51 A constant gap G is provided between the bottom surface b of the concave inner surface 51C of the intermediate flange portion 51B and the lower end surface of the hollow cylindrical portion 70A of the air piston 70.

According to the present embodiment, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(a) External air taken into the outside air intake passage 71 provided on the back side of the air piston 70 in the cylinder 30 is guided to the upper space of the container body 1 from the vent hole 72 provided in the cylinder 30, and enters the inside of the cylinder 30. The air is sucked into the air chamber A from the air suction port 74 provided at the bottom of the formed air chamber A. At the same time, forcibly closing means 90 for forcibly closing the air delivery path 75 that guides the air in the air chamber A to the bubble generating unit 80 is provided. Thereby, the air delivery path 75 provided in the air chamber A can be forcibly closed by the forced closing means 90 at the distribution stage of the foam dispenser 10 or when the consumer takes out the product after purchase. it can. Accordingly, the foam discharger 10 is left to stand upside down (FIG. 9A) or sideways (FIG. 9B) at a high temperature, the suction check valve 73 is opened by the increase in the internal pressure of the container body 1, and the container body 1 Even if the content liquid enters the air chamber A, the entered content liquid does not leak from the air chamber A through the air delivery path 75 described above and from the discharge port 42 of the head 40. FIG. 9 (A) shows a liquid leakage preventing state when inverted, and FIG. 9 (B) shows a liquid leakage preventing state when lying sideways.

  (b) Even if outside water is mixed in the outside air taken into the outside air intake path 71, the outside water reaches the upper space of the container body 1 and then falls into the container body 1, and the air chamber A Hardly enters the air intake port 74 at the bottom of the main body. Therefore, the outside water does not enter the air chamber A together with the outside air, and the water stays in the air chamber A and does not generate bacteria or impair the bubble generation in the bubble generation unit 80.

  (c) A vent hole 72 is provided at a position where the air piston 70 is closed by the air piston 70 at the top dead center in the cylinder 30, and is sucked into the air suction port 74 at the bottom of the air chamber A formed inside the cylinder 30. With a simple configuration in which only the check valve 73 is provided, it is possible to prevent the outside water from entering and staying in the air chamber A described above (a).

  (d) When the air piston 70 closes the vent hole 72 at the top dead center, the air piston 72 is closed in the standby state of the foam discharger 10 when the air piston 70 reaches the top dead center. Therefore, even if the foam discharger 10 falls to the side in the standby state, the content liquid inside the container body 1 can be prevented from leaking from the vent hole 72 to the outside air intake path 71 side. . As shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, the outer peripheral ring portion 70C of the piston portion 70B is set sufficiently larger than the vent hole 72, so that the content liquid inside the container body 1 can be taken in from the vent hole 72 to the outside air intake path. Leaking to the 71 side can be prevented.

  (e) The air delivery path 75 is provided with an opening / closing valve 76 that closes when the air chamber A is not pressurized and opens when the air chamber A is pressurized, and the forced closing means 90 opens the opening / closing valve 76. Keep closed. Thereby, the on / off valve 76 provided in the air delivery path 75 can be used to ensure the forcible closing of the air delivery path 75 described in (a) above.

  (f) The forced closing means 90 keeps the concave inner surface 51C of the intermediate flange portion 51B of the piston guide 51 in pressure contact with the lower end surface of the hollow cylindrical portion 70A of the air piston 70, and holds the on-off valve 76 in a closed state. Thereby, it is possible to ensure the forcible closing of the air delivery path 75 using the on-off valve 76 of (e) described above.

  (g) The forcible closing means 90 includes a stopper 91 sandwiched at an interval between the head 40 and the outer surface of the cap 20 along the axial direction. The stopper 91 pushes the head 40 up against the cap 20, and the head 40 The air piston 70 in contact with the concave inner surface 51C of the intermediate flange portion 51B of the piston guide 51 fixed to the inner surface of the cap 20 is pressed against the inner surface of the cap 20, and the concave inner surface 51C of the intermediate flange portion 51B of the piston guide 51 is pressed against the hollow cylinder of the air piston 70. The pressure is maintained on the lower end surface of the portion 70A. Thereby, the stopper 91 can ensure the forcible closing of the air delivery path 75 using the on-off valve 76 of (f) described above.

  (h) The outer peripheral edge of the lower end surface of the hollow cylindrical portion 70A of the air piston 70 is kept in pressure contact with the inner peripheral side surface a of the concave inner surface 51C of the intermediate flange portion 51B of the piston guide 51 in a line seal shape. Thereby, the sealing in the closed state of the on-off valve 76 of (f) and (g) described above can be ensured.

  (i) When the concave inner surface 51C of the intermediate flange portion 51B of the piston guide 51 is maintained in pressure contact with the lower end surface of the hollow cylindrical portion 70A of the air piston 70, the bottom surface of the concave inner surface 51C of the intermediate flange portion 51B of the piston guide 51; A gap is provided between the lower end surfaces of the hollow cylindrical portion 70 </ b> A of the air piston 70. Thus, the bottom surface of the concave inner surface 51C of the intermediate flange portion 51B of the piston guide 51 and the lower end surface of the hollow cylindrical portion 70A of the air piston 70 do not abut against each other, and the concave inner surface 51C and the lower end surface of the hollow cylindrical portion 70A It is possible to ensure the pressure contact. Therefore, it is possible to ensure the forcible closing of the air delivery path 75 using the on-off valve 76 of the above (f), (g), and (h).

  The forced closing means 90 of the present invention may be a means for holding the on-off valve 76 in a closed state until the foam dispenser 10 is used, a means for sealing the air delivery path 75 until the foam dispenser 10 is used, and the like. For example, it is not limited to the stopper 91 described above.

  The present invention prevents the leakage of the liquid contents at the distribution stage or at the time of take-out after purchase by the consumer in the foam dispenser, and the air inside the cylinder expanded and contracted by the air piston with a simple configuration. It is possible to prevent outside water from entering the chamber and to suck outside air into the air chamber.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container body 1A Mouth part 10 Foam discharger 20 Cap 30 Cylinder 40 Head 42 Discharge port 52 Liquid piston 70 Air piston 71 Outside air intake path 72 Vent hole 73 Suction check valve 74 Air inlet port 75 Air delivery path 76 On-off valve 80 Foam Generator 90 Forced closing means 91 Stopper A Air chamber L Liquid chamber

Claims (6)

It has a head that can be reciprocated with respect to the cap fixed to the mouth of the container body and a cylinder that is installed inside the container body. Air is sent from each of the volume-variable air chambers to the foam generation unit, and the content liquid and air are mixed and foamed in the foam generation unit, and the generated foam is made dischargeable from the discharge port provided in the head.
An air piston interlocked with the reciprocating motion of the head is slidably disposed inside the cylinder, and an air chamber that is expanded and contracted by the air piston is formed on the front side of the air piston inside the cylinder, and is expanded by the air piston. A foam discharger that sucks external air into an air chamber that becomes negative pressure and sends the air in the air chamber compressed and compressed by the air piston to the foam generation unit,
An outside air intake path is provided on the back side of the air piston in the cylinder, and a vent hole provided in the cylinder so as to connect the outside air intake path to the upper space of the container body is closed by the air piston at the top dead center of the air piston. Provided at a position,
Air in which a suction check valve is formed inside the cylinder that is always closed when the air chamber is not negatively pressured and opened by the negative pressure of the air chamber to allow air to be sucked into the air chamber from the upper space of the container body. Provided at the bottom of the chamber,
A foam discharger characterized by comprising a forced closing means for forcibly closing an air delivery path for guiding air in an air chamber to a foam generating section. The air delivery path is provided with an open / close valve that closes when the air chamber is not pressurized and opens when the air chamber is pressurized,
The foam discharger according to claim 1, wherein the forcibly closing means holds the on-off valve in a closed state. The hollow cylinder portion of the air piston is loosely inserted so as to be relatively movable within a certain length range along the axial direction with respect to the outer periphery of the piston guide fixed to the head, and the inner periphery of the outer periphery of the piston guide and the hollow cylinder portion of the air piston An air delivery path is provided between the circumference and the lower end surface of the hollow cylindrical portion of the air piston is brought into contact with and separated from the concave inner surface of the intermediate flange portion which is a flange portion of the outer circumference of the piston guide. Formed,
The foam discharger according to claim 2, wherein the forcibly closing means maintains the concave inner surface of the intermediate flange portion of the piston guide in pressure contact with the lower end surface of the hollow cylindrical portion of the air piston, and holds the on-off valve in a closed state. The forced closing means comprises a stopper sandwiched between the head and the outer surface of the cap along the axial direction,
The stopper pushes the head up against the cap, presses the air piston in contact with the concave inner surface of the intermediate flange portion of the piston guide fixed to the head against the inner surface of the cap, and the concave inner surface of the intermediate flange portion of the piston guide against the air piston The foam discharger according to claim 3, which is kept in pressure contact with the lower end surface of the hollow cylindrical portion.   The foam discharger according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the outer peripheral edge of the lower end surface of the hollow cylinder portion of the air piston is pressed and maintained in a line seal shape on the inner peripheral side surface of the concave inner surface of the intermediate flange portion of the piston guide.   When the concave inner surface of the intermediate flange portion of the piston guide is maintained in pressure contact with the lower end surface of the hollow cylindrical portion of the air piston, the bottom surface of the concave inner surface of the intermediate flange portion of the piston guide and the lower end surface of the hollow cylindrical portion of the air piston The foam dispenser according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein a gap is provided.

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