JP2020104932A - Metering and spraying mechanism for aerosol container - Google Patents

Abstract

To prevent leakage of contents to an external space, ensure accuracy in metering contents for each use, and ensure contents spraying force during a spraying operation, in a metering and spraying mechanism that meters the contents whose usage is limited for each use and freely sprays the metered contents.SOLUTION: The present invention provides a metering and spraying mechanism, in which a fixed amount of contents in a container body 1 flow into a fixed-amount chamber A in an open state of a fixed-amount chamber inflow valves (16a, 20) interlocked via a metering stem 13 with a metering operation, the contents in a metering housing 16 are sprayed to the external space region in an open state of fixed-amount chamber outlet valves (4, 11a) interlocked via a spraying stem 11 with a spraying operation. The fixed-amount chamber A is disposed between an inner surface portion of the metering housing 16 disposed inside the container body 1, and a piston 18 moving in a first direction inside the metering housing 16 by pressure action of a propellant inside the container body 1, and the piston 18 is biased by a spring 19 in a second direction opposite to the first direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a metering and ejecting mechanism for an aerosol container in the form of measuring the content to be injected next time in a quantity determined by a metering operation and ejecting the measured content according to the injection operation.

For example, "1 to 2 ml" of the content such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals whose usage amount is limited at each use is pre-measured, and the measured content is freely sprayed to the application target such as face or head. , Is designed to prevent excessive use.

Part of the contents of the aerosol container body is weighed once in a metering chamber provided outside the aerosol container by a weighing operation other than the content injection operation, and the contents of the metering chamber weighed in the subsequent injection operation are measured. A metering injection mechanism for injecting into an external space area has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

In the case of this metering injection mechanism, the metering chamber is set by a piston urged by an elastic member, and this piston acts so as to reduce the capacity of the metering chamber. The contents flow into the metering chamber from the container body due to the gas pressure of the aerosol container that resists the contracting action of the piston during the metering operation, and from the metering chamber to the outside due to the contracting action of the piston during the injection operation. It is injected into the space area.

JP, 2000-0844444, A

In this conventional measuring/injecting mechanism, a metering chamber for measuring is provided outside the aerosol container.

Therefore, if the injection operation is not performed after the metering operation, the pressurized content in the metering chamber may leak from the metering chamber to the external space through a gap of Pinton or the like.

If the contents section of the fixed quantity room leaks, there is room for improvement in that the accuracy of the usage amount at each use cannot be guaranteed.

In addition, as a condition that the content flows from the aerosol container into the metering chamber during the metering operation, a pressure difference is set so that the pressure generated by the contraction action of the piston is lower than the gas pressure in the aerosol container. There is a need to.

Therefore, in order to ensure the reliable operation of the metering operation, the biasing force of the elastic member must be set to be significantly smaller than the gas pressure of the aerosol container that changes with the temperature, with a margin. I couldn't increase the jet power of.

Therefore, in the present invention,
(11) By providing a measuring chamber inside the aerosol container, it is possible to prevent leakage of the measured contents to the external space area and to ensure the accuracy of measuring the contents for each use.
(12) By utilizing the gas pressure of the aerosol container for the content ejection operation, the ejection force of the content during the ejection operation is secured,
(13) By providing two stems for injection operation and metering operation in a coaxial manner in which one penetrates the other, the arrangement of these stems and the attachment of the operation part to these stems are facilitated,
(14) To facilitate the use of the injection operation part with an injection port,
It is intended for such things.

The present invention solves the above problems as follows.
(1) The contents of the container main body (for example, the container main body 1 described later) are stored in the fixed quantity chamber (for example, the below-described container main body 1) while the metering chamber inflow valve (for example, the conical hole portion 16a and the ball valve 20 described below) that is interlocked with the metering operation is opened. A fixed amount of gas flows into the fixed amount chamber A), and the contents of the fixed amount chamber are injected into the external space region with the fixed amount chamber outflow valve (for example, the stem gasket 4 and the lateral hole portion 11a described later) that is interlocked with the injection operation being opened. In the metering injection mechanism of the aerosol container,
A metering stem for opening and closing the metering chamber inlet valve (for example, a metering stem 13 described later);
An injection operation stem (for example, an injection stem 11 described later) that opens and closes the constant-volume chamber outflow valve,
The quantitative chamber is
An inner surface portion of a measuring housing (for example, a measuring housing 16 described later) disposed inside the container body, and a piston (for example, moving inside the measuring housing in a first direction by a pressure action of the propellant inside the measuring housing). And the piston 18) described later,
The piston is
Is urged by an elastic member (for example, a spring 19 described later) in a second direction opposite to the first direction,
The one of the configuration mode is used.
(2) In (1) above,
The metering operation stem and the injection operation stem,
Provided in a coaxial manner,
The one of the configuration mode is used.
(3) In the above (1) and (2),
The injection operation stem,
A communication passage (for example, a content passage portion 11b described later) from the metering chamber outlet valve to the external space area is provided,
The one of the configuration mode is used.

The object of the present invention is a metering/injecting mechanism of an aerosol container having such a configuration.

The present invention, by taking the above configuration,
(21) Providing a measuring chamber inside the aerosol container prevents the leakage of the measured contents to the external space area and ensures the accuracy of measuring the contents for each use,
(22) By utilizing the gas pressure of the aerosol container for the content ejection operation, the ejection force of the content during the ejection operation is secured,
(23) By providing two stems for the injection operation and the metering operation in a coaxial manner in which one penetrates the other, the arrangement of these stems and the attachment of the operation portion to these stems are facilitated,
(24) It facilitates the use of the injection operation part with an injection port,
be able to.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the non-measurement mode of the rotation measurement operation type metering injection mechanism of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the measurement completion mode at the time of performing the measurement operation of the measurement injection mechanism of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which showed the measurement cam operation|movement of the measurement injection mechanism of FIG. 1, (a) is the state where the cam shapes of a drive cam part and a non-drive cam part match, (b) is a drive cam part and a non-drive cam. It shows a state in which the cam shape does not match with the part and is farthest away. It is explanatory drawing which shows the injection mode when the injection operation of the metering injection mechanism of FIG. 1 is performed. It is explanatory drawing which shows the non-measurement mode of the metering injection mechanism of the push-down measurement operation type of this invention.

A mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

As a general rule, the components with the reference numbers with the following letters (for example, the upper tubular portion 3a) indicate that they are a part of the components (for example, the stem housing 3) of the numerical portion of the reference numbers.

here,
1 is a container body containing the contents to be injected and a compressed gas as a propellant,
2 is a mounting cup attached to the upper opening of the container body 1 in a liquid-tight and airtight state,
3 is a stem housing fitted and fixed to the mounting cup 2,
3a constitutes an upper side of the stem housing 3, and an upper cylindrical portion in which a lower portion of an injection stem 11 to be described later and the like are arranged in an internal space area thereof,
Reference numeral 3b denotes a lower side of the stem housing 3, and a lower cylindrical portion in which a lower portion of a measuring stem 13 described later is disposed in an internal space area of the stem housing 3,
Reference numeral 4 denotes a stem gasket (outflow valve) which constitutes an outflow valve between the side opening 11a and an outer opening side of the lateral hole 11a described later,
Are shown respectively.

Also,
5 is the target of the operation of injecting the measured contents, the injection button provided with the contents passage,
5a is an injection port that acts as an injection outflow portion of the contents,
5b is a cylindrical hanging portion that is provided such that its lower end portion abuts on a stem bracket 7 to be described later, and transmits an operating force to the injection button 5 to the stem bracket 7.
A communication pipe 6 is provided between the injection button 5 and a stem bracket 7 to be described later, transmits an operation force to the injection button 5 to the stem bracket 7, and conducts the contents from the stem bracket 7 to the injection button 5. ，
Reference numeral 7 is a stem bracket that is fitted to an injection stem 11 described later, transmits an operating force from the injection button 5 to the injection stem 11, and conducts the contents from the injection stem 11 to the communication pipe 6,
8 is a target for weighing contents, and an inward annular convex portion provided at a lower end portion of an outer tubular portion thereof is rotatably engaged with an outward annular groove portion provided on an outer peripheral surface of a shoulder cover 10 described later. Metering ring,
Reference numeral 8a denotes a wavy driving cam portion provided around the lower end surface of the inner cylindrical portion of the measuring ring 8,
9 is a measuring cam that engages with the lower end of the inner cylindrical portion of the measuring ring 8,
Reference numeral 9a denotes a wave-shaped driven cam portion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the measuring cam 9 so as to circulate as an upward step,
Reference numeral 9b denotes a hanging rod-like portion that hangs down from the center of the lower surface of the measuring cam 9 and abuts on an upper end portion of a measuring stem 13 described later,
Reference numeral 9c denotes a total of two vertical ribs which are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the measuring cam 9 and which engage with a later-described vertical groove portion 10a to prevent the measuring cam 9 from rotating.
10 is a shoulder cover attached to the outer peripheral surface of the mounting cup 2,
10a is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical standing portion on the upper surface of the shoulder cover 10 and has two vertical groove portions for guiding the vertical rib 9c in the vertical direction.
Are shown respectively.

Also,
Reference numeral 11 denotes an injection stem that is attached to the stem bracket 7 and exhibits an outflow valve action with the stem gasket 4,
Reference numeral 11a denotes a lateral hole portion (outflow valve) for communication between the inside and the outside, which constitutes an outflow valve with the inner peripheral surface of the stem gasket 4,
11b is a content passage portion formed on the downstream side of the lateral hole portion 11a,
A spring 12 is provided inside the upper tubular portion 3a and biases the injection stem 11 to a closed state.
Reference numeral 13 denotes a rod-shaped measuring stem provided so as to penetrate the central axis of the injection stem 11,
14 is a spring for urging the measuring stem 13 upward,
An O-ring 15 is provided between the inner peripheral surface of the injection stem 11 and the outer peripheral surface of the metering stem 13 to prevent the contents from leaking from the inside of the upper cylindrical portion 3a to the external space region,
16 is a sheath-shaped measuring housing,
Reference numeral 16a denotes a conical hole portion (inflow valve) provided on the bottom surface of the measuring housing 16 in a downwardly enlarged manner,
Reference numeral 17 denotes a measuring housing lid that connects the upper opening of the measuring housing 16 and the outer peripheral surface of the stem housing 3,
Reference numeral 17a is provided in the measuring housing lid 17, and communicates the inside and the outside of the measuring housing 16 with a total of two communication holes for passing the vapor-phase propellant,
Reference numeral 18 denotes an annular piston which is provided between the inner peripheral surface of the measuring housing 16 and the outer peripheral surface of the lower cylindrical portion 3b of the stem housing 3 in a liquid-tight manner so as to be vertically slidable,
A reference numeral 19 is provided between the bottom surface of the measuring housing 16 and the piston 18, and urges the piston 18 upward so as to suck the contents into the metering chamber A described later during the measuring operation.
20 is a ball valve (inflow valve) that forms an inflow valve with the conical hole portion 16a,
Reference numeral 21 is a spring for urging the ball valve 20 toward the conical hole portion 16a to set the inflow valve to a closed state,
22 is a suction pipe bracket that is attached to a cylindrical portion that hangs outside the bottom surface of the measuring housing 16 in a manner that surrounds the conical hole portion 16a, and that holds the lower end of the spring 21.
A suction pipe 23 is attached to the suction pipe bracket 22 and introduces the contents of the container body 1 into the conical hole portion 16a.
A is a metering chamber defined by a piston 18 inside the metering housing 16 and storing contents by a metering operation,
Are shown respectively.

The container body 1, the injection button 5, the communicating pipe 6, the stem bracket 7, the measuring ring 8, the measuring cam 9 and the shoulder cover 10 are used only in the "rotational measuring operation type measuring and ejecting mechanism" of FIGS. ..

In addition, in FIG.
Reference numeral 31 denotes a container body containing the contents to be injected and a liquefied gas as a propellant,
31a is an annular groove in which a lower end of a cover cap 33 described later is engaged and held,
32 is a target of the injection operation of the measured contents, and an injection button having a contents passage,
32a is an injection port that acts as an injection/outflow portion of the contents,
33 is a sheath-shaped cover cap that is detachable from the container body 31;
34 is a measuring button which is engaged with the central hole of the top surface of the cover cap 33 in a vertically slidable manner,
35 is a spring for urging the measuring button 34 upward,
A stopper 36 is composed of a C-shaped cross section that engages with the outer periphery of the spring 35 and an inverted T-shaped cross section for gripping, and is a stopper that prevents the measuring button 34 from being pushed down while the spring 35 is engaged,
Are shown respectively.

Here, the stem housing 3, the injection buttons 5 and 32, the measuring ring 8, the measuring cam 9, the shoulder cover 10, the injection stem 11, the measuring stem 13, the measuring housing 16, the measuring housing lid 17, the piston 18, the suction pipe. The bracket 22, the suction tube 23, the cover cap 33, the measuring button 34, and the stopper 36 are made of plastic such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyacetal, nylon, polybutylene terephthalate.

The container bodies 1, 31, the ball valve 20, and the springs 12, 14, 19, 21, 35 are made of plastic or metal, the mounting cup 2 is made of metal, and the stem gasket 4 and The O-ring 15 is made of rubber or elastomer, for example.

FIG. 1 shows a non-weighing mode of the "rotational metering operation type metering/injection mechanism",
(31) The inflow valve (the conical hole portion 16a and the ball valve 20) into the fixed quantity chamber A is closed, and the fixed quantity chamber A is set in a shut-off state with the space inside the container body outside thereof.
(32) The outflow valve (horizontal hole 11a and stem gasket 4) from the fixed quantity chamber A is closed, and the fixed quantity chamber A is set in a shut-off state from the external space region
(33) The quantitative chamber A is set to the minimum state in which the piston 18 inside the measuring housing 16 has moved downward.

The measuring stem 13 is provided in a coaxial manner so as to penetrate the central axis of the injection stem 11. As a result, it is not necessary to provide a hole for penetrating the stem corresponding to each stem in the mounting cup 2, and it is not necessary to provide two stem housings 3 corresponding to each stem.

Further, by providing the stem through hole at the center of the mounting cup 2 and disposing the injection stem 11 and the metering stem 13 which are set in the same manner in the stem through hole, there is no directivity at each stem center. Assembling workability is improved when the stem bracket 7, the shoulder cover 10, the measuring cam 9 and other various operating members are attached to the mounting cup 2, the injection stem 11 and the measuring stem 13.

A communication passage (content passage portion 11b) from the container body 1 to the external space region is provided in the injection stem 11. Thereby, the injection port 5a to the external space area can be easily provided on the injection button 5 for the injection operation.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the measuring ring 8 is rotated, and each of the measuring cam 9 driven by this and the measuring stem 13 abutting on the hanging rod portion 9b of the measuring cam 9 are moved downward.
(41) The inflow valve (the conical hole portion 16a and the ball valve 20) into the metering chamber A is opened by the lower end of the metering stem 13 pushing the ball valve 20 downward against the spring 21, and the metering chamber A is outside thereof. It is set to communicate with the internal space of the container body of
(42) In the metering chamber A, the piston 18 inside the measuring housing 16 is moved upward by the urging force of the spring 19 until it comes into contact with the measuring housing lid 17, and a certain amount of the content is sucked up from the suction pipe 23.

The upper and lower space regions of the piston 18 are in communication with the same space region containing the contents and the propellant outside the measuring housing 16 through the communication hole 17a or the suction pipe 23, respectively, and the pressure difference other than the drop of the contents is reached. Therefore, the urging force of the spring 19 may be such that the piston 18 is moved upward to suck up the contents, and it is not necessary to add a margin due to temperature change of gas pressure as in the past.

From this state, when the rotating operation of the measuring ring 8 is stopped and the measuring ring 8 is freed, the measuring cam 9 and the measuring stem 13 which are interlocked therewith are moved upward by the restoring force of the spring 14, and the measuring ring 8 follows the measuring cam 9. Returns to the same state as in Figure 1,
(51) The inflow valve (the conical hole portion 16a and the ball valve 20) into the metering chamber A is closed, and the metering chamber A is set in a shut-off state with the outer space of the container main body outside thereof.
(52) The fixed amount chamber A stores the contents, and the piston 18 inside the measuring housing 16 is set to the maximum state in which it is moved upward.

Since there is no pressure difference between the inside and outside of the fixed amount chamber A even if the fixed amount chamber A is left with the contents stored therein, the stored contents are transferred from the fixed amount chamber A to the seal portion of the piston 18 or the conical hole. The accuracy can be secured without leaking through the contact surface between the portion 16a and the ball valve 20.

Further, since the fixed quantity chamber A is provided inside the container body 1, the contents stored in the fixed quantity chamber A do not leak to the external space area.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the weighing ring 8 and the weighing cam 9 when the weighing operation is performed.

The measuring ring 8 is only rotatable with respect to the shoulder cover 10, and the measuring cam 9 is only movable in the vertical direction with respect to the shoulder cover 10.

FIG. 3A shows a state in which the measuring ring 8 is not being operated, or the cam shapes of the driving cam portion 8a of the measuring ring 8 and the driven cam portion 9a of the measuring cam 9 match each other during the measuring operation. Is shown. At this time, the measuring stem 13 is not pushed down.

The measuring cam 9 is biased upward by a spring 14 together with the measuring stem 13 that abuts on the hanging rod portion 9b. Therefore, when the metering ring 8 is not operated for metering, the metering ring 8 rotates in a manner that the drive cam portion 8a follows the driven cam portion 9a of the metering cam 9 which is biased upward, and naturally, as shown in FIG. The state of (a) is obtained.

FIG. 3B shows that, during the weighing operation of the weighing ring 8, the cam shapes of the driving cam portion 8a of the weighing ring 8 and the driven cam portion 9a of the weighing cam 9 do not match, and the peak portions of the wavy cams are Are in contact with each other.

When the measuring ring 8 is rotated with respect to the shoulder cover 10, the states of FIGS. 3A and 3B are alternately repeated, and the measuring cam 9 and the measuring stem 13 are pushed down each time, but the measuring stem 13 If it is pushed down once, the weighing operation is completed.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the injection button 5 is pushed down and the contents are injected from the fixed amount chamber A to the external space region,
(61) Pushing down the injection button 5 pushes down the injection stem 11 via the communication pipe 6 and the stem bracket 7,
(61) The inflow valve (the conical hole portion 16a and the ball valve 20) into the metering chamber A is closed, and the metering chamber A is set in a shut-off state with the outer space of the container main body outside thereof.
(62) The outflow valve (the lateral hole 11a and the stem gasket 4) from the metering chamber A is opened by pushing down the injection stem 11, and the metering chamber A is "content passage part 11b-path part of stem bracket 7-, The communication pipe 6-the passage portion of the injection button 5-the injection port 32a" is set in a communication state with the external space region,
(62) In the constant volume chamber A, the piston 18 moves downward against the urging force of the spring 19 by the gas pressure of the propellant from the communication hole 17a, and ejects the content from the ejection port 32a to the external space area. While moving to the minimum state of FIG.

In this way, the injection of the content to the external space area is performed by the gas pressure of the propellant contained in the container body 1, so that the decrease in the injection force is small.

This injection force is affected by the urging force of the spring 19 for urging the piston 18 in the upward direction, but as described above, this urging force may be sufficient to suck up the contents, and the gas pressure as in the past may be used. Since it is not necessary to add a margin due to the temperature change of 1), the influence on the injection force can be reduced.

FIG. 5 shows a “push-down weighing operation type metering/injection mechanism”, in which a push-down type weighing button 34 is adopted in place of the rotary type measuring ring 8 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

A communication passage (content passage portion 11b) from the container body 31 to the external space area is provided in the injection stem 11. Accordingly, the injection port 32a to the external space area can be easily provided on the injection button 32 for the injection operation.

The weighing operation is performed by pulling out the stopper 36 for preventing erroneous operation in the left direction of the drawing with the cover cap 33 attached to the container body 31, and then pressing down the weighing button 34. The lower end of the measuring button 34 abuts against the upper end of the measuring stem 13 and pushes it down, so that the contents are stored in the metering chamber A as in FIG.

In the injection operation, when the cover cap 33 is removed from the container body 31 and the injection button 32 is pushed down, the injection stem 11 is interlocked, and the contents of the metering chamber A are moved to the external space area from the injection port 32a as in FIG. Is jetted.

Of course, the metering and ejecting mechanism of the aerosol container of the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and for example,
(71) Use a trigger lever type operation unit instead of the injection buttons 5 and 32,
(72) Instead of the stem housing 3, a dedicated stem housing is used for each of the injection stem 11 and the measurement stem 13.
You may do it.

The aerosol-type products equipped with the above-described metering/injection mechanism include various products such as cleaning agents, cleaning agents, antiperspirants, repellents, insecticides, pharmaceuticals, quasi drugs, cosmetics, and laundry glue.

As the contents to be contained in the aerosol container, various forms such as liquid, cream and gel are used. The components blended in the contents are, for example, powdery substances, oil components, alcohols, surfactants, polymer compounds, active ingredients according to each application, water and the like.

As the propellant contained in the aerosol container, liquefied petroleum gas, liquefied gas such as dimethyl ether, or compressed gas such as carbon dioxide gas, nitrogen gas, compressed air, oxygen gas, nitrous oxide, or a mixed gas thereof is used.

1: Container body 2: Mounting cup 3: Stem housing 3a: Upper tubular part 3b: Lower tubular part 4: Stem gasket (outflow valve)

5: Injection button 5a: Injection port 5b: Cylindrical hanging part 6: Communication pipe 7: Stem bracket 8: Measuring ring 8a: Driving cam part 9: Measuring cam 9a: Driven cam part 9b: Hanging bar part 9c: Vertical direction Rib 10: Shoulder cover 10a: Vertical groove portion

11: injection stem 11a: lateral hole (outflow valve)
11b: Content passage 12: Spring 13: Measuring stem 14: Spring 15: O-ring 16: Measuring housing 16a: Conical hole (inflow valve)
17: Measuring housing lid 17a: Communication hole 18: Piston 19: Spring 20: Ball valve (inflow valve)
21: Spring 22: Suction tube bracket 23: Suction tube A: Fixed volume chamber

(Fig. 5)
31: Container body 31a: Annular groove 32: Injection button 32a: Injection port 33: Cover cap 34: Measuring button 35: Spring 36: Stopper

Claims (3)

A certain amount of the contents of the container body flows into the metering chamber when the metering chamber inflow valve that is linked to the metering operation is open, and the contents of the metering chamber is the external space area when the metering chamber outflow valve that is linked to the injection operation is open. In the metering injection mechanism of the aerosol container that is injected into
A metering stem for opening and closing the metering chamber inlet valve,
An injection operation stem that opens and closes the metering chamber outlet valve,
The quantitative chamber is
An inner surface portion of a measuring housing disposed inside the container body, and a piston that moves in the first direction inside the measuring housing by the pressure action of the propellant inside the container.
The piston is
Is urged by an elastic member in a second direction opposite to the first direction,
A metering and jetting mechanism for an aerosol container, which is characterized in that The metering operation stem and the injection operation stem,
Provided in a coaxial manner,
The metering/injecting mechanism for an aerosol container according to claim 1, wherein: The injection operation stem,
A communication passage from the metering chamber outlet valve to the external space area is provided,
The metering/injecting mechanism for an aerosol container according to claim 2, wherein:

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