JP3709179B2 - Discharge device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a discharge device used as a container for a fluid medium of chemicals such as fragrances and cosmetics such as perfumes and hairdressing agents.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a discharge device in which a fluid medium such as a fragrance, a perfume, and a hair styling agent is housed in a cylindrical container and the fluid medium is ejected by a pump attached to the top of the container.
[0003]
As the discharge device, for example, there is one in which a pump is mounted on the top of a cylindrical container, and a tube is suspended from the pump into the container. In the discharge device, when the pump is operated, the fluid medium stored in the container is sucked up through the tube and discharged from a discharge port provided in the pump.
[0004]
In the discharge device, when the fluid medium is discharged by the pump, air instead flows into the container and is replaced with the fluid medium. Therefore, the fluid medium is pressed downward by the air and can be sucked up through the tube even when the volume of the fluid medium is reduced.
[0005]
There is also known a discharge device in which a propellant such as a liquefied gas is enclosed in advance in a container instead of replacing the discharge amount of the fluid medium with air. In such a discharge device, when the fluid medium is discharged by the pump and the inside of the container has a negative pressure, the liquefied gas is vaporized and presses the fluid medium downward.
[0006]
By the way, depending on the type of the fluid medium, there are some fluid media that are not desirably in contact with gas such as air or the liquefied gas. As a discharge device for such a fluid medium, for example, there are containers described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-52068, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2504308, and the like.
[0007]
As shown in FIG. 5, the discharge device 14 described in the above publication has a cylindrical container 2 with both inner and outer surfaces having an opening 15 at the bottom, a pump 4 mounted on the top 3 of the container 2, and a container 2. The gasket 16 is slidably provided along the inner surface of the peripheral wall. The pump 4 presses the head 7 and repeats the vertical movement to generate a pumping action. The pump 4 sucks the fluid medium 6 stored in the container 2 from the suction port 8, and the discharge port provided in the head 6. 9 is discharged.
[0008]
The gasket 16 is formed of a synthetic resin having moderate elasticity, and includes a pressure contact portion 17 formed in a thin tongue shape on the outer peripheral side. The gasket 16 is inserted into the container 2 from the bottom opening 15 of the container 2, and the pressure contact portion 17 is pressed against the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the container 2 to seal the bottom opening 15.
[0009]
In the conventional discharge device 14, the fluid 4 is discharged by moving the pump 4 up and down, and when the fluid medium 6 in the container 2 decreases, the inside of the container 2 becomes negative pressure and the gasket 16 is sucked. The gasket 16 is pressed into the container 2 by the atmospheric pressure. As a result, the gasket 16 gradually moves in the direction of the pump 4 along the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the container 2 as indicated by the arrow as the flow medium 6 in the container 2 decreases.
[0010]
Therefore, according to the discharge device 14, while the fluid medium 6 is stored in the container 2 in a state where it is cut off from a gas such as air, it can be discharged without being brought into contact with a gas such as air. However, in the discharge container 14, when the gasket 16 deteriorates, the sealing performance is lowered, and there is a concern that the fluid medium 6 may leak.
[0011]
In the discharge device 14, the container 2 is usually formed of an opaque material. However, in order to check the state of the stored fluid medium, it can be considered that the container 2 is formed of a transparent material. However, if the container 2 is formed of a transparent material, the gasket 16 becomes visible, so that cosmetic properties as appearance quality may not be obtained.
[0012]
Therefore, when the container 2 is formed of a transparent material, a discharge device that visually arouses beauty is desired.
[0013]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In view of such circumstances, the present invention provides an ejection device that has excellent sealing properties, can confirm the state of a fluid medium accommodated in a container, and can arouse aesthetics visually. For the purpose.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve such an object, a film-like elastic member having stretchability is provided at the bottom of the container, and the film-like elastic member closely adheres to the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the container as the fluid medium in the container is discharged and reduced. Then, it can be considered to extend in the top direction. However, in this case, the film-like elastic member is closely attached to the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the container at the outer peripheral portion, so that the extension is suppressed compared to the inner peripheral portion, and finally the fracture occurs. There is to do.
[0015]
Therefore, the discharge device of the present invention is a discharge device that discharges a fluid medium stored in a transparent container having at least a cylindrical inner surface shape by a pump means mounted on the top of the container, As the fluid medium is discharged and reduced, the bottom of the container is provided with a film-like elastic member that closely adheres to the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the container and extends in the top direction. Is also formed to be thick.
[0016]
In the discharge device of the present invention, since the bottom of the container is closed with the film-like elastic member instead of the gasket, excellent sealing performance can be obtained. Further, since the discharge device of the present invention does not include a gasket, even if the container is transparent, the gasket is not visible, and the cosmetic quality as an appearance quality is not impaired.
[0017]
The film-like elastic member closely contacts the inner surface of the cylindrical peripheral wall of the container and extends in the top direction as the flow medium in the container decreases. Convex hemisphere in the apex direction. The hemispherical shape is aesthetically pleasing, and an excellent cosmetic quality can be obtained.
[0018]
In addition, since the film-like elastic member is formed such that at least the inner peripheral portion is thicker than the outer peripheral portion, even if the amount of stretching of the inner peripheral portion increases as the flow medium in the container decreases. There is no breakage. As a result, the discharge device of the present invention can discharge substantially no fluid medium in the container.
[0019]
In the discharge device according to the present invention, the transparent container includes a bottom cover member attached to an outer surface of the peripheral wall of the container outside the film-shaped elastic member, and the bottom cover member is arranged outside and on the film-shaped elastic member side. The communication hole part which communicates is provided.
[0020]
The bottom cover member is attached to the outer surface of the peripheral wall of the container outside the film-like elastic member, whereby the film-like elastic member can be sandwiched and fixed between the container and the container. Further, the bottom cover member is provided on the outside of the film-like elastic member, so that when the film-like elastic member extends in the top direction and becomes thin, it comes into contact with an external projection or the like. Can be protected from being broken.
[0021]
In the discharge device of the present invention, it is preferable that the film-like elastic member is made of a hydrogenated styrene elastomer in order to enable the extension.
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the discharge device of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing the operation of the discharge device of the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is the configuration of the film-like elastic member shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory sectional view showing the configuration of another film-like elastic member.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 1, the discharge device 1 of the present embodiment is fixed to the bottom of the container 2, the transparent container 2 whose inner and outer surfaces having a bottom opened are cylindrical, the pump 4 mounted on the top 3 of the container 2, and the container 2. And a film-like elastic member 5 that closes the bottom, and a fluid medium 6 is accommodated in the container 2.
[0024]
The pump 4 has a structure known per se, and generates a pump action by pressing the head 7 and repeatedly moving up and down, and sucks the fluid medium 6 in the container 2 from the suction port 8. The ink is discharged from the discharge port 9 provided at 7.
[0025]
The film-like elastic member 5 is formed such that the inner surface of the container 2 is convex, the inner peripheral portion 5a is thicker, and gradually becomes thinner toward the outer peripheral portion 5b. Moreover, the surface which becomes the outer side of the container 2 is a plane. The membranous elastic member 5 is sandwiched between the container 2 by a bottom cover member 10 fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the container 2. The bottom cover member 10 includes a communication hole portion 11 that communicates the outside with the membrane elastic member 5 side.
[0026]
Examples of the fluid medium 6 include cosmetic liquids and liquid pharmaceuticals.
[0027]
According to the discharge device 1 of the present embodiment having the above configuration, the fluid medium 6 can be discharged by moving the pump 4 up and down. When the fluid medium 6 in the container 2 decreases due to the discharge, the inside of the container 2 becomes negative pressure, while the film-like elastic member 5 extends due to the atmospheric pressure of the air flowing from the communication hole portion 11 of the bottom lid member 10. .
[0028]
As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the outer peripheral portion 5 b is in close contact with the inner surface of the cylindrical peripheral wall of the container 2, and the inner peripheral portion 5 a has a convex hemispherical shape in the direction of the top portion 3. At this time, the outer peripheral portion 5b of the film-like elastic member 5 is restrained from being stretched by contact friction with the inner peripheral wall surface of the container 2, but the inner peripheral portion 5a is not freely in contact with the inner peripheral wall surface of the container 2, The stretching amount becomes large. However, in this embodiment, since the inner peripheral part 5a of the film-like elastic member 5 is formed thicker than the outer peripheral part 5b, there is no possibility of breaking even if the amount of stretching becomes large.
[0029]
Further, the inner peripheral portion 5a gradually becomes thinner as the amount of stretching increases, and there is a concern that the inner peripheral portion 5a may come into contact with an external projection or the like and break. However, in this embodiment, since the bottom cover member 10 is disposed outside the film-like elastic member 5, the inner peripheral portion 5a of the film-like elastic member 5 which has become thin as described above is an external projection. It can be protected from contact with the like.
[0030]
In order to extend as described above, the film-like elastic member 5 is desirably formed of a flexible material having a breaking elongation of 500 to 2000%. In addition, since the film-like elastic member 5 is in direct contact with the fluid medium 6, it is desirable that the film-like elastic member 5 has chemical resistance that does not exhibit alteration such as swelling and curing due to contact with the fluid medium 6. Furthermore, the film-like elastic member 5 may be eluted with components that alter the color, fragrance, etc. of the fluid medium 6 by contact with the fluid medium 6, or may adsorb the components of the fluid medium 6. Desirably not.
[0031]
Examples of the material having the desirable conditions include elastomers such as hydrogenated styrene elastomers. When the hydrogenated styrene elastomer is, for example, styrene-butadiene or styrene-isoprene, the viscosity of a 10 wt% toluene solution (30 ° C.) is in the range of 1000 mP · S or more in order to satisfy the above conditions. The styrene content is preferably in the range of 15 to 35 mol%, and further preferably contains a softening agent. It is known that the solution viscosity of a specific polymer is related to the molecular weight of the polymer. For example, JIS K 6721 “vinyl chloride resin test method” describes a method of calculating the molecular weight from the solution viscosity.
[0032]
The film-like elastic member 5 made of the hydrogenated styrene-based elastomer is very flexible and therefore difficult to handle and difficult to fix to the bottom of the container 2. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 3A, a cylindrical portion 12 that rises in the direction of the container 2 is provided on the outer peripheral edge of the film-like elastic member 5, and a cylindrical portion is formed at the bottom of the container 2. The engaging part 2a with which 12 is engaged is formed. As a result, the film-like elastic member 5 is easily fixed to the bottom of the container 2 by fitting the film-like elastic member 5 to the container 2 so that the cylindrical portion 12 is engaged with the engaging portion 2a. be able to.
[0033]
When the membrane elastic member 5 extends as shown in FIG. 2, a large tension acts on the outer peripheral portion 5b of the membrane elastic member 5 sandwiched between the container 2 and the bottom cover member 10, and the membrane shape There is a concern that the elastic member 5 falls off the container 2. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 3A, the outer peripheral portion 5b of the film-like elastic member 5 and the cylindrical portion 12 are connected by a connection portion 13 thinner than the cylindrical portion 12, The connecting portion 13 is sandwiched between the container 2 and the bottom lid member 10.
[0034]
In this case, in order for the cylindrical portion 12 to disengage from the engaging portion 2 a, the connection portion 13 thinner than the cylindrical portion 12 is sandwiched between the container 2 and the bottom cover member 10. You must pass through the part. Therefore, even if a large tension acts on the outer peripheral portion 5 b of the film-like elastic member 5, it is possible to prevent the film-like elastic member 5 from dropping from the container 2.
[0035]
In the present embodiment, the bottom lid member 10 is fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall of the container 2, but the connecting part 13 is securely clamped between the container 2 and the cylindrical part 12 is prevented from coming off. In addition, the bottom cover member 10 may be bonded or screwed to the outer peripheral surface of the container 2.
[0036]
Further, as shown in FIG. 3A, the membrane-like elastic member 5 of the present embodiment has a convex surface on the inner side of the container 2 and a flat surface on the outer side. Any shape may be used as long as 5a is thicker than the outer peripheral portion 5b. As such a shape, for example, when both the inner surface and the outer surface of the container 2 as shown in FIG. 3B are convex, the container 2 as shown in FIG. For example, the inner surface is convex and the outer surface is concave.
[0037]
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the film-like elastic member 5 may have a shape in which an inner peripheral portion 5a thicker than the outer peripheral portion 5b is connected to a thin outer peripheral portion 5b through a step.
[0038]
In the present embodiment, the container 2 having both inner and outer surfaces having a cylindrical shape is described. However, the container 2 only needs to have at least a cylindrical inner surface shape, and the outer surface shape is any shape. It may be present and is not limited to a cylindrical shape.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration example of a discharge device according to the present invention.
2 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing the operation of the ejection device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the film-like elastic member shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing the configuration of another film-like elastic member.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration example of a conventional discharge device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Discharge device, 2 ... Container, 4 ... Pump means, 5 ... Membrane elastic member, 5a ... Inner peripheral part, 5b ... Outer peripheral part, 6 ... Fluid medium, 10 ... Bottom cover member, ... Communication hole part.

Claims (3)

A discharge device for discharging a fluid medium stored in a transparent container having at least a cylindrical inner surface shape by pump means mounted on the top of the container,
As the fluid medium in the container is discharged and reduced, the bottom of the container is provided with a film-like elastic member that adheres to the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the container and extends in the top direction, and the film-like elastic member has at least an inner peripheral part. A discharge device, wherein the discharge device is formed to be thicker than an outer peripheral portion. The transparent container includes a bottom lid member attached to an outer surface of the peripheral wall of the container outside the membrane elastic member, and the bottom lid member has a communication hole portion that communicates the outside with the membrane elastic member side. The ejection device according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The discharge device according to claim 1, wherein the film-like elastic member is made of a hydrogenated styrene elastomer.

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