JP3782047B2 - Discharge device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a discharge device used as a container for chemicals such as fragrances and cosmetic liquids such as perfumes and hairdressing agents.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are known discharge devices that store liquids such as fragrances, perfumes, hairdressing agents and the like in a cylindrical container and discharge the liquid 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, by operating the pump, the liquid 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 liquid is discharged by the pump, air instead flows into the container and is replaced with the liquid. Therefore, the liquid is pressed downward by air and can be sucked up through the tube even when the volume of the liquid is reduced.
[0005]
There is also known a discharge device (for example, air spray or the like) that encloses a jetting gas liquefied in a container in advance instead of replacing the discharge amount of the liquid with air. In such a discharge device, an ejection valve is provided at the top of the container in place of the pump, and the valve is opened by a pressing operation of the ejection valve to discharge (eject) the liquid inside the container.
[0006]
However, depending on the type of the liquid, there are some liquids that are not desirably in contact with a gas such as air or the jetting gas. Therefore, as a discharge device for such a liquid, 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 10 described in the publication includes a cylindrical container 12 having an opening 11 at the bottom, a pump 13 attached to the top 12 a of the container 12, and the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the container 12. And a gasket 14 slidably provided along the surface. The pump 13 presses the head 15 and repeats the vertical movement to generate a pumping action. The pump 13 sucks the liquid stored in the container 12 from the suction port 16 and from the discharge port 17 provided in the head 15. Discharge.
[0008]
The gasket 14 is formed of a synthetic resin having appropriate elasticity, and includes a pressure contact portion 18 formed in a thin tongue shape on the outer peripheral side. The gasket 14 is inserted into the container 12 through the bottom opening 11 of the container 12, and the pressure contact 18 is pressed against the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the container 12 to seal the bottom opening 11.
[0009]
In the conventional discharge device 10, liquid is discharged by moving the pump 13 up and down, and the gasket 14 moves in the direction of the pump 13 in the container 12 as the liquid in the container 12 decreases.
[0010]
Therefore, according to the discharge device 10, the liquid can be stored in the container 12 or discharged from the container 12 without being brought into contact with air or a jetting gas, and can be in contact with a gas such as air or the jetting gas. However, it can be suitably used to accommodate undesired chemicals, cosmetics, and the like.
[0011]
By the way, as a container for storing cosmetics or the like, the appearance design is often emphasized, and it may be desired to adopt a polygonal cylindrical shape such as a square tube or a hexagonal tube as the shape of the container. . However, if the inner shape is made into a polygonal cylindrical shape in accordance with the outer shape, the pressure contact portion of the gasket needs to correspond to the shape of the container. Therefore, it is conceivable to form the gasket in a polygonal block shape so as to correspond to the internal shape of the container. In particular, the pressure contact between each corner of the gasket and the inner surface of the container tends to be insufficient, and the container is securely sealed. In order to do so, it is necessary to manufacture the gasket with high accuracy, which disadvantageously increases the manufacturing cost.
[0012]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In view of such circumstances, the present invention can employ a container having a polygonal cylindrical inner shape, and can discharge the liquid in the container smoothly while reliably maintaining the sealed state of the container. An object is to provide an apparatus.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides a discharge device for discharging a liquid stored in a container having at least an inner shape of a polygonal cylinder by a pump means mounted on the top of the container. As the liquid in the container is discharged and reduced, the bottom of the container is provided with a substantially flat film-like elastic member that closely contacts the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the container and extends in the top direction. It is characterized by being formed into a shape that gradually becomes thicker toward the central part.
[0014]
Since the discharge device of the present invention includes the film-like elastic member at the bottom of the container instead of the gasket, even if the inner shape of the container is a polygonal cylinder, The film-like elastic member extends along the internal shape, and the liquid can be discharged while maintaining a sealed state inside the container without providing a gasket. Therefore, the inner shape of the container can be made into a polygonal cylindrical shape in accordance with the outer shape, and the aesthetic appearance can be improved. And since the gasket of the shape corresponding to a polygonal cylindrical container is unnecessary, it can manufacture at low cost.
[0015]
By the way, when the membranous elastic member is in close contact with the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the container and extends in the top direction, the peripheral edge of the membranous elastic member is in close contact with the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the container, so that stretching is suppressed relatively early. In contrast, the central part of the film-like elastic member that does not contact the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the container is stretched relatively large, and even when liquid remains in the container, the film-like elastic member is fully extended. There is a possibility that smooth discharge by the pump may be difficult. On the other hand, in the present invention, since the film-like elastic member has a shape that gradually increases in thickness from the peripheral part toward the center part, the center of the film-like elastic member is reduced as the liquid in the container decreases. The amount of elongation of the portion is sufficiently secured, and the liquid in the container can be smoothly discharged and discharged substantially without remaining.
[0016]
At this time, the film-like elastic member gradually increases in thickness from the straight edge between each corner toward each corner corresponding to the inner peripheral shape of the bottom of the container, and further gradually from each corner toward the center. More preferably, it is formed to be thick. When the container has a polygonal cylindrical shape, the membrane-like elastic member comes into contact with the inner wall between the corners earlier than the contact with the corners on the inner periphery of the container. Therefore, by forming the film-like elastic member so that the portions corresponding to each corner are thicker than the portions corresponding to each corner, the film-like elastic member can be smoothly extended along each corner. Can do. Thereby, it can prevent that a liquid remains in the corner | angular part of a container.
[0017]
In the present invention, the container includes a plate-shaped bottom cover member that covers the outside of the film-like elastic member at the bottom, and the bottom cover member communicates with the outside and the film-like elastic member side. It is preferable to provide a part. The bottom cover member covers the outside of the membrane elastic member, thereby preventing external contact with the membrane elastic member and preventing inadvertent damage or tearing of the membrane elastic member. can do. Since the bottom cover member is provided with the communication hole portion, when the film-like elastic member extends into the container as the liquid in the container decreases, the air is elastic through the communication hole portion. The liquid is smoothly introduced between the member and the bottom lid member, and the liquid in the container can be smoothly discharged without hindering the extension of the film-like elastic member by the bottom lid member.
[0018]
Moreover, it is preferable that the said film-like elastic member in this invention is formed with the material which has sufficient elongation amount and has high durability. Therefore, as one of preferable materials for the film-like elastic member, a hydrogenated styrene elastomer can be exemplified.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory perspective view showing the appearance of the ejection device of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is an explanatory longitudinal sectional view showing the configuration of the ejection device of the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the shape of the film-like elastic member. FIG. 4 is an explanatory sectional view showing another shape of the film-like elastic member.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 1, the discharge device 1 of the present embodiment includes a container 2 having an outer shape and an inner shape of a square cylinder, and a pump 3 mounted on the top portion 2 a of the container 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the bottom of the container 2 is provided with a film-like elastic member 4 that closes the bottom, and the container 2 contains liquid. A plate-like bottom cover member 5 that covers the film-like elastic member 4 is provided on the outer side (lower side) of the film-like elastic member 4. The bottom lid member 5 is formed with a communication hole 6 for introducing air between the bottom lid member 5 and the film-like elastic member 4.
[0021]
The pump 3 employs a known structure that generates a pump action by pressing the head 7 and repeatedly moving up and down, and sucks the liquid in the container 2 from the suction port 8. It discharges from the discharge port 9 provided in this.
[0022]
The film-like elastic member 4 is extensible toward the inside of the container 2 and is formed of a flexible material having a relatively large amount of elongation (specifically, an elongation rate of 500 to 2000%). . Further, since the film-like elastic member 4 is in direct contact with the liquid, the film-like elastic member 4 has chemical resistance that does not show alteration such as swelling and curing due to contact with the liquid. Furthermore, the film-like elastic member 4 is formed of a material that does not elute components that change the color, fragrance, etc. of the liquid or adsorb liquid components by contact with the liquid. Yes. In the present embodiment, an elastomer such as a hydrogenated styrene-based elastomer is employed as the material for the film-like elastic member 4.
[0023]
The membranous elastic member 4 is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view corresponding to the shape of the bottom of the container 2, and as shown in FIG. 3, it is formed in a shape that gradually increases in thickness from the peripheral edge toward the center. ing. Specifically, the film-like elastic member 4 has a shape in which the thickness gradually increases from the straight edge 4b positioned between the corners 4a toward the corners 4a and further increases toward the center 4c. ing. That is, in the case of the quadrangular film-like elastic member 4 as in this embodiment, the thickness gradually increases from the periphery toward the diagonal line. As a result, as will be described later, the film-like elastic member 4 that expands as the liquid decreases is in close contact with the corner of the container 2 during the extension process.
[0024]
Next, the operation of the discharge device 1 of this embodiment will be described. First, the liquid in the container 2 is discharged from the discharge port 9 of the pump 3 by moving the pump 3 up and down. The liquid in the container 2 decreases by the discharge at this time. As shown by the phantom line in FIG. 2, the film-like elastic member 4 extends so as to swell toward the upper side of the container 2 as the liquid decreases. When the film-like elastic member 4 extends, air is introduced from the communication hole 6 between the film-like elastic member 4 and the bottom cover member 5, and the film-like elastic member 4 is separated from the bottom cover member 5 and extends. Is performed smoothly.
[0025]
At this time, the membranous elastic member 4 has a quadrangular shape in a plan view and extends into the rectangular tube-like container 2 so that the bottom shape is a quadrangle when not shown in detail but referring to FIG. It is stretched into a dome shape (the stretched membrane elastic member 4 is indicated by a virtual line in FIG. 1). That is, the membrane-like elastic member 4 extended in this manner is in close contact with the inner wall of the container 2 from the side of the straight edge 4b between the corners 4a, and the corners 4a and the inner corners of the container 2 are not shown. Adhesion occurs with a slight delay. During this time, the elongation of the portion 4d of the film-like elastic member 4 in close contact with the container 2 is suppressed by friction with the container 2. On the other hand, the part (part corresponding to a corner | angular part and center part 4c) which is not closely_contact | adhered to the container 2 of the membranous elastic member 4 is further extended. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the film-like elastic member 4 gradually increases in thickness from the straight edge 4b positioned between the corners 4a toward the corners 4a and further toward the center. Therefore, the larger the amount of elongation, the more the part that adheres more slowly to the container 2 can be obtained. As a result, even when the amount of liquid in the container 2 is reduced and the film-like elastic member 4 is stretched relatively large, the film-like elastic member 4 is not stretched and the liquid is reduced. The liquid can be smoothly discharged to the end.
[0026]
On the other hand, since the bottom cover member 5 is provided at the bottom of the container 2, contact with the film-like elastic member 4 from the outside is prevented, so that the film-like elastic member 4 is greatly expanded. Even if it is thin, inadvertent breakage due to external contact can be reliably prevented.
[0027]
In the present embodiment, the film-like elastic member 4 has a shape in which the thickness gradually increases from the straight edge 4b positioned between the corners 4a toward the corners 4a and further increases toward the center. It explains what is. However, the film-like elastic member 4 only needs to be formed in a shape in which at least the central part 4c is thicker than the peripheral part. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the central part 4c thicker than the peripheral part has a step. The shape may be connected to the thin peripheral edge portion.
[0028]
Further, in the present embodiment, the container 2 has been described as having a rectangular cylindrical shape. However, according to the present invention, although not illustrated, the inside of another polygonal cylindrical shape such as a triangular cylindrical shape or a hexagonal cylindrical shape is provided. A container having a shape can be employed. Furthermore, the outer shape can be a polygonal cylinder corresponding to the inner shape, and the visual beauty can be further enhanced.
[0029]
Moreover, although the container 2 shown by this embodiment mentioned what the outer shape and an internal shape respond | correspond mutually, the outer shape of the container in this invention is not restricted to a polygonal cylinder shape. In this case, if the container is formed to be transparent, the inside of the polygonal cylinder different from the outer shape of the container can be visually recognized from the outside, and this can also improve the aesthetic appearance.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory perspective view showing an appearance of a discharge device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of a discharge device according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the shape of a film-like elastic member.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing another shape of the film-like elastic member.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory longitudinal sectional view showing a conventional discharge device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Discharge device, 2 ... Container, 3 ... Pump (pump means), 4 ... Membrane elastic member, 5 ... Bottom cover member, 6 ... Communication hole part.

Claims (4)

A discharge device that discharges at least a liquid stored in a polygonal cylindrical container by a pump unit mounted on the top of the container,
As the liquid in the container is discharged and reduced, the bottom of the container is provided with a substantially flat film-like elastic member that is in close contact with the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the container and extends in the top direction. A discharge device characterized by being formed into a shape that gradually increases in thickness from the portion toward the center portion. The film-like elastic member gradually increases in thickness from the straight edge between each corner toward each corner corresponding to the inner peripheral shape of the bottom of the container, and gradually increases in thickness from each corner toward the center. The ejection device according to claim 2, wherein The container includes a plate-like bottom cover member that covers the outside of the film-like elastic member at the bottom, and the bottom cover member includes a communication hole portion that communicates the outside with the film-like elastic member side. The discharge device according to claim 1 or 2. The discharge device according to claim 1, wherein the film-like elastic member is made of a hydrogenated styrene-based elastomer.

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