JP6270544B2 - Foam dispenser - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a foam dispenser.

  Conventionally, for example, a foam dispenser shown in Patent Document 1 below is known. The foam discharger is disposed at the upper end of the stem, and has a pump that has a stem that is erected in an upwardly biased state at the mouth of the container body that contains the content liquid. And a pressing head. The pump includes a liquid piston and air piston linked to a stem, a liquid cylinder in which the liquid piston is housed slidably in the vertical direction, and an air in which the air piston is slidably housed in the vertical direction. And a gas-liquid mixing chamber for mixing the liquid content from the liquid cylinder and the air from the air cylinder.

JP 2001-19014 A

  However, in the conventional foam discharger, the pump is provided with a flow path for introducing outside air as air into the air cylinder, from which liquid such as water outside the container body is used for air. There is a risk of unintentional flow into the cylinder.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and suppresses the liquid outside the container body from unintentionally flowing into the air cylinder and unintentionally flows into the air cylinder. The purpose is to discharge liquids such as water and liquid contents during use.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes the following means.
The foam discharger according to the present invention includes a pump having a stem erected so as to be movable downward in an upwardly biased state at a mouth portion of a container body in which a content liquid is stored, and a nozzle disposed at an upper end portion of the stem. A pressing head having a hole formed therein, and the pump includes a liquid piston and an air piston linked to the stem, and a liquid cylinder in which the liquid piston is housed slidably up and down. Foam discharge comprising: an air cylinder in which the piston for air is slidably housed in an interior; and a gas-liquid mixing chamber for mixing the content liquid from the liquid cylinder and the air from the air cylinder. The air cylinder is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape accommodated in the container body, and an air introduction hole for introducing air into the air cylinder is formed at the bottom of the air cylinder. Provided, said empty An introduction space in which the air introduction hole is disposed on the bottom surface is defined on the bottom of the cylinder for use, and the introduction space is detachably seated on the bottom surface of the introduction space, and the air introduction hole and the air air valve is provided to block the communication between the use cylinder, said air valve, said by spaced apart from the bottom surface of the introduction space, and communicates with the air introduction hole and the air cylinder, liquid content above When the air valve stays in the introduction space, the air valve receives a buoyancy from the content liquid and is maintained in a state of floating from the bottom surface in the introduction space .

  In this case, since the air introduction hole is provided at the bottom of the air cylinder, it is possible to make it difficult for the liquid outside the container body to reach the air introduction hole. Unintentional inflow into the air cylinder through the air introduction hole can be suppressed.

By the way, when air is introduced into the air cylinder, the air valve is separated from the bottom surface of the introduction space, so that the air introduction hole and the inside of the air cylinder communicate with each other, and the air in the container body becomes the air introduction hole. Through the air cylinder. At this time, together with the air in the container main body, the content liquid in the container main body may flow into the air cylinder through the air introduction hole.
Here, the content liquid flowing into the air cylinder from the air introduction hole first reaches the introduction space. When the content liquid stays in the introduction space, the air valve is kept floating from the bottom surface in the introduction space due to the buoyancy from the content liquid. As a result, the air valve continues to be separated from the bottom surface of the introduction space, and the communication between the air cylinder and the air introduction hole is maintained. Therefore, the content liquid that has flowed into the air cylinder can be returned from the air introduction hole into the container body.
As a result, even if the content liquid in the container body flows into the air cylinder from the air introduction hole, the content liquid can be returned to the container body through the air introduction hole. It can suppress remaining in.

  The air valve may be provided in the introduction space so as to be vertically slidable.

  In this case, since the air valve is provided in the introduction space so as to be slidable in the vertical direction, the air valve can be stably moved up and down in the introduction space while suppressing radial play. The communication between the air introduction hole by the air valve and the inside of the air cylinder can be switched accurately.

  The introduction space may be provided with a restricting portion that restricts further upward movement of the air valve when the air valve moves upward.

  In this case, since the restricting portion is provided in the introduction space, it is possible to limit the upward movement amount of the air valve in the introduction space, and communication between the air introduction hole by the air valve and the inside of the air cylinder is possible. The blocking can be switched with higher accuracy.

  The introduction space may be defined on a lowermost portion of the bottom of the air cylinder.

  In this case, since the introduction space is defined on the lowermost portion of the bottom of the air cylinder, the content liquid that has flowed into the air cylinder can be easily collected in the introduction space. Can do. As a result, the content liquid that has flowed into the air cylinder can be reliably discharged into the container body, and the content liquid can be effectively prevented from remaining in the air cylinder.

  According to the present invention, liquid outside the container body is prevented from unintentionally flowing into the air cylinder, and liquid such as water and content liquid that has unintentionally flowed into the air cylinder is discharged during use. can do.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the foam discharger which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the foam discharger shown in FIG. 1, and is a view showing a state where the pressing head is pressed and the stem is moved down to the lower end position. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the principal part of the foam discharger shown in FIG. 1, and is a view showing a state in which the air valve is separated from the bottom surface of the annular space. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the principal part of the foam discharger which concerns on one modification of this invention. It is a top view of the in-cylinder space with which the foam discharger shown in FIG. 4 was equipped.

  Hereinafter, a foam dispenser 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. The foam discharger 10 discharges the content liquid in the form of foam. Examples of the content liquid include skin washing liquid (hand soap, body soap) and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the foam discharger 10 is erected such that a mounting cap 11 is mounted on the mouth portion 1a of the container body 1 in which the content liquid is stored, and the mouth portion 1a is movable downward while being biased upward. A pump 13 having the stem 12, a pressing head 15 attached to the stem 12 and having a nozzle hole 14 formed therein, and a regulating member 19 that is detachably attached to the mounting cap 11 and restricts pressing of the pressing head 15. It is equipped with.

  Here, the mounting cap 11 is formed in a cylindrical shape that opens up and down, and the pressing head 15 is formed in a topped cylindrical shape. The central axes of the mounting cap 11, the stem 12, and the pressing head 15 are located on a common axis. Hereinafter, this common axis is referred to as the axis O, the direction along the axis O is referred to as the up-down direction, the pressing head 15 side along the up-down direction is referred to as the upper side, and the opposite side is referred to as the lower side. In the plan view of the foam discharger 10 as viewed from above and below, a direction orthogonal to the axis O is referred to as a radial direction, and a direction around the axis O is referred to as a circumferential direction.

The mounting cap 11 mounts the pump 13 on the container body 1. The mounting cap 11 includes an annular ceiling wall portion 16 disposed on the mouth portion 1 a of the container body 1, a guide cylinder portion 17 erected on the inner peripheral edge of the ceiling wall portion 16, and an outside of the ceiling wall portion 16. And a mounting peripheral wall portion 18 that extends downward from the peripheral edge portion and is mounted on the mouth portion 1a. The mouth portion 1a and the mounting peripheral wall portion 18 are fitted, for example, by screwing or undercutting.
The restricting member 19 is formed in a C shape in the plan view and is detachably fitted to the guide tube portion 17.

The stem 12 is inserted into the mounting cap 11. The stem 12 includes a lower stem 20 and an upper stem 21.
An upper end portion of the lower stem 20 is disposed in the guide tube portion 17. An annular valve seat 22 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the upper end portion of the lower stem 20 so as to protrude inward in the radial direction. A spherical liquid discharge valve 23 is provided on the valve seat 22 so as to be seated and separated. The upward movement amount of the liquid discharge valve 23 is limited by a pressing member 24 provided in the upper end portion of the lower stem 20.

  The lower portion of the upper stem 21 is fitted to the upper end portion of the lower stem 20 from the outside, and the upper stem 21 is inserted into the guide tube portion 17 of the mounting cap 11 so as to be movable up and down. The lower portion of the upper stem 21 includes a small inner diameter portion that has a small inner diameter and is located on the upper side, and a large inner diameter portion that has a large inner diameter and is located on the lower side. 20 is fitted to the upper end. The large inner diameter portion constitutes the lower end portion of the upper stem 21.

A reduced diameter portion 21 a is formed in an intermediate portion located between the upper portion and the lower portion in the upper stem 21. An upper end portion of the pressing member 24 is disposed in the reduced diameter portion 21a.
A plurality of vertical grooves 21 b extending in the vertical direction are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the small inner diameter portion in the lower portion of the upper stem 21. The upper end portion of the vertical groove 21b opens to the inside in the radial direction and communicates with the inner side of the reduced diameter portion 21a. The lower end portion of the vertical groove 21b opens to the lower side and is within the lower end portion (within the large inner diameter portion) of the upper stem 21. Communicating with

  By the way, the pump 13 includes a liquid piston 25 linked to the stem 12, a liquid cylinder 26 in which the liquid piston 25 is housed slidably up and down, an air piston 27 linked to the stem 12, and an air An air cylinder 28 in which a piston 27 is slidably accommodated in an up and down direction, a gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 for mixing the content liquid from the liquid cylinder 26 and the air from the air cylinder 28, and gas-liquid mixing A foaming member 30 that is disposed between the chamber 29 and the nozzle hole 14 and foams the gas-liquid mixture from the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 is further provided.

  The air cylinder 28 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape that is accommodated in the container body 1, and the liquid cylinder 26 is formed in a cylindrical shape. Both cylinders are arranged coaxially with the axis O. A flange that protrudes radially outward is provided at the upper end portion of the air cylinder 28, and the flange is disposed on the mouth portion 1a via a packing. The bottom portion 28 a of the air cylinder 28 is located above the liquid level of the content liquid in the container body 1, and the liquid cylinder 26 extends downward from the bottom portion of the air cylinder 28. The liquid cylinder 26 and the air cylinder 28 are integrally formed. The liquid cylinder 26 has a smaller diameter than the air cylinder 28.

An air hole 28 b is provided in the peripheral wall portion of the air cylinder 28. The air hole 28 b is opened in the container main body 1 and introduces outside air into the container main body 1.
The bottom portion 28a of the air cylinder 28 includes an annular plate-shaped inner wall portion 51, an outer wall portion 52 and a central wall portion 53 whose front and rear surfaces are directed in the vertical direction, and a cylindrical inner step portion 54 and an outer step portion 55 extending in the vertical direction. And. The inner wall portion 51, the outer wall portion 52, the central wall portion 53, the inner step portion 54 and the outer step portion 55 are all arranged coaxially with the axis O.

  The inner wall portion 51 constitutes the inner peripheral edge portion of the bottom portion 28a of the air cylinder 28, and the outer wall portion 52 constitutes the outer peripheral edge portion of the bottom portion 28a. The outer wall 52 extends gradually downward from the outer side in the radial direction toward the inner side, and is inclined from the lower end edge of the peripheral wall part of the air cylinder 28 toward the inner side in the radial direction. The central wall portion 53 connects the inner wall portion 51 and the outer wall portion 52. The central wall portion 53 is located below the inner wall portion 51 and the outer wall portion 52, and is located at the lowest side in the bottom portion 28a. The inner step portion 54 connects the central wall portion 53 and the inner wall portion 51, and the outer step portion 55 connects the central wall portion 53 and the outer wall portion 52.

  Here, on the bottom 28 a of the air cylinder 28, an annular space (introduction space) 56 disposed coaxially with the axis O is defined. The annular space 56 is defined on the central wall portion 53 that is the lowermost portion of the bottom portion 28a of the air cylinder 28. In the illustrated example, the annular space 56 and the inner step portion 54 are defined. And the outer step portion 55. Of the wall surface of the annular space 56, at least the bottom surface is constituted by the bottom portion 28 a of the air cylinder 28, and in the illustrated example, the entire wall surface of the annular space 56 is constituted by the bottom portion 28 a of the air cylinder 28. Yes.

An air introduction hole 57 and an air valve 58 are provided in the bottom portion 28 a of the air cylinder 28.
The air introduction hole 57 introduces air into the air cylinder 28. The air introduction hole 57 opens into the container body 1 and sucks the air in the container body 1 into the air cylinder 28. The air introduction hole 57 is formed on the bottom surface of the annular space 56. A plurality of air introduction holes 57 are arranged on the bottom surface of the annular space 56 at intervals in the circumferential direction. The air introduction hole 57 is provided in an intermediate portion located between the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge on the bottom surface of the annular space 56, and the size of the air introduction hole 57 along the radial direction is the annular space. The size of the bottom surface 56 is smaller than the size along the radial direction.

  The air valve 58 is formed separately from the air cylinder 28 and is disposed in the annular space 56. The air valve 58 is slidably seated on the bottom surface of the annular space 56 and blocks communication between the air cylinder 28 and the air introduction hole 57. The air valve 58 is provided in the annular space 56 so as to be slidable up and down. The air valve 58 is formed in a plate shape whose front and back faces in the vertical direction. The size of the air valve 58 in the vertical direction is smaller than the size of the annular space 56 in the vertical direction, and the air valve 58 is accommodated in the annular space 56.

  The air valve 58 has communication openings 59 that open on both sides in the vertical direction. The lower end opening of the communication opening 59 is closed by the bottom surface of the annular space 56 and is not in communication with the air introduction hole 57. In the present embodiment, as the communication opening 59, an inner opening 59a and an outer opening 59b are provided. The inner opening 59a is formed at the inner peripheral edge of the air valve 58 and opens toward the inside in the radial direction. The outer opening 59b is formed at the outer peripheral edge of the air valve 58 and opens toward the outside in the radial direction.

  In the illustrated example, a plurality of inner openings 59a and outer openings 59b are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. The position along the circumferential direction of the inner opening 59a is equivalent to the position along the circumferential direction of the outer opening 59b. The inner opening 59a and the outer opening 59b are on the same straight line extending in the radial direction through the axis O. Is arranged.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the air valve 58 communicates between the air introduction hole 57 and the air cylinder 28 by being separated from the bottom surface of the annular space 56. In a state where the air valve 58 is separated from the bottom surface of the annular space 56, a communication flow path 60 that communicates the air introduction hole 57 and the inside of the air cylinder 28 between the outer surface of the air valve 58 and the wall surface of the annular space 56. Is formed. The communication channel 60 includes the inner opening 59 a and the outer opening 59 b, and a floating gap 61 between the lower surface of the air valve 58 and the bottom surface of the annular space 56. The air valve 58 moves upward when the negative pressure in the air cylinder 28 acts on the air valve 58.

Here, in the present embodiment, the annular space 56 is provided with a restricting portion 62 that restricts further upward movement of the air valve 58 when the air valve 58 moves upward.
As the restricting portion 62, an inner restricting portion 62a provided on the inner peripheral surface facing the radially outer side in the annular space 56, and an outer restricting portion 62b provided on the outer peripheral surface facing the radially inner side in the annular space 56, , Is provided. The inner restricting portion 62a protrudes radially outward from the inner peripheral surface of the annular space 56, and the outer restricting portion 62b protrudes radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the annular space 56. Each of the inner restricting portion 62a and the outer restricting portion 62b is formed by a protrusion extending over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction, and is locked to the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge of the air valve 58 from the upper side of the air valve 58. Thus, the upward movement of the air valve 58 is restricted.

  The air piston 27 is disposed inside the air cylinder 28 so as to be vertically slidable in an airtight state, and is disposed inside the outer slide cylinder 31, and the stem 12 is vertically slid inside. An inner sliding cylinder (insertion cylinder portion) 32 that is movably inserted, and a connecting plate 33 that connects the inner peripheral surface of the outer sliding cylinder 31 and the outer peripheral surface of the inner sliding cylinder 32 are provided.

  The stem 12 is inserted into the inner sliding cylinder 32 so as to be movable up and down. In this embodiment, the lower stem 20 is inserted into the inner sliding cylinder 32. The inner sliding cylinder 32 is packaged at the center in the vertical direction of the lower stem 20, and the inner sliding cylinder 32 is interposed between the inner peripheral surface of the inner sliding cylinder 32 and the outer peripheral surface of the lower stem 20. A communication path S2 extending over the entire length in the vertical direction is provided.

  The upper end portion of the inner sliding cylinder 32 is fitted into the lower end portion of the upper stem 21 so as to be slidable up and down. A communication gap S <b> 1, which is a vertical gap, is provided between the upper end edge of the inner sliding cylinder 32 and the lower end edge of the small inner diameter portion of the upper stem 21. In this communication gap S1, the lower end portion of the vertical groove 21b of the upper stem 21 and the upper end portion of the communication passage S2 are opened individually.

  Convex rib portions 32 a are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the inner sliding cylinder 32. A plurality of convex rib portions 32a are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction. The convex rib portion 32a is formed in a vertical rib shape extending in the vertical direction. The lower end portion of the convex rib portion 32a is connected to the connecting plate 33, and the upper end portion of the convex rib portion 32a is opposed to the lower end portion of the upper stem 21 with an interval in the vertical direction.

  The gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 is provided between the lower stem 20, the upper stem 21, and the pressing member 24. The gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 can communicate with the air cylinder 28 through an air passage 36 provided in the pump 13. The air passage 36 guides the air in the air cylinder 28 to the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29. In the illustrated example, the air passage 36 includes a longitudinal groove 21b, a communication gap S1, and a communication passage S2.

  Here, in the present embodiment, a portion of the lower stem 20 located in the air cylinder 28 is provided with an annular contact portion 37 that protrudes outward in the radial direction. The upper surface portion of the contact portion 37 contacts the lower end edge of the inner sliding cylinder 32 of the air piston 27 and closes the opening of the air passage 36 in the air cylinder 28. Communication between the inside of the cylinder 28 and the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 is blocked.

  The liquid piston 25 is formed in a multistage cylindrical shape that gradually decreases in diameter from the lower side toward the upper side, and the stem 12 extends upward from the liquid piston 25. The liquid piston 25 protrudes downward from the lower end opening edge of the stem 12 and is fitted in the liquid cylinder 26 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. A lower cylinder portion 25b.

A coil spring 38 is disposed between the upper cylinder portion 25a and the inner surface of the lower end portion of the liquid cylinder 26 to support the liquid piston 25 so as to be movable downward in an upward biased state.
Inside the piston 25 for liquid and the cylinder 26 for liquid, the rod-shaped valve member 39 extended in an up-down direction is provided. The upper end portion of the valve member 39 is an upper valve body 39a that can be seated and separated from the upper end opening portion of the upper cylindrical portion 25a of the liquid piston 25, and the lower end portion of the valve member 39 is the lower end opening in the liquid cylinder 26. The lower valve body 39b can be seated and separated from the part.

  The foam member 30 is provided in the stem 12 and is fitted in the upper portion of the upper stem 21 in the illustrated example. The foaming member 30 is configured by a plurality of foaming elements 30a each having a mesh body disposed on the opening edge of a cylindrical body, two in the illustrated direction, and two in the illustrated example. The number of the foam elements 30a may be one.

  The pressing head 15 includes a head main body 41 and an exterior cylinder portion 42. The head main body 41 and the exterior cylinder part 42 are formed separately and assembled to each other. The head main body 41 includes a top wall portion 43, a mounting tube portion 44, a fitting tube portion 45, and a nozzle tube portion 47. The top wall portion 43 is disposed on the upper side of the stem 12.

The mounting cylinder portion 44 extends downward from the top wall portion 43 and is mounted on the stem 12. The mounting cylinder portion 44 is disposed coaxially with the axis O and is fitted to the upper end portion of the upper stem 21 from the outside. The lower end portion of the mounting tube portion 44 is inserted into the guide tube portion 17, and the mounting tube portion 44 is movable up and down in the guide tube portion 17.
The fitting cylinder portion 45 projects downward from the top wall portion 43 and is disposed coaxially with the axis O. The fitting cylinder part 45 surrounds the upper end part of the mounting cylinder part 44 from the outside in the radial direction.

  The nozzle cylinder portion 47 extends from the mounting cylinder portion 44 toward the outside in the radial direction, and protrudes outward in the radial direction from the fitting cylinder portion 45. The nozzle cylinder 47 communicates with the stem 12 through the upper end of the mounting cylinder 44, and the nozzle hole 14 is provided in the protruding end of the nozzle cylinder 47.

  The exterior cylinder part 42 is provided below the top wall part 43, and the upper end part of the exterior cylinder part 42 is fitted in the fitting cylinder part 45. An accommodation hole 42 a for accommodating the nozzle cylinder portion 47 is formed in the upper end portion of the exterior cylinder portion 42. The accommodation hole 42a is formed in a notch shape that opens upward. A gap is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle cylinder portion 47 and the inner peripheral surface of the accommodation hole 42a so as to communicate the inside and the outside of the exterior cylinder portion 42. The exterior cylinder part 42 surrounds the mounting cylinder part 44 and the guide cylinder part 17 from the outside in the radial direction, and the inside of the exterior cylinder part 42 can communicate with the air cylinder 28 through the guide cylinder part 17. Yes.

  Next, the operation of the foam discharger 10 will be described.

In the foam discharger 10, when discharging the content liquid, the regulating member 19 is removed and the pressing head 15 is pushed down. Then, the guide cylinder part 17 enters the gap between the mounting cylinder part 44 and the exterior cylinder part 42, and the stem 12 and the liquid piston 25 move downward while compressing and deforming the coil spring 38 in the vertical direction.
At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, an annular introduction gap S <b> 3 extending over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction is formed between the lower end of the inner sliding cylinder 32 and the upper surface portion of the contact portion 37 in the stem 12. The air cylinder 28 and the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 communicate with each other through the introduction gap S3 and the air passage 36.

  Further, at this time, with the downward movement of the liquid piston 25, the upper end portion of the liquid piston 25 is separated downward from the upper valve body 39a of the valve member 39, and the inside of the liquid cylinder 26 and the inside of the stem 12 are separated. The lower valve body 39b of the valve member 39 is also moved downward, and the lower valve body 39b is seated and closed at the lower end opening in the liquid cylinder 26.

  And the piston 27 for air is also moved below because the lower end edge of the upper stem 21 contact | abuts to the upper end part of the said convex rib part 32a. At this time, outside air is sucked into the upper chamber located above the air piston 27 in the air cylinder 28 through the space between the mounting cylinder portion 44 and the guide cylinder portion 17, and the like. The air in the lower chamber located below the piston 27 is compressed. Thus, the air in the lower chamber flows into the air passage 36 from the introduction gap S3 and is transferred to the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29.

  Further, at this time, the lower valve body 39b of the valve member 39 closes the lower end opening of the liquid cylinder 26, and the liquid piston 25 moves downward, so that the content liquid in the liquid cylinder 26 rises. To reach into the stem 12. Then, the liquid pressure in the liquid cylinder 26 is applied to the liquid discharge valve 23 in the stem 12, and the liquid discharge valve 23 is separated upward from the valve seat 22, thereby evacuating the content liquid in the liquid cylinder 26. The liquid is mixed into the liquid mixing chamber 29.

  In this way, after the content liquid and air are merged in the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29, the content liquid is foamed by passing through the foaming member 30, and then passes through the upper end part of the mounting cylinder part 44 and the nozzle cylinder part 47. The foam is discharged from the nozzle hole 14.

  Thereafter, when the push-down head 15 is released, the liquid piston 25 is pushed upward by the elastic restoring force of the coil spring 38. Thereby, the upper end opening of the upper cylinder portion 25a of the liquid piston 25 contacts the upper valve body 39a, the communication between the liquid cylinder 26 and the stem 12 is blocked, and the lower valve body 39b is The container body 1 and the liquid cylinder 26 communicate with each other by separating from the lower end opening in the liquid cylinder 26, and the content liquid in the container body 1 flows into the liquid cylinder 26. At this time, the inside of the container main body 1 has a negative pressure, and the outside air sucked into the upper chamber is introduced into the container main body 1 through the air holes 28b.

  In addition, the stem 12 and the pressing head 15 are integrally raised together with the liquid piston 25 that rises in this way, and the contact portion 37 of the stem 12 contacts the lower end edge of the inner sliding cylinder 32 of the air piston 27. By contacting, the communication between the lower chamber and the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 through the air passage 36 is blocked. In this state, when the stem 12 and the air piston 27 are integrally raised, the internal pressure of the lower chamber is lowered and negative pressure acts on the air valve 58. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the air valve 58 moves upward to open the air introduction hole 57, and the air in the container body 1 is sucked into the lower chamber through the air introduction hole 57 and the communication channel 60. The

  As described above, according to the foam discharger 10 according to the present embodiment, since the air introduction hole 57 is provided in the bottom portion 28a of the air cylinder 28, the liquid outside the container body 1 is introduced into the air. It becomes possible to make it difficult to reach the hole 57, and the liquid outside the container body 1 can be prevented from unintentionally flowing into the air cylinder 28 through the air introduction hole 57.

  By the way, when air is introduced into the air cylinder 28, the air valve 58 is separated from the bottom surface of the annular space 56 as shown in FIG. 3 so that the air introduction hole 57 and the air cylinder 28 communicate with each other. Then, the air in the container body 1 is introduced into the air cylinder 28 through the air introduction hole 57. At this time, the liquid in the container body 1 may flow into the air cylinder 28 through the air introduction hole 57 together with the air in the container body 1. The content liquid discharged by the foam discharger 10 may foam even if the container body 1 is simply moved. At this time, if bubbles are formed on the liquid surface of the content liquid, the content liquid is discharged from the air introduction hole 57. It becomes easy to flow in unintentionally.

Here, the content liquid flowing into the air cylinder 28 from the air introduction hole 57 first reaches the annular space 56. When the content liquid remains in the annular space 56, the air valve 58 receives a buoyancy from the content liquid and maintains a state where it floats from the bottom surface in the annular space 56. As a result, the air valve 58 continues to be separated from the bottom surface of the annular space 56 and the communication between the air cylinder 28 and the air introduction hole 57 is maintained. Therefore, the liquid content that has flowed into the air cylinder 28 can be returned from the air introduction hole 57 into the container body 1.
As a result, even if the content liquid in the container main body 1 flows into the air cylinder 28 from the air introduction hole 57, the content liquid can be returned to the container main body 1 through the air introduction hole 57. It is possible to suppress the liquid from remaining in the air cylinder 28.

  Further, since the air valve 58 is provided in the annular space 56 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction, the air valve 58 can be stably moved up and down in the annular space 56 while suppressing radial shakiness. Thus, communication between the air introduction hole 57 and the air cylinder 28 by the air valve 58 can be switched accurately.

  Further, since the restricting portion 62 is provided in the annular space 56, it is possible to limit the upward movement amount of the air valve 58 in the annular space 56, and the air introduction hole 57 and the air cylinder by the air valve 58 can be restricted. It is possible to switch between communication and shut-off with 28 with higher accuracy.

  Further, since the annular space 56 is defined on the lowermost portion of the bottom portion 28 a of the air cylinder 28, the content liquid that has flowed into the air cylinder 28 is concentrated in the annular space 56. Can be made easier. As a result, the content liquid that has flowed into the air cylinder 28 can surely flow out into the container body 1, and it is possible to effectively suppress the content liquid from remaining in the air cylinder 28.

  The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, the restriction member 19 may not be provided.
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the pressing head 15 is provided with the head main body 41 and the exterior cylinder part 42 which were formed separately, this invention is not limited to this. For example, the entire pressing head may be integrally formed.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the position along the circumferential direction of the inner opening 59a is made equivalent to the position along the circumferential direction of the outer opening 59b, this invention is not limited to this. For example, the inner opening and the outer opening may be arranged so as to be shifted in the circumferential direction.

Further, in the above embodiment, the communication opening 59 includes the inner opening 59 a formed at the inner peripheral edge of the air valve 58 and the outer opening 59 b formed at the outer peripheral edge of the air valve 58. However, in the bottom surface of the annular space 56, it is provided in the intermediate part located between the inner peripheral edge part and the outer peripheral edge part, but the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, in the air valve, the communication opening is provided in an intermediate portion located between the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge, and the air introduction hole is formed from the communication opening such as the inner peripheral edge or the outer peripheral edge on the bottom surface of the annular space. May also be provided in a portion located inside in the radial direction or a portion located outside in the radial direction.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the air introduction hole 57 is formed in the bottom face of the cyclic | annular space 56, this invention is not limited to this. The present invention is a space defined on the bottom portion 28 a of the air cylinder 28 and can be appropriately changed to another form in which an air introduction hole 57 is provided on the bottom surface of a space different from the annular space 56. For example, a modification as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 can be employed.
In the foam discharger 70 according to the modification shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a rising cylinder portion 71 is provided in the annular space 56. The rising cylinder portion 71 is formed in a cylindrical shape standing on the bottom surface of the annular space 56, and the outer peripheral surface of the rising cylinder portion 71 is separately connected to the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the annular space 56. .
The air introduction hole 57 is formed in the bottom surface of an in-cylinder space (introduction space) 72 defined in the rising cylinder portion 71. The air introduction hole 57 is arranged coaxially with the rising cylinder portion 71. The air valve 58 is accommodated in the in-cylinder space 72 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction, and is formed in a disk shape that is disposed coaxially with the air introduction hole 57. A plurality of the communication openings 59 are provided at intervals on the outer peripheral edge of the air valve 58. Further, the restricting portion 62 protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the in-cylinder space 72 and extends over the entire circumference of the inner peripheral surface.

  In the above-described embodiment, the air introduction hole 57 is formed on the bottom surface of the space defined on the lowermost portion of the bottom portion 28 a of the air cylinder 28 such as the annular space 56 and the in-cylinder space 72. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the bottom portion of the air cylinder, the central wall portion is provided above the outer wall portion, the rising cylinder portion is erected on the central wall portion, and the bottom surface of the in-cylinder space in the rising cylinder portion An introduction hole may be formed.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the control part 62 is integrally formed in the wall surface of the annular space 56, or the wall surface of the in-cylinder space 72, this invention is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the regulating portion is formed separately from the wall surface of the annular space or the wall surface of the in-cylinder space and is mounted in the annular space or the in-cylinder space. Examples of such a restricting portion include a cylindrical member fitted to the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the annular space, and a cylindrical member fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical space.
Furthermore, the restriction part 62 may not be provided.

  In addition, it is possible to appropriately replace the constituent elements in the embodiment with known constituent elements without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the above-described modified examples may be appropriately combined.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container body 1a Mouth part 10, 70 Foam discharge device 12 Stem 13 Pump 14 Nozzle hole 15 Press head 25 Liquid piston 26 Liquid cylinder 27 Air piston 28 Air cylinder 28a Bottom 29 Gas-liquid mixing chamber 56 Annular space (introduction) space)
57 Air introduction hole 58 Air valve 62 Restriction part 72 In-cylinder space (introduction space)

Claims (4)

A pump having a stem erected so as to be movable downward in an upwardly biased state at the mouth of the container main body containing the content liquid;
A pressing head disposed at the upper end of the stem and having a nozzle hole formed thereon,
The pump is
A liquid piston and an air piston linked to the stem;
A liquid cylinder in which the liquid piston is housed slidably up and down;
An air cylinder in which the air piston is housed slidably up and down;
A gas-liquid mixing chamber that mixes the content liquid from the liquid cylinder and the air from the air cylinder;
The cylinder for air is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape accommodated in the container body,
An air introduction hole for introducing air into the air cylinder is provided at the bottom of the air cylinder,
On the bottom of the air cylinder, an introduction space in which the air introduction hole is arranged on the bottom is defined,
The introduction space is provided with an air valve that is separably seated on the bottom surface of the introduction space and blocks communication between the air introduction hole and the air cylinder.
Said air valve, by away from the bottom surface of the introduction space, and communicating the air inlet hole and the air cylinder,
When the content liquid stays in the introduction space, the air valve receives a buoyancy from the content liquid and keeps the air valve floating from the bottom surface in the introduction space .   The foam dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the air valve is provided in the introduction space so as to be slidable up and down.   The foam discharger according to claim 2, wherein the introduction space is provided with a restricting portion that restricts further upward movement of the air valve when the air valve moves upward.   The foam discharge device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the introduction space is defined on a lowermost portion of the bottom of the air cylinder.

Images