JPH0511507B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a liquid flow pattern switching mechanism for switching pressurized liquid in a dispenser between a spray and a jet.

[Prior art]

In a dispenser, for example, a trigger type dispenser, a piston reciprocates in conjunction with the rocking of a trigger, draws up liquid contained in a container into a cylinder, pressurizes it, and causes it to flow out from an orifice of a nozzle. When the dispenser is not in use,
The off-position (locked position) of the dispenser is set by locking the trigger or sealing the nozzle orifice with a plug. When in use, after unlocking the trigger or releasing the seal on the plug, the trigger is swung to allow the liquid to flow out. Due to the reciprocating motion of the piston, the pressurized liquid (pressurized liquid) flows out as one of two types of liquid flow patterns: a jet stream or a swirled atomized stream (spray). Ru.

A bottomed nozzle cap is attached to the nozzle tip or dispenser body so that the liquid flow pattern can be switched and either spray or jet flow can be selected as appropriate.
A liquid flow pattern switching mechanism mounted so as to be movable in the front-back direction is known. The nozzle cap is usually
Although it is rotatably screwed on, it may also be slidably attached. In this known liquid flow pattern switching mechanism, a spinner (vortex means) is provided at the tip of the nozzle. The spinner of the liquid flow pattern switching mechanism is
For example, as disclosed in Utility Model Publication No. 50-35368,
It has a shape with a concave portion at the center of the tip and a pair of radial grooves extending in the tangential direction of the concave portion at the tip. Additionally, an axial through hole is drilled in the bottom of the spinner to communicate the radial grooves with the flow path of the nozzle. An orifice is bored in the center of the bottom of the nozzle cap, facing the recess of the spinner.

In such a configuration, for example, the distance between the nozzle cap bottom and the spinner is adjusted by rotating the screwed nozzle cap. In other words, if the nozzle cap is rotated until the bottom of the nozzle cap comes into contact with the tip of the spinner, the pressurized flow will flow through the nozzle flow path and through-hole and into the recess from the radial groove. is swirled and a spray stream is obtained. Furthermore, when the nozzle cap is moved backward to make the bottom of the nozzle cap sufficiently separate from the tip of the spinner, the liquid flows out without being turned into a vortex and becomes a jet. Note that the nozzle cap, dispenser body, nozzle, and spinner are usually injection molded from a synthetic resin material.

Also known is a liquid flow pattern switching mechanism in which a spinner is fixed to the tip of a nozzle and a bottomed nozzle cap is rotatably fitted to the spinner. In this liquid flow pattern switching mechanism, for example,
As disclosed in Publication No. 54-35681, a plurality of liquid flow regulating parts for jet flow, spray flow, etc. are provided on the front surface of the spinner.
They are formed on concentric circles separated by 90 degrees, and the orifices are eccentrically bored in the nozzle cap so that they can be aligned with the respective liquid flow regulating parts. Further, a flow path that communicates the flow path of the nozzle with the orifice is defined inside the spinner. Here, the nozzle cap is not screwed on, but merely rotatably disposed, and does not move back and forth even when rotated. In this configuration, when the nozzle cap is rotated to align the orifice with a predetermined liquid flow restriction portion, a corresponding liquid flow pattern is obtained.

[Problems with conventional technology]

In the known liquid flow pattern switching mechanism, which changes the liquid flow pattern by adjusting the distance between the nozzle cap bottom and the spinner, the orifice is drilled in the center of the nozzle cap, so even if the liquid flow pattern is changed, the outflow position remains unchanged. does not change. However, in this liquid flow pattern switching mechanism, even if the bottom of the nozzle cap comes into contact with the tip of the spinner, the radial grooves
Communication between the recesses is maintained, and communication between the flow path of the nozzle and the orifice is not interrupted. Therefore, an off position (lock position) cannot be set by the liquid flow pattern switching mechanism.

On the other hand, in a liquid flow pattern switching mechanism that aligns an orifice with a predetermined liquid flow regulating part to switch the liquid flow pattern, for example, in addition to a jet stream and two types of spray streams (low-spray, high-spray), Off-position can also be set. In off-position,
Needless to say, communication between the flow path of the nozzle and the orifice is cut off. However, with this configuration,
Because the orifice is not in the center of the nozzle cap,
The position of the orifice moves on a concentric circle in response to switching of the liquid flow pattern. Therefore, the liquid outflow position fluctuates, and the liquid does not flow out at a fixed position. In addition, since the spinner becomes structurally complex,
A mold for forming a spinner cannot be manufactured at low cost, and the spinner cannot be formed quickly.

[Purpose of the invention]

An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid flow pattern switching mechanism that can switch liquid flow patterns without changing the outflow position and can also set off-positions.

[Summary of the invention]

In order to achieve this object, the present invention adopts a basic structure in which the distance between the nozzle cap bottom and the spinner is adjusted to switch the liquid flow pattern. In addition to the basic structure, according to the present invention, the spinner is formed with a blind hole-like channel and a recess. A blind hole-like flow path is drilled on the back side of the bottom of the spinner and communicates with the flow path of the nozzle, and a recess is bored at the tip of the spinner opposite to the orifice, and its outer edge communicates with the blind hole-like flow path. . Further, the nozzle cap includes an extension piece extending from the bottom of the nozzle cap so as to be able to come into close contact with the bottom of the recess at the tip of the spinner.

[Effect]

In such a configuration, by moving the nozzle cap backward and bringing the extending piece of the nozzle cap into close contact with the bottom of the recess at the tip of the spinner, the flow path of the nozzle,
The communication of the orifice is cut off and the off position is set.

Additionally, if the bottom of the nozzle cap is separated from the bottom of the recess at the tip of the spinner to the extent that a slight gap is created between the extending piece of the nozzle cap and the bottom of the recess at the tip of the spinner, communication between the nozzle flow path and the orifice is ensured. be done. In this state, when the pressurized flow flows into the recess from the flow path of the nozzle through the blind hole-like flow path, the pressurized flow is turned into a vortex and flows out from the orifice as a spray flow.

Further, when the nozzle cap bottom is sufficiently separated from the bottom surface of the recess at the spinner tip and is removed from the recess, the pressurized flow is no longer transformed into a vortex when flowing into the recess from the blind hole-like flow path, but flows out from the orifice as a jet.

As described above, in the configuration of the present invention, by moving the nozzle cap back and forth, the spray flow can be changed.
The liquid flow pattern of the jet stream can be switched, and an off position can also be set.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a liquid flow pattern switching mechanism 10 according to the present invention is attached to, for example, a trigger type dispenser 12. The trigger type dispenser 12 is detachably attached to the mouth 16 of the container by means of a cap 14. As the trigger 18 swings, a piston (not shown) linked to the trigger reciprocates, sucking up the liquid in the container 20 into a cylinder (not shown) and pressurizing it. Pressurized liquid (pressurized liquid)
reaches the spinner 26 via the flow path 24 of the nozzle 22 attached to the dispenser body 21,
It exits through the orifice 30 of the nozzle cap 28.

Although the basic structure of the dispenser 12 is well known and will not be described in detail as it is not the purpose of this invention, the dispenser can be used, for example, in USP No.
It has a known configuration disclosed in No. 3840157.

As can be clearly seen by looking at FIG. 2 in addition to FIG. 1, in the liquid flow pattern switching mechanism 10 of the present invention, the nozzle 22 is held, for example, by the dispenser body 21, and is attached to a part of the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle. A thread 32 is formed. Then, a corresponding female thread 33 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the nozzle cap 28,
The nozzle cap is screwed onto the tip of the nozzle 22 by screwing these screws 32 and 33 together.

Further, the spinner 26 interposed between the nozzle 22 and the nozzle cap 28 is molded from a synthetic resin material into a hollow cylindrical shape with a bottom, as can be clearly seen from FIG. As can be clearly seen by looking at FIG. 3 in addition to FIG. 2, a pair of blind hole-shaped channels 34, which are separated by 180° from each other, are bored in the back surface 36 of the bottom of the spinner. In the embodiment, the channel 34 is formed to have a circular cross section, but the cross-sectional shape, number, and arrangement are not limited to the illustrated configuration. Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a circular recess 38 is formed in the orifice 3.
A recess is formed in the center of the tip of the spinner 26 opposite to the recess 0, and this recess communicates with the flow path 34 at its outer edge. An annular seal piece 40 is formed on the outer edge of the tip of the spinner 26 so as to be able to come into sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the nozzle cap 28, thereby ensuring liquid tightness between the nozzle 22 and the nozzle cap. The seal piece 40 is
It may be provided on the inner circumferential surface of the nozzle cap 28 so as to be able to come into sliding contact with the outer circumferential surface of the spinner 26. spinner 26
is preferably molded from a synthetic resin material with excellent chemical resistance. Note that reference numeral 42 indicates a circular recess for lightening to prevent sink marks from occurring during injection molding.

In the spinner 26 configured as described above,
The blind hole-like channel 34 on the back surface, the recess 42 for thinning, and the recess 38 on the front surface all extend in the axial direction, and have a simple structure with no channel or the like in the radial direction. Therefore, the spinner mold can be constructed without having a core pin that moves in the radial direction, and the construction can be simplified and the mold can be manufactured at low cost. Further, since there is no step of removing the core pin, the spinner 26 can be quickly formed and mass-produced easily.

Components such as the nozzle 22 and the nozzle cap 28 are also molded from synthetic resin material, similar to the spinner 26.

The liquid flow pattern switching mechanism 10 having the above configuration is operated as follows.

When the trigger type dispenser 12 is not in use, the liquid flow pattern switching mechanism 10 is set to an off position. That is, when the nozzle cap 28 is rotated and moved backward, that is, to the right, as the nozzle cap moves, the extending piece 44 at the bottom of the nozzle cap enters into the recess 38 of the spinner and comes into close contact with the bottom surface 39 of the recess. (See Figure 2). When the extending piece 44 comes into close contact with the recess bottom surface 39,
Communication between the nozzle flow path 24 and the orifice 30 via the blind hole-like flow path 34 is forcibly cut off. In the configuration in which the extending piece 44 is in close contact with the bottom surface 39 of the recess and forcibly blocks communication between the nozzle flow path 24 and the orifice 30, the nozzle flow path 24 and the orifice 30 are
The pressurized flow is sufficiently prevented from flowing into the orifice 30 through the recess 38. Therefore, unnecessary swinging of the trigger 18 when not in use is reliably regulated, and leakage of liquid is sufficiently prevented. Compared to known arrangements in which the off-position is set by locking the trigger or sealing the orifice by a plug, the present invention is significantly simplified in construction.

When using the trigger type dispenser 12, first, the nozzle cap 28 is rotated from an off position to move it forward, that is, to the left (advance). That is, as shown in FIG.
The nozzle cap 28 is moved leftward to a position where it is slightly separated from the bottom surface 39 of the recess at the tip of the spinner and a slight gap is created between the extension piece and the bottom surface of the recess, and the nozzle flow path 24 and orifice are moved to the left. 30 are communicated. As shown in FIG.
4. The recesses 38 communicate with each other at the outer edges of the recesses, so that when the pressurized flow flows from the flow path 24 of the nozzle into the recess 38 through the blind hole-like flow path, the pressurized flow flows through the extension pieces 44, It is turned into a swirl within the gap between the bottom surfaces of the recesses and flows out from the orifice 30 as a spray stream.

Note that the recess 38 and the extending piece 44 are usually formed in concentric circles, respectively, as shown in the figure.
Any shape that promotes swirling of the pressurized flow is sufficient, and is not limited to a circular shape.

Switching from the spray stream position to the jet position is accomplished by further advancing the nozzle cap 28 to sufficiently separate the nozzle cap bottom 29 from the spinner tip (see FIG. 7).
If the bottom part 29 of the nozzle cap is sufficiently separated from the tip of the spinner, a large gap is set between the extending piece 44 and the bottom surface 39 of the recess. Therefore, the pressurized flow that has entered the recess 38 from the flow path 24 of the nozzle via the blind hole-like flow path 34 is no longer turned into a vortex, but flows out from the orifice 30 as a jet flow.

In this way, by advancing the nozzle cap 28 from the off-position, the spray position and the jet position can be continuously set, and the liquid flow pattern can be changed quickly and easily. Also, since the orifice 30 is drilled in the center of the bottom 29 of the nozzle cap, liquid always flows out from a fixed position.

It goes without saying that, on the contrary, if the nozzle cap 28 is moved rearward (backward) in the jet position, the spray position and the off position are sequentially set.

After the liquid flow has flowed out in the desired liquid flow pattern, the nozzle cap 28 is sufficiently retracted so that the extension piece 4
If the nozzle cap 4 comes into close contact with the bottom surface 39 of the recess, a large resistance will occur, making it difficult to move the nozzle cap. When the nozzle cap 28 is sufficiently retracted in this way and it becomes difficult to retract it any further, the off position is set, and switching to the off position is automatically sensed.

As described above, according to the present invention, the off-position is set by moving the nozzle cap 28, and the spray pattern and jet pattern can be quickly and easily switched.

Note that it is preferable to provide a pattern display that allows the liquid flow pattern to be recognized at a glance, depending on the advancing distance of the nozzle cap 28. The pattern display is, for example, on the dispenser body 21.
The mark is made by marking the nozzle cap 28 with the indicia Spray, Jet. In this configuration, rotating the nozzle cap 28 until the Spray is aligned with < will quickly and accurately change the spray pattern, and rotating the nozzle cap until the Jet is aligned with < will quickly and accurately change the spray pattern. can get.

The off position can be easily set by retracting the nozzle cap 28 sufficiently. However, if the nozzle cap 28 is inadvertently retracted too much, there is a risk of damaging the extension piece 44 and the nozzle cap recess 38. Therefore, it is preferable to set the off position by marking the indication OFF on the nozzle cap 28 and aligning OFF with <.

In the embodiment, the liquid flow pattern switching mechanism 10 of the present invention is attached to a trigger type dispenser 12. However, it goes without saying that the liquid flow pattern switching mechanism 10 can be attached to dispensers other than trigger type dispensers. For example, it can be attached to a push-pull type dispenser that pressurizes liquid by moving a piston up and down in conjunction with a push button that can be raised and lowered, or a squeeze-type dispenser that pressurizes liquid by squeezing the container itself. It can also be attached to a dispenser that uses Freon gas or an electric dispenser that drives a motor to pressurize the liquid.Also, a foaming means is provided in front of the orifice 30, and the spray stream collides with this foaming means to create foam. may be converted into The foaming means is swingably or detachably attached to the nozzle cap 28 or the dispenser body 21,
By removing the foaming means from the pressurized liquid outlet path, the foaming flow can be switched to a normal spray flow.

Furthermore, although the nozzle cap 28 is screwed onto the nozzle 22, it may be screwed onto the dispenser body 21, or instead of being screwed onto it, it may be slidably attached. And orifice 30
is a rotatable nozzle cap 2 as shown in the figure.
In No. 8, the hole is provided in the center of the bottom 29 of the nozzle cap, but if the nozzle cap is configured to be slidable, it may not be provided in the center of the bottom of the nozzle cap.

The above-mentioned embodiments are for illustrating the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention in any way, and any modifications, modifications, etc. made within the technical scope of the present invention are also included in the present invention. Needless to say.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the off position is established by moving the nozzle cap sufficiently rearward. In this configuration in which the off-position is set by moving the nozzle cap, the off-position can be easily set and the configuration is not complicated.

Further, by advancing the nozzle cap from the off-position, a spray stream or a jet stream can be obtained depending on the advancing distance, and the liquid flow pattern can be easily and quickly switched.

The spray stream or jet stream can then be obtained without changing the position of the orifice through which the spray stream or jet stream flows out.

Further, the spinner has a simple configuration without a flow path or the like in the radial direction, and the spinner mold can be configured without having a core pin that moves in the radial direction. Therefore, the spinner molding die is structurally simplified and the cost of manufacturing the die is reduced. Also,
Since there is no process to remove the core pin, the spinner can be quickly formed and mass-produced easily.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side view of a trigger type dispenser equipped with a liquid flow pattern switching mechanism according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2, 6, and 7 are
A vertical cross-sectional view of a liquid flow pattern switching mechanism in an off position, a spray position, and a jet position,
3 and 4 are a rear view and a front view of the spinner, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the spinner. 10: Liquid flow pattern switching mechanism, 12: Trigger type dispenser, 18: Trigger, 20:
Container, 21: Dispenser body, 22: Nozzle, 24: Nozzle channel, 26: Spinner, 2
8: nozzle cap, 29: bottom of nozzle cap, 30: orifice, 34: blind channel of spinner, 38: recess at tip of spinner, 39: bottom of recess, 44: extending piece at bottom of nozzle cap.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A nozzle cap with a bottom is attached to the tip of the nozzle so as to be movable back and forth, a spinner with a bottom is provided at the tip of the nozzle with the bottom facing the bottom of the nozzle cap, and an orifice is provided at the tip of the spinner. A hole is formed in the bottom of the nozzle cap opposite to the bottom, and by moving the nozzle cap forward and backward, the distance between the bottom of the nozzle cap and the tip of the spinner can be adjusted. In the liquid flow pattern switching mechanism that switches the liquid flow pattern, the spinner has a blind hole-like flow path that is bored at the back of the bottom of the spinner and communicates with the flow path of the nozzle, and a blind hole-like flow path that is bored at the tip of the spinner opposite to the orifice. The nozzle cap includes a blind hole-like channel and a recess that communicates with the outer end of the nozzle cap. A liquid flow pattern switching mechanism that is closely attached to the bottom and blocks communication between the nozzle flow path and the orifice.