TW201927412A - Foam discharger - Google Patents

Abstract

The foam discharger is provided with a foaming mechanism (20). The foaming mechanism (20) has: a liquid flow passage (50) through which a liquid supplied from a liquid supply unit to a mixing part (21) passes; and a gas flow passage (70) through which a gas supplied from a gas supply unit to the mixing part (21) passes. The liquid flow passage (50) includes an adjacent liquid flow passage (51) having a liquid inlet (52) opened to the mixing part (21) and the gas flow passage (70) includes multiple adjacent gas flow passages (71), each having a gas inlet (72) opened to the mixing part (21). The liquid inlet (52) is disposed at a position corresponding to a convergence part (22) for the portions of the gas supplied to the mixing part (21) through the gas inlets (72) from the multiple adjacent gas flow passages (71).

Description

Foam ejector

The present invention relates to a foam ejector, a liquid-filled article, and a foam ejection cap.

The foam ejector which is ejected by foaming the content is, for example, described in Patent Document 1.
The foam ejector of Patent Document 1 includes a liquid pump and a gas pump disposed around the liquid pump, and the liquid pumped from the liquid pump and the gas pumped from the gas pump are configured to flow through a ball valve disposed above the liquid pump. To the mixing department (the confluent space of this document) and merge. The liquid system that has been pumped from the liquid pump flows into the mixing portion substantially straight from below the mixing portion, and the gas system that is pumped from the gas pump flows into the mixing portion from the periphery of the mixing portion.
PRIOR ART DOCUMENT PATENT DOCUMENT 1 Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-262202 Patent Document 2 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-290365

The present invention relates to a foam ejector having: a foaming mechanism that generates foam from a liquid;
a liquid supply unit that supplies a liquid to the foaming mechanism;
a gas supply unit that supplies a gas to the foaming mechanism;
a discharge port that ejects the foam produced by the foaming mechanism; and a foam flow path through which the foam from the foaming mechanism to the discharge port passes; and the foaming mechanism has:
a mixing unit that merges the liquid supplied from the liquid supply unit with the gas supplied from the gas supply unit;
a liquid flow path through which the liquid supplied from the liquid supply unit to the mixing unit passes; and a gas flow path through which the gas supplied from the gas supply unit to the mixing unit passes; and the foam flow path is included in The downstream side is adjacent to the adjacent foam flow path of the mixing portion,
The liquid flow path includes an adjacent liquid flow path that is adjacent to the mixing portion on the upstream side and has a liquid inlet opening to the mixing portion.
The gas flow path includes a plurality of adjacent gas flow paths, and the plurality of adjacent gas flow paths are adjacent to the mixing portion on the upstream side and each have a gas inlet opening to the mixing portion.
The liquid inlet is disposed at a position corresponding to a merging portion of the gas supplied from the plurality of adjacent gas flow paths to the mixing portion via the gas inlet.

According to the study by the inventors of the present invention, in the foaming mechanism of the foam ejector constructed in Patent Document 1, depending on the properties of the contents, it is not always easy to sufficiently mix the liquid and the gas to produce a sufficiently uniform foam. Room for improvement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a foam ejector, a liquid-filled article, and a foam ejection cap which are capable of mixing gas-liquid more well to produce a sufficiently uniform foam.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described using the drawings. In the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[First Embodiment]
First, the foam ejector 100 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 1(a) to 2 .

As shown in Fig. 1(a), the foam ejector 100 of the present embodiment includes a foaming mechanism 20 that generates foam from a liquid, a liquid supply unit 29 that supplies a liquid to the foaming mechanism 20, and a gas supply unit 28 that The foaming mechanism 20 supplies gas; the discharge port 41 which ejects the foam generated by the foaming mechanism 20; and the foam flow path 90 which passes through the foam from the foaming mechanism 20 to the discharge port 41. The foaming mechanism 20 has a mixing portion 21 that combines the liquid supplied from the liquid supply portion 29 with the gas supplied from the gas supply portion 28, and a liquid flow path 50 that supplies the liquid supplied from the liquid supply portion 29 to the mixing portion 21. And a gas flow path 70 through which the gas supplied from the gas supply unit 28 to the mixing unit 21 passes. The foam flow path 90 includes an adjacent foam flow path 91 adjacent to the mixing portion 21 on the downstream side. The liquid flow path 50 includes an adjacent liquid flow path 51 that is adjacent to the mixing portion 21 on the upstream side and has a liquid inlet 52 that opens to the mixing portion 21. The gas flow path 70 includes a plurality of adjacent gas flow paths 71 that are adjacent to the mixing portion 21 on the upstream side and have gas inlets 72 that open to the mixing portion 21, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1(b), the liquid inlet 52 is disposed at a position corresponding to the merging portion 22 of the gas supplied from the plurality of adjacent gas flow paths 71 to the mixing portion 21 via the gas inlet 72.
Further, the adjacent foam flow path 91 has a bubble outlet 92 that opens to the mixing portion 21.

In the case of the present embodiment, the number of the mixing portions 21 is one, and the adjacent gas flow paths 71a and the adjacent gas flow paths 71b of the adjacent gas flow paths 71b supply gas to the mixing portion 21, and one adjacent liquid flow path 51. The liquid is supplied to the mixing unit 21. Further, one adjacent foam flow path 91 is disposed in the mixing unit 21.
Further, a pair of adjacent gas flow paths 71 are disposed corresponding to the respective mixing portions 21. In other words, a plurality of (for example, a pair of) adjacent gas flow paths 71 are disposed in correspondence with the respective mixing units 21. Further, the number of adjacent liquid flow paths 51 arranged corresponding to the respective mixing portions 21 is one, and the mixing portion 21 is disposed corresponding to each adjacent liquid flow path 51. Further, the number of adjacent foam flow paths 91 arranged corresponding to the respective mixing portions 21 is one.
However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the foaming mechanism 20 may have a plurality of adjacent liquid flow paths 51, and the mixing portion 21 may be individually disposed corresponding to each of the adjacent liquid flow paths 51.
In other words, the foaming mechanism 20 has one or a plurality of adjacent liquid flow paths 51, and the mixing portion 21 is disposed corresponding to each of the adjacent liquid flow paths 51.
Further, in the present invention, three or more adjacent gas flow paths 71 may be disposed corresponding to the respective mixing portions 21, and two or more adjacent liquid flow paths 51 may be disposed corresponding to the respective mixing portions 21, or may be mixed with each other. The unit 21 is provided with two or more adjacent foam flow paths 91 correspondingly.

As shown in FIG. 1(b), each of the gas inlets 72 is a downstream end of each adjacent gas flow path 71, and is a connection end of each adjacent gas flow path 71 to the mixing portion 21. The gas inlet 72a is adjacent to the downstream end of the gas flow path 71a, and the gas inlet 72b is adjacent to the downstream end of the gas flow path 71b.
The liquid inlet 52 is adjacent to the downstream end of the liquid flow path 51 and is adjacent to the connection end of the liquid flow path 51 and the mixing portion 21.
The foam outlet 92 is adjacent to the upstream end of the foam flow path 91 and is adjacent to the connection end of the foam flow path 91 and the mixing portion 21.

Here, one or more of the plurality of faces defining the mixing portion 21 may be configured to include an imaginary surface and a wall surface, or may be an imaginary surface that does not include a wall surface.
In the case of the present embodiment, the mixing portion 21 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, for example, the gas inlet 72a, the gas inlet 72b, the liquid inlet 52, and the foam outlet 92 (the imaginary surfaces each including no wall surface) constitute the six faces of the delineation mixing portion 21. One of the four faces is formed, and the remaining two faces are the wall faces that define the near side and the back side of the mixing portion 21 in the paper surface of Fig. 1(b), respectively. That is, the mixing portion 21 is defined by a plurality of gas inlets 72, liquid inlets 52, foam outlets 92, and wall surfaces.

As described above, in the present invention, the foaming mechanism 20 may not have a plurality of mixing portions 21. That is, as an example, the foaming mechanism 20 includes a plurality of mixing sections 21, and each of the plurality of mixing sections 21 is defined by a plurality of gas inlets 72, liquid inlets 52, foam outlets 92, and wall surfaces.

The merging portion 22 is a portion in which the gas supplied from the plurality of adjacent gas flow paths 71 to the mixing portion 21 via the gas inlet 72 merges, and the flow of the gas supplied from the adjacent gas flow path 71 to the mixing portion 21 is equalized. And the gases are pushed against each other.
Here, in the present specification, the following region is referred to as a gas-liquid contact region 23, which is a region in the mixing portion 21, and a plurality of adjacent gas flow paths 71 corresponding to the mixing portion 21 are disposed in the adjacent gases. The region in which the obtained regions overlap each other in the axial direction of the downstream end of the flow path 71 and the abutting liquid flow path 51 corresponding to the mixing portion 21 in the axial direction of the downstream end of the adjacent liquid flow path 51 Extend the resulting area overlap. In Fig. 1(b), the gas-liquid contact region 23 is hatched.
The merging portion 22 is a portion in the gas-liquid contact region 23 and is located at a portion intermediate the plurality of gas inlets 72 that are open to the mixing portion 21.
In the case of the present embodiment, a pair of adjacent gas flow paths 71 are disposed corresponding to one mixing portion 21, and the gas supply directions from the pair of adjacent gas flow paths 71 to the corresponding mixing portion 21 face each other. The gas inlets 72a, 72b adjacent to the gas flow paths 71a, 71b oppose each other in parallel. Further, the axis AX3 adjacent to the liquid flow path 51 is orthogonal to the axes AX1 and AX2. In this case, as shown in Fig. 1(b), the merging portion 22 is an imaginary plane located between the two gas inlets 72a and 72b.
However, in the present invention, the foaming mechanism 20 may have a plurality of mixing portions 21, and in this case, a pair of adjacent gas flow paths 71 may be disposed corresponding to the respective mixing portions 21, from the pair of adjacent gases. The flow path 71 faces the supply direction of the gas of the corresponding mixing unit 21 to each other.
In this way, the foaming mechanism 20 has one or a plurality of mixing portions 21, and a pair of adjacent gas flow paths 71 are disposed corresponding to the respective mixing portions 21, and the gas from the pair of adjacent gas flow paths 71 to the corresponding mixing portion 21 The supply directions are opposite each other.

More specifically, in the case of the present embodiment, the adjacent gas flow paths 71a and 71b each extend linearly, and the cross-sectional shapes of the adjacent gas flow paths 71a and 71b are rectangular, respectively, and the gas inlet 72a and the adjacent gas flow path 71a. The rectangular opening is orthogonal to the axis, and the gas inlet 72b is a rectangular opening orthogonal to the axis of the adjacent gas flow path 71b. Further, the gas inlet 72a and the gas inlet 72b are formed in the same shape and the same area. That is, the shapes of the gas inlets 72 that open to the mixing portion 21 are the same as each other, and the areas of the gas inlets 72 that open to the mixing portion 21 are identical to each other. Further, the axis AX1 of the adjacent gas flow path 71a and the axis AX2 of the adjacent gas flow path 71b are arranged on the same straight line. The cross-sectional shape of the adjacent liquid flow path 51 is a rectangle. Further, the entire mixing portion 21 is the gas-liquid contact region 23, and the mixing portion 21 and the gas-liquid contact region 23 are identical to each other. Further, the adjacent liquid flow path 51 extends linearly, and the axis AX3 adjacent to the liquid flow path 51 is orthogonal to the axes AX1 and AX2. Further, the adjacent foam flow path 91 extends linearly, and the axis AX4 adjacent to the bubble flow path 91 is disposed on the same straight line as the axis AX3.
In the case of the present embodiment, the merging portion 22 is located between the two gas inlets 72a and 72b and is an imaginary surface (imaginary surface) having the same shape and size as the gas inlets 72a and 72b.

In the case where three or more adjacent gas flow paths 71 are disposed in one mixing portion 21, and the axial centers of the three or more adjacent gas flow paths 71 are disposed on the same plane, the merging portion 22 is provided. An imaginary line (hypothetical line) including an intersection of the axes of the three adjacent gas flow paths 71 and orthogonal to the plane.
Further, when three or more adjacent gas flow paths 71 are disposed in one mixing portion 21, and the axial centers of the adjacent gas flow paths 71 do not exist on the same plane, the merging portion 22 becomes a virtual point (hypothesis) point).

When the liquid inlet 52 is disposed at a position corresponding to the merging portion 22, the liquid inlet 52 is overlapped with the merging portion 22 when the liquid inlet 52 is viewed in the direction of the axis AX3 adjacent to the downstream end of the liquid flow path 51 (liquid inlet 52) At least a portion of the overlap with at least a portion of the confluence portion 22).
The liquid inlet 52 is preferably disposed in the vicinity of the merging portion 22. For example, the distance between the liquid inlet 52 and the junction 22 is preferably below the diameter of the liquid inlet 52. Further, the liquid inlet 52 is preferably disposed at a position directly in contact with the merging portion 22. As shown in Fig. 1(a), in the case of the present embodiment, the liquid inlet 52 and the merging portion 22 are directly in contact with each other.

Further, it is preferable that the gas inlet 72 is disposed in each of the mixing portion 21 at a position on both sides of a region adjacent to the extension line of the liquid flow path 51 (hereinafter, an area on the extension line).
Here, the region overlapping the adjacent liquid flow path 51 when viewed in the direction of the axis AX3 adjacent to the downstream end of the liquid flow path 51 in the region-mixing portion 21 is extended. Here, it is preferable that there is no obstacle between the extended line region and the adjacent liquid flow path 51. However, an obstacle such as an obstacle to the flow of the fluid may exist between the extended line region and the adjacent liquid flow path 51.
The extension line region may be a partial region of the mixing portion 21 or may be the entirety of the mixing portion 21. In the case of the present embodiment, the extended line region is the entirety of the mixing portion 21.
Further, the extended line region includes the region of the gas-liquid contact region 23 described above. In the case of the present embodiment, the extended line region, the gas-liquid contact region 23, and the mixing portion 21 are identical to each other.
The gas inlets 72 are disposed at positions on both sides of the extension line region, respectively, and the gas inlets 72 are disposed in the regions on both sides of the extension line of the axial center AX3 adjacent to the downstream end of the liquid flow path 51. .
Further, in order to allow the gas that has flowed into the mixing portion 21 through the respective gas inlets 72 to reach the region on the extended line from the region on both sides of the region on the extended line, the respective gas inlets 72 are disposed.

Further, it is preferable that each of the gas inlets 72 disposed at positions on both sides of the region (extension line region) on the extension line adjacent to the liquid flow path 51 faces the region.
The direction in which the gas inlet 72 faces the extension line means that any portion of the gas inlet 72 overlaps with the region on the extension line when viewed in the axial direction of the downstream end of the adjacent gas flow path 71 (at least a part of the gas inlet 72 and the extension line) At least a portion of the area overlaps). Although it is preferred that there is no obstacle between the extended line region and the gas inlet 72, an obstacle such as an obstacle to the flow of the fluid may exist between the extended line region and the gas inlet 72.

As described above, in the present embodiment, a pair of adjacent gas flow paths 71 are disposed in one mixing portion 21. In this case, it is preferable that the gas inlets 72 that open to the mixing portion 21 are opposed to each other with the mixing portion 21 interposed therebetween. The gas inlets 72 that are open to the mixing portion 21 are spaced apart from each other by the mixing portion 21, and the mutual direction means that the one of the pair of adjacent gas flow paths 71 abuts the direction of the axis AX1 of the downstream end of the gas flow path 71a. When viewed from above, the gas inlet 72a of the adjacent gas flow path 71a overlaps with the mixing portion 21 and the gas inlet 72b of the other adjacent gas flow path 71b (at least a part of the gas inlet 72a and at least a part of the mixing portion 21 and the gas inlet 72b) At least a part of the overlap, and when viewed in the direction of the axis AX2 of the downstream end of the other adjacent gas flow path 71a, the gas inlet 72b of the adjacent gas flow path 71b and the mixing portion 21 and an adjacent gas flow path 71a The gas inlets 72a overlap (at least a portion of the gas inlet 72b overlaps at least a portion of the mixing portion 21 and at least a portion of the gas inlet 72a).

Hereinafter, the configuration of the foam ejector 100 of the present embodiment will be described in more detail.
In the case of the present embodiment, the maximum value of the cross-sectional area of the inner cavity of the mixing portion 21 orthogonal to the axial direction of the liquid flow path 51 (the direction of the axis AX3) is the same as the flow path area of the adjacent liquid flow path 51.
Here, the flow path area adjacent to the liquid flow path 51 is an average value of the cross-sectional area of the inner cavity adjacent to the liquid flow path 51 orthogonal to the axial direction of the liquid flow path 51, and the volume of the adjacent liquid flow path 51 is divided. The value obtained by the length adjacent to the liquid flow path 51.
The maximum value of the cross-sectional area of the inner cavity of the mixing portion 21 orthogonal to the axial direction of the adjacent liquid flow path 51 is also preferably smaller than the flow path area of the adjacent liquid flow path 51.
That is, the maximum value of the cross-sectional area of the inner cavity of the mixing portion 21 orthogonal to the axial direction of the adjacent liquid flow path 51 is the same as or smaller than the flow path area of the adjacent liquid flow path 51.
Further, when the adjacent liquid flow path 51 is not linear, it is preferable that the maximum value of the cross-sectional area of the inner cavity of the mixing portion 21 orthogonal to the axial direction of the downstream end of the liquid flow path 51 is adjacent to the adjacent liquid flow path. The flow path of 51 is the same or smaller than the flow path area.

In the case of the present embodiment, the flow path area adjacent to the foam flow path 91 and the cross-sectional area of the cavity orthogonal to the axial direction of the adjacent foam flow path 91 (the direction of the axis AX4) (and the adjacent foam flow) The maximum value of the inner cavity sectional area of the mixing portion 21 in which the axial direction of the path 91 is orthogonal is the same.
Here, the flow path area adjacent to the foam flow path 91 is an average value of the inner cavity sectional area of the adjacent foam flow path 91 orthogonal to the axial direction of the adjacent foam flow path 91, and the volume adjacent to the foam flow path 91 is divided. The value obtained by the length adjacent to the foam flow path 91.
The flow path area adjacent to the foam flow path 91 is also preferably smaller than the maximum value of the cross-sectional area of the inner cavity of the mixing portion 21 orthogonal to the axial direction of the adjacent foam flow path 91.
That is, the flow path area adjacent to the foam flow path 91 is the same as or smaller than the maximum value of the internal cavity sectional area of the mixing portion 21 orthogonal to the axial direction of the adjacent foam flow path 91.
Further, in the case where the adjacent foam flow path 91 is not linear, it is preferable that the maximum value of the cross-sectional area of the inner cavity of the mixing portion 21 orthogonal to the axial center of the upstream end of the adjacent foam flow path 91 and the adjacent foam flow path The flow path of 91 is the same or smaller than the flow path area.
More preferably, the flow path area adjacent to the foam flow path 91 is a value obtained by dividing the volume of the mixing portion 21 by the size of the mixing portion 21 in the axial direction of the adjacent foam flow path 91 (with the axial direction of the adjacent foam flow path 91). The average value of the cross-sectional area of the inner cavity of the orthogonal mixing portion 21 is the same or smaller than this value.

The opening area of the bubble outlet 92 is preferably smaller than the flow path area adjacent to the liquid flow path 51 or equal to the flow path area adjacent to the liquid flow path 51.
The opening area of the foam outlet 92 is preferably smaller than the cross-sectional area of the inner cavity of the mixing portion 21 orthogonal to the axial direction of the adjacent foam flow path 91 or equal to the sectional area of the inner cavity.
Further preferably, the cross-sectional area of the inner cavity of the mixing portion 21 orthogonal to the axial direction of the adjacent foam flow path 91 is larger than the opening area of the gas inlet 72 corresponding to the mixing portion 21. In the case where a plurality of gas inlets 72 are disposed corresponding to one mixing portion 21, it is preferable that the mixing portion is orthogonal to the axial direction of the adjacent foam flow path 91 as compared with the total of the opening areas of the gas inlets 72. The cavity area of 21 is larger.

In the case of the present embodiment, the length of the adjacent foam flow path 91 is longer than the size of the gas inlet 72 adjacent to the axial direction of the foam flow path 91. Further, the length of the adjacent foam flow path 91 is longer than the size of the mixing portion 21 in the axial direction adjacent to the foam flow path 91.

Further, in the case of the present embodiment, the adjacent foam flow path 91 and the adjacent liquid flow path 51 are disposed on opposite sides of each other with the mixing portion 21 as a reference. Further, the bubble outlet 92 and the liquid inlet 52 are opposed to each other with the mixing portion 21 interposed therebetween. The foam outlet 92 and the liquid inlet 52 are opposed to each other with the mixing portion 21 interposed therebetween, meaning that the foam outlet 92 and the mixing portion 21 and the liquid are observed when viewed in the axial direction of the upstream end of the adjacent foam flow path 91. The inlets 52 overlap (at least a portion of the foam outlet 92 overlaps at least a portion of the mixing portion 21 and at least a portion of the liquid inlet 52), and when viewed in the axial direction of the downstream end of the adjacent liquid flow path 51, the liquid inlet 52 is The mixing portion 21 and the foam outlet 92 overlap (at least a portion of the liquid inlet 52 overlaps at least a portion of the mixing portion 21 and at least a portion of the foam outlet 92).

More specifically, in the case of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the foam flow path 90 includes an enlarged foam flow path 93 which is adjacent to the adjacent foam flow path 91 on the downstream side and has a flow path area. It is larger than the adjacent foam flow path 91. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the generated foam from being blocked by the adjacent foam flow path 91, and it is possible to more preferably achieve continuous foam generation.

Here, Fig. 3 (a) and Fig. 3 (b) are views showing photographs taken when a foam is ejected using a foaming mechanism having the structure shown in Fig. 2 .
As shown in Fig. 3 (a) and Fig. 3 (b), it is confirmed that the liquid is supplied from the adjacent liquid flow path 51 to the liquid forming liquid column 80 of the mixing portion 21, and the liquid column 80 is sequentially (alternatingly) at high speed. The foam is oscillated in a direction away from the adjacent gas flow path 71b and away from the adjacent gas flow path 71a, and a fine foam is intermittently generated from the liquid column 80. By this action, a large amount of fine foam is produced.
The reason why such an action is generated is not determined, and it is considered that the reason is that the pressure of the gas supplied from the adjacent gas flow path 71a to the mixing portion 21 is lower than the pressure of the gas supplied from the other adjacent gas flow path 71b to the mixing portion 21 ( The timing of the pressure of the gas supplied from the other adjacent gas flow path 71b to the mixing portion 21 exceeding the pressure of the gas supplied from the other adjacent gas flow path 71b to the mixing portion 21 is supplied to the mixing portion from the adjacent gas flow path 71a. The pressure of the gas of 21 exceeds the pressure of the gas supplied from the other adjacent gas flow path 71b to the mixing section 21 (the pressure of the gas supplied from the other adjacent gas flow path 71b to the mixing section 21 is lower than that of the other adjacent gas flow path The timing of the pressure of the gas supplied to the mixing portion 21 of 71b is sequentially (alternatively) generated at a short time interval.

The liquid column 80 is formed in the range from the mixing portion 21 to the adjacent foam flow path 91, and may be formed in the range from the mixing portion 21 to the expanded foam flow path 93. That is, the generation of the foam may be performed in the mixing portion 21 or in the adjacent foam flow path 91 or the expanded foam flow path 93.

Thus, at least the adjacent foam flow path 91 constitutes a swinging region for sequentially oscillating the liquid column 80 containing the liquid toward the gas inlet 72 away from each of the plurality of adjacent gas flow paths 71 opening to the mixing portion 21. .
More specifically, in the case of the present embodiment, a pair of adjacent gas flow paths 71 are disposed for one mixing portion 21, and the liquid column 80 is alternately oscillated in the swing region.

By ejecting the foam using the foaming mechanism of the configuration shown in Fig. 2, the gas-liquid can be more well mixed in the mixing portion 21. Therefore, it is easy to produce a sufficiently uniform and fine foam.
The foam ejector 100 does not have the screen of a conventional foaming mechanism, but even so, a sufficiently uniform and fine foam can be produced. Therefore, clogging of the screen can be avoided.
Further, it is also easy to foam a liquid which is not easily foamed, such as a liquid having a high viscosity.

Further, the details will be described in the following embodiments, and by ejecting the foam using the foaming mechanism of the configuration shown in Fig. 2, the amount of gas and liquid supplied to the mixing portion 21 per unit time can be made irrespective of The fineness of the foam is even.

According to the present embodiment, the liquid inlet 52 is disposed at a position corresponding to the merging portion 22 of the gas supplied from the plurality of adjacent gas flow paths 71 to the mixing portion 21 via the gas inlet 72, and thus the liquid column is as described above. The foaming or the like can effectively perform foaming of the liquid using the gas flow. Thereby, the gas and liquid can be well mixed and a sufficiently uniform foam can be produced.

Further, since the individual mixing portions 21 are disposed corresponding to the adjacent liquid flow paths 51, the escape position of the gas or the liquid from the mixing portion 21 is restricted, so that the mixing of the gas and liquid in the mixing portion 21 can be performed more surely. .
Further, a plurality of dedicated adjacent gas flow paths 71 are disposed corresponding to the respective mixing portions 21, whereby the escape position of the gas or liquid from the mixing portion 21 is further restricted, so that the mixing portion 21 can be more reliably performed. Mix of gas and liquid in the middle.

Further, the flow path area adjacent to the foam flow path 91 is the same as the maximum value of the cross-sectional area of the inner cavity of the mixing portion 21 orthogonal to the axial direction of the adjacent foam flow path 91, so that the liquid column swing as described above can be limited. The flow in the space is also limited, and the flow path through the airflow around the liquid column is also limited. Thereby, a fine foam can be produced more intermittently.

Further, the length of the adjacent foam flow path 91 is longer than the size of the gas inlet 72 adjacent to the axial direction of the foam flow path 91. In other words, in the subsequent stage of the mixing unit 21, a region having a sufficiently narrow flow path area is provided. Thereby, the swing of the liquid column as described above can be performed more surely, and the fine foam is intermittently produced.

Further, since the supply directions of the gases from the pair of adjacent gas flow paths 71a and 71b to the corresponding mixing portion 21 are opposed to each other, the airflow portions 22 can more easily push the airflows to each other. Thereby, the swing of the liquid column as described above can be performed more surely, and the fine foam is intermittently produced.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 4 to 13 .
The foam ejector 100 of the present embodiment is different from the foam ejector 100 of the above-described first embodiment in that it is similar to the foam ejector 100 of the above-described first embodiment.
Hereinafter, in order to simplify the description of the positional relationship of the constituent elements of the foam ejector 100, the lower direction is lower in FIG. 4 and the opposite direction is upper. However, the directions do not limit the direction of manufacture and use of the foam ejector 100.

As shown in FIG. 4, the foam ejector 100 includes a storage container 10 that stores a liquid 101, and a foam ejection cover 200 that is detachably attached to the storage container 10.

The shape of the storage container 10 is not particularly limited. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the storage container 10 has a cylindrical main body portion 11 and a cylindrical neck portion 13 connected to the main body portion 11. An upper side; and a bottom portion 14 that closes the lower end of the main body portion 11. An opening is formed at an upper end of the neck portion 13.
The storage container 10 is filled with a liquid 101.

The liquid-filled product 500 of the present embodiment is configured to include a foam ejector 100 and a liquid 101 filled in the storage container 10.

In the present embodiment, the hand lotion is exemplified as the representative example of the liquid 101. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and examples thereof include facial cleansers, detergents, dishwashing agents, hair styling agents, shower gels, and shaving creams. A skin-like cosmetic product such as a liquid foundation or a cosmetic liquid, a hair dye, a disinfectant, or the like, which is used in a foam form.
The viscosity of the liquid 101 before foaming is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, 1 mPa ∙ s or more and 10 mPa ∙ s or less at 20 ° C.
Further, in the foam ejector 100 of the present embodiment, for example, a shampoo which is 10 mPa ∙ or more and 100 mPa ∙s or less at 20 ° C is also foamed well, and is suitable for a liquid 101 having higher viscosity. The foamed structure, for example, the liquid 101 having a viscosity of 100 mPa ∙ or more at 20 ° C, may preferably be foamed.
Further, the viscosity measurement system uses a B-type viscometer, and the rotor and the number of revolutions suitable for the viscosity region to be measured can be selected.

The foam ejector 100 uses the mixing portion 21 (Fig. 12, etc.) of the foaming mechanism 20 to bring the liquid 101 stored in the container 10 under normal pressure into contact with air, thereby changing the liquid 101 into a foam shape.
In the case of the present embodiment, the foam ejector 100 is a pump container that ejects foam, for example, by a hand pressing operation, and the liquid 101 is foamed by pressing the operation receiving portion 31 of the head member (head) 30. A foam is formed and the foam is ejected. In the case of the present embodiment, the liquid supply unit that supplies the liquid 101 to the foaming mechanism 20 is, for example, a liquid cylinder of a liquid pump, and the gas supply unit that supplies the gas to the foaming mechanism 20 is, for example, a gas cylinder of a gas pump.
However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the foam ejector may be a so-called squeeze bottle configured to eject a foam by squeezing a storage container, or may be an electric foam dispenser including a motor or the like.

As shown in FIG. 5, the foam discharge cover 200 includes a cover member 110 having a cylindrical mounting portion 111 detachably attached to the neck portion 13 (FIG. 4) by a fixing method such as screwing; the cylinder member 120 A cylinder that is fixed to the cover member 110 and constitutes a liquid pump and a gas pump, and a head member 30 that has an operation receiving portion 31 that accepts a pressing operation.
The attachment of the foam discharge cover 200 to the mouth and neck portion 13 is performed by attaching the attachment portion 111 to the neck portion 13. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the attachment portion 111 may be formed in a double cylinder structure in which the inner cylindrical portion is screwed to the neck portion 13 or may be formed in a single-layered cylindrical shape. The opening of the mouth and neck portion 13 is closed by the foam ejection cover 200 by attaching the foam ejection cover 200 to the mouth and neck portion 13.

The cover member 110 includes an annular closing portion 112 that closes an upper end portion of the mounting portion 111, and a rising tubular portion 113 that is formed in a cylindrical shape having a smaller diameter than the mounting portion 111, and is formed from the annular closing portion 112. The central part rises upwards.

The cylinder member 120 includes a cylindrical gas cylinder forming portion 121 fixed to the lower surface side of the annular closing portion 112 of the cover member 110, and a cylindrical liquid cylinder forming portion 122 having a diameter larger than that of the gas cylinder forming portion 121. Small; and an annular connecting portion 123. The annular connecting portion 123 connects the lower end portion of the gas cylinder forming portion 121 and the upper end portion of the liquid cylinder forming portion 122 to each other, and the liquid cylinder forming portion 122 hangs from the annular connecting portion 123.
Further, the gas cylinder constituting portion 121, the liquid cylinder constituting portion 122, the mounting portion 111, and the rising tubular portion 113 are disposed coaxially with each other.

The upper end portion of the gas cylinder forming portion 121 is fixed to the annular closing portion 112 by being fitted to the lower surface side of the annular closing portion 112 or the like.
The cylinder (gas cylinder) of the gas pump is configured to include a gas cylinder configuration portion 121 and an annular coupling portion 123.
The piston of the gas pump contains a gas piston 150 as described below.
Hereinafter, a portion between the gas piston 150 and the annular connecting portion 123 in the internal space of the gas cylinder forming portion 121 is referred to as a gas pump chamber 210.
The volume of the gas pump chamber 210 is expanded and contracted as the gas piston 150 moves up and down.

On the other hand, the cylinder (liquid cylinder) of the liquid pump is configured to include the liquid cylinder configuration portion 122.
The piston of the liquid pump is configured to include the liquid piston 140 described below.
The liquid pump chamber 220 is a space between the liquid discharge valve and the liquid suction valve described below. The volume of the liquid pump chamber 220 is expanded and contracted as the liquid piston 140 and the piston guide 130 described below move up and down.

The liquid cylinder (liquid supply unit) is configured to pressurize the liquid 101 inside and supply the liquid 101 to the foaming mechanism 20.
The gas cylinder (gas supply unit) is disposed so as to be disposed around the liquid cylinder, and pressurizes the internal gas to supply the gas to the foaming mechanism 20.

More specifically, the foam ejector 100 is provided with a head member 30 that is movably held by the mounting portion 111 with respect to the mounting portion 111 and is relatively pressed with respect to the mounting portion 111, and the foaming mechanism 20, The discharge port 41 and the foam flow path 90 are held by the head member 30.
Further, when the head member 30 is relatively pressed with respect to the mounting portion 111, the liquid 101 inside the liquid supply portion (inside of the liquid pump chamber 220) and the inside of the gas supply portion (inside of the gas pump chamber 210) are respectively The gas is pressurized and supplied to the foaming mechanism 20.

The liquid cylinder configuration portion 122 includes a linear straight portion 122a that extends vertically, and a reduced diameter portion 122b that is connected below the straight portion 122a and that is reduced in diameter toward the lower side.
A spring receiving portion 126a that receives the lower end of the coil spring 170 is formed on the inner circumference of the lower end portion of the straight portion 122a. The spring receiving portion 126a includes an upper end surface of the plurality of ribs 126 formed on the inner circumference of the lower end portion of the liquid cylinder forming portion 122 at a specific angular interval such as equiangular intervals.
The lower portion of the inner peripheral surface of the reduced diameter portion 122b constitutes a valve seat 127 which is fluid-tightly separable to the valve body 162 including the lower end portion of the poppet valve 160 described below.

Further, the cylinder member 120 includes a cylindrical tube holding portion 125 that is connected to the lower side of the liquid cylinder forming portion 122. The dip tube 128 is held at the lower end of the cylinder member 120 by inserting the upper end of the dip tube 128 into the tube holding portion 125. The liquid 101 in the storage container 10 can be drawn into the liquid pump chamber 220 via the dip tube 128.

Further, a pad 190 is externally fitted to the upper end portion of the cylinder member 120. In a state in which the lid member 110 is attached to the storage container 10 by screwing, the gasket 190 is hermetically sealed to the upper end of the neck portion 13 in a wraparound manner, thereby sealing the internal space of the storage container 10.

Further, the gas cylinder forming portion 121 is formed with a through hole 129 penetrating the inside and the outside of the gas cylinder forming portion 121. In a state where the head member 30 is at the top dead center, the through hole 129 is blocked by the outer peripheral ring portion 153 of the gas piston 150 described below.

The head member 30 has an operation receiving portion 31 that receives a pressing operation, and a double tubular portion, that is, an inner tubular portion 32 and an outer tubular portion 33 that hang down from the operation receiving portion 31 downward. The upper ends of the inner tubular portion 32 and the outer tubular portion 33 are closed by the operation receiving portion 31.
The inner tubular portion 32 extends longer than the outer tubular portion 33 downward. The inner tubular portion 32 is inserted into the rising tubular portion 113 of the cover member 110.
The inner tubular portion 32 is held indirectly by the mounting portion 111 (indirectly interposed between the cylinder member 120, the coil spring 170, and the like).
The head member 30 can realize the pressing operation in the range from the top dead center to the bottom dead center against the energization of the coil spring 170, and return to the top dead center as the coil spring 170 is energized when the pressing operation is released. .
The head member 30 relatively moves up and down with respect to the cover member 110, and when the vertical movement is performed, the inner tubular portion 32 is guided by the rising tubular portion 113. The inner diameter of the outer tubular portion 33 is set to be larger than the outer diameter of the rising tubular portion 113. When the head member 30 is pressed, the rising tubular portion 113 is accommodated between the outer tubular portion 33 and the inner tubular portion 32. The gap.

Further, the head member 30 integrally has a nozzle portion 40. The nozzle portion 40 protrudes horizontally from the operation receiving portion 31. The inner space of the nozzle portion 40 communicates with the inner space of the inner cylindrical portion 32 at the upper end portion of the inner cylindrical portion 32. The discharge port 41 is formed at the front end of the nozzle portion 40.

In the normal state (normal state) in which the head member 30 is not pressed, the head member 30 is maintained at the upper limit position with respect to the upper and lower positions of the cover member 110 and the cylinder member 120 by the action of the coil spring 170 (upper dead) Point) (Figure 5). The upper limit position is, for example, a position at which the upper end of the piston portion 152 of the gas piston 150 abuts against the annular closing portion 112 of the cylinder member 120.
On the other hand, the user performs an operation of pressing the head member 30 against the energization of the coil spring 170, whereby the head member 30 is relatively lowered with respect to the cover member 110 and the cylinder member 120. Further, the lower limit position (bottom dead center) of the head member 30 is, for example, a position at which the lower end of the flange portion 133 of the piston guide 130 abuts against the annular coupling portion 123 of the cylinder member 120.

Here, the foaming mechanism 20 is housed in the inner tubular portion 32 of the head member 30 and held by the inner tubular portion 32. Further, the head member 30 is indirectly held by the mounting portion 111 via the cylinder member 120, the coil spring 170, the liquid piston 140, and the piston guide 130. Further, the head member 30 is configured to include a discharge port 41.
In this way, the foam ejector 100 includes a storage container 10 that stores the liquid 101, and a mounting portion 111 that is attached to the storage container 10, and the foaming mechanism 20, the discharge port 41, and the foam flow path 90 are held by the mounting portion 111.

The foam discharge cover 200 further includes a piston guide 130, a liquid piston 140, a gas piston 150, a suction valve member 155, a poppet valve 160, a coil spring 170, and a ball valve 180.
Wherein, the piston guide 130 is fixed to the head member 30, and the liquid piston 140 is fixed to the head member 30 via the piston guide 130. Therefore, the head member 30, the piston guide 130, and the liquid piston 140 integrally move up and down.
Further, the gas piston 150 is externally fitted to the piston guide 130 in a movable insertion state, and is relatively movable up and down with respect to the piston guide 130. The suction valve member 155 is fixed to the gas piston 150.
The poppet valve 160 is inserted into the liquid piston 140 and is relatively movable up and down relative to the liquid piston 140.
In the poppet valve 160, a coil spring 170 is externally fitted in a movable insertion state.
The ball valve 180 is held up and down between the valve seat portion 131 and the lower end of the protrusion 811a (FIG. 6) of the first member 810 described below.

The piston guide 130 is formed in a cylindrical shape (circular tubular shape) which is vertically elongated, and the upper end portion of the piston guide 130 is inserted into the lower end portion of the inner cylindrical portion 32 of the head member 30, and is fixed to the inner cylindrical portion 32. . The piston guide 130 hangs downward from the lower end of the inner cylindrical portion 32 of the head member 30.
A cylindrical valve seat portion 131 is formed inside the upper end portion of the piston guide 130, and a ball valve 180 is disposed on the valve seat portion 131. Further, the liquid discharge valve includes a ball valve 180 and a valve seat portion 131. The internal space of the portion above the valve seat portion 131 of the piston guide 130 constitutes a housing valve 132 for accommodating the ball valve 180 and the first portion 811 and the second portion 812 of the first member 810. The accommodating space 132 communicates with the inner space (that is, the liquid pump chamber 220) on the lower side of the valve seat portion 131 of the piston guide 130 via the through hole 131a formed in the center of the valve seat portion 131.
A flange portion 133 is formed in a central portion of the piston guide 130 in the upper and lower directions, and an annular valve-forming groove 134 is formed on the upper surface of the flange portion 133.
On the upper portion of the piston guide 130, a cylindrical portion 151 of the gas piston 150 is externally fitted in a movable insertion state. The upper portion of the piston guide 130 mentioned here is a portion on the upper side of the flange portion 133 of the piston guide 130, and is more inserted into and fixed to the inner cylinder portion 32 of the piston guide member 130. The part on the lower side.
The gas discharge valve includes a valve constituting groove 134 on the upper surface of the flange portion 133 and a lower end portion of the cylindrical portion 151 of the gas piston 150.
Further, a plurality of flow path forming grooves 135 (FIG. 10) extending in the vertical direction are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the portion of the piston guide 130 in which the tubular portion 151 is externally fitted. The gap between the flow path forming groove 135 and the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 151 of the gas piston 150 constitutes a flow path 211 through which the gas flowing out from the gas pump chamber 210 through the gas discharge valve passes (FIG. 10).
The outer diameter of the portion of the piston guide 130 that is lower than the flange portion 133 is set to be slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the straight portion 122a of the liquid cylinder forming portion 122, which is attached to the piston guide. When the 130 moves up and down, it is guided by the straight portion 122a.
The inner peripheral surface of the portion of the piston guide 130 that is lower than the valve seat portion 131 (where the portion of the liquid piston 140 that is inserted and fixed (for example, press-fitted) is on the upper side) is formed with an inner peripheral surface, respectively A plurality of ribs 136 extending up and down. The ribs 136 are in contact with the poppet valve 160 in a crimped state.

The liquid piston 140 is formed in a cylindrical shape (circular tubular shape). At the lower end portion of the liquid piston 140, a peripheral piston portion 141 having a shape protruding outward in the radial direction is formed.
The portion of the liquid piston 140 that is closer to the upper side than the outer peripheral piston portion 141 is inserted and fixed (for example, press-fitted) to the lower end portion of the piston guide 130.
Further, the outer peripheral piston portion 141 of the liquid piston 140 is inserted into the straight portion 122a of the liquid cylinder forming portion 122. The outer diameter of the outer peripheral piston portion 141 is set to be equal to the inner diameter of the straight portion 122a. The outer peripheral piston portion 141 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the straight portion 122a in a liquid-like manner, and slides with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the straight portion 122a when the outer peripheral piston portion 141 moves up and down.
The inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral piston portion 141 includes a spring receiving portion 142 that receives a stepped shape of the upper end of the coil spring 170.
The upper end portion of the liquid piston 140 becomes an indented portion 143 having a smaller inner diameter than the other portions.

The gas piston 150 is provided with a cylindrical portion 151 which is formed in a cylindrical shape and is externally fitted to the upper portion of the piston guide 130 (portion on the upper side of the flange portion 133) in a movable insertion state; and a piston portion 152 The tubular portion 151 protrudes outward in the radial direction.
The cylindrical portion 151 is relatively slidable up and down with respect to the upper portion of the piston guide 130.
Further, the upper end portion of the tubular portion 151 is inserted into the lower end portion of the inner cylindrical portion 32. The lower end portion of the cylindrical portion 151 is formed in a shape that can be fitted into the valve forming groove 134 on the upper surface of the flange portion 133 of the piston guide 130.
An outer peripheral ring portion 153 is formed on a peripheral portion of the piston portion 152. The outer circumferential ring portion 153 is in a circumferentially airtight manner and is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the gas cylinder forming portion 121, and slides with respect to the inner circumferential surface of the gas cylinder forming portion 121 when the gas piston 150 moves up and down.
The lower limit position of the relative movement (upward and downward movement) of the tubular portion 151 with respect to the piston guide 130 is a position at which the lower end portion of the tubular portion 151 comes into contact with the valve constituting groove 134, and the gas discharge valve is in a closed state.
On the other hand, the inner peripheral surface of the lower end portion of the inner cylindrical portion 32 includes an upward movement restricting portion 32a that restricts the cylindrical portion 151 from rising relative to the piston guide 130 and the inner tubular portion 32. That is, the upper limit position of the relative movement (upward and downward movement) of the cylindrical portion 151 with respect to the piston guide 130 is after the gas discharge valve is opened by the lower end portion of the cylindrical portion 151 from the valve constituting groove 134. The upper end portion of the portion 151 is restricted in position to be moved by the upward movement restricting portion 32a.
A plurality of suction openings 154 that penetrate the piston portion 152 up and down are formed in a portion in the vicinity of the cylindrical portion 151 of the piston portion 152.

An annular suction valve member 155 is externally fitted to the lower portion of the cylindrical portion 151 of the gas piston 150. The suction valve member 155 has a valve body which is an annular film that protrudes outward in the radial direction.
Further, the gas suction valve includes a valve body of the suction valve member 155 and a lower surface of the piston portion 152.
When the head member 30 is pressed, that is, when the gas pump chamber 210 is contracted, the valve body of the suction valve member 155 is in close contact with the lower surface of the piston portion 152, so that the suction opening 154 is closed from the lower side.
On the other hand, when the head member 30 ascends, that is, when the gas pump chamber 210 is enlarged, the valve body of the suction valve member 155 is separated from the lower surface of the piston portion 152, so that the outside atmosphere is drawn to the gas pump chamber 210 via the suction opening 154. Inside

The poppet valve 160 is a rod-like member that is vertically elongated, and is inserted through the inside of the piston guide 130 from the inside of the liquid cylinder forming portion 122 in a state of penetrating the liquid piston 140.
The upper end portion 161 of the poppet valve 160 is formed to have a larger diameter than the intermediate portion of the poppet valve 160 in the upper and lower directions, and is in contact with the plurality of rib portions 136 of the piston guide 130 in a crimped state. The upper end portion 161 of the poppet valve 160 is formed to have a larger diameter than the inner diameter of the constricted portion 143 of the liquid piston 140, and the downward movement is restricted by the constricted portion 143.
The lower end of the poppet valve 160 constitutes a valve body 162. The valve body 162 is formed to have a larger diameter than the intermediate portion of the poppet valve 160 in the upper and lower directions. The lower surface of the valve body 162 includes a portion having a conical shape that is in close contact with the valve seat 127 of the cylinder member 120 in a liquid-tight manner. Further, the liquid suction valve constitutes the valve body 162 and the valve seat 127. At the upper end portion of the valve body 162, a spring receiving portion 162a that receives the downward energization from the coil spring 170 is formed.

The coil spring 170 is externally fitted to the intermediate portion of the poppet valve 160 in a movable insertion state. The coil spring 170 is a compression type coil spring and is held between the spring receiving portion 126a of the cylinder member 120 and the spring receiving portion 142 of the liquid piston 140 in a compressed state. Therefore, the coil spring 170 obtains a reaction force from the cylinder member 120, energizing the liquid piston 140, the piston guide 130, and the head member 30 upward.
Further, the lower end of the coil spring 170 is energized not only to the spring receiving portion 126a but also to the spring receiving portion 162a of the poppet valve 160.

Here, the shape of the poppet valve 160 and the cylinder member 120 can be set such that the poppet valve 160 can move slightly downward from the position where the height of the spring receiving portion 162a coincides with the height position of the spring receiving portion 126a of the cylinder member 120. And size. Moreover, when the head member 30 is depressed and the piston guide 130 is lowered, the poppet valve 160 is driven by the friction of the plurality of ribs 136 of the piston guide 130 with the upper end portion 161 of the poppet valve 160. The piston guide 130 is used, whereby the lower surface of the valve body 162 of the poppet valve 160 is in liquid-tight contact with the valve seat 127 of the cylinder member 120. At this time, the spring receiving portion 162a is separated from the lower end of the coil spring 170 and lowered. Thereafter, after the lower surface of the valve body 162 is in close contact with the valve seat 127, and further, the head member 30, the piston guide 130, and the liquid piston 140 are integrally lowered, the lowering of the valve body 162 is restricted by the valve seat 127. Accordingly, the plurality of ribs 136 of the piston guide 130 frictionally slide relative to the upper end portion 161 of the poppet valve 160, and the piston guide 130 relatively lowers relative to the poppet valve 160.
On the other hand, when the pressing operation of the head member 30 is released, the liquid piston 140, the piston guide 130, and the head member 30 integrally rise as the coil spring 170 is energized, first, at the spring receiving portion 162a and Before the lower end of the coil spring 170 abuts, the poppet valve 160 is raised by the piston guide 130. Thereby, the valve body 162 is separated from the valve seat 127. Thereafter, the liquid piston 140, the piston guide 130, and the head member 30 continue to rise integrally as the coil spring 170 is energized. At this time, the rise of the poppet valve 160 is restricted by the coil spring 170, so the upper end portion 161 of the poppet valve 160 frictionally slides with respect to the plurality of ribs 136 of the piston guide 130, and the piston guide 130 is opposite to the lifter The movable valve 160 rises relatively.
Thus, the valve body 162 of the poppet valve 160 is allowed to move slightly up and down in the gap between the lower end of the coil spring 170 and the valve seat 127, and the liquid suction valve at the lower end portion of the liquid pump chamber 220 is opened and closed with the upper and lower movement of the valve body 162.

Here, the supply path of the gas and the liquid 101 from the gas pump chamber 210 and the liquid pump chamber 220 to the foaming mechanism 20 will be described.

The liquid pump chamber 220 is contracted by pressing the head member 30. At this time, by pressurizing the liquid 101 in the liquid pump chamber 220, the liquid discharge valve including the ball valve 180 and the valve seat portion 131 is opened, and the liquid 101 in the liquid pump chamber 220 flows into the accommodating space 132 via the liquid discharge valve. Further, it is supplied to the hole 815 of the first member 810 disposed above the accommodating space 132, that is, the liquid flow path 50 of the foaming mechanism 20 is adjacent to the liquid flow path 51 (FIGS. 6 and 9) (described below).
The details will be described later, and the liquid 101 is supplied from the adjacent liquid flow path 51 to the mixing portion 21 (Figs. 6 and 9).

Further, by pressing the head member 30, the gas pump chamber 210 is also contracted. At this time, the gas in the gas pump chamber 210 is pressurized, and the gas piston 150 is slightly raised with respect to the piston guide 130, whereby the gas discharge valve including the lower end portion of the cylindrical portion 151 and the valve constituting groove 134 is opened. The gas in the gas pump chamber 210 is supplied upward through the gas discharge valve and the flow path 211 (Fig. 10) between the cylindrical portion 151 and the piston guide 130.

A tubular gas flow path 212 (FIG. 5) including a gap between the inner circumferential surface of the lower end portion of the inner cylindrical portion 32 and the outer circumferential surface of the piston guide 130 is disposed above the cylindrical portion 151 of the gas piston 150. The upper end of the flow path 211 communicates with the lower end of the cylindrical gas flow path 212.
Further, on the upper side of the tubular gas flow path 212, a plurality of axial flow paths 213 (FIG. 5) extending vertically are formed intermittently around the upper end portion of the piston guide 130. In the case of the present embodiment, three axial flow paths 213 are arranged at equal angular intervals. More specifically, for example, the inner peripheral surface of the lower end portion of the inner tubular portion 32 is formed with three grooves 32b extending upward and downward (FIGS. 5 and 6), and the axial flow path 213 includes three grooves 32b and a piston guide. The gap between the outer peripheral faces of the upper ends of the members 130. The tubular gas flow path 212 communicates with each of the axial flow paths 213.

On the upper side of the axial flow path 213, a circumferential flow path 214 (FIG. 6) disposed around the third portion 813 (described below) of the first member 810 is provided. The upper end portion of the axial flow path 213 communicates with the surrounding flow path 214.
On the upper side of the surrounding flow path 214, a plurality of axial gas flow paths 73 (FIG. 6) extending along the outer circumferential surface of the fourth portion 814 (described below) of the first member 300 are disposed. The surrounding flow path 214 communicates with the lower end portions of the axial gas flow paths 73.

The details will be described later, and the gas system is supplied from the axial gas flow path 73 to the adjacent gas flow paths 71a, 71b, and 71c (Figs. 6, 9, and 12).
In this way, the gas that is transported upward via the flow path 211 sequentially passes through the tubular gas flow path 212 , the axial flow path 213 , the surrounding flow path 214 , and the axial gas flow path 73 , and is supplied to the adjacent gas flow path 71 , and It is supplied to the mixing unit 21 from the adjacent gas flow path 71.

Further, an adjacent foam flow path 91 (FIG. 6) is disposed above the mixing portion 21, and an expanded foam flow path 93 (FIG. 6) is disposed above the adjacent foam flow path 91.

The component configuration for realizing the foaming mechanism 20 is not particularly limited, and as an example, the first member 810 (FIG. 7 (a), FIG. 7 (b)) and the second member 820 (FIG. 7) described below are respectively illustrated. 6. Fig. 9) Combines to form the foaming mechanism 20.

The first member 810 includes a first portion 811, a second portion 812, a third portion 813, and a fourth portion 814 which are each formed in a columnar shape. The second portion 812 is connected to the upper side of the first portion 811, the third portion 813 is connected to the upper side of the second portion 812, and the fourth portion 814 is connected to the upper side of the third portion 813. The second portion 812 is formed to have a larger diameter than the first portion 811, the third portion 813 is formed to have a larger diameter than the second portion 812, and the fourth portion 814 is formed to have a larger diameter than the third portion 813. The first portion 811, the second portion 812, the third portion 813, and the fourth portion 814 are disposed coaxially with each other, and the axes thereof are extended in the vertical direction. The first member 810 further includes a plurality of (for example, four) protrusions 811a that protrude downward from the first portion 811.

In the second portion 812, the third portion 813, and the fourth portion 814, the portion closer to the radially outer side than the first portion 811 is formed to penetrate the second portion 812, the third portion 813, and the fourth portion up and down. A plurality of holes 815 of 814. The holes 815 are intermittently arranged in the circumferential direction of the first member 810. More specifically, for example, eight holes 815 are arranged at equal angular intervals (Fig. 7(a)). The lumen cross-sectional area of the holes 815 is, for example, relatively large in the lower portion and relatively small in the upper portion. The internal space of the upper portion of the holes 815 is formed, for example, in a cylindrical shape. Each of the holes 815 is formed, for example, to have the same size.

On the outer peripheral surface of the fourth portion 814, a plurality of (for example, 24) axial gas grooves 816 which are intermittently arranged in the circumferential direction of the fourth portion 814 are formed. Each axial gas groove 816 extends vertically and is formed from the lower end of the fourth portion 814 over the upper end (Fig. 7(a)).
Each axial gas groove 816 is formed, for example, as a whole to have a fixed depth and width. Further, each of the axial gas grooves 816 is formed to have the same depth and width, for example.
In the case of this embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the axial gas groove 816 orthogonal to the axial direction of each axial gas groove 816 has a square shape. However, in the present invention, the cross-sectional shape of each axial gas groove 816 is not limited to this example.

On the upper surface of the fourth portion 814, a plurality of (for example, eight) first upper surface grooves 817 which are intermittently arranged in the circumferential direction of the fourth portion 814 are formed, and are intermittently in the circumferential direction of the fourth portion 814. A plurality (for example, eight) of the second upper surface grooves 818 and a plurality of (for example, eight) third upper surface grooves 819 which are intermittently arranged in the circumferential direction of the fourth portion 814 are disposed.
The first upper surface groove 817, the third upper surface groove 819, and the second upper surface groove 818 are arranged in this order in a clockwise direction in plan view.
Each of the first upper surface grooves 817 is in one-to-one correspondence with each of the holes 815. Each of the second upper surface grooves 818 is in one-to-one correspondence with each of the holes 815. Each of the third upper surface grooves 819 is in one-to-one correspondence with each of the holes 815.
Each of the first upper surface grooves 817 is formed in an L shape on the upper surface of the fourth portion 814. Each of the first upper surface grooves 817 extends from the end portion on the outer side in the radial direction toward the inner side in the radial direction to the vicinity of the corresponding hole 815 from the upper surface of the fourth upper portion 814, and is bent to reach the corresponding hole 815.
Each of the second upper surface grooves 818 is formed in an inverted L shape on the upper surface of the fourth portion 814. Each of the second upper surface grooves 818 is attached to the upper surface of the fourth portion 814, and extends from the radially outer end toward the radially inner side to the vicinity of the corresponding hole 815, and then bends and reaches the corresponding hole 815. The direction in which the first upper surface groove 817 is bent and the direction in which the second upper surface groove 818 is bent are opposite to each other.
Each of the third upper surface grooves 819 is attached to the upper surface of the fourth portion 814, and extends linearly from the end portion on the outer side in the radial direction toward the inner side in the radial direction. The end portion on the inner peripheral side of each of the third upper surface grooves 819 reaches the corresponding hole 815.
Each of the axial gas grooves 816 is in one-to-one correspondence with any one of the plurality of first upper surface grooves 817, the plurality of third upper surface grooves 819, or the plurality of second upper surface grooves 818. The upper end portion of the axial gas groove 816 that is in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of first upper surface grooves 817 is connected to the end portion on the outer peripheral side of the corresponding first upper surface groove 817. The upper end portion of the axial gas groove 816 that is in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of second upper surface grooves 818 is connected to the end portion on the outer peripheral side of the corresponding second upper surface groove 818. The upper end portion of the axial gas groove 816 which is in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of third upper surface grooves 819 is connected to the end portion on the outer peripheral side of the corresponding third upper surface groove 819.
Each of the first upper surface grooves 817 is formed to have a fixed depth and a width as a whole. Further, each of the first upper surface grooves 817 is formed to have the same depth and width, for example.
Each of the second upper surface grooves 818 is formed to have a fixed depth and a width as a whole. Further, each of the second upper surface grooves 818 is formed to have the same depth and width, for example.
Each of the third upper surface grooves 819 is formed to have a fixed depth and a width as a whole. Further, each of the third upper surface grooves 819 is formed to have the same depth and width, for example.
Further, the axial gas groove 816, the first upper surface groove 817, the second upper surface groove 818, and the third upper surface groove 819 are formed to have the same depth and width, for example.
In the case of the present embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the first upper surface groove 817 orthogonal to the axial direction of each of the first upper surface grooves 817 and the second upper surface orthogonal to the axial direction of each of the second upper surface grooves 818 are provided. The cross-sectional shape of the groove 818 and the cross-sectional shape of the third upper surface groove 819 orthogonal to the axial direction of each of the third upper surface grooves 819 are square. However, in the present invention, the cross-sectional shape of each of the first upper surface grooves 817, each of the second upper surface grooves 818, and each of the third upper surface grooves 819 is not limited to this example.
On the upper surface of the fourth portion 814, for example, a pair of recesses 810a are formed.

As shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 8, and FIG. 9, the second member 820 is configured to include, for example, a cylindrical tubular portion 822 and a flat plate portion 823 that closes the lower end of the tubular portion 822.
The axial direction of the tubular portion 822 extends up and down. The plate portion 823 is horizontally arranged. The outer diameters of the tubular portion 822 and the plate portion 823 are substantially equal to the outer diameter of the fourth portion 814 of the first member 810.
A plurality of holes 824 penetrating the plate portion 823 up and down are formed in the plate portion 823. These holes 824 are intermittently arranged in the circumferential direction of the plate portion 823. In more detail, for example, eight holes 824 are arranged at equal angular intervals. The internal space of the hole 824 is formed, for example, in a cylindrical shape. Each of the holes 824 is formed, for example, to have the same inner diameter.
The second member 820 has, for example, a pair of convex portions 820a protruding downward from the plate portion 823. Each convex portion 820a is provided at a position corresponding to each concave portion 810a of the first member 810.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the convex portions 820a of the second member 820 are fitted into the respective concave portions 810a of the first member 810, whereby the first member 810 and the second member 820 are assembled to each other. The lower surface of the plate portion 823 of the second member 820 and the upper surface of the fourth portion 814 of the first member 810 are in surface contact with each other and are in airtight contact.
Here, the hole 815 of the first member 810 is in one-to-one correspondence with the hole 824 of the second member 820. Further, a corresponding hole 824 is disposed directly above each of the holes 815.
For example, the upper portion of the hole 815 and the hole 824 have the same inner diameter and are disposed coaxially with each other.

As shown in FIG. 6, a holding portion 32c for accommodating and holding the third portion 813, the fourth portion 814, and the second member 820 of the first member 810 is formed inside the inner tubular portion 32. The internal space of the holding portion 32c is a cylindrical space. In a state in which the first member 810 and the second member 820 are assembled to each other, the third portion 813 and the fourth portion 814 of the first member 810 and the second member 820 are fitted and fixed to the holding portion 32c.
The second portion 812 of the first member 810 is embedded and fixed to the upper end of the piston guide 130. The outer peripheral surface of the second portion 812 is hermetically sealed to the inner peripheral surface of the upper end portion of the piston guide 130 in a wraparound manner.
The first portion 811 of the first member 810 is inserted into the upper end portion of the piston guide 130. The protruding portion 811a of the first portion 811 of the first member 810 is disposed inside the accommodating space 132.
A circumferential flow path 214 is formed between the outer circumferential surface of the third portion 813 of the first member 810 and the inner circumferential surface of the holding portion 32c.

As shown in FIG. 11, between the axial gas grooves 816 on the outer circumferential surface of the fourth portion 814 of the first member 810 and the inner circumferential surface of the holding portion 32c, an axial gas flow path 73 extending upward and downward is formed (Fig. 11).
The upper end portion of the inner space of each of the holes 815 of the first member 810 constitutes the mixing portion 21. That is, in the case of the present embodiment, the foaming mechanism 20 has a total of eight mixing sections 21. The mixing portions 21 are disposed on the same circumference.
The mixing portion 21 is, for example, a portion on the upper side of the first upper surface groove 817, the second upper surface groove 818, and the third upper surface groove 819 in the internal space of the hole 815.
The portion of the inner space of each of the holes 815 of the first member 810 which is lower than the mixing portion 21 constitutes the adjacent liquid flow path 51.
The direction of the axis adjacent to the liquid flow path 51 is the up and down direction. The liquid is supplied upward from the adjoining liquid flow path 51 to the mixing portion 21.

As shown in FIG. 12, an adjacent gas flow path 71a is formed between each of the first upper surface grooves 817 on the upper surface of the fourth portion 814 of the first member 810 and the lower surface of the plate portion 823 of the second member 820.
An adjacent gas flow path 71b is formed between each of the second upper surface grooves 818 on the upper surface of the fourth portion 814 of the first member 810 and the lower surface of the plate portion 823 of the second member 820.
An adjacent gas flow path 71c is formed between each of the third upper surface grooves 819 on the upper surface of the fourth portion 814 of the first member 810 and the lower surface of the plate portion 823 of the second member 820.
The adjacent gas flow path 71a, the adjacent gas flow path 71b, and the adjacent gas flow path 71c extend horizontally, for example.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the adjacent foam flow path 91 includes an internal space of each of the holes 824 of the second member 820.
The enlarged foam flow path 93 includes an inner space of the concave portion 821 of the cylindrical portion 822 of the second member 820.

In the case of the present embodiment, the foaming mechanism 20 has a plurality of (for example, three) adjacent gas flow paths 71, that is, adjacent gas flow paths 71a, 71b, and 71c, corresponding to one mixing unit 21. That is, the foaming mechanism 20 has, for example, a total of 24 adjacent gas flow paths 71.
In the case of the present embodiment, the foaming mechanism 20 has one adjacent liquid flow path 51 corresponding to each of the mixing portions 21.
In the case of the present embodiment, the flow path area of each adjacent gas flow path 71 is smaller than the flow path area adjacent to the liquid flow path 51.
The downstream end of the adjacent gas flow path 71a, that is, the connection end of the adjacent gas flow path 71a of the mixing portion 21 is a gas inlet 72a. Similarly, the downstream end of the gas flow path 71b is a gas inlet 72b, and the downstream end of the gas flow path 71c is a gas inlet 72c.

In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 13, the direction of the axis AX1 of the downstream end of the adjacent gas flow path 71a, the direction of the axis AX2 of the downstream end of the adjacent gas flow path 71b, and the adjacent gas flow path 71c are The direction of the axis AX13 of the downstream end is, for example, a direction which is different from each other by 120 degrees. Three gas inlets 72a, 72b, and 72c are disposed at equal angular intervals around the mixing portion 21.

As described above, in the case of the present embodiment, the foaming mechanism 20 includes a plurality of mixing portions 21, and three adjacent gas flow paths 71 (adjacent gas flow paths 71a, 71b, and 71c) are disposed corresponding to the respective mixing portions 21. The supply directions of the gases from the three adjacent gas flow paths 71 to the corresponding mixing portion 21 are on the same plane (for example, a horizontal plane), and the supply direction of the liquid from the adjacent liquid flow path 51 to the mixing portion 21 becomes the same plane. The direction of the intersection (eg, orthogonal).
With such a configuration, the liquid column is swung at a high speed and the cycle is shortened as compared with the case where the gas is supplied to the mixing unit 21 from the two adjacent gas flow paths 71, and as a result, the foam becomes finer.
Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the case where the foaming mechanism 20 includes a plurality of mixing portions 21, and when the number of the mixing portions 21 included in the foaming mechanism 20 is one, the mixing portion 21 may be used. Three adjacent gas flow paths 71 are disposed correspondingly, and the gas supply directions from the three adjacent gas flow paths 71 to the mixing portion 21 are on the same plane, and the liquid from the adjacent liquid flow path 51 to the mixing portion 21 The supply direction becomes the direction intersecting the plane. In this case as well, the liquid column oscillates at a high speed and the cycle becomes short, and as a result, the foam becomes finer.

From the viewpoint of the uniformity of the period in which the liquid column is swung at a high speed, the direction in which the gas is supplied to the mixing unit 21 from the three adjacent gas flow paths 71 is preferably 120 degrees as in the present embodiment.
However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the directions in which the gas is supplied to the mixing unit 21 from the three adjacent gas flow paths 71 may be unequal intervals. As an example, the gas may be supplied to the mixing unit 21 from two directions that are opposite to each other and one direction that is orthogonal to the two directions. In other words, for example, three adjacent gas flow paths 71 may be arranged in a T shape around a mixing portion 21.

As shown in Fig. 13, in the case of the present embodiment, the gas-liquid contact region 23 is such that the adjacent gas flow path 71a is extended in the direction of the axis AX1 of the downstream end of the adjacent gas flow path 71a, and the adjacent gas is made. The flow path 71b is extended in the direction of the axis AX2 of the downstream end of the adjacent gas flow path 71b, and the adjacent gas flow path 71c is extended in the direction of the axis AX13 of the downstream end of the adjacent gas flow path 71c. And a region in which the region in which the adjacent liquid flow path 51 is extended in the direction adjacent to the axial center of the liquid flow path 51 is overlapped. In Fig. 13, a hatching is attached to the gas-liquid contact region 23.
Further, the merging portion 22 is located between the gas inlet 72a, the gas inlet 72b, and the gas inlet 72c.
In the case of the present embodiment, the gas inlet 72a, the gas inlet 72b, and the gas inlet 72c are oriented 120 degrees out of each other. Therefore, the merging portion 22 becomes a line extending up and down, not a surface.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, an adjacent foam flow path 91 is disposed on the upper side of each mixing portion 21, and the adjacent foam flow path 91 extends vertically. That is, the foaming mechanism 20 has a plurality of (for example, eight) adjacent foam flow paths 91. The cross-sectional shape of the adjacent foam flow path 91 is, for example, circular. In the case of the present embodiment, the internal space adjacent to the foam flow path 91 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the cross-sectional area adjacent to the foam flow path 91 is fixed. However, the adjacent foam flow path 91 may be gradually (conically shaped) enlarged or contracted toward the expanded foam flow path 93, and may be gradually enlarged or reduced.
In the case of the present embodiment, the axial direction of the adjacent liquid flow path 51 and the axial direction of the adjacent foam flow path 91 are arranged coaxially with each other.

Here, as in the present embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the adjacent liquid flow path 51 and the cross-sectional shape of the mixing portion 21 are circular, and the preferable dimensional relationship is obtained when the cross-sectional shape of the adjacent foam flow path 91 is also circular. Description. In this case, the diameter of the adjacent foam flow path 91 is preferably the same as or smaller than the diameter of the mixing portion 21. The diameter of the adjacent foam flow path 91 is preferably the same as or smaller than the diameter of the adjacent liquid flow path 51.
Further, when the cross-sectional shape of the adjacent foam flow path 91 is circular, but the cross-sectional shape of the adjacent liquid flow path 51 and the cross-sectional shape of the mixing portion 21 are square, the diameter of the adjacent foam flow path 91 is preferably mixed. One of the cross-sectional shapes of the portion 21 has the same length or a smaller length than the one side, and preferably has the same length as the one side of the cross-sectional shape of the adjacent liquid flow path 51 or is smaller than the length of the one side.

In the case of the present embodiment, the sizes of the gas inlets 72a, 72b, and 72c and the size of the mixing portion 21 are equal to each other in the direction (up-and-down direction) of the adjacent liquid flow path 51 and the axial direction of the adjacent foam flow path 91. Further, the positions of the gas inlets 72a, 72b, and 72c and the positions of the mixing portion 21 coincide with each other in the direction adjacent to the axial center of the liquid flow path 51 and the adjacent foam flow path 91.
However, in the direction around the axis of the adjacent liquid flow path 51 and the adjacent foam flow path 91, the wall surface defining the mixing portion 21 exists around (on both sides) of the respective gas inlets 72a, 72b, and 72c.
Therefore, a sufficient amount of liquid can be supplied to the mixing portion 21, and the liquid is supplied with gas from the respective gas inlets 72a, 72b, and 72c. Since the shortage of the liquid to be mixed by the gas and liquid can be suppressed, the mixing of the gas and the liquid can be stably and continuously performed, and the foam can be continuously generated.

In the case of the present embodiment, the area of each gas inlet 72 is smaller than the area of the liquid inlet 52. In more detail, the area of the liquid inlet 52 is greater than three times the area of the gas inlet 72. That is, the area of the liquid inlet 52 is larger than the total of the areas of the three gas inlets 72a, 72b, and 72c.
That is, the area of each gas inlet 72 disposed corresponding to one mixing unit 21 is smaller than the area of the liquid inlet 52 disposed corresponding to one mixing unit 21.
Further, the total area of the gas inlets 72 disposed corresponding to the mixing unit 21 is smaller than the area of the liquid inlet 52 disposed corresponding to the mixing unit 21.
However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the total area of the gas inlets 72 disposed corresponding to one mixing portion 21 may be equal to or larger than the area of the liquid inlet 52 disposed corresponding to one mixing portion 21.

In the case of the present embodiment, the flow path area adjacent to the foam flow path 91 and the inner cavity sectional area of the mixing portion 21 orthogonal to the axial direction of the adjacent foam flow path 91 (orthogonal to the axial direction of the adjacent foam flow path 91) The maximum value of the inner cavity sectional area of the mixing portion 21 is equal. Therefore, in the case of the present embodiment, the swing of the liquid column can be performed in a limited space.

Further, in the case of the present embodiment, the length of the adjacent foam flow path 91 is also longer than the size of the gas inlet 72 adjacent to the axial direction of the foam flow path 91. Thereby, the swing of the liquid column as described above can be performed more surely, and the fine foam is intermittently produced.
More specifically, the length of the adjacent foam flow path 91 is longer than the size of the mixing portion 21 in the axial direction adjacent to the foam flow path 91.

In this manner, the foaming mechanism 20 includes a plurality of mixing portions 21, and the foam flow path 90 includes an individual adjacent foam flow path 91 corresponding to each of the mixing portions 21. With such a configuration, even when a plurality of mixing portions 21 are present, the range in which the liquid column generated in each mixing portion 21 swings in the adjacent foam flow path 91 can be restricted, so that the liquid column high speed can be preferably realized. And alternately swinging the action.
Further, an enlarged foam flow path 93 is disposed on the upper side of the adjacent foam flow path 91. Each adjacent foam flow path 91 merges with one enlarged foam flow path 93. That is, the foam flow path 90 includes an enlarged foam flow path 93 that is adjacent to the downstream side of the adjacent foam flow path 91 and has a larger flow path area than the adjacent foam flow path 91, and corresponds to the plurality of mixing portions 21, respectively. The adjacent foam flow path 91 merges with an enlarged foam flow path 93.
Thereby, the foam generated by mixing the gas and liquid in the plurality of mixing portions 21 can be merged with the expanded foam flow path 93, and can be discharged from the discharge port 41 after being concentrated.

The space above the second member 400 in the internal space of the inner tubular portion 32 constitutes a flow path 32d through which the foam flowing in from the expanded foam flow path 93 passes.
The upper end of the flow path 32d communicates with the discharge port 41 via the internal space of the nozzle portion 40.

In the case of the present embodiment, the gas flow path 70 includes the axial gas flow path 73 and the adjacent gas flow path 71.
In the case of the present embodiment, the liquid flow path 50 includes the adjacent liquid flow path 51.

The foam ejector 100 is constructed as described above.

Further, the foam ejection cover 200 includes a portion other than the storage container 10 in the configuration of the foam ejector 100.
That is, the foam discharge cover 200 includes a mounting portion 111 that is attached to the storage container 10 that stores the liquid 101, a foaming mechanism 20 that is held by the mounting portion 111 and that generates foam from the liquid 101, and a liquid supply portion that is held in the mounting portion. 111, the liquid is supplied to the foaming mechanism 20; the gas supply portion is held by the mounting portion 111 and supplies the gas to the foaming mechanism 20; and the discharge port 41 is held by the mounting portion 111 and the foam is generated by the foaming mechanism 20. And the foam flow path 90 is held by the mounting portion 111 and the foam supplied from the foaming mechanism 20 to the discharge port 41 passes. The structure of the foaming mechanism 20 is as described above.

Next, explain the action.

First, in a normal state in which the head member 30 is not pressed, as shown in FIG. 5, the head member 30 exists at the top dead center position.
In this state, the spring receiving portion 162a of the valve body 162 of the poppet valve 160 is in contact with the lower end of the coil spring 170, and the valve body 162 is slightly moved upward from the valve seat 127. That is, the liquid suction valve is in an open state. Further, the ball valve 180 is in contact with the valve seat portion 131, and the liquid discharge valve is in a closed state.
Further, the lower end portion of the cylindrical portion 151 of the gas piston 150 is fitted into the valve forming groove 134 on the upper surface of the flange portion 133 of the piston guide 130, and the gas discharge valve is in a closed state. Further, the valve body of the suction valve member 155 is in contact with the lower surface of the piston portion 152 of the gas piston 150, and the gas suction valve is in a closed state. Further, the through hole 129 of the gas cylinder forming portion 121 is blocked by the outer peripheral ring portion 153 of the gas piston 150.

By pressing the head member 30, the piston guide 130 and the liquid piston 140 are integrally lowered with the head member 30. Along with this drop, the coil spring 170 is compressed, and the volume of the liquid pump chamber 220 is reduced.
At the beginning of the process in which the piston guide 130 and the liquid piston 140 are lowered, the poppet valve 160 is slightly moved by the piston guide 130 due to friction with the rib 136 of the piston guide 130. Thereby, the valve body 162 is in close contact with the valve seat 127 in a liquid-tight manner, and the liquid suction valve is in a closed state.
After the liquid suction valve is in the closed state, the liquid piston 140 is further lowered, whereby the liquid 101 in the liquid pump chamber 220 is pressurized, and the liquid 101 is pressure-fed to the upper side. That is, the ball valve 180 floats from the valve seat portion 131 due to the pressure of the liquid 101, the liquid discharge valve is opened, and the liquid 101 is distributed from the liquid pump chamber 220 through the liquid discharge valve and the accommodating space 132 and flows into the liquid flow path. Each of the 50 adjacent liquid flow paths 51.
Here, the adjacent liquid flow paths 51 are arranged at equal angular intervals, and the flow path areas of the adjacent liquid flow paths 51 are equal to each other. Therefore, the liquid 101 uniformly flows into the adjacent liquid flow paths 51.
Further, the liquid 101 flows into the mixing portion 21 connected to the upper side of each adjacent liquid flow path 51 through the liquid inlets 52 at the upper ends of the adjacent liquid flow paths 51 through the adjacent liquid flow paths 51.

Further, by pressing the head member 30, the gas in the gas pump chamber 210 is compressed, thereby being pressure-fed to the foaming mechanism 20.
That is, at the beginning of the process in which the liquid piston 140 and the piston guide 130 are lowered, the gas piston 150 is relatively raised with respect to the piston guide 130 (wherein the gas piston 150 is substantially stationary or slightly lowered relative to the cylinder member 120). Thereby, the lower end portion of the cylindrical portion 151 of the gas piston 150 is separated upward from the valve forming groove 134 of the flange portion 133, so that the gas discharge valve is opened.
Thereafter, the upper end portion of the cylindrical portion 151 is in contact with the upward movement restricting portion 32a of the inner cylindrical portion 32, whereby the relative rise of the gas piston 150 with respect to the head member 30 and the piston guide 130 is restricted, and thereafter, the gas The piston 150 is lowered integrally with the head member 30 and the piston guide 130. Thereby, the gas in the gas pump chamber 210 is pressurized.
Thereby, the gas in the gas pump chamber 210 sequentially passes through the gas discharge valve, the flow path 211 (FIG. 10), the tubular gas flow path 212 (FIG. 5), the axial flow path 213 (FIG. 5, FIG. 6), and the surrounding gas. The flow path 214 (Figs. 5 and 6) is equally distributed and supplied to the 24 axial gas flow paths 73 of the gas flow path 70 (Figs. 6, 9, and 11).
Further, the gas system is supplied from each of the 24 axial gas flow paths 73 to the corresponding adjacent gas flow path 71. In other words, the gas is uniformly supplied to the eight adjacent gas flow paths 71a, the eight adjacent gas flow paths 71b, and the eight adjacent gas flow paths 71c.
Then, the gas flows into the respective mixing portions 21 through the gas inlets 72a, 72b, and 72c from the corresponding adjacent gas flow paths 71a, 71b, and 71c.

In other words, the gas is supplied from the adjacent gas passages 71a, 71b, and 71c via the gas inlets 72a, 72b, and 72c, and the liquid is supplied from the adjacent liquid flow path 51 via the liquid inlet 52, and the gas and the liquid are mixed in the mixing section. Mixed in 21.
Here, in the case of the present embodiment, the liquid inlet 52 is also disposed in correspondence with the merging portion 22 of the gas supplied from the adjacent gas passages 71a, 71b, and 71c to the mixing portion 21 via the gas inlets 72a, 72b, and 72c. position. Therefore, the foaming of the liquid using the gas flow can be effected. That is, for example, as described in the first embodiment, the liquid supplied from the adjacent liquid flow path 51 to the mixing unit 21 forms a liquid column. Then, the operation of supplying the gas to the mixing unit 21 in sequence from the three adjacent gas flow paths 71a, 71b, and 71c corresponding to one mixing unit 21 is repeatedly performed. Therefore, the liquid column swings in a circumferential direction in a direction away from the adjacent gas flow path 71a, away from the adjacent gas flow path 71b, and away from the adjacent gas flow path 71c, and intermittently generates fine from the liquid column. foam.
Thereby, the gas and liquid can be well mixed to produce a sufficiently uniform foam.

Here, in the case of the present embodiment, the individual axial gas flow paths 73 are provided corresponding to the adjacent gas flow paths 71. Therefore, compared with the case where the gas is distributed to the plurality of (two) adjacent gas flow paths 71 from the one-axis gas flow path 73 as in the third embodiment described below, the gas can pass through the axial gas flow path 73 at a low pressure. Therefore, the amount of force required for pressing the head member 30 can be reduced. Further, it is easy to distribute and supply the gas to the adjacent gas flow paths 71 more uniformly, whereby it is possible to suppress the generation of a foam which is slightly larger than the crab, and to stabilize the quality of the generated foam.

In the case of the present embodiment, the foam ejector 100 does not have the screen of the usual foaming mechanism, but even in this case, a sufficiently uniform and fine foam can be produced. Therefore, clogging of the screen can be avoided.
Further, it is also easy to foam a liquid which is not easily foamed, such as a liquid having a high viscosity.

Further, individual mixing portions 21 are disposed corresponding to the respective adjacent liquid flow paths 51. Therefore, the escape position of the gas or liquid from the mixing portion 21 is restricted, so that the mixing of the gas and liquid in the mixing portion 21 can be performed more surely.
Further, a plurality of dedicated adjacent gas flow paths 71 are disposed corresponding to the respective mixing portions 21, whereby the escape position of the gas or liquid from the mixing portion 21 is further restricted, so that the mixing portion 21 can be more reliably performed. Mix of gas and liquid in the middle.

Further, the generation of the foam may be performed in the mixing portion 21 or in the adjacent foam flow path 91 or the expanded foam flow path 93.
That is, there is a case where the foam generated in the mixing portion 21 or the adjacent foam flow path 91 merges with the expanded foam flow path 93, and the foam becomes finer.
The foam-based expanded foam flow path 93 is ejected from the discharge port 41 to the outside through the flow path 32d and the internal space of the nozzle unit 40.

Thereafter, when the pressing operation of the head member 30 is released, the coil spring 170 is elongated by the elastic recovery. Therefore, the liquid piston 140 is energized by the coil spring 170, and the piston guide 130 and the head member 30 are integrally raised with the liquid piston 140. At this time, the liquid pump chamber 220 is enlarged, whereby the liquid pump chamber 220 becomes a negative pressure, so that the ball valve 180 comes into contact with the valve seat portion 131, and the liquid discharge valve is in a closed state.

During the ascent of the piston guide 130, the poppet valve 160 is slightly raised by the piston guide 130 due to friction with the rib 136. Thereby, the valve body 162 is separated from the valve seat 127, and the liquid suction valve is opened. The spring receiving portion 162a of the valve body 162 is in contact with the lower end of the coil spring 170, after which the rise of the poppet valve 160 is stopped, the rib 136 is slid relative to the poppet valve 160, and the piston guide 130 is raised.
The piston guide 130 and the liquid piston 140 are further raised to expand the liquid pump chamber 220, whereby the liquid 101 in the storage container 10 is sucked into the liquid pump chamber 220 via the dip tube 128.

Further, during the ascending of the piston guide 130, the piston guide 130 is relatively raised with respect to the gas piston 150, and the lower end of the cylindrical portion 151 of the gas piston 150 is fitted into the valve forming groove 134 of the flange portion 133. Thereby, the gas discharge valve is in a closed state.
When the piston guide 130 is further raised, the gas piston 150 rises integrally with the piston guide 130.
When the gas piston 150 is raised to expand the gas pump chamber 210, the inside of the gas pump chamber 210 becomes a negative pressure. Therefore, the valve body of the suction valve member 155 is separated from the lower surface of the piston portion 152, and the gas suction valve is opened. Thereby, the air outside the foam ejector 100 passes through the gap between the upper end of the rising tubular portion 113 and the lower end of the outer tubular portion 33, the gap between the rising tubular portion 113 and the inner cylindrical portion 32, the annular closing portion 112 and the piston portion. The gap 152, the suction opening 154 of the piston portion 152, and the gas suction valve flow into the gas pump chamber 210.
The rise of the head member 30, the piston guide 130, the liquid piston 140, and the gas piston 150 is stopped by, for example, the restriction of the piston portion 152 by the annular closing portion 112.

Further, when the head member 30 or the like is lifted after the pressing operation is released, the liquid 101 in the storage container 10 is sucked into the liquid pump chamber 220, whereby the liquid level of the liquid 101 in the storage container 10 is further The space above becomes a negative pressure due to the expansion of the volume.
However, after that, the head member 30 is pressed, and the through hole 129 is moved from the state blocked by the outer peripheral ring portion 153 to the unblocked state, whereby the air outside the bubble ejector 100 passes through the rising tubular portion. The gap between the upper end of 113 and the lower end of the outer tubular portion 33, the gap between the rising tubular portion 113 and the inner tubular portion 32, the gap between the annular closing portion 112 and the piston portion 152, and the through hole 129 flow into the storage container 10. Thereby, the space in the storage container 10 above the liquid level of the liquid 101 is restored to the atmospheric pressure.

The structure and operation of the foam discharge cover 200 described herein are merely examples, and other well-known structures are applied to the present embodiment without any problem without departing from the gist of the present invention.

According to the second embodiment described above, the liquid inlet 52 is also disposed at a position corresponding to the merging portion 22 of the gas supplied from the plurality of adjacent gas passages 71 to the mixing portion 21 via the gas inlet 72. The swinging of the liquid column or the like can effect the foaming of the liquid by the gas flow. Thereby, the gas and liquid can be well mixed and a sufficiently uniform foam can be produced.

[Third embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 4 and 14 to 27 .
The positions of the AA lines in Figs. 16(a), 17(a) and 18 correspond to each other, and the positions of the BB lines in Figs. 16(a), 17(a) and 18 correspond to each other.
The foaming mechanism 20 of the foam ejector 100 of the present embodiment is different from the foaming mechanism 20 of the foam ejector 100 of the first embodiment in the following description, and is otherwise configured as the first embodiment. The foaming mechanism 20 of the foam ejector 100 is the same.
Further, the foam ejector 100 and the foam discharge cover 200 of the present embodiment are configured similarly to the foam ejector 100 and the bubble discharge cover 200 of the second embodiment, except for the configuration other than the foaming mechanism 20.

In the second embodiment, the foaming mechanism 20 is configured to include the first member 810 and the second member 820. In the case of the present embodiment, the first embodiment will be described as an example. The member 300 (Fig. 16 (a), Fig. 16 (b)) is combined with the second member 400 (Fig. 17 (a), Fig. 17 (b)) to constitute the foaming mechanism 20.

As shown in any one of FIG. 15 , FIG. 16 ( a ), FIG. 16 ( b ), FIG. 19 and FIG. 20 , the first member 300 is a tubular member, and the axis of the first member 300 is in the vertical direction. Extend.
The first member 300 is configured to include a first tubular portion 311, a second tubular portion 312 that is connected to the upper side of the first tubular portion 311, and a third tubular portion 313 that is connected to the upper side of the second tubular portion 312. The tubular portion 314 is connected to the upper side of the third tubular portion 313, and a plurality of (for example, four) protruding portions 321 which protrude downward from the first tubular portion 311.
The lower portion of the first tubular portion 311 is tapered downward toward the lower portion, for example.
The second cylindrical portion 312 is formed to have a larger diameter than the first tubular portion 311.
The third tubular portion 313 is formed to have a larger diameter than the second tubular portion 312.
The fourth tubular portion 314 is formed to have a smaller diameter than the third tubular portion 313.
The first tubular portion 311, the second tubular portion 312, the third tubular portion 313, and the fourth tubular portion 314 are disposed coaxially with each other.
A central hole 301 that penetrates the first member 300 vertically is formed in a central portion of the first member 300.

A plurality of outer peripheral slit-shaped portions 331 which are intermittently arranged in the circumferential direction are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the third cylindrical portion 313. The outer peripheral slit shape portion 331 is formed from the lower end of the third cylindrical portion 313 to the upper end. More specifically, for example, eight outer peripheral slit-shaped portions 331 are arranged at equal angular intervals.

On the upper surface of the third cylindrical portion 313, a plurality of radial gas grooves 341 extending in the radial direction are formed. Each of the radial gas grooves 341 is disposed in the circumferential direction of the third tubular portion 313 and is disposed at a central position of each of the outer circumferential slit-shaped portions 331. Therefore, in the case of the present embodiment, eight radial gas grooves 341 are arranged at equal angular intervals. The radial gas groove 341 is attached to the upper surface of the third cylindrical portion 313 and extends from the radially outer end to the inner end.

Further, on the upper surface of the third cylindrical portion 313, a plurality of (for example, two) alignment concave portions 390 are formed at positions avoiding the outer circumferential slit-shaped portion 331 and the radial gas groove 341.

A plurality of axial gas grooves 342 which are intermittently arranged in the circumferential direction are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the fourth cylindrical portion 314. Each of the axial gas grooves 342 extends from the inner end of each of the radial gas grooves 341 to the upper side. Therefore, in the case of the present embodiment, eight axial gas grooves 342 are arranged at equal angular intervals. The axial gas groove 342 is formed from the lower end of the outer peripheral surface of the fourth cylindrical portion 314 over the upper end.

On the upper surface of the fourth cylindrical portion 314, a plurality of radial grooves 345 which are intermittently arranged in the circumferential direction are formed. Each of the radial grooves 345 is attached to the upper surface of the fourth cylindrical portion 314 and extends radially from the radially inner end to the outer end. The radially outer end portion of the radial groove 345 is, for example, a groove front end portion 346 that bulges in a plan view.
The radial groove 345 is formed to have a fixed depth (upper and lower dimensions) and a width, for example, regardless of the position in the radial direction.
Each of the radial grooves 345 is disposed in the circumferential direction of the first member 300, and is disposed at a position intermediate between the adjacent positions where the axial gas grooves 342 are disposed.

Further, a peripheral groove portion 344 which is shallower than the radial groove 345 is formed in the peripheral portion of the upper surface of the fourth cylindrical portion 314. The peripheral circumferential groove 344 connects the vicinity of the radially outer side ends of the adjacent radial grooves 345 to each other. Each of the peripheral circumferential grooves 344 is formed in an arc shape centering on the central axis of the first member 300. The peripheral surrounding groove 344 is formed to have a fixed depth (upper and lower dimensions) and a width, for example, regardless of the position in the circumferential direction.

As shown in FIG. 15 , FIG. 17 ( a ), FIG. 17 ( b ), FIG. 19 , and FIG. 20 , the second member 400 is configured to include, for example, a cylindrical tubular portion 410 and a disk-shaped plate. Part 420.
The axis of the tubular portion 410 extends in the up and down direction.
The plate portion 420 is horizontally disposed inside the tubular portion 410 and at an intermediate position between the upper end and the lower end of the tubular portion 410. The plate portion 420 is disposed, for example, on the lower side of the upper portion of the upper portion of the tubular portion 410.
In the tubular portion 410, the space above the plate portion 420 is the concave portion 411, and the space below the plate portion 420 is the concave portion 412.
For example, the inner diameter of the recess 411 is set to be larger than the inner diameter of the recess 412.
In the plate portion 420, a plurality of (for example, eight) holes 421 are formed, and the holes 421 penetrate the plate portion 420 from the concave portion 411 up and down the concave portion 412.
The holes 421 are arranged around the axis of the cylindrical portion 410 at equal angular intervals.
As shown in FIG. 17(b), a plurality of (for example, two) alignment protrusions 490 are formed on the lower surface of the cylindrical portion 410.
Further, a step portion 413 may be formed in the concave portion 411. In the concave portion 411, the inner diameter of the portion on the upper side of the step portion 413 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the portion on the lower side of the step portion 413.

As shown in FIGS. 15 , 19 , 20 , and 21 , the inner diameter of the recessed portion 412 is set to be equal to the outer diameter of the fourth tubular portion 314 , and the fourth tubular portion 314 is fitted into the recessed portion 412 , thereby making the first The member 300 and the second member 400 are assembled to each other.
Here, the alignment protrusions 490 are fitted into the respective alignment recesses 390, and the first member 300 and the second member 400 are assembled, whereby the first member 300 and the second member 400 are aligned with each other in the circumferential direction. .
As shown in FIG. 18, each hole 421 is disposed in the vicinity of the end portion on the outer side in the radial direction of the radial groove 345 in plan view.
The upper surface of the fourth cylindrical portion 314 is hermetically adhered to the lower surface of the plate portion 420.
The outer circumferential surface of the fourth tubular portion 314 is in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the concave portion 412 in an airtight manner.
The outer diameter of the tubular portion 410 is set to be equal to the outer diameter of the third tubular portion 313.

As shown in FIG. 15, a holding portion 32c is formed inside the inner tubular portion 32, and the holding portion 32c accommodates and holds the first member 300 and the second member 400 in a state of being assembled to each other. The internal space of the holding portion 32c is a cylindrical space. The first member 300 and the second member 400 in a state of being assembled to each other are fitted and fixed to the holding portion 32c.
The first cylindrical portion 311 is fitted and fixed to the upper end portion of the piston guide 130.
The protruding portion 321 is disposed inside the accommodating space 132.

The outer circumferential surface of the first cylindrical portion 311 is airtightly adhered to the inner circumferential surface of the upper end portion of the piston guide 130 in a wraparound manner.
A circumferential flow path 214 is formed between the outer circumferential surface of the second cylindrical portion 312 and the inner circumferential surface of the holding portion 32c (FIG. 20).
An axial communication gas flow path 75 is formed between the outer circumferential surface of the third cylindrical portion 313 and the inner circumferential surface of the holding portion 32c by the outer circumferential slit shape portion 331 (FIG. 20). In the case of the present embodiment, the foaming mechanism 20 has a plurality of (for example, eight) axial communication gas flow paths 75.
The large-diameter liquid flow path 53 includes an inner space of the central hole 301.

A surrounding gas flow path 74 is formed between the upper surface of the third cylindrical portion 313 and the lower surface of the tubular portion 410 (Figs. 20 and 22). The surrounding gas flow path 74 also includes a space within the radial gas groove 341.
The outer circumferential surface of the fourth cylindrical portion 314 is airtightly adhered to the inner circumferential surface of the concave portion 412 except for the axial gas groove 342. An axial gas flow path 73 extending upward and downward is formed between the outer circumferential surface of the fourth cylindrical portion 314 and the inner circumferential surface of the concave portion 412 by the axial gas groove 342 (FIGS. 20 and 23). In the case of the present embodiment, the foaming mechanism 20 has a plurality of (for example, eight) axial gas flow paths 73. The axial gas flow path 73 extends in parallel with the large diameter liquid flow path 53. That is, the axial gas flow path 73 (cross gas flow path) extends in a direction parallel to the large diameter liquid flow path 53. Further, a plurality of axial gas flow paths 73 (cross gas flow paths) are intermittently disposed around the large-diameter liquid flow path 53.

The upper surface of the fourth cylindrical portion 314 is hermetically adhered to the lower surface of the plate portion 420 except for the radial groove 345 (including the groove front end portion 346) and the peripheral edge surrounding the groove 344.
An adjacent liquid flow path 51 and a mixing portion 21 are formed between the upper surface of the fourth cylindrical portion 314 and the lower surface of the plate portion 420 by the radial grooves 345.
The adjoining liquid flow path 51 is formed in the radial groove 345, and is formed between a portion radially inward of the intersection of the peripheral groove 344 and the plate portion 420.
Here, the large-diameter liquid flow path 53 has a larger flow path area than the adjacent liquid flow path 51. Further, each of the adjacent liquid flow paths 51 is extended in the direction intersecting (for example, orthogonal to) the axial direction of the large-diameter liquid flow path 53, and extends from the downstream end portion of the large-diameter liquid flow path 53 toward the periphery.
The mixing portion 21 is formed in the radial groove 345, and is formed between the portion that surrounds the groove 344 around the circumference and the portion (the groove front end portion 346) that is radially outward of the intersection portion and the plate portion 420.
In the case of the present embodiment, the maximum value of the cross-sectional area of the inner cavity of the mixing portion 21 orthogonal to the axial direction of the adjacent liquid flow path 51 is also the same as the flow path area of the adjacent liquid flow path 51.
In the case of the present embodiment, the foaming mechanism 20 has one adjacent liquid flow path 51 corresponding to each of the mixing portions 21, respectively.
In the case of the present embodiment, the foaming mechanism 20 has a plurality of (for example, eight) adjacent liquid flow paths 51 and a plurality of (for example, eight) mixing portions 21 arranged radially.
The plurality of mixing portions 21 are arranged along the circumference, and a plurality of adjacent liquid flow paths 51 are radially arranged on the inner side of the circumference.

As described above, the foaming mechanism 20 includes a plurality of mixing portions 21, and the liquid flow path 50 includes the large-diameter liquid flow path 53 which is adjacent to the adjacent liquid flow path 51 on the upstream side and has a larger flow path area than the adjacent liquid flow. The road 51 is large, and a plurality of mixing portions 21 are disposed around the downstream end portion of the large-diameter liquid flow path 53, and a plurality of adjacent liquid flow paths 51 are in the in-plane direction intersecting the axial direction of the large-diameter liquid flow path 53. The downstream side end portion of the large-diameter liquid flow path 53 extends toward the periphery.
With such a configuration, it is possible to preferably realize the configuration in which the foaming mechanism 20 is provided with a plurality of mixing portions 21.

Further, between the upper surface of the fourth cylindrical portion 314 and the lower surface of the plate portion 420, an adjacent gas flow path 71 is formed by surrounding the groove 344 with a peripheral edge.
Here, the peripheral circumferential groove 344 and the axial gas groove 342 are in communication with each other at the upper end portion of the axial gas groove 342, that is, the groove upper end portion 343. That is, the upper end portion of the axial gas flow path 73 communicates with the adjacent gas flow path 71.
As shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, the upper end portions of the respective axial gas flow paths 73 are branched into two adjacent gas flow paths 71, respectively. Each adjacent gas flow path 71 extends horizontally in an arc shape.
In the case of the present embodiment, the foaming mechanism 20 has a plurality of (for example, a pair of) adjacent gas flow paths 71 corresponding to one mixing portion 21. That is, the foaming mechanism 20 has, for example, a total of 16 adjacent gas flow paths 71.
In the case of the present embodiment, the flow path area of the adjacent gas flow path 71 is smaller than the flow path area of the adjacent liquid flow path 51.
Each of the adjacent gas flow paths 71 includes each of a part of the annular flow path disposed along the circumference.

As described above, the gas flow path 70 includes the intersecting gas flow path (the axial gas flow path 73) which is adjacent to the adjacent gas flow path 71 on the upstream side and faces the adjacent gas flow path. 71 intersects in the direction of intersection, and a cross gas flow path branches into one of the pair of adjacent gas flow paths 71 corresponding to one mixing portion 21 (adjacent gas flow path 71a) and a pair adjacent to the other mixing portion 21 One of the gas flow paths 71 (adjacent to the gas flow path 71a).

As shown in Fig. 25 to Fig. 27, in the case of the present embodiment, the gas-liquid contact region 23 is a region in which the adjacent gas flow path 71a is in the direction of the axis AX1 of the downstream end of the adjacent gas flow path 71a. The obtained region is extended, and the adjacent gas flow path 71b is extended in the direction of the axis AX2 of the downstream end of the adjacent gas flow path 71b, and the adjacent liquid flow path 51 is adjacent to the axis AX3 of the liquid flow path 51. Extend the area where the resulting area overlaps in the direction.
Further, the merging portion 22 is located between the gas inlet 72a and the gas inlet 72b.
In the case of the present embodiment, the gas inlet 72a and the gas inlet 72b are not strictly parallel to each other. Therefore, strictly speaking, the merging portion 22 is a line instead of a surface, but substantially the gas inlet 72a and the gas inlet 72b are arranged in parallel with each other. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, the merging portion 22 is shown as a surface for the sake of convenience.
A groove tip end portion 346 that is bulged in an arc shape is formed at an end portion on the radially outer side of the radial groove 345, whereby the gas-liquid contact region 23 and the merging portion 22 are disposed in the vicinity of the center of the mixing portion 21 in a plan view.

Further, as shown in FIG. 18, FIG. 26, and FIG. 27, an adjacent foam flow path 91 is disposed on the upper side of each mixing portion 21, and the adjacent foam flow path 91 extends vertically. That is, the foaming mechanism 20 has a plurality of (for example, eight) adjacent foam flow paths 91. The cross-sectional shape of the adjacent foam flow path 91 is, for example, circular. The adjacent foam flow path 91 can be gradually (conically shaped) enlarged or contracted toward the expanded foam flow path 93, and can be gradually enlarged or contracted.

In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in Figs. 26 and 27, the sizes of the gas inlets 72a, 72b in the direction of the axis AX4 adjacent to the bubble flow path 91 are smaller than the size of the mixing portion 21 in the direction, and the gas is small. The inlets 72a and 72b are open to the end of the mixing portion 21 adjacent to the side of the foam flow path 91.
Therefore, gas is supplied to the end portion of the mixing portion 21 on the side adjacent to the bubble flow path 91, and the liquid can be stored at the end portion of the mixing portion 21 on the side opposite to the side adjacent to the bubble flow path 91. Thereby, the shortage of the liquid to be mixed by the gas-liquid can be suppressed, so that the gas-liquid mixing can be stably and continuously performed, and the foam can be continuously generated.
More specifically, the upper and lower dimensions of the gas inlets 72a, 72b are smaller than the upper and lower dimensions of the mixing portion 21, and the gas inlets 72a, 72b are open at the upper end of the mixing portion 21.

In the case of the present embodiment, the area of each gas inlet 72 is smaller than the area of the liquid inlet 52. More specifically, the area of the liquid inlet 52 is twice or more the area of the gas inlet 72.
That is, the area of each gas inlet 72 disposed corresponding to one mixing unit 21 is smaller than the area of the liquid inlet 52 disposed corresponding to one mixing unit 21.
Further, the total area of the gas inlets 72 disposed corresponding to the mixing unit 21 is smaller than the area of the liquid inlet 52 disposed corresponding to the mixing unit 21.
However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the total area of the gas inlets 72 disposed corresponding to one mixing portion 21 may be equal to or larger than the area of the liquid inlet 52 disposed corresponding to one mixing portion 21. .

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 18, each adjacent foam flow path 91 is accommodated in the inside of each mixing part 21 in planar view. In the case of the present embodiment, the flow path area adjacent to the foam flow path 91 is larger than the axial cross-sectional area of the mixing portion 21 orthogonal to the axial direction of the adjacent foam flow path 91 (orthogonal to the axial direction of the adjacent foam flow path 91) The maximum value of the inner cavity sectional area of the mixing portion 21 is small. Thereby, the swing of the liquid column as described in the first embodiment can be performed in a more limited space, and the flow path through the airflow around the liquid column is also restricted. Thereby, a fine foam can be produced more intermittently.
In the case of the present embodiment, the surface including the foam outlet 92 in the surface of the mixing portion 21 includes the foam outlet 92 and the wall surface around the foam outlet 92 (the lower surface of the plate portion 420).

Further, in the case of the present embodiment, the length of the adjacent foam flow path 91 is also longer than the size of the gas inlet 72 adjacent to the axial direction of the foam flow path 91. Thereby, the swing of the liquid column as described above can be performed more surely, and the fine foam is intermittently produced.
More specifically, the length of the adjacent foam flow path 91 is longer than the size of the mixing portion 21 in the axial direction adjacent to the foam flow path 91.

In the case of the present embodiment, the axis AX3 adjacent to the liquid flow path 51 and the axis AX4 adjacent to the bubble flow path 91 cross each other (for example, orthogonal).

Further, an enlarged foam flow path 93 is disposed on the upper side of the adjacent foam flow path 91. Each adjacent foam flow path 91 merges with one enlarged foam flow path 93.
That is, the foaming mechanism 20 includes a plurality of mixing portions 21, and the foam flow path 90 includes individual adjacent foam flow paths 91 corresponding to the respective mixing portions 21, and the foam flow path 90 includes an enlarged foam flow path 93, which expands the foam flow path 93. The downstream side is adjacent to the adjacent foam flow path 91 and has a larger flow path area than the adjacent foam flow path 91, and the adjacent foam flow path 91 corresponding to the plurality of mixing portions 21 merges with the enlarged foam flow path 93.
Thereby, the foam generated by mixing the gas and liquid in the plurality of mixing portions 21 can be merged with the expanded foam flow path 93, and can be discharged from the discharge port 41 after being concentrated.

The space above the second member 400 in the internal space of the inner tubular portion 32 constitutes a flow path 32d through which the foam flowing in from the expanded foam flow path 93 passes.
The upper end of the flow path 32d communicates with the discharge port 41 via the internal space of the nozzle portion 40.

In the case of the present embodiment, the gas flow path 70 includes the axial communication gas flow path 75, the surrounding gas flow path 74, the axial gas flow path 73, and the adjacent gas flow path 71.
As shown in FIG. 24, the gas supplied from the axial gas flow path 73 to the adjacent gas flow path 71 branches into the adjacent gas flow path 71a and the gas inlet 72b, and is supplied to the corresponding mixing part 21, respectively.

In the case of the present embodiment, the liquid flow path 50 includes the large-diameter liquid flow path 53 and the adjacent liquid flow path 51. The large-diameter liquid flow path 53 has a larger flow path area than the adjacent liquid flow path 51.

In the case of the present embodiment, the ball valve 180 is held between the valve seat portion 131 and the lower end of the projection portion 321 of the first member 300 so as to be movable up and down.
The internal space of the portion above the valve seat portion 131 of the piston guide 130 constitutes a housing space 132 in which the ball valve 180 and the first tubular portion 311 of the first member 300 are housed.
In the case of the present embodiment, the liquid 101 in the liquid pump chamber 220 is pressurized by pressing the head member 30, whereby the liquid discharge valve including the ball valve 180 and the valve seat portion 131 is opened, and the liquid pump chamber is opened. The liquid 101 in the water 220 flows into the accommodating space 132 through the liquid discharge valve, and is supplied to the center hole 301 of the first member 300 disposed above the accommodating space 132, that is, the liquid flow path 50 of the foaming mechanism 20 is large. Diameter liquid flow path 53. The liquid 101 is supplied from the large-diameter liquid flow path 53 to the adjacent liquid flow path 51 (FIGS. 15 and 24), and further supplied to the mixing unit 21 (FIG. 24).

In the case of the present embodiment, a wraparound flow path 214 (FIGS. 14, 15) is provided on the upper side of the axial flow path 213, and the wraparound flow path 214 is circumferentially disposed in the second tube of the first member 300. Around the portion 312 (described below).
On the upper side of the surrounding flow path 214, a plurality of axial communication gas flow paths 75 (FIG. 20) extending along the outer circumferential surface of the third cylindrical portion 313 (described below) of the first member 300 are disposed. The surrounding flow path 214 communicates with the lower end portions of the axial communication gas flow paths 75.
A wraparound gas flow path 74 between the upper surface of the third cylindrical portion 313 of the first member 300 and the lower surface of the cylindrical portion 410 of the second member 400 described below is disposed on the upper side of the axial communication gas flow path 75. (Figure 20). An upper end portion of each of the axial communication gas flow paths 75 communicates with the surrounding gas flow path 74.
The gas system is supplied from the surrounding gas flow path 74 to the axial gas flow path 73 (Fig. 20), and further supplied to the adjacent gas flow path 71 (Figs. 20 and 24).
In this manner, the gas that is transported upward via the flow path 211 is sequentially supplied through the tubular gas flow path 212, the axial flow path 213, the surrounding flow path 214, the surrounding gas flow path 74, and the axial gas flow path 73. To the adjacent gas flow path 71.

The foam ejector 100 is constructed as described above.

Next, explain the action.

First, in a normal state in which the head member 30 is not pressed, as shown in FIG. 14, the head member 30 exists at the top dead center position.
The liquid 101 in the liquid pump chamber 220 is pressurized by pressing the head member 30, and the liquid 101 flows from the liquid pump chamber 220 through the liquid discharge valve and the accommodating space 132 to the large-diameter liquid flow of the liquid flow path 50. Road 53.
Further, the liquid 101 flows from the upper end portion of the large-diameter liquid flow path 53 to the eight adjacent liquid flow paths 51.
Here, the adjacent liquid flow paths 51 are arranged at equal angular intervals around the large-diameter liquid flow path 53, and the flow path widths of the adjacent liquid flow paths 51 are equal to each other. Therefore, the liquid 101 uniformly flows into the adjacent liquid flow paths 51.
Further, the liquid 101 flows into the mixing portion 21 connected to the radially outer end portions of the adjacent liquid flow paths 51 through the liquid inlets 52 of the adjacent liquid flow paths 51 through the adjacent liquid flow paths 51.

Further, by pressing the head member 30, the gas in the gas pump chamber 210 is compressed, thereby being pressure-fed to the foaming mechanism 20.
That is, the gas in the gas pump chamber 210 sequentially passes through the gas discharge valve, the flow path 211 (FIG. 10), the tubular gas flow path 212 (FIG. 14), the axial flow path 213 (FIG. 14, FIG. 15), and the surrounding shape. The flow path 214 (Figs. 15 and 21) is equally distributed and supplied to the eight axial communication gas flow paths 75 of the gas flow path 70 (Fig. 22).
The gas system that has flowed into the eight axial communication gas flow paths 75 passes through the axial communication gas flow paths 75, and is temporarily merged in the surrounding gas flow paths 74, and then uniformly distributed and supplied to eight gas cells. The axial gas flow path 73 (Fig. 22, Fig. 23).
Further, the gas is branched from each of the eight axial gas flow paths 73 into two adjacent gas flow paths 71a and 71b.
Further, gas flows into the respective mixing portions 21 from the corresponding adjacent gas flow paths 71a and 71b via the gas inlets 72a and 72b.

In other words, the gas is supplied from the adjacent gas passages 71a and 71b via the gas inlets 72a and 72b to the respective mixing units 21, and the liquid is supplied from the adjacent liquid flow path 51 via the liquid inlet 52, and the gas and the liquid are mixed in the mixing unit 21.
Here, in the case of the present embodiment, the liquid inlet 52 is also disposed at a position corresponding to the merging portion 22 of the gas supplied from the adjacent gas passages 71a and 71b to the mixing unit 21 via the gas inlets 72a and 72b. Therefore, the foaming of the liquid using the gas flow can be effected. In other words, as described in the first embodiment, the liquid is supplied from the liquid adjacent to the mixing unit 21 from the adjacent liquid flow path 51 to form a liquid column which is directed away from the adjacent gas flow path 71b at a high speed. And alternately swinging away from the direction of the adjacent gas flow path 71a, and a fine foam is intermittently generated from the liquid column.
Thereby, the gas and liquid can be well mixed and a sufficiently uniform foam can be produced.

Further, individual mixing portions 21 are disposed corresponding to the respective adjacent liquid flow paths 51. Therefore, the escape position of the gas or liquid from the mixing portion 21 is restricted, so that the mixing of the gas and liquid in the mixing portion 21 can be performed more surely.
Further, a plurality of dedicated adjacent gas flow paths 71 are disposed corresponding to the respective mixing portions 21, whereby the escape position of the gas or liquid from the mixing portion 21 is further restricted, so that the mixing portion 21 can be more reliably performed. Mix of gas and liquid in the middle.

Further, since the supply directions of the gases from the pair of adjacent gas flow paths 71a and 71b to the corresponding mixing portion 21 are opposed to each other, the airflow portions 22 can more easily push the airflows to each other. Thereby, the swing of the liquid column as described above can be performed more surely, and the fine foam is intermittently produced.

Further, the generation of the foam may be performed in the mixing portion 21 or in the adjacent foam flow path 91 or the expanded foam flow path 93.
That is, there is a case where the foam generated in the mixing portion 21 or the adjacent foam flow path 91 merges with the expanded foam flow path 93, and the foam becomes finer.
The foam is ejected from the expanded foam flow path 93 to the outside through the flow path 32d and the internal space of the nozzle unit 40 from the discharge port 41.

According to the third embodiment as described above, the liquid inlet 52 is also disposed at a position corresponding to the merging portion 22 of the gas supplied from the plurality of adjacent gas passages 71 to the mixing portion 21 via the gas inlet 72. The swinging of the liquid column or the like can effect the foaming of the liquid by the gas flow. Thereby, the gas and liquid can be well mixed and a sufficiently uniform foam can be produced.

[Fourth embodiment]
Next, a foam ejector according to a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 28 . The foam ejector according to the present embodiment is different from the foam ejector 100 of the third embodiment in that the foaming mechanism 20 has the partition portion 350, and is otherwise configured to be the same as the foam ejector 100 of the third embodiment. .

In the case of the present embodiment, the first member 300 has the partition portion 350. The axial gas flow path 73 of the third embodiment is divided into two by the partition portion 350, and the adjacent gas flow path 71a and the adjacent gas flow path 71b which are adjacently arranged are separated from each other in the third embodiment. .
Therefore, each axial gas flow path 73 is a flow path dedicated to each of the adjacent gas flow paths 71a and 71b as in the second embodiment.

According to the present embodiment, it is expected that the pressure of the gas supplied to the mixing unit 21 from the adjacent gas flow paths 71a and 71b is more stable. Therefore, it is expected that a fine and uniform foam can be generated more stably.
Moreover, compared with the case where each axial gas flow path 73 is a flow path shared by the pair of adjacent gas flow paths 71 (the third embodiment), the uniformity of the fineness of the foam is supplied to each unit of time. The dependence of the amount of gas and liquid in the mixing portion 21 is further lowered.
Moreover, the magnitude of the force required to press the head member 30 is reduced as compared with the case where each of the axial gas flow paths 73 is a flow path shared by the pair of adjacent gas flow paths 71 (the third embodiment).

<Variation 1>
In the case of the modification 1 shown in Fig. 29 (a), the flow path area adjacent to the bubble flow path 91 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the inner cavity of the mixing portion 21 orthogonal to the axis AX4 of the adjacent foam flow path 91, and is adjacent. The flow path area of the gas flow path 71 is smaller than the flow path area of the adjacent liquid flow path 51, and is different from the first embodiment in this respect, and is otherwise the same as the above-described first embodiment.
Further, in the case of the present modification, the face including the bubble outlet 92 in the face of the mixing portion 21 includes the bubble outlet 92 and the wall surface around the bubble outlet 92.

<Variation 2>
In the case of the second modification shown in Fig. 29 (b), the cross-sectional area of the inner cavity of the mixing portion 21 orthogonal to the axis AX3 of the adjacent liquid flow path 51 is larger than the flow path area of the adjacent liquid flow path 51, adjacent thereto. The flow path area of the gas flow path 71 is larger than the flow path area of the adjacent liquid flow path 51, and is different from the above-described first embodiment in this respect, and is otherwise the same as the above-described first embodiment.
Further, in the case of the present modification, the wall surface including the liquid inlet 52 surface including the bubble outlet 92 and the liquid inlet 52 in the surface of the mixing portion 21 is defined.

<Variation 3>
In the case of the third modification shown in FIG. 29(c), the flow path area of the adjacent gas flow path 71 is larger than the flow path area of the adjacent liquid flow path 51. In this respect, unlike the second modification, in other respects, Variation 2 is the same.

<Variation 4>
In the case of the modification 4 shown in Fig. 30 (a), the axis AX1 of the adjacent gas flow path 71a and the axis AX2 of the adjacent gas flow path 71b are at an angle of less than 90 degrees and the axis of the adjacent liquid flow path 51. The core AX3 intersects, and the gas inlet 72a and the gas inlet 72b face each other in parallel, which is different from the above-described first embodiment in this respect, and is otherwise identical to the above-described first embodiment. The flow direction of the gas from the adjacent gas flow paths 71a and 71b to the mixing unit 21 is positive with respect to the flow direction of the liquid from the adjacent liquid flow path 51 to the mixing unit 21.

<Variation 5>
In the case of the fifth modification shown in FIG. 30(b), the flow direction of the gas from the adjacent gas flow path 71a to the mixing portion 21 is reversed with respect to the flow direction of the liquid from the adjacent liquid flow path 51 to the mixing portion 21. The non-forward is different from the variation 4 in this respect, and is the same as the modification 4 in other respects.

<Variation 6>
In the case of the sixth modification shown in Fig. 31 (a), the axis AX1 of the adjacent gas flow path 71a and the axis AX2 of the adjacent gas flow path 71b are parallel to each other, but are disposed at positions shifted from each other. The gas inlet 72a and the gas inlet 72b oppose each other in parallel, and one of the gas inlets 72a is partially opposed to one of the gas inlets 72b, and the remaining portions are not opposed to each other. In the case of this modification, it is the same as the above-described first embodiment in other respects.
In the case of the present modification, the size of the gas-liquid contact region 23 in the direction of the axis AX3, AX4 adjacent to the liquid flow path 51 and the adjacent foam flow path 91 is smaller than that of the first embodiment.

<Variation 7>
In the case of the modification 7 shown in Fig. 31 (b), the surface including the liquid inlet 52, the surface including the gas inlet 72a, the surface including the gas inlet 72b, and the bubble outlet 92 are defined in the surface of the mixing portion 21. The faces are composed of the surrounding wall surfaces.
In the case of this modification, it is the same as the above-described first embodiment in other respects.

<Variation 8>
In the case of the eighth modification shown in FIG. 32, three adjacent gas flow paths 71 (adjacent gas flow paths 71a, 71b, and 71c) are disposed corresponding to one mixing unit 21. The three adjacent gas flow paths 71 corresponding to one mixing portion 21 extend, for example, on the same plane.
The adjacent gas flow path 71a is disposed at a position opposed to the adjacent liquid flow path 51 with respect to the mixing portion 21 as a reference.
As shown in Fig. 32, it is preferable that the gas inlet 72a adjacent to the gas flow path 71a, the gas inlet 72a adjacent to the gas flow path 71a, the gas inlet 72a, the gas inlet 72 adjacent to the gas flow path 71b, that is, the gas inlet 72b, and the adjacent gas flow The gas inlet 72 of the path 71c, that is, the gas inlet 72c is disposed at substantially equiangular intervals with respect to the center of the mixing portion 21. In this manner, the gas can be uniformly supplied from the adjacent gas flow paths 71 to the mixing portion 21.
Moreover, in order to arrange the gas supply directions of the three adjacent gas flow paths 71 corresponding to one mixing unit 21 to the mixing unit 21 at equal angular intervals, it is preferable to have a substantially equal angle based on the center of the mixing unit 21. The axes of the three adjacent gas flow paths 71 are arranged at intervals. Therefore, the peripheral surrounding groove 344 is formed in a polygonal line shape bent at the downstream end of the axial gas flow path 73. By arranging the gas supply directions of the mixing unit 21 from the three adjacent gas flow paths 71 corresponding to one mixing unit 21 at equal angular intervals, gas can be equally supplied from the adjacent gas flow paths 71 to the mixing unit 21 . .
In the case of the present variation, the number of swings per unit time of the liquid column increases as compared with the case where the number of adjacent gas flow paths 71 corresponding to one mixing portion 21 is two, and the number of bubbles generated per unit time increases. (This aspect is the same as that of the second embodiment described above). Therefore, a finer foam can be produced.

Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments and modifications, the constituent elements of the foam ejector 100 and the bubble discharge cover 200 need not be separately provided. A plurality of constituent elements are allowed to be formed into one member, a plurality of members form one constituent element, a certain constituent element is one of the other constituent elements, and one of the constituent elements is partially overlapped with one of the other constituent elements.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and various modifications and improvements are possible within the scope of the invention.

For example, the adjacent liquid flow path 51 may also be reduced in diameter toward the liquid inlet 52 (gradually (conically) reduced in diameter or stepped in diameter).
Further, the adjacent gas flow path 71 may also be reduced in diameter toward the gas inlet 72 (gradually (conically reduced) or stepped down).

Further, the foam ejector 100 may also have a screen as needed. For example, in the second embodiment and the third embodiment, a tubular member in which a mesh is provided at one end or both ends is disposed in the concave portion 411 of the second member 400.

Further, when a pair of adjacent gas flow paths 71a and 71b are disposed for one mixing unit 21, the opening area of the gas inlet 72a and the opening area of the gas inlet 72b may be slightly different. As a result, the pressure of the airflow supplied from the gas inlet 72a to the mixing unit 21 and the pressure of the airflow supplied from the gas inlet 72b to the mixing unit 21 become unbalanced from the initial state, so that it is expected to start more quickly as described above. The swing of the liquid column.

[Fifth Embodiment]
The foam ejector described in Patent Document 2 is exemplified as the foam ejector which generates the foam from the liquid and ejects it.
The squeeze foamer of Patent Document 2 includes a mixing portion that mixes a liquid with air to generate a foam, and a discharge hole that ejects foam from the mixing portion, and is formed with a thread or a bellows on the inner surface of the discharge port. Concave and convex parts.
According to the study by the inventors of the present invention, in the technique of Patent Document 2, it is not necessary to eject a sufficiently fine foam.

This embodiment relates to a foam ejector having a structure in which a fine foam can be more reliably ejected, and a foam ejector (a product containing a liquid) containing a liquid.

The present embodiment relates to a foam ejector having: a foam generating portion that generates foam from a liquid; a foam flow path through which the foam generated by the foam generating portion passes; and a discharge port that ejects a foam that has passed through the foam flow path; and the foam flow path includes: an upstream side flow path; and a thin flow path that is disposed adjacent to a downstream side of the upstream side flow path and has a smaller flow path area than the upstream side flow path; When viewed in the axial direction of the upstream end of the thin flow path, the thin flow path is disposed in a central portion of the upstream flow path, and an orthogonal cross-sectional shape of the thin flow path orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the thin flow path It is a flat shape.
According to this embodiment, the fine foam can be ejected more reliably.

This embodiment can be realized in combination with the first to fourth embodiments or the modified examples thereof, and may be separately provided without the configuration of the first to fourth embodiments or the modified examples thereof. This embodiment is realized.
The foam generating portion described in the present embodiment corresponds to the configuration of the foaming mechanism 20 described in the first to fourth embodiments or the modified examples thereof, and may be, for example, the first to fourth embodiments or The foaming mechanism 20 described in the variations thereof is of the same construction. Therefore, a symbol common to the foaming mechanism 20 is attached to the foam generating portion.
However, the foam generating portion 20 of the present embodiment may have a structure different from that of the foaming mechanism 20 described in the first to fourth embodiments or the modifications thereof, and may be other well-known structures.

Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to Figs. 36 to 39.
In FIGS. 36 to 38, the lower direction is lower and the upper direction is upper. That is, in the case of the present embodiment, the downward direction (downward) is also the direction of gravity in the state in which the bottom portion 14 of the foam ejector 100 is placed on the horizontal placement surface and the foam ejector 100 is erected.
In the configuration of the foam discharge cover 200 (described below) provided in the foam ejector 100, the lower portion of the curve H is shown in Fig. 36, and only the outline is shown.
Figure 37 is a partial enlarged view of Figure 36, and is also a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of Figure 38.
In Fig. 39, the planar shape of each portion of the foam flow path 700 and the foam outlet 710 formed from the foam generating portion 20 is shown. More specifically, FIG. 39 shows the outer line 731 and the downstream end 732 of the thin flow path 730 (in the present embodiment, the two outline lines coincide with each other) and the upstream side flow path 720. A plurality of foam outlets 710 and a flow path 32d constituting a portion of the downstream side flow path 740.

As shown in any one of FIGS. 36 to 39, the foam ejector 100 of the present embodiment includes a foam generating portion 20 (FIG. 36) which generates foam from the liquid 101, and a foam flow path 700 for the foam generating portion. The resulting foam passes through; and a discharge port 41 that ejects the foam that has passed through the foam flow path 700.
As shown in FIGS. 37 and 38, the foam flow path 700 includes an upstream side flow path 720, and a thin flow path 730 which is disposed adjacent to the downstream side of the upstream side flow path 720 and has a smaller flow path area than the upstream side flow path 720. .
As shown in FIG. 39, when viewed in the axial direction of the upstream end 731 of the thin flow path 730 (the direction of the axis AX11 shown in FIGS. 37 and 38), a small flow is disposed in the central portion of the upstream side flow path 720. Road 730.
The narrow cross-sectional shape of the thin flow path 730 orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the thin flow path 730 is a flat shape.

According to the present embodiment, when the foam generated by the foam generating portion 20 passes through the thin flow path 730 having a flat cross-sectional shape, the shear force generated by the viscous resistance of the inner peripheral surface of the thin flow path 730 and the foam is applied to The foam, thereby making the foam fine. More specifically, it is considered that when the foam passes through the fine flow path 730, the foam is stretched in the longitudinal direction of the thin flow path 730 to repeatedly perform the action of foam splitting, thereby making the foam fine. Since the cross-sectional shape of the thin flow path 730 is a flat shape, the maximum distance between the foam and the inner peripheral surface of the thin flow path 730 can be made small, so that the shearing of the foam in the thin flow path 730 can be performed more surely.
Further, when viewed in the axial direction of the upstream end 731 of the thin flow path 730, the thin flow path 730 is disposed at the central portion of the upstream side flow path 720. Therefore, at the stage where the foam flows from the upstream side flow path 720 to the fine flow path 730, the flow velocity of the foam is moderately decelerated, so that the foam can be prevented from directly passing through the thin flow path 730, and the shearing of the foam in the fine flow path 730 can be further surely performed.
Thereby, the foam can be made more delicate and ejected from the discharge port 41.
Moreover, according to the study by the inventors of the present invention, the foam can be made finer and discharged (described below) irrespective of the flow velocity of the foam passing through the foam flow path 700.

In the case of the present embodiment, the axial direction of the upstream end 731 of the thin flow path 730 is in the vertical direction. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 39, the arrangement of the upstream side flow path 720 and the thin flow path 730 when the thin flow path 730 and the upstream side flow path 720 are viewed is a fine flow path when viewed in the axial direction of the upstream end 731 of the thin flow path 730. 730 and the configuration of the upstream side flow path 720.
The central portion of the upstream side flow path 720 is a region that avoids the peripheral portion of the upstream side flow path 720. The peripheral portion of the upstream side flow path 720 can be, for example, as shown in FIG. 39, the radius (or the circle equivalent radius) of the upstream side flow path 720 when viewed in the axial direction of the upstream end 731 of the thin flow path 730. When r is set, the area of r/10 from the outer circumference of the upstream side flow path 720. In other words, the foam flow path 700 preferably has a circular area having a radius of 9 r/10 based on the center C of the upstream side flow path 720 when viewed in the axial direction of the upstream end 731 of the thin flow path 730. Fine flow path 730. Further, the present invention does not exclude that the foam flow path 700 has a thin flow path 730 disposed in a region of r/10 from the outer circumference of the upstream side flow path 720, and the foam flow path 700 may be disposed in the center of the upstream side flow path 720. The thin flow path 730 of the portion has a thin flow path 730 disposed at a peripheral portion of the upstream side flow path 720.
The number of the thin flow paths 730 of the foam flow path 700 may be one, or plural, but preferably one. When the number of the thin flow paths 730 is one, it is preferable that the center C of the upstream side flow path 720 is located inside the outer shape line of the thin flow path 730 when viewed in the axial direction of the upstream end 731 of the thin flow path 730. That is, when the number of the thin flow paths 730 is plural, it is preferable that the center C of the upstream side flow path 720 is located in the plurality of thin flow paths 730 when viewed in the axial direction of the upstream end 731 of the thin flow path 730. One of the thin flow paths 730 is outside the shape line.
Further, the cross-sectional shape of the thin flow path 730 orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the foam flow path 700 is a flat shape, which means that the dimension D1 (Fig. 37, Fig. 39) of the orthogonal cross-sectional shape in the long-axis direction is more orthogonal. The dimension D2 (Fig. 38, Fig. 39) of the short axis direction of the shape is large. The orthogonal cross-sectional shape may be, for example, a rectangular shape or a rounded rectangular shape, but may be a polygonal shape other than a quadrangular shape or a rounded polygonal shape, or may be an elliptical shape or an oblong shape.
In the case of this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 39, the orthogonal cross-sectional shape is a rectangular shape. Further, the shape of the upstream end 731 and the downstream end 732 of the thin flow path 730 is also rectangular.
In the present embodiment, the upstream end 731 and the downstream end 732 have the same shape, and the upstream end 731 coincides with the downstream end 732 in plan view. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the upstream end 731 and the downstream end 732 may have mutually different shapes, and the upstream end 731 and the downstream end 732 may be disposed at positions shifted from each other in plan view.

Preferably, the ratio D1/D2 of the dimension D1 in the major axis direction of the orthogonal cross-sectional shape to the dimension D1 in the minor-axis direction is 1.5 or more. By setting this ratio, the foam can be made more delicate and the size of the foam can be made more uniform.
The ratio D1/D2 is further preferably 1.7 or more. The ratio D1/D2 is preferably 12 or less, and more preferably 8 or less.

In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 37, the dimension D1 in the longitudinal direction of the orthogonal cross-sectional shape of the thin flow path 730 is repeatedly enlarged and reduced from the upstream side toward the downstream side. With such a configuration, the foam can be further refined.
Although the reason why the foam is refined by the expansion and contraction of the dimension D1 in the long axis direction is not clear, it is considered that the following conditions will contribute to the miniaturization of the foam: the flow velocity of the foam when the foam passes through the fine flow path 730 is also based on the flow path. The change in area gradually increases and decreases, thus promoting the split of the bubble.
More specifically, in the case of the present embodiment, the enlargement and reduction of the size D1 are repeated three times. However, the number of times of expanding and reducing the size D1 may be two or more times, or four or more times. Further, the number of times the size D1 is enlarged and reduced may be one.
The present invention is not limited to these examples, and the dimension D1 of the orthogonal cross-sectional shape of the thin flow path 730 in the longitudinal direction may be fixed. Further, the thin flow path 730 may be formed in a linear shape and have a fixed cross-sectional shape.

In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 37, the dimension D1 in the longitudinal direction of the upstream end portion 734 of the thin flow path 730 is widened from the upstream end 731 toward the downstream side. In other words, the upstream end portion 734 has a shape in which the upstream end 731 is narrowed. By adopting such a configuration, the size of the foam can be made more uniform.
By widening the dimension D1 in the longitudinal direction of the upstream end portion 734 from the upstream end 731 toward the downstream side, the size of the foam can be made more uniform. Although the reason is not clear, it is considered that the reason is that it flows into the thin flow path 730. The foam is more uniformly decelerated at the upstream end 731 and flows in the fine flow path 730, whereby the foam is uniformly finely refined.
In the case of the present embodiment, the dimension D1 in the longitudinal direction of the downstream end portion 735 of the thin flow path 730 is widened from the downstream end 732 toward the upstream side.

In the case of the present embodiment, in the cross section of the thin flow path 730 along the longitudinal direction and the long axis direction (that is, the cross section of Fig. 37), the thin flow path 730 at both ends in the long axis direction is a wave. Linear curve shape. By adopting such a configuration, the size of the foam can be made more uniform.

In the cross section of the thin flow path 730 along the longitudinal direction and the long axis direction (the cross section of FIG. 37), the outer line 733 of the thin flow path 730 at both ends in the long axis direction has a maximum inclination angle based on the longitudinal direction. Up to 45 degrees. By adopting such a configuration, the size of the foam can be made more uniform.

The ratio S1/S2 of the maximum value S1 (Fig. 37) of the flow path area of the thin flow path 730 to the minimum value S2 (Fig. 37) is preferably 2 or less. By adopting such a configuration, the size of the foam can be made more uniform. More preferably 1.7 or less than S1/S2.
In the case of the present embodiment, the dimension D2 (Fig. 38) of the orthogonal cross-sectional shape in the minor axis direction is fixed. Therefore, the ratio D1MAX/D1MIN of the maximum value D1MAX (FIG. 37) to the minimum value D1MIN (FIG. 37) of the dimension D1 in the long-axis direction is preferably 2 or less, and more preferably 1.7 or less than D1MAX/D1MIN.

The dimension D2 (Fig. 38) of the orthogonal cross-sectional shape in the minor axis direction is preferably 0.5 mm or more and 4 mm or less. By adopting such a configuration, the foam can be made more delicate and the size of the foam can be made more uniform.
The size D2 is more preferably 1.0 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less.

The length dimension L2 (Fig. 37) of the thin flow path 730 is preferably 3 mm or more. According to this configuration, the foaming of the foam in the thin flow path 730 can be more sufficiently performed, so that the foam can be more reliably made fine.
The length dimension L2 is further preferably 5 mm or more. The length dimension L2 is preferably 40 mm or less, and more preferably 20 mm or less.

The length dimension L1 (Fig. 37) of the upstream side flow path 720 is preferably 1 mm or more. By adopting such a configuration, each of the foams in the upstream side flow path 720 can be formed in the form of a separate foam (delimited by each foam), and after the film thickness of the entire foam is averaged, it flows into the bubble flow. Road 730 accepts shearing. In other words, after the foam is newly generated, the dynamic surface tension is large and the film thickness is deviated (orientated), and for this, the foam may be made to be equalized after the foam passes through the sufficiently long upstream side flow path 720. Flows into the thin flow path 730. Thereby, the foam can be made more delicate.
In the case where the present embodiment is configured in combination with the first to fourth embodiments or the modified examples thereof, the length L1 of the upstream side flow path 720 is 1 mm or more. This oscillation is preferably achieved by ensuring a space for performing the swing of the liquid column as described above.
The length dimension L1 is further preferably 2 mm or more. The length dimension L1 is preferably 10 mm or less. The length dimension L2 is preferably longer than the length dimension L1.

It is preferable that the flow path area is discontinuously changed at the boundary between the downstream end 722 of the upstream side flow path 720 and the upstream end 731 of the thin flow path 730. With this configuration, the flow rate of the foam can be more reliably decelerated when the foam flows from the upstream side flow path 720 to the thin flow path 730. Therefore, the foaming in the thin flow path 730 can be surely performed. Further, a space for sufficiently defining the foam can be secured in the upstream side flow path 720.
More specifically, the flow path area of the upstream end 731 of the thin flow path 730 is preferably 1% or more and 40% or less of the flow path area of the downstream end 722 of the upstream side flow path 720, and more preferably 15% or more and 35 %the following.

The foam flow path 700 further includes a downstream side flow path 740 which is disposed adjacent to the downstream side of the thin flow path 730 and whose flow path area is larger than the thin flow path 730.
Therefore, the flow rate of the foam passing through the thin flow path 73 can be sufficiently slowed down in the downstream side flow path 740 and then ejected from the discharge port 41. Thereby, the foam discharged from the discharge port 41 can be easily caught by the object to be ejected by the hand or the like, and the crack due to the collision of the foam with the ejected object can be suppressed.

In the case of the present embodiment, the bubble generating portion 20 has a plurality of bubble outlets 710 that are respectively opened toward the upstream side flow path 720. As an example, the foam generating portion 20 has eight foam outlets 710.
However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the number of the bubble outlets 710 may be one.
Further, when the foam ejector 100 of the present embodiment is realized in combination with the first to fourth embodiments or the modified examples thereof, the downstream end of the foam flow path 91 is adjacent to the expanded foam flow path 93. The junction becomes a bubble exit 710.
Further, for example, the portion (lower portion) that expands the upstream side of the foam flow path 93 becomes the upstream side flow path 720.

As shown in FIG. 39, when viewed in the axial direction of the upstream end 731 of the thin flow path 730, the thin flow path 730 is preferably disposed at a position offset from the center of the arrangement area of the plurality of foam outlets 710. That is, it is preferable that the center of each of the bubble outlets 710 is disposed on the outer side of the outer line of the thin flow path 730 when viewed in the axial direction of the upstream end 731 of the thin flow path 730.
Thereby, at the boundary between the upstream side flow path 720 and the thin flow path 730, there is a portion that hinders the flow of the foam (for example, the lower end surface 831 of the upper member 830 described below), and the foam can be made in the upstream side flow path 720 and the thin flow path 730. The junction is fully slowed down.

The flow path area of the upstream side flow path 720 is larger than the total opening area of the plurality of bubble outlets 710.
The flow path area of the upstream end 731 of the thin flow path 730 is preferably equal to or greater than the total opening area of the plurality of foam outlets 710. Thereby, the foam ejected from the bubble outlet 710 can be smoothly (not subjected to excessive pressure) flow into the thin flow path 730. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the breakage of the foam from the upstream side flow path 720 to the fine flow path 730.

As shown in FIG. 36, the foam ejector 100 is configured to include a storage container 10 that stores a liquid 101, and a foam discharge cover 200 that is detachably attached to the storage container 10.
The shape of the storage container 10 is not particularly limited. For example, the storage container 10 has a shape including a main body portion 11 , a cylindrical neck portion 13 connected to the upper side of the main body portion 11 , and a bottom portion 14 which will The lower end of the main body portion 11 is closed. An opening is formed at an upper end of the neck portion 13.
The liquid-filled foam ejector (liquid-containing product) 500 of the present embodiment is configured to include a foam ejector 100 and a liquid 101 filled in the storage container 10.

In the present embodiment, the liquid 101 is also the same as each of the above embodiments.

In the case of the present embodiment, the foam ejector 100 changes the liquid 101 into a foam shape by bringing the liquid 101 stored in the container 10 under normal pressure into contact with the gas in the foam generating portion 20. The foam ejector 100 is a pump container that ejects foam, for example, by a hand pressing operation.
However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the foam ejector may be a so-called squeeze bottle configured to eject a foam by squeezing a storage container, or may be an electric foam dispenser including a motor or the like. Further, the foam ejector may also be an aerosol container in which the liquid and the compressed gas are filled in the storage container.

The foam ejection cover 200 includes a cover member 110 detachably provided to the storage container 10, a pump portion 600 provided to the cover member 110, and a dip tube 128 for sucking the liquid 101 in the storage container 10 to the pump portion 600; a head member 30 held by the pump portion 600; and a foam generating portion 20 provided to the head member 30.

The cover member 110 includes a mounting portion 111 that is detachably attached to the neck portion 13 of the storage container 10 by a fixing method such as screwing, and an annular closing portion 112 that blocks the upper end of the mounting portion 111; The tubular portion 113 is raised and rises upward from the central portion of the annular closing portion 112.
The head member 30 includes an operation receiving portion 31 that receives a pressing operation by a user, an inner tubular portion 32 that extends downward from the operation receiving portion 31, and an outer tubular portion 33 that is disposed around the inner tubular portion 32. And the nozzle portion 40. The lower portion of the inner tubular portion 32 is inserted into the rising tubular portion 113. The internal space of the inner tubular portion 32 and the inner space of the nozzle portion 40, that is, the nozzle inner foam passage 741, communicate with each other via the flow passage 32d formed at the upper end of the inner tubular portion 32. A discharge port 41 is formed at a downstream end of the bubble flow path 741 in the nozzle. The downstream side flow path 740 of the foam flow path 700 includes a flow path 32d and a nozzle inner foam flow path 741.
The internal space of the inner tubular portion 32 and the space below the flow passage 32d are the holding portions 32c. The upper member 830 and the lower member 820 described below are housed in the holding portion 32c. The foam outlet 710 of the foam generating portion 20, the upstream side flow path 720 of the foam flow path 700, and the thin flow path 730 include the lower member 820 and the upper member 830.
Here, the lower member 820 may have the same configuration as the second member 820 of the second embodiment, and the lower member 820 may have a symbol common to the second member 820.
The pump unit 600 is configured to include a liquid supply pump that supplies the liquid 101 in the storage container 10 to the bubble generating portion 20 by pressing the head member 30 by a pressing operation of the operation receiving portion 31; The supply pump supplies the gas in the storage container 10 to the bubble generating portion 20 by pressing the head member 30. The configuration of the pump unit 600 is well known, and a detailed description is omitted in the present specification.
The foam generating portion 20 has a gas-liquid contact portion (not shown) that is in contact with the liquid supplied from the liquid supply pump and the gas supplied from the gas supply pump. In addition, the gas-liquid contact portion may have the same configuration as the mixing portion 21 described in the first to fourth embodiments or the modifications thereof.
The liquid 101 is mixed with the gas in the gas-liquid contact portion to generate a foam. In the case of the present embodiment, as described above, the bubble generating portion 20 has a plurality of bubble outlets 710 that are respectively opened toward the upstream side flow path 720. As an example, the foam generating portion 20 has a plurality of gas-liquid contact portions corresponding to the respective bubble outlets 710.
As described above, the foam ejector 100 includes the storage container 10 that stores the liquid 101, and the mounting portion 111 that is attached to the storage container 10; and the foam generating portion 20, the foam flow path 700, and the discharge port 41 are held by the mounting portion 111.
By mounting the foam ejection cover 200 to the storage container 10, the upper end opening of the mouth and neck portion 13 is closed by the foam ejection cover 200.
Further, the structure of the foam discharge cover 200 (including the pump unit 600) described herein is an example, and the structure of the foam discharge cover 200 may be applied to other well-known structures without departing from the gist of the present invention.

The user presses the operation receiving portion 31 of the head member 30 once (the operation of pressing the head member 30 from the top dead center to the bottom dead center), that is, the ejection operation of the foam, from the bubble ejector 100. A fixed amount of foam is ejected. Further, strictly speaking, in the case where the discharge operation is performed after a long time interval, the amount of the discharged foam is reduced as compared with the case where the discharge operation is continued.
Since the foam flow path is thinned in the fine flow path 730, the amount of foam remaining in the portion from the foam outlet 710 to the discharge port 41 can be reduced. Thereby, a large ratio of the foam generated in the bubble generating portion 20 can be ejected from the discharge port 41 in response to the discharge operation.

As shown in FIGS. 37 and 38, the lower member 820 is configured, for example, to include a cylindrical portion having a cylindrical recess 821 that is open upward. A plurality of foam outlets 710 are open at the bottom surface of the recess 821. In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 39, the eight foam outlets 710 are disposed at equal angular intervals on the peripheral portion of the bottom surface of the concave portion 821.

As shown in FIGS. 37 and 38, the upper member 830 is formed in a columnar shape of the upper and lower strips. A hole that penetrates the upper side member 830 up and down is formed in a central portion of the upper member 830. The thin flow path 730 is constituted by the internal space of the hole.
The lower portion of the upper member 830 is embedded and fixed to the embedded portion 832 at the upper portion of the recess 821 of the lower member 820.
The lower end surface 831 of the upper member 830 is disposed at a position away from the bottom surface of the concave portion 821 upward.
The lower portion of the concave portion 821, that is, the space between the lower end surface 831 of the upper member 830 and the concave portion 821, constitutes the upstream side flow path 720.
As shown in FIG. 39, when viewed in the axial direction of the upstream end 731 of the thin flow path 730, the plurality of foam outlets 710 are preferably disposed on the inner side of the outer flow path 720.

The flow path area of the flow path 32d and the flow path area of the foam flow path 741 in the nozzle are larger than the flow path area of the thin flow path 730. In other words, the downstream side flow path 740 is disposed adjacent to the downstream side of the thin flow path 730, and the flow path area is larger than the thin flow path 730.

In the case of the present embodiment, the foam ejector 100 does not have a screen for refining the generated foam. Therefore, even in the case where the liquid 101 contains a detergent, it is preferable to generate and eject the foam.
However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the foam ejector 100 may be provided with a screen which refines the generated foam. For example, the screen may be disposed at the boundary between the foam generating portion 20 and the upstream side flow path 720. In this case, the lattice-shaped openings of the screen become the foam outlet 710.

Each of Figs. 40(a), 40(b), 40(c), and 40(d) is a view showing an image obtained by photographing the foam discharged from the foam ejector 100 of the present embodiment. More specifically, the images shown in FIGS. 40(a) to 40(d) have a length dimension L1 of 5.7 mm, a length dimension L2 of 18 mm, and a dimension D1MIN of 4.0 mm. D1MAX was set to 6.0 mm, the dimension D2 was set to 2.0 mm, the inner diameter of the foam outlet 710 was set to 1.0 mm, and the inner diameter of the upstream side flow path 720 was set to be an image of the foam at 7.0 mm.
On the other hand, each of Figs. 48(a), 48(b), 48(c), and 48(d) shows that the foam ejected from the foam ejector (not shown) of the comparative embodiment is photographed. A diagram of the resulting image.
The foam ejector of the comparative embodiment is different from the foam ejector 100 of the present embodiment in that it does not have the upper member 830 (that is, it does not have the fine flow path 730), and is otherwise configured to be squirted with the foam of the present embodiment. The device 100 is the same.
40(a) and 48(a) are images of the foam which is ejected by setting the speed (pressing speed) of the head member 30 to 10 mm/sec. Fig. 40 (b) and Fig. 48 (b) show the image of the bubble which is ejected at a pressing speed of 30 mm/sec, and Figs. 40(c) and 48(c) set the pressing speed to 50 mm. The image of the bubble ejected per second, Fig. 40 (d) and Fig. 48 (d) are images of the foam ejected by pressing the pressing speed at 70 mm/sec.
The foam ejected from the foam ejector 100 of the present embodiment is finer and more uniform than the foam ejected by the foam ejector of the comparative embodiment, regardless of the pressing speed. That is, regardless of the flow rate of the foam passing through the foam flow path 700, the foam can be finely pulverized and ejected.

Even in the case of the example in which the image of the foam is shown in FIGS. 40(a) to 40(d), the case where the dimension D2 is set to 1.5 mm is different, and the dimension D2 is set to 2.5 mm. In the case of a different example, in the case where the size D2 is set to 3.0 mm, and in the case where the size D2 is set to 4.0 mm, the foam is fine and uniform regardless of the pressing speed.
Even if the number of the thin flow paths 730 having the same size as the example of the image of the foam shown in FIGS. 40(a) to 40(d) is two, the foam does not become related to the pressing speed. Fine and even.
Even in the example (described below) shown in Fig. 42 (a), the example shown in Fig. 42 (b) (described below), and the example shown in Fig. 42 (e) (described below), the foam is not pressed. The speed becomes fine and uniform.

<Example of change in shape of the upstream end or the downstream end of the thin flow path>
Next, each variation of the shape of the upstream end 731 or the downstream end 732 of the thin flow path 730 will be described.
In the example of Fig. 41 (a), the upstream end 731 or the downstream end 732 has a rectangular shape as compared with the above-described embodiment, and has a shape that is more elongated than the above-described embodiment in the longitudinal direction.
In the example of Fig. 41 (b), the upstream end 731 or the downstream end 732 has a rounded rectangular shape.
The upstream end 731 or the downstream end 732 is not limited to a shape extending linearly in the longitudinal direction, and may extend in a curved shape. For example, as shown in FIG. 41(c), the upstream end 731 or the downstream end 732 may also extend in a wavy line in the long axis direction.
In the example of Fig. 41 (d), the upstream end 731 or the downstream end 732 has a hexagonal shape that is long in the long axis direction.
In the example of Fig. 41(e), the two corner portions on the diagonal of the upstream end 731 or the downstream end 732 are rounded, and the remaining two corner portions have an angular shape.
In the example of FIG. 41(f), one of the outlines of the upstream end 731 or the downstream end 732 in the short-axis direction protrudes outward in an arc shape, and the two corners on one side in the short-axis direction are rounded. The shape.
In the example of Fig. 41 (g), the two outline lines in the short-axis direction are respectively bent toward the inside.
Furthermore, in each of the modified examples, the shape of the intermediate portion between the upstream end 731 and the downstream end 732 (the orthogonal cross-sectional shape) may be the same shape and size as the upstream end 731 or the downstream end 732, or may be The shape of the upstream end 731 or the downstream end 732 is enlarged in the direction of the long axis.

<Example of variation of longitudinal section shape of thin flow path>
Next, a variation of the cross-sectional shape along the longitudinal direction and the long-axis direction of the thin flow path 730 will be described.
The number of times in the long axis direction of the orthogonal cross-sectional shape of the thin flow path 730 may be increased or decreased from the upstream side toward the downstream side. That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 42( a ), it may be narrowed toward the downstream end 732 only after being temporarily widened from the upstream end 731 toward the downstream side. In this case, the shape of the outline 733 is, for example, curved. Further, contrary to the example of FIG. 42(a), as shown in FIG. 42(e), it may be further narrowed toward the downstream end 732 only after being temporarily narrowed toward the downstream side from the upstream end 731.
In the example of FIG. 42(b), the number of times in the longitudinal direction of the orthogonal cross-sectional shape of the thin flow path 730 is enlarged and reduced twice.
As shown in FIG. 42(c), the dimension of the longitudinal direction of the upstream end portion 734 of the thin flow path 730 may be narrowed from the upstream end 731 toward the downstream side, and the length of the downstream end portion 735 may be from the downstream end 732. Shrinking toward the upstream side.
As shown in Fig. 42 (d), the outline 733 may also be a linear fold line shape.

[Sixth embodiment]
Also in the present embodiment, as in the fifth embodiment, a foam ejector having a structure in which a fine foam can be more reliably discharged, and a foam ejector (a product containing a liquid) containing a liquid are provided.

The present embodiment relates to a foam ejector having: a foam generating portion that generates foam from a liquid; a foam flow path through which the foam generated by the foam generating portion passes; and a discharge port through which the discharge has passed a foam flow path foam; the foam flow path includes: an upstream side flow path; a thin flow path disposed adjacent to a downstream side of the upstream side flow path and having a smaller flow path area than the upstream side flow path; and a downstream side flow The path is disposed adjacent to the downstream side of the thin flow path and has a larger flow path area than the thin flow path; and the foam generating portion has a plurality of foam outlets respectively opening toward the upstream side flow path, and the length of the thin flow path is larger The upstream side flow path has a large length dimension.
According to this embodiment, the fine foam can be ejected more reliably.

This embodiment can be realized in combination with the first to fourth embodiments or the modified examples thereof, and may be separately provided without the configuration of the first to fourth embodiments or the modified examples thereof. This embodiment is realized.
The foam generating portion described in the present embodiment corresponds to the configuration of the foaming mechanism 20 described in the first to fourth embodiments or the modified examples thereof, and may be, for example, the first to fourth embodiments or The foaming mechanism 20 described in the variations thereof is of the same construction. Therefore, a symbol common to the foaming mechanism 20 is attached to the foam generating portion.
However, the foam generating portion 20 of the present embodiment may have a structure different from that of the foaming mechanism 20 described in the first to fourth embodiments or the modifications thereof, and may be other well-known structures.

Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 43 to 45.
In FIGS. 43 to 45, the lower direction is lower and the upper direction is upper. That is, in the case of the present embodiment, the downward direction (downward) is also the direction of gravity in the state in which the bottom portion 14 of the foam ejector 100 is placed on the horizontal placement surface and the foam ejector 100 is erected.
In the configuration of the foam discharge cover 200 (described below) provided in the foam ejector 100, the portion below the curve H is shown in Fig. 43, and only the outline is shown.
In Fig. 45, the planar shape of each portion of the foam flow path 700 and the foam outlet 710 formed from the foam generating portion 20 is shown. More specifically, FIG. 45 shows the outer line 731 and the downstream end 732 of the thin flow path 730 (in the present embodiment, the two outline lines coincide with each other) and the upstream side flow path 720. A plurality of foam outlets 710 and a flow path 32d constituting a portion of the downstream side flow path 740.

As shown in any one of FIGS. 43 to 45, the foam ejector 100 of the present embodiment includes a foam generating portion 20 (FIG. 43) which generates foam from the liquid 101, and a foam flow path 700 for the foam generating portion. The resulting foam passes through; and a discharge port 41 that ejects the foam that has passed through the foam flow path 700.
As shown in FIG. 44, the foam flow path 700 includes an upstream side flow path 720, and a thin flow path 730 which is disposed adjacent to the downstream side of the upstream side flow path 720 and has a smaller flow path area than the upstream side flow path 720; The side flow path 740 is disposed adjacent to the downstream side of the thin flow path 730 and has a larger flow path area than the thin flow path 730.
The foam generating portion 20 has a plurality of foam outlets 710 (Figs. 44 and 45) that are respectively opened toward the upstream side flow path 720. The number of the bubble outlets 710 is not particularly limited as long as it is plural. In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 45, the number of the bubble outlets 710 is eight.
The number of the thin flow paths 730 of the foam flow path 700 may be one or plural, preferably one.
The length dimension L2 (Fig. 44) of the thin flow path 730 is larger than the length dimension L1 (Fig. 44) of the upstream side flow path 720.

According to the present embodiment, when the foam generated by the foam generating portion 20 passes through the thin flow path 730, the shear force generated by the viscous resistance of the inner peripheral surface of the thin flow path 730 and the foam is applied to the foam, thereby making the foam finer. . More specifically, it is considered that when the foam passes through the fine flow path 730, the foam is stretched in the longitudinal direction of the thin flow path 730 to repeatedly perform the action of foam splitting, thereby making the foam fine.
Further, since the length L2 of the thin flow path 730 is larger than the length L1 of the upstream side flow path 720, the foaming by the shearing can be more sufficiently made.
Thereby, the foam can be made more delicate and ejected from the discharge port 41.
Further, the foam flow path 700 has a downstream side flow path 740 which is disposed adjacent to the downstream side of the thin flow path 730 and has a larger flow path area than the fine flow path 730, so that the flow velocity of the bubble passing through the thin flow path 730 can be After the downstream side flow path 740 is sufficiently slowed down, it is ejected from the discharge port 41. Thereby, the foam discharged from the discharge port 41 can be easily caught by the object to be ejected by the hand or the like, and the crack due to the collision of the foam with the ejected object can be suppressed.
Further, according to the study by the inventors of the present invention, regardless of the flow velocity of the foam passing through the foam flow path 700, the foam can be made fine and ejected (described later).

Further, when the foam ejector 100 of the present embodiment is realized in combination with the first to fourth embodiments or the modified examples thereof, the downstream end of the foam flow path 91 is adjacent to the expanded foam flow path 93. The junction becomes a bubble exit 710.
Further, for example, the portion (lower portion) that expands the upstream side of the foam flow path 93 becomes the upstream side flow path 720.

The orthogonal cross-sectional shape of the thin flow path 730 orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the foam flow path 700 is not particularly limited. In the case of this embodiment, the orthogonal cross-sectional shape is circular.
However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the orthogonal cross-sectional shape may be other shapes such as a polygonal shape or a rounded polygonal shape.
Further, in the case of the present embodiment, the shape of the upstream end 731 and the downstream end 732 of the thin flow path 730 is also circular.
In the present embodiment, the upstream end 731 and the downstream end 732 have the same shape, and the upstream end 731 coincides with the downstream end 732 in plan view. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the upstream end 731 and the downstream end 732 may have mutually different shapes, and the upstream end 731 and the downstream end 732 may be disposed at positions shifted from each other in plan view.
More specifically, in the case of the present embodiment, the internal space of the small-diameter flow path 730 has a cylindrical shape.
The inner diameter D (Fig. 44) or the circle-equivalent diameter of the thin flow path 730 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.5 mm or more and 6.0 mm or less, more preferably 1.0 mm or more and 4.0 mm or less, further preferably 2.0 mm or more. . By setting the inner diameter D or the circle-equivalent diameter of the thin flow path 730 to 0.5 mm or more and 6.0 mm or less, the foam can be more reliably made fine.

When viewed in the axial direction of the upstream end 731 of the thin flow path 730 (the direction of the axis AX11 shown in FIG. 44), the thin flow path 730 is disposed in the central portion of the upstream side flow path 720.
Therefore, at the stage where the foam flows from the upstream side flow path 720 to the fine flow path 730, the flow velocity of the foam is moderately decelerated, so that the foam can be prevented from directly passing through the thin flow path 730, and the shearing of the foam in the fine flow path 730 can be further surely performed.
In the case of the present embodiment, the axial direction of the upstream end 731 of the thin flow path 730 is the vertical direction. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 45, the arrangement of the upstream side flow path 720 and the thin flow path 730 when the thin flow path 730 and the upstream side flow path 720 are planarly viewed is a thin flow path when viewed in the axial direction of the upstream end 731 of the thin flow path 730. 730 and the arrangement of the upstream side flow path 720.
The central portion of the upstream side flow path 720 is a region that avoids the peripheral portion of the upstream side flow path 720. The peripheral portion of the upstream side flow path 720 can be, for example, as shown in FIG. 45, the radius (or the circle equivalent radius) of the upstream side flow path 720 when viewed in the axial direction of the upstream end 731 of the thin flow path 730. When r is set, the area of r/10 from the outer circumference of the upstream side flow path 720. In other words, the foam flow path 700 preferably has a circular area having a radius of 9 r/10 based on the center C of the upstream side flow path 720 when viewed in the axial direction of the upstream end 731 of the thin flow path 730. Fine flow path 730. Further, the present invention does not exclude that the foam flow path 700 has a thin flow path 730 disposed in a region of r/10 from the outer circumference of the upstream side flow path 720, and the foam flow path 700 may be disposed in the center of the upstream side flow path 720. The thin flow path 730 of the portion has a thin flow path 730 disposed at a peripheral portion of the upstream side flow path 720.
When the number of the thin flow paths 730 is one, it is preferable that the center C of the upstream side flow path 720 is located inside the thin flow path 730 when viewed in the axial direction of the upstream end 731 of the thin flow path 730. . When the number of the thin flow paths 730 is plural, it is also preferable that the center C of the upstream side flow path 720 is located in the plurality of thin flow paths 730 when viewed in the axial direction of the upstream end 731 of the thin flow path 730. One thin flow path 730 is outside the shape line.

As shown in FIG. 45, when viewed in the axial direction of the upstream end 731 of the thin flow path 730, the thin flow path 730 is preferably disposed at a position offset from the center of the arrangement area of the plurality of foam outlets 710. That is, it is preferable that the center of each of the bubble outlets 710 is disposed on the outer side of the outer line of the thin flow path 730 when viewed in the axial direction of the upstream end 731 of the thin flow path 730.
Thereby, a portion that blocks the flow of the foam (for example, the lower end surface 831 of the upper member 830 described below) exists at the boundary between the upstream side flow path 720 and the thin flow path 730, and is at the boundary between the upstream side flow path 720 and the thin flow path 730. Allow the foam to slow down sufficiently.

The length dimension L2 (Fig. 44) of the thin flow path 730 is preferably 3 mm or more. According to this configuration, the foaming of the foam in the thin flow path 730 can be more sufficiently performed, so that the foam can be more reliably made fine.
The length dimension L2 is further preferably 5 mm or more. The length dimension L2 is preferably 40 mm or less, and more preferably 20 mm or less.

The length dimension L1 (Fig. 44) of the upstream side flow path 720 is preferably 1 mm or more. By adopting such a configuration, each of the foams in the upstream side flow path 720 can be formed in the form of a separate foam (delimited by each foam), and after the film thickness of the entire foam is averaged, it flows into the bubble flow. Road 730 accepts shearing. In other words, after the foam is newly generated, the dynamic surface tension is large and the film thickness is deviated (orientated), and for this, the foam may be made to be equalized after the foam passes through the sufficiently long upstream side flow path 720. Flows into the thin flow path 730. Thereby, the foam can be made more delicate.
In the case where the present embodiment is configured in combination with the first to fourth embodiments or the modified examples thereof, the length L1 of the upstream side flow path 720 is 1 mm or more. This oscillation is preferably achieved by ensuring a space for performing the swing of the liquid column as described above.
The length dimension L1 is further preferably 2 mm or more. The length dimension L1 is preferably 10 mm or less.

Preferably, the flow path area changes discontinuously at the boundary between the downstream end 722 of the upstream side flow path 720 and the upstream end 731 of the thin flow path 730. With this configuration, the flow rate of the foam can be more reliably decelerated when the foam flows from the upstream side flow path 720 to the thin flow path 730. Therefore, the foaming in the thin flow path 730 can be surely performed. Further, a space for sufficiently defining the foam can be secured in the upstream side flow path 720.
More specifically, the flow path area of the upstream end 731 of the thin flow path 730 is preferably 1% or more and 40% or less of the flow path area of the downstream end 722 of the upstream side flow path 720, and more preferably 15% or more and 35 %the following.

The flow path area of the upstream side flow path 720 is larger than the total opening area of the plurality of bubble outlets 710.
The flow path area of the upstream end 731 of the thin flow path 730 is preferably equal to or greater than the total opening area of the plurality of foam outlets 710. Thereby, the foam ejected from the bubble outlet 710 can be smoothly (not subjected to excessive pressure) flow into the thin flow path 730. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the breakage of the foam from the upstream side flow path 720 to the fine flow path 730.

As shown in FIG. 43, the foam ejector 100 is configured to include a storage container 10 that stores a liquid 101, and a foam discharge cover 200 that is detachably attached to the storage container 10.
The storage container 10 is the same as that of the fifth embodiment described above.
The liquid-filled foam ejector (liquid-containing product) 500 of the present embodiment is configured to include a foam ejector 100 and a liquid 101 filled in the storage container 10.

In the present embodiment, the liquid 101 is also the same as each of the above embodiments.

In the case of the present embodiment, the foam ejector 100 may be a pump container as in the fifth embodiment, and may be a squeeze bottle, or may be an electric foam dispenser including a motor or the like, or may be an aerosol container. .

Further, the cover member 110 of the foam discharge cover 200, the pump unit 600, the dip tube 128, the head member 30, and the bubble generating portion 20 are also the same as in the fifth embodiment.

In the case of the present embodiment, as in the fifth embodiment, the upper member 830 and the lower member 820 are housed in the holding portion 32c. The foam outlet 710 of the foam generating portion 20, the upstream side flow path 720 of the foam flow path 700, and the thin flow path 730 include the lower member 820 and the upper member 830.

In the case of the present embodiment, the foam flow path 700 is thinned in the thin flow path 730, so that the amount of foam remaining in the portion from the foam outlet 710 to the discharge port 41 can be reduced. Thereby, a large ratio of the foam generated in the bubble generating portion 20 can be ejected from the discharge port 41 in response to the discharge operation.

As shown in Fig. 45, in the case of the present embodiment, it is preferable that a plurality of foam outlets 710 are disposed outside the upstream side flow path 720 when viewed in the axial direction of the upstream end 731 of the thin flow path 730. The line is on the inside.

The flow path area of the flow path 32d and the flow path area of the foam flow path 741 in the nozzle are larger than the flow path area of the thin flow path 730. In other words, the downstream side flow path 740 is disposed adjacent to the downstream side of the thin flow path 730, and the flow path area is larger than the thin flow path 730.

In the case of the present embodiment, the foam ejector 100 does not have a screen for refining the generated foam. Therefore, even in the case where the liquid 101 contains a detergent, it is preferable to generate and eject the foam.
However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the foam ejector 100 may be provided with a screen which refines the generated foam. For example, the screen may be disposed at the boundary between the foam generating portion 20 and the upstream side flow path 720. In this case, the lattice-shaped openings of the screen become the foam outlet 710.

Each of Figs. 46(a), 46(b), 46(c), and 46(d) is a view showing an image obtained by photographing the foam discharged from the foam ejector 100 of the present embodiment. More specifically, the images shown in Figs. 46(a) to 46(d) have a length dimension L1 of 5.7 mm, a length dimension L2 of 18 mm, and an inner diameter D of the thin flow path 730. 3.2 mm, the inner diameter of the foam outlet 710 was set to 1.0 mm, and the inner diameter of the upstream side flow path 720 was set to be an image of the foam at 7.0 mm.
On the other hand, each of Figs. 48(a), 48(b), 48(c), and 48(d) shows that the foam ejected from the foam ejector (not shown) of the comparative embodiment is photographed. A diagram of the resulting image.
The foam ejector of the comparative embodiment is different from the foam ejector 100 of the present embodiment in that it does not have the upper member 830 (that is, it does not have the fine flow path 730), and is otherwise configured to be squirted with the foam of the present embodiment. The device 100 is the same.
Fig. 46 (a) and Fig. 48 (a) show an image of a bubble which is ejected by setting the speed (pressing speed) of the head member 30 to 10 mm/sec. Fig. 46(b) and Fig. 48(b) show the image of the bubble which is ejected at a pressing speed of 30 mm/sec, and Fig. 46(c) and Fig. 48(c) show the pressing speed as 50 mm. The image of the bubble ejected in /second, Fig. 46 (d) and Fig. 48 (d) are images of the foam ejected by pressing the pressing speed to 70 mm/sec.
The foam ejected from the foam ejector 100 of the present embodiment is finer and more uniform than the foam ejected by the foam ejector of the comparative embodiment, regardless of the pressing speed. That is, regardless of the flow rate of the foam passing through the foam flow path 700, the foam can be finely pulverized and ejected.

Even in the case where the inner diameter D is set to 4.0 mm as compared with the example in which the image of the foam is shown in FIGS. 46(a) to 46(d), the foam is not related to the pressing speed. Become fine and even.
Even in the example shown in Fig. 47 (a) (described below), and the case where the inner diameter D is 3.2 mm and the inner diameter D is 4.0 mm, the foam is not related to the pressing speed. Fine and even.

<Example of variation of longitudinal section shape of thin flow path>
Next, a description will be given of a variation of the cross-sectional shape along the longitudinal direction of the thin flow path 730.
In the example shown in FIGS. 47(a) and 47(b), the flow path area of the thin flow path 730 is gradually enlarged and reduced from the upstream side toward the downstream side. With such a configuration, the foam can be further refined.
Although the reason why the flow path area of the thin flow path 730 is repeatedly enlarged and reduced to make the foam finer is not clear, it is considered that the following conditions will contribute to the miniaturization of the foam: the flow velocity of the foam when the foam passes through the fine flow path 730 is also according to the flow. The change in road area is repeatedly increased and decreased, thus promoting the split of the bubble.
The number of times the flow path of the thin flow path 730 is enlarged and reduced may be one time.
As shown in Fig. 47 (a), the flow path area of the upstream end portion 734 of the thin flow path 730 may be widened from the upstream end 731 toward the downstream side. Further, the flow path area of the downstream end portion 735 of the thin flow path 730 may be widened from the downstream end 732 toward the upstream side.
As shown in Fig. 47 (b), the flow path area of the upstream end portion 734 of the thin flow path 730 may also be narrowed from the upstream end 731 toward the downstream side. Further, the flow path area of the downstream end portion 735 of the thin flow path 730 may be narrowed from the downstream end 732 toward the upstream side.
In the cross section along the longitudinal direction of the thin flow path 730, as shown in FIGS. 47(a) and 47(b), the outer flow line 733 of the thin flow path 730 on both end sides in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction may be The wavy linear curve shape may be a linear fold line shape although not shown.
In the example of FIGS. 47(a) and 47(b), the small-diameter flow path 730 has a bellows shape.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and improvements are possible within the scope of the invention.

For example, the axis of the thin flow path 730 may not necessarily extend linearly, but may also extend in a curved shape. For example, the axis of the thin flow path 730 may also be curved in an arc shape. As an example, the rubber-made upper member 830 may be pressed into the bent tubular portion to form a curved flow path 730. In this case, for example, the upstream side portion of the thin flow path 730 may be vertically extended, and the downstream side portion of the thin flow path 730 may extend horizontally or substantially horizontally along the in-nozzle foam flow path 741.

Further, the upper member 830 may have a divided structure in which one or a plurality of portions in the longitudinal direction of the thin flow path 730 are divided. In this manner, the structure in which the narrow flow path 730 is repeatedly enlarged and contracted from the upstream side toward the downstream side can be easily realized.

Further, the various constituent elements of the foam ejector 100 need not necessarily exist independently, and a plurality of constituent elements are allowed to be formed into one member, a plurality of members are formed into one constituent element, a certain constituent element is one of other constituent elements, and a certain configuration is formed. One of the elements overlaps partially with one of the other components.

The above embodiment includes the following technical ideas.
<1> A foam ejector having: a foaming mechanism that generates a foam from a liquid;
a liquid supply unit that supplies a liquid to the foaming mechanism;
a gas supply unit that supplies a gas to the foaming mechanism;
a discharge port that ejects the foam produced by the foaming mechanism; and a foam flow path through which the foam from the foaming mechanism to the discharge port passes; and the foaming mechanism has:
a mixing unit that merges the liquid supplied from the liquid supply unit with the gas supplied from the gas supply unit;
a liquid flow path through which the liquid supplied from the liquid supply unit to the mixing unit passes; and a gas flow path through which the gas supplied from the gas supply unit to the mixing unit passes; and the foam flow path is included in The downstream side is adjacent to the adjacent foam flow path of the mixing portion,
The liquid flow path includes an adjacent liquid flow path that is adjacent to the mixing portion on the upstream side and has a liquid inlet opening to the mixing portion.
The gas flow path includes a plurality of adjacent gas flow paths, and the plurality of adjacent gas flow paths are adjacent to the mixing portion on the upstream side and each have a gas inlet opening to the mixing portion.
The liquid inlet is disposed at a position corresponding to a merging portion of the gas supplied from the plurality of adjacent gas flow paths to the mixing portion via the gas inlet.
<2> The foam ejector according to <1>, wherein the foaming mechanism has one or a plurality of the adjacent liquid flow paths,
The mixing unit is disposed corresponding to each of the adjacent liquid flow paths.
<3> The foam ejector according to <2>, wherein the plurality of adjacent adjacent gas flow paths are disposed corresponding to the respective mixing portions.
<4> The foam ejector according to <3>, wherein the foaming mechanism includes a plurality of the mixing portions, and has a partition portion that corresponds to one of the adjacent mixing portions The adjacent gas flow path and the adjacent gas flow path corresponding to the other mixing unit are separated from each other.
The foam ejector according to any one of <2> to <4> wherein the foaming mechanism has a plurality of the above mixing portions.
The liquid flow path includes a large-diameter liquid flow path that is adjacent to the adjacent liquid flow path on the upstream side and has a larger flow path area than the adjacent liquid flow path.
The plurality of mixing portions are disposed around the downstream end of the large-diameter liquid flow path.
The plurality of adjacent liquid flow paths extend in the in-plane direction intersecting the axial direction of the large-diameter liquid flow path, and extend from the downstream end portion of the large-diameter liquid flow path toward the periphery.
The foam ejector according to any one of <2> to <5> wherein the foaming mechanism has a plurality of the above mixing portions,
The foam flow path corresponds to each of the mixing portions, and includes the adjacent adjacent foam flow paths.
<7> The foam ejector according to <6>, wherein the foam flow path includes an enlarged foam flow path adjacent to a downstream side of the adjacent foam flow path and a flow path area larger than the adjacent adjacent foam flow path,
The adjacent foam flow path corresponding to each of the plurality of mixing units is merged with the expanded foam flow path.
The foam ejector according to any one of <1> to <7> wherein the flow path area of the adjacent foam flow path and the inner cavity of the mixing portion orthogonal to the axial direction of the adjacent foam flow path are The maximum area is the same or smaller than the cross-sectional area of the lumen.
<9> The foam ejector according to <8>, wherein the length of the adjacent foam flow path is longer than the size of the gas inlet in the axial direction of the adjacent foam flow path.
The foam ejector according to any one of <1> to <9> wherein the foaming mechanism has one or a plurality of the above-mentioned mixing portions.
A pair of the adjacent gas flow paths are disposed corresponding to the respective mixing portions, and the supply directions of the gases from the pair of adjacent gas flow paths to the corresponding mixing portions are opposed to each other.
The foam ejector according to any one of <1> to <9> wherein the foaming mechanism has one or a plurality of the above mixing portions.
Three adjacent gas flow paths are disposed corresponding to the respective mixing portions, and the three adjacent gas flow paths are located on the same plane in the supply direction of the gas corresponding to the mixing portion, and the mixing is performed from the adjacent liquid flow path. The supply direction of the liquid in the portion is a direction intersecting the plane.
<12> The foam ejector according to any one of <1> to <11> wherein the adjacent foam flow path has a foam outlet opening to the mixing portion.
<13> The foam ejector according to <12>, wherein the foaming mechanism has a plurality of the above mixing portions,
Each of the plurality of mixing sections is defined by a plurality of the gas inlets, the liquid inlet, the foam outlet, and the wall surface.
The foam ejector according to any one of <1> to <13>, further comprising: a storage container that stores the liquid; and a mounting portion that is attached to the storage container; and the foaming mechanism and the spray The outlet and the foam flow path are held in the mounting portion.

<15> The foam ejector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the length of the adjacent foam flow path is longer than the length of the mixing portion in the axial direction of the adjacent foam flow path.
[16] The foam ejector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the foam flow path comprises an enlarged foam flow path which is adjacent to the adjacent foam flow path on the downstream side and has a larger flow path area than the adjacent adjacent foam flow path .
<17> The foam ejector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of mixing portions are arranged along a circumference,
The plurality of adjacent liquid flow paths are radially arranged inside the circumference.
<18> The foam ejector according to <17>, wherein each of the adjacent gas flow paths includes each of a part of the annular flow path disposed along the circumference.
<19> The foam ejector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the axis of the adjacent liquid flow path intersects with the axis of the adjacent foam flow path.
<20> The foam ejector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the number of the adjacent foam flow paths disposed corresponding to each of the mixing portions is one.
<21> The foam ejector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the number of the adjacent liquid flow paths disposed corresponding to each of the mixing portions is one.

The foam ejector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gas flow path includes a cross gas flow path that is adjacent to the adjacent gas flow path on the upstream side and intersects with the adjacent gas flow path Extend,
One of the adjacent gas flow paths is branched into one of the adjacent gas flow paths and one of the adjacent gas flow paths, one of the adjacent gas flow paths, and one of the adjacent gas flow paths.
<23> The foam ejector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a pair of the adjacent gas flow paths are disposed corresponding to one of the mixing portions,
The gas flow path includes a cross gas flow path that is adjacent to the adjacent gas flow path on the upstream side and extends in a direction intersecting the adjacent gas flow path.
One of the intersecting gas flow paths is branched into one of the adjacent gas flow paths and one of the adjacent gas flow paths, one of the adjacent gas flow paths, and one of the adjacent gas flow paths
The cross gas flow path extends in a direction parallel to the large diameter liquid flow path.
<24> The foam ejector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of intersecting gas flow paths are intermittently disposed around the large-diameter liquid flow path.
<25> The foam ejector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjacent foam flow path and the adjacent liquid flow path are disposed on opposite sides with respect to the mixing portion.
The foam ejector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the liquid supply unit is configured to pressurize the liquid inside to supply the liquid to the foaming mechanism.
The gas supply unit is disposed so as to be disposed around the liquid supply unit, and pressurizes the internal gas to supply the gas to the foaming mechanism.
<27> The foam ejector according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising: a head portion that is movably held by the mounting portion at a position that is vertically movable relative to the mounting portion, and that is relatively pressed with respect to the mounting portion,
The foaming mechanism and the discharge port are held by the head portion.
When the head portion is pressed against the mounting portion, the liquid inside the liquid supply portion and the gas inside the gas supply portion are pressurized and supplied to the foaming mechanism.

The foam ejector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least said adjacent foam flow path constitutes a oscillating region, wherein said oscillating region is such that said liquid column containing said liquid faces away from said plurality of adjacent gas flow paths opening to said mixing portion The direction of the gas inlet of each of them is sequentially oscillated.
<29> The foam ejector according to <24>, wherein a pair of the adjacent gas flow paths are disposed for one of the mixing portions,
In the above swinging region, the liquid column is alternately oscillated.
<30> The foam ejector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the three or more adjacent gas flow paths are disposed in one of the mixing portions,
The axial centers of the three or more adjacent gas flow paths are arranged on the same plane.
<31> The foam ejector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjacent liquid flow path extends linearly.
<32> The foam ejector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjacent foam flow path extends linearly.
<33> The foam ejector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gas inlet is disposed at a position on both sides of a region of the mixing portion that is adjacent to an extension line of the adjacent liquid flow path.
<34> The foam ejector according to <33>, wherein each of the gas inlets disposed at positions on both sides of a region on the extension line of the adjacent liquid flow path faces the region.
The foam ejector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a pair of the adjacent gas flow paths are disposed for one of the mixing portions,
The gas inlets to the openings of the mixing unit are opposed to each other with the mixing portion interposed therebetween.
<36> The foam ejector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gas inlets to the opening of the mixing portion have the same shape.
<37> The foam ejector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the area of the gas inlet opening to the mixing portion is the same as each other.
<38> The foam ejector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a total area of the gas inlets disposed corresponding to a mixing portion is equal to or smaller than an area of the liquid inlet disposed corresponding to a mixing portion.
<39> The foam ejector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the area of each of the gas inlets disposed corresponding to a mixing portion is smaller than the area of the liquid inlet disposed corresponding to a mixing portion.

The foam ejector according to any one of <1> to <39> wherein the foam flow path includes: an upstream side flow path; and a thin flow path which is disposed adjacent to a downstream side of the upstream side flow path The flow path area is smaller than the upstream side flow path; and when viewed in the axial direction of the upstream end of the thin flow path, the thin flow path is disposed in a central portion of the upstream flow path, and the longitudinal direction of the thin flow path The orthogonal cross-sectional shape of the thin flow path is a flat shape.
<41> The foam ejector according to <40>, wherein the dimension D1 in the longitudinal direction of the orthogonal cross-sectional shape of the thin flow path is expanded and contracted from the upstream side toward the downstream side.
<42> The foam ejector according to <41>, wherein the dimension D1 of the upstream end portion of the fine flow path in the longitudinal direction is enlarged from the upstream end toward the downstream side.
<43> The foam ejector according to <41> or <42>, wherein, in the cross section along the longitudinal direction and the long axis direction, the shape of the thin flow path at both ends of the long axis direction is wavy Curve shape.
The foam ejector according to any one of <41>, wherein, in the cross section along the longitudinal direction and the long axis direction, the thin flow path is formed at both ends of the long axis direction. The maximum inclination angle of the line based on the above length direction is less than 45 degrees.
The foam ejector according to any one of <40> to <44> wherein the ratio S1/S2 of the maximum value S1 to the minimum value S2 of the flow path area of the thin flow path is 2 or less.
<46> The foam ejector according to any one of <40> to <45> wherein the ratio of the maximum value D1MAX to the minimum value D1MIN of the dimension D1 in the long-axis direction of the orthogonal cross-sectional shape of the thin flow path is D1MAX/D1MIN It is preferably 2 or less, and more preferably 1.7 or less than D1MAX/D1MIN.
The foam ejector according to any one of <40>, wherein the dimension D2 of the orthogonal cross-sectional shape in the minor axis direction is 0.5 mm or more and 4 mm or less.
The foam ejector according to any one of <40> to <47> wherein the ratio D1/D2 of the dimension D1 in the major axis direction of the orthogonal cross-sectional shape to the dimension D2 in the minor axis direction is 1.5 or more.
The foam ejector according to any one of <40>, wherein the dimension D1 of the orthogonal cross-sectional shape and the dimension D2 of the minor-axis direction are preferably 1.7 or more. The above ratio D1/D2 is preferably 12 or less, and more preferably 8 or less.
<50> The foam ejector according to any one of <40>, wherein the thin flow path has a length dimension L2 of 3 mm or more.
The foam ejector according to any one of <40>, wherein the length L2 of the fine flow path is further preferably 5 mm or more, and the length L2 is preferably 40 mm or less, and further preferably Below 20 mm.
The foam ejector according to any one of <40>, wherein the upstream side flow path has a length dimension L1 of 1 mm or more.
The foam ejector according to any one of <40>, wherein the upstream side flow path has a length L1 of preferably 2 mm or more and a length dimension L1 of preferably 10 mm or less.
The foam ejector according to any one of <40> to <53> wherein the length dimension L2 of the thin flow path is longer than the length dimension L1 of the upstream side flow path.
<55> The foam ejector according to any one of <40> to <54> wherein the flow path area is discontinuously changed at a boundary between the downstream end of the upstream side flow path and the upstream end of the thin flow path.
<56> The foam ejector according to <55>, wherein a flow path area of the upstream end of the fine flow path is 1% or more and 40% or less of a flow path area of a downstream end of the upstream side flow path.
<57> The foam ejector according to <55> or <56>, wherein the flow path area of the upstream end of the fine flow path is 15% or more and 35% or less of the flow path area of the downstream end of the upstream side flow path.
The foam ejector according to any one of <40>, further comprising: a storage container that stores the liquid; and a mounting portion that is attached to the storage container; and the foam generating portion, the foam The flow path and the discharge port are held by the mounting portion.
The foam ejector according to any one of <1> to <39> wherein the foam flow path includes: an upstream side flow path; and a thin flow path which is disposed adjacent to a downstream side of the upstream side flow path and flows The road area is smaller than the upstream side flow path; and the downstream side flow path is disposed adjacent to the downstream side of the thin flow path and has a larger flow path area than the thin flow path; and the foaming mechanism has a flow path toward the upstream side a plurality of foam outlets of the opening, wherein the length of the thin flow path is larger than the length of the upstream flow path.
<60> The foam ejector according to <59>, wherein the fine flow path is disposed in a central portion of the upstream side flow path when viewed in the axial direction of the upstream end of the thin flow path.
<61> The foam ejector according to <60>, wherein the fine flow path is disposed at a position deviated from a center of the arrangement area of the plurality of foam outlets when viewed in the axial direction.
<62> The foam ejector according to any one of <59>, wherein the thin flow path has a length dimension of 3 mm or more.
The foam ejector according to any one of <59>, wherein the thin flow path has a length of preferably 5 mm or more, and a length of 40 mm or less, more preferably 20 mm or less. .
<64> The foam ejector according to any one of <59> to <63> wherein the upstream side flow path has a length dimension of 1 mm or more.
<65> The foam ejector according to any one of <59> to <64> wherein the upstream side flow path has a length dimension of preferably 2 mm or more and a length dimension of preferably 10 mm or less.
The foam ejector according to any one of <59> to <65> wherein the flow path area is discontinuously changed at a boundary between the downstream end of the upstream side flow path and the upstream end of the thin flow path.
<67> The foam ejector according to <66>, wherein a flow path area of the upstream end of the fine flow path is 1% or more and 40% or less of a flow path area of a downstream end of the upstream side flow path.
<68> The foam ejector according to <66> or <67>, wherein a flow path area of the upstream end of the fine flow path is 15% or more and 35% or less of a flow path area of a downstream end of the upstream side flow path.
The foam ejector according to any one of <59>, wherein the inner diameter or the circle-equivalent diameter of the fine flow path is preferably 0.5 mm or more and 6.0 mm or less, and more preferably 1.0 mm or more. It is 4.0 mm or less, and further preferably 2.0 mm or more.
The foam ejector according to any one of <59>, wherein the flow path area of the thin flow path is expanded and contracted from the upstream side toward the downstream side.
<71> The foam ejector according to <70>, wherein an outline of the thin flow path on both end sides in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is a wavy line in a cross section along a longitudinal direction of the thin flow path Curve shape.
The foam ejector according to any one of <59>, further comprising: a storage container that stores the liquid; and a mounting portion that is attached to the storage container; and the foam generating portion, the foam The flow path and the discharge port are held by the mounting portion.

<73> A liquid-containing product comprising: the foam ejector according to any one of the above; and the liquid filled in the storage container.
<74> A foam ejection cover comprising: a mounting portion mounted to a storage container for storing a liquid;
a foaming mechanism that is held by the mounting portion and that generates foam from the liquid;
a liquid supply unit that is held by the mounting portion and that supplies the liquid to the foaming mechanism;
a gas supply unit that is held by the mounting portion and supplies a gas to the foaming mechanism;
a discharge port held in the mounting portion, and ejecting the foam generated by the foaming mechanism; and a foam flow path held by the mounting portion, and the foam supplied from the foaming mechanism to the discharge port And the above foaming mechanism has:
a mixing unit that merges the liquid supplied from the liquid supply unit with the gas supplied from the gas supply unit;
a liquid flow path through which the liquid supplied from the liquid supply unit to the mixing unit passes; and a gas flow path through which the gas supplied from the gas supply unit to the mixing unit passes; and the foam flow path is included in The downstream side is adjacent to the adjacent foam flow path of the mixing portion,
The liquid flow path includes an adjacent liquid flow path that is adjacent to the mixing portion on the upstream side and has a liquid inlet opening to the mixing portion.
The gas flow path includes a plurality of adjacent gas flow paths, and the plurality of adjacent gas flow paths are adjacent to the mixing portion on the upstream side and each have a gas inlet opening to the mixing portion.
The liquid inlet is disposed at a position corresponding to a merging portion of the gas supplied from the plurality of adjacent gas flow paths to the mixing portion via the gas inlet.
<75> The foam ejection cap of <74>, wherein the foaming mechanism has one or a plurality of the adjacent liquid flow paths,
The mixing unit is disposed corresponding to each of the adjacent liquid flow paths.
<76> The foam discharge cover of <75>, wherein the plurality of adjacent gas flow paths are provided in association with each of the mixing portions.
<77> The foam discharge cap of <76>, wherein the foaming mechanism includes a plurality of the mixing portions, and has a partition portion that corresponds to one of the adjacent mixing portions The adjacent gas flow path and the adjacent gas flow path corresponding to the other mixing unit are separated from each other.
The foam ejection cap of any one of <75> to <77>, wherein the foaming mechanism has a plurality of the above-mentioned mixing portions,
The liquid flow path includes a large-diameter liquid flow path that is adjacent to the adjacent liquid flow path on the upstream side and has a larger flow path area than the adjacent liquid flow path.
The plurality of mixing portions are disposed around the downstream end of the large-diameter liquid flow path.
The plurality of adjacent liquid flow paths extend in the in-plane direction intersecting the axial direction of the large-diameter liquid flow path, and extend from the downstream end portion of the large-diameter liquid flow path toward the periphery.
The foam ejection cap of any one of <75>, wherein the foaming mechanism has a plurality of the above mixing portions,
The foam flow path corresponds to each of the mixing portions, and includes the adjacent adjacent foam flow paths.
<80> The foam ejection cap of <79>, wherein the foam flow path includes an enlarged foam flow path adjacent to a downstream side of the adjacent foam flow path and a flow path area larger than the adjacent adjacent foam flow path,
The adjacent foam flow path corresponding to each of the plurality of mixing units is merged with the expanded foam flow path.
The foam discharge cap of any one of <74> to <80> wherein the flow path area of the adjacent foam flow path and the inner cavity of the mixing portion orthogonal to the axial direction of the adjacent foam flow path are The maximum area is the same or smaller than the cross-sectional area of the lumen.
<82> The foam discharge cap of <81>, wherein the length of the adjacent foam flow path is longer than the length of the gas inlet in the axial direction of the adjacent foam flow path.
The foam ejection cap of any one of <74> to <82>, wherein the foaming mechanism has one or a plurality of the above-mentioned mixing portions,
A pair of the adjacent gas flow paths are disposed corresponding to the respective mixing portions, and the supply directions of the gases from the pair of adjacent gas flow paths to the corresponding mixing portions are opposed to each other.
The foam ejection cap of any one of <74> to <82>, wherein the foaming mechanism has one or a plurality of the above-mentioned mixing portions.
Three adjacent gas flow paths are disposed corresponding to the respective mixing portions, and the three adjacent gas flow paths are located on the same plane in the supply direction of the gas corresponding to the mixing portion, and the mixing is performed from the adjacent liquid flow path. The supply direction of the liquid in the portion is a direction intersecting the plane.
The foam ejection cap of any one of <74> to <84> wherein the adjacent foam flow path has a foam outlet opening to the mixing portion.
<86> The foam ejection cap of <85>, wherein the foaming mechanism has a plurality of the above mixing portions,
Each of the plurality of mixing sections is defined by a plurality of the gas inlets, the liquid inlet, the foam outlet, and the wall surface.

The above embodiment includes the following technical ideas.
<101> A foam ejector comprising: a foam generating portion that generates foam from a liquid; a foam flow path through which the foam generated by the foam generating portion passes; and a discharge port through which the discharge has passed a foam of the road; the foam flow path includes: an upstream side flow path; and a thin flow path disposed adjacent to a downstream side of the upstream side flow path and having a smaller flow path area than the upstream side flow path; and When viewed in the axial direction of the upstream end of the path, the thin flow path is disposed in a central portion of the upstream side flow path, and the cross-sectional shape of the thin flow path orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the thin flow path is a flat shape.
<102> The foam ejector according to <101>, wherein the dimension D1 in the longitudinal direction of the orthogonal cross-sectional shape of the thin flow path is expanded and contracted from the upstream side toward the downstream side.
<103> The foam ejector according to <102>, wherein the dimension D1 of the upstream end portion of the fine flow path in the longitudinal direction is enlarged from the upstream end toward the downstream side.
<104> The foam ejector according to <102> or <103>, wherein, in the cross section along the longitudinal direction and the long axis direction, the shape of the thin flow path at both ends of the long axis direction is wavy Curve shape.
The foam ejector according to any one of <102>, wherein, in the cross section along the longitudinal direction and the long axis direction, the thin flow path is formed at both ends of the long axis direction. The maximum inclination angle of the line based on the above length direction is less than 45 degrees.
The foam ejector according to any one of <101> to <105>, wherein a ratio S1/S2 of a maximum value S1 to a minimum value S2 of a flow path area of the thin flow path is 2 or less.
The foam ejector according to any one of <101>, wherein the ratio of the maximum value D1MAX to the minimum value D1MIN of the dimension D1 in the long-axis direction of the orthogonal cross-sectional shape of the thin flow path is D1MAX/D1MIN It is preferably 2 or less, and more preferably 1.7 or less than D1MAX/D1MIN.
The foam ejector according to any one of <101> to <107> wherein the dimension D2 of the orthogonal cross-sectional shape in the minor axis direction is 0.5 mm or more and 4 mm or less.
The foam ejector according to any one of <101> to <108> wherein the ratio D1/D2 of the dimension D1 in the major axis direction of the orthogonal cross-sectional shape to the dimension D2 in the minor axis direction is 1.5 or more.
The foam ejector according to any one of <101>, wherein the dimension D1 of the orthogonal cross-sectional shape and the dimension D2 of the minor axis direction D1/D2 are preferably 1.7 or more. The above ratio D1/D2 is preferably 12 or less, and more preferably 8 or less.
The foam ejector according to any one of <101> to <110> wherein the thin flow path has a length dimension L2 of 3 mm or more.
The foam ejector according to any one of <101>, wherein the length L2 of the fine flow path is further preferably 5 mm or more, and the length L2 is preferably 40 mm or less, and further preferably Below 20 mm.
The foam ejector according to any one of <101> to <112> wherein the upstream side flow path has a length dimension L1 of 1 mm or more.
The foam ejector according to any one of <101>, wherein the upstream side flow path has a length L1 of preferably 2 mm or more and a length dimension L1 of preferably 10 mm or less.
The foam ejector according to any one of <101>, wherein the length L2 of the thin flow path is longer than the length L1 of the upstream flow path.
<116> The foam ejector according to any one of <101>, wherein the flow path area is discontinuously changed at a boundary between the downstream end of the upstream side flow path and the upstream end of the thin flow path.
<117> The foam ejector according to <116>, wherein a flow path area of the upstream end of the fine flow path is 1% or more and 40% or less of a flow path area of a downstream end of the upstream side flow path.
<118> The foam ejector according to <116> or <117>, wherein a flow path area of the upstream end of the fine flow path is 15% or more and 35% or less of a flow path area of a downstream end of the upstream side flow path.
The foam ejector according to any one of <101>, further comprising: a storage container that stores the liquid; and a mounting portion that is attached to the storage container; and the foam generating portion and the foam The flow path and the discharge port are held by the mounting portion.
<120> A liquid-filled foam ejector comprising: a foam ejector such as <119>; and the liquid filled in the storage container.

The above embodiment includes the following technical ideas.
<201> A foam ejector having: a foam generating portion that generates foam from a liquid; a foam flow path through which the foam generated by the foam generating portion passes; and a discharge port through which the discharge has passed The foam passage includes: an upstream side flow path; a thin flow path disposed adjacent to a downstream side of the upstream side flow path and having a smaller flow path area than the upstream side flow path; and a downstream side flow path The foam generating portion has a plurality of foam outlets that open toward the upstream side flow passage, and the length of the thin flow passage is larger than the upstream direction. The length of the side flow path is large.
<202> The foam ejector according to <201>, wherein the thin flow path is disposed in a central portion of the upstream side flow path when viewed in an axial direction of an upstream end of the thin flow path.
<203> The foam ejector according to <202>, wherein, when viewed in the axial direction, the thin flow path is disposed at a position offset from a center of the arrangement of the plurality of foam outlets.
The foam ejector according to any one of <201>, wherein the thin flow path has a length dimension L2 of 3 mm or more.
The foam ejecting device according to any one of <201>, wherein the length L2 of the thin flow path is preferably 5 mm or more, and the length L2 is preferably 40 mm or less, and more preferably 20 Below mm.
The foam ejector according to any one of <201>, wherein the upstream side flow path has a length dimension L1 of 1 mm or more.
The foam ejector according to any one of <201> to <206> wherein the upstream side flow path has a length dimension L1 of preferably 2 mm or more and a length dimension L1 of preferably 10 mm or less.
The foam ejector according to any one of <201> to <207> wherein the flow path area is discontinuously changed at a boundary between the downstream end of the upstream side flow path and the upstream end of the thin flow path.
<209> The foam ejector according to <208>, wherein a flow path area of the upstream end of the fine flow path is 1% or more and 40% or less of a flow path area of a downstream end of the upstream side flow path.
<210> The foam ejector according to <208> or <209>, wherein a flow path area of the upstream end of the fine flow path is 15% or more and 35% or less of a flow path area of a downstream end of the upstream side flow path.
The foam ejector according to any one of <201>, wherein the inner diameter or the circle-equivalent diameter of the fine flow path is preferably 0.5 mm or more and 6.0 mm or less, and more preferably 1.0 mm or more. It is 4.0 mm or less, and further preferably 2.0 mm or more.
The foam ejector according to any one of <201>, wherein the flow path area of the thin flow path is expanded and contracted from the upstream side toward the downstream side.
<213> The foam ejector according to <212>, wherein an outline of the thin flow path on both end sides in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is a wavy line in a cross section along a longitudinal direction of the thin flow path Curve shape.
The foam ejector according to any one of <201>, further comprising: a storage container that stores the liquid; and a mounting portion that is attached to the storage container; and the foam generating portion, the foam The flow path and the discharge port are held by the mounting portion.
<215> A liquid-filled foam ejector comprising: a foam ejector such as <214>; and the liquid filled in the storage container.
[Examples]

Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described using Figs. 33(a) to 35(g).
Each of Figs. 33(a) to 35(g) uses a foaming mechanism having the same structure as that of the first embodiment (the structure including the expanded foam flow path as in Fig. 2) to generate foam and eject it onto the petri dish. And photographs taken on foam and petri dishes. Further, the overall structure of the foam ejector is the same as that of the third embodiment, and a foaming mechanism similar to that of the first embodiment is incorporated in place of the foaming mechanism of the third embodiment.
In each of Figs. 33(a) to 33(g), the foam outlet adjacent to the foam flow path is set to a circle having a diameter of 0.5 mm, and the liquid inlet adjacent to the liquid flow path is set to a square having a side of 0.5 mm. The gas inlet of each adjacent gas flow path was set to a square having a side of 0.35 mm (the following is Example 1).
34(a) to 34(g), the foam outlet adjacent to the foam flow path is set to a circle having a diameter of 0.79 mm, and the liquid inlet adjacent to the liquid flow path is set to a square of 0.3 mm on one side, and The gas inlet of each adjacent gas flow path was set to a square having a side of 0.5 mm (the following is Example 2).
35(a) to 35(g), the foam outlet adjacent to the foam flow path is set to a circle having a diameter of 0.5 mm, and the liquid inlet adjacent to the liquid flow path is set to a square of 0.7 mm on one side, and The gas inlet of each adjacent gas flow path was set to have a square shape of 0.3 mm on one side (hereinafter, Example 3).
In any of the first, second, and third embodiments, the gas-liquid ratio, that is, the volume ratio of the gas to the liquid supplied to the mixing portion 21 (the volume of the gas/the volume of the liquid) was set to 13.
Therefore, in any of the first, second, and third embodiments, the amount of gas and liquid supplied to the mixing unit per unit time is the same, but the flow rate of the gas supplied to the mixing unit is the fastest in the third embodiment, and the second embodiment 1 is faster, and embodiment 2 is the slowest. Further, the flow rate of the liquid supplied to the mixing portion was the fastest in Example 2, the second embodiment was faster, and the third embodiment was the slowest. Further, in any of Examples 1, 2, and 3, no screen was used.

33(a), 34(a), and 35(a) show the foam when the pressing speed of the head is 5 mm/sec, and Figs. 33(b), 34(b), and 35(b). ) indicates a foam when the pressing speed of the head is set to 10 mm/sec, and FIGS. 33(c), 34(c), and 35(c) show that when the pressing speed of the head is set to 20 mm/sec. The foam, Fig. 33 (d), Fig. 34 (d) and Fig. 35 (d) show the foam when the pressing speed of the head is set to 30 mm / sec, Fig. 33 (e), Fig. 34 (e) and Fig. 35 (e) shows a foam when the pressing speed of the head is set to 40 mm/sec, and FIGS. 33(f), 34(f), and 35(f) show that the pressing speed of the head is set to 50 mm/sec. The foam at the time, Fig. 33 (g), Fig. 34 (g), and Fig. 35 (g) show the foam when the pressing speed of the head was set to 60 mm / sec.

In any of the first, second, and third embodiments, the fineness of the foam is substantially uniform with respect to the pressing speed of the head (that is, the amount of gas and liquid supplied to the mixing portion per unit time).
The reason for this result is that when the pressing speed of the head becomes large, the swing period of the liquid column as described above becomes short, and the amount of gas supplied to the mixing portion per unit time also increases.

Further, in Example 1, the foam became finer than in Example 2, and the foam became finer in Example 3 than in Example 1. In this case, it is understood that when the total area of the two gas inlets is equal to or smaller than the area of the liquid inlet, the effect of making the foam fine is improved. In other words, it is considered that the foam can be made fine by increasing the flow rate of the gas supplied to the mixing portion to a certain level or more.
Further, in the case of Embodiment 2, a sufficiently fine foam can also be produced by using a screen.

Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-229837, filed on December 15, 2018, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-229837, filed on Dec. The priority of Japanese Patent Application No. Hei.

10‧‧‧ storage container

11‧‧‧ Main body

13‧‧‧ mouth neck

14‧‧‧ bottom

20‧‧‧foaming mechanism (foam generating department)

21‧‧‧Mixed Department

22‧‧‧ Confluence Department

23‧‧‧ gas-liquid contact area

28‧‧‧Gas Supply Department

29‧‧‧Liquid Supply Department

30‧‧‧ head member (head)

31‧‧‧Operational Access Department

32‧‧‧Inner tube

32a‧‧‧Upward movement restriction

32b‧‧‧ slot

32c‧‧‧ Keeping Department

32d‧‧‧flow path

33‧‧‧Outer tube

40‧‧‧Nozzle Department

41‧‧‧Spray outlet

50‧‧‧Liquid flow path

51‧‧‧ Adjacent liquid flow path

52‧‧‧Liquid inlet

53‧‧‧ Large diameter liquid flow path

70‧‧‧ gas flow path

71‧‧‧Adjacent gas flow path

71a‧‧‧Adjacent gas flow path

71b‧‧‧Adjacent gas flow path

71c‧‧‧Adjacent gas flow path

72‧‧‧ gas inlet

72a‧‧‧ gas inlet

72b‧‧‧ gas inlet

72c‧‧‧ gas inlet

73‧‧‧Axial gas flow path

74‧‧‧ Surrounding gas flow path

75‧‧‧Axial connected gas flow path

80‧‧‧ liquid column

90‧‧‧Foam flow path

91‧‧‧ Adjacent foam flow path

92‧‧‧Foam exports

93‧‧‧Expanding the bubble flow path

100‧‧‧Frozen ejector

101‧‧‧Liquid

110‧‧‧Cover components

111‧‧‧Installation Department

112‧‧‧Circular enclosure

113‧‧‧Looking up the tube

120‧‧‧Cylinder components

121‧‧‧Gas cylinder assembly

122‧‧‧Liquid cylinder structure

122a‧‧‧Linear Department

122b‧‧‧Reducing section

123‧‧‧Actual connection

125‧‧‧Management Department

126‧‧ ‧ ribs

126a‧‧‧Spring Acceptance Department

127‧‧‧ valve seat

128‧‧‧Selection tube

129‧‧‧through holes

130‧‧‧Piston guides

131‧‧‧ Seat Department

131a‧‧‧through hole

132‧‧‧ accommodating space

133‧‧‧Flange

134‧‧‧ valve forming trough

135‧‧‧Flow path forming trough

136‧‧ ‧ ribs

140‧‧‧Liquid piston

141‧‧‧The outer piston department

142‧‧ ‧ Spring Acceptance Department

143‧‧‧ Contraction

150‧‧‧ gas piston

151‧‧‧Cylinder

152‧‧‧Piston Department

153‧‧‧Outer Rings

154‧‧‧Inhalation opening

155‧‧‧Inhalation valve components

160‧‧‧Floating valve

161‧‧‧Upper

162‧‧‧ valve body

162a‧‧‧Spring Acceptance Department

170‧‧‧Helical spring

180‧‧‧Ball valve

190‧‧‧ cushion

200‧‧‧Foam spout cover

210‧‧‧Gas pump room

211‧‧‧flow path

212‧‧‧Cylinder gas flow path

213‧‧‧Axial flow path

214‧‧‧ Surrounding flow path

220‧‧‧Liquid pump room

300‧‧‧1st component

301‧‧‧Central hole

311‧‧‧1st tube

312‧‧‧2nd tube

313‧‧‧3rd tube

314‧‧‧4th tube

321‧‧‧ protruding parts

331‧‧‧ peripheral section shape

341‧‧‧radial gas trough

342‧‧‧Axial gas trough

343‧‧‧ upper end of the trough

344‧‧‧ Surrounding groove

345‧‧‧ radial slot

346‧‧‧ slot front end

350‧‧‧Departure

390‧‧‧ alignment recess

400‧‧‧ second component

410‧‧‧ Tube

411‧‧‧ recess

412‧‧‧ recess

413‧‧ ‧ step department

420‧‧‧ board

421‧‧‧ hole

490‧‧‧ alignment protrusion

500‧‧‧ Liquid-filled products (foam ejector with liquid)

600‧‧‧ pump department

700‧‧‧Foam flow path

710‧‧‧Foam exports

720‧‧‧ upstream side flow path

722‧‧‧ downstream end

730‧‧‧fine flow path

731‧‧‧ upstream end

732‧‧‧ downstream end

733‧‧‧ outline

734‧‧‧ upstream end

735‧‧‧ downstream end

740‧‧‧ downstream side flow path

741‧‧‧Foam flow path in the nozzle

810‧‧‧1st component

810a‧‧‧ recess

811‧‧‧Part 1

811a‧‧‧Protruding

812‧‧‧Part 2

813‧‧‧Part 3

814‧‧‧Part 4

815‧‧‧ hole

816‧‧‧ axial gas trough

817‧‧‧1st upper surface groove

818‧‧‧2nd upper surface groove

819‧‧‧3rd upper surface groove

820‧‧‧2nd member (lower member)

820a‧‧‧ convex

821‧‧‧ recess

822‧‧‧ Tube

823‧‧‧ Board Department

824‧‧‧ hole

830‧‧‧Upper components

831‧‧‧ lower end

832‧‧‧ embedded department

AX1‧‧‧ Axis

AX2‧‧‧ Axis

AX3‧‧‧ Axis

AX4‧‧‧ Axis

AX11‧‧‧ Axis

AX13‧‧‧ Axis

D‧‧‧The inner diameter of the trickle

D1‧‧‧ dimensions in the direction of the long axis

The maximum size of the D1MAX‧‧‧ long axis direction

The minimum size of the D1MIN‧‧‧ long axis direction

D2‧‧‧ Dimensions in the direction of the short axis

H‧‧‧ Curve

Length dimension of L1‧‧‧ upstream side flow path

Length dimension of L2‧‧‧ fine flow path

R‧‧‧ Radius

S1‧‧‧Maximum flow path area

S2‧‧‧The minimum flow path area of the thin flow path

Fig. 1(a) is a schematic view of a foam ejector according to a first embodiment, and Fig. 1(b) is an enlarged view of a portion B shown in Fig. 1(a).

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a more detailed structural example of a foaming mechanism of the foam ejector according to the first embodiment.

3(a) and 3(b) are views showing photographs taken when a foam is ejected using the foaming mechanism of the structure shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the foam ejector of the second embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a side cross-sectional view showing the foam discharge cover of the second embodiment.

Figure 6 is a partial enlarged view of Figure 5.

7(a) and 7(b) are views showing a first member constituting the foaming mechanism of the foam ejector of the second embodiment, wherein Fig. 7(a) is a plan view and Fig. 7(b) is a perspective view.

Fig. 8 is a plan view showing a state in which the first member and the second member of the foaming mechanism constituting the foam ejector of the second embodiment are assembled.

Figure 9 is a perspective cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of Figures 5 and 14.

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of Figure 6.

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of Figure 6.

Figure 13 is a partial enlarged view of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a side cross-sectional view showing a foam discharge cover of a third embodiment.

Figure 15 is a partial enlarged view of Figure 14.

16(a) and 16(b) are views showing a first member constituting the foaming mechanism of the foam ejector of the third embodiment, wherein Fig. 16(a) is a plan view and Fig. 16(b) is a perspective view.

17(a) and 17(b) are views showing a second member constituting the foaming mechanism of the foam ejector of the third embodiment, wherein Fig. 17(a) is a plan view and Fig. 17(b) is a bottom view. .

Fig. 18 is a plan view showing a state in which the first member and the second member of the foaming mechanism constituting the foam ejector of the third embodiment are assembled.

Figure 19 is a perspective cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of Figure 18.

Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional view showing the foam ejector obtained by cutting the position of the line B-B of Fig. 18.

Figure 21 is a partial enlarged view of Figure 15.

Figure 22 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of Figure 21 .

Figure 23 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of Figure 21 .

Figure 24 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of Figure 21 .

Figure 25 is a partial enlarged view of Figure 24.

Figure 26 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of Figure 24.

Figure 27 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of Figure 24.

Figure 28 is a cross-sectional view showing the foam ejector of the fourth embodiment.

Figure 29 (a) is a schematic view for explaining the foam ejector of Modification 1, Figure 29 (b) is a schematic view for explaining the foam ejector of Modification 2, and Figure 29 (c) is for explaining the change A schematic diagram of the foam ejector of Example 3.

Fig. 30 (a) is a schematic view for explaining the foam ejector of Modification 4, and Fig. 30 (b) is a schematic view for explaining the foam ejector of Modification 5.

Fig. 31 (a) is a schematic view for explaining the foam ejector of the sixth modification, and Fig. 31 (b) is a schematic view for explaining the foam ejector of the seventh modification.

Figure 32 is a schematic view for explaining the foam ejector of Modification 8.

33(a), 33(b), 33(c), 33(d), 33(e), 33(f), and 33(g) are respectively shown by the embodiment 1. Photographs of the foams produced in Example 2, Example 3, Example 4, Example 5, Example 6 and Example 7.

34(a), 34(b), 34(c), 34(d), 34(e), 34(f), and 34(g) are respectively shown by Embodiment 8. Photographs of the foams produced in Example 9, Example 10, Example 11, Example 12, Example 13 and Example 14.

35(a), 35(b), 35(c), 35(d), 35(e), 35(f), and 35(g) are respectively shown by the embodiment 15, Photographs of the foams produced in Example 16, Example 17, Example 18, Example 19, Example 20 and Example 21.

Figure 36 is a front cross-sectional view showing the foam ejector of the fifth embodiment.

Figure 37 is a partial enlarged view of Figure 36.

Figure 38 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of Figure 37.

Fig. 39 is a view showing the positional relationship between the respective portions of the foam flow path and the foam outlet formed from the foam generating portion.

Each of Fig. 40 (a), Fig. 40 (b), Fig. 40 (c), and Fig. 40 (d) is a view showing an image obtained by photographing the foam discharged from the foam ejector of the fifth embodiment.

41(a), 41(b), 41(c), 41(d), 41(e), 41(f), and 41(g) show the upstream of the thin flow path. A diagram of a variation of the shape of the end or downstream end.

Each of FIGS. 42(a), 42(b), 42(c), 42(d), and 42(e) is a view showing a variation of the longitudinal cross-sectional shape of the thin flow path.

Figure 43 is a front cross-sectional view of the foam ejector of the embodiment.

Figure 44 is a partial enlarged view of Figure 43.

Fig. 45 is a view showing the positional relationship between the respective portions of the foam flow path and the foam outlet formed from the foam generating portion.

Each of Figs. 46(a), 46(b), 46(c), and 46(d) is a view showing an image obtained by photographing the foam discharged from the foam ejector of the embodiment.

Each of Figs. 47(a) and 47(b) is a view showing a variation of the longitudinal cross-sectional shape of the thin flow path.

48(a), 48(b), 48(c), and 48(d) show the foam discharged from the foam ejector of the comparative embodiment of the fifth embodiment and the sixth embodiment. A picture of the resulting image.

Claims (31)

A foam ejector having: a foaming mechanism that produces a foam from a liquid; a liquid supply unit that supplies a liquid to the foaming mechanism; a gas supply unit that supplies a gas to the foaming mechanism; a spray outlet that ejects the foam produced by the foaming mechanism; and a foam flow path through which the foam from the foaming mechanism to the discharge port passes; The above foaming mechanism has: a mixing unit that merges the liquid supplied from the liquid supply unit with the gas supplied from the gas supply unit; a liquid flow path through which the liquid supplied from the liquid supply unit to the mixing unit passes; a gas flow path through which the gas supplied from the gas supply unit to the mixing unit passes; The foam flow path includes an adjacent foam flow path adjacent to the mixing portion on the downstream side, The liquid flow path includes an adjacent liquid flow path that is adjacent to the mixing portion on the upstream side and has a liquid inlet opening to the mixing portion. The gas flow path includes a plurality of adjacent gas flow paths, and the plurality of adjacent gas flow paths are adjacent to the mixing portion on the upstream side and each have a gas inlet opening to the mixing portion. The liquid inlet is disposed at a position corresponding to a merging portion of the gas supplied from the plurality of adjacent gas flow paths to the mixing portion via the gas inlet. The foam ejector of claim 1, wherein the foaming mechanism has one or a plurality of the adjacent liquid flow paths, The mixing unit is disposed corresponding to each of the adjacent liquid flow paths. The foam ejector of claim 2, wherein the plurality of adjacent gas flow paths are dedicated to each of the mixing units. The foam ejector according to claim 3, wherein the foaming mechanism includes a plurality of the mixing portions, and has a partition portion that is adjacent to the gas mixture corresponding to one of the adjacent mixing portions The road and the adjacent gas flow paths corresponding to the other mixing portion are separated from each other. The foam ejector according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the foaming mechanism has a plurality of the above mixing portions, The liquid flow path includes a large-diameter liquid flow path that is adjacent to the adjacent liquid flow path on the upstream side and has a larger flow path area than the adjacent liquid flow path. The plurality of mixing portions are disposed around the downstream end of the large-diameter liquid flow path. The plurality of adjacent liquid flow paths extend in the in-plane direction intersecting the axial direction of the large-diameter liquid flow path, and extend from the downstream end portion of the large-diameter liquid flow path toward the periphery. The foam ejector according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the foaming mechanism has a plurality of the above mixing portions, The foam flow path corresponds to each of the mixing portions, and includes the adjacent adjacent foam flow paths. The foam ejector of claim 6, wherein the foam flow path comprises an enlarged foam flow path adjacent to a downstream side of the adjacent foam flow path and a flow path area larger than the adjacent adjacent foam flow path, The adjacent foam flow path corresponding to each of the plurality of mixing units is merged with the expanded foam flow path. The foam ejector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a flow path area of said adjacent foam flow path is the same as a maximum value of a cross-sectional area of said inner cavity of said mixing portion orthogonal to said axial direction of said adjacent foam flow path Or smaller than the cross-sectional area of the lumen. The foam ejector of claim 8, wherein the length of the adjacent foam flow path is longer than the length of the gas inlet in the axial direction of the adjacent foam flow path. The foam ejector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the foaming mechanism has one or a plurality of the above mixing portions, A pair of the adjacent gas flow paths are disposed corresponding to the respective mixing portions, and the supply directions of the gases from the pair of adjacent gas flow paths to the corresponding mixing portions are opposed to each other. The foam ejector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the foaming mechanism has one or a plurality of the above mixing portions, Three adjacent gas flow paths are disposed corresponding to the respective mixing portions, and the three adjacent gas flow paths are located on the same plane in the supply direction of the gas corresponding to the mixing portion, and the mixing is performed from the adjacent liquid flow path. The supply direction of the liquid in the portion is a direction intersecting the plane. A foam ejector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said adjacent foam flow path has a foam outlet opening to said mixing portion. The foam ejector of claim 12, wherein the foaming mechanism has a plurality of the mixing portions, Each of the plurality of mixing sections is defined by a plurality of the gas inlets, the liquid inlet, the foam outlet, and the wall surface. The foam ejector of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the foam flow path comprises: Upstream side flow path; and a fine flow path disposed adjacent to a downstream side of the upstream side flow path and having a smaller flow path area than the upstream side flow path; When viewed in the axial direction of the upstream end of the thin flow path, the thin flow path is disposed at a central portion of the upstream side flow path. The cross-sectional shape of the thin flow path orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the thin flow path is a flat shape. The foam ejector according to claim 14, wherein the dimension D1 of the orthogonal direction of the orthogonal flow path of the thin flow path is expanded and contracted from the upstream side toward the downstream side. The foam ejector according to claim 15, wherein the dimension D1 of the longitudinal direction of the upstream end portion of the thin flow path is enlarged from the upstream end toward the downstream side. The foam ejector of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the foam flow path comprises: Upstream side flow path; a fine flow path disposed adjacent to a downstream side of the upstream side flow path and having a smaller flow path area than the upstream side flow path; a downstream side flow path disposed adjacent to a downstream side of the thin flow path and having a larger flow path area than the thin flow path; The foaming mechanism has a plurality of foam outlets respectively opening toward the upstream side flow path, The length of the thin flow path is larger than the length of the upstream flow path. The foam ejector according to claim 17, wherein the thin flow path is disposed at a central portion of the upstream side flow path when viewed in an axial direction of the upstream end of the thin flow path. The foam ejector of claim 18, wherein the thin flow path is disposed at a position offset from a center of the arrangement area of the plurality of foam outlets when viewed in the axial direction. A foam ejector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which has: a storage container for storing the liquid; and a mounting portion mounted to the storage container; and The foaming mechanism, the discharge port, and the foam flow path are held by the attachment portion. A liquid-filled article having: The foam ejector of claim 20; and The liquid is filled in the storage container. A foam ejection cover having: a mounting portion installed in a storage container for storing liquid; a foaming mechanism that is held by the mounting portion and that generates foam from the liquid; a liquid supply unit that is held by the mounting portion and that supplies the liquid to the foaming mechanism; a gas supply unit that is held by the mounting portion and supplies a gas to the foaming mechanism; a discharge port that is held by the mounting portion and that ejects the foam generated by the foaming mechanism; and a foam flow path that is held by the mounting portion, and the foam supplied from the foaming mechanism to the discharge port passes; The above foaming mechanism has: a mixing unit that merges the liquid supplied from the liquid supply unit with the gas supplied from the gas supply unit; a liquid flow path through which the liquid supplied from the liquid supply unit to the mixing unit passes; a gas flow path through which the gas supplied from the gas supply unit to the mixing unit passes; The foam flow path includes an adjacent foam flow path adjacent to the mixing portion on the downstream side, The liquid flow path includes an adjacent liquid flow path that is adjacent to the mixing portion on the upstream side and has a liquid inlet opening to the mixing portion. The gas flow path includes a plurality of adjacent gas flow paths, and the plurality of adjacent gas flow paths are adjacent to the mixing portion on the upstream side and each have a gas inlet opening to the mixing portion. The liquid inlet is disposed at a position corresponding to a merging portion of the gas supplied from the plurality of adjacent gas flow paths to the mixing portion via the gas inlet. A foam ejector having: a foam generating portion that produces a foam from a liquid; a foam flow path for passing the foam produced by the foam generating portion; and a spray outlet that ejects a foam that has passed through the foam flow path; and The above foam flow path includes: Upstream side flow path; and a fine flow path disposed adjacent to a downstream side of the upstream side flow path and having a smaller flow path area than the upstream side flow path; When viewed in the axial direction of the upstream end of the thin flow path, the thin flow path is disposed at a central portion of the upstream side flow path. The cross-sectional shape of the thin flow path orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the thin flow path is a flat shape. The foam ejector according to claim 23, wherein the dimension D1 of the longitudinal direction of the orthogonal cross-sectional shape of the thin flow path is expanded and contracted from the upstream side toward the downstream side. The foam ejector of claim 24, wherein the dimension D1 of the longitudinal direction of the upstream end portion of the fine flow path is enlarged from the upstream end toward the downstream side. The foam ejector according to claim 24 or 25, wherein in the cross section along the longitudinal direction and the long axis direction, the outer shape of the thin flow path at both ends of the long axis direction is a wavy curved shape. A foam ejector having: a foam generating portion that produces a foam from a liquid; a foam flow path for passing the foam produced by the foam generating portion; and a spray outlet that ejects a foam that has passed through the foam flow path; and The above foam flow path includes: Upstream side flow path; a fine flow path disposed adjacent to a downstream side of the upstream side flow path and having a smaller flow path area than the upstream side flow path; a downstream side flow path disposed adjacent to a downstream side of the thin flow path and having a larger flow path area than the thin flow path; The foam generating portion has a plurality of foam outlets respectively opening toward the upstream side flow path, The length of the thin flow path is larger than the length of the upstream flow path. The foam ejector according to claim 27, wherein the thin flow path is disposed at a central portion of the upstream side flow path when viewed in an axial direction of the upstream end of the thin flow path. The foam ejector of claim 28, wherein the fine flow path is disposed at a position offset from a center of the arrangement area of the plurality of foam outlets when viewed in the axial direction. The foam ejector according to any one of claims 27 to 29, wherein the flow path area of the thin flow path is expanded and contracted from the upstream side toward the downstream side. The foam ejector according to claim 30, wherein in the cross section along the longitudinal direction of the thin flow path, the outline of the thin flow path on both end sides in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is a wavy curved shape .