WO2021149613A1

WO2021149613A1 - Foam dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2021149613A1
Application number: PCT/JP2021/001256
Authority: WO
Inventors: 愛理小山; 佐々木　剛; 征一袴田
Original assignee: 株式会社資生堂
Priority date: 2020-01-23
Filing date: 2021-01-15
Publication date: 2021-07-29
Also published as: JP7397688B2; CN114901561A; JP2021116078A

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a foam dispenser capable of preventing clogging of a foaming member due to drying of foam bodies generated inside the foam dispenser and stably dispensing uniform foam bodies for a long period of time. [Solution] A foam dispenser (1) is provided with: a container body (2) that accommodates a liquid; a tubular member (3) that is inserted into the container body and enables intake of a liquid and air through an operation of a piston; and a pump head (4) that is supported and urged upward by the tubular member and has a dispensing port that communicates with the tubular member, wherein a foaming member (10) and an opening/closing valve (14) that is opened above the foaming member as a spherical member (14a) rises are arranged inside a perpendicular flow path formed by the pump head (4) and/or the tubular member (3).

Description

Foam ejector

The present invention relates to a foam ejector that mixes with air to form a foam and discharges the liquid contained in the container body when it is used.

Conventionally, a container body for accommodating a liquid, a tubular member inserted through the container body and capable of taking in liquid and air by operating a piston, and a tubular member supported by the tubular member and urged upward, and the tubular member A pump head provided with a discharge port for communication is provided, and a foam member such as a mesh body is provided in the vertical flow path formed by the tubular member. When the pump head is pushed down, the piston operates. A foam discharger is known in which liquid and air taken into a tubular member pass through a foam member to form a foam and are discharged from a discharge port arranged at the tip of a pump head (Patent Document 1).

However, if such a foam ejector is left unattended after use, the moisture of the foam remaining in the pump head gradually evaporates from the ejection port, and the foam adhering to the foam member dries and becomes a film or crystal particles. May solidify. If the film or the like covers the surface of the foam member in this way, not only the state of the discharged foam changes and the usability is impaired, but also there is a risk that the liquid and air do not pass through the foam member and the foam discharger cannot be used. There is sex.

Therefore, it is required to develop a foam ejector capable of preventing clogging of the foam member due to drying of the foam body generated in the foam ejector and stably discharging a homogeneous foam body for a long period of time.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-157822

An object of the present invention is to provide a foam ejector capable of preventing clogging of a foam member due to drying of the foam body generated in the foam ejector and stably discharging a homogeneous foam body for a long period of time. do.

As a result of studies by the present inventors in order to solve the above problems, by providing an on-off valve that opens by raising the spherical member above the foaming member, the foaming member is effectively prevented from drying after use. We have found that a homogeneous foam can be discharged stably, and have completed the present invention.

That is, the present invention includes a container body for accommodating a liquid, a tubular member inserted through the container body and capable of taking in liquid and air by operating a piston, and being supported by the tubular member and being urged upward. A pump head provided with a discharge port communicating with the tubular member, and a foam member and a spherical member above the foam member in a vertical flow path formed by the pump head and / or the tubular member. By arranging an on-off valve that opens by ascending, when the pump head is pushed down, the piston operates, and the liquid and air taken into the tubular member pass through the foaming member to form a foam and the on-off valve. It is a bubble discharger characterized in that it is discharged from the discharge port via the above.

Further, in the present invention, the on-off valve is composed of a spherical member and a valve seat member, and the valve seat member has an inverted conical recess formed on the upper surface thereof and a penetrating flow path substantially perpendicular to the center of the recess. The foam discharger is provided and is characterized in that when the spherical member descends, it abuts on a recess of the valve seat member and closes the valve.

Further, the present invention is a foam discharger characterized in that the spherical member of the on-off valve is ^{formed of a material having a density of 1 g / cm 3 or more.}

Further, the present invention is a cosmetic product characterized in that a liquid cosmetic or a cleaning agent is contained in the foam ejector.

According to the foam ejector of the present invention, it is possible to effectively prevent clogging of the foam member due to drying of the foam body that occurs in the foam ejector, and to stably discharge a homogeneous foam body for a long period of time. Become.

Further, if a liquid cosmetic or a cleaning agent is stored in such a foam ejector, it is possible to provide a cosmetic product that stably ejects foam suitable for cleaning or the like.

The figure which shows the structure of a foam discharger The figure which shows the structure of the foam discharger in the process of lowering a pump head The figure which shows the structure of the foam discharger in the process of raising a pump head Enlarged view of the on-off valve ((a) State diagram of the process of stationary or the pump head rising, (b) State of the process of lowering the pump head) A view showing the structure of the foamed member ((a) plan view, (b) front view, (c) bottom view, (d) perspective view). A view showing the structure of the valve seat member ((a) plan view, (b) front view, (c) bottom view, (d) perspective view, (e) AA line cross-sectional view).

The foam ejector of the present invention will be described in detail below. Specific examples will be given as modes for carrying out the invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Further, the connection or attachment of the constituent members in the present invention includes not only direct connection but also indirect connection via other members, etc., and is relative to the attachment parts of the two target members. Unless otherwise specified, all of them are included as long as they maintain a substantially constant positional relationship.

As shown in FIG. 1, the foam discharger 1 of the present embodiment includes a container body 2 for containing a liquid, a tubular member 3 inserted therein, and a pump head 4 supported by the tubular member and urged upward. , Is equipped.

The material and shape of the container body 2 are not limited as long as they can stably hold a liquid such as liquid cosmetics for a long period of time, but generally, from the viewpoint of productivity, usability, etc. Resin bottles are used.

The tubular member 3 is inserted into the container body so as to be movable downward in the upwardly urged state at the mouth portion 2a of the container body 2. The tubular member has an insertion hole 5a into which the tubular member can be moved up and down, and a mounting cap 5 mounted on the mouth portion 2a of the container body 2, and for air linked to the pump head 4 and the tubular member 3. An air cylinder 7 in which the piston 6 is slidably housed vertically, a liquid cylinder 9 in which the liquid piston 8 linked to the pump head 4 and the tubular member 3 is slidably housed, and air. The pump mechanism unit includes a gas-liquid mixing chamber R1 at which the air from the cylinder 7 and the liquid from the liquid cylinder 9 merge, and a foaming member 10 for foaming the gas-liquid mixture mixed in the gas-liquid mixing chamber R1. 11 is configured and fixed to the mouth of the container body via the mounting cap.

The mounting cap 5 extends upward from the top plate portion 5b in which the insertion hole 5a is formed substantially in the center, the peripheral wall portion 5c hanging from the outer peripheral edge of the top plate portion 5b, and the outer peripheral edge portion of the insertion hole 5a. A guide cylinder portion 5d is provided. The mounting cap has a spiral formed on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall portion 5c, and is screwed to the mouth portion 2a of the container body 2 by utilizing this spiral.

The air cylinder 7 has a large-diameter bottomed cylinder, a small-diameter cylindrical liquid cylinder 9 extends downward from the center of the bottom surface, and the air cylinder 7 and the liquid cylinder 9 are connected in a communicative state.

The upper end opening of the air cylinder 7 is fixed in close contact with the inner surfaces of the peripheral wall portion 5c and the top plate portion 5b of the mounting cap 5. As a result, the air cylinder 7 and the liquid cylinder 9 are arranged in a state of hanging from the mounting cap 5 inside the container body 2.

The pump head 4 includes a fitting cylinder portion 4a extending downward and a nozzle portion 4b extending in the horizontal direction, and the fitting cylinder portion 4a is provided at a discharge port 4c formed at the tip of the nozzle portion 4b. The fitting cylinder portion and the nozzle portion form a flow path having a substantially L-shaped cross section.

The fitting tube portion 4a is inserted vertically inside the guide tube portion 5d of the mounting cap 5 so as to be vertically movable, and the upper tip portion of the tubular member 3 is inserted and fitted.

The air piston 6 is arranged in an air cylinder 7 so as to be slidable up and down in an airtight state, an air hole 6b penetrating in the vertical direction is provided on the upper surface of the flat plate portion 6a, and an air hole is opened and closed on the lower surface. An air valve body 6c is provided. An annular sliding contact portion 6e that is in sliding contact with the inner surface of the air cylinder 7 is formed on the outer periphery of the air piston.

A cylinder portion 6d extending in the vertical direction is provided in the center of the flat plate portion 6a of the air piston, and the tubular member 3 penetrates the cylinder portion and can move up and down in the air cylinder 7 and the liquid cylinder 9. It has been inserted. Further, the outer peripheral surface of the upper end portion of the cylinder portion 6d is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the lower end portion of the fitting cylinder portion 4a, while being fitted with the upper end of the cylinder portion 6d so that the air piston can move up and down relative to the pump head. A gap S1 is provided between the inner surface of the combined cylinder portion, and a gap is also provided between the lower end of the fitting cylinder portion 4a and the flat plate portion 6a.

A plurality of vertical grooves 4d extending in the vertical direction are formed in the portion where the upper end portion of the tubular member 3 is fitted on the inner peripheral surface of the lower end of the fitting cylinder portion 4a. The vertical groove 4d straddles the upper end opening edge of the tubular member 3 in the radial direction and communicates with a plurality of holding cylinder grooves 10c formed in the holding cylinder 10b of the foaming member 10.

On the inner peripheral surface of the tubular member 3, an annular valve seat 3a is projected inward in the radial direction at a portion located between the liquid piston 8 and the foaming member 10, and the valve seat 3a is provided. A spherical seal valve 3b is provided so as to be able to sit and leave the seat. Then, inside the tubular member 3, the space between the lower end of the small diameter portion 10d of the holding cylinder 10b of the foaming member 10 and the upper surface of the valve seat 3a becomes the gas-liquid mixing chamber R1.

A gap is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the tubular member 3 and the inner peripheral surface of the tubular portion 6d of the air piston 6 so that air can flow through the gap. It can flow into the gas-liquid mixing chamber R1 through the vertical groove 4d and the holding cylinder groove 10c.

A flange-shaped contact portion 3d is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tubular member 3 so as to project outward in the radial direction and contact the lower end of the tubular portion 6d of the air piston 6 from below. The contact portion 3d is integrally formed with the tubular member 3, and in the stationary state before pushing down the pump head 4, the lower end of the tubular portion 6c of the air piston 6 comes into contact with the contact portion 3d. There is.

The upper side surface of the liquid piston 8 is in sliding contact with the inner side surface of the tubular member 3, and the lower end portion protrudes downward from the lower end opening edge of the tubular member 3, and the outer peripheral surface thereof is substantially flush with the outer peripheral surface of the tubular member 3. The large-diameter cylinder portion 8a is formed so as to be in sliding contact with the inner surface of the liquid cylinder 9.

Inside the liquid piston 8 and the liquid cylinder 9, an upper valve body 12a having a substantially U-shaped cross section is formed at the upper end, and the lower end of the liquid cylinder 9 can be seated and retracted at the lower end opening. A rod-shaped valve member 12 forming the lower valve body 12b is arranged. The upper valve body 12a of the valve member functions as a valve for switching communication between the inside of the liquid cylinder 9 and the inside of the upper end portion of the tubular member 3 and shutting off the communication.

A coil spring 13 is disposed between the liquid piston 8 and the inner surface of the lower end portion of the liquid cylinder 9, and the liquid piston is supported so as to be movable downward from below the large-diameter cylinder portion 8a in an upwardly biased state. Will be done.

The foaming member 10 is arranged at a position substantially at the center height of the vertical flow path in the fitting cylinder portion 4a of the pump head 4, and is located between the gas-liquid mixing chamber R1 and the discharge port 4c. .. The foam member 10 includes a holding cylinder 10b and a tubular body 10f in which two mesh bodies 10a and 10a'attached to the holding cylinder 10b are stretched on the upper and lower opening surfaces (FIG. 5). ..

The holding cylinder 10b is provided with a two-stage cylindrical portion having a large diameter portion 10e on the upper side and a small diameter portion 10d on the lower side. The large diameter portion 10e is inserted and fixed inside the fitting tube portion 4a, and the small diameter portion 10d is fitted inside the upper end portion of the tubular member 3. On the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 10d, a plurality of holding cylinder grooves 10c extending upward from the lower end thereof to reach the bottom outer surface of the large diameter portion 10e and further extending outward in the radial direction are formed. ing.

The large diameter portion 10e of the foam member 10 accommodates a tubular body 10f in which mesh bodies 10a and 10a'with meshes formed on the upper and lower opening surfaces, respectively, are stretched.

The foaming member 10 mixes and foams the liquid introduced into the gas-liquid mixing chamber R1 and air by passing through the foaming member. In the present embodiment, an example in which two mesh bodies are adopted is shown, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this embodiment, and for example, the number of mesh bodies may be changed, or a porous body such as a sponge may be adopted. It is also possible to form a foam member by sponge.

An on-off valve 14 is arranged above the foaming member 10 in the flow path formed in the fitting cylinder portion 4a of the pump head 4. The on-off valve 14 is composed of a spherical member 14a and a valve seat member 14b, and opens when the spherical member leaves the valve seat member due to ascending, and closes when the valve seat member is seated by descending. The valve seat member 14b is provided with a protrusion 14c on the inner circumference of a cylindrical cylinder, whereby an inverted conical recess is formed on the upper surface of the valve seat member and penetrates substantially vertically from the center of the recess. A flow path is formed (Fig. 6).

The inclined surface of the recess 14d of the valve seat member is linear or has a radius of curvature larger than the radius of curvature of the surface of the spherical member 14a, and the spherical member 14a descends and comes into contact with the inclined surface of the recess 14d of the valve seat member 14b. Then, the contact between the spherical member and the valve seat member becomes a circular line contact. When the contact area is made extremely small in this way, it is possible to smoothly open and close the valve, and the foam body foamed by the foaming member can be discharged from the discharge port 4c while maintaining the air bubbles without being crushed. It will be possible.

Since the on-off valve is opened and closed by raising or lowering the spherical member, the density of the spherical member is important. In order to smoothly open and close the spherical member, it is necessary to select a spherical member having an appropriate density, but the vertical movement of the spherical member is performed in the foam body foamed by the liquid and air in the fitting cylinder portion 4a. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the physical properties of the foam. If the liquid contained in the container body is a cosmetic such as an ordinary cleaning agent, it is preferable to use a material having ^{a density of 1 g / cm 3} ^{or more for the spherical member, and in particular, a material having a density of 3 g / cm 3} or more. Is particularly preferable to use.

FIG. 1 shows an example in which the foaming member 10 and the on-off valve 14 arranged above the foaming member are arranged at a substantially central height position in the fitting cylinder portion 4a of the pump head 4, but not necessarily. The arrangement is not limited to such a position, and depending on the shape of each component constituting the pump mechanism portion 11, the tubular member 10 is extended upward, and the foaming member and the on-off valve are arranged inside the tubular member. You can also. That is, the foam member 10 and the on-off valve 14 to be arranged above the foam member 10 may be arranged at any height position in the vertical flow path formed by the pump head and / or the tubular member. Further, in order to explain the structure of the foam discharger, for convenience, the fitting tube portion 4a and the tubular member 3 have been described as different members, but not only the tubular member 3 shown in FIG. 1 but also the fitting above the tubular member 3. It is also possible to include a part or all of the tubular portion 4a as a tubular member constituting the present invention.

A rod-shaped stopper 4f is projected downward at the upper end of the vertical flow path formed in the fitting cylinder portion 4a of the pump head 4, and a spherical member 14a is formed in the nozzle portion 4b. It is prevented from flowing into the air and being discharged together with the foam from the discharge port 4c. As a result, the spherical member can surely move up and down in the vertical flow path.

Hereinafter, the movement of each component member due to the operation of the foam discharger will be described. In the stationary state, the lower end of the tubular portion 6c of the air piston 6 abuts on the contact portion 3d of the tubular member 3, and the pump A gap S1 is formed between the inner surface of the fitting cylinder portion 4a of the head 4 and the upper end edge of the cylinder portion 6d (FIG. 1). Further, the on-off valve 14 is arranged above the foaming member 10 to block the flow path in the fitting cylinder portion 4a of the pump head 4 (FIG. 4).

As shown in FIG. 2, when the pump head 4 is pushed down, the fitting cylinder portion 4a is lowered, and the foaming member 10, the tubular member 3, and the liquid piston 8 move downward while compressing and deforming the coil spring 13. ..

At this time, the air piston 6 does not move, and a gap is formed between the lower end of the tubular portion 6d of the air piston 6 and the contact portion 3d of the tubular member 3. Further, the gap S1 between the upper end edge of the cylinder portion 6c of the air piston 6 and the inner surface of the fitting cylinder portion 4a becomes smaller. As a result, the air cylinder 7 communicates with the gas-liquid mixing chamber R1 via the vertical groove 4d and the holding cylinder groove 10c.

Further, as the liquid piston 8 moves downward, the lower valve body 12b also moves downward. Then, when the lower valve body 12b is seated in the lower end opening of the liquid cylinder 9 and is closed, the upper end portion of the liquid piston 8 separates downward from the upper valve body 12a of the valve member 12, as shown in FIG. Then, the liquid cylinder 9 and the tubular member 3 communicate with each other.

When the pump head 4 is further pushed down, the air piston 6 is also moved downward with the air valve body 6b closing the air hole 6a, so that the air in the air cylinder 7 is compressed. NS. As a result, the air in the air cylinder passes between the inner side surface of the cylinder portion and the outer surface of the tubular member through the gap between the lower end of the cylinder portion 6d of the air piston 6 and the contact portion 3d of the tubular member 3. It flows into the gas-liquid mixing chamber R1 through the vertical groove 4d and the holding cylinder groove 10c.

At this time, since the liquid piston 8 moves downward in a state where the lower valve body 12b of the valve member 12 closes the lower end opening of the liquid cylinder 9, the liquid in the liquid cylinder 9 rises and the tubular member 3 Reach within. Then, the hydraulic pressure in the liquid cylinder 9 is applied to the seal valve 3b seated on the valve seat 3a of the tubular member 3, and the seal valve 3b is retracted from the valve seat 3a to open the liquid. The liquid in the cylinder 9 is transferred into the gas-liquid mixing chamber R1.

In this way, the liquid and air introduced into the gas-liquid mixing chamber R1 flow into the foam member 10 from the small diameter portion 10d while being compressed, and pass through the two

mesh bodies

10a and 10a'. Liquid and air are mixed to form a foam. Then, the foam body pushes up the spherical member 14a of the on-off valve 14 and rises through the gap formed between the spherical member 14a and the recess 14d of the valve seat member 14b, and discharges from the pump head 4. It reaches the outlet 4c and is discharged to the outside (Fig. 4).

When the push-down of the pump head 4 is released after the discharge is completed, as shown in FIG. 3, the pump head 4, the tubular member 3, the air piston 6 linked to the tubular member 3, and the liquid are released by the elastic restoring force of the coil spring 13. The piston 8 will return to its original position. That is, as the tubular member 3 rises, the lower end of the tubular portion 6c of the air piston 6 comes into contact with the contact portion 3d, and the air piston 6 rises together with the tubular member 3. At this time, since a negative pressure is generated by expanding the internal volume of the air cylinder 7, the air valve body 6b opens, and air is drawn into the air cylinder 7 through the air hole 6a.

The spherical member 14a of the on-off valve 14 falls in the foam body remaining in the fitting cylinder portion 4a due to its own weight, and is seated on the valve seat member 14b to close the valve. Due to the closing of the on-off valve, the foam existing below the on-off valve does not come into contact with the outside air from the discharge port and does not dry.

This makes it possible to prevent the foam from forming a film or crystal particles and covering the surface of the foam member. As a result, clogging of the foam member due to drying of the foam body generated in the foam ejector can be effectively prevented, and a homogeneous foam body can be stably discharged for a long period of time.

If a liquid cosmetic or a cleaning agent is stored in such a foam ejector, it is possible to provide a cosmetic product that stably ejects foam suitable for cleaning or the like.

The results of the effect confirmation test conducted on the foam ejector are described below as examples.

In the confirmation test, the sample prepared based on the prescription in Table 1 is housed in the container body of the foam discharger, the pump head is pushed down, the pressure of the pump head when discharging the foam, and the state of the discharged foam (texture). (Fineness of) was evaluated. After that, the foam is left at a high temperature, and after 1 week, the foam is discharged again to evaluate the pressure of the pump head and the condition of the foam. Such evaluation is repeated 4 times (4 weeks), and changes with time are observed. Also evaluated. The foam is discharged by pushing down the pump head five times each time, and the above evaluation is an evaluation of the pressure of the pump head and the state of the discharged foam when the pump head is pushed down for the first time each time.

Table 2 shows the material and density of the spherical member of the on-off valve used in the confirmation test.

Table 3 shows the results of the pressure evaluation. In the table, the evaluation of pressing is A: No abnormality, B: Tolerance (feeling to break through a little), C: Tolerance (feeling resistance than usual), D: Abnormal (the content does not come out unless force is applied) Display as.

From the results in Table 3, it was confirmed that there was no abnormal pressing (D evaluation) in the foam discharger equipped with the on-off valve. It was also confirmed that better results can be obtained when the spherical member is made of metal or ceramic.

Next, Table 4 shows the evaluation results of the state (fineness) of the discharged foam. In the table, the evaluation of pressing is displayed as A: no abnormality, B: allowable (returns to the normal state within 5 discharges), and C: abnormal (coarse bubbles are mixed even after 5 discharges).

From the results in Table 4, it was confirmed that there was no abnormality (C evaluation) in the state (fineness) of the foam in the foam discharger equipped with the on-off valve.

1 Foam discharger 2 Container body 2a Mouth 3 Tubular member

3a Valve seat

3b Seal valve 3d Abutment 4 Pump head

4a Fitting cylinder 4b Nozzle

4c Discharge port

4d Vertical groove 4f Stopper 5 Mounting cap 5a Insertion hole 5b Top Plate part 5c Peripheral wall part 5d Guide cylinder part 6 Air piston 6a Flat plate part 6b Air hole 6c Air valve body 6d Cylinder part 6e Sliding contact part 7 Air cylinder 8 Liquid piston 8a Large diameter cylinder part 9 Liquid cylinder 10 Foaming Member body 10a Mesh body 10a'Mesh body 10b Holding cylinder 10c Holding cylinder groove 10d Small diameter part 10e Large diameter part 10f Cylindrical body 11 Pump mechanism 12 Valve member 12a Upper valve body 12b Lower valve body 13 Coil spring 14 Open / close valve 14a Spherical Member 14b Valve seat member 14c Protrusion 14d Recess R1 Gas-liquid mixing chamber S1 Gap

Claims

A container body for accommodating a liquid, a tubular member inserted through the container body and capable of taking in liquid and air by operating a piston, and being supported by the tubular member and urged upward and communicating with the tubular member. A pump head provided with a discharge port is provided, and a foaming member and a spherical member rise above the foaming member to open a valve in a vertical flow path formed by the pump head and / or the tubular member. By arranging the on-off valve, when the pump head is pushed down, the piston operates, and the liquid and air taken into the tubular member pass through the foaming member to form a foam and discharge through the on-off valve. A foam discharger characterized in that it is discharged from an outlet.
The on-off valve is composed of a spherical member and a valve seat member, and the valve seat member is provided with an inverted conical recess on the upper surface thereof and a through flow path substantially perpendicular to the center of the recess. The foam discharger according to claim 1, wherein when the member descends, it abuts on the recess of the valve seat member and closes the valve.
The foam discharger according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the spherical member of the on-off valve is formed of a material having a density of 1 g / cm 3 or more.
A cosmetic product characterized in that a liquid cosmetic or a cleaning agent is contained in the foam ejector according to claims 1 to 3.