JP6853609B2 - Check valve - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a check valve that prevents air oxidation and contamination by various germs even when the contents are repeatedly discharged.

In commonly used containers, it is difficult to maintain quality because the outside air enters the container each time it is used, causing oxidation of the contents and contaminating bacteria, and additives such as antioxidants and preservatives are used. There are many things that have been done.
It has been reported in many cases that if a person eats this directly or repeatedly applies it to the skin, it has an adverse effect on the human body such as atopic dermatitis.
In particular, it is better not to use additives for medicines such as eye drops that are dropped onto the eyeball and directly absorbed by the drug solution to exert their effects, but the current situation is that there is no optimal method and it is quite difficult.

By the way, in recent years, the number of customers seeking products that are friendly to people and the environment from the viewpoint of safety and security has increased, and container materials that can maintain the quality of the contents for a long period of time without adding light blocking agents, antioxidants, preservatives, etc. In addition, the development of a check valve that eliminates the suction of air from the container mouth and prevents oxidation and contamination by germs is underway.
In these check valves, a spherical plug member can move between the lower stop portion and the upper stop portion. (See, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

Patent Brother No. 4037792 Patent younger brother 4091555

The check valve of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4037792 stops the movement of the plug member and the pressure of the fluid while the elastic film body is sandwiched between the three hooking portions of the spherical plug member and the elastic film body. It is a technique to inflate the elastic membrane to secure a fluid passage, but the bulge of the elastic membrane is small, and it is not suitable for use with high viscosity and large discharge rate.

The check valve of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4091555 is for small capacity and for dropping eye drops, etc., but the mechanism is such that thick and thin parts are alternately provided on the elastic membrane body and the discharge port of the plug member is only the thick part. There is a check valve of the technology that inflates the thin part by stopping the movement to the side and discharges the fluid through the gap.
However, it is difficult to obtain stable functions and performance as a check valve due to many variables such as the shape of protrusions and the number of arrangements of the thick part, the material hardness of the elastic membrane, the size of the plug member, and the pressure applied at the time of discharge. It was unsuitable.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a check valve capable of full-scale production capable of guaranteeing stable functions and performance while utilizing a technique of alternately providing thick and thin elastic film parts. provide.

The present invention has taken the following technical measures to achieve the above object.
First, in the check valve (2), the elastic membrane body (3) having a spherical sealing surface and the plug member (4) capable of closing the backflow of the fluid are elastically adhered to each other in the elastic membrane body (3). It is composed of a protrusion (33) provided on the elastic membrane body (3) and a cylindrical member (5) that regulates the movement of the plug member (4).
An annular seat seal portion (31) for performing an annular seal is provided at the fluid inlet portion on the inner surface of the elastic membrane body (3), and the upper side of the horizontal portion of the spherical center on the outer surface of the elastic membrane body (3) and the discharge port (35). ) Sides are provided with thick-walled portions (32) and thin-walled portions (34) at intervals alternately defined in the circumferential direction, and the thick-walled portions (32) are outward from the outer surface of the elastic film body (3). In the form of protrusions formed in a bulge,
The inner diameter of the cylindrical member (5) is the same as the maximum outer diameter of the protrusion (33) and is not in contact with each other. 35) A mechanism that regulates movement to the side and stops the plug member (4).
At the time of discharge, the plug member (4) is separated from the annular seat seal portion (31) of the elastic film body (3) due to the pressure of the fluid, and then the plug member (4) is separated from the protrusion (33) and the cylindrical member ( When the movement to the discharge port (35) side is stopped by 5), the thin-walled portion (34) swells and the check valve (2) enables discharge from the discharge port (35) through the fluid passage (9) in the gap. did.

Secondly, in the thick portion (32), the thick portion (32) and the thin portion (34) alternate between the upper side of the horizontal portion of the spherical center on the outer surface of the elastic film body (3) and the discharge port (35). The arrangement ratio of the thick part (32) and the thin part (34) is = 1, and the thick part (32) has a role of restricting and stopping the movement of the plug member (4). It has the role of a bulge allowance to compensate for the bulge of the thin part (34).
The position of the protruding thick portion (32) is the angle θ formed by the horizontal line of the ball center of the plug member (4), the center of the discharge port (35), and the line connecting the ball center of the plug member (4). , The check valve (2) is positioned so that 0 ° <θ <60 °.

Thirdly, the cylindrical members (5), (6), and (7) are the following mechanisms A) B) C) that regulate the movement of the protrusion (33) beyond the specified range and stop the plug member (4). The check valve (2) having the above shape was used.
A) The cylindrical member (5) has a cylindrical shape having a conical cylinder shape only at the tip, restricts the movement of the protrusion (33) to the horizontal outward side of the circumference, and also regulates the movement of the protrusion (33) to the discharge port (35). ) A mechanism that regulates movement to the side and stops the plug member (4).
B) The cylindrical member (6) has a conical cylinder shape, which restricts the movement of the protrusion (33) to the outer side of the circumference horizontally, and also restricts the movement of the protrusion (33) to the discharge port (35) side. A mechanism that regulates and stops the plug member (4).
C) The cylindrical member (7) has a cylindrical shape, and is a mechanism for restricting the movement of the protrusion (33) to the laterally outward side of the circumference and stopping the plug member (4).

Fourth, the annular seat seal portion (31) is provided on the inner surface of the elastic film body (3) near the entrance, and the inner diameter of the annular seat seal portion (31) is larger than the diameter of the plug member (4). A check valve (2) with a small diameter that adheres to and seals the plug member (4) is used.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, it is possible to provide medicines and cosmetics such as eye drops that are kind to people who do not harm their health with preservatives and the like, and ultimately lead to a reduction in national medical expenses.

(A) is a vertical sectional view of the check valve 2, and (b) is a top projection view of the elastic membrane body 3.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to Example 1 based on FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b).

FIG. 1A of Example 1 is a vertical sectional view of the check valve 2, and FIG. 1B is a top projection drawing of the elastic membrane body 3.
The three components constituting the check valve 2 are a plug member 4 having a spherical sealing surface that is in close contact with the elastic film body 3 and the plug member 4 moves toward the discharge port 35 side when the fluid is discharged. It is composed of a cylindrical member 5 that regulates and stops the plug member 4.

In the elastic film body 3 having the thick-walled portion 32, the thick-walled portion 32 and the thin-walled portion 34 are provided at intervals alternately defined between the upper side of the horizontal portion of the spherical center on the outer surface of the elastic film body 3 and the discharge port 35. In FIG. 1, two thick portions 32 and two thin portions 34 have an arrangement ratio of = 1.

The position of the protruding thick portion 32 is such that the angle θ formed by the horizontal line of the ball center of the plug member 4 and the line connecting the center of the discharge port 35 and the ball center of the plug member 4 is 0 ° <θ <60 °. In order to make the thick portion 32 thicker so that the fluid can be discharged with a small pressure, and to secure a wide fluid passage 9 width of the thin portion 34, the protrusion shape of the thick portion 32 is ejected. It has a trapezoidal shape that narrows along the spherical surface toward the exit 35.
Further, the angle θ is 5 ° <θ <30 ° in the arrangement range of the thick portion 32 of the protrusion 33 so that the plug member 4 can be easily detached from the annular seat seal portion 31.
Therefore, when the angle θ is set to 5 °, the plug member 4 smoothly separates from the annular seat seal portion 31 and the plug member 4 becomes a wedge in the range of 5 ° <θ <30 ° and gradually bites into the thick portion 32. The movement is regulated and stopped.

When pressure is applied to the fluid, the thin-walled portion 34 swells, and this bulged portion becomes the fluid passage 9 and discharges and flows out from the discharge port 35.
The relationship between the thick portion 32 and the thin portion 34 is that the thin portion 34 swells and the thick portion 32 also has a role of compensating for the swelling allowance, so that even if the pressure applied to the fluid is small, the discharge and outflow can be easily performed. is there.
In addition, the ratio (t1 / t2) of the maximum wall thickness t1 of the thick portion 32 of the elastic film body 3 to the wall thickness t2 of the thin wall portion 34 is that the thin wall portion 34 should be thinner, but the thin wall portion 34 swells and flows. If the passage 9 can be sufficiently secured, the selection will be made with an emphasis on functionality and design and the molding conditions of the elastic film body 3.

The plug member 4 having a spherical sealing surface is a sphere capable of closing the backflow of the fluid, and when the fluid is discharged, it first separates from the annular seat seal portion 31 of the elastic film body 3 and then moves toward the discharge port 35 side. The protrusion 33 of the thick portion 32 of the elastic film body 3 and the cylindrical member 5 stop the movement of the plug member 4, and then the pressure of the fluid pushes the spherical sealing surface of the elastic film body 3 and the thin portion 34 swells. The gap becomes the fluid passage 9, and the discharge flows out from the discharge port 35.

Next, when the pressure of the fluid is released, the elastic film body 3 shrinks to the original state, and when the plug member 4 which is a sphere moves to the annular seat seal portion 31 and stops, the spherical seal surface and the plug member of the elastic film body 3 4 is in close contact with each other to stop the discharge outflow and prevent backflow.

The plug member 4 is contained in the body of the elastic film body 3, and the diameter of the plug member 4 is formed to be slightly larger than the inner diameter of the body of the elastic film body 3.
Therefore, the elastic membrane body 3 is in close contact with the plug member 4 on the inner surface of the elastic membrane body 3, and the elastic membrane body 3 expands outward and elastically deforms at the time of ejection.
When the discharge is stopped, the plug member 4 is pulled back to the annular seat seal portion 31 by the elastic force generated by the elastic deformation of the elastic film body 3 and is held in the elastic film body 3.

The cylindrical member 5 of FIG. 1 is cylindrical and has a conical cylinder shape only at the tip, and the hole opening at the center is circular and the hole diameter is slightly smaller than the diameter of the plug member 4 to prevent the plug member 4 from coming off. In addition, it has an important role of holding down the trapezoidal protrusion 33 of the elastic membrane body 3, restricting the movement toward the discharge port 35 side, and stopping the plug member 4.
In particular, the inner surface of the tip portion of the cylindrical member 5 and the protrusion 33 of the elastic film body 3 softly press the trapezoidal upper bottom portion of the protrusion 33 only at the time of discharge.
Therefore, the inner surface of the tip of the cylindrical member 5 and the trapezoidal upper bottom of the protrusion 33 are slightly separated from each other, and the inner surface of the tip of the cylindrical member 5 and the protrusion 33 come into contact with each other only at the time of discharge.

The detailed function and operation of the check valve during discharge will be described.
At the time of discharge, the pressure applied to the container is transmitted to the fluid, the plug member 4 is separated from the annular seat seal portion 31 of the elastic film body 3, and the plug member 4 moves to the discharge port 35 side.
Next, when the plug member 4 is restricted from moving to the discharge port 35 side by the protrusion 33 of the elastic film body 3 and the cylindrical member 5, the elastic film near the outlet side of the annular seat seal portion 31 is stopped by the pressure of the fluid. The spherical sealing surface that seals in close contact with the body 3 and the plug member 4 swells, and the thin-walled portion 34 of the elastic membrane body 3 also swells, and the fluid flows out from the tip of the discharge port 35 using this as the fluid passage 9. ..

Next, the function and movement of the check valve will be described in detail.
At the same time as stopping the discharge of the fluid, the spherical sealing surface that adheres to the elastic film body 3 and seals elastically contracts, and the plug member 4 that has moved to the discharge port 35 side of the elastic film body 3 instantly seals the annular seat. The check valve 2 is pulled back to the portion 31 side, whereby the plug member 4 and the annular protrusion 31 are closely sealed to obtain a complete check flow prevention function.

The above is Example 1 based on FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b).
In the first embodiment, the angle θ is 5 ° <θ <30 ° in the arrangement range of the thick portion 32 of the protrusion 33 so that the plug member 4 can be easily separated from the annular seat seal portion 31.
As another method, even if the angle θ is 0 ° <θ <30 °, the plug member 4 is annularly formed by making the protrusion shape of the thick portion 32 tapered toward the annular seat seal portion 31 side to make it thinner. It may have a protrusion shape that smoothly separates from the seat seal portion 31 and the stopper member 4 becomes a wedge and gradually bites into the thick portion 32.

The difference between Example 1 of the present invention and Example 2 or Example 3 of another embodiment is that the movement of the protrusion (33) and the plug member (4) is restricted only by the difference of the cylindrical members 5, 6 and 7. The mechanism for stopping is substantially the same except that the mechanism for stopping is A) in Example 1, B) in Example 2, and C) in Example 3, and the functions and movements of Example 1 will be described in detail based on FIG. Therefore, the duplicate explanation is omitted.
The thick portion (32) and the thin portion (34) are alternately provided at predetermined intervals, and the arrangement ratio of the thick portion (32) and the thin portion (34) is = 1, but the number of arrangements thereof. May be 2, 3, 4, or 5, and can be freely selected and molded in consideration of the usability of the fluid.

The container 1 with the check valve 2 is a container that can shrink if the fluid is consumed, regardless of whether it is a softback container 12, a bellows container 13, a container with a pump 14, a tube container 15, or a double container. Anything is sufficient, and a syringe with a check valve may be used.
In addition, a container with a sterilization filter that does not deform if the content is resistant to air oxidation but dislikes contamination by germs may be used.

The material of the elastic membrane 3 is a molded product made of an elastic material such as rubber or resin, and has physical properties such as viscosity and particle size of the fluid, chemical properties such as PH, safety, and appearance. It can be freely selected in consideration of economic efficiency and usability.
The shape of the stopper member 4 is not limited to a spherical shape and may be a rugby ball shape.
The material of the stopper member 4 may be a natural material, a plastic material, a metal, a glass, or the like, or a part formed by kneading and molding powder, and the material may be silver-plated or vapor-deposited, which is expected to have an antibacterial effect.
The material of the cylindrical member 5 is preferably a plastic material.
In particular, for the check valve 2 used for pharmaceutical purposes, it is advisable to select a material that can be steam sterilized and does not easily deform. If it is difficult, gas sterilization or radiation sterilization is also possible, so it is advisable to freely select the material.

The check valve according to the present invention is used especially for eye drop containers, which are pharmaceuticals, and is a chemical solution that does not contain additives such as preservatives. Therefore, it is possible to provide human-friendly, safe and secure pharmaceuticals, thereby reducing national medical expenses. It leads to.
In addition, by providing a check valve at the mouth of the container, the quality before opening can be used for a long period of time while preventing oxidation of the fluid and contamination by germs.

1 Container 2 Backflow prevention valve 3 Elastic membrane 4 Plug member 5 Cylindrical member 6 Cylindrical member 7 Cylindrical member 9 Fluid passage 11 Container cap with valve retainer 12 Softback container 13 Bellows container 14 Pump container 15 Tube container 31 Circular seat seal Part 32 Thick part 33 Projection part 34 Thin part 35 Discharge port

Claims (3)

In the check valve (2) that eliminates air intake and contamination by germs from the discharge port (35)
In the check valve (2), the elastic membrane body (3) having a spherical sealing surface and the plug member (4) capable of closing the backflow of the fluid are elastically adhered to each other in the elastic membrane body (3). It is composed of a protrusion (33) provided on the elastic membrane body (3) and a cylindrical member (5) that regulates the movement of the plug member (4).
An annular seat seal portion (31) for performing an annular seal is provided at the fluid inlet portion on the inner surface of the elastic membrane body (3) , and when the discharge port (35) side is on the upper side in the discharge direction of the fluid. Thick parts (32) and thin parts (34) are provided at intervals alternately defined in the circumferential direction around the upper side of the horizontal portion of the spherical center on the outer surface of the elastic membrane (3) and the side of the discharge port (35). The thick portion (32) is a protrusion formed by bulging outward from the outer surface of the elastic film body (3).
The inner diameter of the cylindrical member (5) is the same as the maximum outer diameter of the protrusion (33) and is not in contact with each other. 35) A mechanism that regulates movement to the side and stops the plug member (4).
At the time of discharge, the plug member (4) is separated from the annular seat seal portion (31) of the elastic film body (3) due to the pressure of the fluid, and then the plug member (4) is separated from the protrusion (33) and the cylindrical member ( When the movement to the discharge port (35) side is stopped by 5), the thin-walled portion (34) swells, and the check valve enables discharge from the discharge port (35) through the fluid passage (9) in the gap.
In the thick portion (32), the thick portion (32) and the thin portion (34) are alternately defined between the upper side of the horizontal portion of the spherical center on the outer surface of the elastic film body (3) and the discharge port (35). The arrangement ratio of the thick portion (32) and the thin portion (34) is = 1, and the thick portion (32) has a role of restricting and stopping the movement of the plug member (4) and the thin portion (34). It has the role of a bulge allowance to compensate for the bulge of
The position of the protruding thick portion (32) is the angle θ formed by the horizontal line of the ball center of the plug member (4), the center of the discharge port (35), and the line connecting the ball center of the plug member (4). , A check valve characterized in that the position is configured so that 0 ° <θ <60 °. The cylindrical members (5), (6), and (7) have any of the following mechanisms A) B) C) that regulate the movement of the protrusion (33) beyond the specified range and stop the plug member (4). The check valve according to claim 1, wherein the check valve is provided.
A) The cylindrical member (5) has a cylindrical shape having a conical cylinder shape only at the tip, restricts the movement of the protrusion (33) to the horizontal outward side of the circumference, and also regulates the movement of the protrusion (33) to the discharge port (35). ) A mechanism that regulates movement to the side and stops the plug material (4).
B) The cylindrical member (6) has a conical cylinder shape, which regulates the movement of the protrusion (33) to the outer side of the circumference horizontally, and also restricts the movement of the protrusion (33) to the discharge port (35) side. A mechanism to regulate and stop the plug member (4).
C) The cylindrical member (7) has a cylindrical shape, and is a mechanism for restricting the movement of the protrusion (33) to the laterally outward side of the circumference and stopping the plug member (4). The annular seat seal portion (31) is provided on the inner surface of the portion near the entrance of the elastic film body (3), and the inner diameter of the annular seat seal portion (31) is smaller than the diameter of the stopper member (4). The check valve according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the check valve is in close contact with (4) and sealed.

Images