JP7101475B2 - Foam ejector - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a foam ejector.

Conventionally, the foam ejector described in Patent Document 1 below has been known. The foam discharger consists of a stem that is erected at the mouth of the container body containing the contents liquid so that it can move downward while being urged upward, a liquid piston and an air piston that are linked to the stem, and a liquid piston. A liquid cylinder that is slidably housed inside, an air cylinder that is slidably housed inside an air piston, and the content liquid from the liquid cylinder and the air from the air cylinder. It is provided with a gas-liquid mixing chamber for mixing and an air passage for communicating the inside of the air cylinder and the gas-liquid mixing chamber.

JP-A-2015-163515

However, in the conventional foam discharger, for example, a part of the content liquid supplied from the liquid cylinder to the gas-liquid mixing chamber may flow into the air cylinder through the air passage.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to suppress the intrusion of a liquid into an air cylinder.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes the following means.
The foam discharger according to the present invention includes a stem that is erected at the mouth of a container body containing the contents liquid so as to be movable downward in an upwardly urged state, and a liquid piston and an air piston that are linked to the stem. , The liquid cylinder in which the liquid piston is housed so as to be slidable up and down, the air cylinder in which the air piston is housed so as to be slidable up and down, and the content liquid from the liquid cylinder. A gas-liquid mixing chamber that mixes air from the air cylinder, a valve seat arranged on the stem, and a valve seat that can be separated from the valve seat and separated from the valve seat to enter the liquid cylinder. A liquid discharge valve that allows the outflow of fluid from the gas-liquid mixing chamber to the liquid-liquid mixing chamber and regulates the inflow of the liquid from the gas-liquid mixing chamber into the liquid cylinder by sitting on the valve seat, and the valve seat. A holding member that abuts on the liquid discharge valve separated from the liquid discharge valve and limits the amount of separation of the liquid discharge valve from the valve seat, an air passage capable of communicating the inside of the air cylinder and the gas-liquid mixing chamber, and the like. Allows the outflow of fluid from the air cylinder to the gas-liquid mixing chamber through the air passage, and regulates the inflow of the fluid from the gas-liquid mixing chamber into the air cylinder through the air passage. The holding member is provided with a check valve, and the holding member has a topped cylinder shape in which the liquid discharge valve comes into contact with the top wall portion and a communication hole is formed in the peripheral wall portion, and the check valve is the holding. The check valve and the holding member are integrally formed so as to cover the member from the outside in the radial direction, and the lower end portion of the check valve is connected to the lower end portion of the holding member. The air passage opens to the inner peripheral surface of the stem, and the upper end of the check valve is in pressure contact with the inner peripheral surface of the stem, whereby the communication between the gas-liquid mixing chamber and the air passage is cut off. Further, the check valve is elastically deformed inward in the radial direction, and the upper end portion of the check valve is separated from the inner peripheral surface of the stem, so that the gas-liquid mixing chamber and the air passage communicate with each other. do.

In the present invention, the foam ejector is provided with a check valve. Therefore, for example, when the inside of the air cylinder becomes a negative pressure or when the gas-liquid mixing chamber becomes a positive pressure, these negative pressures and positive pressures act on the check valve, and the like, thereby causing an air passage. The communication between the inside of the air cylinder and the gas-liquid mixing chamber through which the air has passed can be cut off by a check valve. As a result, it is possible to suppress the intrusion of the liquid into the air cylinder.
When the liquid has entered the air cylinder and the content liquid adheres to the sliding surface of the inner surface of the air cylinder on which the air piston slides, the sliding resistance of the air piston increases. This may increase and affect the performance of the foam ejector. Therefore, it is possible to easily secure the performance of the foam ejector by suppressing the intrusion of the liquid into the air cylinder like this foam ejector.
Further, since the check valve and the holding member are integrally formed, it is possible to suppress an increase in the number of parts.

The check valve may be arranged at a connection portion between the gas-liquid mixing chamber and the air passage.

In this case, a check valve is arranged at the connection portion between the gas-liquid mixing chamber and the air passage. Therefore, it is possible to suppress not only the intrusion of the liquid into the air cylinder but also the intrusion of the liquid into the air passage.

A foaming member for foaming the gas-liquid mixture from the gas-liquid mixing chamber may be further provided, and the gas-liquid mixing chamber and the air passage may communicate with each other without passing through the foaming member.

In this case, the gas-liquid mixture from the gas-liquid mixing chamber is pressure-fed to the foaming member to generate foam. Here, for example, if the foaming member is clogged due to the drying of the content liquid or the like, and the flow resistance of the foaming member to the gas-liquid mixture pumped from the gas-liquid mixing chamber to the foaming member is high, the gas-liquid The mixture may be pumped (backflowed) from the gas-liquid mixing chamber to the air passage instead of the foaming member and flow into the air cylinder.
Therefore, the foam discharger is provided with a check valve. Therefore, the inflow of the gas-liquid mixture into the air cylinder as described above can be suppressed by the check valve. As a result, it is possible to effectively suppress the intrusion of the content liquid into the air cylinder.

According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the intrusion of liquid into the air cylinder.

It is a vertical sectional view which shows the foam discharger which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical sectional view of the main part of the foam discharger shown in FIG. 1. It is a vertical sectional view which shows the foam discharger which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part for explaining an introduction gap formed when the pressing head is pressed in the foam ejector shown in FIG.

(First Embodiment)
Hereinafter, the foam ejector 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The foam discharger 10 makes the content liquid into a foam and discharges it. Examples of the content liquid include skin cleaning liquids (hand soap, body soap) and the like. However, the content liquid is not particularly limited to these, and various content liquids discharged in the form of bubbles can be used.

As shown in FIG. 1, the foam discharger 10 is erected on the mounting cap 11 mounted on the mouth portion 1a of the container body 1 in which the content liquid is housed and on the mouth portion 1a so as to be movable downward in an upwardly urged state. A pump 13 having the stem 12, a pressing head 15 mounted on the stem 12 and having a nozzle hole 14 formed therein, and a regulating member 19 mounted detachably on the mounting cap 11 to regulate the pressing of the pressing head 15. , Is equipped.

Here, the mounting cap 11 is formed in the shape of a cylinder that opens vertically, and the pressing head 15 is formed in the shape of a climax cylinder. The central axes of the mounting cap 11, the stem 12, and the pressing head 15 are located on a common axis. Hereinafter, this common axis is referred to as an axis O, a direction along the axis O is referred to as a vertical direction, a pressing head 15 side along the vertical direction is referred to as an upper side, and the opposite side is referred to as a lower side. In a plan view of the bubble ejector 10 from the vertical direction, the direction orthogonal to the axis O is referred to as the radial direction, and the direction orbiting around the axis O is referred to as the circumferential direction.

The mounting cap 11 mounts the pump 13 on the container body 1. The mounting cap 11 includes an annular top wall portion 16 arranged on the mouth portion 1a of the container body 1, a guide tube portion 17 erected on the inner peripheral edge portion of the top wall portion 16, and an outside of the top wall portion 16. It includes a mounting peripheral wall portion 18 that extends downward from the peripheral portion and is mounted on the mouth portion 1a. In the present embodiment, the mouth portion 1a and the mounting peripheral wall portion 18 are fitted by screwing the male screw formed on the mouth portion 1a and the female screw formed on the mounting peripheral wall portion 18. However, the mouth portion 1a and the mounting peripheral wall portion 18 can be fitted by another fitting method such as undercut fitting.
The regulating member 19 is formed in a C shape in the plan view, and is detachably fitted to the guide cylinder portion 17.

The stem 12 is inserted into the mounting cap 11. The stem 12 includes a lower stem 20 and an upper stem 21.
The upper end portion of the lower stem 20 is arranged in the guide cylinder portion 17. An annular valve seat 22 projecting inward in the radial direction is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the upper end portion of the lower stem 20. The valve seat 22 is arranged on the stem 12. The valve seat 22 is provided with a spherical liquid discharge valve 23 so that it can be seated and separated.

The liquid discharge valve 23 is seated on the valve seat 22 so as to be detachable. The liquid discharge valve 23 allows the fluid (for example, the content liquid) to flow out from the inside of the liquid cylinder 26 to the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 by separating from the valve seat 22. The liquid discharge valve 23 regulates the inflow of a fluid (for example, a gas-liquid mixture, a content liquid, or air) from the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 into the liquid cylinder 26 by being seated on the valve seat 22. The liquid discharge valve 23 is a so-called ball valve.

The amount of ascending movement of the liquid discharge valve 23 is limited by the holding member 24 provided in the upper end portion of the lower stem 20. The pressing member 24 comes into contact with the liquid discharge valve 23 separated from the valve seat 22 and limits the amount of separation of the liquid discharge valve 23 from the valve seat 22. The pressing member 24 is formed in a ridged cylinder shape. The liquid discharge valve 23 separates from the valve seat 22 until it comes into contact with the top wall portion of the holding member 24. A communication hole 24a is formed in the peripheral wall portion of the pressing member 24. A plurality of communication holes 24a are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction.

The lower portion of the upper stem 21 is fitted to the upper end portion of the lower stem 20 from the outside, and the upper stem 21 is inserted vertically into the guide cylinder portion 17 of the mounting cap 11. The lower portion of the upper stem 21 includes a small inner diameter portion having a small inner diameter and being located on the upper side, and a large inner diameter portion having a large inner diameter and being located on the lower side. It is fitted to the upper end of 20. The large inner diameter portion constitutes the lower end portion of the upper stem 21.

A reduced diameter portion 21a is formed in an intermediate portion of the upper stem 21 located between the upper portion and the lower portion. An upper end portion of the pressing member 24 is arranged in the reduced diameter portion 21a.
A plurality of vertical grooves 21b extending in the vertical direction are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the small inner diameter portion in the lower portion of the upper stem 21. The upper end portion of the vertical groove 21b communicates with the first through hole 20a formed in the upper end portion of the lower stem 20. The first through hole 20a can communicate with the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 described later. The lower end portion of the vertical groove 21b opens downward and communicates with the inside of the large inner diameter portion.

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

The air cylinder 28 is formed in the shape of a bottomed cylinder housed in the container body 1, and the liquid cylinder 26 is formed in the shape of a cylinder. Both of these cylinders are arranged coaxially with the axis O. A flange protruding outward in the radial direction is provided at the upper end portion of the air cylinder 28, and the flange is arranged on the mouth portion 1a via the packing. The bottom of the air cylinder 28 is located above the liquid level of the content liquid in the container body 1, and the liquid cylinder 26 extends downward from the bottom of the air cylinder 28. The liquid cylinder 26 and the air cylinder 28 are integrally formed. The liquid cylinder 26 is formed to have a smaller diameter than the air cylinder 28.
An air hole 28b is provided in the peripheral wall portion of the air cylinder 28. The air hole 28b is open in the container body 1 to introduce outside air into the container body 1.

The air piston 27 is integrally formed with the stem 12. In this embodiment, the air piston 27 is integrally formed with the lower stem 20. The air piston 27 connects an outer sliding cylinder 31 that is airtightly fitted in the air cylinder 28 up and down, an inner peripheral surface of the outer sliding cylinder 31, and an outer peripheral surface of the lower stem 20. The connecting plate 33 and the connecting plate 33 are provided.
The connecting plate 33 is connected to the central portion of the lower stem 20 in the vertical direction. A second through hole 34 that penetrates the connecting plate 33 in the vertical direction is formed in the inner peripheral edge portion of the connecting plate 33. The second through hole 34 communicates the vertical groove 21b with the inside of the air cylinder 28.

The connecting plate 33 is provided with a seal cylinder 56, an air introduction hole 57, and an air valve 58.
The seal cylinder 56 is arranged coaxially with the axis O and protrudes upward from the connecting plate 33. The seal cylinder 56 surrounds the second through hole 34 from the outside in the radial direction in a plan view of the connecting plate 33 from the vertical direction. The lower end portion of the upper stem 21 is fitted in the seal cylinder 56.

The air introduction hole 57 introduces air into the air cylinder 28. The air introduction hole 57 penetrates the connecting plate 33 in the vertical direction. The air introduction hole 57 is arranged on the outer side in the radial direction with respect to the seal cylinder 56. A plurality of air introduction holes 57 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction.
The air valve 58 is formed separately from the connecting plate 33 and is attached to the connecting plate 33. The air valve 58 sits on the lower surface of the connecting plate 33 so as to be separable, and cuts off communication between the inside of the air cylinder 28 and the air introduction hole 57. The air valve 58 closes the air introduction hole 57 so as to be openable from below. The air valve 58 functions as a check valve and regulates the outflow of air from the inside of the air cylinder 28 to the outside through the air introduction hole 57.

The gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 is provided between the lower stem 20, the upper stem 21, and the holding member 24. The gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 can communicate with the inside of the air cylinder 28 through the air passage 36 provided in the pump 13. The air passage 36 guides the air in the air cylinder 28 to the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29. In the illustrated example, the air passage 36 includes a first through hole 20a, a vertical groove 21b, the inside of the large inner diameter portion, and a second through hole 34. The gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 and the air passage 36 can communicate with each other without passing through the foaming member 30.

A check valve 61 is arranged in the air passage 36. In the present embodiment, the check valve 61 is arranged at the connection portion between the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 and the air passage 36. The check valve 61 allows the outflow of fluid (for example, air) from the inside of the air cylinder 28 to the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 through the air passage 36. The check valve 61 regulates the inflow of fluid (for example, gas-liquid mixture, air, content liquid, water flowing in from the outside, etc.) through the air passage 36 from the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 into the air cylinder 28. do.

As shown in FIG. 2, the check valve 61 and the holding member 24 are integrally formed. The check valve 61 is formed in a cylindrical shape that covers the holding member 24 from the outside in the radial direction, and is arranged inside the stem 12 (in the upper end portion of the lower stem 20 in the illustrated example). The lower end of the check valve 61 is connected to the lower end of the holding member 24. The upper end of the check valve 61 is located above the first through hole 20a. The upper end portion of the check valve 61 is arranged at a position equivalent to the top wall portion of the holding member 24 in the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the upper end of the check valve 61 is in pressure contact with the inner peripheral surface of the stem 12, so that the communication between the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 and the air passage 36 is cut off. The check valve 61 is elastically deformable in the radial direction. The check valve 61 is elastically deformed inward in the radial direction, and the upper end portion of the check valve 61 is separated from the inner peripheral surface of the stem 12, so that the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 and the air passage 36 communicate with each other.
The check valve 61 includes a base portion 62 forming the lower portion of the check valve 61 and a deformed portion 63 forming the upper portion of the check valve 61. The base portion 62 is formed in a cylindrical shape that extends straight in the vertical direction. The deformed portion 63 is formed in a cylindrical shape whose diameter increases toward the top.

The liquid piston 25 is formed in a multi-stage cylindrical shape that gradually reduces in diameter from the lower side to the upper side, and the stem 12 extends upward from the liquid piston 25. The liquid piston 25 protrudes downward from the upper cylinder portion 25a fitted in the stem 12 in a liquidtight state from the lower end opening edge of the stem 12, and is slidably fitted in the liquid cylinder 26. It is provided with a lower cylinder portion 25b.

A coil spring 38 that supports the liquid piston 25 so as to be movable downward is disposed between the upper cylinder portion 25a and the inner surface of the lower end portion of the liquid cylinder 26.
Inside the liquid piston 25 and the liquid cylinder 26, a rod-shaped valve member 39 extending in the vertical direction is provided. The upper end of the valve member 39 is an upper valve body 39a that can be seated and separated from the upper end opening of the upper cylinder 25a of the liquid piston 25, and the lower end of the valve member 39 is the lower end opening in the liquid cylinder 26. It is a lower valve body 39b that can be seated and separated from the portion.

The foam member 30 is provided in the stem 12 and is fitted in the upper portion of the upper stem 21 in the illustrated example. The foaming member 30 is configured by connecting a plurality of foaming elements 30a in the vertical direction, or two in the illustrated example. Each foam element 30a includes a tubular body 30b fitted in the upper stem 21 and a mesh body 30c (mesh) disposed on the open end edge of the tubular body 30b. Of the two foam elements 30a, in the foam element 30a located on the lower side, the net body 30c is located below the cylinder body 30b, and in the foam element 30a located on the upper side, the net body 30c becomes the cylinder body 30b. It is located above. In other words, in the tubular bodies 30b of the two foam elements 30a, the open end edges on which the net body 30c is not arranged are butted against each other. The number of foam elements 30a may be one.

The pressing head 15 includes a head main body 41 and an outer cylinder portion 42. The head main body 41 and the outer cylinder portion 42 are formed as separate bodies and are assembled to each other. The head main body 41 includes a top wall portion 43, a mounting cylinder portion 44, a fitting cylinder portion 45, and a nozzle cylinder portion 47. The top wall portion 43 is arranged on the upper side of the stem 12.

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

The nozzle cylinder portion 47 extends radially outward from the mounting cylinder portion 44, and protrudes radially outward from the fitting cylinder portion 45. The inside of the nozzle cylinder portion 47 communicates with the inside of the stem 12 through the inside of the upper end portion of the mounting cylinder portion 44, and the nozzle hole 14 is provided in the tip portion of the nozzle cylinder portion 47.

The outer cylinder portion 42 is provided below the top wall portion 43, and the upper end portion of the outer cylinder portion 42 is fitted in the fitting cylinder portion 45. A storage hole 42a in which the nozzle cylinder portion 47 is housed is formed at the upper end portion of the exterior cylinder portion 42. The accommodating hole 42a is formed in a notch shape that opens upward. A gap is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle cylinder portion 47 and the inner peripheral surface of the accommodating hole 42a to communicate the inside and the outside of the exterior cylinder portion 42. The outer cylinder portion 42 surrounds the mounting cylinder portion 44 and the guide cylinder portion 17 from the outside in the radial direction, and the inside of the outer cylinder portion 42 is inside the guide cylinder portion 17 and inside the air cylinder 28 through the air introduction hole 57. Communication is possible.

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

In the foam discharger 10, when the content liquid is discharged, the regulating member 19 is removed and the pressing head 15 is pushed down. Then, the guide cylinder portion 17 enters the gap between the mounting cylinder portion 44 and the outer cylinder portion 42, and the stem 12 and the liquid piston 25 move downward while compressing and deforming the coil spring 38 in the vertical direction.
At this time, as the liquid piston 25 moves downward, the upper end portion of the liquid piston 25 separates downward from the upper valve body 39a of the valve member 39, and the inside of the liquid cylinder 26 and the inside of the stem 12 communicate with each other. Then, the lower valve body 39b of the valve member 39 is also moved downward, and the lower valve body 39b sits on the lower end opening in the liquid cylinder 26 and closes.

The air piston 27 is also moved downward. At this time, while the outside air is sucked into the upper chamber located above the air piston 27 in the air cylinder 28 through between the mounting cylinder portion 44 and the guide cylinder portion 17, the air is used in the air cylinder 28. The air in the lower chamber located below the piston 27 is compressed. As a result, the air in the lower chamber flows into the air passage 36 and is transferred to the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29. At this time, the internal pressure (positive pressure) of the air cylinder 28 acts on the check valve 61 through the air passage 36, and the check valve 61 elastically deforms inward in the radial direction and separates from the inner peripheral surface of the stem 12. do. As a result, the check valve 61 is opened, and air is supplied from the inside of the air cylinder 28 to the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 through the air passage 36.

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

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

After that, when the pressing of the pressing head 15 is released, the liquid piston 25 is pushed upward by the elastic restoring force of the coil spring 38. As a result, the upper end opening of the upper cylinder portion 25a of the liquid piston 25 abuts on the upper valve body 39a, the communication between the inside of the liquid cylinder 26 and the inside of the stem 12 is cut off, and the lower valve body 39b is moved. It separates from the lower end opening in the liquid cylinder 26, and the inside of the container body 1 and the inside of the liquid cylinder 26 communicate with each other, and the content liquid in the container body 1 flows into the liquid cylinder 26. At this time, the inside of the container body 1 becomes a negative pressure, and the outside air sucked into the upper chamber is introduced into the container body 1 through the air holes 28b.

Further, when the stem 12 and the air piston 27 are integrally raised together with the liquid piston 25 that rises in this way, the internal pressure of the lower chamber is lowered and the negative pressure acts on the air valve 58 and the check valve 61. .. Then, the air valve 58 is elastically deformed to open the air introduction hole 57, and the air in the upper chamber is sucked into the lower chamber through the air introduction hole 57. Further, the check valve 61 is restored and deformed toward the outer side in the radial direction and is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the stem 12. As a result, the check valve 61 is closed, and the inflow of, for example, the content liquid from the air cylinder 28 into the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 is restricted.

As described above, according to the foam ejector 10 according to the present embodiment, the foam ejector 10 includes a check valve 61. Therefore, for example, when the inside of the air cylinder 28 becomes a negative pressure or when the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 becomes a positive pressure, these negative pressures and positive pressures act on the check valve 61 and the like. The communication between the inside of the air cylinder 28 and the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 through the air passage 36 can be cut off by the check valve 61. As a result, it is possible to suppress the intrusion of the liquid into the air cylinder 28.

It should be noted that when the liquid has entered the air cylinder 28, the sliding surface on which the air piston 27 slides on the inner surface of the air cylinder 28 (in the present embodiment, the inner circumference of the air cylinder 28). When the liquid content adheres to the surface), the sliding resistance of the air piston 27 may increase, which may affect the performance of the foam ejector 10. Therefore, it is possible to easily secure the performance of the foam ejector 10 by suppressing the intrusion of the liquid into the air cylinder 28 like the foam ejector 10.

Further, the check valve 61 is arranged at the connection portion between the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 and the air passage 36. Therefore, not only the intrusion of the liquid into the air cylinder 28 but also the intrusion of the liquid into the air passage 36 can be suppressed.
Further, since the check valve 61 and the holding member 24 are integrally formed, it is possible to suppress an increase in the number of parts.

By the way, in this foam discharger 10, a foam is generated by pressure-feeding the gas-liquid mixture from the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 to the foam member 30. Here, for example, the foaming member 30 (net body 30c) is clogged due to the drying of the content liquid, and the flow resistance of the foaming member 30 to the gas-liquid mixture pumped from the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 to the foaming member 30. If it is high, the gas-liquid mixture may be pressure-fed (backflow) from the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 to the air passage 36 instead of the foaming member 30 and flow into the air cylinder 28.
Therefore, the foam discharger 10 is provided with a check valve 61. Therefore, the inflow of the gas-liquid mixture into the air cylinder 28 as described above can be suppressed by the check valve 61. As a result, it is possible to effectively suppress the intrusion of the content liquid into the air cylinder 28.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, the foam ejector 10A according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
In the second embodiment, the same parts as the components in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, the description thereof will be omitted, and only the different points will be described.

In the foam discharger 10A according to the present embodiment, the air piston 27 includes an inner sliding cylinder 32 in addition to the outer sliding cylinder 31 and the connecting plate 33. The inner sliding cylinder 32 is arranged inside the outer sliding cylinder 31. The connecting plate 33 connects the inner peripheral surface of the outer sliding cylinder 31 and the outer peripheral surface of the inner sliding cylinder 32.
The stem 12 is inserted vertically into the inner sliding cylinder 32, and in the present embodiment, the lower stem 20 is inserted into the inner sliding cylinder 32. The inner sliding cylinder 32 is exteriorized at the central portion in the vertical direction of the lower stem 20, and the inner sliding cylinder 32 is located between the inner peripheral surface of the inner sliding cylinder 32 and the outer peripheral surface of the lower stem 20. A communication passage S2 extending over the entire length in the vertical direction is provided.

The upper end portion of the inner sliding cylinder 32 is vertically slidably fitted in the lower end portion of the upper stem 21. A communication gap S1 which is a vertical gap is provided between the upper end edge of the inner sliding cylinder 32 and the lower end edge of the small inner diameter portion of the upper stem 21. The lower end of the vertical groove 21b of the upper stem 21 and the upper end of the communication passage S2 are separately opened in the communication gap S1.

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

Further, in the present embodiment, the portion of the lower stem 20 located inside the air cylinder 28 is provided with an annular contact portion 37 projecting outward in the radial direction. The upper surface portion of the contact portion 37 abuts on the lower end edge of the inner sliding cylinder 32 of the air piston 27 and closes the opening of the air passage 36 in the air cylinder 28, and the contact portion 37 is the air. The communication between the inside of the cylinder 28 and the air-liquid mixing chamber 29 is cut off.
In the present embodiment, the air passage 36 is provided with the first through hole 20a, the vertical groove 21b, the inside of the large inner diameter portion, and the second through hole 34, instead of the first through hole 20a. , A vertical groove 21b, a communication gap S1, and a communication passage S2.

Next, the operation of the foam ejector 10A will be described.

In the foam discharger 10A, when the content liquid is discharged, the regulating member 19 is removed and the pressing head 15 is pushed down. Then, the guide cylinder portion 17 enters the gap between the mounting cylinder portion 44 and the outer cylinder portion 42, and the stem 12 and the liquid piston 25 move downward while compressing and deforming the coil spring 38 in the vertical direction.
At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, an annular introduction gap S3 extending over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction is formed between the lower end of the inner sliding cylinder 32 and the upper surface portion of the contact portion 37 in the stem 12. The inside of the air cylinder 28 and the inside of the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 communicate with each other through the introduction gap S3 and the air passage 36.

Further, at this time, as the liquid piston 25 moves downward, the upper end portion of the liquid piston 25 separates downward from the upper valve body 39a of the valve member 39, and the inside of the liquid cylinder 26 and the inside of the stem 12 are separated from each other. Through communication, the lower valve body 39b of the valve member 39 is also moved downward, and the lower valve body 39b sits on the lower end opening in the liquid cylinder 26 and closes.

Then, the lower end edge of the upper stem 21 comes into contact with the upper end portion of the convex rib portion 32a, so that the air piston 27 is also moved downward. At this time, while the outside air is sucked into the upper chamber located above the air piston 27 in the air cylinder 28 through between the mounting cylinder portion 44 and the guide cylinder portion 17, the air is used in the air cylinder 28. The air in the lower chamber located below the piston 27 is compressed. As a result, the air in the lower chamber flows into the air passage 36 from the introduction gap S3 and is transferred to the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29. At this time, the internal pressure (positive pressure) of the air cylinder 28 acts on the check valve 61 through the air passage 36, and the check valve 61 elastically deforms inward in the radial direction and separates from the inner peripheral surface of the stem 12. do. As a result, the check valve 61 is opened, and air is supplied from the inside of the air cylinder 28 to the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 through the air passage 36.

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

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

After that, when the pressing of the pressing head 15 is released, the liquid piston 25 is pushed upward by the elastic restoring force of the coil spring 38. As a result, the upper end opening of the upper cylinder portion 25a of the liquid piston 25 abuts on the upper valve body 39a, the communication between the inside of the liquid cylinder 26 and the inside of the stem 12 is cut off, and the lower valve body 39b is moved. It separates from the lower end opening in the liquid cylinder 26, communicates with the inside of the container body 1 and the inside of the liquid cylinder 26, and the content liquid in the container body 1 flows into the liquid cylinder 26. At this time, the inside of the container body 1 becomes a negative pressure, and the outside air sucked into the upper chamber is introduced into the container body 1 through the air holes 28b.

Further, the stem 12 and the pressing head 15 are integrally raised together with the liquid piston 25 that rises in this way, and the contact portion 37 of the stem 12 hits the lower end edge of the inner sliding cylinder 32 of the air piston 27. By contacting them, the communication between the lower chamber and the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 through the air passage 36 is cut off. In this state, when the stem 12 and the air piston 27 rise integrally, the internal pressure of the lower chamber decreases and the negative pressure acts on the air valve 58. Then, the air valve 58 is elastically deformed to open the air introduction hole 57, and the air in the upper chamber is sucked into the lower chamber through the air introduction hole 57. Further, the check valve 61 is restored and deformed toward the outer side in the radial direction and is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the stem 12. As a result, the check valve 61 is closed, and the inflow of, for example, the content liquid from the air cylinder 28 into the gas-liquid mixing chamber 29 is restricted.

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

For example, the regulating member 19 may not be present.
Further, in the above embodiment, the pressing head 15 includes a head main body 41 and an outer cylinder portion 42 formed separately, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the entire pressing head may be integrally formed.

The check valve 61 is not limited to the configuration shown in the above embodiment. For example, the check valve 61 may be arranged at the connection portion between the air piston 27 and the air passage 36, or may be arranged inside the air passage 36. Further, for example, the check valve 61 does not have to be cylindrical, and may be spherical, for example.

In addition, it is possible to appropriately replace the components in the embodiment with well-known components without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the above-mentioned modifications may be appropriately combined.

1 Container body 1a Mouth 10, 10A Foam discharger 12 Stem 13 Pump 25 Liquid piston 26 Liquid cylinder 27 Air piston 28 Air cylinder 29 Air-liquid mixing chamber

Claims (3)

A stem that is erected at the mouth of the container body containing the contents liquid so that it can move downward while being urged upward.
The liquid piston and the air piston linked to the stem,
A liquid cylinder in which the liquid piston is housed so as to be slidable up and down,
An air cylinder in which the air piston is housed so as to be slidable up and down,
A gas-liquid mixing chamber that mixes the content liquid from the liquid cylinder and the air from the air cylinder,
The valve seat placed on the stem and
It sits on the valve seat so that it can be separated from the valve seat, allowing the fluid to flow out from the liquid cylinder to the gas-liquid mixing chamber by separating from the valve seat, and seating on the valve seat allows the gas-liquid mixing. A liquid discharge valve that regulates the inflow of fluid from the chamber into the liquid cylinder,
A holding member that comes into contact with the liquid discharge valve separated from the valve seat and limits the amount of separation of the liquid discharge valve from the valve seat.
An air passage that allows communication between the inside of the air cylinder and the gas-liquid mixing chamber,
Allows the outflow of fluid from the air cylinder to the gas-liquid mixing chamber through the air passage, and regulates the inflow of the fluid from the air-liquid mixing chamber into the air cylinder through the air passage. With a check valve,
The holding member has a topped cylinder shape in which the liquid discharge valve abuts on the top wall portion and a communication hole is formed in the peripheral wall portion.
The check valve is formed in a cylindrical shape that covers the holding member from the outside in the radial direction.
The check valve and the holding member are integrally formed.
The lower end of the check valve is connected to the lower end of the holding member.
The air passage opens on the inner peripheral surface of the stem and
When the upper end of the check valve is in pressure contact with the inner peripheral surface of the stem, the communication between the gas-liquid mixing chamber and the air passage is cut off, and the check valve is directed inward in the radial direction. A foam discharger in which the gas-liquid mixing chamber and the air passage communicate with each other by elastically deforming and separating the upper end portion of the check valve from the inner peripheral surface of the stem. The foam discharger according to claim 1, wherein the check valve is arranged at a connection portion between the gas-liquid mixing chamber and the air passage. A foaming member for foaming the gas-liquid mixture from the gas-liquid mixing chamber is further provided.
The foam discharger according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the gas-liquid mixing chamber and the air passage communicate with each other without passing through the foaming member.

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