JP7475792B2 - Dispensing tool and dispensing container - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a dispenser and a dispenser container that dispenses liquid contained in a container body.

Conventionally, as a container for containing liquid such as hand soap, body soap, shampoo, face wash, etc., a dispensing container configured by assembling a dispensing tool to a container body that contains the liquid content has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

The discharge tool used in such a discharge container has a push-down head equipped with a nozzle, an attachment cap attached to the mouth of the container body, and a pump equipped with a cylinder held in place by the attachment cap and a piston disposed inside the cylinder. When the push-down head is pushed down, the pump is operated to discharge the liquid contents stored in the container body from the nozzle.

JP 2019-177949 A

The conventional dispenser described above is constructed as a single unit with the push-down head connected and supported to the pump, and the pump held in the mounting cap. In this state, it is generally transported to the assembly process by a parts feeder or the like and assembled into the container body.

However, in the above conventional dispensers, the pump is held in the mounting cap by fitting the mating part on the upper end of the cylinder to the mating part on the mounting cap. Therefore, for example, when the dispenser is transported by a parts feeder or the like, if an external force is applied to the cylinder in a direction that bends the axis of the cylinder relative to the mounting cap, there is a risk that the cylinder may come loose from its engagement with the mounting cap.

The present invention was developed to solve these problems, and its purpose is to provide a dispenser that has improved fitting strength with the mounting cap of the cylinder, and a dispenser container that uses the same.

The discharge tool of the present invention comprises a push-down head having a nozzle, an attachment cap attached to the mouth of a container body, a pump having a cylinder held in engagement with the attachment cap, and a piston disposed inside the cylinder, and is configured such that when the push-down head is pushed down, the pump is operated to discharge the liquid content stored in the container body from the nozzle, and the discharge tool comprises a cylindrical first engagement portion provided on the attachment cap, a cylindrical second engagement portion provided below the first engagement portion and connected to the first engagement portion, and a piston disposed on the cylinder and connected to the first engagement portion. The flange has a cylindrical first engaged portion which engages with the outer peripheral surface, and a cylindrical second engaged portion which is connected below the first engaged portion and engaged with the outer peripheral surface of the second engaged portion, and which has an inner diameter smaller than that of the first engaged portion, wherein at least one of the first engaged portion and the first engaged portion is provided with a first air passage extending over the entire vertical range of the engaged portion between the first engaged portion and the first engaged portion, and at least one of the second engaged portion and the second engaged portion is provided with a second air passage extending over the entire vertical range of the engaged portion between the second engaged portion and the second engaged portion and which is connected to the first air passage .

In the above configuration of the discharge tool of the present invention, it is preferable that the first engagement portion is press-fitted into the first engagement portion, and the second engagement portion is press-fitted into the second engagement portion.

In the above configuration, the discharge tool of the present invention is preferably provided with a first protrusion on either the first engaging portion or the first engaged portion that engages in an undercut manner with a first groove provided on the other of the first engaging portion or the first engaged portion, and a second protrusion on either the second engaging portion or the second engaged portion that engages in an undercut manner with a second groove provided on the other of the second engaging portion or the second engaged portion.

In the above configuration, the discharge tool of the present invention is configured such that the pump includes a liquid cylinder and a liquid piston for pressure-feeding the liquid content stored in the container body to the nozzle, and an air cylinder and an air piston for pressure-feeding air to the nozzle, thereby discharging the content in foam form from the nozzle, and it is preferable that the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion are provided on the air cylinder.

The discharge container of the present invention is characterized by comprising the container body and the discharge tool.

The present invention provides a dispenser that has improved fitting strength with respect to the mounting cap of the cylinder, and a dispenser container that uses the same.

1 is a partially cutaway front view of a dispensing container equipped with a dispensing tool according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the mating portion between the mounting cap and the cylinder. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a modified example of the joint portion between the mounting cap and the cylinder. FIG.

The following provides a detailed explanation of an example of a dispenser 1 and a dispenser container 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the dispenser 1 is attached to the container body 3, and together with the container body 3 constitutes the dispenser container 2.

In this embodiment, the dispenser container 2 is used to store foaming liquid such as hand soap, body soap, shampoo, and facial cleanser, and the dispenser 1 is configured as a foam dispenser that mixes the liquid stored inside the container body 3 with air and dispenses it in the form of foam.

The container body 3 to which the dispenser 1 is attached can be, for example, a blow-molded bottle made of a synthetic resin material and equipped with a cylindrical mouth 3a and a bottomed tubular body 3b connected to the mouth 3a. A male screw 3c is integrally formed on the outer periphery of the mouth 3a.

The container body 3 may have various configurations with different shapes, materials, manufacturing methods, etc., as long as it has a mouth portion 3a and is configured to be able to store the liquid content inside.

The dispenser 1 comprises an attachment cap 10, a pump 20, and a push-down head 30.

The attachment cap 10 is formed, for example, from a synthetic resin material, into a topped cylinder having a cylindrical peripheral wall 11 centered on the axis O and a top wall 12 continuing to the upper end of the peripheral wall 11. A female thread 11a is integrally formed on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 11. The attachment cap 10 is attached to the mouth 3a of the container body 3 by threading the female thread 11a into a male thread 3c provided on the mouth 3a of the container body 3. By attaching the attachment cap 10 to the mouth 3a of the container body 3, the dispenser 1 is assembled to the container body 3.

The attachment cap 10 is not limited to being attached to the mouth 3a of the container body 3 by a screw connection between the male thread 3c and the female thread 11a, but can also be attached to the mouth 3a of the container body 3 by other configurations, such as a stopper using an undercut engagement. In addition, the shape of the attachment cap 10 can be modified in various ways as long as it can be attached to the mouth 3a of the container body 3.

The pump 20 is equipped with a liquid supply unit 21 and an air supply unit 22 that are activated by pressing down the press-down head 30. The liquid supply unit 21 and the air supply unit 22 are arranged in a vertical orientation coaxially with the mounting cap 10.

The liquid supply unit 21 includes a liquid cylinder 21a and a liquid piston 21b for pumping the liquid content stored in the container body 3 toward the push-down head 30. The liquid cylinder 21a is an elongated cylinder. The liquid piston 21b is disposed inside the liquid cylinder 21a and is in slidable contact with the inner circumferential surface of the liquid cylinder 21a, and is connected to the push-down head 30 via a stem 23. When the push-down head 30 is pushed down, the liquid piston 21b moves downward while sliding along the inner circumferential surface of the liquid cylinder 21a. As a result, the liquid supply unit 21 pumps the liquid content filled inside the liquid cylinder 21a from inside the container body 3 through the pipe 24 toward the push-down head 30 via the stem 23.

The air supply unit 22 includes an air cylinder 22a and an air piston 22b for pumping air toward the press-down head 30. The air cylinder 22a is cylindrical with an outer diameter larger than that of the liquid cylinder 21a. The air piston 22b is disposed inside the air cylinder 22a and is in sliding contact with the inner circumferential surface of the air cylinder 22a, and is connected to the press-down head 30 via the stem 23. When the press-down head 30 is pressed down, the air piston 22b moves downward while sliding on the inner circumferential surface of the air cylinder 22a. As a result, the air supply unit 22 pumps air introduced into the air cylinder 22a from the outside air introduction hole 26, which is provided with a check valve 25, toward the press-down head 30 through the stem 23.

The liquid content pumped by the liquid supply unit 21 toward the push-down head 30 is mixed with air pumped by the air supply unit 22 toward the push-down head 30 inside the stem 23. This causes the liquid content to be pumped toward the push-down head 30 while being foamed. A mesh member may be provided inside the stem 23 to promote foaming of the liquid content.

The liquid cylinder 21a is integrally connected to the lower end of the air cylinder 22a. Meanwhile, the air cylinder 22a has a flange 22c integrally formed at its upper end, and the outer peripheral edge of the flange 22c fits into the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 11 of the mounting cap 10 and is sandwiched between the top wall 12 and the mouth 3a of the container body 3. In this way, the pump 20 is suspended and held inside the container body 3. The reference numeral 27 denotes a sealing member such as a packing.

The push-down head 30 has a head body 32 with a nozzle 31, and the head body 32 is fixed to the upper end of the stem 23. The nozzle 31 is connected to the internal passage of the stem 23. Therefore, when the push-down head 30 is pushed down toward the container body 3 to operate the pump 20, the liquid contents stored in the container body 3 are mixed with air and foamed, and are then pumped to the push-down head 30, where the foamed liquid contents are discharged from the nozzle 31 to the outside.

To prevent erroneous operation of the push-down head 30 during distribution, etc., a stopper 40 can be detachably attached between the push-down head 30 and the attachment cap 10.

A fitting structure 50 is provided between the mounting cap 10 and the air cylinder 22a. As shown in FIG. 2, the fitting structure 50 includes a first fitting portion 51 and a second fitting portion 52 provided on the mounting cap 10.

The first fitting portion 51 is cylindrical with its center on the axis O of the mounting cap 10, is integral with the underside of the top wall 12 of the mounting cap 10, and protrudes downward from the top wall 12. The second fitting portion 52 is cylindrical and coaxial with the first fitting portion 51, has a smaller outer diameter than the first fitting portion 51, and is integrally connected below the first fitting portion 51.

The engagement structure 50 includes a first engagement portion 53 and a second engagement portion 54 provided on the air cylinder 22a.

The first engaged part 53 is cylindrical and coaxial with the first engaged part 51, and is provided integrally with the air cylinder 22a at the upper end of the air cylinder 22a. The second engaged part 54 is cylindrical and coaxial with the first engaged part 53, and has a smaller inner diameter than the first engaged part 53, and is provided integrally below the first engaged part 53.

The air cylinder 22a is held in engagement with the mounting cap 10 by having the first engagement portion 53 press-fitted onto the outside of the first engagement portion 51 of the mounting cap 10 and engaging with the outer peripheral surface of the first engagement portion 51, and the second engagement portion 54 press-fitted onto the outside of the second engagement portion 52 of the mounting cap 10 and engaging with the outer peripheral surface of the second engagement portion 52.

In this manner, in the discharge tool 1 or discharge container 2 of this embodiment, the air cylinder 22a is configured to be fitted and held to the mounting cap 10 by two fitting portions arranged side by side in the direction of the axis O. This increases the fitting strength of the air cylinder 22a to the mounting cap 10 compared to a configuration in which the air cylinder 22a is fitted and held to the mounting cap 10 by a single fitting portion.

For example, the upward tensile load resistance of the air cylinder 22a fitted and held to the mounting cap 10 is 151N in the comparative example configuration in which the air cylinder 22a is fitted and held to the mounting cap 10 by a single fitting portion, while it is 238N in the present embodiment. Also, the torsional load resistance in the direction of bending the axis O of the air cylinder 22a fitted and held to the mounting cap 10 is 63.4N in the comparative example configuration in which the air cylinder 22a is fitted and held to the mounting cap 10 by a single fitting portion, while it is 92.3N in the present embodiment.

Therefore, for example, in the manufacturing process of the discharge container 2, before the discharge tool 1 is assembled to the container body 3, even if an external force is applied to the air cylinder 22a in a direction that bends the axis O relative to the mounting cap 10 when the discharge tool 1 is transported by a parts feeder or the like, it is possible to prevent the air cylinder 22a from coming loose from its engagement with the mounting cap 10.

In particular, when the pump 20 is configured to discharge the contents from the nozzle 31 in a foam-like manner by providing the liquid cylinder 21a and liquid piston 21b, and the air cylinder 22a and air piston 22b, as in the case of the discharge tool 1 of this embodiment, the outer diameter of the air cylinder 22a becomes large, and therefore the influence of the external force in the direction of bending the axis O of the air cylinder 22a relative to the mounting cap 10 on the fitting force becomes large when the discharge tool 1 is transported by a parts feeder or the like. However, even in the discharge tool 1 of this configuration, the air cylinder 22a is configured to be held in engagement with the mounting cap 10 by two engagement parts arranged side by side in the direction of the axis O, so that the air cylinder 22a can be effectively prevented from coming loose from the engagement with the mounting cap 10.

In addition, by configuring the discharge container 2 using the discharge tool 1 having the above-mentioned configuration, the discharge tool 1 is not assembled to the container body 3 when the air cylinder 22a is no longer engaged with the mounting cap 10, thereby reducing defects in the discharge container 2 configured with the discharge tool 1 assembled to the container body 3.

The fitting structure 50 can also be configured with an air passage 55.

The ventilation passage 55 is configured by connecting a first ventilation passage 55a, which is a groove-like passage provided on the outer peripheral surface of the first fitting portion 51 and the first fitted portion 53, to the entire range in the vertical direction of the fitting portion between the first fitting portion 51 and the first fitted portion 53, and a second ventilation passage 55b, which is a groove-like passage provided on the outer peripheral surface of the second fitting portion 52 and the entire range in the vertical direction of the fitting portion between the second fitting portion 52 and the second fitted portion 54. Above the fitting portion between the first fitting portion 51 and the first fitted portion 53, there is a circular gap 56 defined by the base portion of the first fitting portion 51 and the curved corner of the inner peripheral end of the flange 22c, and the upper end of the first ventilation passage 55a is connected to the gap 56. In addition, between the mating portion of the first mating portion 51 and the first mated portion 53 and the mating portion of the second mating portion 52 and the second mated portion 54, a circular gap 57 is provided because the inclined surface portion connecting the first mating portion 51 and the second mated portion 52 is shifted upward relative to the inclined surface portion connecting the first mated portion 53 and the second mated portion 54, and the lower end of the first air passage 55a and the upper end of the second air passage 55b are each connected to the gap 57. Therefore, the internal space of the air cylinder 22a is connected by the air passage 55 to a gap 56 between the mating portion of the first mating portion 51 and the first mated portion 53 and the top wall 12 of the mounting cap 10, and a gap 57 between the mating portion of the first mating portion 51 and the first mated portion 53 and the mating portion of the second mating portion 52 and the second mated portion 54. Note that the configuration may be such that both or either one of the gaps 56 and 57 is not provided.

As a result, when the air cylinder 22a is attached to the attachment cap 10, the air inside the air cylinder 22a is discharged to the outside through the air passage 55, the gaps 56 and 57, and the gap between the flange 22c and the top wall 12 of the attachment cap 10, thereby preventing the air inside the air cylinder 22a from being pressurized. This prevents the task of attaching the air cylinder 22a to the attachment cap 10 from becoming complicated, and makes the task easier.

In the illustrated example, the ventilation passages 55 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the first mating portion 51 and the outer peripheral surface of the second mating portion 52, but they may also be provided on the inner peripheral surface of the first mated portion 53 and the inner peripheral surface of the second mated portion 54, or on all of the outer peripheral surface of the first mating portion 51, the outer peripheral surface of the second mating portion 52, the inner peripheral surface of the first mated portion 53, and the inner peripheral surface of the second mated portion 54.

As shown as a modified example in FIG. 3, the engagement structure 50 may be configured such that a first protrusion 51a is integrally provided on the outer peripheral surface of the first engagement portion 51, a second protrusion 52a is integrally provided on the outer peripheral surface of the second engagement portion 52, a first groove 53a is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the first engaged portion 53, and a second groove 54a is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the second engaged portion 54, with the first protrusion 51a undercut-engaged with the first groove 53a and the second protrusion 52a undercut-engaged with the second groove 54a.

In this modified example, it is preferable that the first protrusion 51a and the second protrusion 52a have an annular shape centered on the axis O, and the first groove 53a and the second groove 54a have an annular shape centered on the axis O. Note that instead of having an annular shape, the first protrusion 51a and the second protrusion 52a may have an intermittent shape having multiple parts spaced apart in the circumferential direction.

This configuration increases the fitting strength of the air cylinder 22a to the mounting cap 10, and more reliably prevents the air cylinder 22a from coming loose from the mounting cap 10.

It is also possible to provide a first groove on the outer peripheral surface of the first mating portion 51, a second groove on the outer peripheral surface of the second mating portion 52, a first protrusion on the inner peripheral surface of the first mated portion 53, and a second protrusion on the inner peripheral surface of the second mated portion 54, with the first protrusion undercut-engaged with the first groove and the second protrusion undercut-engaged with the second groove. In addition, a protrusion may be provided on each of the outer peripheral surface of the first mating portion 51, the outer peripheral surface of the second mating portion 52, the inner peripheral surface of the first mated portion 53, and the inner peripheral surface of the second mated portion 54, and the protrusion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the first mated portion 51 may be undercut-engaged with the protrusion provided on the inner peripheral surface of the first mated portion 53, and the protrusion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the second mated portion 52 may be undercut-engaged with the protrusion provided on the inner peripheral surface of the second mated portion 54.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Discharge tool 2 Discharge container 3 Container body 3a Mouth 3b Body 3c Male thread 10 Mounting cap 11 Peripheral wall 11a Female thread 12 Top wall 20 Pump 21 Liquid supply section 21a Liquid cylinder 21b Liquid piston 22 Air supply section 22a Air cylinder 22b Air piston 22c Flange 23 Stem 24 Pipe 25 Check valve 26 Outside air introduction hole 27 Seal member 30 Push-down head 31 Nozzle 32 Head body 40 Stopper 50 Engagement structure section 51 First engagement section 52 Second engagement section 53 First engaged section 54 Second engaged section 55 Air passage 55a First air passage 55b Second air passage 56 Gap 57 Gap O Axis

Claims (5)

a hold-down head having a nozzle;
An attachment cap that is attached to the mouth of the container body;
a pump including a cylinder held in engagement with the mounting cap and a piston disposed inside the cylinder,
A discharge tool configured to operate the pump and discharge the content liquid stored in the container body from the nozzle when the depression head is depressed,
A cylindrical first fitting portion provided on the mounting cap;
A cylindrical second mating portion having an outer diameter smaller than that of the first mating portion, the second mating portion being provided below the first mating portion and connected to the first mating portion;
A cylindrical first engaged portion provided on the cylinder and engaged with an outer circumferential surface of the first engaged portion;
A cylindrical second engaged portion having an inner diameter smaller than that of the first engaged portion, the second engaged portion being provided below the first engaged portion and engaged with an outer peripheral surface of the second engaged portion ,
At least one of the first engaging portion and the first engaged portion is provided with a first air passage extending over the entire range of the engagement portion between the first engaging portion and the first engaged portion in the vertical direction;
A discharge tool characterized in that a second air passage is provided in at least one of the second engaging portion and the second engaged portion, the second air passage extending over the entire vertical range of the engaged portion between the second engaging portion and the second engaged portion and communicating with the first air passage . The discharge tool according to claim 1, wherein the first engagement portion is press-fitted into the first engagement portion, and the second engagement portion is press-fitted into the second engagement portion. A first protrusion is provided on one of the first engaging portion and the first engaged portion, the first protrusion being engaged by undercut with a first groove provided on the other of the first engaging portion and the first engaged portion;
The discharge tool according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a second protrusion is provided on either the second engaging portion or the second engaged portion, the second protrusion engaging with an undercut in a second groove provided on the other of the second engaging portion or the second engaged portion. the pump is configured to include a liquid cylinder and a liquid piston for pressure-feeding the liquid contained in the container body to the nozzle, and an air cylinder and an air piston for pressure-feeding air to the nozzle, thereby discharging the contents from the nozzle in the form of foam,
The discharge tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion are provided on the air cylinder. A dispensing container comprising: the container body; and the dispensing tool according to any one of claims 1 to 4 .

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