Dispenser of doses of liquid or pasty substances

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dispenser (100) of doses of liquid or pasty substances (1) having a receptacle (2) for storing the substance to be dispensed and a piston (4) telescopically fitted in the receptacle (2), wherein the piston cannot rotate due to an anti-rotation mechanism (5) and is threadedly coupled to a rotary sleeve (3) about an axis of rotation (x). The dispenser has an actuator (6), which is manually operable for the movement thereof, and transmission means (7) connecting the actuator (6) to the rotary sleeve (3). The actuator (6) can be moved back and forth in a first direction (A) and a second direction (B) of movement, respectively, between two travel stops; and the transmission means (7) comprise a pusher part (71) in the actuator (6) and a pushed part (72) in the rotary sleeve (3), configured such that the pushed part (72) receives a push with a component that causes the rotary sleeve (3) to rotate in the direction that moves the piston (4) against the substance stored in the receptacle (2) when the actuator (6) is moved between both its outgoing and return travel stops.

Description

[0001]

[0002] A DISPENSER FOR DOSES OF LIQUID OR PASTY SUBSTANCES

[0003] Technical sector of the invention

[0004] The invention relates to a dispenser for doses of liquid or pasty substances, such as ophthalmological or dermatological substances, respectively, stored in a receptacle whose volume decreases as doses of said substance are released.

[0005] Background of the invention

[0006] Currently, there are known devices for dispensing doses of liquid substances or pasteurizers that use different techniques for such dispensing.

[0007] A well-known technique is airless pumping, which essentially involves storing the substance in a variable-volume receptacle under pressure conditions such that when the receptacle is connected to the outside and a dose of the substance filling it is evacuated, a piston, pushed by atmospheric pressure, moves towards the remaining substance, reducing the volume of the receptacle to compensate for the volume of the evacuated substance. This technique requires that the piston can only move in the direction that reduces the volume of the receptacle.

[0008] Other known techniques rely on the displacement of a piston encapsulated in the receptacle that stores the substance against the substance, raising its pressure to a threshold value that causes it to evacuate from the receptacle. For the implementation of these techniques, it is also important that the piston can only move against the substance to be evacuated.

[0009] For this reason, the piston is sometimes referred to as a non-return element or as a piston. There are various non-return solutions. A common non-return solution is based on equipping the piston with a series of tabs strategically placed around the piston's periphery and configured to deform elastically, allowing the piston to slide tightly along a surrounding sleeve in a direction that reduces the volume of the receptacle, but which interlock and prevent the same piston from sliding in the opposite direction.

[0010] This solution is viable when the volume, and therefore the dimensions of the dispenser, are large, but it poses problems when the dispenser dimensions are small. Small dispensers may be required when they are intended to be held and operated with one hand to dispense a dose of the stored substance directly onto a specific target body part, for example, an eye, instead of dispensing an unmeasured amount of substance onto the hands and then using the hands to distribute the substance. For example, an ophthalmic substance may become contaminated if it is not applied directly to the eye, and small-volume doses are usually required.

[0011] The aforementioned problems are issues of scale and manufacturing tolerances. For example, the tabs that perform the non-return function are very small, making it difficult and / or too costly to manufacture the associated parts and ensure their proper functioning once the dispensing device is assembled.

[0012] Another anti-return solution is based on the use of pistons threaded into an outer sleeve so that, like a spindle, the piston advances toward the receptacle when rotation is transmitted to the outer sleeve. This requires that the piston be prevented from rotating so that the movement imparted to the piston is translational. For this reason, the piston is sometimes referred to as a telescopic element or piston.

[0013] Patent document US 7309184 discloses a liquid-dispensing device in which a telescopic piston is advanced through the interior of a substance-storage receptacle. The piston is threaded onto a threaded rod engaged with an external actuator, such that turning the external actuator rotates the rod and forces the piston forward through the interior of the receptacle and against the substance, causing it to be expelled.

[0014] This type of dispenser has the disadvantage that it is not specifically designed to dispense doses of the substance; there is no control over the volume of the substance evacuated: the more the external actuator is turned, the greater the displacement of the piston and the quantity of substance evacuated.

[0015] Known in patent document EP 4106577 is a dispenser for creams or gels that is conceptually similar to that described in US 7309184 but that incorporates a locking system, in the form of a ratchet, that operates between components with a relative rotational movement with respect to each other, one of which is displaced in rotation by a user. The locking system is formed by an elastically deformable tab with a barbed head in one of the components that is made to coincide with a housing provided in the other of the components when they adopt a certain relative angular position, the barbed head then being housed in the housing by elastic restoring force of the tab. This housing produces a brake that warns the user that a certain relative movement has occurred between the components that translates into a certain displacement of the piston and in turn to a dose of the substance.The barbed head is configured, together with the associated housing, to be able to dislodge from the housing when a sufficient torque is applied in the appropriate direction to one of the components with relative movement and to be able to evacuate a dose of substance again.

[0016] This type of dispenser has the disadvantage of not being suitable for one-handed handling and operation. In the case of ophthalmic substances, it is not ergonomic to have to apply a rotating motion to a small external rotary actuator, when at the same time precision is required to ensure that the released dose of substance falls directly onto the eye. This type of dispenser has other drawbacks that, because they are common to the devices described below, will be explained later.

[0017] Patent document CN204863997 discloses a dispensing device conceptually similar to that described in US Pat. No. 7,309,184. This device features a graduated window for observing the substance to be dispensed, and its external rotary actuator is also graduated to determine the amount of rotation applied. This measure does not ensure the correct dose of the substance being dispensed. In the case of ophthalmic substances, it is neither feasible nor practical to have to visualize the amount of movement applied to a small external rotary actuator while simultaneously dispensing the dose of substance directly onto an eye.

[0018] Patent document CN 209316515 discloses a dispenser that is conceptually similar to that described in US 7309184, but whose external actuator is a push-button, acted upon by an elastic element, which follows an oblique linear guide when actuated. This actuation results in a combination of translational and clockwise rotational movements when the user presses the push-button, and translational and counterclockwise rotational movements when the user allows the elastic element to return the push-button to its original, standby position.

[0019] This type of dispenser has the disadvantage that the push button must be mechanically connected to the piston through a complex system so that the push button transmits thrust to the piston only when the push button is pushed forward by a user, but not when it is pushed back, by the elastic element. Patent document CN204863997 proposes equipping the push button with pins that interlock with a series of teeth inscribed on the piston and that are related in a ratchet-like manner such that only when the push button is pushed forward do the pins and teeth interlock with each other, transmitting the turning movement of the push button to the piston, causing it to descend along a threaded guide. This is a solution that does not solve the aforementioned problems of manufacturing tolerances when the dispenser is small. This solution is also expensive and complicated, which also makes correct assembly between the components difficult.On the other hand, the devices described suffer from other drawbacks related to the type or amount of displacement that must be applied in the same direction to the actuator that moves the component coupled by thread to the piston to move the piston.

[0020] To facilitate handling of the dispenser, it is important that the actuator does not have to rotate.

[0021] To facilitate handling of the dispenser, it is also important that the actuator's travel stroke be short.

[0022] An objective of the present invention is therefore a compact dispenser, easily maneuverable and capable of dispensing exact doses of a substance.

[0023] The present invention also aims at providing a dispenser with easily assembled parts, whose solution for providing a translational and non-return movement of a piston is applicable or compatible with dispensers that follow different dispensing principles, whether of the airless pumping type or of the pressure pumping type.

[0024] Explanation of the invention

[0025] A dispenser is proposed according to claim 1.

[0026] The dispenser comprises a receptacle for storing the substance to be dispensed with a piston fitted telescopically into the receptacle to move, prevented from rotating by an anti-rotation mechanism, within said receptacle.

[0027] The piston is threadedly coupled to a rotating sleeve around an axis of rotation and the dispenser has an actuator, manually operable for its movement, and transmission means that connect the actuator with the rotating sleeve so that a movement of the actuator transmits a rotational movement to the rotating sleeve which in turn produces the movement of the piston within the receptacle.

[0028] In essence, the dispenser is characterized in that the actuator is an actuator that can be moved back and forth in a first and a second direction of movement, respectively, between two travel stops; and in that the transmission means comprise a pushing part in the actuator and a pushed part in the rotating sleeve, the pushing and pushed parts being configured such that the pushed part receives a thrust with a component that causes the sleeve to rotate in the direction that displaces the piston against the substance stored in the receptacle when the actuator is moved between its travel stops both in and out.

[0029] Throughout this specification, the term "comprises" or variations such as "has" or "with" shall be deemed to imply the inclusion of a cited item or group of items, but not the exclusion of any other item or group of items.

[0030] In accordance with the essence of the invention, instead of using solutions in which a double-acting actuator causes the movement of a rotating sleeve that moves a piston in translation only when the actuator is moved in one direction, the inventors have decided to use a solution in which the double-acting actuator drives the rotating sleeve both when it is moved forward, in a first direction, and when it is moved back, in a second direction opposite to the first.

[0031] Advantageously, there is no need to equip the dispenser with complex ratchet mechanisms or similar.

[0032] Advantageously, a linear displacement of the piston towards the substance stored in the receptacle can also be produced with more compact transmission means, as will be better explained later.

[0033] A simple yet effective mechanical solution for transmission media is the subject of a variant of the invention and is based on combining an axial cam, also sometimes called a drum cam, and at least one protruding member that interacts mechanically with the axial cam.

[0034] Advantageously, and as provided by the invention, the axial cam may be provided on one of the pushing or pushed portions; and the at least one protruding member may be provided on the other of the pushing or pushed portions.

[0035] In one embodiment of the invention, the rotating sleeve is cylindrical and has an outer wall on which the thrust portion of the transmission means is formed or to which it is integral; and the actuator is applied externally to the rotating sleeve and has an inner wall on which the thrust portion of the transmission means is formed or to which it is integral.

[0036] Preferably, although it is optional, the actuator is tubular and surrounds or sheaths the rotating sleeve on the outside.

[0037] Preferably, although optional, the actuator is a linear actuator, that is, one that can move in a straight direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotating sleeve. Advantageously, this facilitates the dispenser's maneuverability. Pushing an actuator is always easier than rotating one.

[0038] In one embodiment of the invention, the axial cam may be formed by or integral with the rotating sleeve and be the biased portion, and the at least one protruding member may be formed by or integral with the actuator and be the biased portion. Alternatively, however, it is also conceivable that the axial cam may be formed by or integral with the actuator and be the biased portion, and that the at least one protruding member may be formed by or integral with the rotating sleeve and be the biased portion.

[0039] In an embodiment of the invention according to the first option, in which the axial cam is the thrust portion, the cam, which may be a raised formation on the outer face of the rotating sleeve, has a repeating profile with ascending ramps and descending ramps. In this embodiment of the invention, the axial cam interacts with, specifically receives thrust from, a first and a second type of protruding members, which are the thrust portion, formed on the inner wall of the actuator. The assembly thus forms an inversion of axial cam and reciprocating translational follower, because the reciprocating follower is the active element here and the axial cam is the driven element. Specifically, the movement of the actuator in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotating sleeve, and thus of its protruding members, causes said rotating sleeve to rotate.

[0040] The expression a first and a second type of protruding members should be interpreted as there being one or more protruding members of a first type and one or more protruding members of a second type.

[0041] In any case, it is another characteristic of the embodiment that has been described that the protruding member or members of the first type are axially and angularly offset in relation to the protruding member or members of the second type and that this offset is in accordance with the ascending and descending ramps of the axial cam, such that the protruding member or members of the first type interact only with ascending ramps of the axial cam when the actuator moves forward between its travel stops and the protruding member or members of the second type interact only with descending ramps of the axial cam when the actuator moves back between its travel stops.

[0042] In a particular embodiment, the profile of the axial cam consists of an aligned succession of arrowheads all oriented in the same direction, the opposite of the direction of rotation transmitted to the rotating sleeve, and joined by transition sectors, which connect the tip of one arrow with the base of the adjacent arrow.

[0043] Optionally, although preferably, the axial cam has at least a number n of transverse passages which is equal to the number n of protruding members of the first type, the purpose of which is to allow, in an assembly maneuver of the rotating sleeve with the actuator, to be able to pass each protruding member of a first type through a corresponding passage from one side to the other of the axial cam, that is, from one side to the other of the protruding formation that forms said axial cam. Preferably, in that particular embodiment in which the profile of the axial cam consists of an aligned succession of arrowheads all oriented in the same direction of rotation, the passages are located in coincidence with the transition sectors between the arrows.

[0044] In another embodiment of the invention, in which the axial cam is the thrust portion, the axial cam is formed by an annular guide that extends in a zigzag pattern, defining ascending ramps in sectors of a first upper guide wall and descending ramps in sectors of a second lower guide wall; and the at least one protruding member is formed on the inner wall of the actuator and is inserted into the guide.

[0045] As regards the anti-rotation mechanism, the invention contemplates various forms of implementation.

[0046] In one embodiment, the receptacle is formed and laterally sealed by the butt-to-button juxtaposition of a stationary casing housing and the rotating sleeve. The casing housing seals the receptacle from above, although it has an outlet that connects to valve means; and the rotating sleeve seals the receptacle internally by means of a piston threaded into its interior.

[0047] In this embodiment, the anti-rotation mechanism comprises at least one, preferably several, fingers in the casing housing extending longitudinally from a perimeter area of ​​said casing housing and forming a sort of cage enclosing the piston; and, in the piston, corresponding axial channels or grooves provided on an outer surface thereof, each groove tightly receiving the body of one of said fingers. Said reception must be sufficient so that the fingers do not protrude from the threaded insert provided in the piston for threaded coupling with the rotating sleeve.The invention provides that the dispenser comprises a closure piece and that this and the finger or fingers of the casing housing are configured to be firmly snap-fitted together in an assembled state of the dispenser, forming a package with the rotating sleeve, said rotating sleeve being tightly fitted but still rotatable between the closure piece and the casing housing and outside the fingers of the casing housing.

[0048] The aforementioned mutual coupling can be achieved in various ways. In one embodiment of the invention, the coupling between the closure part and the distal end of the finger or fingers of the casing housing is achieved by means of an elastic restoring force exerted by the finger or fingers of the casing housing against the closure part, by engaging retaining projections of at least one finger of the casing housing into a coupling recess of the closure part, or vice versa, i.e., by engaging at least one retaining projection of the closure part into a recess of a finger of the casing housing.

[0049] Preferably, the number of fingers is at least three and they are angularly equidistant.

[0050] In any case, according to an interesting feature, the rotating sleeve has a threaded coupling portion with the piston on its inner wall and longitudinally, provided for this purpose with a threaded insert; and an assembly portion, devoid of threaded insert, leaving space to accommodate, applied against the surface of the aforementioned inner wall of the rotating sleeve, a thicker part of the body of the fingers of the casing housing.

[0051] Among the possible constructive variants, one is conceived that allows easy assembly of the components, without the aid of auxiliary elements, such as screws or similar.

[0052] In a particular construction variant, applicable when the actuator is tubular and surrounds or encases the rotating sleeve, the actuator has a protruding projection towards its interior that prevents it from being removed by moving in the opposite direction to the receptacle. The protruding projection is annular and can be continuous or discrete (intermittent), designed to abut against the thrust part, in this case the axial cam, regardless of the relative angular position between the actuator and the rotating sleeve.

[0053] The invention provides for the actuator to be biased by elastic means that tend to position it away from the casing. The actuator must then be pushed from the outside, directly or directly by a user, from a standby position in a forward movement, overcoming the force exerted on it by these elastic means; and it will automatically return to its standby position in a reverse movement when the operator stops exerting the pushing force on the actuator.

[0054] In a variant, the closing piece is expected to assist in guiding the movement of the actuator, for example, when the movement of the actuator is linear and in the direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotating sleeve.

[0055] The dispenser is designed for use in dispensers in which the evacuation of the stored substance is caused by the thrust of the piston.

[0056] The dispenser is designed for use with dispensers that use other evacuation principles, including the principle of airless pumps.

[0057] In any case, it is important to preserve the properties of the stored substance, and one factor that can contribute to this is ensuring that the stored substance remains stored under a pressure above atmospheric pressure, to prevent the entry of contaminants from the outside.

[0058] In this sense, the invention is compatible with means that seek to subject the substance stored in the receptacle to a pressure above atmospheric pressure. In one variant of the invention, the piston has a head facing the interior of the receptacle, and on said head is mounted a pressurizing body that is axially movable relative to the piston, subjected to the action of elastic means that tend to position it toward the interior of the receptacle and against the substance stored therein.

[0059] In a specific embodiment, the pressurizing body has a disc-shaped cover, sized according to the inner perimeter of the receptacle, from which one or more legs extend toward the piston body; and the piston is provided with a number of guides, for example, in the form of axial holes, at least equal to the number of legs and sized to receive and guide the movement of the legs of the pressurizing body.

[0060] The aforementioned guides, or axial holes, and the leg or legs of the pressurizing body may be configured to limit the stroke of the pressurizing body towards the interior of the receptacle by means of a mechanical stop.

[0061] For example, one or more legs of the pressurizing body may have at their distal end a barbed projection sized to engage with a step formed in the guides, or in the axial holes, provided in the piston.

[0062] As regards the valve means connected to the outlet of the receptacle, these may follow a vapourised operating principle without affecting the nature of the invention.

[0063] The valve means may consist of a non-return valve.

[0064] The valve means can be more complex. In this sense, the valve means can comprise an entire ejector system, for example, as described in patent document EP 3738677.

[0065] The dispenser ejector system described in the patent document

[0066] EP 373877 is of the type that incorporates a drive mechanism to operate the ejector system. This same drive mechanism can be used to transmit motion to the actuator of the dispenser that is the subject of the present invention.

[0067] Brief description of the drawings

[0068] Figs. 1 and 2 are a sectional and exploded view, respectively, of a dispenser according to a variant of the invention.

[0069] Figs. 3a and 3b each show the play formed by the actuator, the rotating sleeve and the piston, with the actuator and the rotating sleeve in the corresponding fitting position: Fig. 3a being a side view and Fig. 3b a sectional view according to the cutting plane FF.

[0070] Fig. 4a and 4b show moments of an operation sequence of the same dispenser, having used transparency techniques with respect to the actuator, to show what would be hidden by it.

[0071] Figs. 5a and 5b again show the actuator, the rotating sleeve and the piston at instants corresponding to those illustrated in Figs. 4a and 4b, respectively, according to a diametrical section plane.

[0072] Fig. 5c is an enlarged detail of the area circled in Fig. 5b.

[0073] Figs. 6a and 6b are side and section views according to the CC cutting plane, respectively, of the piston of the same dispenser.

[0074] Fig. 7 is a side view of an actuator and rotary sleeve assembly of a dispenser according to another aspect of the invention.

[0075] Detailed description of the invention

[0076] A dispenser 100 exemplifying the invention is shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

[0077] The dispenser 100 has a receptacle 2 for storing an ophthalmic substance 1 to be dispensed. This receptacle 2 is formed and closed laterally by the butt juxtaposition between a casing housing 20 and a rotating sleeve 3. The casing housing 20 is generally tubular and cylindrical in shape with a closed end that closes the receptacle 2 from above, although providing it with an outlet 21. The rotating sleeve 3 is also generally tubular and cylindrical in shape, open at both ends, and houses a piston 4 that internally closes the receptacle 2. The facing mouths of the casing housing 20 and the rotating sleeve 3 are configured and sized to be applied against each other in the assembly position of the dispenser 100, which is that illustrated in Fig. 1, determining a cylindrical receptacle 2 with a longitudinal axis coinciding with the axis of rotation x around which the rotating sleeve 3 rotates.

[0078] In the dispenser 100, the substance 1 fills a flexible container 2a. The flexible container 2a is collapsible and is inserted into the receptacle 2. The flexible container 2a is sealed, but in hydraulic connection with the outlet 21 of the receptacle 2, which connects to the exterior via valve means 22, drawn only schematically since they are not an essential part of the invention.

[0079] The piston 4 is threadedly coupled to the rotating sleeve 3. On the one hand, the rotating sleeve 3 has an inner wall 3b in which a threaded coupling portion with the piston 4 can be distinguished, provided for this purpose with a threaded insert 34; on the other hand, the outer face 4a of the piston 4 is provided with a threaded insert 35, which matches the corresponding threaded insert 34 of the inner wall 3b of the rotating sleeve 3, which is interrupted by a series of axial grooves 53 which, as will be explained later, form part of an anti-rotation mechanism 5 whose purpose is to ensure only a translational movement of the piston 4 towards the substance 1 stored in the receptacle 2.

[0080] The dispenser 100 has an actuator 6. The actuator 6 is tubular or cylindrical and surrounds or sheaths the rotating sleeve 3 on the outside. The actuator 6 can be moved back and forth with respect to the enclosing casing 20 following a linear displacement, in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation x of the rotating sleeve 3, in a first and a second direction, respectively, between two travel stops.

[0081] The dispenser 100 has transmission means 7 that connect the actuator 6 with the rotating sleeve 3 so that the movement of the actuator 6 in both directions, the forward and the return between its two travel stops, transmits a turning movement to the rotating sleeve 3 which in turn produces, when prevented from turning, the unscrewing of the piston 4 and its translational movement within the receptacle 2.

[0082] These transmission means 7 comprise a pushing part 71 on the actuator 6 and a pushed part 72 on the rotating sleeve 3.

[0083] The pushing portions 71 and pushed portions 72 are configured such that the pushed portion 72 receives a thrust exerted by the pushing portion 71 with a component normal to the rotation axis x of the rotating sleeve 3, applying a torque to said rotating sleeve 3 that causes it to rotate around the rotation axis x when the actuator 6 is moved both forward and backward, transmitting in both cases, forward and backward, the rotation movement to the rotating sleeve 3 in the same rotation direction D that corresponds to that which causes the unscrewing of the piston 4 and its translational displacement towards the substance stored in the receptacle 2.

[0084] In the exemplary dispenser 100, the rotating sleeve 3 has an outer wall 3a in which the biased portion 72 of the transmission means 7 is formed or integral with; and the actuator 6 has an inner wall 6b in which the biasing portion 71 of the transmission means 7 is formed or integral with.

[0085] More specifically, as shown in Figs. 3a and 3b, in the exemplary dispenser the thrust portion 72 of the transmission means 7 consists of an axial cam 30, which annularly extends all the way around the rotating sleeve 3; and the thrust portion 71 comprises protruding members 61, 62 of a first and a second type which mechanically interact with the axial cam 30.

[0086] Even more specifically, the axial cam 30 is formed by a raised formation whose profile consists of an aligned succession of equal arrowheads, all oriented in the same direction and joined by transition sectors 33, which connect the tip of an arrow with the base of the arrow that is adjacent to it, all of which gives rise to a repetitive profile with ascending ramps 31 and descending ramps 32.

[0087] Associated, the first and second types of protruding members 61, 62 are axially and angularly offset on the actuator 6 relative to the ascending 31 and descending 32 ramps of the axial cam 30, such that the protruding members 61 of the first type are intended to interact only with ascending ramps 31 of the axial cam 30 as the actuator 6 moves back and forth between its travel stops and the protruding members 62 of the second type are intended to interact only with descending ramps 32 of the axial cam 30 as the actuator 6 moves back and forth between its travel stops.

[0088] The terms "ascending ramps" and "descending ramps" should be interpreted as having positive and negative inclinations, respectively, with respect to the direction along which the axial cam extends. Ramps can be straight, curved, or a combination of straight and curved sections.

[0089] The 100 dispenser is specially designed so that its parts can be easily assembled.

[0090] As regards the anti-rotation mechanism 5, in the example the casing housing 20 is provided with three fingers 51 which extend longitudinally, that is, in the direction of the rotation axis x, from a peripheral area thereof, angularly equidistant, and which form a sort of cage enclosing the piston 4. These fingers 51 fit into the corresponding axial slots 53 provided in the outer face 4a of the piston 4, each slot 53 tightly receiving the body 51a of one of the aforementioned fingers 51 without protruding or bulging from the threaded insert 35.

[0091] The assembly of the dispenser 100 is achieved by providing a closing piece 8 that can be coupled to the fingers 51 and packing the rotating sleeve 3 against the casing 20, although it can rotate with respect to the latter.

[0092] In the example, the closure piece 8 and the distal end 51 b of the fingers 51 are configured for mutual snap-fitting in an assembled state of the dispenser 100.

[0093] More specifically, the mutual coupling between the closure piece 8 and the distal end 51 b of the fingers 51 of the casing housing 20 is produced by elastic restoring force, exerted by the fingers 51 of the casing housing 20 against the closure piece 8, engaging retaining projections 80 a of the fingers 51 of the casing housing 20 in coupling recesses 80 b of the closure piece 8.

[0094] It should be noted that in the rotating sleeve 3 there is a longitudinal portion of coupling by thread with the piston 4, provided for this purpose with the threaded insert 34; and also a longitudinal assembly portion, devoid of threaded insert, whose purpose is to leave space to accommodate, applied against the surface of the aforementioned inner wall 3b of the rotating sleeve 3, a thicker part of the body 51a of the fingers 51 of the casing housing 20, whose length must be sufficient for its distal ends to reach the closing piece 8.

[0095] In the formed package, the actuator 6 is trapped, with longitudinal play, between the casing housing 20 and the rotating sleeve 3, guided in its longitudinal displacement by the outer wall 3a of the rotating sleeve 3.

[0096] The invention provides that the closing piece 8 assists in guiding the actuator 6, to follow a solely translational movement.

[0097] In the example, the actuator 6 is biased by elastic means 9 in the direction of the closing part 8. More specifically, the elastic means 9 consist of a spring that acts in compression and bears against the casing housing 20 and the actuator 6 itself.

[0098] In the example, the actuator 6 has a projection 65 projecting inwards which allows the actuator 6 to be placed on the rotating sleeve 3 from its upper part but which prevents the actuator 6 from being removed by sliding it towards the closing piece 8, by the projection 65 abutting against the pushed part 72, in this case by abutting against the axial cam 30 of the rotating sleeve 3.

[0099] However, the operation of the dispenser 100 is as follows:

[0100] Starting from the waiting situation, that shown in Fig. 1, with the actuator 6 applied against its lower travel stop by the effect of the spring 9, the actuator 6 moves in a first direction A, upwards with reference to the drawings, against its upper travel stop, overcoming the force exerted on it by the spring 9.

[0101] Note that, in a first phase of movement, the protruding members 62 of the second type that remained engaged in the axial cam 30 are dislodged; while in a second phase of movement, the protruding means 62 of the second type are disengaged from the axial cam 30 - herein lies the need for axial offset between the protruding members 61 and 62 of the first and second types, respectively - the protruding members 61 of the first type exert a thrust on the ascending ramps 31 of a series of arrowheads of the axial cam 30, producing a rotation of the rotating sleeve 3 in a clockwise direction D with reference to the drawings, which in turn produces a translational displacement of the piston 4, ascending with reference to the drawings. Said second phase of movement will end when the protruding members 61 of the first type reach the position illustrated in Fig.4a, which is the upper travel stop of the actuator 6 by contact of the protruding means 61 of the first type against transition sectors 33 of the axial cam 30.

[0102] From the position illustrated in Fig. 4a, once an external force is no longer exerted on the actuator 6, it automatically moves back in a second direction B, downwards with reference to the drawings, due to the effect of the spring 9 against its lower travel stop.

[0103] Note that, in a first phase of movement, the protruding members 61 of the second type that remained engaged in the axial cam 30 are now dislodged; while in a second phase of movement, the protruding means 61 of the second type having disengaged from the axial cam 30, the protruding members 62 of the second type exert a thrust on the descending ramps 32 of arrowheads of the axial cam 30 - herein lies the need for angular phase shift between the protruding members 61 and 62 of the first and second types, respectively - producing a rotation of the rotating sleeve 3, maintaining the clockwise direction D with reference to the drawings, which in turn produces a new translational displacement of the piston 4, again ascending with reference to the drawings. Said second phase of movement will end when the protruding members 61 of the first type reach the position illustrated in Fig.4b, which is the lower travel stop of the actuator 6 by contact of the protruding means 62 of the second type against transition sectors 33 of the axial cam 30.

[0104] The dispenser exemplifying the invention stores an ophthalmic substance. Consequently, the upward travel of the piston 4, which determines the reduction in volume of the receptacle 2 relative to the dose of substance dispensed, is small.

[0105] In the dispenser exemplifying the invention, the stroke of the actuator 6 is 8.4 mm; and its displacement between travel stops causes a displacement of the piston 4 of 0.07 mm. Consequently, the forward and return displacement of the actuator 6 causes a total displacement of the piston 4 of 0.14 mm. This represents an approximate dose of the substance evacuated of 0.04 ml.

[0106] Fig. 5c is intended to illustrate this small displacement of the piston 4, specifically the displacement that occurs when the actuator 6 moves between its travel stops and more specifically between the positions represented in Figs. 4a and 4b. In Fig. 5c, the thread profile of the piston 4 has been represented in a dashed line in the position it was in at the start of its displacement. This is an explanatory representation and therefore the illustrated displacement of the piston 4 in proportion to other components of the dispenser may not be realistic.

[0107] In the dispenser that exemplifies the invention, the total rotation that is transmitted to the rotating sleeve 3 with the back and forth movement of the actuator 6 is 22.5°.

[0108] Other interesting aspects of the 100 dispenser follow.

[0109] Producing a rotation of the rotating sleeve 3 both in the forward and return displacement of the actuator 6, using two ramps of the axial cam with an inverted slope with respect to each other, causing in both cases the translation of the piston 4 towards the stored substance, displays several simultaneous effects that have to do with the compactness and smoothness of operation.

[0110] And achieving a certain translational displacement of the piston 4 using a single ramp in the axial cam may require that said ramp be either very long (harming compactness) or with very little slope (harming smoothness of operation - since technically it translates into a thrust with a lower component in the direction normal to the axis of rotation x of the rotating sleeve).

[0111] Returning to other aspects of the dispenser 100, it is worth noting that the actuator 6 is sized to conceal the rotating sleeve 3. Specifically, the skirt 63 of the actuator 6 is so high that it conceals the rotating sleeve 3 even when the actuator 6 is moved against its upper travel stop. This makes it difficult for a user to access the rotating sleeve 3 and manipulate it directly. Consequently, this is a measure that improves the safety of the dispenser.

[0112] The axial cam 30 has a number n of transverse passages 34 equal to the number n of protruding members 61 of the first type, the purpose of which is to allow, in an assembly maneuver of the rotating sleeve 30 with the actuator 6, to be able to pass each protruding member 61 of a first type through a corresponding passage 34 from one side to the other of the axial cam 3, in the example from the side of the casing 20 towards the side where the closing piece 8 will be coupled. In an assembly maneuver of the dispenser 100, the actuator 6 can be placed outside the rotating sleeve 3 and make each protruding member 61 of a first type pass through a corresponding passage 34 from one side to the other of the axial cam 30; and then place the spring 9 before closing the receptacle by placing the casing 20 and forming the package with the closing piece 8.The same spring 9 can be used as a means of upper safety stop for movement of the actuator 6 when normally operating the dispenser 100 to evacuate a dose of the substance, all the protruding members 61 of a first type coincide angularly with passage 34 of the axial cam 30 when the actuator moves forward, preventing said protruding members 61 from passing to the other side of the axial cam 30.

[0113] The translational displacement of the piston 4 towards the substance stored in the receptacle 2 can cause an overpressure sufficient to open the normally closed valve means 22 connected to the outlet 21 of the receptacle. The valve means 22 can then be formed by a common non-return valve.

[0114] The movement of the actuator 6 can be carried out manually by the user, by directly exerting pressure on the actuator 6.

[0115] The movement of the actuator 6 can be carried out manually by the user, although operating on a drive mechanism whose movement is transmitted in any way to the actuator 6. A drive mechanism can be, by way of example, like that described in patent document EP 3738677 which is used to operate an ejector system of a substance stored in the dispenser.

[0116] The return movement of the actuator 6 may be manual, but it is preferably automatic, being, in the exemplified case, the actuator 6 requested by elastic means for this purpose, all as exemplified in the dispenser 100. In any case, the return movement between its travel stops of the actuator 6 will correspond to a decrease in the volume of the receptacle 2, equal to or proportional to the volume of the substance evacuated from the receptacle 2.

[0117] In addition, the dispenser 100 is equipped with means for applying pressure above atmospheric pressure to the substance 1 stored in the receptacle 2, as illustrated in Figs. 6a and 6b.

[0118] Specifically, the piston 4 has a head 4c, oriented towards the interior of the receptacle 2, on which a pressurizing body 10 is mounted axially movable with respect to the piston 4, subjected to the action of elastic means 11 which tend to position it towards the interior of the receptacle 2 and against the substance stored therein. In the example, the elastic means 11 are formed by a spring acting under compression, resting against the piston 4 and the pressurizing body 10.

[0119] In the example dispenser 100, the pressurizing body 10 has a discoidal cover 10a, sized according to the inner perimeter of the receptacle 2, from which four legs 12 extend in the direction of the piston body 4, and the piston 4 is provided with a series of guides 43 here in the form of axial holes sized to receive and guide the movement of the legs 12 of the pressurizing body 10.

[0120] The axial holes that act as guides 43 and the legs 12 of the pressurizing body 10 are configured to limit by mechanical stop the stroke of the pressurizing body 10 towards the interior of the receptacle 2.

[0121] The mechanical stop can be implemented in various ways.

[0122] In the example dispenser 100, the legs 12 of the pressurizing body 10 have at their distal end 12a a projection 13 sized to abut a step 44 formed in a wall of the guides 43. Fig. 7 schematically shows an alternative for the transmission means 7, compatible with the dispenser 100 described above.

[0123] This variant of the transmission means 7 is shared with that of the dispenser 100 in that the thrust portion 72 is formed by or integral with the rotating sleeve 3 and comprises an axial cam 30; and that the pusher portion 71 is formed by or integral with the actuator 6.

[0124] For the purpose of facilitating understanding, the actuator 6 is represented only briefly in Fig. 7. The actuator 6 may have a similar configuration to that described for the dispenser 100, in the sense that it may be a cylindrical tubular piece that surrounds or encases the rotating sleeve 3.

[0125] It is particular to the transmission means 7 of Fig. 7 that the axial cam 30 is formed by an annular guide 34 which develops in a zigzag fashion, determining sectors of a first upper guide wall 33a the ascending ramps 31 and sectors of a second lower guide wall 33b the descending ramps 32, and that in this case the pushing part 71 is at least one protruding member 31 which is inserted in the guide 33.

Claims

1. - A dispenser (100) of doses of liquid or pasty substances (1) comprising - a receptacle (2) for storing the substance to be dispensed, with an outlet (21) connected to valve means (22), - a piston (4) fitted telescopically into the receptacle (2) to move, prevented from rotating by an anti-rotation mechanism (5), inside the receptacle, - a rotating sleeve (3) around an axis of rotation (x), coupled by thread to the piston (4), - an actuator (6), manually operable for movement, - transmission means (7) connecting the actuator (6) to the rotating sleeve (3) so that a movement of the actuator (6) transmits a turning movement to the rotating sleeve (3) which in turn causes the piston (4) to move inside the receptacle (2), characterised in that the actuator (6) is a movable actuator back and forth in a first (A) and a second (B) direction of movement, respectively, between two travel stops; and because the transmission means (7) comprise a pushing part (71) in the actuator (6) and a pushed part (72) in the rotating sleeve (3), where the pushing parts (71) and pushed (72) are configured so that the pushed part (72) receives a push with a component that causes a rotation of the rotating sleeve (3) in the direction that displaces the piston (4) against the substance stored in the receptacle (2) when the actuator (6) is moved between its travel stops both forward and return.

2. A dispenser (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the pushing part (71) or the pushed part (72) of the transmission means (7) is an axial cam (30), which annularly extends one full turn around the axis of rotation (x) of the rotating sleeve (3); and the other of the pushing part (71) or the pushed part (72) of the transmission means (7) They comprise at least one protruding member (61) that mechanically interacts with the axial cam (30).

3. A dispenser (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the pushing portion (71) of the transmission means (7) has the axial cam (30), which is formed by or integral with the actuator (6); and in that the pushed portion (72) has at least one protruding member (61), which is formed by or integral with the rotating sleeve (3). 4.- A dispenser (100) according to claims 2 or 3, characterized in that - the axial cam (30) has a repetitive profile with ascending (31) and descending (32) ramps, and because the at least one protruding member (61) comprises - a first and a second type of protruding members (61, 62) which are axially and angularly offset in relation to the ascending (31) and descending (32) ramps of the axial cam (30), so that - the protruding member or members (61) of the first type interact only with ascending ramps (31) of the axial cam as the actuator (6) moves back and forth between its travel stops and the protruding member or members (62) of the second type interact only with descending ramps (32) of the axial cam as the actuator (6) moves back between its travel stops. 5.- A dispenser (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that the axial cam (30) is formed by a raised formation whose profile consists of an aligned succession of arrowheads all oriented in the same direction, the opposite of the direction of rotation of the rotating sleeve (3), and joined by two transition sectors (33), which connect the tip of an arrow with the base of the arrow that is adjacent to it.

6. A dispenser (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that the axial cam (30) has at least a number n of transverse passages (34) which is equal to the number n of protruding members (61) of the first type, whose The purpose is to allow, in an assembly maneuver of the rotating sleeve (3) with the actuator (6), to be able to pass each protruding member (61) of a first type through a corresponding passage (34) from one side to the other of the axial cam (30), that is, from one side to the other of the protruding formation that forms said axial cam, or the axial cam (30) from one side to the other of protruding members (31) of the first type. 7.- A dispenser (100) according to claims 2 or 3, characterized in that - the axial cam (30) is formed by an annular guide (34) that develops in a zig-zag fashion, determining sectors of a first upper guide wall (33a) ascending ramps (31) and sectors of a second lower guide wall (33b) descending ramps (32), and because - the at least one protruding member (61) is inserted into the guide (33). 8.- A dispenser (100) according to any one of claims 2 to 3. 7, characterized in that the actuator (6) is movable between its travel stops following a straight path, parallel to the axis of rotation (x) of the rotating sleeve (3); and because it is subject to the action of elastic means (9) that tend to place it against one of its travel stops. 9.- A dispenser (100) according to any one of claims 2 to 3. 8, characterized in that the receptacle (2) is laterally closed by the juxtaposition between a casing casing (20), which closes the receptacle with the outlet (21) from above, and the rotating sleeve (3), which closes the receptacle internally with the piston (4) threadedly coupled inside. 10.- A dispenser (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that the anti-rotation mechanism (5) comprises in the casing casing (20) steam fingers (51) that extend longitudinally from a peripheral area of the aforementioned casing casing (20) and that form a sort of cage that encloses the piston. (4); and in the piston (4), corresponding axial grooves (53) provided on an outer face (4a) thereof, each groove (53) tightly receiving the body (51a) of one of the aforementioned fingers (51).

11. A dispenser (100) according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises a closing piece (8), because the closing piece (8) and the distal end (51 b) of the fingers (51) are configured for their mutual coupling under pressure in an assembly state of the dispenser (100) forming a package with the rotating sleeve (3), said rotating sleeve (3) being tight between the closing piece (8) and the casing housing (20), although with the possibility of rotation around its axis of rotation (x), and outside the fingers (51) of the casing housing (20).

12. A dispenser (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotating sleeve (3) is tubular, has an inner wall (3b) in which a longitudinal portion of coupling by thread with the piston (4) is distinguished, provided for this purpose with a threaded insert (34); and a longitudinal assembly portion, devoid of threaded insert.

13. A dispenser (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the piston (4) has a head (4c) facing the interior of the receptacle (2); and in that a pressurizing body (10) is mounted on the head (4c) so as to be axially movable relative to the piston (4), subjected to the action of elastic means (11) which tend to position it towards the interior of the receptacle (2) and against the substance stored therein.

14. A dispenser (100) according to claim 13, characterized in that the pressurizing body (10) has a disc-shaped cover (10a) sized according to the inner perimeter of the receptacle (2), from which legs (12) extend in the direction of the piston body (4); and in that the piston (4) is provided with a series of guides (43) sized to receive the plug and guide the movement of the legs (12) of the pressurizing body (10). 15.- A dispenser (100) according to claim 14, characterized in that the guides (43) and the legs (12) of the pressurizing body (10) are configured to limit by mechanical stop the stroke of the pressurizing body (10) towards the interior of the receptacle (2) and against the substance stored therein.

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