Dispenser

Abstract

To provide a dispenser of a pressure-accumulation type that is easy to realize a large volume of discharge.SOLUTION: A dispenser 1 comprises a first cylinder 2, a first piston 3, a second cylinder 4, a second piston 5, a hold member 6 by external operation, an open-close valve body 19, a pressure-accumulating part 9, a connection part 10 that, by external operation, connects the hold member 6 to the first cylinder 2 such that the hold member 6 makes an advancement with the first cylinder 2 and the second piston 5 relative to the second cylinder 4 after advancement with the first piston 3 relative to the first cylinder 2 and thereafter the hold member 6 makes a retraction with the first cylinder 2 and the second piston 5 relative to the second cylinder 4 after retraction relative to the first cylinder 2, and a hold member-urging part 11 that gives the hold member 6 with an urge force for retraction relative to the second cylinder 4 in order to retract the first cylinder 2 and the second piston 5 through the connection part 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a dispenser.

Background Art

[0002] A dispenser is known that includes a cylinder, a piston that slides on the cylinder, a holding member that moves forward and backward with respect to the cylinder along with the piston by an external operation, an internal flow path that discharges fluid according to the forward and backward movement of the holding member through a pump chamber defined by the cylinder and the piston, an opening and closing valve body that cooperates with the first piston to form an opening and closing portion of the internal flow path, and a pressure accumulation portion (second spring 54) that applies a biasing force to move the opening and closing valve body from an open position where the opening and closing portion of the internal flow path is open to a closed position where the opening and closing portion is closed in order to increase the internal pressure of the pump chamber by the forward movement of the holding member (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When trying to design a conventional pressure accumulation type dispenser as described above to obtain a large discharge (spray) amount, there are problems such as the stroke of the cylinder becoming long and the overall height exceeding a predetermined range, or the diameter of the cylinder becoming large and the operation on the holding member becoming heavy.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a pressure accumulation type dispenser that easily realizes a large discharge amount.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is as follows.

[0007] [1] a first cylinder, a first piston that slides on the first cylinder, a second cylinder having a larger cross-sectional area than the first cylinder, a second piston that slides on the second cylinder, a holding member that moves forward and backward relative to the second cylinder along with the first piston, the first cylinder, and the second piston by an external operation, an internal flow path that discharges fluid according to the forward and backward movement of the holding member through a pump chamber defined by the first cylinder, the first piston, the second cylinder, and the second piston, a switching valve body that cooperates with the first piston to form an opening / closing portion of the internal flow path, a pressure accumulation portion that applies a biasing force to move the switching valve body from an open position where the opening / closing portion of the internal flow path is open to a closed position where the opening / closing portion is closed in order to increase the internal pressure of the pump chamber by the forward movement of the holding member relative to the second cylinder, a connecting portion that connects the holding member to the first cylinder so that, by the external operation, after the holding member moves forward relative to the first cylinder along with the first piston, the holding member moves forward relative to the second cylinder along with the first cylinder and the second piston, and then, after the holding member moves backward relative to the first cylinder, the holding member moves backward relative to the second cylinder along with the first cylinder and the second piston, a discharger having a holding member biasing portion that applies a biasing force for the backward movement relative to the second cylinder to the holding member in order to move the first cylinder and the second piston backward through the connecting portion.

[0008] [2] The first piston has an inner circumferential surface having an annular seating portion, The switching valve body is separated from the seating portion in the open position and seats on the seating portion in the closed position, the discharger according to [1].

[0009] [3] The ejector according to [2], wherein the first cylinder has an abutting portion that relatively moves rearward with respect to the seated portion to a position where, when the holding member advances with the first piston with respect to the first cylinder, the seating of the on-off valve body on the seated portion can be blocked by abutting on the on-off valve body from the front.

Advantages of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a pressure accumulation type ejector that can easily achieve a large discharge amount.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be exemplified and described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in one embodiment of the present invention, the ejector 1 includes a first cylinder 2, a first piston 3 that slides on the first cylinder 2, a second cylinder 4 having a larger cross-sectional area than the first cylinder 2, a second piston 5 that slides on the second cylinder 4, a holding member 6 that moves forward and backward relative to the second cylinder 4 together with the first piston 3, the first cylinder 2, and the second piston 5 by an external operation, an internal flow path 7 that discharges the fluid 8 according to the forward and backward movement of the holding member 6 through a pump chamber 7a defined by the first cylinder 2, the first piston 3, the second cylinder 4, and the second piston 5, an on-off valve body 19 that cooperates with the first piston 3 to form an opening / closing portion 7b of the internal flow path 7, a pressure accumulation portion 9 that applies a biasing force to move the on-off valve body 19 from an open position (the position shown in FIGS. 2 to 3) where the opening / closing portion 7b of the internal flow path 7 is opened to a closed position (the position shown in FIG. 1) where the opening / closing portion 7b is closed in order to increase the internal pressure of the pump chamber 7a by the forward movement of the holding member 6 relative to the second cylinder 4, a connecting portion 10 that connects the holding member 6 to the first cylinder 2 so that after the holding member 6 moves forward relative to the first cylinder 2 together with the first piston 3 by an external operation, it moves forward relative to the second cylinder 4 together with the first cylinder 2 and the second piston 5, and then, after the holding member 6 moves backward relative to the first cylinder 2, it moves backward relative to the second cylinder 4 together with the first cylinder 2 and the second piston 5, and a holding member biasing portion 11 that applies a biasing force for the backward movement relative to the second cylinder 4 to the holding member 6 in order to move the first cylinder 2 and the second piston 5 backward through the connecting portion 10.

[0014] According to the above configuration, by an external operation, first, the holding member 6 moves forward with respect to the first cylinder 2 together with the first piston 3, thereby increasing the internal pressure of the pump chamber 7a. As a result, the on-off valve body 19 is moved from the closed position to the open position against the biasing force of the accumulator portion 9, and the increased internal pressure of the pump chamber 7a allows the fluid 8 to be vigorously discharged to the outside. Then, by continuing the external operation further, the holding member 6 moves forward with respect to the second cylinder 4 together with the first cylinder 2 and the second piston 5, so that the first piston 3 is held in the open position by the increased internal pressure of the pump chamber 7a, and the vigorous discharge of the fluid 8 can be continued. Then, by releasing the external operation, the holding member 6 is moved backward with respect to the second cylinder 4 by the biasing force of the holding member biasing portion 11 to return to the initial position, and at the same time, due to the decrease in the internal pressure of the pump chamber 7a at that time, the fluid 8 can be sucked into the inside of the pump chamber 7a from the upstream side. Thus, according to the above configuration, since the pressure accumulation is first performed by the first cylinder 2 and the first piston 3 on the side with the smaller cross-sectional area during the external operation, the discharge of the fluid 8 with good momentum can be realized from the beginning with a light operation. Further, since the subsequent discharge uses the second cylinder 4 and the second piston 5 on the side with the larger cross-sectional area, even when designed to obtain a large discharge amount, it is possible to suppress the increase in the stroke of the cylinder. Therefore, it is possible to realize the pressure accumulation type discharger 1 that can easily achieve a large discharge amount. The fluid 8 is, for example, a liquid.

[0015] The first piston 3 has an inner peripheral surface having an annular seating portion 3a, and the on-off valve body 19 is separated from the seating portion 3a in the open position and seats on the seating portion 3a in the closed position. According to the above configuration, the opening / closing portion 7b can be realized with a simple structure. The on-off valve body 19 is a ball valve body, and the accumulator portion 9 is constituted by a first compression spring 9a such as a coil spring having an annular ball valve body pressing portion 9a1. Note that the on-off valve body 19 is not limited to a ball valve body. Further, the on-off valve body 19 and the accumulator portion 9 may be configured as an integral product in which, for example, a resin valve body and a resin spring are integrally molded.

[0016] When the holding member 6 moves forward relative to the first cylinder 2 together with the first piston 3, the first cylinder 2 has a contact portion 2c that moves relatively backward with respect to the seating portion 3a to a position where the seating of the on-off valve body 19 on the seated portion 3a can be blocked by the contact of the on-off valve body 19 from the front. According to the above configuration, when discharging is performed by the second piston 5 following the discharge by the first piston 3, the contact portion 2c can be brought into contact with the on-off valve body 19 to maintain the on-off portion 7b in an open state, so that the operation on the holding member 6 can be made lighter.

[0017] The second piston 5 is formed of a material softer than the material forming the first cylinder 2. According to the above configuration, it is easy to ensure the rigidity of the first cylinder 2 while ensuring the flexibility of the second piston 5. Therefore, it is easy to suppress the sliding resistance of the second piston 5 with respect to the second cylinder 4, and moreover, it is easy to sufficiently ensure the rigidity of the first cylinder 2 so that the holding member 6 does not come off from the first cylinder 2 at the connecting portion 10 when receiving the urging force from the holding member urging portion 11. Note that the material of the second piston 5 is not limited to this.

[0018] The ejector 1 has a retaining member 12 attached to the second cylinder 4. The first cylinder 2 has a cylindrical first cylinder main body 2b centered on the axis O and a protruding portion 2a protruding radially outward from the front end portion of the first cylinder main body 2b. The protruding portion 2a abuts against the retaining member 12 by the retracting operation of the holding member 6 with respect to the second cylinder 4. The second piston 5 has a second piston main body 5a that slides on the second cylinder 4 and a fitting portion 5b that is continuous with the second piston main body 5a and fits into the inner peripheral surface of the first cylinder 2. According to the above configuration, the second piston 5 can be attached to the first cylinder 2 by fitting through the fitting portion 5b. Also, according to the above configuration, when the holding member 6 reaches the limit position of the retracting operation with respect to the second cylinder 4, that is, at the end of the retracting operation, the protruding portion 2a of the first cylinder 2 abuts against the retaining member 12, so that it is possible to suppress the second piston 5 from coming off the first cylinder 2 at the end of the retracting operation. In order to enhance this effect, it may be configured such that the second piston 5 (particularly the second piston main body 5a) does not contact the retaining member 12 at the end of the retracting operation. The protruding portion 2a is, for example, flange-shaped. The fitting portion 5b is, for example, cylindrical and coaxial with the first cylinder 2 centered on the axis O. The retaining member 12 is, for example, annular and coaxial with the second cylinder 4. The second cylinder 4 is preferably provided coaxially with the first cylinder 2 as shown in the figure.

[0019] The second cylinder 4 has a second cylinder body 4a and an end wall 4b connected to the front end of the second cylinder body 4a. The second piston 5 has a second piston body 5a that slides on the second cylinder 4, a fitting portion 5b that fits into the inner peripheral surface of the first cylinder 2, an annular flat plate portion 5c that connects the second piston body 5a and the fitting portion 5b, and a butting portion 5d that protrudes forward from the annular flat plate portion 5c and abuts against the end wall 4b of the second cylinder 4 by the forward movement of the holding member 6 with respect to the second cylinder 4. According to the above configuration, when the holding member 6 reaches the limit position of the forward movement with respect to the second cylinder 4, that is, at the end of the forward movement, the butting portion 5d of the second piston 5 abuts against the end wall 4b of the second cylinder 4, so that it is possible to suppress the second piston body 5a from abutting against and deforming the end wall 4b of the second cylinder 4 at the end of the backward movement. In order to enhance this effect, it may be configured such that the second piston body 5a does not contact the end wall 4b of the second cylinder 4 at the end of the backward movement. In this embodiment, the butting portion 5d has an intermittent cylindrical shape coaxial with the cylindrical fitting portion 5b, but other shapes such as a cylindrical shape without an intermittent portion may also be used.

[0020] The materials forming the first cylinder 2 and the second piston 5 are not particularly limited. For example, the first cylinder 2 is formed of polypropylene or HDPE (High - density polyethylene), and the second piston 5 is formed of LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene) or LLDPE (Linear Low Density Polyethylene). According to the above configuration, it is particularly easy to realize stable operation.

[0021] The holding member 6 has a nozzle head 6a that discharges the fluid 8 through the internal flow path 7 by receiving a pressing - down operation as an external operation. According to the above configuration, it is possible to realize a nozzle - head - type accumulative - discharge device 1 that is easy to operate even with a large discharge amount. As shown in FIG. 1, the discharge device 1 may be configured to have an over - cap 13 for covering the nozzle head 6a as needed, or may be configured without the over - cap 13.

[0022] The first piston 3 has a cylindrical shape centered on the axis O and is integrally held by the nozzle head 6a so as to be movable forward and backward by being integrally attached to the nozzle head 6a. The first piston 3 also includes a cylindrical first piston body 3b centered on the axis O, and a pressing portion 3c that protrudes radially outward from the first piston body 3b and can push the first cylinder 2 forward after the first piston 3 moves forward with respect to the first cylinder 2 by an external operation. The first piston body 3b has an inner peripheral surface having a seated portion 3a and a sliding portion 3b1 that slides on the first cylinder. The sliding portion 3b1 is formed in an O-ring shape from a material softer than the material forming the first piston body 3b. According to the above configuration, it is easy to ensure the rigidity of the first piston body 3b while suppressing the sliding resistance with respect to the first cylinder 2 by ensuring the flexibility of the sliding portion 3b1. Note that the material and shape of the sliding portion 3b1 are not limited to this.

[0023] The nozzle head 6a has a columnar spring support portion 6a1 inserted into the first piston 3 (first piston body 3b) from the rear, and a part of the internal flow path 7 is formed between the spring support portion 6a and the inner peripheral surface of the first piston 3. The spring support portion 6a1 has an insertion portion 6a2 inserted into the rear end portion of the first compression spring 9a and a support step portion 6a3 that widens from the base of the insertion portion 6a2 and abuts against the rear end surface of the first compression spring 9a.

[0024] The contact portion 2c of the first cylinder 2 has a columnar body 2c1 and a plurality of connecting pieces 2c2 provided with a circumferential shift and connecting the lower end portions of the columnar body 2c1 to the inner peripheral surface of the first cylinder 2 (first cylinder body 2b). The columnar body 2c1 can contact the on-off valve body 19, and a part of the internal flow path 7 is formed between the plurality of connecting pieces 2c2.

[0025] The holding member 6 is integrally attached to the nozzle head 6a and has a cylinder holding portion 6b that holds the first cylinder 2 so as to be movable in the forward and backward directions. The connecting portion 10 has the cylinder holding portion 6b. The holding member biasing portion 11 has a second compression spring 11a. The first end portion of the second compression spring 11a in the expansion and contraction direction is received by the cylinder holding portion 6b, and the second end portion of the second compression spring 11a in the expansion and contraction direction is received by the retaining member 12.

[0026] The second cylinder 4 has a flange portion 4c that extends radially outward from the rear end portion of the second cylinder main body 4a. The retaining member 12 has a first contact portion 12a that contacts the rear end surface (upper surface) of the flange portion 4c, a second contact portion 12b that contacts the rear end portion of the inner peripheral surface of the second cylinder main body 4a, and a third contact portion 12c that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the first cylinder 2 so as to allow the forward and backward movement of the first cylinder 2 with respect to the retaining member 12.

[0027] The end wall 4b of the second cylinder 4 has a suction port 14 for sucking the fluid 8 into the pump chamber 7a, and a backflow prevention portion 15 for suppressing backflow is provided at the suction port 14. The backflow prevention portion 15 may be formed of a ball-shaped valve body 15a as shown in the figure, or may be formed of other valve bodies 15a.

[0028] The discharge port 7c that forms the downstream end portion of the internal flow path 7 can discharge (spray) the fluid 8 in a mist form. According to the above configuration, a pressure accumulation type discharger 1 that can easily achieve a large spray amount can be realized.

[0029] In the present embodiment, the discharge container 16 has a discharger 1 and a container main body 17. The container main body 17 has a mouth portion 17a, a body portion 17b, and a bottom portion in this order, and stores the fluid 8 therein. The discharger 1 has a mounting portion 18 that is mounted on the mouth portion 17a so that the second cylinder 4 is held by the mouth portion 17a, and discharges the fluid 8 inside the container main body 17 through the internal flow path 7 by an external operation.

[0030] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist thereof.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0031] 1 Ejector 2 First cylinder 2a Protrusion 2b First cylinder body 2c Contact portion 2c1 Columnar body 2c2 Connecting piece 3 First piston 3a Seated portion 3b First piston body 3b1 Sliding portion 3c Pressing portion 4 Second cylinder 4a Second cylinder body 4b End wall 4c Flange portion 5 Second piston 5a Second piston body 5b Fitting portion 5c Annular flat plate portion 5d Abutted portion 6 Holding member 6a Nozzle head 6a1 Spring support portion 6a2 Insertion portion 6a3 Support step portion 6b Cylinder holding portion 7 Internal flow path 7a Pump chamber 7b Opening / closing portion 7c Discharge port 8 Fluid 9 Pressure accumulation portion 9a First compression spring 9a1 Ball valve body pressing portion 10 Connection portion 11 Holding member biasing portion 11a Second compression spring 12 Anti-disengagement member 12a First contact portion 12b Second contact portion 12c Third contact portion 13 Overcap 14 Suction port 15 Backflow prevention portion 15a Valve body 16 Discharge container 17 Container body 17a Mouth part 17b Body part 18 Mounting part 19 Opening and closing valve body O Axis

Claims

1. a first cylinder; a first piston that slides on the first cylinder; a second cylinder having a larger cross-sectional area than the first cylinder; a second piston that slides on the second cylinder; a holding member that moves forward and backward relative to the second cylinder along with the first piston, the first cylinder, and the second piston by an external operation; an internal flow path that discharges fluid according to the forward and backward movement of the holding member through a pump chamber defined by the first cylinder, the first piston, the second cylinder, and the second piston; a valve body that cooperates with the first piston to form an opening / closing portion of the internal flow path; a pressure accumulator that applies a biasing force to move the valve body from an open position where the opening / closing portion of the internal flow path is open to a closed position where the opening / closing portion is closed in order to increase the internal pressure of the pump chamber by the forward movement of the holding member relative to the second cylinder; a connecting portion that connects the holding member to the first cylinder such that, by the external operation, after the holding member moves forward relative to the first cylinder along with the first piston, the holding member moves forward relative to the second cylinder along with the first cylinder and the second piston, and then, after the holding member moves backward relative to the first cylinder, the holding member moves backward relative to the second cylinder along with the first cylinder and the second piston; a discharger having a holding member biasing portion that applies a biasing force for the backward movement of the holding member relative to the second cylinder to the holding member in order to move the first cylinder and the second piston backward through the connecting portion.

2. The first piston has an inner peripheral surface having an annular seating portion; The discharger according to claim 1, wherein the valve body is separated from the seating portion in the open position and seats on the seating portion in the closed position.

3. The discharger according to claim 2, wherein the first cylinder has a contact portion that relatively moves backward with respect to the seating portion to a position where the seating of the valve body on the seating portion can be blocked by contact from the front to the valve body when the holding member moves forward relative to the first cylinder along with the first piston.

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