Pump type discharging device, and container with discharging device

Abstract

To propose a pump type discharging device which includes a function of automatically returning a pressed head to an initial position, and which also has excellent recyclability.SOLUTION: In a pump type discharge device 100, a head includes a head peripheral wall 9b where a piston part 9c is provided. A base includes: a base peripheral wall 6f with which the piston part 9c comes into contact slidably; an internal space S provided inside the head peripheral wall 9b and the base peripheral wall 6f; an introduction port 1d for introducing a content fluid in a container to the internal space S; a communication port 6h in communication with a discharge port 8e provided at the internal space S; a suction valve 3 capable of opening / closing the introduction port 1d; and a discharge valve 7 capable of opening / closing the communication port 6h. One of the head and the base includes an extension part 10b positioned in the internal space S, and extending toward the other of the head and the base. The other of the head and the base includes an elastic piece 6k positioned in the internal space S, and deflected by the extension part 10b when the head is pressed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pump-type dispenser and a dispenser-equipped container comprising a pump-type dispenser and a container. [Background technology]

[0002] A known pump-type dispenser is one that includes a pump attached to the mouth of a container and driven by the back and forth movement of a stem, and a head connected to the stem, and that ejects the liquid contents of the container from the discharge port by pressing the head (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] As shown in Patent Document 1, a coil spring is provided inside such a pump-type dispenser to return the pressed head to its initial position.

[0004] Furthermore, as a container with a dispenser that includes such a pump-type dispenser and a container, Patent Document 2 discloses a container in which a pump-type dispenser is attached to the spout of a pouch container. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-31950 [Patent Document 2] Utility Model Registration No. 3221629 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, while most of the components of such pump-type dispensers are made of synthetic resin, the coil spring is made of metal. Therefore, when discarded after use, the pump-type dispenser cannot be recycled as a resin product in its current state. Furthermore, in general, in this type of pump-type dispenser, the components are firmly fixed to each other, for example, by fitting, to prevent them from coming apart during normal use. Therefore, it takes time and effort to disassemble the pump-type dispenser and separate the coil spring from the other components.

[0007] The present invention aims to solve these problems and to propose a pump-type dispenser and a container with a dispenser that are highly recyclable and have a function to automatically return the pressed head to its initial position. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The pump-type dispenser of the present invention comprises a base attached to a container that stores liquid contents, and a head that moves back and forth relative to the base. By pressing the head, the liquid contents are dispensed to the outside from a discharge port provided in the base. The head comprises a head peripheral wall having a piston portion provided on its outer or inner peripheral surface. The base comprises a base peripheral wall with which the piston portion is in slidable contact, an internal space provided inside the head peripheral wall and the base peripheral wall, an inlet port for introducing the liquid contents from the container into the internal space, a communication port provided in the internal space that leads to the discharge port, and the inlet port can be opened and closed. The device is equipped with a suction valve that allows the flow of content liquid from the container to the internal space while restricting the flow of content liquid from the internal space toward the container, and a discharge valve that can open and close the communication port and allows the flow of content liquid from the internal space toward the discharge port while restricting the flow of content liquid from the discharge port toward the internal space, wherein one of the head and the base is located in the internal space and has an extension portion that extends toward the other of the head and the base, and the other of the head and the base is located in the internal space and has an elastic piece that bends due to the extension portion when the head is pressed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the pump-type dispenser of the present invention, when the head is pressed, the elastic piece is bent by the extension, and the bent elastic piece returns to its original position automatically. Furthermore, because the above-mentioned elastic piece is used instead of a metal coil spring, there is no need to separate the metal parts after use, as was done with conventional pump-type dispensers, and the dispenser can be reused as a resin product as is, making it highly recyclable. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of a pump-type dispenser according to the present invention, in which the right side of the central axis O shows the state before the head is pressed, and the left side shows the state after the head is pressed. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the pump-type dispenser shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a front view of the pump-type dispenser shown in FIG. [Figure 4A] 2 is a plan view showing the periphery of the elastic piece shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 4B] 2 is a half cross-sectional view showing the periphery of the elastic piece shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 5A] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the discharge valve shown in FIG. [Figure 5B] FIG. 2 is a side view of the discharge valve shown in FIG. [Figure 5C] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the discharge valve shown in FIG. 1 taken along line AA. [Figure 6A] 2 is a plan view showing a state in which the content liquid is being discharged from the pump-type discharger shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 6B] 2 is a plan view showing a state in which the content liquid is being discharged from the pump-type discharger shown in FIG. 1. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, a pump-type dispenser 100, which is one embodiment of a pump-type dispenser according to the present invention, and a dispenser-equipped container 110 including the pump-type dispenser 100 will be described with reference to the drawings. In this specification and the like, the up-down direction refers to the direction along the illustrated central axis O (the central axis of the base peripheral wall 6f, which will be described later), with the side on which the pipe 2 is located being the "bottom" and the side on which the head outer member 9 is located being the "top." Furthermore, the radial direction refers to the direction perpendicular to the central axis O within a plane perpendicular to the central axis O, and the circumferential direction refers to the direction circumferentially around the central axis O within this plane.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, a dispenser-equipped container 110 of this embodiment includes a pump-type dispenser 100 and a container (a pouch container 50 in this embodiment) shown by an imaginary line.

[0013] First, a description will be given of the pouch container 50. The pouch container 50 of this embodiment includes a flexible, bag-shaped pouch container body 51 and a spout 52 attached to the pouch container body 51.

[0014] The pouch container body 51 is made by, for example, stacking two thin synthetic resin sheets and heating the outer edges of these sheets to weld them together, and a space is provided inside the two sheets to contain the content liquid.

[0015] The spout 52 is cylindrical, with its lower portion located inside the pouch-container body 51 and its upper portion equipped with a dispensing tube 52a that dispenses from the pouch-container body 51. An attachment portion 52b is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion of the dispensing tube 52a and is located between the two sheets that make up the pouch-container body 51 and is fixed to these sheets. A plate-like portion 52c extending radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the dispensing tube 52a is provided above the attachment portion 52b, and a male screw portion 52d extending spirally around the outer peripheral surface of the dispensing tube 52a is provided above the attachment portion 52b.

[0016] Next, a pump-type dispenser 100 will be described. The pump-type dispenser 100 of this embodiment is composed of a lower cylinder 1, a pipe 2, a suction valve 3, an attachment cap 4, a gasket 5, an upper cylinder 6, a discharge valve 7, a nozzle member 8, an outer head member 9, an inner head member 10, and a stopper member 11. The lower cylinder 1, the pipe 2, the suction valve 3, the attachment cap 4, the gasket 5, the upper cylinder 6, the discharge valve 7, the nozzle member 8, and the stopper member 11 are components that constitute the "base" in this specification, and the outer head member 9 and the inner head member 10 are components that constitute the "head" in this specification. Of the above components, the suction valve 3 and the gasket 5 are made of a soft, elastic synthetic resin (e.g., polyethylene (LDPE, HDPE, foamed PE)), while the other components are made of a hard synthetic resin (e.g., polypropylene (PP), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyacetal (POM), polyketone (POK) resin, etc.). As shown in Fig. 1, the above-mentioned components, except for the discharge valve 7 and the nozzle member 8, are basically formed in a shape centered on the central axis O. Note that the pump-type dispenser according to the present invention is not limited to one composed of the above-mentioned components, and the number of components can be changed as appropriate, and the locations at which the components are connected to each other can also be changed as appropriate.

[0017] The lower cylinder 1 comprises a cylindrical lower cylinder body 1a. A flange 1b extending radially outward is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the lower cylinder body 1a. A bottom portion 1c is provided at the lower end of the lower cylinder body 1a, and is configured as a combination of an annular plate-shaped portion extending radially inward and a cylindrical portion extending upward from the inner edge of the annular plate-shaped portion. Here, the upper opening of the cylindrical portion 1c1 of the bottom portion 1c is referred to as the inlet port 1d. A cylindrical pipe holder tube 1e extending downward is provided on the underside of the annular plate-shaped portion of the bottom portion 1c.

[0018] The pipe 2 is hollow, and its upper end is inserted into and fitted into the pipe holding cylinder 1e.

[0019] The suction valve 3 has a cylindrical base 3a that is placed inside the lower cylinder body 1a, a suction valve body 3b that is located inside the base 3a, covers the inlet 1d, and sits on the upper surface of the cylindrical portion 1c1 of the bottom 1c, and an elastically deformable connecting piece 3c that connects the base 3a and the suction valve body 3b. The suction valve 3 functions as a check valve, as will be described later.

[0020] The mounting cap 4 includes a cap top wall 4a, which is an annular plate extending horizontally and has a circular through-hole in its center, and a cylindrical cap peripheral wall 4b extending downward from the outer edge of the cap top wall 4a. The inner circumferential surface of the cap peripheral wall 4b is provided with a female thread 4c that screws into the male thread 52d. The mounting cap 4 is attached to the lower cylinder 1 by inserting the upper part of the lower cylinder body 1a into the through-hole in the center of the cap top wall 4a.

[0021] The packing 5 is in the shape of an annular plate and is inserted into the lower part of the lower cylinder body 1a and fitted and held therein. When the female threaded portion 4c of the attachment cap 4 is screwed onto the male threaded portion 52d of the spout 52, the packing 5 is sandwiched between the dispensing tube 52a and the flange 1b. This prevents problems such as the content liquid overflowing from the dispensing tube 52a when the pouch container 50 is displaced into an inverted position, for example.

[0022] The upper cylinder 6 includes a cylindrical retaining tube 6a that surrounds the upper portion of the lower cylinder body 1a. A disk-shaped inner wall 6b extends radially inward above the upper cylinder 6 at the upper end of the retaining tube 6a. A circular through-hole is provided in the center of the inner wall 6b. The through-hole in the inner wall 6b is referred to as the inlet communication port 6c. The inlet communication port 6c corresponds to the "other communication port" in this specification. A cylindrical insertion tube 6d is provided on the underside of the inner wall 6b and is surrounded by the upper portion of the lower cylinder body 1a. As shown, the upper portion of the lower cylinder body 1a is inserted between the retaining tube 6a and the insertion tube 6d, thereby fitting and holding the retaining tube 6a to the lower cylinder body 1a. The insertion tube 6d is located above the base 3a located inside the lower cylinder body 1a and restricts the vertical movement of the suction valve 3 between the base 3a and the bottom 1c.

[0023] A circular plate-shaped outer wall 6e extending radially outward is provided at the lower end of the retaining cylinder 6a. A cylindrical base peripheral wall 6f extending upward is provided at the outer edge of the outer wall 6e. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a plate-shaped finger flange 6g protruding radially outward is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the base peripheral wall 6f. In this embodiment, a pair of finger flanges 6g are provided on either side of the central axis O.

[0024] A cylindrical portion 6f1 penetrates the base peripheral wall 6f and protrudes radially outward from the distal end of the cylindrical portion 6f1, located 90 degrees from the pair of finger flanges 6g in a plan view. The distal end (radially outward) opening of the cylindrical portion 6f1 is referred to as the outlet communication port 6h. The outlet communication port 6h corresponds to the "communication port" in this specification. The base peripheral wall 6f also includes a cylindrical horizontal peripheral wall 6j that surrounds the cylindrical portion 6f1 and extends radially outward from the outer periphery of the base peripheral wall 6f.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1, 4A, and 4B, the upper cylinder 6 includes an elastic piece 6k extending upward from the upper surface of the inner wall 6b and elastically deforming radially inward. The elastic piece 6k shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, and the elastic piece 6k shown by phantom lines on the right side of the central axis O in FIG. 1, are shown in a state before deflection (i.e., a state in which the elastic piece 6k and the extension portion 10b, described later, are not in contact with each other before the components of the pump-type dispenser 100 are assembled). In this embodiment, a total of six elastic pieces 6k are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction around the central axis O in a plan view, surrounding the inlet communicating port 6c. As described later, when the outer head member 9 is pressed during dispensing of the contents, the elastic piece 6k is elastically deformed by the extension portion 10b toward the inlet communicating port 6c. When the pressing force on the outer head member 9 is released, the elastic piece 6k restores the outer head member 9 and the inner head member 10 by its restoring force.

[0026] The elastic piece 6k includes a plate-shaped elastic piece main body 6m and a reinforcing rib 6n that is narrower than the elastic piece main body 6m (having a shorter circumferential length than the elastic piece main body 6m). The reinforcing rib 6n is provided on both circumferential ends of the elastic piece main body 6m. The elastic piece main body 6m of this embodiment has an arc-shaped outer peripheral portion 6p that is arc-shaped (with a curvature radius Ra) as shown in FIG. 4A.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 4B , the reinforcing rib 6n includes a rib root portion 6q located at the base of the reinforcing rib 6n, a rib gradually changing portion 6r whose thickness gradually decreases from the rib root portion 6q toward the tip of the reinforcing rib 6n, and a rib tip portion 6s extending from the rib gradually changing portion 6r toward the tip of the reinforcing rib 6n. As shown in the figure, the rib root portion 6q extends in the vertical direction, and the thickness (radial length) of the rib root portion 6q is approximately the same as the thickness of the elastic piece main body 6m. The rib tip portion 6s also extends in the vertical direction and is thinner than the rib root portion 6q. The rib gradually changing portion 6r extends from the rib root portion 6q toward the rib tip portion 6s in a curved manner so that its thickness gradually decreases. Note that the rib gradually changing portion 6r is not limited to extending in a curved manner, but may extend linearly. The gradually changing rib portion 6r is not limited to a portion whose thickness changes continuously, but may extend in a stepped manner in a side view and have a thickness that changes in stages.

[0028] However, if a flexible elastic piece is constantly bent with a relatively large force, it may become sagged and its recovery performance may decrease. To address this issue, in this embodiment, the base side of the elastic piece 6k is thickened by the rib base portion 6q, while the tip side is thinner than the base side. Therefore, the tip side of the elastic piece 6k is easily bent and the base side of the elastic piece 6k is less likely to bend, thereby suppressing sagging of the base side of the elastic piece 6k. In this embodiment, the elastic force for restoring the head outer member 9 and the head inner member 10 is adjusted so that it is exerted mainly at the base side of the elastic piece 6k, including the thickness of the rib base portion 6q.

[0029] The discharge valve 7 functions as a check valve, as described below. As shown in FIGS. 1, 5A, 5B, and 5C, the discharge valve 7 of this embodiment includes a base 7a, a discharge valve body 7b, and an elastic portion 7c. Note that in FIG. 1, the base 7a and a portion of the elastic portion 7c are shown in a side view, while the remaining portion of the elastic portion 7c and the discharge valve body 7b are shown in a cross-sectional view. As shown in FIG. 5C, the base 7a includes a pair of arcuate portions 7d, a pair of grooves 7e, and a through-hole 7f that penetrates the center of the base 7a and connects the grooves 7e. When the base 7a is inserted into the lateral peripheral wall 6j as shown in FIG. 1, the arcuate portions 7d are fitted and held by the lateral peripheral wall 6j. Note that when the base 7a is held by the lateral peripheral wall 6j, the outlet-side communication port 6h communicates with the discharge port 8e (described later) via the grooves 7e.

[0030] As shown in Figure 1, one end of the discharge valve body 7b is inserted into the cylindrical portion 6f1, and the other end is seated on the tip end surface of the cylindrical portion 6f1. When the discharge valve body 7b is seated on the tip end surface of the cylindrical portion 6f1, the outlet-side communication port 6h is closed by the discharge valve body 7b.

[0031] In this embodiment, the elastic portion 7c extends in a wave-like shape in a side view and elastically deforms in the length direction of the discharge valve 7. When the discharge valve 7 is attached to the lateral peripheral wall 6j, the discharge valve body portion 7b is urged by the elastic portion 7c in a direction away from the base portion 7a. Note that the shape of the elastic portion 7c is not limited to that shown in the drawing, as long as it functions to urge the discharge valve body portion 7b in a direction away from the base portion 7a.

[0032] The nozzle member 8 includes a base tube 8a that surrounds the tip of the lateral peripheral wall 6j. A circular connecting wall 8b, which extends radially inward from the tip of the base tube 8a, is provided on the back surface of the connecting wall 8b. A cylindrical inner tube 8c is provided on the back surface of the connecting wall 8b and is surrounded by the tip of the lateral peripheral wall 6j. As shown in the figure, the tip of the lateral peripheral wall 6j is inserted between the base tube 8a and the inner tube 8c, thereby fitting and holding the nozzle member 8 to the lateral peripheral wall 6j. A cylindrical discharge tube 8d, whose tip is curved downward, is provided on the surface of the connecting wall 8b. The opening at the tip of the discharge tube 8d is referred to as the discharge port 8e. In this specification, the term "nozzle" refers to the portion formed by the lateral peripheral wall 6j and the nozzle member 8 in this embodiment.

[0033] The head outer member 9 includes a disk-shaped top wall 9a and a cylindrical head peripheral wall 9b extending downward from the outer edge of the top wall 9a. A piston portion 9c is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the head peripheral wall 9b, and is slidable against the inner peripheral surface of the base peripheral wall 6f in a liquid-tight manner. In this embodiment, the piston portion 9c is composed of an annular plate-shaped base portion 9d that protrudes radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the head peripheral wall 9b, and a sliding piece 9e that extends upward and downward from the outer edge of the base portion 9d and comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the base peripheral wall 6f while elastically deforming.

[0034] The head inner member 10 has a disk-like shape and an inner top wall 10a that is inserted into the head outer member 9 and fitted and held by the head peripheral wall 9b. An extension portion 10b extending downward is provided on the underside of the inner top wall 10a. In this embodiment, the extension portion 10b is cylindrical and centered on the central axis O. As shown in FIG. 1, the lower portion of the extension portion 10b is inclined so as to widen radially outward as it extends generally downward. The inner edge of this inclined portion contacts the outer peripheral surface of the elastic piece 6k (elastic piece main body 6m). Here, the portion of the extension portion 10b that contacts the elastic piece 6k is referred to as the contact portion 10c. As shown in FIG. 4A, the inner peripheral surface of the extension portion 10b at the portion where the contact portion 10c is provided is referred to as the arc-shaped inner peripheral portion 10d, and the radius of curvature of the arc-shaped inner peripheral portion 10d is referred to as Rb. In this embodiment, the radius of curvature Ra of the arc-shaped outer peripheral portion 6p of the elastic piece 6k is set to be smaller than the radius of curvature Rb of the arc-shaped inner peripheral portion 10d.

[0035] The stopper member 11 includes a circular plate-shaped stopper top wall 11a, a cylindrical outer stopper wall 11b extending downward from the outer edge of the stopper top wall 11a, and a cylindrical inner stopper wall 11c extending downward from the inner edge of the stopper top wall 11a. As shown in the figure, the head outer member 9 and the head inner member 10 are assembled together, the piston portion 9c is inserted inside the base peripheral wall 6f, and the base peripheral wall 6f is inserted between the stopper outer wall 11b and the stopper inner peripheral wall 11c, thereby fitting and holding the stopper member 11 to the base peripheral wall 6f. In this state, the stopper inner peripheral wall 11c is positioned above the piston portion 9c, so the assembled head outer member 9 and head inner member 10 will not come out of the upper cylinder 6.

[0036] 1, the space located inside the head peripheral wall 9b and the base peripheral wall 6f is referred to as the internal space S. In this embodiment, the internal space S is surrounded by the lower cylinder 1, the upper cylinder 6, the nozzle member 8, and the head outer member 9, and is the space extending from the inlet 1d through the inlet communicating port 6c and the outlet communicating port 6h to the discharge port 8e. In the following description, it is assumed that the content liquid has already been discharged from the discharge port 8e, and that the content liquid is stored in the internal space S from the inlet communicating port 6c to the outlet communicating port 6h.

[0037] In the pump-type dispenser 100 configured with these components, before the outer head member 9 located to the right of the central axis O in FIG. 1 is pressed, the contact portion 10c of the extension portion 10b contacts the elastic piece 6k, causing the elastic piece 6k to bend slightly, and the outer head member 9 and the inner head member 10 are moved to their uppermost position. The elastic piece 6k of this embodiment is thicker at the base due to the rib base portion 6q of the reinforcing rib 6n, but thinner at the tip end than the base end. Therefore, before the outer head member 9 is pressed, the tip end of the elastic piece 6k bends, while the base end of the elastic piece 6k is less likely to bend, as shown in FIG. 1. As described above, in the elastic piece 6k of this embodiment, the elastic force for restoring the outer head member 9 and the inner head member 10 is adjusted to be exerted mainly at the base end of the elastic piece 6k, including the thickness of the rib base portion 6q. This allows the effect of sagging to be suppressed while maintaining the function of restoring the outer head member 9 and the inner head member 10. Furthermore, when the head outer member 9 and the head inner member 10 are moved to their upper limit, the force acting on the tip side of the elastic piece 6k is small before the head outer member 9 is pressed, which reduces the effect of settling on the tip side of the elastic piece 6k, which remains bent as shown in Figure 1.

[0038] When the outer head member 9 is pressed from above to lower the outer head member 9 and the inner head member 10, the piston portion 9c, which is slidable against the inner peripheral surface of the base peripheral wall 6f and in liquid-tight contact with it, also descends, thereby pressurizing the internal space S. Here, the suction valve body portion 3b of the suction valve 3 is seated on the upper surface of the cylindrical portion 1c1 of the bottom portion 1c, as shown in FIG. 1. That is, the suction valve 3 functions as a check valve that allows the flow of content liquid from the pouch container 50 toward the internal space S, while restricting the flow of content liquid from the internal space S toward the pouch container 50. Meanwhile, the discharge valve body portion 7b of the discharge valve 7 is seated on the tip surface of the cylindrical portion 6f1 of the base peripheral wall 6f. That is, the discharge valve 7 functions as a check valve that allows the flow of content liquid from the internal space S toward the discharge port 8e, while restricting the flow of content liquid from the discharge port 8e toward the internal space S. Therefore, when the internal space S is pressurized, the discharge valve body portion 7b moves away from the tip surface of the cylindrical portion 6f1, opening the outlet communicating port 6h, and the liquid contents stored in the internal space S pass through the outlet communicating port 6h and are discharged to the outside world from the discharge port 8e.

[0039] The pump-type dispenser 100 of this embodiment includes a pair of finger flanges 6g as shown in Fig. 2, and therefore, as shown in Fig. 6A, one finger flange 6g can be held between the index finger and middle finger, and the outer head member 9 can be pressed with the thumb. That is, when discharging the content liquid, the pump-type dispenser 100 can be supported by the finger flanges 6g, so that the content liquid can be easily discharged even when the pump-type dispenser 100 is attached to a flexible pouch container 50. When discharging the content liquid, for example, as shown in Fig. 6B, the lower surface of one finger flange 6g can be supported with the index finger and the lower surface of the other finger flange 6g can be supported with the middle finger, so that the pump-type dispenser 100 can be held between these fingers and the thumb placed on the upper surface of the outer head member 9 so that the content liquid can be easily discharged.

[0040] Furthermore, conventional pump-type dispensers generally have a discharge port provided in the head, in which case the discharge port also moves down when the head is pressed. On the other hand, the pump-type dispenser 100 of this embodiment has a discharge port 8e in the nozzle member 8 that constitutes the "base," and the position of the discharge port 8e does not change even when the head outer member 9 that constitutes the "head" is pressed, so the content liquid can be stably dispensed toward the discharge destination.

[0041] When the head outer member 9 is pressed, the contact portion 10c of the extension portion 10b that contacts the elastic piece 6k applies a pressing force to the elastic piece 6k, causing the elastic piece 6k to bend radially inward as shown to the left of the central axis O in Fig. 1. The reinforcing rib 6n of this embodiment has a rib gradually changing portion 6r (see Fig. 4B), and the thickness of the reinforcing rib 6n gradually changes toward the rib base portion 6q. Therefore, when a pressing force is applied to the head outer member 9, there is no sudden change in resistance, resulting in excellent operability.

[0042] 4A, the radius of curvature Ra of the arc-shaped outer peripheral portion 6p of the elastic piece 6k is set to be smaller than the radius of curvature Rb of the arc-shaped inner peripheral portion 10d. In other words, compared to when the radii of curvature Ra and Rb are equal, the contact area between the contact portion 10c and the elastic piece 6k is reduced, and the sliding resistance when the head outer member 9 is pressed down is reduced, so that excessive force is not required when pressing the head outer member 9.

[0043] When the pressure on the outer head member 9 is subsequently released, the elastic force of the elastically deformed elastic piece 6k acts on the extension 10b, causing the outer head member 9 and the inner head member 10 to begin to rise. This causes the piston 9c, which is slidable against the inner circumferential surface of the base peripheral wall 6f and in liquid-tight contact with it, to also rise, thereby reducing the pressure in the internal space S. Furthermore, as the pressure in the pressurized internal space S decreases, the discharge valve body 7b of the discharge valve 7 is seated again on the tip surface of the cylindrical portion 6f1, thereby closing the outlet communicating port 6h. The suction valve body 3b of the suction valve 3 is able to separate from the upper surface of the cylindrical portion 1c1 of the bottom 1c, and the suction valve 3 allows the liquid contents to flow from the pouch container 50 toward the internal space S. This allows the liquid contents contained in the pouch container 50 to be sucked into the internal space S from the pipe 2 via the inlet 1d. Thereafter, when the head outer member 9 is pressed from above, the liquid content is again discharged from the discharge port 8e.

[0044] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings, this embodiment may be modified as follows. For example, the number of elastic pieces 6k and their positions are not limited to those of the above embodiment and can be modified as appropriate. Furthermore, the number of reinforcing ribs 6n and their positions are not limited to those of the above embodiment and can be modified as appropriate. Furthermore, the reinforcing ribs 6n may not have rib tip portions 6s, and the upper ends of the rib gradually changing portions 6r may be directly connected to the inner circumferential surface of the elastic piece main body 6m. The outer circumferential surface of the elastic piece main body 6m is not limited to being arc-shaped in plan view as in this embodiment, but may be linear in plan view, for example. Furthermore, the extension portion 10b is not limited to being cylindrical and may be, for example, rectangular.

[0045] Furthermore, although the elastic piece 6k in the above-described embodiment bends toward the central axis O, it may also be bends away from the central axis O. In the above-described embodiment, the elastic piece 6k is provided on the upper cylinder 6 (base) and the extension portion 10b is provided on the head inner member 10 (head), but the extension portion 10b may be provided on the upper cylinder 6 and the elastic piece 6k may be provided on the head inner member 10.

[0046] Alternatively, the head peripheral wall 9b may be positioned radially outward of the base peripheral wall 6f, and the piston portion 9c may be provided on the inner peripheral surface of the head peripheral wall 9b so as to be slidable against the outer peripheral surface of the base peripheral wall 6f and in liquid-tight contact therewith.

[0047] Furthermore, the container to which the pump-type dispenser 100 is attached is not limited to the pouch container 50, but may be, for example, a bottle-shaped container made of hard synthetic resin.

[0048] (Addendum) In one aspect, the present specification discloses the following technology.

[0049] (Technology 1) A pump-type dispenser (100) comprising a base attached to a container for storing liquid contents and a head that moves back and forth relative to the base, and which dispenses the liquid contents to the outside from a discharge port (8e) provided in the base by pressing the head, The head a head peripheral wall (9b) having a piston portion (9c) on its outer or inner peripheral surface; The base is a base peripheral wall (6f) with which the piston portion (9c) is in slidable contact; an internal space (S) provided inside the head peripheral wall (9b) and the base peripheral wall (6f); an inlet (1d) for introducing the liquid content in the container into the internal space (S); a communication port (6h) provided in the internal space (S) and communicating with the discharge port (8e); a suction valve (3) that can open and close the inlet (1d) and allows the content liquid to flow from the container toward the internal space (S) while restricting the content liquid to flow from the internal space (S) toward the container; a discharge valve (7) that can open and close the communication port (6h) and allows the content liquid to flow from the internal space (S) toward the discharge port (8e) while restricting the flow of the content liquid from the discharge port (8e) toward the internal space (S), One of the head and the base is located in the internal space (S) and has an extension (10b) extending toward the other of the head and the base, The other of the head and the base is located in the internal space (S) and includes an elastic piece (6k) that is deflected by the extension (10b) when the head is pressed.

[0050] With this technology, when the head is pressed, the elastic piece is bent by the extension, and the bent elastic piece returns to its original position. Furthermore, because this type of elastic piece is used instead of a metal coil spring, there is no need to separate the metal parts after use, as was done with conventional pump-type dispensers, and the resin part can be reused as is, making it highly recyclable.

[0051] (Technology 2) The elastic piece (6k) includes an elastic piece main body (6m) and a reinforcing rib (6n) that is narrower than the elastic piece main body (6m), The pump-type discharger (100) according to Art 1, wherein the reinforcing rib (6n) has a rib root portion (6q) located on the root side of the reinforcing rib (6n), and a rib gradually changing portion (6r) whose thickness gradually decreases from the rib root portion (6q) toward the tip side of the reinforcing rib (6n).

[0052] With this technology, the base side of the elastic piece is thicker due to the rib base portion, while the tip side is thinner than the base side, so the tip side of the elastic piece is more flexible and the base side of the elastic piece is less flexible, thereby suppressing settling of the base side of the elastic piece.In addition, because the thickness of the reinforcing rib gradually changes toward the rib base portion due to the rib gradual change portion, there is no sudden change in resistance when applying pressure to the head, resulting in excellent operability.

[0053] (Technology 3) The base is a lower cylinder (1) having a cylindrical shape, the inlet (1d) being provided at a bottom (1c) thereof, and the suction valve (3) being provided inside thereof; an upper cylinder (6) including a holding cylinder (6a) held by the lower cylinder (1); an inner wall (6b) located radially inside the holding cylinder (6a) and provided with another communication port (6c) communicating with the inlet (1d); and an outer wall (6e) located radially outside the holding cylinder (1e) and connected to the base peripheral wall (6f), The pump-type discharger (100) according to Art 1, wherein a plurality of the elastic pieces (6k) are provided on the upper surface of the inner wall (6b) so as to surround the other communication opening (6c).

[0054] This technology makes the base structure more suitable for mass production, making it easier to realize the present invention. In addition, by providing multiple elastic pieces, the force required to return the head is distributed among the elastic pieces, reducing the elastic force per elastic piece, and therefore preventing the elastic pieces from becoming worn.

[0055] (Technology 4) The head has the extension portion (10b), The pump-type discharger (100) according to Art 3, wherein the elastic piece (6k) bends in a direction in which the extension (10b) contacts the outer peripheral surface and approaches the other communication port when the head is pressed.

[0056] This technique allows the pump-type discharger to have a smaller external size than when the elastic piece is tilted in a direction away from the other communication ports.

[0057] (Technology 5) The base includes a nozzle extending from the base peripheral wall (6f) and having the discharge port (8e) at its tip, The pump-type dispenser (100) according to Art 1, wherein the discharge valve (7) is provided in the nozzle.

[0058] This technology allows the liquid contents to be discharged locally, and because the discharge valve fits inside the nozzle, it contributes to the miniaturization of pump-type dispensers.

[0059] (Technology 6) The pump-type dispenser (100) according to Art 1, wherein the base is provided with a finger flange (6g) extending radially outward.

[0060] This technology allows the pump-type dispenser to be stably supported, so that the liquid content can be easily dispensed even when the pump-type dispenser is attached to a flexible pouch container, for example.

[0061] (Technology 7) A dispenser-equipped container (110) comprising the pump-type dispenser (100) according to any one of the first to sixth techniques and the container.

[0062] This technology allows the content liquid to be easily discharged from the container using a pump-type dispenser.

[0063] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment. Unless otherwise specified in the above description, various modifications and variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the claims. For example, the configurations of the above-described embodiment may be added or deleted as appropriate, and the configurations of one embodiment may be incorporated into other embodiments. Furthermore, the effects of the above-described embodiment are merely examples of the effects that can be obtained from the present invention. In other words, the effects of the present invention are not limited to the above-described effects, and additional effects may be obtained in addition to the above-described effects. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 1: Lower cylinder 1b: flange 1c: Bottom 1d: Entrance 1e: Pipe holding tube 3: Suction valve 6: Upper cylinder 6a: Holding tube 6b: Inner wall 6c: Inlet communication port (other communication port) 6e: Outer wall 6th floor: Base wall 6g: Finger flange 6h: Outlet side communication port (communication port) 6k: Elastic piece 6m: Elastic piece body 6n: Reinforcement rib 6q: Rib base 6r: Gradual change in rib 7: Discharge valve 8e:Discharge port 9b: Head wall 9c: Piston section 10b: Extension part 50: Pouch container (container) 51: Pouch container body 52: Spout 100: Pump type dispenser 110: Container with dispenser S:Internal space

Claims

1. A pump-type dispenser comprising a base attached to a container for storing liquid contents and a head that moves back and forth relative to the base, and which dispenses the liquid contents from a discharge port provided in the base to the outside by pressing the head, The head a head peripheral wall having a piston portion provided on an outer peripheral surface or an inner peripheral surface; The base is a base peripheral wall with which the piston portion slidably contacts; an internal space defined inside the head peripheral wall and the base peripheral wall; an inlet for introducing the liquid content in the container into the internal space; a communication port provided in the internal space and communicating with the discharge port; a suction valve that can open and close the inlet and allows the content liquid to flow from the container to the internal space while regulating the flow of the content liquid from the internal space to the container; a discharge valve that can open and close the communication port and allows the content liquid to flow from the internal space toward the discharge port while restricting the flow of the content liquid from the discharge port toward the internal space, one of the head and the base is located in the internal space and includes an extension portion extending toward the other of the head and the base; The other of the head and the base is positioned in the internal space and includes an elastic piece that is deflected by the extension when the head is pressed.

2. The elastic piece includes an elastic piece main body and a reinforcing rib that is narrower than the elastic piece main body, 2. The pump-type discharger according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing rib has a rib root portion located on the root side of the reinforcing rib and a rib gradual change portion whose thickness gradually decreases from the rib root portion toward the tip side of the reinforcing rib.

3. The base is a lower cylinder having a cylindrical shape, the inlet being provided at a bottom thereof, and the suction valve being provided inside thereof; a retaining cylinder held by the lower cylinder; an upper cylinder including an inner wall located radially inside the retaining cylinder and having another communication port communicating with the inlet; and an outer wall located radially outside the retaining cylinder and connected to the base peripheral wall, 2. The pump-type discharger according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the elastic pieces are provided on the upper surface of the inner wall so as to surround the other communication port.

4. The head has the extension portion, 4. The pump-type dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the elastic piece bends in a direction in which the extension contacts an outer peripheral surface and approaches the other communication port when the head is pressed.

5. the base includes a nozzle extending from the peripheral wall of the base and having the discharge port at a tip thereof, 2. The pump dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the discharge valve is provided within the nozzle.

6. 2. The pump dispenser of claim 1, wherein the base includes a finger flange extending radially outward.

7. A dispenser-equipped container comprising the pump-type dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and the container.

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