Dispenser, replacement method for refill container therefor, and buffer unit

Abstract

To provide a dispenser capable of continuing use of a liquid even when the liquid in a refill container is used up although the structure is simple, and a replacement method for refill container that is superior in convenience.SOLUTION: A dispenser 1 comprises a discharge part 40 which discharges the liquid contained in a refill container 10, and a buffer part 30 interposed between a pouring part 11 of the refill container 10 and the discharge part 40 to reserve a liquid. The buffer part 30 has a small tank part 35 reserving the liquid. The dispenser 1 is configured to supply the liquid from the refill container 10 to the discharge part 40 through the buffer part 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a dispenser, a method for replacing a refill container therefor, and a buffer unit. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known a dispenser that includes a holder for holding a container filled with a liquid such as shampoo or body soap, and a discharge tool that connects to the container and discharges the liquid to the outside. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a dispenser that includes a storage body, a front cover that opens and closes the opening of the storage body, and a pouch storage case, and that can hold the pouch storage case in a position where the upper end is tilted forward when the front cover is open, and that allows the pouch containing the liquid to be replaced.

[0003] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a pump-type fluid supplying device in which a pouch is held upside down and the contents of the pouch are dispensed by pressing a pressing head provided on a pump dispenser. Patent document 3 also discloses a device for detecting the amount of fluid remaining in a pack, which involves pulling both ends of a base pack containing a fluid away from each other until the pack reaches a predetermined length, at which point the amount of fluid remaining in the pack is notified, and the pack is then squeezed toward the discharge outlet based on this. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-331115 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-13111 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-128740 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The dispensers disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 can be reused over long periods of time by replacing the refill container, such as a pouch container containing a liquid, and are effective in reducing environmental impact. However, the dispensers in Patent Documents 1 and 2 make it difficult to determine the amount of liquid remaining in the refill container. When the refill container is empty, the liquid cannot be used unless the refill container is replaced, which is inconvenient. For example, if such a dispenser is installed in a guest room of a lodging facility, facility employees will replace the refill container, but this replacement work is often not possible immediately, which is inconvenient for facility users. The dispenser disclosed in Patent Document 3 notifies the user of the amount of liquid remaining in the refill container, but requires the installation of a sensor and movable parts for the notification, making the dispenser structure large and difficult to install.

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a dispenser and a buffer unit that have a simple structure and that allow liquid to be continuously used even after the liquid in the refill container has been used up. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for replacing a refill container that is highly convenient. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention relates to a dispenser. In one embodiment, the dispenser preferably includes a discharge portion that discharges the liquid contained in the refillable container, and a buffer portion that is interposed between the dispensing portion of the refillable container and the discharge portion and that stores the liquid. In one embodiment, the buffer section preferably has a small tank section for storing the liquid. In one embodiment, the dispenser is preferably configured so that the liquid is supplied from the refill container to the discharge portion via the buffer portion.

[0008] Alternatively, the present invention relates to a buffer unit. In one embodiment, the buffer unit is preferably connectable to both a dispensing portion of a refillable container and a discharging portion that discharges the liquid in the refillable container. In one embodiment, the buffer unit preferably has a small tank portion interposed between the outlet portion and the discharge portion for storing the liquid to be supplied to the discharge portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The dispenser and buffer unit of the present invention have a simple structure, yet allow the liquid to continue to be used even after the liquid in the refill container has been used up. Furthermore, the replacement method of the present invention is highly convenient. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the dispenser of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the dispenser shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the buffer section and the discharge section of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the buffer portion of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6(a) is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the buffer section according to the present invention, and FIG. 6(b) is a perspective cross-sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 6(a). [Figure 7] 7(a) is a vertical cross-sectional view for explaining the flow of liquid in the buffer section shown in FIG. 6 before being turned upside down, and FIG. 7(b) is the same vertical cross-sectional view after being turned upside down. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 7, showing still another embodiment of the buffer section according to the present invention. [Figure 9] 9 is a cross-sectional view of the buffer section shown in FIG. 8 taken along line IV-IV. [Figure 10]10(a) to 10(c) are partially cutaway perspective views for explaining the flow paths of the buffer section shown in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment of a buffer section according to the present invention, and a cross-sectional view of the buffer section at a different position in the vertical direction. [Figure 12] 12(a) and 12(b) are partial cutaway views along the vertical direction of the buffer section shown in FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 14(a) is a cross-sectional view illustrating the flow path (flow) within the buffer section shown in FIG. 11, and FIG. 14(b) is a schematic development view showing the flow path through multiple spaces around the cylindrical partition wall. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 showing another embodiment of the dispenser according to the present invention. [Figure 16] 16(a) and 16(b) are a perspective view and a longitudinal sectional view showing still another embodiment of a buffer section according to the present invention. [Figure 17] 17(a) and 17(b) are a perspective view and a longitudinal sectional view showing still another embodiment of a buffer section according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The dispenser of the present invention will be described below based on its preferred embodiments. Figures 1 to 5 show a dispenser 1 of this embodiment. The dispenser 1 of this embodiment holds a replaceable refill container 10 that contains a liquid, and is configured so that the liquid in the refill container 10 can be discharged to the outside of the dispenser 1.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the dispenser 1 of this embodiment holds a pouch container as a refill container 10. The pouch container includes a body 15 formed of a flexible sheet and containing a liquid, and a dispensing portion 11 for dispensing the liquid (see FIG. 3). The body 15 of the pouch container includes a pair of opposing side walls, a top crotch portion connecting the pair of side walls at the upper end of the body, and a bottom crotch portion connecting the pair of side walls at the lower end of the body, each of which is formed of a flexible sheet. The dispensing portion 11 of the pouch container includes a cylindrical nozzle portion 11a and a flange portion 11f extending radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle portion 11a. The dispensing portion 11 is fixed to the body 15 with the flange portion 11f fixed to the inner surface of the top crotch portion 15t and the nozzle portion 11a protruding from a through-hole formed in the top crotch portion 15t. As such a pouch container, for example, the container described in JP 2016-003055 A can be used.

[0013] In the present embodiment, the dispensing portion 11 has a threaded portion 11b formed on the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle portion 11a, which can be threadedly engaged with a threaded portion formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cap. As a result, the discharge port of the nozzle portion 11a of the pouch container is closed with the cap before use. When the pouch container is attached to the dispenser 1 of the present embodiment, the cap is removed from the nozzle portion 11a.

[0014] The refill container 10 held in the dispenser 1 may be a pouch container as shown in FIG. 1, or may be a bottle container. The bottle container has a cylindrical body portion having a bottom and containing a liquid, and a spout portion for dispensing the liquid. The inner diameter of the spout portion is smaller than the inner diameter of the body portion, and the spout portion and body portion are integrally molded by blow molding.

[0015] There is no particular limitation on the type of liquid contained in the refill container 10. Examples of such liquids include liquid soaps such as body soap and hand soap, hair care products such as shampoo, conditioner, hair dye, hair styling agent, and hair growth agent, cosmetics such as lotion, milky lotion, beauty serum, sunscreen, and makeup remover, detergents such as food detergent and laundry detergent, mouthwashes such as toothpaste, fabric softeners, bleach, bath additives, liquid medicines, supplements, cleaning agents for baths, toilets, and floors, and liquid foods such as soups, sauces, and dressings. The liquid is contained inside the refill container 10, more specifically, in the storage space 15S of the body 15, which will be described later.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the dispenser 1 of this embodiment comprises a holder 2 that holds a refill container 10, a discharge section 40 that discharges the liquid in the refill container 10, and a buffer section 30 that stores the liquid.

[0017] The holder 2 of this embodiment comprises a storage case 20 that stores the refill container 10, and a support part 22 that supports the refill container 10 in a predetermined state within the storage case 20. The storage case 20 comprises a back part 21 and a front cover part 26 that is rotatably attached to the lower end of the back part 21. The storage case 20 provided in the dispenser 1 of this embodiment can be manufactured by injection molding using synthetic resin. The front cover 26 of the storage case 20 is kept closed by a known locking mechanism. The back surface 21 has a rectangular back plate 24, and is locked by engaging a protrusion of a rotating member 29 disposed on a top wall 26t (cover top wall 26t) of the front cover 26 with a through-hole 24h formed in the upper end of the back plate 24. The rotating member 29 has a cylindrical shape, and a portion of the outer periphery of the cylinder has a protrusion that protrudes radially outward. A fitting hole is formed in the cover top wall 26t, into which the upper end of the rotating member 29 can fit. By inserting the rotating member 29 into the fitting hole, the rotating member 29 is attached to the cover top wall 26t so as to be rotatable about its central axis.

[0018] The dispenser 1 of this embodiment can be used with the holder 2 fixed to a wall surface of a toilet, bathroom, washroom, etc. by fixing the rear surface 21 to a fixing object. The wall surface is not limited to an indoor wall surface, but may also be an outdoor wall surface. The fixing object to which the holder 2 is fixed may be something other than a wall surface, and the holder 2 may also be fixed to a pillar, etc.

[0019] The dispenser 1 of this embodiment has a vertical direction X and a horizontal direction Y perpendicular to the vertical direction X. The vertical direction X and the horizontal direction Y coincide with the planar direction of the back panel 24. The vertical direction X of this embodiment coincides with the longitudinal direction of the dispenser 1. Furthermore, the dispenser 1 of this embodiment has a depth direction Z as a normal direction to a plane along the vertical direction X and the horizontal direction Y. When the rear part 21 of the holder 2 is fixed to a wall surface, the longitudinal direction X corresponds to the vertical direction, the lateral direction Y corresponds to the left-right direction when facing the wall surface, and the depth direction Z corresponds to the front-rear direction when facing the wall surface. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the description will be given of a state in which the rear portion 21 of the holder 2 is fixed to a wall surface (hereinafter also simply referred to as the "fixed state"). In addition, in the depth direction Z, the wall surface side is also referred to as the "rear side," and the side opposite the rear side is also referred to as the "front side."

[0020] The back panel 24 has a first surface on which the front cover portion 26 is disposed and a second surface opposite the first surface. In the back panel 24, the first surface side is the front side in the depth direction Z, and the second surface side is the back side in the depth direction Z. In the fixed state, the second surfaces face the object to be fixed (wall surface). The rear plate 24 of this embodiment has multiple recesses 24a, 24b, 24c, and 24d recessed toward the rear, and these recesses open toward the front (see FIG. 2). More specifically, the rear plate 24 has, in order from top to bottom in the vertical direction X, a first recess 24a, a second recess 24b, a third recess 24c, and a fourth recess 24d, which are spaced apart in the vertical direction X. The multiple recesses 24a, 24b, 24c, and 24d have their bottom back surfaces (second surface side) aligned at the same position in the depth direction Z (see FIG. 4), and the back surfaces of the recesses are aligned with the wall surface to which the holder 2 is fixed. That is, in the fixed state, the second surface of the rear plate 24 is spaced apart in the depth direction Z from the wall surface except for the recesses 24a, 24b, 24c, and 24d.

[0021] The back portion 21 of this embodiment has a peripheral wall portion 23 that protrudes from an upper edge portion of the back plate 24 and a pair of side edges along the vertical direction X to the front side in the depth direction Z. When viewed facing the wall surface with the depth direction Z as the front-rear direction (hereinafter simply referred to as "front view"), the peripheral wall portion 23 has a downward U-shape that surrounds the back plate 24 on three sides.

[0022] In this embodiment, the back panel 21 has a cover support portion 25 at its lower end in the vertical direction X that rotatably supports the front cover portion 26. The cover support portion 25 protrudes forward beyond the peripheral wall portion 23 in the depth direction Z. More specifically, the cover support portion 25 has a top surface portion 25t that protrudes forward from the back panel 24, a front surface portion 25f that hangs downward from an edge of the top surface portion 25t, and a bottom surface portion 25u that extends rearward from the lower end of the front surface portion 25f (see FIG. 4). In a cross-sectional view of the cover support portion 25 taken along the vertical direction X, the top surface portion 25t extending in the depth direction Z is connected to an upper end of the front surface portion 25f, and the bottom surface portion 25u extending in the depth direction Z is connected to a lower end of the front surface portion 25f. As a result, the cover support portion 25 is formed with a top surface portion 25t, a front surface portion 25f, and a bottom surface portion 25u, forming a generally C-shape with an open rear side (see FIG. 4). The rear ends of the top surface portion 25t and the bottom surface portion 25u in the depth direction Z protrude from the second surface of the back plate 24 toward the rear side. The rear ends of the top surface portion 25t and the bottom surface portion 25u are located at the same position in the depth direction Z as the rear surfaces of the first to fourth recesses 24a, 24b, 24c, and 24d. The rear surfaces (second surfaces) of the recesses 24a, 24b, 24c, and 24d serve as fixing surfaces (adhesion surfaces) for fixing the holder 2 to the wall surface. For example, the rear surface portion 21 can be fixed to the wall surface by applying double-sided tape to the rear surfaces of the first recess 24a and the fourth recess 24d and by applying silicone adhesive or the like to the rear surfaces (two surfaces) of the second and third central recesses 24b and 24c. The cover support portion 25 has a through-hole 25h that penetrates in the depth direction Z at the front end of the bottom surface portion 25u, and a rotation pin is inserted into the through-hole 25h.

[0023] In this embodiment, the back plate 21 is provided with a support portion 22 that supports the refill container 10 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). In this embodiment, the support portion 22 has a spouting portion support plate 22a that stands on the front side of the first surface of the back plate 24, and an annular support portion 22b attached to the first surface. The main surface of the spouting portion support plate 22a is along the depth direction Z, and a support opening a1 into which the spouting portion 11 of the refill container 10 is inserted is formed at the front end of the support plate 22a (see FIG. 4). This support opening a1 is formed by cutting out the front end of the spouting portion support plate 22a, and the periphery of the opening a1 is continuous with the periphery of the spouting portion support plate 22a. In the back portion 21 of this embodiment, by sliding the spout 11 from the front side to the back side of the support opening a1, the spout 11 is positioned within the support opening a1, and the body 15 of the refill container 10 is positioned on the upper surface of the spout support plate 22a, so that the refill container 10 is held on the spout support plate 22a (see FIGS. 1 and 4). The spout support plate 22a is fixed to the back plate 24 so that its main surface is aligned along the normal direction to the back plate 24 (depth direction Z).

[0024] The annular support portion 22b of the support portion 22 of this embodiment is an annular member and is attached to the upper end of the back plate 24 (see FIG. 1). The long axis direction of the annular portion of the annular support portion 22b is along the horizontal direction Y, and the short axis direction is along the depth direction Z. The annular support portion 22b holds the body portion 15 of the refill container 10 in a state aligned with the back plate 24 by inserting the body portion 15 into the annular portion. As a result, even if the body portion 15 is long in the vertical direction X, the upper end of the body portion 15 arranged on the back plate 21 can be supported by the annular support portion 22b, so that the body portion 15 can be stably held on the back plate 21. Like the spouting portion support plate 22a, the annular support portion 22b is fixed to the back plate 24 so that its main surface is aligned along the normal direction to the back plate 24 (depth direction Z).

[0025] The support unit 22 of this embodiment further includes a buffer unit support plate 22c. The buffer unit support plate 22c is located lower than the outlet unit support plate 22a and is fixed to the back panel 24. Like the outlet unit support plate 22a, the buffer unit support plate 22c has a support opening a2 formed by cutting out the front end of the buffer unit support plate 22c, and the periphery of the opening a2 is continuous with the periphery of the buffer unit support plate 22c. In the back panel 21 of this embodiment, a connecting portion (an outlet tubular portion 37 and a discharge-side inlet tubular portion 48) of the buffer unit 30 (described later) is slid from the front side to the back side of the support opening a2 to position the connecting portion within the support opening a2. Furthermore, the buffer unit 30 is positioned on the upper surface of the buffer unit support plate 22c, thereby holding the buffer unit 30 on the support plate 22c (see FIGS. 1 and 4). That is, in the rear surface portion 21, the buffer portion 30 is held between the discharge portion support plate 22a and the buffer portion support plate 22c, and the discharge portion 40 connected to the buffer portion 30 is held below the buffer portion support plate 22c.

[0026] The front cover portion 26 of the storage case 20 has a deep bowl shape that is deep in the depth direction Z and long in the vertical direction X, and is open at the rear end in the depth direction Z (see FIG. 1). The front cover portion 26 has a cover top wall 26t located at the upper end in the vertical direction X and a cover bottom wall 26u located at the lower end in the vertical direction X, with the cover top wall 26t and cover bottom wall 26u facing each other in the vertical direction X. The front cover portion 26 has a front flat wall 26f located at the frontmost side and extending in the vertical direction X, inclined side walls 26sf sloping toward the rear from each of a pair of side edges of the front flat wall 26f, and side walls 26s protruding further toward the rear from the rear side edges of the inclined side walls 26sf. The cover top wall 26t is connected to the upper edges of the front flat wall 26f, the pair of inclined side walls 26sf, and the pair of side walls 26s.

[0027] The front cover portion 26 has a front inclined wall 26uf that continues downward from the lower edges of the front flat wall 26f and the inclined side walls 26sf and connects to the cover bottom wall 26u. The front inclined wall 26uf gradually increases in width from top to bottom in the vertical direction X and has a generally trapezoidal shape in a front view. The front inclined wall 26uf has an inclined surface with its upper end located toward the front and its lower end located toward the back, and the side edges of the front inclined wall 26uf form the lower edges of the inclined side walls 26sf. The cover bottom wall 26u is connected to the front inclined wall 26uf and the lower edges of the pair of side walls 26s.

[0028] The front cover portion 26 of this embodiment has a window portion 28 through which the interior of the storage case 20 can be partially seen. More specifically, the window portion 28 has a first window portion 28a that penetrates the front flat wall 26f at the lower end of the front flat wall 26f, and a second window portion 28b that penetrates the front inclined wall 26uf at the lower end of the front inclined wall 26uf. When the storage case 20 is in a closed state, which will be described later, the first window portion 28a is formed in a position that overlaps with the small tank portion 35 of the buffer unit 30 in a front view, and the second window portion 28b is formed in a position that overlaps with the pressing portion 42 of the discharge portion 40 in a front view.

[0029] The opening of the front cover portion 26 is formed by the rear edges of the cover top wall 26t, the cover bottom wall 26u, and the pair of side walls 26s, and has an internal space that is deep from the opening toward the front flat wall 26f on the near side. This internal space serves as the main storage space for the refill container 10, the buffer portion 30, and the discharge portion 40. The open edge of the front cover portion 26 corresponds to the outer edge of the back portion 21, and the entire back portion 21 can be covered via the opening of the front cover portion 26.

[0030] The front cover portion 26 has a side through-hole 26h at each of the lower ends of the pair of side walls 26s. When the rear portion 21 is covered with the front cover portion 26, the side through-holes 26h in the side walls 26s overlap with the through-holes 25h in the cover support portion 25 on the rear portion 21. This allows both ends of a pivot pin inserted into the through-hole 25h in the cover support portion 25 to be inserted into the side through-holes 26h in the side walls 26s, and the front cover portion 26 can be attached to the cover support portion 25 rotatably around the pivot pin (see FIG. 1 ). In other words, the front cover portion 26 can rotate around the lower end portion having the side through-holes 26h as an axis, with the upper end of the cover portion 26 moving toward or away from the rear portion 21, allowing the storage case 20 to be opened and closed. Hereinafter, the state in which the front cover portion 26 is open relative to the rear portion 21 will also be referred to as the "open state of the storage case 20," and the state in which the front cover portion 26 is closed relative to the rear portion 21 will also be referred to as the "closed state of the storage case 20."

[0031] The dispenser 1 includes a buffer section 30 interposed between the dispensing section 11 and the discharge section 40 of the refill container 10. The buffer section 30 includes an inlet tube section 31 connectable to the dispensing section 11 of the refill container 10, a small tank section 35 for storing liquid, and an outlet tube section 37 connectable to an inlet tube section 48 of the discharge section 40 (hereinafter also referred to as the "discharge-side inlet tube section 48") (see FIGS. 2 and 4). The buffer section 30 of this embodiment is formed by integrally molding a cylindrical small tank section 35, and cylindrical inlet tube section 31 and outlet tube section 37, each having a smaller outer diameter than the small tank section 35, with their central axes aligned. In the dispenser 1, the central axes of the small tank section 35, inlet tube section 31, and outlet tube section 37 are aligned with the vertical direction X.

[0032] The small tank portion 35 has a hollow structure and has a storage space 35S inside the cylinder (see FIG. 3). The small tank portion 35 can store liquid in this storage space 35S. The upper opening of the small tank portion 35 is closed by a top surface portion 35t, and the lower opening is closed by a bottom surface portion 35u. The small tank portion 35 protrudes radially outward beyond the inlet cylindrical portion 31 and the outlet cylindrical portion 37. The inlet cylindrical portion 31 protrudes outward (upward) in the vertical direction X from the top surface portion 35t of the small tank portion 35, and the outlet cylindrical portion 37 protrudes outward (downward) in the vertical direction X from the bottom surface portion 35u of the small tank portion 35. The interior of the small tank portion 35 is in communication with the interiors of the inlet cylindrical portion 31 and the outlet cylindrical portion 37.

[0033] The inner diameter of the inflow cylindrical portion 31 in the buffer portion 30 corresponds to the outer diameter of the nozzle portion 11a of the discharge portion 11, and a threaded portion 31a is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the inflow cylindrical portion 31 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). The inflow cylindrical portion 31 and the nozzle portion 11a can be threaded together by means of the threaded portions 11b and 31a, and the inflow cylindrical portion 31 and the nozzle portion 11a can be connected by inserting and threading the nozzle portion 11a into the inflow cylindrical portion 31. This allows the interior of the inflow cylindrical portion 31 to communicate with the interior of the nozzle portion 11a, and the liquid in the body portion 15 can be supplied to the buffer portion 30 (small tank portion 35).

[0034] The inner diameter of the outflow cylindrical portion 37 in the buffer portion 30 is larger than the outer diameter of the discharge-side inflow cylindrical portion 48 of the discharge portion 40, so that the discharge-side inflow cylindrical portion 48 can be inserted into the outflow cylindrical portion 37. A threaded portion 37a is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outflow cylindrical portion 37 in the buffer portion 30 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). This threaded portion 37a can be threadedly engaged with a threaded portion 47a formed on the inner peripheral surface of a discharge-side cap 47 provided in the discharge portion 40. By inserting the discharge-side inflow cylindrical portion 48 into the outflow cylindrical portion 37 and threading the discharge-side cap 47 and the outflow cylindrical portion 37 together, the outflow cylindrical portion 37 and the discharge-side inflow cylindrical portion 48 can be connected. This establishes communication between the interior of the outflow cylindrical portion 37 and the interior of the discharge-side inflow cylindrical portion 48, allowing the liquid in the small tank portion 35 to be supplied to the discharge portion 40.

[0035] The discharge section 40 of the dispenser 1 of this embodiment includes a pump chamber 41 having a depressible pressing section 42, a discharge-side inlet cylindrical section 48 protruding upward from the pump chamber 41, and a discharge-side nozzle section 49 protruding downward from the pump chamber 41 (see FIG. 4). The pump chamber 41 has a cylindrical pump body 43 with a bottom whose central axis coincides with the depth direction Z, and a pressing portion 42 that closes the opening of the pump body 43. The opening on the back side of the cylindrical pump body 43 is closed by the bottom of the pump body 43, and the opening on the front side is closed by the pressing portion 42.

[0036] The pressing portion 42 is attached to the pump body 43 so as to cover the opening on the front side of the pump body 43. In this embodiment, the pressing portion 42 is an elastic membrane-like body having a dome shape that protrudes toward the front. The dome of the pressing portion 42 is hollow, and when pressed from the front side to the back side, it can deform so as to enter the pump body 43, and when the pressure is released, it can return to its dome shape before pressing. The pressing deformation and restoration of the pressing portion 42 can increase or decrease the internal pressure of the pump body 43 in the pump chamber 41. In this embodiment, because the front inclined wall 26uf is inclined toward the rear with respect to the front flat wall 26f, the pressing portion 42 of the discharge portion 40 is exposed from the second window portion 28b when the storage case 20 is in the closed state. Also, the front portion 25f of the cover support portion 25 protrudes forward beyond the rear plate 24, and the pressing portion 42 of the discharge portion 40 is disposed on the front side of the front portion 25f (see FIG. 1). These configurations make it easier to press the pressing portion 42. The dispenser may be provided with a separate, depressible cover member on the front side of the discharge portion 40. In such a configuration, the pressing operation is performed by pressing the entire cover member. In this case, the shape of the cover member can be freely changed to match the appearance of the dispenser, improving the degree of freedom in design.

[0037] The discharge-side inlet cylindrical portion 48 and the discharge-side nozzle portion 49 are each cylindrical and connected to the upper end and lower end of the pump body 43 with their central axes aligned, and the interiors of the discharge-side inlet cylindrical portion 48 and the discharge-side nozzle portion 49 are connected to the interior of the pump chamber 41. That is, in the vertical direction X, the pump chamber 41 is interposed between the discharge-side inlet cylindrical portion 48 and the discharge-side nozzle portion 49.

[0038] The pressing portion 42 of the pump chamber 41 is made of an elastically deformable material such as elastomer, silicone, NBR, etc. The pressing portion 42 is joined to the pump body 43 along the opening edge on the front side of the pump body 43. Pump body 43, discharge-side inlet cylindrical portion 48, and discharge-side nozzle portion 49 are each a rigid casing made of synthetic resin such as PP (polypropylene) or PE (polyethylene), and are separate members from pressing portion 42. This casing can be manufactured by injection molding or the like. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of improving the restoring ability of the pressing portion 42, the pump chamber 41 may be provided with a coil spring that biases the pressed pressing portion 42 in a direction to restore its original shape. In this case, the coil spring is provided inside the pump body 43, and is compressed as the pressing portion 42 is pressed, but returns to its original shape when the pressure is released. The repulsive force of this coil spring makes it easier for the pressing portion 42 to restore its original shape. As the discharge section 40 of this embodiment, for example, the one described in International Publication No. 2021 / 059697 can be used.

[0039] In the discharge section 40 of this embodiment, the pump body 43 and the pressing section 42 are adjacent to each other in the depth direction Z, and the pressing section 42 can be deformed by pressing it horizontally toward the inside (rear side) of the pump body 43. This allows the liquid in the pump body 43 to be discharged from the discharge-side nozzle section 49 that communicates with the pump body 43. Furthermore, in the discharge portion 40 of this embodiment, when the pressure on the pressing portion 42 is released, the pressing portion 42 returns to the shape it had before being pressed. This reduces the internal pressure of the pump chamber 41 (pump body 43), allowing the liquid in the buffer portion 30 to be sucked (flowed into) the pump chamber 41 via the discharge-side inlet cylindrical portion 48. Furthermore, as the internal pressure of the pump chamber 41 decreases, the internal pressure of the buffer portion 30 (small tank portion 35) connected to the discharge portion 40 also decreases, allowing the liquid in the body portion 15 to flow into the small tank portion 35 via the nozzle portion 11a. In this manner, the discharge part 40 of this embodiment is configured so that liquid is supplied to the discharge part 40 from the refill container 10 via the buffer part 30 .

[0040] The dispenser 1 of this embodiment is used as follows. First, the nozzle portion 11a of the refillable container 10 is connected to the inlet tube portion 31 of the buffer portion 30, and the outlet tube portion 37 of the buffer portion 30 is connected to the discharge-side inlet tube portion 48 of the discharge portion 40 to establish a connected state. Next, the container case 20 is opened, and the body portion 15 is inserted into the annular support portion 22b, while the nozzle portion 11a of the refillable container 10 is inserted into the support opening a1 of the dispensing portion support plate 22a, and the body portion 15 is placed on the support plate 22a. With this arrangement, the outlet tube portion 37 of the buffer portion 30 is inserted into the support opening a2 of the buffer portion support plate 22c, and the small tank portion 35 is placed on the buffer portion support plate 22c (see FIG. 1). Next, the container case 20 is closed, and the pressing portion 42 exposed from the second window portion 28b is pressed, thereby supplying liquid from the refillable container 10 to the discharge portion 40 via the buffer portion 30. When the buffer section 30 and the discharge section 40 are empty, they can be filled with liquid by pressing them multiple times. Then, when the liquid has spread all the way to the discharge section 40, the pressing section 42 can be pressed to discharge the liquid from the discharge-side nozzle section 49.

[0041] The buffer unit 30 of this embodiment has a simple structure that can be connected to both the refill container 10 (dispensing unit 11) and the discharge unit 40 and has a small tank unit 35. In other words, the buffer unit 30 does not complicate the structure of the dispenser 1. Furthermore, the dispenser 1 of this embodiment has a buffer portion 30 interposed between the refill container 10 and the discharge portion 40, so that even if the liquid in the body portion 15 of the refill container 10 becomes empty, the liquid stored in the small tank portion 35 can be discharged, allowing the liquid to continue to be used. This effect is effective when the refill container 10 cannot be replaced immediately, and is highly convenient. Therefore, the dispenser 1 of this embodiment has a simple structure, yet allows the liquid to be continuously used even after the liquid in the refill container has been used up.

[0042] In the dispenser 1 of this embodiment, the amount of liquid ejected from the ejection portion 40 by one pressing of the pressing portion 42 (hereinafter also referred to as the "unit ejection amount") is approximately the same as the capacity of the pump body 43, and an approximately constant amount of liquid can be ejected by one pressing of the pressing portion 42. From the viewpoint of ensuring more continuous use of the liquid, the capacity of the small tank portion 35 is preferably between 2 and 40 times the unit discharge rate, and more preferably between 5 and 30 times. The capacity of the small tank portion 35 is the capacity when the small tank portion is fully filled with liquid from the bottom surface 35u to the top surface 35t. From the same viewpoint as above, the capacity of the small tank portion 35 is preferably 2 mL or more and 200 mL or less, and more preferably 10 mL or more and 120 mL or less. From the viewpoint of ejection properties, the unit ejection amount is preferably 1 mL or more and 5 mL or less, and more preferably 2 mL or more and 4 mL or less.

[0043] The small tank portion 35 of this embodiment may have a rigidity (hereinafter simply referred to as "low rigidity") that allows it to deform when the pressing portion 42 is pressed, more specifically, when the internal pressure of the pump body 43 decreases. Alternatively, it may have a rigidity (hereinafter simply referred to as "high rigidity") that prevents it from deforming when the internal pressure of the pump body 43 decreases. If the small tank portion 35 has low rigidity, when the internal pressure of the pump body 43 decreases, deformation such as dents forming in the peripheral wall of the small tank portion 35 or the small tank portion 35 shrinking occurs. The presence or absence of such deformation can be used to determine whether or not the liquid in the small tank portion 35 has decreased, i.e., whether or not the liquid in the body portion 15 has been used up. Furthermore, such deformation is likely to occur in the headspace within the small tank portion 35, where no liquid is present, and the remaining amount of liquid in the small tank portion 35 can be determined based on the degree of such deformation. On the other hand, if the small tank portion 35 has high rigidity, the aforementioned deformation will not occur in the peripheral wall portion of the small tank portion 35 even if the internal pressure of the pump body 43 decreases. In this case, it is preferable that the small tank portion 35 has a transparent portion, which will be described later.

[0044] The rigidity of the small tank portion 35 can be controlled by the type of synthetic resin from which the small tank portion 35 is made and the thickness of the peripheral wall portion of the small tank portion 35 . From the viewpoint of more reliably reducing the rigidity of the small tank portion 35, the small tank portion 35 preferably contains an elastic resin such as elastomer or rubber, and more preferably is made of such an elastic resin. In this case, from the viewpoint of further improving the strength of the small tank portion 35, the thickness of the peripheral wall portion of the small tank portion 35 is preferably 1.5 mm or more and 4 mm or less. From the viewpoint of more reliably increasing the rigidity of the small tank portion 35, the small tank portion 35 preferably contains a hard resin, and more preferably is made of a hard resin. Examples of hard resins include polyolefin resins such as PE (polyethylene) and PP (polypropylene), and polyester resins such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate). In this case, from the viewpoint of further improving the strength of the small tank portion 35, the thickness of the peripheral wall portion of the small tank portion 35 is preferably 0.5 mm or more and 3 mm or less. The buffer portion 30 including the small tank portion 35 can be manufactured by injection molding or the like using the above-mentioned synthetic resin.

[0045] From the viewpoint of making it easier to grasp the remaining amount of liquid in the small tank portion 35, it is preferable that the small tank portion 35 at least partially has a transparent portion through which the interior can be seen. In this case, the remaining amount of liquid in the small tank portion 35 can be seen through the transparent portion, so that the refill container 10 can be replaced before the liquid in the small tank portion 35 is used up. The small tank portion 35 may have a transparent portion and a non-transparent portion, or the entire small tank portion 35 may be transparent. The transparent portion is a portion made of transparent or translucent resin, and the non-transparent portion is a portion made of non-transparent resin. When the small tank portion 35 partially has a transparent portion, it is preferable that the transparent portion extends along the vertical direction X. For example, it is preferable that the cylindrical peripheral wall portion of the small tank portion 35 has a linear transparent portion extending in the vertical direction X.

[0046] From the viewpoint of making it easier to grasp the remaining amount of liquid in the small tank portion 35, it is preferable that the small tank portion 35 is configured to be visible inside the storage case 20. For example, as in this embodiment, it is preferable that the small tank portion 35 is visible through the first window portion 28a of the front cover portion 26.

[0047] The support portion 22 of the holder 2 is not particularly limited in terms of the orientation of the refill container 10 that it supports. By providing the support portion 22 and the dispensing portion support plate 22a of this embodiment, the refill container 10 is supported in an inverted state with the discharge port of the dispensing portion 11 (nozzle portion 11a) facing downward (see FIG. 1). That is, the bottom of the body portion 15 faces upward, and the top surface of the body portion 15 on the dispensing portion 11 side faces downward. This inverted state is effective in that the liquid in the body portion 15 can be efficiently transferred to the nozzle portion 11a by gravity. When the storage case 20 is in a closed state and the refill container 10 is in an inverted state supported by the support part 22, its central axis may coincide with the vertical direction (longitudinal direction X) or may be inclined relative to the vertical direction. In the latter case, the angle of inclination relative to the vertical direction is preferably between -5° and +5°, with the back side in the depth direction Z being negative and the front side being positive.

[0048] The discharge portion 40 of this embodiment includes the pump chamber 41 described above, and is configured to discharge liquid supplied to the discharge portion 40 by pressing the pressing portion 42. The pump mechanism of the discharge portion 40 is not particularly limited as long as it can increase the internal pressure of the pump chamber 41 by pressing, thereby discharging liquid from the discharge-side nozzle portion 49, and can decrease the internal pressure of the pump chamber 41 by releasing the pressing force, thereby allowing liquid to flow into the pump chamber 41. For example, a piston pump or the like may be used. Furthermore, although the pressing portion 42 of this embodiment is an elastically deformable film-like body, its shape is not particularly limited as long as it can deform and recover when pressed. For example, the pressing portion 42 may be a bellows portion that can expand and contract in the pressing direction.

[0049] In operating the discharge unit 40 of this embodiment, the pressing unit 42 is pressed toward the rear in the depth direction Z. The pressing direction of the pressing unit 42 is not particularly limited, and the pressing direction may be along the vertical direction (longitudinal direction X). In this case, the discharge unit 40 may be provided with the protruding direction of the dome of the pressing unit 42 facing downward in the longitudinal direction X and with the discharge direction of the discharge-side nozzle unit 49 aligned with the depth direction Z. From the viewpoint of improving operability when pressed, it is preferable that the pressing direction of the pressing unit 42 be along the depth direction Z.

[0050] From the viewpoint of suppressing liquid leakage from the connection portion between the buffer section 30 and the discharge section 40, the discharge section 40 of this embodiment preferably has a stopper cylindrical section 46 disposed radially between the outflow cylindrical section 37 and the discharge-side inflow cylindrical section 48 (see FIG. 5). The stopper cylindrical section 46 has an outer cylindrical section 46a and an inner cylindrical section 46b located radially inward from the outer cylindrical section 46a. The outer cylindrical section 46a and the inner cylindrical section 46b are connected by a stopper top surface section 46t that connects the upper open ends of the cylindrical sections 46a and 46b in the vertical direction X. The inner cylindrical section 46b protrudes downward in the vertical direction X from the stopper top surface section 46t and has a small-diameter section whose inner diameter is smaller than that of the base end. The small-diameter section opens downward in the vertical direction X. The outer cylindrical section 46a has an opening downward in the vertical direction X and has an annular section that protrudes radially outward from the lower end of the outer cylindrical section 46a.

[0051] The outer diameter of the outer cylindrical portion 46a of the stopper cylindrical portion 46 corresponds to the inner diameter of the outflow cylindrical portion 37 of the buffer portion 30, and the outer cylindrical portion 46a is inserted into the outflow cylindrical portion 37 (see FIG. 5). At this time, the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion 46a abuts liquid-tightly against the inner peripheral surface of the outflow cylindrical portion 37, and the upper surface of the annular portion abuts against the lower end (opening periphery) of the outflow cylindrical portion 37. The stopper cylinder 46 has an inner diameter of the outer cylinder 46a that corresponds to the outer diameter of the discharge-side inlet cylinder 48, and an outer diameter of the base end of the inner cylinder 46b that corresponds to the inner diameter of the discharge-side inlet cylinder 48, with the discharge-side inlet cylinder 48 being inserted between the outer cylinder 46a and the inner cylinder 46b in the radial direction (see FIG. 5). At this time, the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder 46a abuts liquid-tightly against the outer circumferential surface of the discharge-side inlet cylinder 48, and the outer circumferential surface of the inner cylinder 46b abuts liquid-tightly against the inner circumferential surface of the discharge-side inlet cylinder 48. In the stopper tube portion 46 of this embodiment, the outer tube portion 46a is inserted and positioned radially between the outflow tube portion 37 and the discharge side inflow tube portion 48, and further the discharge side inflow tube portion 48 is inserted and positioned radially between the outer tube portion 46a and the inner tube portion 46b, thereby further suppressing liquid leakage from the connection portion between the buffer portion 30 and the discharge portion 40.

[0052] The dispenser 1 of this embodiment can be reused even when the liquid in the refill container 10 is emptied by replacing it with another refill container 10. The method for replacing the refill container 10 for the dispenser 1 is preferably to replace the refill container 10 when the amount of liquid in the small tank portion 35 becomes less than full. This makes it possible to more reliably use up all the liquid in the body portion 15, which is preferable from the perspective of reducing the environmental impact. The time when the amount of liquid in the small tank portion 35 becomes less than full can be determined, for example, by visually checking the liquid level in the small tank portion 35 through the transparent portion or by deformation of the small tank portion 35, which has low rigidity. From the viewpoint of further improving convenience, the replacement method is preferably such that the refill container 10 is replaced before the liquid in the small tank portion 35 becomes empty, that is, before the liquid level in the small tank portion 35 drops to the bottom of the small tank portion 35. This makes it possible to prevent the use of liquid in the dispenser 1 from running out, and allows for more continuous use of the liquid.

[0053] Another embodiment of the buffer unit according to the present invention is shown in Figure 6 and subsequent figures. In this embodiment, components that differ from the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5 will be mainly described, and similar components will be given the same reference numerals and will not be described again. For components that are not specifically described, the description of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5 will be applied as appropriate.

[0054] From the viewpoint of further suppressing liquid leakage from the inlet tube portion 31 when replacing the refill container 10, it is preferable that the buffer portion is provided with a flow direction regulating mechanism that regulates the flow of liquid in a direction from the outlet portion 11 side toward the small tank portion 35 side. Examples of the flow direction regulating mechanism include a valve mechanism that prevents liquid from flowing back from the small tank portion 35 side toward the outlet portion 11 side, or a guide mechanism that guides the flow of liquid from the outlet portion 11 side toward the small tank portion 35 side. The buffer section 30a shown in Figures 6 and 7 is equipped with a valve mechanism having a ball valve 36 as a flow direction restricting mechanism. This buffer section 30a has a substantially cubic small tank section 35, a cylindrical plate section 31e on which the inlet cylindrical section 31 is erected, and an outlet cylindrical section 37 (see Figure 6(a)). In this embodiment, the small tank section 35 has a rectangular cylindrical peripheral wall section 35d and a bottom surface section 35u that closes the lower opening of the peripheral wall section 35d. The small tank section 35 and the outlet cylindrical section 37 are integrally molded. The outlet cylindrical section 37 protrudes downward from the bottom surface section 35u of the small tank section 35 (see Figures 6(b) and 7). The upper opening of this small tank section 35 is closed by the cylindrical plate section 31e. The cylinder-attached plate portion 31e includes a fixed plate 31c fixed to the peripheral wall portion 35d of the small tank portion 35 and an inlet cylinder portion 31 protruding upward from the fixed plate 31c. The shape of the fixed plate 31c in a plan view corresponds to the shape of the upper opening of the small tank portion 35 in a plan view. The fixed plate 31c has a square cylindrical fixed peripheral wall portion 31b hanging down from the periphery of the fixed plate 31c (see FIG. 6(a)), and an engaging portion for engaging with the peripheral wall portion 35d of the small tank portion 35 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the fixed peripheral wall portion 31b (not shown). In the buffer portion 30a of this embodiment, the peripheral wall portion 35d of the small tank portion 35 is disposed inside the fixed peripheral wall portion 31b and fixed together, thereby closing the upper opening of the small tank portion 35. In addition, in the buffer section 30a of this embodiment, an elastic plate-like member 31d is disposed between the fixed plate 31c and the peripheral wall section 35d, thereby improving the liquid sealing performance.

[0055] An opening is formed in the fixing plate 31c of the cylindrical mounting plate portion 31e, which is positioned coaxially with the inlet cylindrical portion 31 and communicates with the interior of the inlet cylindrical portion 31. A valve retaining piece 35e is formed surrounding the opening and protruding downward from the inner surface of the fixing plate 31c (see FIG. 6(b)). The valve retaining piece 35e has a bent portion at its tip that bends toward the central axis of the inlet cylindrical portion 31. The cylinder-mounted plate portion 31e has a ball valve 36 with an outer diameter smaller than the opening of the fixed plate 31c (see FIG. 6(b)). The ball valve 36 is held to the fixed plate 31c by a valve holding piece 35e so as to be movable in the vertical direction X (up and down). By moving toward the fixed plate 31c, the ball valve 36 can close the opening of the fixed plate 31c. Furthermore, the bent portion of the valve holding piece 35e restricts the ball valve 36 from moving downward (toward the outflow cylinder portion 37).

[0056] The buffer section 30a of this embodiment is attached to the dispenser with the inlet tube section 31 facing upward and the outlet tube section 37 facing downward. In this state, the ball valve 36 moves downward and is prevented from further movement by the tip of the valve retaining piece 35e (see Figure 7(a)). In this state, the opening in the fixing plate 31c is open, allowing the liquid in the refill container 10 to flow into the small tank section 35 through the opening. On the other hand, when replacing an empty refillable container 10 with another refillable container 10, the buffer section 30a can be inverted upside down and attached to the dispensing section 11 of the other refillable container 10. In this case, the ball valve 36 of the inverted buffer section 30a moves toward the fixed plate 31c (see FIG. 7(b)), allowing the ball valve 36 to close the opening of the fixed plate 31c. This prevents liquid remaining in the discharge section 40 or small tank section 35 from leaking through the inlet tube section 31, facilitating the replacement of the refillable container 10. The buffer section 30a of this embodiment is particularly effective when refilling a refillable container with a low-viscosity liquid (1 mPa·s to 20,000 mPa·s). To facilitate the movement of the ball valve under its own weight, the viscosity of the liquid is preferably 1 mPa·s to 10,000 mPa·s, and more preferably 1 mPa·s to 8,000 mPa·s.

[0057] As in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the buffer section preferably includes a valve mechanism such as a check valve or a ball valve that blocks the flow of liquid in the inlet cylindrical section 31. Furthermore, it is preferable that the buffer section is provided with a guide mechanism inside the inflow tubular section 31 that guides the liquid toward the small tank section 35. An example of the guide mechanism is a tapered section in which the inner diameter of the base end (the end on the small tank section 35 side) of the inflow tubular section 31 gradually decreases toward the small tank section 35.

[0058] From the viewpoint of further suppressing liquid leakage from the inlet tube portion 31 when replacing the refill container 10, it is preferable that the small tank portion 35 has, in addition to the liquid storage space 35S (or integral with the storage space 35S), a flow path regulating means for regulating the flow path of the liquid or a flow rate retarding means for slowing down the flow of the liquid, inside the small tank portion 35. Examples of the flow path regulating means and the flow rate retarding means include a flow path structure in which a partition or the like is provided inside the small tank portion 35 to make the flow of the liquid a specific flow. When the flow path regulation means is provided by a flow path structure, for example, a flow path structure configured so that the liquid flows spirally within the small tank portion 35. A buffer portion 30b equipped with such a flow path structure is shown in Figures 8 to 10. The buffer portion 30b of this embodiment has a flow path formation portion D that combines a cylindrical partition wall 33 along the central axis of the small tank portion 35 and a plate-like partition wall 34 that connects the cylindrical partition wall 33 to the inner wall of the small tank portion 35 and regulates the flow of the liquid in the circumferential direction of the small tank portion 35.

[0059] The small tank portion 35 of this embodiment has a peripheral wall portion 35a (also referred to as the "upper peripheral wall portion 35a") integrally molded with the inlet cylindrical portion 31, and a peripheral wall portion 35b (also referred to as the "lower peripheral wall portion 35b") integrally molded with the outlet cylindrical portion 37 (see Figure 8). The upper peripheral wall portion 35a has a cylindrical shape with a top, and the inlet tube portion 31 protrudes upward from the top surface portion 35t. The upper peripheral wall portion 35a has an upper cylindrical partition wall 33e that hangs down from the inner surface of the top surface portion 35t. The upper cylindrical partition wall 33e has a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and is arranged coaxially with the inlet tube portion 31, so that the interiors of the inlet tube portion 31 and the upper cylindrical partition wall 33e are in communication with each other (see FIG. 9). The upper cylindrical partition wall 33e has an opening 33i cut out in a circumferential direction, and the interior of the upper cylindrical partition wall 33e is connected to the interior of the small tank section 35 (upper peripheral wall section 35a) through this opening 33i. The upper cylindrical partition wall 33e has an upper plate-shaped partition wall 34d that protrudes radially outward along one side edge of the opening 33i. This upper plate-shaped partition wall 34d connects the cylindrical partition wall 33 to the inner wall of the small tank section 35. The upper plate-shaped partition wall 34d has approximately the same height as the upper cylindrical partition wall 33e.

[0060] The lower peripheral wall portion 35b has a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and an outlet cylindrical portion 37 protrudes downward from the bottom surface portion 35u. The lower peripheral wall portion 35b has a lower cylindrical partition wall 33f protruding upward from the inner surface of the bottom surface portion 35u. The lower cylindrical partition wall 33f has an upper opening, through which the upper cylindrical partition wall 33e is inserted and fitted (see FIG. 9). The lower cylindrical partition wall 33f has a lower opening 33c whose opening diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the partition wall 33f, and the interiors of the outlet cylindrical portion 37 and the lower cylindrical partition wall 33f communicate with each other via the lower opening 33c (see FIG. 9). The lower cylindrical partition 33f has an opening 33j cut out in a circumferential direction, and the interior of the lower cylindrical partition 33f communicates with the interior of the small tank section 35 (lower peripheral wall section 35b) through the opening 33j (see Figure 8). The lower cylindrical partition wall 33f has a lower plate-shaped partition wall 34e that protrudes radially outward along one side edge of the opening 33j. This lower plate-shaped partition wall 34e also connects the cylindrical partition wall 33 to the inner wall of the small tank section 35. The lower plate-shaped partition wall 34e has approximately the same height as the lower cylindrical partition wall 33f.

[0061] The outer diameter of the lower end of the upper peripheral wall portion 35a corresponds to the inner diameter of the upper end of the lower peripheral wall portion 35b. In the buffer portion 30b of this embodiment, the lower end including the bottom surface portion of the upper cylindrical partition wall 33e is inserted into and fitted to the upper opening of the lower cylindrical partition wall 33f, and the lower end of the upper peripheral wall portion 35a is inserted into the upper opening of the lower peripheral wall portion 35b, and the two peripheral wall portions 35a, 35b are fitted together to form the small tank portion 35 (see FIG. 9). In this small tank portion 35, the upper and lower plate-like partition walls 34d, 34e are adjacent to the cylindrical partition walls 33e, 33f in the circumferential direction and partition the space around the cylindrical partition walls 33e, 33f in a C-shape in plan view. In the small tank portion 35, the upper and lower plate-like partitions 34d, 34e are located between the opening 33i of the upper cylindrical partition 33e and the opening 33j of the lower cylindrical partition 33f in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical partitions 33e, 33f.

[0062] The buffer section 30b of this embodiment regulates the flow of liquid until it reaches the outflow tubular section 37 by providing multiple spaces within the small tank section 35, partitioned by upper and lower cylindrical partition walls 33e, 33f and upper and lower plate-like partition walls 34d, 34e. The flow of liquid within the buffer section 30b will be described with reference to FIG. 10. The liquid that flows in through the inflow tubular section 31 first moves into the upper cylindrical partition wall 33e and then moves through the opening 33i provided in the partition wall 33e to the space around the cylindrical partition walls 33e, 33f within the small tank section 35 (see FIG. 10(a)). As described above, the space around the cylindrical partition walls 33e, 33f is partitioned in a C-shape by the upper and lower plate-like partition walls 34d, 34e. As a result, the liquid flowing in through the opening 33i of the upper cylindrical partition wall 33e moves through the space around the cylindrical partition walls 33e, 33f in the opposite direction (clockwise in this embodiment) to the direction of the upper and lower plate-like partition walls 34d, 34e (see FIG. 10(b)). Then, when the liquid level exceeds the lower end of the opening 33j of the lower cylindrical partition wall 33f, the liquid moves into the lower cylindrical partition wall 33f and reaches the outlet cylindrical section 37 (see FIG. 10(c)). In this way, the flow path forming section D of this embodiment can form a substantially spiral flow path by combining a plurality of upper and lower cylindrical partition walls 33e, 33f having openings 33i, 33j at different circumferential positions and plate-like partition walls 34d, 34e that restrict the flow of the liquid in a fixed direction in the circumferential direction (see FIGS. 10(a) to 10(c)). This configuration makes it possible to retain a relatively highly viscous liquid (100 mPa·s to 50,000 mPa·s) in the flow path without the need for additional components. This prevents the liquid from dripping through the inlet tube portion 31 even when the buffer portion 30b is upside down, making it easier to replace (refill) the refillable container 10. From the perspectives of the liquid retention time and the liquid's fluidity, the viscosity of the liquid is preferably 300 mPa·s to 30,000 mPa·s.

[0063] When the flow rate retarding means is provided by a flow path structure, for example, a flow path structure configured so that the liquid flows alternately upward and downward within the small tank portion 35. A buffer portion 30c having such a flow path structure is shown in Figures 11 to 14. The buffer portion 30c of this embodiment has a flow path forming portion E that combines a cylindrical partition wall 33 along the central axis of the small tank portion 35 and radial plate-like partition walls 34a, 34b, and 34c that extend radially from the cylindrical partition wall 33, connect to the inner wall of the small tank portion 35, and regulate the flow of liquid in the circumferential direction of the small tank portion 35 (see Figures 11 to 14). The small tank portion 35 of this embodiment has a cylindrical shape that is long in the vertical direction X, and has a peripheral wall portion 35a (also referred to as the "upper peripheral wall portion 35a") that is integrally molded with the inlet cylindrical portion 31, and a peripheral wall portion 35b (also referred to as the "lower peripheral wall portion 35b") that is integrally molded with the outlet cylindrical portion 37 (see Figures 12(a) and (b)).

[0064] The upper peripheral wall 35a has an inlet cylindrical portion 31 protruding upward from its upper end, and an upper opening communicating with the interior of the inlet cylindrical portion 31 is blocked by an upper blocking portion 32 (see FIGS. 12(a) and 12(b)). The upper blocking portion 32 has a blocking plate 32c that blocks the upper opening and a cylindrical fixing portion 32b that protrudes downward from the plate. A through-hole is formed inside the cylindrical fixing portion 32b, into which a mating protrusion 33k of the cylindrical partition wall 33 is inserted and fitted. The blocking plate 32c has an opening 32a (hereinafter also referred to as the "inlet opening 32a") that communicates with the interior of the upper peripheral wall 35a. The inlet opening 32a is formed by cutting out a portion of the outer periphery of the blocking plate 32c.

[0065] The lower peripheral wall 35b has a lower opening closed by a bottom surface 35u, and a cylindrical outflow section 37 protruding downward from its lower end. A cylindrical partition wall 33 is provided upright on the bottom surface 35u of the lower peripheral wall 35b (see Figures 12(a) and 12(b)). The height of the cylindrical partition wall 33 is higher than the lower peripheral wall 35b and extends upward beyond the lower peripheral wall 35b. The cylindrical partition wall 33 is cylindrical with a top and an open lower end. This allows the interior of the cylindrical partition wall 33 to communicate with the interior of the outflow tubular section 37. The cylindrical partition wall 33 has an opening 33a formed by cutting out a portion of the circumferential direction at its upper end (see Figures 12 and 13). The cylindrical partition wall 33 also has a fitting protrusion 33k that protrudes upward from the top surface. The cylindrical partition wall 33 is arranged coaxially with the small tank section 35.

[0066] The inner diameter of the upper peripheral wall portion 35a corresponds to the outer diameter of the lower peripheral wall portion 35b. In the buffer portion 30c of this embodiment, the small tank portion 35 is formed by fitting the fitting protrusion 33k of the cylindrical partition wall 33 into the through-hole in the cylindrical fixing portion 32b, and inserting the lower peripheral wall portion 35b into the lower opening of the upper peripheral wall portion 35a, and fitting the two peripheral wall portions 35a, 35b together. The closure plate portion 32c is provided with plate-like partition walls 34a and 34c hanging down from its lower surface, and a plate-like partition wall 34b extending upward is provided on a bottom surface 35u of the lower peripheral wall portion 35b (see FIGS. 11 and 12). In the buffer portion 30c of this embodiment, the small tank portion 35 has the lower peripheral wall portion 35b inserted and fitted into the upper peripheral wall portion 35a. The buffer portion 30c has the plate-like partition wall 34c (hereinafter also referred to as the "closure partition wall 34c") whose upper end reaches the closure plate portion 32c and whose lower end reaches the bottom surface 35u, the plate-like partition wall 34a (hereinafter also referred to as the "lower open partition wall 34a") whose upper end reaches the closure plate portion 32c but whose lower end does not reach the bottom surface 35u, and the plate-like partition wall 34b (hereinafter also referred to as the "upper open partition wall 34b") whose upper end does not reach the closure plate portion 32c and whose lower end reaches the bottom surface 35u. The buffer section 30c of this embodiment has four lower open partition walls 34a, three upper open partition walls 34b, and one closed partition wall 34c (see FIG. 14(a)).

[0067] In a plan view of the buffer section 30c, these plate-like partitions 34a, 34b, 34c are arranged radially from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical partition 33 (see Figures 11 and 14(a)), and are connected to the inner surfaces of the upper peripheral wall section 35a and the lower peripheral wall section 35b. The small tank section 35 of this embodiment has, around the cylindrical partition 33, a region where the lower open partitions 34a and the upper open partitions 34b are alternately arranged, and a region where a closed partition 34c is arranged between two lower open partitions 34a. In the buffer section 30c of this embodiment, the internal space of the small tank section 35 is partitioned into multiple spaces S1, S2, and S3 by the cylindrical partition wall 33 and the plate-like partition walls 34a, 34b, and 34c (see FIGS. 14(a) and 14(b)). More specifically, the small tank section 35 has, around the cylindrical partition wall 33, two spaces S1 and S3 partitioned by the closed partition wall 34c and the lower open partition wall 34a, and six spaces S2 (hereinafter also referred to as "delay spaces S2") partitioned by the lower open partition wall 34a and the upper open partition wall 34b. One space S1 (hereinafter also referred to as "inflow space S1") partitioned by the closed partition wall 34c and the lower open partition wall 34a overlaps with the inflow opening 32a in a plan view and communicates with the interior of the inflow cylindrical section 31 via the inflow opening 32a. The other space S3 (hereinafter also referred to as "outflow space S3") partitioned by the closed partition wall 34c and the lower open partition wall 34a overlaps with an opening 33a provided in the partition wall 33 in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical partition wall 33. As a result, the outflow space S3 communicates with the interior of the cylindrical partition wall 33 via the opening 33a. Although the inflow space S1 and the outflow space S3 are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical partition wall 33, the insides of the spaces S1 and S3 do not communicate with each other because the closed partition wall 34c is interposed between the spaces S1 and S3.

[0068] In the small tank portion 35 of this embodiment, when rotated counterclockwise around the cylindrical partition wall 33, the inflow space S1, six delay spaces S2, and the outflow space S3 are arranged in this order (see FIGS. 14(a) and 14(b)). Adjacent inflow spaces S1 and delay spaces S2 in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical partition wall 33 communicate with each other through a lower open portion of the lower open partition wall 34a (hereinafter also referred to as the "lower open portion"). Adjacent delay spaces S2 in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical partition wall 33 communicate with each other through the lower open portion or an upper open portion of the upper open partition wall 34b (hereinafter also referred to as the "upper open portion"). Adjacent delay spaces S2 and outflow spaces S3 in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical partition wall 33 communicate with each other through the lower open portion. The lower open portion is a gap between the lower end of the lower open partition wall 34a and the bottom portion 35u. The upper open portion is a gap between the upper end of the upper open partition wall 34b and the closure plate portion 32c.

[0069] In the buffer section 30c of this embodiment, the liquid flowing in through the inlet tube section 31 passes through the multiple spaces S1, S2, and S3, thereby slowing the speed at which the liquid reaches the outlet tube section 37. The flow of liquid in the buffer section 30c will be described with reference to FIG. 14(b). The liquid flowing in through the inlet tube section 31 first flows into the inlet space S1 in the small tank section 35 through the inlet opening 32a and then moves to the delay space S2 adjacent to the inlet space S1 through the bottom open portion. This delay space S2 communicates with another delay space S2 adjacent to the first space S2 through the top open portion. Therefore, when the liquid level exceeds the upper end of the top open partition 34b, the liquid moves to the other delay space S2. Because top open portions and bottom open portions alternate between the six delay spaces S2 arranged circumferentially around the cylindrical partition 33, the liquid moves to the adjacent delay space S2 through the top open portion and the bottom open portion. That is, in the small tank portion 35 of this embodiment, the liquid repeatedly moves upward and downward along the spaces S1 and S2 separated by the plate-like partitions 34a, 34b, and 34c (see FIG. 14(b)). After moving through the multiple delay spaces S2, the liquid reaches the outflow space S3 through the lower open portion, and then moves into the cylindrical partition 33 as the liquid level exceeds the lower end of the opening 33a, and reaches the outflow cylindrical portion 37 (see FIG. 13). In this way, the flow path forming portion E of this embodiment can reduce (delay) the flow velocity of the liquid. This configuration allows relatively high-viscosity liquids (100 mPa·s to 50,000 mPa·s) to remain within the flow path without the need for additional components. Even when the buffer section 30c is turned upside down, the liquid does not drip through the inlet tube section 31, facilitating refilling. Furthermore, the flow path through which the liquid repeatedly moves upward and downward in the small tank section 35, i.e., the flow path through the spaces S1, S2, and S3 from the inlet opening 32a to the opening 33a, preferably has a constant horizontal cross-sectional area. In other words, it is preferable that the horizontal cross-sectional areas of the spaces S1, S2, and S3 be constant (see FIG. 14(a)). This configuration allows air that has entered the spaces S1, S2, and S3 to move easily with the liquid, thereby suppressing air retention and further improving the quantitative discharge performance per discharge operation. Furthermore, if air is less likely to remain in the spaces S1, S2, and S3, it is easier to check the remaining amount of liquid in the spaces S1, S2, and S3. More specifically, when the refill container 10 is empty of liquid, the remaining amount of liquid can be easily determined from the position of the liquid surface in the small tank portion 35. In this case, it is preferable that the outer surface of the small tank portion 35 has the aforementioned transparent portion. In terms of the liquid residence time and the liquid fluidity, it is preferable that the viscosity of the liquid be 300 mPa·s to 30,000 mPa·s.

[0070] 1 to 5, the buffer section 30 has the small tank section 35 arranged coaxially with the inlet cylindrical section 31 and the outlet cylindrical section 33, but the buffer section is not limited to this configuration. For example, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the small tank section 35 may not be arranged coaxially with the inlet cylindrical section 31 and / or the outlet cylindrical section 37.

[0071] In the buffer section 30d shown in FIG. 15, the central axis CL1 of the small tank section 35 coincides with the central axis of the inlet tube section 31, but the central axis CL1 of the small tank section 35 does not coincide with the central axis CL2 of the outlet tube section 37 (the central axes CL1 and CL2 are misaligned). More specifically, in the dispenser, the central axis CL2 of the outlet tube section 37 is located closer to the front in the depth direction Z than the central axes CL1 of the small tank section 35 and the inlet tube section 31 (see FIG. 15). This configuration makes it difficult for unevenness to form on the front sides (front surfaces) of the refill container 10, buffer section 30d, and discharge section 40, making it easier to design the front surface of the front cover section 26 flat, thereby simplifying the appearance of the dispenser. In this case, the flat front surface of the front cover section 26 prevents interference with fingers or the like when pressing the discharge section 40, further improving the pressing operation of the discharge section 40. Furthermore, the buffer section 30d of this embodiment is preferable to a buffer section in which the small tank section 35, the inlet tube section 31, and the outlet tube section 37 are arranged coaxially in that it offers greater freedom in the shape of the front cover section 26 and the mounting position within the cover section 26.

[0072] In the buffer section 30e shown in Figures 16(a) and 16(b), the small tank section 35 includes a cylindrical upper peripheral wall section 35a with a top that is integrally molded with the inlet cylindrical section 31, and a cylindrical lower peripheral wall section 35b with a bottom that is integrally molded with the outlet cylindrical section 37. The inner diameter of the lower end of the upper peripheral wall section 35a corresponds to the outer diameter of the lower peripheral wall section 35b, and the small tank section 35 is formed by inserting and fitting the lower peripheral wall section 35b into the lower opening of the upper peripheral wall section 35a. In this embodiment, the upper peripheral wall section 35a has an inner cylindrical section 35f that hangs down from the inner surface of the top surface section 35t (see Figure 16(b)). The inner cylindrical section 35f is a flow path restricting means that restricts the flow of liquid to one direction and is arranged coaxially with the small tank section 35. The inner diameter of the inner cylindrical section 35f is smaller than that of the inlet cylindrical section 31 (see Figure 16(b)). In the buffer portion 30e having such a configuration, when the buffer portion 30e is upside down, it is difficult for liquid to enter through the tip opening of the inner cylindrical portion 35f. This prevents backflow toward the inlet cylindrical portion 31, thereby preventing liquid from dripping from the inlet cylindrical portion 31 and making it easier to replace (refill) the refill container 10. 15, in the buffer section 30e of this embodiment, the central axis CL1 of the small tank section 35 coincides with the central axis of the inflow tubular section 31, but the central axis CL1 of the small tank section 35 does not coincide with the central axis CL2 of the outflow tubular section 37 (the central axes CL1 and CL2 are misaligned). Also, in the buffer section 30e of this embodiment, the central axis of the inner tubular section 35f does not coincide with the central axis CL2 of the outflow tubular section 37 (the central axis of the inner tubular section 35f is misaligned with the central axis CL2).

[0073] 17(a) and 17(b), the central axes CL2 of the inlet tubular portion 31 and the outlet tubular portion 37 coincide, but the central axis CL1 of the small tank portion 35 does not coincide with the central axis CL2 of the inlet tubular portion 31 and the outlet tubular portion 37 (the central axes CL1 and CL2 are misaligned). Furthermore, the inner tubular portion 35f is arranged coaxially with the inlet tubular portion 31 and the outlet tubular portion 37. Other than these points, the buffer portion 30f of this embodiment has the same configuration as the embodiment shown in FIG. 16. The buffer portion 30f shown in FIG. 17 is preferable to a buffer portion in which the small tank portion 35, the inlet tubular portion 31, and the outlet tubular portion 37 are arranged coaxially, in that it is easily applicable to dispensers equipped with refill containers 10 of different sizes and capacities.

[0074] The buffer unit of the present invention can have the same configuration as the buffer section provided in the dispenser of the present invention, and the configuration of the buffer section 30 described above can be applied as appropriate. That is, the buffer unit can be connected to both the pouring section 11 and the discharge section 40, and has a small tank section 35 interposed between the pouring section 11 and the discharge section 40 to store the liquid to be supplied to the discharge section 40. The buffer unit connected to the discharge portion 40 can be connected to the refill container 10 and used independently of the storage case 20. In other words, the buffer unit can be preferably used with a refill container 10 that is held in an inverted position by being hung or the like.

[0075] The dispenser and buffer unit, and the method for replacing the refill container 10 of the present invention have been described above based on their preferred embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, in the discharge section 40 of the above-described embodiment, the central axis of the discharge side inlet cylindrical section 48 and the central axis of the discharge side nozzle section 49 coincide with each other across the pump chamber 41, but the central axis of the discharge side inlet cylindrical section 48 and the central axis of the discharge side nozzle section 49 may intersect or be perpendicular to each other. Furthermore, although the holder 2 in the above-described embodiment holds the refillable container 10 in an inverted state with the nozzle portion 11a's outlet facing downward, it may also hold the refillable container 10 in an upright state with the nozzle portion 11a's outlet facing upward. Furthermore, the discharge section 40 in the above-described embodiment is provided with a stopper tube section 46 interposed radially between the outflow tube section 37 and the discharge side inflow tube section 48, but the discharge section 40 does not have to be provided with the stopper tube section 46.

[0076] Furthermore, although the discharge portion 40 in the above-described embodiment is capable of discharging liquid by pressing the pressing portion 42, the entire pump chamber 41 may be formed from an elastically deformable material and may be pressed by pinching the pump chamber 41. A discharge portion of this type includes a pump chamber 41 formed by an elastically deformable, substantially spherical wall body, instead of a pump chamber including a rigid pump body 43 and pressing portion 42, and also includes a discharge-side inlet cylindrical portion 48 and a discharge-side nozzle portion 49 provided to communicate with the interior of the pump chamber 41. An example of such a discharge portion is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-067433. Furthermore, instead of being provided with the pump chamber 41, the discharge part 40 may be a cock-type discharge member that can freely open and close the internal flow path. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 1 dispenser 10 Refillable containers 11 Pour section 11a Nozzle part 11b Thread 11f flange 15 Torso 15S Storage Space 15t Top groin 2 holders 20 Storage Case 21 Back part 22 Support part 22a Spout support plate 22b Annular support part 22c Buffer section support plate 23 Peripheral wall section 24 Back plate 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d recesses 24h through hole 25 Cover support part 25f front part 25h through hole 25t top section 25u bottom part 26 Front cover 26f Front flat wall 26s side wall 26sf sloped side wall 26t cover top wall 26u Cover bottom wall 26uf front slope wall 26h Side through hole 28, 28a, 28b Window section 30, 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 30e, 30f Buffer section 31 Inflow cylinder part 31a Thread 31b Fixed peripheral wall part 31c Fixed plate 31d Elastic plate-like member 31e Plate with tube 32 Upper obstruction 32a opening 32b Cylindrical fixing part 32c Closure plate part 33 Cylindrical bulkhead 33a Outflow opening 33c downward opening 33e Upper tubular bulkhead 33f Lower cylindrical bulkhead 33i,33j opening 33k mating protrusion 34,34a,34b,34c,34d,34e Plate partition wall 35 Small Tank Section 35a Upper peripheral wall part 35b Lower peripheral wall part 35d Peripheral wall part 35e Valve retainer 35S Storage Space 35t top section 35u bottom part 36 Ball valve 37 Outflow cylinder part 37a Thread 40 Discharge part 41 Pump Room 42 Pressing section 43 Pump body 46 Stopper cylinder 46a Outer cylinder 46b Inner cylinder part 46t Stopper top surface 47 Discharge side cap 47a Thread 48 Discharge side inflow cylinder part 49 Discharge nozzle X vertical direction Y horizontal direction Z depth direction

Claims

1. The device includes a discharge part that discharges the liquid contained in the refill container, and a buffer part that is interposed between the pouring part of the refill container and the discharge part and that stores the liquid, the buffer section has a small tank section for storing the liquid, The dispenser is configured so that the liquid is supplied from the refill container to the discharge portion via the buffer portion.

2. 2. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the small tank portion has at least a partially transparent portion through which the interior can be seen.

3. a holder for holding the refill container; 3. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the holder comprises a storage case for storing the refill container and a support portion for supporting the refill container in an inverted position with the dispensing portion facing downward within the storage case.

4. The dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the discharge portion is configured to be able to discharge the liquid supplied to the discharge portion by pressing.

5. 5. The dispenser according to claim 4, wherein the capacity of the small tank portion is between two and forty times the amount of liquid discharged from the discharge portion by one depression.

6. The dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the small tank portion includes an elastic resin or a hard resin.

7. 3. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the buffer section includes a flow direction regulating mechanism that regulates the flow of the liquid in a direction from the dispensing section side toward the small tank section side.

8. 3. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the buffer section has a flow path restricting means for restricting a flow path of the liquid in the small tank section, or a flow rate retarding means for slowing down the flow of the liquid in the small tank section.

9. The buffer section has an inlet tube section connectable to the outlet section and an outlet tube section connectable to the discharge section, The dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the small tank portion is not disposed coaxially with the inlet cylindrical portion and / or the outlet cylindrical portion.

10. 3. A method for replacing a refill container for a dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, comprising: The refill container replacement method includes replacing the refill container when the amount of the liquid in the small tank portion becomes less than full.

11. The refillable container can be connected to a dispensing portion of the refillable container and a discharging portion that discharges the liquid in the refillable container. The buffer unit has a small tank portion interposed between the outlet portion and the discharge portion for storing liquid to be supplied to the discharge portion.

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