Grease application container

Abstract

The present invention provides a grease application container that can apply grease evenly and in the appropriate amount, even when the object to be applied to has an uneven surface. [Solution] The shaft cylinder contains grease and is equipped with a feeding mechanism having a screw part and a piston. By rotating the screw part of the feeding mechanism, the piston is advanced and the grease is discharged from a discharge part provided on the shaft cylinder.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a grease applicator container that contains a grease agent and applies the grease agent to an object.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a grease applicator, there is one that houses grease in a container, and an operator squeezes the container to discharge the grease from the container and applies it to an application object using an application member (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, since the above-mentioned grease applicator discharges the grease from the container by an operator squeezing the container and applies the grease to the application object using a flat-shaped application part, it has been difficult to apply an appropriate amount of grease evenly to a surface with irregularities.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a grease agent applicator container capable of applying an appropriate amount of grease evenly even when the application object has irregularities.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention provides the following. (1) A grease agent applicator container that houses grease in a shaft cylinder and has a feeding mechanism having a screw part and a piston, and by rotating the screw part of the feeding mechanism, the piston is advanced, and the grease is discharged from a discharge part provided in the shaft cylinder. (2) The grease application container according to (1), further comprising an application section replaceable with the discharge section. (3) The grease application container according to (2), further comprising a cap that covers the application portion. (4) A grease application container according to (2) or (3), comprising a front shaft for holding the application portion, wherein the front shaft is bonded, welded or fixed to the shaft cylinder. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a grease application container that can apply grease evenly and in the appropriate amount, even when the object to be applied has an uneven surface. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a grease application container according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of a grease application container with the cap removed, according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of a grease application container according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing (a) the piston at its forward end (the state at the end of application and dispensing), (b) the state of the dispensing body when it is not knocking (normal state), and (c) the state of the dispensing body when it is knocking. [Figure 4] This diagram illustrates the dispensing mechanism of a grease application container according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a perspective view from one side, (b) is a perspective view from the other side, (c) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view in state (a), (d) is a side view in state (a), (e) is a side view in state (b), and (f) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view in state (b). [Figure 5] This diagram illustrates the state of the dispensing mechanism of a grease application container according to an embodiment of the present invention with the screw body removed, where (a) is a perspective view seen from the front, (b) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, (c) is a side view rotated 90°, (d) is a side view rotated another 90°, (e) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the state in (d), and (f) is a perspective view seen from the rear. [Figure 6]This diagram illustrates the screw body in the dispensing mechanism of a grease application container according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a front view, (b) is a perspective view from the front, (c) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, (d) is a side view rotated 90°, (e) is a side view rotated another 90°, (f) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the state in (d), (g) is a rear view, (h) is a cross-sectional view AA of (c), and (i) is a perspective view from the rear. [Figure 7] This figure shows the grease application container according to an embodiment of the present invention with the application body removed. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The following description of the grease application container according to an embodiment of the present invention will be made with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the grease application container according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the grease application container with the cap removed. Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the grease application container according to the embodiment, showing (a) the piston at its forward end (at the end of application and dispensing), (b) the dispensing body in a non-knock state (normal state), and (c) the dispensing body in a knock state.

[0010] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the grease application container 2 according to the embodiment includes a shaft (rear shaft) 10 having a grease storage section 10b containing grease, and a feeding mechanism A having a piston 12 that slides inside the shaft 10 and a screw shaft 14 with male threads on its circumferential surface that engages with the rear of the piston 12. When the user performs a knocking operation (feeding operation) of the feeding mechanism A, pushing the feeding body 20 in the direction of retracting into the shaft 10, the piston 12 is advanced via the screw shaft 14, causing the grease inside the shaft 10 to be discharged from the discharge section at the tip of the shaft 10 and supplied to the application body 24, which is the application section.

[0011] In the grease application container 2, the front shaft 26 that holds the applicator 24 is fitted into the tip portion 10a of the shaft cylinder (rear shaft) 10 and bonded, welded, or fixed in place. The applicator 24 is made of synthetic resin such as polyamide (nylon) resin, polybutylene resin, polyolefin resin, polyester resin, polyurethane resin, polyacrylonitrile resin, acrylonitrile ethylene copolymer resin, or acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer resin. It is formed in a tapered shape that gradually becomes thinner towards the tip of the application portion, and is made by combining fibers of different outer diameters, for example, 60% of fibers with a diameter of 0.10 mm and 40% of fibers with a diameter of 0.15 mm, with one end of the fibers bound together. It is preferable to have a flexible application portion that deforms under a relatively low load of less than 1 N, as this makes it easy to spread the grease.

[0012] Furthermore, the tip portion 10a of the shaft cylinder (rear shaft) 10 is formed to be narrower in diameter in a stepped manner than the grease storage portion 10b inside the shaft cylinder 10. A cap 28 is fitted to the tip portion 10a of the shaft cylinder 10 so as to cover the front shaft 26 and the coating body 24. A joint 30 is disposed inside the tip portion 10a of the shaft cylinder 10 of the front shaft 26, and a pipe 32 made of SUS or resin extends from the central hole of the joint 30 into the coating body 24 and is formed integrally with the joint 30. This pipe 32 allows grease to flow toward the tip of the coating body 24.

[0013] The outer circumferential surface of the stepped portion (stepped portion 10c) at the tip 10a of the shaft cylinder 10 is in contact with the front-facing surface of the cap 28. The inner circumferential surface of the stepped portion 10c is in contact with the rear-facing surface of the grease storage portion 10b, and the piston 12 is in contact with this rear-facing surface when it is at its forward end, thereby restricting its position.

[0014] The front part of the shaft cylinder 10 serves as a grease storage section 10b, and the rear part is equipped with a dispensing mechanism A that advances a piston 12 within the grease storage section 10b to dispense grease towards the application body 24.

[0015] The structure of the feeding mechanism A will be described below. Fig. 4 is an explanatory view of the feeding mechanism of the grease agent application container according to the embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a perspective view seen from one side surface, (b) is a perspective view seen from the other side surface, (c) is a longitudinal sectional view in the state of (a), (d) is a side view in the state of (a), (e) is a side view in the state of (b), and (f) is a longitudinal sectional view in the state of (b). Fig. 5 is an explanatory view of the state of the feeding mechanism excluding the screw body from the state of Fig. 4, where (a) is a perspective view seen from the front side, (b) is a longitudinal sectional view, (c) is a side view rotated 90°, (d) is a side view further rotated 90°, (e) is a longitudinal sectional view in the state of (d), and (f) is a perspective view seen from the rear side. Fig. 6 is an explanatory view of the screw body in the feeding mechanism, where (a) is a front view, (b) is a perspective view seen from the front side, (c) is a longitudinal sectional view, (d) is a side view rotated 90°, (e) is a side view further rotated 90°, (f) is a longitudinal sectional view in the state of (d), (g) is a rear view, (h) is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of (c), and (i) is a perspective view seen from the rear side.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 4, the feeding body 20 has a generally cylindrical shape with a closed rear end. Guide grooves 20a (see Fig. 5(c)) are formed obliquely with an angle with respect to the axial direction, penetrating the inner and outer peripheral surfaces at two comb-tooth-shaped extended portions at the front part thereof. When the user performs a knocking operation on the closed rear end surface of the feeding body 20, the forward movement of the feeding body 20 is converted into the rotational movement of the transmission cam body 18 by the guide grooves 20a and the protrusions 18b on the side surface of the transmission cam body 18 when the feeding body 20 moves forward. By the rotation of the transmission cam body 18, the rotary cam body 16 is rotated to operate the screw shaft 14 to move forward and the piston 12 to move forward.

[0017] In addition, protrusions 20b are formed on the outer side of the elastic deformable cantilever-shaped arm portion on the side part at the rear side of the feeding body 20. Further, a seal groove is formed on the entire outer peripheral surface at the central part of the feeding body 20, and a ring-shaped seal body 34 made of an elastic body such as rubber or elastomer, or a silicone O-ring is fitted therein, and is located between the outer periphery of the feeding body 20 and the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion 22a of the screw body 22. Thereby, the airtightness between the feeding body 20 and the cylindrical portion 22a is maintained.

[0018] On the rotating cam body 16, forward and backward cam portions are respectively formed at the front and rear portions in the axial direction, and the cam portion formed at the front portion of the transmission cam body 18 is disposed to face the backward cam portion of the rotating cam body 16. The cam portion of the transmission cam body 18 and the backward cam portion of the rotating cam body 16 are formed in a serrated shape so that when they are in contact with each other, they mesh when the transmission cam body 18 rotates in one direction, and conversely, the meshing is easily disengaged when the transmission cam body 18 rotates in the other direction.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 6, the screw body 22 has a generally cylindrical shape with openings at the front and rear. The front screw portion (corresponding to the "female screw portion") 22b has a smaller diameter in a stepped manner than the cylindrical portion 22a. The screw portion 22b extends from the front end of the cylindrical portion 22a in a generally cylindrical shape, but is bifurcated by a pre-fracture portion 22b1 cut in the axial direction and is elastically deformable in the radial direction. A plurality of (for example, 1 to 3) female screw threads 22b2 that can be screwed onto the screw shaft 14 protrude inwardly on the inner peripheral portion of the screw portion 22b. Further, a flange-shaped blade portion 22b3 for contacting the inner peripheral surface of the shaft cylinder 10 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the screw portion 22b.

[0020] A slit groove (or spline groove) 22a2 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical portion 22a so as to extend in the axial direction for preventing rotation with respect to the shaft cylinder 10. A window portion 22a1 is formed in the middle of the slit groove 22a2. Further, on the screw body 22, a cam portion 22c composed of a plurality of rearward inclined surfaces is formed in the cylindrical portion 22a behind the screw portion 22b, and the forward cam portion of the rotating cam body 16 is disposed to face the rearward cam portion 22c.

[0021] The window portion 22a1 of the cylindrical portion 22a is designed to engage with the projection 20b of the dispensing body 20, preventing the dispensing body 20 from rotating when pressed. This prevents dispensing failures. The slit groove 22a2 is designed to fit and engage in a spline-like manner with a projection formed inside the shaft cylinder 10, preventing rotation failures during knocking by preventing the screw body 22 from rotating.

[0022] The forward-facing cam portion of the rotating cam body 16 and the rearward-facing cam portion 22c within the cylindrical portion 22a of the screw body 22 are formed in a sawtooth shape so that when they are in contact with each other, they mesh when the rotating cam body 16 rotates in one direction, and conversely, they easily disengage when the rotating cam body 16 rotates in one direction.

[0023] Within the cylindrical portion 22a, the feed body 20 is disposed to be movable within a certain range in the axial direction while its relative rotation with respect to the screw body 22 is restricted. Specifically, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, this restriction of relative rotation is achieved by a configuration in which a projection 20b is formed on the outside of an elastically deformable cantilever-shaped arm on the side of the feed body 20, and the projection 20b is fitted into an axially long window portion 22a1 of the cylindrical portion 22a so as to be able to move back and forth. In addition, the projection 18b of the transmission cam body 18 is fitted into the guide groove 20a, and a spring 18c is interposed between the feed body 20 and the transmission cam body 18 to create a structure in which they elastically resonate with each other.

[0024] Next, the operation of the grease application container 2 according to the embodiment will be explained. Figure 3(b) shows the grease application container 2 in its non-knock state (original position). In the grease application container 2, the user knocks the rear end surface of the dispensing body 20, causing the dispensing body 20 to advance as shown in Figure 3(c). At that time, the guide groove 20a and the projection 18b on the side surface of the transmission cam body 18 convert this forward movement into a rotational movement of the transmission cam body 18.

[0025] The rotation of the transmission cam body 18 causes the rotating cam body 16 to rotate in one direction, advancing the screw shaft 14 and thus advancing the piston 12. On the other hand, when the pressure is released, the feed body 20 returns to the rear, and the transmission cam body 18 rotates in the other direction and returns to its original position.

[0026] First, when the feed body 20 is pressed forward, the feed body 20 moves forward against the elastic force of the spring 18c. This causes the projection 18b to slide along the guide groove 20a, and the transmission cam body 18 rotates in one direction. This rotation of the transmission cam body 18 in one direction causes the cam portions of the transmission cam body 18 and the rotating cam body 16, which are in contact with each other, to mesh, and the rotating cam body 16 rotates.

[0027] The rotation of the rotating cam body 16 causes the screw shaft 14 to rotate and advance due to the action of the female threads (female screw holes) 22b2 of the screw portion 22b. This advance of the screw shaft 14 causes the piston 12 to move forward within the grease storage portion 10b, discharging grease from the discharge portion toward the application body 24.

[0028] On the other hand, when the pressing operation of the feed body 20 is released, the feed body 20 moves backward due to the elastic force of the spring 18c, causing the projection 18b to slide along the guide groove 20a and the transmission cam body 18 to rotate in the other direction. The teeth of the forward-facing cam portion of the rotating cam body 16 and the rearward-facing cam portion in the cylindrical portion 22a of the screw body 22 mesh together, restricting the rotation of the rotating cam body 16, so that only the transmission cam body 18 rotates. Then, the teeth of the cam portions of the transmission cam body 18 and the rotating cam body 16 that are in contact with each other disengage, and after advancing more than one pitch of the teeth, they overcome the tooth and engage with the tooth of the next pitch, so that the rotation of the transmission cam body 18 in the other direction is not transmitted to the rotating cam body 16.

[0029] Figure 7 shows the state after the applicator 24 has been removed from the grease application container 2. The applicator 24 is fixed inside the front shaft 26 by lightly pressing in the pipe 32 into the space inside the applicator 24. Therefore, when replacing the applicator 24, the applicator 24 is pulled out and the new applicator 24 is lightly pressed into the pipe 32 without having to detach the front shaft 26 from the shaft cylinder 10. Here, the tip of the front shaft 26 is formed to be short so that it is located in the middle of the length direction of the applicator 24, so the applicator 24 can be easily removed and replaced.

[0030] According to this embodiment of the grease application container, grease can be applied evenly and in the appropriate amount even if the object to be applied to has irregularities. Furthermore, by the user knocking the rear end surface of the dispensing body 20 of the grease application container, grease is dispensed onto the application body 24, and the grease can be applied to the application body by 24, so the user does not need to wash their fingers or other parts after applying the grease. In addition, since the front shaft 26 that holds the application body 24 is bonded, welded, or fixed to the tip portion 10a of the shaft cylinder (rear shaft) 10, the front shaft 26 will not detach from the shaft cylinder (rear shaft) 10 when dispensing grease, even when the viscosity of the grease is high. [Industrial applicability]

[0031] The grease application container of the present invention can be used as an application container for grease and other functional agents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0032] 2...Grease application container, 10...Shaft cylinder (rear shaft), 10a...Tip of shaft cylinder, 10b...Grease storage section, 12...Piston, 14...Screw shaft, 16...Rotating cam body, 18...Transmission cam body, 20...Feeding body, 24...Applicator, 26...Front shaft, 28...Cap, 30...Coupling, 32...Pipe, A...Feeding mechanism

Claims

1. The barrel has grease built inside and is equipped with a feeding mechanism that has a screw part and a piston. A grease dispenser container that advances the piston by rotating the screw portion of the dispensing mechanism, thereby discharging the grease from a discharge portion provided on the shaft.

2. The grease application container according to claim 1, further comprising a replaceable application section in the discharge section.

3. The grease application container according to claim 2, further comprising a cap that covers the application portion.

4. The system includes a front shaft for holding the coating portion, The grease application container according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the front shaft is bonded, welded, or fixed to the shaft cylinder.

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