Ejector

Abstract

To provide a dispensing device with a structure that reduces the number of man-hours required for assembly. [Solution] The discharger (100) is equipped with a support member (30) that supports the pressing member, and the support member has a mounting cap portion (31) that is screwed onto the mouth portion (11) of the container body (10), an outer cylinder portion (32) connected to the upper end of the mounting cap portion, and an inner cylinder portion (33), and the mounting cap portion and the outer cylinder portion are integrally molded, and the cylinder (24) has a flange portion (24b) and a fitting cylinder portion that is fitted between the outer cylinder portion and the inner cylinder portion ( The outer cylinder has a seal member (62) between the inner cylinder and the flange, a first rib (24k) that protrudes radially outward and extends vertically is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the fitting cylinder, and a second rib (32d) that protrudes radially inward and extends circumferentially around the central axis is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder, and the first rib is in contact with the second rib in a state in which a part of the second rib in the circumferential direction is compressed radially outward.

Description

[[Technical Field]]

[0001] The present invention relates to a discharge device. [[Background Art]]

[0002] A discharge device attached to the mouth of a container body that accommodates contents is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Such a discharge device includes, for example: a pump having a discharge head formed with a discharge hole opening forward and disposed movably downward in an upwardly biased state; a pressing member that presses down the discharge head; a mounting cap screwed to the mouth of the container body; and a support member that rotatably supports the pressing member around a rotation axis extending in a direction intersecting the vertical direction. [[Prior Art Documents]] [[Patent Documents]]

[0003] [[Patent Document 1]] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2019-44649 [[Summary of the Invention]] [[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]]

[0004] The discharge device as described above has had problems that the number of components tends to increase, and the number of man-hours required for assembly tends to increase.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, one aspect of the present invention has as one of its objects to provide a discharge device having a structure that can reduce the number of man-hours required for assembly. [[Means for Solving the Problems]]

[0006] One embodiment of the discharger of the present invention is a discharger attached to the mouth of a container body containing contents, comprising: a pump section having a discharge head formed with a discharge hole opening forward and disposed to move downward in an upward biased state; a pressing member for pressing down the discharge head; and a support member for supporting the pressing member so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis extending in a direction intersecting the vertical direction, wherein the pump section comprises a piston linked to the vertical movement of the discharge head, and a cylinder opening upward and housing the piston so as to be able to slide up and down inside, and the support member comprises a mounting cap section opening downward and screwed onto the mouth of the container body, an outer cylinder section connected to the upper end of the mounting cap section and opening downward, and an inner cylinder section located inside the outer cylinder section in the radial direction with respect to the central axis of the cylinder, and the mounting The cap portion and the outer cylinder portion are integrally molded, and the cylinder has a cylinder body portion that opens upward and houses the piston inside, a flange portion that protrudes radially outward from the upper end of the cylinder body portion, and a fitting cylinder portion that protrudes upward from the flange portion and is fitted between the outer cylinder portion and the inner cylinder portion in the radial direction, a sealing member is disposed between the inner cylinder portion and the flange portion that contacts the inner cylinder portion and the flange portion, a first rib is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the fitting cylinder portion that protrudes radially outward and extends vertically, and a second rib is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder portion that protrudes radially inward and extends circumferentially around the central axis, and the first rib is in contact with the second rib in a state in which a part of the second rib in the circumferential direction is crushed radially outward.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the dispenser of the present invention, the number of parts of the dispenser can be reduced compared to the case where the mounting cap portion is separate from the outer cylinder portion. Therefore, the man-hours required for assembling the dispenser can be reduced. Furthermore, when attaching the dispenser to the mouth of the container body, the entire dispenser only needs to be rotated relative to the mouth around the central axis. Therefore, the dispenser can be easily attached to the mouth of the container body. In addition, the space between the inner cylinder portion and the flange portion can be sealed by the sealing member. This prevents the contents of the container body from leaking out of the dispenser through the space between the inner cylinder portion and the flange portion. Furthermore, a recess is formed on a part of the circumferential direction of the second rib by being crushed by the first rib, and the first rib catches on the circumferential inner surface of the recess in the circumferential direction. This prevents the fitting cylinder portion and the outer cylinder portion from rotating relative to each other around the central axis, and prevents the cylinder and the support member from rotating relative to each other around the central axis. Therefore, twisting of the sealing member that contacts the inner cylinder portion and the flange portion is prevented. Furthermore, since the second rib extends in the circumferential direction, even when a part of the mold is rotated while being pulled out to form the threaded portion of the mounting cap portion that is screwed onto the mouth of the container body, damage to the second rib can be suppressed. Therefore, the mounting cap portion and the outer cylinder portion can be formed by integral molding using a mold. As described above, according to one embodiment of the discharger of the present invention, the assembly man-hours of the discharger can be reduced by integrally molding the mounting cap portion and the outer cylinder portion, while twisting of the sealing member can be suppressed by the anti-rotation mechanism of the first rib and the second rib.

[0008] The first rib may have a tapered portion in which the circumferential dimension decreases as it extends upward, and the upper end of the tapered portion may be the upper end of the first rib. With this configuration, when inserting the fitting cylinder between the outer and inner cylinders in the radial direction, the circumferential dimension of the upper end of the first rib that first contacts the second rib can be reduced. This makes it easier to increase the force applied to the second rib from the upper end of the first rib, and to deform the second rib. Therefore, it becomes easier to crush the second rib with the first rib.

[0009] The portion of the first rib that contacts the second rib may include a portion located below the reduced width portion. With this configuration, the portion of the first rib whose circumferential dimensions do not change can be easily hooked in the circumferential direction into the recess formed in the second rib by being crushed by the first rib. This makes it easier to increase the circumferential contact area between the first rib and the second rib, and the circumferential engagement between the first rib and the second rib can more effectively suppress relative rotation of the cylinder and the support member around the central axis. Therefore, twisting of the sealing member can be further suppressed.

[0010] The radial outer surface of the reduced width portion may be configured to be located radially inward as it extends upward. This configuration makes it easier to prevent the upper end of the first rib from catching on the lower surface of the second rib when it comes into contact with the second rib. This makes it easier to push the first rib radially inward of the second rib, and makes it easier to more effectively compress a portion of the second rib radially outward with the first rib. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to one aspect of the present invention, the number of steps required to assemble the dispensing device can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the dispenser in one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the discharger in one embodiment, and is a partial enlargement of Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a support member in one embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows the first rib in one embodiment as viewed from the radially outer side. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the first and second ribs in one embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] The discharger according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and can be arbitrarily modified within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention. Furthermore, in the following drawings, the scale and numbers of each structure may differ from those of the actual structure in order to make the configurations easier to understand.

[0014] Figures 1 to 3 show the central axis O of the cylinder 24, which will be described later. In the following explanation, the direction along the central axis O will be called the "up and down direction" and will be indicated by the Z axis in each figure. The side of the up and down direction in which the Z-axis arrow points (+Z side) will be called the "up side" or "upward". The side of the up and down direction opposite to the side in which the Z-axis arrow points (-Z side) will be called the "down side" or "downward". Also, when viewed from the up and down direction, the direction that intersects the central axis O will be called the radial direction, and the direction that circles around the central axis O will be called the circumferential direction. Figures 1 to 3 show the X axis, which is perpendicular to the Z axis, and the Y axis, which is perpendicular to both the Z axis and the X axis. In the following explanation, the direction along the X axis will be called the "forward and backward direction", and the direction along the Y axis will be called the "left and right direction". The side of the forward and backward direction in which the X-axis arrow points (+X side) will be called the "front side" or "forward". The side opposite to the direction indicated by the X-axis arrow (the -X side) in the forward and backward directions is called the "rear side" or "backward side".

[0015] As shown in Figure 1, the dispenser 100 of this embodiment is attached to the mouth 11 of a container body 10 that contains the contents. The contents are, for example, a liquid. The mouth 11 is cylindrical and opens upward. The mouth 11 is cylindrical and is arranged coaxially with the central axis O. A threaded portion 11a is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the mouth 11. The dispenser 100 comprises a pump section 20, a support member 30, and a pressing member 40.

[0016] The support member 30 is a member that rotatably supports the pressing member 40 about a rotation axis R extending in a direction intersecting the vertical direction. In the present embodiment, the rotation axis R extends in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction). The rotation axis R is located spaced rearward from the central axis O (in the -X direction). The support member 30 is detachably attached to the mouth portion 11 of the container body 10. The support member 30 includes a mounting cap portion 31, an outer cylindrical portion 32, a first inner cylindrical portion (inner cylindrical portion) 33, a second inner cylindrical portion 34, a guide cylindrical portion 35, and a support portion 36.

[0017] The mounting cap portion 31 has a cylindrical shape opening downward. The mounting cap portion 31 has a cylindrical shape arranged coaxially with the central axis O. On the inner circumferential surface of the mounting cap portion 31, a threaded portion 31a that meshes with the threaded portion 11a of the mouth portion 11 is formed. The mounting cap portion 31 is screwed onto the mouth portion 11 of the container body 10 by the meshing of the threaded portion 31a with the threaded portion 11a. The outer cylindrical portion 32 is connected to the upper end portion of the mounting cap portion 31. The outer cylindrical portion 32 has a cylindrical shape opening downward. The outer cylindrical portion 32 has a cylindrical shape arranged coaxially with the central axis O. The outer diameter of the outer cylindrical portion 32 is smaller than the outer diameter of the mounting cap portion 31. As shown in FIG. 3, the outer cylindrical portion 32 includes a cylindrical portion 32a and a top wall portion 32b. The cylindrical portion 32a has a cylindrical shape arranged coaxially with the central axis O. The top wall portion 32b protrudes radially inward from the upper end portion of the cylindrical portion 32a. The top wall portion 32b has an annular shape arranged coaxially with the central axis O.

[0018] On the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylindrical portion 32, an annular convex portion 32c surrounding the central axis O is formed. The annular convex portion 32c has an annular shape arranged coaxially with the central axis O. In the present embodiment, two annular convex portions 32c are formed spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction. A second rib 32d extending circumferentially around the central axis O is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion 32. The second rib 32d protrudes radially inward about the central axis O from the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion 32. In the present embodiment, the second rib 32d is annular surrounding the central axis O. More specifically, the second rib 32d is an annular ring disposed coaxially with the central axis O. The second rib 32d is located above the annular convex portion 32c. In the present embodiment, a plurality of second ribs 32d are formed at intervals in the vertical direction. In the present embodiment, the number of the second ribs 32d is two. The interval between the second ribs 32d adjacent to each other in the vertical direction is smaller than the interval between the annular convex portions 32c adjacent to each other in the vertical direction. It should be noted that the number of the second ribs 32d is not particularly limited as long as it is one or more.

[0019] The first inner cylindrical portion 33 is located radially inside the outer cylindrical portion 32. The first inner cylindrical portion 33 extends downward from the lower surface of the top wall portion 32b. The first inner cylindrical portion 33 has a cylindrical shape opening downward. The first inner cylindrical portion 33 is cylindrical disposed coaxially with the central axis O. The outer diameter of the first inner cylindrical portion 33 is smaller than the inner diameter of the outer cylindrical portion 32. The outer peripheral surface of the first inner cylindrical portion 33 faces the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion 32 with a gap in the radial direction. The outer peripheral surface of the first inner cylindrical portion 33 is disposed spaced apart radially inward from the annular convex portion 32c and the second rib 32d. The lower end of the first inner cylindrical portion 33 is located above the lower end of the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion 32.

[0020] The second inner cylindrical portion 34 is located radially inside the first inner cylindrical portion 33. The second inner cylindrical portion 34 extends downward from the lower surface of the top wall portion 32b. The second inner cylindrical portion 34 has a cylindrical shape opening downward. The second inner cylindrical portion 34 is cylindrical disposed coaxially with the central axis O. The outer diameter of the second inner cylindrical portion 34 is smaller than the inner diameter of the first inner cylindrical portion 33. The outer peripheral surface of the second inner cylindrical portion 34 faces the inner peripheral surface of the first inner cylindrical portion 33 with a gap in the radial direction. The lower end of the second inner cylindrical portion 34 is disposed at the same position in the vertical direction as the lower end of the first inner cylindrical portion 33.

[0021] The guide cylinder portion 35 extends upward from the radial inner edge of the top wall portion 32b. The guide cylinder portion 35 is cylindrical with an upward opening. The guide cylinder portion 35 is cylindrical and is arranged coaxially with the central axis O. The outer diameter of the guide cylinder portion 35 is smaller than the outer diameter of the outer cylinder portion 32. The mounting cap portion 31, the outer cylinder portion 32, and the guide cylinder portion 35 form a multi-stage cylindrical member that opens on both sides in the vertical direction and whose outer diameter decreases in three stages from bottom to top.

[0022] The support portion 36 is connected to the rear (-X side) portion of the outer cylinder portion 32. In this embodiment, the support portion 36 is connected to both the cylindrical portion 32a and the top wall portion 32b. The support portion 36 extends upward (+Z direction) and rearward (-X direction) from the outer cylinder portion 32. The support portion 36 is positioned rearward as it moves upward. The upper end of the support portion 36 is positioned above the upper end of the guide cylinder portion 35. A rotation axis R is formed in the portion of the support portion 36 that is positioned above the upper end of the guide cylinder portion 35. The support member 30 is a component integrally molded by mold molding, which involves pouring resin or other materials into a mold. Each part included in the support member 30 is integrally molded with the others. In other words, the mounting cap portion 31 and the outer cylinder portion 32 are integrally molded.

[0023] As shown in Figure 1, the pump unit 20 is attached to the support member 30. The pump unit 20 includes a discharge head 21, a stem 22, a piston 23, a cylinder 24, a piston guide 25, a biasing member 26, and a valve body 27. The discharge head 21 is arranged to be movable downward while biased upward. The discharge head 21 has a nozzle cylinder portion 21a, a mounting cylinder portion 21b, a core rod body 21c, and a nozzle tip 21d. The nozzle cylinder portion 21a is cylindrical and extends in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction). The nozzle cylinder portion 21a opens forward (+X direction). The mounting cylinder portion 21b extends downward from the rear end of the nozzle cylinder portion 21a. The mounting cylinder portion 21b is substantially cylindrical and is arranged coaxially with the central axis O. The mounting cylinder portion 21b opens downward. The inside of the mounting cylinder portion 21b is connected to the inside of the nozzle cylinder portion 21a. A shaft portion 21g is formed at the upper end of the mounting cylinder portion 21b, projecting in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction). The shaft portion 21g is circular when viewed from the left-right direction.

[0024] The core rod 21c is housed inside the nozzle cylinder 21a. The core rod 21c extends in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction). A flow channel groove 21f is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the core rod 21c, which extends in the front-rear direction and allows the contents to flow between it and the inner circumferential surface of the nozzle cylinder 21a. The nozzle tip 21d is attached to the front (+X side) end of the core rod 21c. The nozzle tip 21d has a discharge hole 21e that opens forward (+X direction) and a spin channel (not shown) on the rear (-X direction) side. As a result, the discharge head 21 has a discharge hole 21e and a spin channel, which allows the contents to be discharged in a mist.

[0025] The stem 22 is cylindrical and extends vertically. The stem 22 is cylindrical and is positioned coaxially with the central axis O. The stem 22 has openings on both sides in the vertical direction. The mounting cylinder portion 21b is fitted inside the upper part of the stem 22. In this way, the discharge head 21 is attached to the stem 22. The stem 22 is arranged to be movable downward while biased upward. The stem 22 moves vertically together with the discharge head 21. The stem 22 is mounted inside the guide cylinder portion 35. The stem 22 is slidable vertically inside the guide cylinder portion 35. The upper end of the stem 22 is located above the upper end of the guide cylinder portion 35. The lower end of the stem 22 is located below the lower end of the outer cylinder portion 32.

[0026] The cylinder 24 is cylindrical and extends vertically. The cylinder 24 is cylindrical and is positioned coaxially with the central axis O. The cylinder 24 is open at the top and bottom. A piston 23 is housed inside the cylinder 24 so as to be able to slide up and down. The cylinder 24 has a cylinder body portion 24a, a first flange portion 24b, and a fitting cylinder portion 24c. The cylinder body portion 24a is cylindrical and extends vertically. The cylinder body portion 24a is cylindrical and is positioned coaxially with the central axis O. The cylinder body portion 24a is open at the top and bottom. A piston 23 is housed inside the cylinder body portion 24a so as to be able to slide up and down. More specifically, the piston 23 is housed inside the upper portion of the cylinder body portion 24a. The upper portion of the cylinder body portion 24a is located inside the support member 30. The lower portion of the cylinder body portion 24a is located below the support member 30. The lower portion of the cylinder body portion 24a is inserted inside the container body 10.

[0027] A valve seat portion 24d is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the lower part of the cylinder body portion 24a. The valve seat portion 24d is a tapered surface whose inner diameter decreases as it approaches the bottom. A valve body 27 is detachably disposed on the valve seat portion 24d. In this embodiment, the valve body 27 is a ball valve formed in a spherical shape. The valve body 27 is a check valve that allows the flow of contents upward within the cylinder body portion 24a while blocking the flow of contents downward within the cylinder body portion 24a. The valve body 27 may be a type of valve body other than a ball valve, as long as it functions as a check valve. A regulating projection 24e is provided on the valve seat portion 24d, which gradually extends upward as it moves from the radial outside to the inside. The inner diameter of the upper end of the regulating projection 24e is smaller than the outer diameter of the valve body 27. This restricts the valve body 27 from moving upward away from the regulating projection 24e. Furthermore, a gap is formed in the restricting projection 24e that interrupts its circumferential extension.

[0028] A first stepped portion 24f and a second stepped portion 24g are formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder body portion 24a. The first stepped portion 24f is located above the valve seat portion 24d. The first stepped portion 24f has an upward-facing stepped surface. The first stepped portion 24f supports the biasing member 26 from below. The second stepped portion 24g is located above the first stepped portion 24f. The second stepped portion 24g has an upward-facing stepped surface. The stepped surface of the second stepped portion 24g faces the lower end of the outer cylinder piston 23b of the piston 23, which will be described later, in the vertical direction. An inverted / upright adapter 50 is attached to the lower end of the cylinder body portion 24a. The inverted / upright adapter 50 is an adapter that enables the discharge of contents from the discharger 100 even when the discharger 100 is in an inverted position. An air vent 24h is formed in the portion of the cylinder body 24a that houses the piston 23. The air vent 24h connects the internal space of the container body 10 with the internal space of the cylinder body 24a. More specifically, the air vent 24h connects the internal space of the container body 10 with the upper space S1 inside the cylinder 24, which will be described later.

[0029] As shown in Figure 2, the first flange portion 24b protrudes radially outward from the upper end of the cylinder body portion 24a. The first flange portion 24b is plate-shaped with its plate surface facing vertically. The first flange portion 24b is annular in shape surrounding the central axis O. The first flange portion 24b is an annular shape arranged coaxially with the central axis O. The radial outer edge of the first flange portion 24b is in contact with the lower end of the outer cylinder portion 32. The radial outer edge of the first flange portion 24b is positioned above the mouth portion 11 of the container body 10. A first sealing member 61 is positioned between the first flange portion 24b and the upper end of the mouth portion 11 to seal the space between the first flange portion 24b and the upper end of the mouth portion 11.

[0030] The fitting cylinder portion 24c protrudes upward from the first flange portion 24b. The fitting cylinder portion 24c is cylindrical with an upward opening. The fitting cylinder portion 24c is cylindrical and is arranged coaxially with the central axis O. The inner and outer diameters of the fitting cylinder portion 24c are larger than the outer diameter of the cylinder body portion 24a. The outer circumferential surface of the fitting cylinder portion 24c is located radially inward from the radial outer end of the first flange portion 24b. The fitting cylinder portion 24c is fitted radially between the outer cylinder portion 32 and the first inner cylinder portion 33.

[0031] An engaging projection 24i is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the fitting cylinder portion 24c, projecting radially outward. The engaging projection 24i is an annular shape surrounding the central axis O. The engaging projection 24i is an annular shape arranged coaxially with the central axis O. In this embodiment, multiple engaging projections 24i are formed at intervals in the vertical direction. Two engaging projections 24i are formed. Each engaging projection 24i engages from above with each annular projection 32c formed on the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder portion 32. This prevents the fitting cylinder portion 24c from slipping downward from the radial space between the outer cylinder portion 32 and the first inner cylinder portion 33.

[0032] A first rib 24k is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the fitting cylinder portion 24c, projecting radially outward. The first rib 24k is located above the engaging projection 24i. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the first rib 24k extends vertically. As shown in Figure 5, the radial outer end of the first rib 24k is located radially inward from the radial outer end of the engaging projection 24i. The first rib 24k has a base portion 24m and a narrowed portion 24n. The base portion 24m is the lower part of the first rib 24k. The lower end of the base portion 24m is the lower end of the first rib 24k. In this embodiment, the radial dimension of the base portion 24m is the same throughout the vertical direction. As shown in Figure 4, in this embodiment, the circumferential dimension of the base portion 24m is the same throughout the vertical direction.

[0033] The narrowed portion 24n is connected to the upper end of the base portion 24m. The upper end of the narrowed portion 24n is the upper end of the first rib 24k. The circumferential dimension of the narrowed portion 24n decreases as it extends upward. The circumferential dimension of the lower end of the narrowed portion 24n is the same as the circumferential dimension of the base portion 24m. In this embodiment, the narrowed portion 24n is triangular in shape with rounded corners on the upper side when viewed from the radially outside. The upper edge of the narrowed portion 24n is an arc shape that is convex upward when viewed from the radially outside. As shown in Figure 5, the radial outer surface of the narrowed portion 24n is located radially inward as it extends upward. The radial outer surface of the narrowed portion 24n is curved when viewed circumferentially. The radial outer surface of the narrowed portion 24n may also be straight when viewed circumferentially.

[0034] The first rib 24k is in contact with the second rib 32d in a state in which a portion of the second rib 32d in the circumferential direction is compressed radially outward. The radial outer surface of the first rib 24k is in contact with the radial inner surface of the portion of the second rib 32d that is compressed by the first rib 24k. As a result, the first rib 24k is in radial contact with the second rib 32d. The compression of a portion of the second rib 32d in the circumferential direction by the first rib 24k forms a recess 32e that is recessed radially outward. The circumferential side surface of the first rib 24k is in contact with the circumferential side surface of the inner surface of the recess 32e. As a result, the first rib 24k is in circumferential contact with the second rib 32d. In this embodiment, the first rib 24k compresses a portion of the circumferential direction of each of the two second ribs 32d radially outward, and is in radial and circumferential contact with the two second ribs 32d.

[0035] As shown in Figure 4, the lower end of the first rib 24k is located below the two second ribs 32d. The upper end of the first rib 24k is located above the two second ribs 32d. The upper end of the base 24m of the first rib 24k is located above the lower of the two second ribs 32d and below the upper edge of the upper second rib 32d. The base 24m is in radial and circumferential contact with the two second ribs 32d. The base 24m is the portion of the first rib 24k located below the narrowed portion 24n. Thus, in this embodiment, the portion of the first rib 24k that contacts the second ribs 32d includes the portion located below the narrowed portion 24n. The lower end of the narrowed portion 24n is in contact with the upper second rib 32d.

[0036] The first rib 24k crushes a portion of the two second ribs 32d in the circumferential direction when the fitting cylinder portion 24c is inserted radially between the outer cylinder portion 32 and the first inner cylinder portion 33. More specifically, when the portion of the fitting cylinder portion 24c on which the first rib 24k is formed on the outer circumferential surface is pushed inward of the portion of the outer cylinder portion 32 on which the second rib 32d is formed on the inner circumferential surface, the first rib 24k crushes a portion of the second rib 32d radially outward. As shown in Figure 4, in this embodiment, multiple first ribs 24k are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction. The multiple first ribs 24k are arranged, for example, at equal intervals along the entire circumference. The number of first ribs 24k is not particularly limited, as long as there is one or more.

[0037] As shown in Figure 1, the piston guide 25 extends in the vertical direction. The piston guide 25 is positioned across the internal space of the stem 22 and the internal space of the cylinder 24. The piston guide 25 has a guide body portion 25a, a guide projection portion 25b, and a second flange portion 25c. The guide body portion 25a is cylindrical and extends vertically. The guide body portion 25a is cylindrical and is positioned coaxially with the central axis O. The guide body portion 25a is open upwards. The portion of the guide body portion 25a including the upper end is fitted inside the stem 22. As shown in Figure 2, the guide body portion 25a has a first communication hole 25d that connects the internal space of the piston guide 25 and the internal space of the stem 22. The guide body portion 25a has a second communication hole 25e that connects the internal space of the piston guide 25 and the internal space of the cylinder 24. The second communication hole 25e is located below the first communication hole 25d.

[0038] The guide projection 25b protrudes downward from the lower end of the guide body 25a. A biasing member 26 is externally mounted on the guide projection 25b. The guide projection 25b is composed of multiple plate bodies, each with its front and back surfaces facing the circumferential direction, arranged around the central axis O. The second flange portion 25c protrudes radially outward from the lower end of the guide body portion 25a. The second flange portion 25c is annular in shape and surrounds the guide body portion 25a.

[0039] The piston 23 is housed inside the cylinder 24 so as to be able to slide up and down. The piston 23 is linked to the up and down movement of the discharge head 21. The internal space of the cylinder 24 is divided vertically into an upper space S1 and a lower space S2 by the piston 23. The piston 23 has an inner cylinder piston 23a, an outer cylinder piston 23b, and an annular connecting portion 23c. In this embodiment, the inner cylinder piston 23a, the outer cylinder piston 23b, and the annular connecting portion 23c are formed integrally with each other. The outer cylinder piston 23b is fitted into the cylinder 24 so as to be able to slide up and down. The outer cylinder piston 23b has a cylindrical outer upper cylinder portion 23f that protrudes upward from the annular connecting portion 23c and a cylindrical sliding contact portion 23g that protrudes downward from the annular connecting portion 23c. The outer circumferential surface of the outer upper cylinder portion 23f is in contact with or close to the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder 24. The outer upper cylinder portion 23f surrounds the portion of the stem 22, including the lower end, from the radial outside. The lower end of the sliding contact portion 23g contacts the stepped surface of the second stepped portion 24g, for example, when the piston 23 is in its lowest position. The lower end of the sliding contact portion 23g is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder 24.

[0040] The inner cylinder piston 23a is positioned radially inside the outer cylinder piston 23b. The inner cylinder piston 23a surrounds the guide body portion 25a of the piston guide 25 from the radial outside. The inner cylinder piston 23a covers the second communication hole 25e from the radial outside. The inner cylinder piston 23a has an inner upper cylinder portion 23d that protrudes upward from the annular connecting portion 23c and whose upper end is fitted into the stem 22 so as to be vertically slidable, and a cylindrical closing portion 23e that protrudes downward from the annular connecting portion 23c, is externally mounted on the piston guide 25 so as to be vertically slidable, and blocks communication between the inside of the stem 22 and the inside of the cylinder 24.

[0041] Of the inner upper cylinder portion 23d, the upper part located within the stem 22 gradually extends radially outward as it moves from bottom to top. The inner circumferential surface of the inner upper cylinder portion 23d is positioned with a radial gap between it and the outer circumferential surface of the guide body portion 25a of the piston guide 25. The occluding portion 23e gradually extends radially inward from top to bottom. The lower end of the occluding portion 23e is in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the guide body portion 25a of the piston guide 25. The lower end of the occluding portion 23e is located above the lower end of the sliding contact portion 23g. The lower end of the occluding portion 23e is located below the second communication hole 25e. The annular connecting portion 23c connects the inner cylinder piston 23a and the outer cylinder piston 23b. The annular connecting portion 23c is positioned in the middle of the vertical direction of both the inner cylinder piston 23a and the outer cylinder piston 23b, and is an annular shape that is coaxial with the central axis O.

[0042] The biasing member 26 is housed inside the cylinder 24. In this embodiment, the biasing member 26 is a coil spring that surrounds the central axis O and extends upward. A guide projection 25b is inserted into the biasing member 26 from above. The upper end of the biasing member 26 is in contact with the lower surface of the second flange portion 25c. As shown in Figure 1, the lower end of the biasing member 26 is in contact with the stepped surface of the first stepped portion 24f. The biasing member 26 applies an upward biasing force to the piston guide 25. As a result, the piston guide 25, piston 23, stem 22, and discharge head 21 receive an upward biasing force from the biasing member 26.

[0043] The pressing member 40 is mounted to the support member 36 so as to be rotatable around the rotation axis R. This allows the pressing member 40 to swing relative to the support member 30 around the rotation axis R. The pressing member 40 includes a top plate portion 41 that covers the discharge head 21 from above, a front plate portion 42 that extends gradually downward (-Z direction) from the front edge of the top plate portion 41 as it moves forward (+X direction), and a pair of side plate portions 43 that extend downward from the left and right side edges of the top plate portion 41 and face each other in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction). The discharge head 21 is positioned in the internal space enclosed by the top plate portion 41 and the pair of side plate portions 43. The pair of side plate portions 43 are positioned to sandwich the discharge head 21 from the left and right directions.

[0044] The top plate portion 41 has a smoothly curved shape that bulges upward. The rear (-X side) end of the top plate portion 41 is in contact with the upper end of the support portion 36 of the support member 30 from above. As a result, the pressing member 40 is restricted from swinging any further upward around the rotation axis R. A through-hole 44 is formed in the front portion of the top plate 41, penetrating the top plate 41. The through-hole 44 is located in the central part of the top plate 41 in the left-right direction. The through-hole 44 opens forward (+X direction). The front portion of the top plate 41 is shaped to be bifurcated in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction). The nozzle cylinder portion 21a of the discharge head 21 is inserted into the through-hole 44. As a result, the nozzle cylinder portion 21a protrudes forward from the front plate portion 42 through the through-hole 44, restricting the relative rotation of the pressing member 40 and the discharge head 21 around the central axis O.

[0045] The front panel 42 extends gradually downward from the front edge of the bifurcated top panel 41, as it moves forward (in the +X direction). The lower part of the front panel 42 is designed as a finger rest for gripping the fingertips. The pair of side plates 43 of the pressing member 40 sandwich the upper portion of the support portion 36 of the support member 30 in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction). This restricts the relative rotation of the support member 30 and the pressing member 40 around the central axis O.

[0046] The pressing member 40 has an engagement groove 45 that engages with the shaft portion 21g of the discharge head 21. The engagement groove 45 is formed in a semicircular shape that opens downward at the lower end of the plate portion that protrudes inward in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) from the pair of side plate portions 43 of the pressing member 40. The shaft portion 21g is inserted into the engagement groove 45. In the above configuration, when the pressing member 40 is swung downward around the rotation axis R, the inner circumferential surface of the engagement groove 45 pushes the outer circumferential surface of the shaft portion 21g downward, causing the discharge head 21, stem 22, and piston guide 25 to descend against the upward biasing force of the biasing member 26.

[0047] An outside air intake passage 70 is formed between the stem 22 and the support member 30. The outside air intake passage 70 can connect the external space of the discharger 100 with the upper space S1 of the internal space of the cylinder 24. The outside air intake passage 70 extends in the vertical direction. The outside air intake passage 70 has a portion formed between the outer circumferential surface of the stem 22 and the inner circumferential surface of the guide cylinder portion 35, and a portion formed between the outer circumferential surface of the stem 22 and the inner circumferential surface of the second inner cylinder portion 34. The upper end of the outside air intake passage 70 opens to the external space of the discharger 100. The lower end of the outside air intake passage 70 is blocked from the upper space S1 inside the cylinder 24 by the second sealing member (sealing member) 62 when the discharge head 21 is not pushed down.

[0048] As shown in Figure 2, the second seal member 62 is disposed between the first inner cylinder portion 33 of the support member 30 and the first flange portion 24b of the cylinder 24 in the vertical direction. The second seal member 62 is an annular shape surrounding the central axis O. The second seal member 62 is an annular shape arranged coaxially with the central axis O. The second seal member 62 is plate-shaped with its plate surface facing vertically. The second seal member 62 is elastically deformable. The second seal member 62 is made of rubber, for example. The second seal member 62 surrounds the stem 22 from the radial outside. The second seal member 62 is fitted onto the stem 22. The radial outer edge of the second seal member 62 is sandwiched between the lower end of the first inner cylinder portion 33 and the upper surface of the first flange portion 24b, and is in contact with the first inner cylinder portion 33 and the first flange portion 24b. As a result, the space between the first inner cylinder portion 33 and the first flange portion 24b is sealed by the second sealing member 62. The radial inner edge of the second sealing member 62 is located between the second inner cylinder portion 34 of the support member 30 and the outer cylinder piston 23b of the piston 23 in the vertical direction. The lower end of the second inner cylinder portion 34 is in contact with the second sealing member 62. The upper end of the outer cylinder piston 23b is in contact with the second sealing member 62 when the piston 23 is in its uppermost position. The radial inner edge of the second sealing member 62 is sandwiched between the second inner cylinder portion 34 and the outer upper cylinder portion 23f, thereby blocking the lower end of the outside air intake passage 70 from the upper space S1 inside the cylinder 24.

[0049] As shown in Figure 1, the dispenser 100 is equipped with a stopper member 80. The stopper member 80 is a member capable of restricting the downward movement of the discharge head 21. The stopper member 80 is pivotably mounted to the support member 30 around a pivot axis AX that extends in a direction intersecting the vertical direction. The pivot axis AX extends in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction). The pivot axis AX is located behind the central axis O (-X direction) and in front of the rotation axis R (+X direction). The pivot axis AX is located below the rotation axis R. The state of the stopper member 80 shown in Figure 1 is a state in which the downward movement of the discharge head 21 is restricted. In the state in which the downward movement of the discharge head 21 is restricted, the stopper member 80 extends in the vertical direction. In the state in which the downward movement of the discharge head 21 is restricted, a part of the stopper member 80 is located between the guide cylinder portion 35 and the portion of the discharge head 21 that protrudes behind the stem 22 in the vertical direction. This restricts the downward movement of the discharge head 21. When the stopper member 80 swings backward around the pivot axis AX, a part of the stopper member 80 disengages from the vertical space between the guide cylinder 35 and the portion of the discharge head 21 that protrudes further backward than the stem 22, allowing the discharge head 21 to be pushed down.

[0050] Next, the operation of the discharger 100 configured as described above will be explained. The user of the discharger 100 first swings the stopper member 80 backward (-X direction) around the pivot axis AX to make the discharge head 21 able to be pushed down. Next, the user of the discharger 100 rotates the push member 40 downward around the rotation axis R. At this time, the user rotates the push member 40 downward against the biasing force of the biasing member 26, for example, by placing their fingertips on the finger rest portion of the front plate portion 42 of the push member 40. When the push member 40 is rotated downward, the discharge head 21 moves downward, and the stem 22 and piston guide 25 are pushed down relative to the cylinder 24 with the inside of the portion of the cylinder 24 in which the valve seat portion 24d is formed closed by the valve body 27.

[0051] When the stem 22 is pushed down together with the piston guide 25, the downward force applied to the stem 22 is transmitted to the piston 23, causing the piston 23 to move downward relative to the cylinder 24 as a single unit with the stem 22 and piston guide 25. As a result, the inside of the cylinder 24 is pressurized while the occlusion portion 23e of the piston 23 remains blocked from communicating between the inside of the stem 22 and the lower space S2 inside the cylinder 24. If the stem 22 is pushed down further in this state, the increased internal pressure in the lower space S2 of the cylinder 24 will prevent the piston 23 from moving downward, causing the stem 22 and piston guide 25 to move downward relative to the piston 23. As the piston guide 25 moves downward relative to the piston 23, the occlusion portion 23e of the piston 23 separates from the outer circumferential surface of the piston guide 25. As a result, the contents of the lower space S2 flow into the piston guide 25 through the gap between the inner circumferential surface of the occlusion portion 23e and the outer circumferential surface of the piston guide 25 and the second communication hole 25e. The contents that flow into the piston guide 25 flow through the upper part of the stem 22 to the nozzle cylinder portion 21a and are discharged from the discharge hole 21e.

[0052] As described above, when the contents are discharged from the discharge hole 21e, the piston 23 moves downward, causing the outer cylinder piston 23b to move downward away from the second seal member 62. As a result, the outside air intake passage 70 communicates with the upper space S1 of the cylinder 24 through the radial gap between the second seal member 62 and the stem 22 and the vertical gap between the outer cylinder piston 23b and the second seal member 62. This allows outside air from the discharger 100 to be introduced into the upper space S1 inside the cylinder 24.

[0053] When the downward pressure on the discharge head 21, stem 22, and piston 23 is released and they return to their original upward position, the lower space S2 of the cylinder 24 becomes negative pressure, and the contents of the container body 10 are introduced into the lower space S2 of the cylinder 24. During this process, the air introduced into the upper space S1 is introduced into the container body 10 through the air hole 24h, which connects the upper space S1 of the cylinder 24 with the inside of the container body 10.

[0054] Subsequently, when the stem 22 and piston 23 return to their original vertical positions, the radial inner edge of the second seal member 62 is sandwiched vertically between the second inner cylinder portion 34 and the outer cylinder piston 23b of the piston 23. As a result, the second seal member 62 blocks communication between the outside air intake passage 70 and the upper space S1 of the cylinder 24, thereby blocking communication between the inside of the container body 10 through the outside air intake passage 70 and the external space of the discharger 100.

[0055] Furthermore, even if the discharger 100 is inverted or otherwise inoperable, a second sealing member 62 is provided to block communication between the outside air intake passage 70 and the upper space S1 of the cylinder 24. Therefore, even if the contents of the container body 10 reach the upper space S1 inside the cylinder 24, leakage of the contents into the external space of the discharger 100 through the outside air intake passage 70 can be suppressed. In addition, since the space between the first inner cylinder portion 33 and the first flange portion 24b is sealed by the second sealing member 62, even if the contents reach the upper space S1, leakage of the contents into the external space of the discharger 100 through the space between the first inner cylinder portion 33 and the first flange portion 24b can be suppressed.

[0056] According to this embodiment, the discharger 100 includes a pump unit 20 having a discharge head 21 formed with a discharge hole 21e that opens forward and is arranged to move downward in an upward biased state, a pressing member 40 that presses down the discharge head 21, and a support member 30 that supports the pressing member 40 so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis R. The pump unit 20 has a piston 23 that is linked to the up and down movement of the discharge head 21, and a cylinder 24 that opens upward and houses the piston 23 so as to be able to slide up and down inside. The support member 30 has a mounting cap portion 31 that opens downward and is screwed onto the mouth portion 11 of the container body 10, an outer cylinder portion 32 that is connected to the upper end of the mounting cap portion 31 and opens downward, and a first inner cylinder portion 33 that is located inside the outer cylinder portion 32 in the radial direction with respect to the central axis O of the cylinder 24. The mounting cap portion 31 and the outer cylinder portion 32 are integrally molded. Therefore, the number of parts in the discharger 100 can be reduced compared to the case where the mounting cap portion 31 is separate from the outer cylinder portion 32. Consequently, the man-hours required for assembling the discharger 100 can be reduced.

[0057] Furthermore, if, for example, the mounting cap portion 31 is separate from the outer cylinder portion 32, when attaching the dispenser 100 to the mouth portion 11 of the container body 10, it is necessary to hold the outer cylinder portion 32 with one hand while screwing the mounting cap portion 31 onto the mouth portion 11. In contrast, according to this embodiment, when attaching the dispenser 100 to the mouth portion 11 of the container body 10, it is sufficient to rotate the entire dispenser 100 relative to the mouth portion 11 around the central axis O. Therefore, the dispenser 100 can be easily attached to the mouth portion 11 of the container body 10.

[0058] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the cylinder 24 has a cylinder body portion 24a that opens upward and houses the piston 23 inside, a first flange portion 24b that protrudes radially outward from the upper end of the cylinder body portion 24a, and a fitting cylinder portion 24c that protrudes upward from the first flange portion 24b and is fitted between the outer cylinder portion 32 and the first inner cylinder portion 33 in the radial direction. A second sealing member 62 is disposed between the first inner cylinder portion 33 and the first flange portion 24b, and contacts the first inner cylinder portion 33 and the first flange portion 24b. As a result, the space between the first inner cylinder portion 33 and the first flange portion 24b can be sealed by the second sealing member 62. This prevents the contents from leaking out of the discharger 100 through the space between the first inner cylinder portion 33 and the first flange portion 24b, even if the contents reach the upper space S1. In this embodiment, as described above, the second sealing member 62 can also block communication between the outside air intake passage 70 and the upper space S1.

[0059] In this embodiment, if a second sealing member 62 is provided that contacts the first inner cylinder portion 33 and the first flange portion 24b, there is a risk that the second sealing member 62 may twist if the cylinder 24 and the support member 30 rotate relative to each other around the central axis O. In contrast, as a comparative example, in order to suppress the relative rotation of the cylinder 24 and the support member 30 around the central axis O, it is conceivable to form an anti-rotation rib extending in the vertical direction on the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder portion 32 of the support member 30, rather than a second rib 32d. However, in this comparative example, when the outer cylinder portion 32 and the mounting cap portion 31 are integrally molded using a mold, in order to form the threaded portion 31a of the mounting cap portion 31 that is attached to the mouth portion 11, it is necessary to rotate a part of the mold that forms the inner surface of the outer cylinder portion 32 and the inner surface of the mounting cap portion 31 around the central axis O and withdraw it downward from inside the support member 30. For this reason, in this comparative example, it is not possible to form an anti-rotation rib extending in the vertical direction on the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder portion 32 using a mold.

[0060] To address the above problem, according to this embodiment, a first rib 24k is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the fitting cylinder portion 24c, projecting radially outward and extending vertically. A second rib 32d is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder portion 32, projecting radially inward and extending circumferentially around the central axis O. The first rib 24k is in contact with the second rib 32d in a state in which a part of the second rib 32d in the circumferential direction is crushed radially outward. As a result, a recess 32e is formed on a part of the second rib 32d in the circumferential direction by being crushed by the first rib 24k, and the first rib 24k catches on the inner surface of the recess 32e in the circumferential direction. This suppresses relative rotation of the fitting cylinder portion 24c and the outer cylinder portion 32 around the central axis O, and suppresses relative rotation of the cylinder 24 and the support member 30 around the central axis O. Therefore, twisting of the second seal member 62 is suppressed. Furthermore, since the second rib 32d is a rib that extends in the circumferential direction, even when a part of the mold is rotated while pulling it out to form the threaded portion 31a of the mounting cap portion 31, damage to the second rib 32d can be suppressed. Therefore, the mounting cap portion 31 and the outer cylinder portion 32 can be formed by integral molding using a mold. As described above, according to this embodiment, the assembly man-hours of the discharger 100 can be reduced by integrally molding the mounting cap portion 31 and the outer cylinder portion 32, while twisting of the second seal member 62 can be suppressed by the anti-rotation mechanism of the first rib 24k and the second rib 32d.

[0061] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the first rib 24k has a narrowed width portion 24n whose circumferential dimension decreases as it extends upward. The upper end of the narrowed width portion 24n is the upper end of the first rib 24k. Therefore, when inserting the fitting cylinder portion 24c between the outer cylinder portion 32 and the first inner cylinder portion 33 in the radial direction, the circumferential dimension of the upper end of the first rib 24k that first contacts the second rib 32d can be reduced. This makes it easier to increase the force applied to the second rib 32d from the upper end of the first rib 24k, and to deform the second rib 32d. Consequently, the first rib 24k can easily crush the second rib 32d.

[0062] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the portion of the first rib 24k that contacts the second rib 32d includes a portion located below the reduced width portion 24n. Therefore, the portion of the first rib 24k whose circumferential dimensions do not change can be more easily hooked in the circumferential direction with the recess 32e of the second rib 32d. This makes it easier to increase the circumferential contact area between the first rib 24k and the second rib 32d, and the circumferential engagement between the first rib 24k and the second rib 32d can more effectively suppress relative rotation between the cylinder 24 and the support member 30 around the central axis O. Consequently, twisting of the second seal member 62 can be further suppressed.

[0063] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the radial outer surface of the reduced width portion 24n is located radially inward as it extends upward. Therefore, when the upper end of the first rib 24k comes into contact with the second rib 32d, it is easier to prevent the upper end of the first rib 24k from catching on the lower surface of the second rib 32d. This makes it easier to push the first rib 24k radially inward of the second rib 32d, and makes it easier to more favorably crush a portion of the circumferential direction of the second rib 32d radially outward by the first rib 24k.

[0064] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and the following configurations can also be adopted. The first rib formed on the outer circumferential surface of the fitting cylinder portion may have any shape as long as it protrudes radially outward and extends vertically. The second rib formed on the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder portion may have any shape as long as it protrudes radially inward and extends circumferentially. The second rib may be arc-shaped when viewed from above or below, or it may be C-shaped when viewed from above or below, or the like. The configurations described herein can be combined with each other to the extent that they do not contradict one another. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 10...Container body, 11...Mouth, 20...Pump section, 21...Discharge head, 21e...Discharge hole, 23...Piston, 24...Cylinder, 24a...Cylinder body, 24b...First flange section (flange section), 24c...Fitting cylinder section, 24k...First rib, 24n...Reduced width section, 30...Support member, 31...Mounting cap section, 32...Outer cylinder section, 32d...Second rib, 33...First inner cylinder section (inner cylinder section), 36...Support section, 40...Pressing member, 62...Second sealing member (sealing member), 100...Discharger, O...Central axis, R...Rotation axis

Claims

1. A dispensing device attached to the mouth of a container body that holds its contents, A pump section having a discharge head that is positioned to move downward while biased upward and has a discharge hole that opens forward, A pressing member that presses down the discharge head, A support member that rotatably supports the pressing member around a rotation axis extending in a direction intersecting the vertical direction, Equipped with, The aforementioned pump section is A piston that is linked to the up-and-down movement of the discharge head, A cylinder that opens upward and houses the piston so as to be able to slide up and down inside, It has, The aforementioned support member is A mounting cap portion that opens downwards and is screwed onto the mouth of the container body, The outer cylinder portion is connected to the upper end of the aforementioned mounting cap portion and opens downwards, An inner cylinder portion located inside the outer cylinder portion in the radial direction centered on the central axis of the cylinder, It has, The mounting cap portion and the outer cylinder portion are integrally molded. The cylinder is A cylinder body portion that opens upward and houses the piston inside, A flange portion that protrudes radially outward from the upper end of the cylinder body, A fitting cylinder portion that protrudes upward from the flange portion and is fitted between the outer cylinder portion and the inner cylinder portion in the radial direction, It has, A sealing member is provided between the inner cylinder portion and the flange portion, which contacts the inner cylinder portion and the flange portion. A first rib is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the fitting cylinder portion, projecting outward in the radial direction and extending vertically. A second rib is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder portion, projecting inward in the radial direction and extending in the circumferential direction around the central axis. The discharger is characterized in that the first rib is in contact with the second rib in a state in which a part of the second rib in the circumferential direction is compressed outward in the radial direction.

2. The first rib has a narrowed portion in which the circumferential dimension decreases as it extends upward, The discharger according to claim 1, wherein the upper end of the reduced width portion is the upper end of the first rib.

3. The discharger according to claim 2, wherein the portion of the first rib that contacts the second rib includes a portion located below the reduced width portion.

4. The discharger according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the radial outer surface of the reduced width portion is located radially inward as it extends upward.

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