Trigger-type liquid sprayer

Abstract

To provide a trigger type liquid sprayer which can continuously spray in both upright posture and inverted posture.SOLUTION: A trigger type liquid sprayer in an aspect of the present invention includes a sprayer main body mounted on a container body for storing a liquid, a nozzle member which is arranged in front of the sprayer main body, and an adapter for upright and inverted postures mounted on a lower end part of the sprayer main body. The sprayer main body includes a vertical supply cylinder part in which the liquid sucked from an inside of the container body distributes, a trigger mechanism which has a trigger part arranged so as to move backward in a forward biased state in front of the vertical supply cylinder part, a storage cylinder in which the liquid is supplied by backward movement of the trigger part, and a storage plunger which distributes the liquid in the storage cylinder toward a spay hole.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a trigger-type liquid ejector. [Background technology]

[0002] A trigger-type liquid sprayer is disclosed that includes a main pump unit that stores liquid and a trigger unit that operates the main pump unit. With this configuration, when the trigger unit is pulled backward, the cylinder of the main pump unit is pressurized, causing the liquid in the cylinder to flow toward the nozzle. This causes the liquid to be sprayed through the nozzle. Meanwhile, as the trigger unit returns to its forward position, the pressure inside the cylinder is reduced, causing the liquid in the container to flow into the cylinder.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a trigger-type liquid sprayer that includes a reservoir pump section in addition to a main pump section. In this type of trigger-type liquid sprayer, when the trigger section is operated, some of the liquid delivered from the main pump section is sprayed through the nozzles, while some of the liquid is stored in the cylinder of the reservoir pump section. Therefore, when the operation of the trigger section is stopped, the liquid stored in the cylinder of the reservoir pump section flows toward the nozzles. This allows the liquid to be continuously sprayed even when the trigger section is not operated. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-213497 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Incidentally, in the trigger type liquid ejector capable of continuous ejection as described above, there are cases where it is required that the liquid be ejected with the container body in both an upright position and an inverted position.

[0006] The present invention provides a trigger-type liquid ejector capable of continuous ejection in both an upright position and an inverted position. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following aspects. A trigger-type liquid ejector according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a ejector body attached to a container body that contains liquid, a nozzle member provided in front of the ejector body and having an ejection hole formed therein for ejecting liquid forward, and an inverted forward adapter attached to the lower end of the ejector body, wherein the ejector body extends in the vertical direction and has a vertical supply tube section through which liquid sucked up from the container body flows, and a trigger section disposed in front of the vertical supply tube section so as to be movable rearward in a forward biased state, and wherein rearward movement of the trigger section causes liquid to flow toward the ejection hole, and a trigger mechanism extending in the front-rear direction and supplying liquid to the interior as the trigger section moves rearward and a storage plunger configured to be able to move backward within the storage cylinder in a forward biased state as liquid is supplied into the storage cylinder, and to circulate the liquid in the storage cylinder toward the ejection hole. The forward inverted adapter comprises an adapter body that forms a first space that connects the container body to the vertical supply tube section through an upright inlet, and a second space that connects the inside of the container body to the first space through an inverted inlet, and a switching valve that blocks communication between the first space and the second space when the container body is upright with the ejector body attached to the container body, and connects the first space and the second space when the container body is inverted.

[0008] According to this aspect, of the liquid that has flowed into the storage cylinder, a portion of the liquid can be ejected through the ejection hole while a portion of the liquid is stored in the storage cylinder. Therefore, even when the trigger portion is not operated, the liquid stored in the storage cylinder can be ejected by the forward biasing force acting on the storage plunger. Furthermore, the trigger-type liquid ejector of this aspect is provided with an adapter for normal and inverted positions, so that liquid can be ejected in either the normal position or the inverted position. As a result, continuous ejection of liquid is possible in both the upright and inverted positions.

[0009] In particular, in this aspect, since the storage cylinder (and storage plunger) extends in the front-to-rear direction, it is easy to ensure the volume of the storage cylinder while preventing the trigger-type liquid ejector from becoming too large in the vertical direction.

[0010] In the trigger-type liquid ejector of the above aspect, it is preferable that the storage cylinder and the storage plunger are provided above the vertical supply tube portion and between the vertical supply tube portion and the nozzle member. According to this aspect, the storage cylinder and storage pump are designed to be less susceptible to interference with other components of the trigger-type liquid ejector, which improves the design freedom of the storage cylinder and storage plunger and makes it easier to ensure the volume of the storage cylinder.

[0011] In the trigger-type liquid ejector of the above aspect, the vertical supply tube portion comprises a first opposing wall arranged above the adapter body and a first fitting tube portion that penetrates the first opposing wall in the vertical direction, and the adapter body comprises a second fitting tube portion that is fitted into the first fitting tube portion through a lower end opening of the first fitting tube portion up to a portion of the first fitting tube portion that is located above the first opposing wall, and a second opposing wall that protrudes radially outward in a direction that intersects the vertical direction from a portion of the second fitting tube portion that is located below the first fitting tube portion and faces the first opposing wall in the vertical direction, and it is preferable that the portion of the upper surface of the second opposing wall that is located radially outward from the first fitting tube portion is flat or recessed downward. According to this aspect, it is possible to ensure a fitting margin between the first fitting tube portion and the second fitting tube portion, which prevents the vertical supply tube portion from being damaged by a drop impact or the inverted adapter from coming off the vertical supply tube portion. Moreover, in this aspect, since the recess is formed in the portion of the upper surface of the second opposing wall that is located radially outward from the first fitting cylinder, when assembling the normal inverted adapter to the vertical supply cylinder, the portion of the normal inverted adapter that is located radially outward from the first fitting cylinder can be prevented from interfering with the first fitting cylinder, thereby improving the ease of assembling the normal inverted adapter and the vertical supply cylinder. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a trigger-type liquid ejector that is capable of continuous ejection in both an upright position and an inverted position. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the trigger-type liquid ejector according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a jetting container in which a trigger-type liquid jetter 1 is attached to a container body A will be described as an example. The trigger-type liquid sprayer 1 shown in Fig. 1 comprises a sprayer body 2, a nozzle member 4 attached to the sprayer body 2 and having a spray hole 3 for spraying liquid, a cover body 6 that covers the sprayer body 2 from above, behind, and both sides in the left-right direction L2, and an inverted forward / backward adapter 7 attached to the lower end of the sprayer body 2. In this embodiment, the liquid contained in the container body A is, for example, a detergent (containing a surfactant and capable of forming foam) used in bathrooms, toilets, etc., and is preferably one with a viscosity similar to that of water. However, the liquid contained in the container body A can be changed as appropriate.

[0015] The ejector body 2 has a vertical supply tube portion 10, an attachment cap 11, a connecting tube 12, a reservoir pump portion 13, an injection tube portion 14, and a trigger mechanism 16 having a main pump portion 15.

[0016] In this embodiment, the central axis of the vertical supply tube portion 10 is referred to as the axis O. The direction along the axis O is referred to as the vertical direction, and in the vertical direction, the container body A side is referred to as the lower side, and the opposite side is referred to as the upper side. When viewed from the vertical direction, one direction (radial direction) that intersects with the axis O is referred to as the front-rear direction L1, and the direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction L1 is referred to as the left-right direction L2. In the front-rear direction L1, the nozzle member 4 side is referred to as the front side, and the opposite side is referred to as the rear side.

[0017] The vertical supply tube portion 10 receives the liquid sucked up from the container body A by the main pump portion 15. The vertical supply tube portion 10 includes an outer tube 21 and an inner tube 22 fitted inside the outer tube 21. The outer cylinder 21 is formed in a multi-stage cylindrical shape with a diameter that decreases toward the top. Specifically, the outer cylinder 21 includes an outer cylinder small diameter portion 21a located at the top and an outer cylinder large diameter portion 21c that is connected to the bottom of the outer cylinder small diameter portion 21a via an outer cylinder step portion 21b. The inner cylinder 22 is formed in a multi-stage cylindrical shape, similar to the outer cylinder 21. Specifically, the inner cylinder 22 includes an inner cylinder small diameter portion 22a located at the top and an inner cylinder large diameter portion 22c connected to the lower side of the inner cylinder small diameter portion 22a via an inner cylinder step portion 22b.

[0018] The vertical supply tube section 10 is configured such that the step sections 21b, 22b of the outer tube 21 and the inner tube 22 face each other with a gap in the vertical direction, and the small diameter sections 21a, 22a and the large diameter sections 21c, 22c are fitted together. The inner cylinder small diameter portion 22a penetrates the inner cylinder step portion 22b in the vertical direction. The portion of the inner cylinder small diameter portion 22a that protrudes downward from the inner cylinder step portion 22b constitutes the inner cylinder protruding portion 22d. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a connecting rib 22h is formed on the inner cylinder step portion 22b. The connecting rib 22h protrudes downward from the inner cylinder step portion 22b and extends in the radial direction. The connecting rib 22h bridges between the inner cylinder large diameter portion 22c and the inner cylinder protruding portion 22d. The two connecting ribs 22h extend forward of the inner cylinder protruding portion 22d, offset to both sides in the circumferential direction relative to the axis O when viewed from the front. A flange portion 22e that protrudes outward in the radial direction (the direction intersecting the axis O when viewed from the top-bottom direction) is formed in a portion of the inner cylinder large diameter portion 22c that is located below the outer cylinder large diameter portion 21c.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 1, a ball valve 23 is provided within the inner cylinder small diameter portion 22a. The ball valve 23 is provided so as to be able to approach and separate from a lower valve seat 22f provided on the inner cylinder small diameter portion 22a from above the lower valve seat 22f. The ball valve 23 switches between communication and blocking between the inside of the container body A and the main pump section 15 through the inside of the inner cylinder small diameter portion 22a. Specifically, the ball valve 23 is a check valve that blocks communication between the inside of the container body A and the main pump section 15 when pressurization is performed by the main pump section 15 (main cylinder 41, described later), and allows communication between the inside of the container body A and the main pump section 15 when depressurization is performed by the main pump section 15.

[0020] The attachment cap 11 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction. The attachment cap 11 is detachably fastened to the mouth portion A1 of the container body A with the flange portion 22e sandwiched between the attachment cap 11 and the upper opening edge of the mouth portion A1 via a packing. Note that the attachment cap 11 and the mouth portion A1 may be fixed together by a method other than screws (for example, by fitting).

[0021] The connecting tube 12 extends forward from the upper end of the outer tube small diameter portion 21a. The rear end opening of the connecting tube 12 communicates with the inside of the inner tube small diameter portion 22a through a connecting port 22g formed in the inner tube small diameter portion 22a. A blocking plug 28 is attached to the front end opening of the connecting tube 12. The blocking plug 28 blocks the front end opening of the connecting tube 12. A storage valve 29 is provided in the inner cylinder small diameter portion 22a in a portion located above the ball valve 23. The storage valve 29 is provided so as to be movable toward and away from an upper valve seat 22h provided in the inner cylinder small diameter portion 22a from above the upper valve seat 22h. The storage valve 29 switches between communication between the main pump portion 15 and the storage pump portion 13 via the connecting tube 12 and the vertical supply tube portion 10. Specifically, the storage valve 29 is a check valve that allows liquid to be supplied from the vertical supply tube portion 10 to the storage pump portion 13 (a storage cylinder 31 described below) when the main pump portion 15 is pressurized, and that restricts liquid from flowing out from the storage pump portion 13 into the vertical supply tube portion 10.

[0022] The reservoir pump section 13 includes a reservoir cylinder 31 , a reservoir plunger 32 , and a biasing member 33 . The storage cylinder 31 is provided above the vertical supply tube section 10. The storage cylinder 31 has a front wall section 31a located at the front end and a cylinder tube 31b extending rearward from the outer periphery of the front wall section 31a, and is formed in a topped cylindrical shape that opens rearward. In this embodiment, the central axis of the storage cylinder 31 (cylinder tube 31b) is referred to as the axis O1. In this embodiment, the axis O1 extends in the front-rear direction L1. However, the axis O1 does not have to coincide with the front-rear direction L1.

[0023] A supply hole 31c is formed in the front end of the cylinder 31b and the front end of the connecting cylinder 12. The supply hole 31c passes through the lower part of the cylinder 31b and the upper part of the connecting cylinder 12 in the vertical direction. The supply hole 31c connects the inside of the storage cylinder 31 with the inside of the connecting cylinder 12. A spring receiving member 35 is fitted into the rear end opening of the cylinder 31b. A communication opening 31d is formed in the front wall portion 31a, penetrating the front wall portion 31a in the front-rear direction L1. The communication opening 31d is disposed coaxially with the axis O1.

[0024] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a liquid recovery passage 36 is formed between the outer cylinder small diameter portion 21a and the inner cylinder small diameter portion 22a. The liquid recovery passage 36 is, for example, a vertical groove formed on the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder small diameter portion 21a and extending in the vertical direction. The liquid recovery passage 36 is formed in a portion located rearward with respect to the axis O. The upper end of the liquid recovery passage 36 opens into the cylinder 31b. The lower end of the liquid recovery passage 36 opens into a space surrounded by the outer cylinder step portion 21b and the inner cylinder step portion 22b (hereinafter referred to as recovery space S1).

[0025] The storage plunger 32 is provided so as to be movable in the front-to-rear direction L1 within the storage cylinder 31. The storage plunger 32 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a top that opens toward the rear. Specifically, the storage plunger 32 has a blocking wall 32a located at the front end and a sliding cylinder 32b that extends rearward from the outer circumferential edge of the blocking wall 32a, and is formed in a cylindrical shape with a top that opens toward the rear. The storage plunger 32 moves back and forth within the storage cylinder 31 with the outer circumferential surface of the sliding cylinder 32b sliding on the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder 31b, causing the blocking wall 32a to approach and move away from the front wall portion 31a from the rear.

[0026] The biasing member 33 is provided behind the storage plunger 32. The biasing member 33 is interposed between the storage plunger 32 and the spring receiving member 35, and biases the storage plunger 32 forward.

[0027] The injection tube 14 extends forward from the front wall 31a. The interior of the injection tube 14 is configured to be able to communicate with the interior of the storage cylinder 31 through the communication port 31d. In this embodiment, the central axis of the injection tube 14 is referred to as the axis O2. The axis O2 extends in the front-rear direction L1 parallel to the axis O1. However, the axis O2 may be disposed coaxially with the axis O1. Furthermore, the axis O2 does not have to coincide with the front-rear direction L1.

[0028] The trigger mechanism 16 includes a main pump portion 15 and a trigger portion 40 . The main pump section 15 stores and pumps the liquid in the container body A in response to the operation of the trigger section 40. The main pump section 15 includes a main cylinder 41 and a main piston . The main cylinder 41 is provided in front of the outer cylinder small diameter portion 21a of the vertical supply tube portion 10. The main cylinder 41 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom that opens forward and is centered on the pump axis O3 along the front-rear direction L1. The main cylinder 41 is fitted from the front into a mounting tube 46 that extends forward from the vertical supply tube portion 10 (outer cylinder small diameter portion 21a).

[0029] A communication tube 41a is provided on the bottom wall of the main cylinder 41, connecting the interior of the main cylinder 41 with the interior of the vertical supply tube section 10 (inner tube small diameter section 22a). The communication tube 41a protrudes rearward from the outer periphery of the bottom wall of the main cylinder 41. The rear end of the communication tube 41a is inserted into the portion of the small diameter sections 21a, 22a that is located above the ball valve 23. The rear end opening of the communication tube 41a is open inside the vertical supply tube section 10 (inner tube small diameter section 22a). In other words, the interior of the main cylinder 41 and the interior of the vertical supply tube section 10 are connected through the communication tube 41a.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, an outside air introduction hole 44 is formed in a portion of the peripheral wall of the main cylinder 41 that is positioned below the pump axis O3. The outside air introduction hole 44 communicates with an introduction passage 45 formed between the peripheral wall of the main cylinder 41 and the mounting cylinder 46. The introduction passage 45 communicates with an outside air communication hole 47 formed in the mounting cylinder 46. The outside air communication hole 47 vertically penetrates a portion of the mounting cylinder 46 that is exposed to the recovery space S1 (a portion that constitutes the outer cylinder step portion 21b). A supply hole 49 is formed in a portion of the inner cylinder step portion 22b that is positioned between the connecting ribs 22h. The supply hole 49 vertically penetrates the inner cylinder step portion 22b. A lower end opening of the supply hole 49 opens into a space surrounded by the inner cylinder 22 and the inverted normal position adapter 7 (hereinafter referred to as the merging space S2).

[0031] 1, the main piston 42 is provided in the main cylinder 41 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction L1. The main piston 42 includes a piston body portion 42a and a sliding cylindrical portion 42b. The piston main body 42a is formed in a cylindrical shape with a top and centered on the pump axis O3. The piston main body 42a is supported by a piston guide 50 that protrudes from the bottom wall of the main cylinder 41 so as to be movable back and forth. A biasing member 43 is interposed between the piston main body 42a and the main cylinder 41 (piston guide 50). The biasing member 43 biases the main piston 42 forward via the piston main body 42a. As a result, the main piston 42 is configured to be movable in the back and forth direction L1 while being biased forward.

[0032] A discharge hole 51 is formed in the outer cylinder small diameter portion 21a in a portion exposed within the piston guide 50. The discharge hole 51 penetrates the outer cylinder small diameter portion 21a in the front-rear direction. An internal pressure recovery passage 52 is formed between the outer cylinder small diameter portion 21a and the inner cylinder small diameter portion 22a. The internal pressure recovery passage 52 is, for example, a vertical groove extending in the vertical direction on a portion of the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder small diameter portion 21a that faces the liquid recovery passage 36. The upper end of the internal pressure recovery passage 52 is connected to the discharge hole 51. A through hole 53 is formed in a portion of the inner cylinder step portion 22b that is located forward with respect to the axis O1 and that penetrates the inner cylinder step portion 22b in the vertical direction. The through hole 53 is formed in a position that overlaps the internal pressure recovery passage 52 when viewed from the vertical direction. The upper end opening of the through hole 53 is connected to each of the liquid recovery passage 36 and the internal pressure recovery passage 52 within the recovery space S1. The lower end opening of the through hole 53 communicates with the joining space S2.

[0033] The sliding cylindrical portion 42b is connected to the rear end of the piston main body portion 42a. The sliding cylindrical portion 42b is formed in a cylindrical shape and is arranged coaxially with the pump axis O3. The sliding cylindrical portion 42b surrounds the periphery of the piston main body portion 42a. The sliding cylindrical portion 42b is in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the main cylinder 41. The sliding cylindrical portion 42b slides on the inner circumferential surface of the main cylinder 41 as the main piston 42 moves back and forth relative to the main cylinder 41.

[0034] The trigger portion 40 extends forward as it extends downward in front of the vertical supply tube portion 10. The upper end portion of the trigger portion 40 is supported by a bearing portion 48 provided below the injection tube portion 14 so as to be rotatable about an axis along the left-right direction L2. The front end portion of the piston main body portion 42a is connected to the middle portion of the trigger portion 40 in the up-down direction. Therefore, the main piston 42 moves rearward relative to the main cylinder 41 as the trigger portion 40 rotates rearward.

[0035] Nozzle member 4 is assembled to injection tube portion 14 from the front. Nozzle member 4 is formed in the shape of a cylinder with a top that opens toward the rear. The interior of nozzle member 4 is in communication with the interior of injection tube portion 14. An ejection hole 3 is formed in the top wall portion of nozzle member 4. Ejection hole 3 penetrates the top wall portion of nozzle member 4 in the front-to-rear direction L1.

[0036] The inverted normal adapter 7 is attached to the lower end of the vertical supply tube 10. The inverted normal adapter 7 enables the liquid in the container body A to be sprayed whether the spray container is in an upright position (with the mouth A1 facing upward) or an inverted position (with the mouth A1 facing downward). The inverted forward adapter 7 includes a first mounting member 100 and a second mounting member 101 assembled in the vertical direction, and a partition member 102 separating the first mounting member 100 and the second mounting member 101. The first mounting member 100, the second mounting member 101, and the partition member 102 form the adapter body of this embodiment.

[0037] 2, the first mounting member 100 is formed in a multi-stage cylindrical shape with the diameter decreasing toward the top. Specifically, the first mounting member 100 has a small diameter portion 110, a medium diameter portion 111, and a large diameter portion 112.

[0038] The small-diameter portion 110 is disposed coaxially with the axis O. A first flange 115 is formed at a portion of the small-diameter portion 110 located above the lower end edge, protruding radially outward. That is, the small-diameter portion 110 penetrates the first flange 115 in the vertical direction. The portion of the small-diameter portion 110 located above the first flange 115 constitutes a fitting cylindrical portion 110a fitted into the inner-cylinder small-diameter portion 22a. The fitting cylindrical portion 110a is fitted through the lower-end opening of the inner-cylinder small-diameter portion 22a up to a portion of the inner-cylinder small-diameter portion 22a located above the outer-cylinder stepped portion 21b. The portion of the small-diameter portion 110 located below the first flange 115 constitutes a protruding cylindrical portion 110b protruding inward from the first mounting member 100. The first flange 115 is disposed adjacent to the lower end edge of the connecting rib 22h.

[0039] The medium diameter portion 111 extends downward from the outer peripheral edge of the first flange 115. The medium diameter portion 111 is fitted into the inner cylinder large diameter portion 22c from below the inner cylinder large diameter portion 22c. This closes the lower end opening of the inner cylinder large diameter portion 22c. A second flange 116 that protrudes radially outward is formed at the lower end edge of the medium diameter portion 111. The second flange 116 is in close proximity to or abuts the lower end edge of the inner cylinder large diameter portion 22c from below the inner cylinder large diameter portion 22c. As shown in FIG. 2, a communication groove 117 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the medium diameter portion 111 and on the upper surface of the second flange 116. The communication groove 117 is an L-shaped groove in a side view that extends from the outer peripheral surface of the medium diameter portion 111 to the upper surface of the second flange 116. The communication groove 117 is preferably formed in a portion located rearward with respect to the axis O. In the illustrated example, the communication groove 117 is formed at a position offset circumferentially with respect to the axis O when viewed from the front. An upper end opening of the communication groove 117 communicates with the merging space S2. A lower end opening of the communication groove 117 communicates with the interior of the container body A. In other words, the liquid flowing through the liquid recovery passage 36 and the gas flowing through the introduction passage 45 and the internal pressure recovery passage 52 communicate with the interior of the container body A through the merging space S2 and the communication groove 117.

[0040] The large diameter portion 112 extends downward from the outer peripheral edge of the second flange 116. An inverted introduction port 118 that penetrates the large diameter portion 112 in the radial direction is formed in the front portion of the large diameter portion 112 (forward of the axis O).

[0041] The partition member 102 has a first communication cylinder 120 and a second communication cylinder 121 . The first communicating cylinder 120 is disposed coaxially with the axis O1. The protruding cylinder portion 110b is fitted into the first communicating cylinder 120 from above. The second communicating cylinder 121 is connected to the front of the first communicating cylinder 120. The diameter of the second communicating cylinder 121 gradually decreases as it extends downward. In this embodiment, the space defined between the second communicating cylinder 121 and the first mounting member 100 constitutes a valve chamber (second space) 125. The valve chamber 125 is connected to the inside of the container body A through the inverted introduction port 118 described above. A ball valve 126 is housed in the valve chamber 125. The ball valve 126 opens and closes the lower end opening of the second communicating cylinder 121 by moving toward and away from the edge of the lower end opening of the second communicating cylinder 121.

[0042] The second mounting member 101 has a closing portion 130 and a fixed cylinder 131 . The closing portion 130 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom that opens upward. The closing portion 130 is fitted into the large diameter portion 112 with the partition member 102 sandwiched therebetween. The fixed cylinder 131 penetrates the bottom wall of the closing part 130 in the vertical direction at the rear of the closing part 130 (at a position coaxial with the axis O). A suction cylinder 135 is fitted into the lower part of the fixed cylinder 131. An upper end opening (upright introduction port) 131a of the fixed cylinder 131 communicates with the inside of the first communicating cylinder 120. Therefore, the first communicating cylinder 120 communicates with the inside of the container body A through the fixed cylinder 131. On the other hand, the second communicating cylinder 121 communicates with the inside of the container body A through the inverted introduction port 118.

[0043] The space defined by the closing portion 130, the fixed barrel 131, and the second communicating barrel 121 constitutes a connecting flow path 140 that connects the valve chamber 125 and the fixed barrel 131. The connecting flow path 140 communicates with the interior of the fixed barrel 131 through a slit 141 formed in the fixed barrel 131. The space extending from the connecting flow path 140 through the slit 141 to the small diameter portion 110 constitutes the first space in this embodiment.

[0044] As described above, the inverted forward adapter 7 is assembled to the vertical supply tube 10 by fitting the fitting tube 110a into the inner tube small-diameter portion 22a and the medium-diameter portion 111 into the inner tube large-diameter portion 22c. In this case, the first flange 115 faces the inner tube step portion 22b with a gap therebetween in the vertical direction. The portion of the upper surface of the first flange 115 surrounding the inner tube small-diameter portion 22a forms a recess 115a. The recess 115a is formed as a flat surface perpendicular to the vertical direction. That is, the portion of the first mounting member 100 located radially outward from the inner tube small-diameter portion 22a is open radially outward. In this embodiment, the recess 115a faces the connecting rib 22h in the vertical direction. This ensures the vertical length of the connecting rib 22h, thereby easily ensuring the strength of the inner tube protrusion 22d.

[0045] A protrusion 145 is formed in a portion of the first flange 115 that is located forward of the recess 115a. The protrusion 145 protrudes upward from a portion of the first flange 115 that is located between the connecting ribs 22h in the circumferential direction. The protrusion 145 is disposed in front of the inner cylinder protrusion 22d of the first flange 115 with a gap therebetween.

[0046] Next, we will explain the operation of the trigger-type liquid ejector 1. In the following explanation, we will explain the ejection operation in an upright position and the ejection operation in an inverted position. When the ejection container is in the upright position, the ball valve 23 is seated on the lower valve seat portion 22f by its own weight, and the ball valve 126 is seated on the lower end opening edge of the second communication cylinder 121 by its own weight. To eject liquid from the container body A when the ejection container is in an upright position, the trigger portion 40 is pulled rearward from its initial position. This causes the main piston 42 to move rearward from its forwardmost position, pressurizing the main cylinder 41. This causes the liquid in the main cylinder 41 to be supplied into the vertical supply tube portion 10 (the inner tube small-diameter portion 22a) through the communicating tube 41a. The liquid supplied into the vertical supply tube portion 10 presses the ball valve 23 downward and pushes the storage valve 29 upward. This causes the storage valve 29 to move upward away from the upper valve seat 22h, with the ball valve 23 in contact with the lower valve seat 22f. When the main piston 42 moves rearward, gas between the piston body 42 and the piston guide 50 flows into the confluence space S2 through the discharge hole 51, the internal pressure recovery passage 52, and the through-hole 53, and is then discharged into the container body A through the communication groove 117.

[0047] Then, the liquid in the vertical supply tube portion 10 is supplied into the storage cylinder 31 through the connecting tube 12 and the supply hole 31c. When the storage cylinder 31 is pressurized by the inflow of liquid into the storage cylinder 31, the storage plunger 32 moves rearward from the most forward position against the biasing force of the biasing member 33. As a result, the liquid is stored in the storage cylinder 31. As the storage plunger 32 moves rearward, the blocking wall 32a moves rearward away from the front wall portion 31a of the storage cylinder 31, and the communication port 31d is opened. As a result, the liquid stored in the storage cylinder 31 passes through the injection tube portion 14 through the supply hole 31c and is then ejected to the outside through the ejection hole 3.

[0048] In a configuration including the storage pump unit 13 as in this embodiment, each time the trigger unit 40 is operated, a portion of the liquid supplied from the main cylinder 41 into the storage cylinder 31 is ejected through the ejection holes 3, and a portion of the liquid is stored in the storage cylinder 31. Therefore, when the operation of the trigger unit 40 is stopped, the supply of liquid into the storage cylinder 31 stops, but the storage plunger 32 moves forward due to the biasing force of the biasing member 33, so that the liquid stored in the storage cylinder 31 is continuously supplied to the injection tube unit 14. This allows liquid to continue to be ejected through the ejection holes 3 even when the operation of the trigger unit 40 is stopped. Note that excess liquid in the storage cylinder 31 is discharged from the storage cylinder 31 through the liquid recovery passage 36. The liquid that flows into the liquid recovery passage 36 flows into the confluence space S2 through the through-hole 53 and is then returned to the container body A through the communication groove 117.

[0049] When the operating force on the trigger 40 is released, the biasing force of the biasing member 43 causes the main piston 42 to move forward within the main cylinder 41, restoring it to its original position. This causes the trigger 40 to also move forward. As a result, the pressure inside the main cylinder 41 is reduced. This causes the ball valve 23 to float up from the lower valve seat 22f, establishing communication between the container body A and the main cylinder 41 through the inner-cylinder small-diameter portion 22a. Meanwhile, the storage valve 29 remains seated on the upper valve seat 22h, blocking communication between the main cylinder 41 and the storage cylinder 31 through the inner-cylinder small-diameter portion 22a. Furthermore, as the ball valve 23 floats up from the lower valve seat 22f, negative pressure also acts on the connecting flow path 140 through the inner-cylinder small-diameter portion 22a. Therefore, as the ball valve 126 remains seated on the lower-end opening edge of the second connecting cylinder 121, communication between the connecting flow path 140 and the valve chamber 125 is blocked. As a result, the liquid in the container body A flows into the trigger-type liquid sprayer 1 through the suction tube 135. The liquid that has flowed into the suction tube 135 flows into the inner tube small diameter portion 22a through the connecting flow path 140, and then flows into the main cylinder 41 through the communicating tube 41a. The flow of liquid into the suction tube 135 reduces the pressure inside the container body A. Then, outside air flows into the recovery space S1 through the outside air introduction hole 44, the introduction passage 45, and the outside air communication hole 47, and then flows into the merging space S2 through the supply hole 49. The outside air that has flowed into the merging space S2 flows into the container body A through the communication groove 117.

[0050] Next, when the ejection container is used in an inverted position, ball valve 23 moves away from lower valve seat 22f due to its own weight, and ball valve 126 moves away from the lower end opening edge of second communication cylinder 121 due to its own weight. Even in the inverted position, pulling the trigger part 40 backward pressurizes the inside of the main cylinder 41. Therefore, the liquid in the main cylinder 41 flows into the inner cylinder small diameter part 22a through the communication cylinder 41a, and then flows into the storage cylinder 31 through the communication cylinder 12. After that, of the liquid that has flowed into the storage cylinder 31, a portion of the liquid is ejected through the ejection hole 3, and a portion of the liquid is stored in the storage cylinder 31.

[0051] Even in the inverted position, releasing the operating force on the trigger part 40 reduces the pressure inside the main cylinder 41. Then, the liquid inside the container body A flows into the valve chamber 125 through the inverted inlet 118, and then flows into the first communicating cylinder 120 through the lower end opening of the second communicating cylinder 121, the connecting flow path 140, and the slit 141. The liquid that has flowed into the first communicating cylinder 120 flows inside the inner cylinder small diameter part 22a, and then is introduced into the main cylinder 41 through the communicating cylinder 41a.

[0052] Furthermore, even in the inverted position, when the operation of the trigger portion 40 is stopped, the biasing force of the biasing member 33 moves the storage plunger 32 forward, and the liquid stored in the storage cylinder 31 is continuously supplied to the injection tube portion 14. This allows the liquid to continue to be ejected through the ejection hole 3 even when the operation of the trigger portion 40 is stopped.

[0053] In this manner, in this embodiment, by providing the storage pump unit 13, it is possible to eject a portion of the liquid that has flowed into the storage cylinder 31 through the ejection hole 3 while storing the other portion of the liquid in the storage cylinder 31. Therefore, even when the trigger unit 40 is not operated, the liquid stored in the storage cylinder 31 can be ejected by the forward biasing force acting on the storage plunger 32. Moreover, the trigger-type liquid ejector 1 of this embodiment is provided with the normal / inverted adapter 7, so that liquid can be ejected in either the normal or inverted position. As a result, continuous ejection of liquid is possible in both the upright and inverted positions.

[0054] In particular, in this embodiment, the storage cylinder 31 (and storage plunger 32) extends in the front-to-rear direction, which makes it easy to ensure the volume of the storage cylinder 31 while preventing the trigger-type liquid ejector 1 from becoming too large in the vertical direction.

[0055] In this embodiment, the reservoir pump portion 13 is provided above the vertical supply tube portion 10. According to this configuration, the design of the storage pump section 13 is less likely to be affected by interference with other components of the trigger-type liquid ejector 1. This improves the design freedom of the storage pump section 13, making it easier to ensure the capacity of the storage cylinder 31.

[0056] In this embodiment, the inner tube small diameter portion 22a has an inner tube protruding portion 22d that protrudes downward more than the inner tube step portion 22b, and the small diameter portion 110 (fitting tube portion 110a) is fitted through the lower end opening of the inner tube small diameter portion 22a up to a portion located above the outer tube step portion 21b. This configuration ensures a fit between the inner cylinder small diameter portion 22a and the fitting cylinder portion 110a, thereby preventing the vertical supply cylinder portion 10 from being damaged by a drop impact or the inverted forward adapter 7 from coming off the vertical supply cylinder portion 10. Moreover, in this embodiment, the inverted forward adapter 7 is configured such that the recess 115a is formed in a portion located radially outward from the inner cylinder protruding portion 22d. According to this configuration, when assembling the normal inverted adapter 7 to the vertical supply tube portion 10, it is possible to prevent the portion of the normal inverted adapter 7 located radially outward from the inner tube protruding portion 22d from interfering with the inner tube protruding portion 22d. Therefore, it is possible to improve the ease of assembling the normal inverted adapter 7 and the vertical supply tube portion 10. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a connecting rib 22h is formed that protrudes downward from the inner cylinder step portion 22b. Therefore, if the inverted normal adapter 7 is displaced relative to the vertical supply tube portion 10 so as to tilt forward or backward with respect to the axis O (if it is gouged), the inverted normal adapter 7 (first flange 115) and the connecting rib 22h come into contact, thereby restricting the displacement of the inverted normal adapter 7 relative to the vertical supply tube portion 10. As a result, the inverted normal adapter 7 can be prevented from coming off the vertical supply tube portion 10.

[0057] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Addition, omission, substitution, and other modifications of the configuration are possible within the scope of the spirit of the present invention. The present invention is not limited by the above description, but is limited only by the appended claims. In the above-described embodiment, the storage pump unit 13 is configured to be provided above the vertical supply tube unit 10, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The storage pump unit 13 may be provided below the vertical supply tube unit 10 as long as it extends in the front-rear direction.

[0058] In the above-described embodiment, a configuration has been described in which the portion of the upper surface of the first flange 115 located around the inner tube protrusion 22d is formed into a flat surface, but this configuration is not limited thereto. The portion of the upper surface of the first flange 115 located around the inner tube protrusion 22d may be recessed downward compared to the other portions. Even in this case, the portion of the inverted-right adapter 7 located radially outward from the inner tube protrusion 22d opens radially outward, thereby achieving the above-described advantageous effects. However, the first flange 115 may be provided with a support tube or the like into which the inner tube protrusion 22d is fitted to support the inner tube protrusion 22d from the radial outside. In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the inner cylinder small diameter portion 22a includes the inner cylinder protruding portion 22d that protrudes downward from the inner cylinder stepped portion 22b has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration.

[0059] In addition, within the scope of the spirit of the present invention, it is possible to replace the components in the above-described embodiments with well-known components as appropriate, and the above-described modified examples may be combined as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1: Trigger-type liquid sprayer 2: Squirt body 3:Blowout hole 4: Nozzle material 7: Inverted stand adapter 10: Vertical supply tube 16: Trigger mechanism 22a: Small diameter inner cylinder portion (first fitting cylinder portion) 22b: Inner cylinder step part (first opposing wall) 31: Storage cylinder 32: Reservoir plunger 40: Trigger section 110a: Fitting cylinder part (second fitting cylinder part) 115: First flange (second opposing wall) 118: Inverted entrance 125: Valve chamber (second space) 131a: Top opening (erect inlet) A: Container body A1: Mouth

Claims

1. an ejector body attached to a container body that contains a liquid; a nozzle member provided in front of the ejector body and having an ejection hole formed therein for ejecting liquid forward; a forward / inverted adapter attached to a lower end of the ejector body, The ejector body includes: a vertical supply tube portion extending in a vertical direction and through which the liquid drawn up from the container body flows; a trigger mechanism including a trigger portion disposed in front of the vertical supply tube portion so as to be movable rearward in a forward biased state, the trigger portion moving rearward to cause the liquid to flow toward the ejection hole; a storage cylinder extending in the front-rear direction and into which liquid is supplied as the trigger portion moves rearward; a storage plunger configured to be movable backward within the storage cylinder in a forward biased state as liquid is supplied into the storage cylinder, and causing the liquid in the storage cylinder to flow toward the ejection hole, The inverted adapter is an adapter body that forms a first space that communicates between the container body and the inside of the vertical supply tube portion through an upright inlet, and a second space that communicates between the inside of the container body and the first space through an inverted inlet; a switching valve that blocks communication between the first space and the second space when the container body is upright with the ejector main body attached to the container body, and that allows communication between the first space and the second space when the container body is inverted, The vertical supply tube portion is a first opposing wall disposed above the adapter body; a first fitting cylindrical portion that passes through the first opposing wall in the up-down direction, The adapter body includes: a second fitting cylindrical portion fitted into the first fitting cylindrical portion through a lower end opening of the first fitting cylindrical portion up to a portion of the first fitting cylindrical portion that is positioned above the first opposing wall; a second opposing wall that projects outward in a radial direction intersecting the up-down direction from a portion of the second fitting cylindrical portion that is positioned below the first fitting cylindrical portion and faces the first opposing wall in the up-down direction, A trigger-type liquid ejector in which a flat relief portion that opens the periphery of the first fitting cylindrical portion radially outward is formed on the upper surface of the second opposing wall in a portion that is located radially outward from the first fitting cylindrical portion.

2. 2. The trigger-type liquid ejector according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir cylinder and the reservoir plunger are provided above the vertical supply tube portion and between the vertical supply tube portion and the nozzle member.

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