TRIGGER-FUELED DEVICE.

Abstract

A firing-type supply head (10), applicable to a bottle, comprises valve means comprising a dome-shaped valve body (60) provided with an elastically deformable membrane (68), comprising an annular sealing ring (70) forming a head seal of the pretensioning valve means.

Description

FIRE-FILLING DEVICE FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] This invention is situated in the field of firing devices for supplying a product; in particular, the object of this invention is a firing device equipped with an innovative pretensioning valve. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] These devices are widely used in the market for countless purposes; for example, they are used to supply products for surface hygiene, to deodorize environments, to facilitate the ironing of garments, for personal care, for plant care, and for many other purposes.

[0003] One of the most popular features of spray guns is the ability to pre-pressurize the product before dispensing. This provides many benefits, such as a more uniform spray pattern and finer droplet distribution. Many spray gun solutions are equipped with a valve for pre-pressurizing the product. For example, one solution is detailed in document WO-A1-2014 / 013352, submitted by the Applicant.

[0004] However, the solutions currently known have some drawbacks, such as the need to provide components with very tight manufacturing tolerances, in order to ensure the optimal operation of the pretensioning valve. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The object of this invention is to provide a shot feeder that overcomes these drawbacks and meets the requirements mentioned above.

[0006] This object is achieved by a firing feeder head according to claim 1. The dependent claims describe further favorable embodiments of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0007] The performance and advantages of the shot feeder, according to this invention, will be evident from the description below, offered by way of non-limiting example in accordance with the figures in the accompanying drawings, where:

[0008] - Figure 1 represents a cross-sectional view of a firing feeder head, of a feeder according to an embodiment of this invention;

[0009] - Figure 1a is an enlargement of the insert in Figure 1, which represents valve means of the supply head; qq Lznn / eznz / e / YiAi

[0010] - Figure 2 represents a cross-sectional view of a firing feeder head, of a feeder according to a further embodiment of this invention;

[0011] - Figure 2a is an enlargement of the insertion lia of Figure 2, which represents valve means of the supply head;

[0012] - Figure 3 represents a cross-sectional view of a shot feeder head, of a feeder according to yet another modality of this invention;

[0013] - Figure 3a is an enlargement of insert Illa in Figure 3, which represents valve means of the supply head. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] A shot feeder, according to this invention, comprises a bottle for containing a product to be fed, provided with a neck having a main axis X with a mouth and a shot feeder head 10 applicable to the neck of the bottle, for example, in a detachable manner.

[0015] For example, the supply head is attached to the bottle by means of a threaded closure, comprising a threaded ring that can be screwed onto the neck and adapted to retain the head in the neck of the bottle; according to a further example, the head is attached to the bottle by means of a bayonet closure.

[0016] The head 10 comprises a frame 12 for supporting the components. Preferably, the frame 12 is made of plastic material in one piece, for example, by injection molding.

[0017] The head 10 further comprises a piston 14 and a piston chamber 16, for example, formed in the frame 12, within which the piston 14 slides sealably along a piston axis Y, preferably incident on the main axis X, for example, orthogonal thereto.

[0018] The head 10 further comprises a manually operable trigger 18 supported by the frame 12, for example, hinged in a rotatable manner or operated in a movable manner, connected to the piston 14.

[0019] The head 10 further comprises elastic return means, for example comprising a spring, adapted to permanently drive the trigger or piston towards an initial rest configuration.

[0020] The head 10 further comprises a supply pipe 20 in communication, at a first end 22, with the external environment, for example, by means of a nozzle 24 of the head 10 supported by the frame 12. The supply pipe 20 extends along a supply axis Z, preferably parallel to the piston axis Y.

[0021] The header 10 further comprises a secondary pipe 26 connected, at one end, to a second end 28 of the supply pipe 20, and connectable at the other end to the chamber 16. The secondary pipe 26 extends along a secondary axis K, preferably parallel to the main axis X.

[0022] The head 10 further comprises a primary pipe 30 extending from the chamber 16, peripherally delimited by an annular primary wall 32, for example, in one piece with the frame 12, preferably coaxial to the main axis X.

[0023] Primary wall 32 has an internal lateral surface 32a facing primary pipe 30, and an opposing external lateral surface 32b facing supply compartment 52, discussed below.

[0024] Header 10 also has a compartment 34 connected upstream to primary pipe 30, and downstream to secondary pipe 26.

[0025] Compartment 34 is annularly delimited by an annular compartment wall 36, for example, made in one piece with the frame 12, preferably coaxial to the main axis X, arranged radially outside the primary wall 32.

[0026] The primary wall 32 terminates in the compartment 34 with a head surface 32c facing towards the compartment 34, for example, in the form of a circular crown or truncated cone, joining the inner side surface 32a and the outer side surface 32b.

[0027] Preferably, the primary wall 32 extends from a chamber wall 165 of the frame 12, which annularly delimits the piston chamber 16.

[0028] Preferably, the primary wall 32 extends along a wall axis S, for example, coincident with the major axis X.

[0029] Preferably, the header surface 32c annularly delimits a pipe mouth 33, which connects the primary pipe 30 to the compartment 34.

[0030] The head 10 further comprises an auxiliary body 40 connectable, for example, by a snap-fit ​​connection, to the frame 12, to at least partially delimit the compartment 34. The auxiliary housing 40 is attachable to the compartment wall 36, for example, by means of a threaded or snap-fit ​​connection.

[0031] For example, the auxiliary body 40 comprises a base 42 lying substantially in a plane orthogonal to the major X-axis, a side wall 44 projecting axially peripherally from the base 42, connectable to the compartment wall 36, and an extension 46 projecting axially from the base 42 on the opposite portion of the side wall 44, having a suction hole 47 passing through the thickness of the base 42. A small tube 48 is insertable into the suction hole 47, for draining the product.

[0032] Head 10 further comprises valve means for supplying and suctioning the product. The valve means comprise:

[0033] - supply valve means adapted to allow the product to pass from the piston chamber to the supply pipe in a product supply phase, and to prevent the product from returning from the supply pipe to the piston chamber in a product suction phase; qq Lznn / eznz / e / YiAi

[0034] - suction valve means adapted to allow the product to pass from the bottle to the piston chamber in a product suction phase, and to prevent the product from returning from the piston chamber to the bottle in a product supply phase.

[0035] Valve venting means are also provided to allow air to enter the bottle during a suction phase of the product from the bottle.

[0036] The valve means are housed in compartment 34 and comprise a valve body 60, for example, made from a single piece of plastic material.

[0037] The dome-shaped valve body 60 comprises an annular valve wall 61, comprising an annular body foot, preferably wavy, 62, which rests on the base 42 of the auxiliary body 40, which preferably splices against the side wall 44 of the auxiliary body 40. Preferably, the body foot 62 is mechanically coupled, for example, by press fit or by means of threads, to the side wall 44 or to the compartment wall 36, which forms an example of an application of the auxiliary body 40 to the compartment wall 36.

[0038] The valve wall 61 further comprises an annular body wall 64 having a predetermined axial extension, projecting from the body foot 62. Preferably, the body wall 64 is in contact with the compartment wall 36, forming a seal, for example, by means of a sealing flange 66.

[0039] The valve wall 61 further comprises an elastically deformable diaphragm 68 projecting from, for example, the body wall 64, configured to contact the primary wall 32 of the frame 12, forming a seal. In particular, the diaphragm 68 comprises a sealing ring 70, for example, having a triangular or cusp-shaped cross-section, configured to contact and form a seal with the head surface 32c of the primary wall 32.

[0040] Valve wall 61 divides compartment 34 into a suction compartment 50, connected to suction port 47, and a supply compartment 52, connected to secondary pipe 26.

[0041] The membrane 68, in particular with the sealing ring 70, and the primary wall 32 with the head surface 32c, form pre-tensioning valve means, adapted to allow the product to pass from the piston chamber 16 to the supply pipe 20 when the pressure in the piston chamber 16 exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and to prevent the passage of product from the piston chamber 16 to the supply pipe 20 when the pressure in the piston chamber 16 is less than a predetermined threshold value.

[0042] In other words, in a first substage of the supply phase, when the piston starts from the rest configuration and moves into the piston chamber, the pressure in the piston chamber increases but the pretensioning valve means remain closed, preventing the product from passing into the secondary pipeline 26.

[0043] In the first substage, the product accumulates in the primary pipe 30 and the qq Lznn / cznz / e / YiAi increase in pressure is absorbed by a portion of the membrane, typically that within the sealing ring 70, whether or not subject to local deformation.

[0044] Once the threshold pressure has been exceeded, in a second substage of the supply phase, the pretensioning valve means are opened and allow the product to pass from the piston chamber 16, through the pipe mouth 33 of the primary pipe 30± to the supply pipe 20.

[0045] In the second substage, the deformation of the membrane and, in particular, its descent, allows the sealing ring 70 to separate from the head surface 32c of the primary wall 32, thus allowing the passage of the product.

[0046] The suction valve means comprise, for example, a suction passage 71 passing through the diaphragm 68 of the valve body 60, which connects the primary pipe 30 and the suction compartment 50, the mouth of which, on the primary pipe 30 side, is surrounded by the sealing ring 70.

[0047] The suction valve means further comprise a sphere 72, disposed in the suction passage 71, movable between a position where it closes the suction passage 71, in the product supply phase, and a position where it leaves the suction passage at least partially open in the product suction phase.

[0048] Preferably, the suction passage 71 is annularly delimited by an annular passage wall 74 that protrudes from the membrane 68 concentrically to the sealing ring 70, and extends axially into the primary pipe 30 and suction compartment 50.

[0049] In one modality, during the first substage, the product accumulates radially internally to the passage wall 74.

[0050] Preferably, the passage wall 74 is significantly separated from the internal lateral surface 32a of the primary wall 32. For example, the passage wall 74 is inserted into the primary pipe 30, substantially free to move axially during deformation of the membrane 68.

[0051] In other words, passage wall 74 is inserted with clearance through pipe mouth 33.

[0052] Preferably, the product also leaks in negligible amounts between passage wall 74 and inner side surface 32a. In other words, passage wall 74 and inner side surface 32a are not sealed.

[0053] The diaphragm 68, of the valve body 60, has a suction side face 68a facing the suction compartment 50, and a supply side face 68b facing the supply compartment 52.

[0054] In one embodiment, the sealing ring 70 is made external to the passage wall 74, with respect to the wall axis S. Preferably, the sealing ring 70 protrudes from the supply side face 68b of the membrane 68.

[0055] According to one modality (Figure 1 and 1a), the membrane 68 has an overall convex conformation towards the supply side, i.e., the supply side face is convex and the suction side face is concave.

[0056] According to one further modality (Figure 2 and 2a), the membrane 68 has an overall flat conformation, i.e., the supply side face is flat and the suction side face is flat.

[0057] According to yet another modality (Figure 3 and 3a), the membrane 68 has an overall concave conformation towards the supply side, i.e., the supply side face is concave and the suction side face is convex.

[0058] According to one variation, the suction valve means comprise a 10 portion of flexible obturator, made in one piece with the diaphragm, adapted to open and close the suction passage.

[0059] In an innovative manner, the supply head, according to this invention, overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks in that the configuration of the pretensioning valve means, equipped with a head seal, forms a very effective seal that is easy to implement.

[0060] Favorably, the passage wall is easy to manufacture and is not subject to strict manufacturing tolerances, since it is not used for the sealing function.

Claims

1. A firing-type dispensing head (10) applicable to a bottle for containing a product to be dispensed, comprising: - a piston chamber (16), a piston (14) that slides sealably in the piston chamber (16), and a manually operable trigger (18) connected to the piston (14) for dispensing and suctioning the product; - a primary wall (32) delimiting a primary pipe (30) extending from the piston chamber (16); - an annular compartment wall (36) delimiting a compartment (34) downstream of the primary pipe (30); - a secondary pipe (26) downstream of the compartment (34), and a supply pipe (20) downstream of the secondary pipe (26), connected to the external environment; - an auxiliary body (40) connected to the compartment wall (36), comprising a base (42) and a suction orifice (47) passing through the base (42); - valve means for suction and supply of the product;- wherein the valve means are housed in the compartment (34) and comprise a dome-shaped valve body (60) supported by the base (42) of the auxiliary body (40) and comprising an annular valve wall at least partially deformable (61); - wherein the valve wall (61) divides the compartment (34) into a suction compartment (50), in communication with the suction orifice (47), and a supply compartment (52) in communication with the secondary pipe (26); - and wherein the valve wall (61) comprises an elastically deformable membrane (68);- wherein the primary wall (32) has an inner side surface (32a) facing the primary pipe (30), an outer side surface (32b) facing the supply compartment (52), and terminates in a crown-shaped head surface (32c) joining the inner side surface (32a) and the outer side surface (32b), and facing the compartment (34); - wherein the membrane (68) comprises an annular sealing ring (70) joining the head surface (32c) of the primary wall (32), forming pre-pressure valve means, adapted to allow the passage of product to the supply pipe (20) when the pressure in the piston chamber (16) exceeds a predefined threshold value.

2. The firing supply head according to claim 1, wherein the head surface (32c) annularly delimits a pipe mouth (33) that connects the primary pipe (30) to the compartment (34).

3. The pop-up feeder head according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the membrane (68) has a suction side face (68a) facing the suction compartment (50), and a supply side face (68b) facing the supply compartment (52).

4. The firing supply head according to claim 3, wherein the membrane (68) has an overall convex shape towards the supply compartment, i.e., the supply side face is convex and the suction side face is concave.

5. The firing supply head according to claim 3, wherein the membrane (68) has an overall flat conformation, i.e., the supply side face is flat and the suction side face is flat.

6. The firing supply head according to claim 3, wherein the membrane (68) has an overall convex conformation towards the supply side, i.e., the supply side face is concave and the suction side face is convex.

7. The trigger-operated supply head according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the valve means comprise suction valve means comprising: - a suction passage (71) passing through the diaphragm (68) of the valve body (60), which connects the primary pipe (30) and the suction compartment (50), the mouth of which, on the primary pipe (30) side, is surrounded by the sealing ring (70); - a sphere (72) disposed in the suction passage (71), movable between a position in which it closes the suction passage (71), and a position in which it leaves the suction passage at least partially open.

8. The shot-type supply head according to claim 7, wherein the suction passage (71) is annularly delimited by an annular passage wall (74) projecting from the membrane (68) concentrically to the sealing ring (70), and extending axially into the primary pipe (30) and the suction compartment (50).

9. A dispenser comprising: - a bottle (2) for containing a product to be dispensed; - a firing dispenser head according to any of the preceding claims.

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