The present invention relates to a head part module of a discharge pump for a discharge container and a discharge pump comprising a head part module and a pump part module.
Conventionally, a pumping mechanism for a liquid discharge container is known, in which a stem extends upwardly from a pump cylinder having a collar on an upper end part, and a push down head with a nozzle is arranged upon the stem, The pumping mechanism is further provided with a mounting cap having an inward flange for clamping the collar with an upper end is face of a cylindrical part, and a cover ring covering an area between the upper part of the stem and the inward flange. (see Patent Document 1)
Patent Document 1: JP 3657378 B
Since the liquid discharge pump disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a mechanism in which a stem of the pump part has to be inserted into the mounting cap before mounting the cover ring to form a pump, it is required to change the whole structure from the pump part to the head part to vary the form of the head part including mounting cap and nozzle head,
In order to solve such conventional problems, the applicant of this invention has suggested in Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-255669 that different parts of the discharge pump except the pumping mechanism, i.e., the mounting cap, the cover ring and the push down head are coupled to form a module (head part module), and the link is disconnected after the head part module is combined with the pump part module. However, it is more preferable if the disconnecting operation can be omitted.
The first object of the invention is to provide a head part module of a discharge pump for a discharge container, in which the head part of the pump mechanism can be readily varied.
The second object of the invention is to provide a head part module, which can be readily attached to the container body without disconnecting the link of respective parts of the head part module.
The third object of the invention is to provide a discharge pump comprising the above described head part module and the pump part module.
The first embodiment of the present invention is a head part module consisting, together with a pump part module for mounting on a container body, of a discharge pump, the head part module comprising:
In this embodiment, it is provided that the discharge pump is divided into a pump part and a head part, and that three elements of the head part, i.e., the mounting cap, the cover ring and the push down head are modularized. Throughout this description, the term “module” indicates a detachable, separate structural unit, and the “head part” is a top part of the discharge pump when the discharge pump is attached to the container body. While the “pump part” has one function as a whole, each component of the “head part” has a different function. In other words, closely arranged parts in a mounted state are linked with each other despite the difference of their function. With this characteristic, if parts associated with the pump part module such as the first communication tube and the fitting strips (grooves) are correspondingly dimensioned and arranged, other parts can be freely designed. In this regard, further description is given below.
The “cover ring” has a first fitting strip as well as a second fitting strip on the rear face and is linked with a mounting ring via the link cylinder which is fitted into the second fitting strip in a modularized state. The fitting strip is a fitting part extending in a direction (circumferential direction) and can be formed by a circumferential face of a cylinder wall, or formed as a concave.
The “mounting cap” has a link cylinder upwardly extending via an inward flange from a mounting cylinder for fitting onto (a thread engagement with) a neck portion of the container body. The link cylinder is loosely and rotatably fitted into the second fitting strip 30, so that the mounting cylinder can be attached to the neck portion of the container body without releasing the link.
The second aspect is based on the first aspect, and the first fitting strip 28 and the second fitting strip 30 are formed as inner and outer fitting strip grooves which are divided by a middle wall 26 hanging from the rear face of the top face 18, and a second engagement strip 34 and a first engagement strip 11 are circumferentially provided on opposing circumferential faces of the second fitting strip 30 and the link cylinder 10 to prevent removal of the link cylinder 10 by a mutual engagement.
In this aspect, a fitting strip groove (inner groove) for attaching the pump part module is circumferentially provided on the inner side of the top plate of the cover ring in the head part module. Thus, two modules can be securely joined. Another fitting strip groove (outer groove) is circumferentially provided on the outer side of the top plate of the cover ring. The link cylinder of the mounting cap is fitted onto an outer face or an inner face of the fitting strip groove. For “engagement strip”, a convex engagement strip can be combined with a convex engagement strip, or a convex engagement strip can be combined with a concave engagement strip.
The third aspect is based on the second aspect, and a longitudinal cylinder 33 with a larger inner diameter than that of the outer wall 24 is hanging from a lower end of the outer wall 24 and a second fitting strip 30 is defined by respective inner faces of the outer wall 24 and the longitudinal cylinder 33 as well as an outer face of the middle wall, and an upper part of the link cylinder 10 is fitted onto the inner face of the outer wall 24 in a manner that it can slide in a circumferential direction, and the second engagement strip 34 and the first engagement strip 11 are formed on a lower part of the link cylinder 10 and the longitudinal cylinder 33, so that they can engage with each other to lock the link cylinder 10.
In this aspect, the link cylinder of the mounting cap is divided into an upper part having an effect for sliding in a circumferential direction against the outer wall, and a lower part having an effect for a locking engagement with the longitudinal cylinder, so that each effect can be properly exerted. In a preferred embodiment in
The fourth aspect is based on the second aspect, and a diameter-enlarged cylinder 25 is hanging from the lower end of the outer wall 24 via an outward flange 25a; the second fitting strip 30 is defined by respective inner faces of the outer wall 24 and the diameter-enlarged cylinder 25 as well as the outer face of the middle wall 26; the link cylinder 10 is formed as a double cylinder comprising an inner cylinder 10A fitted onto the inner face of the outer wall 24 and an outer cylinder 10B fitted onto the inner face of the diameter-enlarged cylinder 25; and the second engagement strip 34 and the first engagement strip 11 are formed on the outer cylinder 10B and the diameter-enlarged cylinder 25, respectively, so that they can engage with each other to lock the link cylinder 10.
In this aspect, it is provided that the link cylinder is formed as a double cylinder comprising an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder. The inner cylinder and the outer cylinder are fitted into the guide ring, respectively, so that the mounting cap can be securely mounted on the guide ring.
The fifth aspect is based on the first aspect, and the double cylinder with the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder is hanging from the lower part of the outer wall 24 of the cover ring 16, and the second fitting strip 30 is formed in the double cylinder as a fitting groove defined by the inner faces of the double cylinder instead of being formed on the rear face of the top face 18 of the cover ring 16.
In this aspect, it is provided that the fitting groove as a second fitting strip is formed in the double cylinder hanging from the outer wall of the cover ring, as shown in
The sixth aspect is based on the first aspect, and the second fitting strip 30 is formed as a fitting convex strip downwardly extending from the lower part of the outer wall instead of being formed on the rear face of the top plate 18 of the cover ring 16.
In this aspect, it is provided that the second fitting strip is formed as a fitting convex strip downwardly extending from the lower part of the outer wall, as shown in
The seventh aspect is a discharge pump comprising a pump part module for mounting on a container body and a head part module according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the pump part module comprising:
In this aspect, as shown in
The following effect can be obtained by the invention according to the first aspect. Firstly, three parts of the discharge pump, i.e., the mounting cap, the cover ring and the push down head are modularized as a head part, so that the form of the head part can be designed independently from the structure of the pump. As a result, design can be readily changed and it is easy to produce correspondingly a variety of products in a small amount. Secondly, the mounting cap and the cover ring are linked by the link cylinder, so that modularization can be realized with a simple structure. Thirdly, the link cylinder can be rotated relative to the cover ring, so that the mounting cylinder can be readily mounted on the neck portion of the container while the link with the cover ring is retained.
In the invention according to the second aspect, the first engagement strip 11 and the second engagement strip 34 are circumferentially provided on the second fitting strip 30 and the link cylinder 10, respectively, so that removal of the link cylinder can be securely prevented.
In the invention according to the third aspect, the upper part of the link cylinder 10 is fitted onto the outer wall 24, so that it can slide in a circumferential direction, and thus, the cover ring can be stably rotated relative to the mounting cap 4.
In the invention according to the fourth aspect, the link cylinder 10 is formed as a double cylinder with inner and outer cylinders and fitted into the guide ring, so that the guide ring can be steadily mounted on the mounting cap.
In the invention according to the fifth aspect, the second fitting strip 30 is formed in the double cylinder hanging from the outer wall, so that the same effect as the first aspect can be obtained.
In the invention according to the sixth aspect, the second fitting strip 30 is formed as a fitting convex strip downwardly handing from the outer wall, so that the same effect as the first aspect can be obtained.
In the invention according to the seventh aspect, the pump part consisting of the pump cylinder and the tubular member in the pump mechanism is modularized to provide a function as a pump, so that the pump part module can be manufactured separately and a quality test can be performed. Thus, efforts required for manufacturing process is considerably reduced.
A head part module, a pump part module and a discharge pump formed by the both modules according to the first embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The link cylinder 10 of the mounting cap 6 is rotatably fitted into the second fitting strip 30. Since a close fit which is, for example, provided on the upper end of the pump cylinder is not necessary for the link cylinder, the link cylinder is inserted into the second fitting strip 30 only by a loose fit. In other words, the link cylinder 10 is loosely fitted onto one of the inner face or outer face (the outer face in the shown example) of the second fitting strip 30, and a gap is provided between the other face and the link cylinder 10, so that frictional resistance during rotating the mounting cylinder 6 relative to the cover ring 16 is small. In the preferred embodiment, an annular concave 35 is formed on the inner face of the longitudinal cylinder 33 below the lower end of the outer wall 24 to circumferentially provide a convex second engagement strip 34. A first engagement strip 11 is arranged in the concave 35 such that it can be rotated and moved up and down. The lower face of the first engagement strip 11 rests on the second engagement strip 34 to prevent disengagement of the link cylinder 10 from the second fitting strip. However, it is also possible to form the first engagement strip on the inner face of the link cylinder 10 and the second engagement strip on the outer face of the middle wall 26 (inner face of the second fitting strip 30), respectively.
Push down head 37 has an outer cylinder 40 hanging from an outer circumference of a top plate 38 and a first communication tube 42 hanging from a rear face of the top plate above the through hole, respectively, as well as a nozzle 44 forwardly projecting from a front wall of the outer cylinder 40 and communicated with the first communication tube 42. The lower part of the outer cylinder 40 is threaded with the outer face of the outer wall 24 of the cover ring 16. The downwardly projecting first communication tube 42 is fluid-tightly and slidably fitted into the through hole 20.
In the above embodiment, the mounting cap 4 is linked with the cover ring 16 via the link cylinder 10, and the cover ring 16 is fitted into the push down head 37 in the state shown in
The structure of the pump part module is shown in
The pump cylinder 52 has a suction tube 56 hanging from a lower end of the pump cylinder 52 and a collar 58 outwardly projecting from an upper part of the outer face of the pump cylinder for locking engagement with the upper end face of the neck portion of the container body. The upper end part 52a of the pump cylinder extends into the fitting part above the collar 58 as a fitting cylinder. A contact rib 60 is circumferentially provided on the outer face of the upper end part of the pump cylinder for pressure contact with a lower half 26a of the middle wall 26. A packing is arranged on the lower face of the collar 58 to form a sealing contact with the upper end part of the neck portion of the container body.
The tubular member 64 has a second communication tube 68 serving also as a stem and upwardly extending from a cylindrical piston 66. A spring is disposed between the piston 66 and the bottom part of the pump cylinder 52. A first upward step 70 and a second upward step 71 are provided circumferentially on a lower middle part of the second communication tube 68 and on the outer face of the upper part of the second communication tube 68, respectively. A discharge valve 72 is formed on an upper part of the second communication tube 68 The discharge valve in the shown example is a ball valve and is formed such that it moves between the valve seat and the traverse rib circumferentially provided on the inner face of the upper end of the tubular member 64.
In the present embodiment, the retaining means 76 is a retaining cylinder and comprises a locking piece 78 having a reverse L-shaped cross section projecting from the inner face of the cylinder body which is fitted onto the inner face of the upper part of the pump cylinder. The locking piece 78 is locked on the first upward step 70 of the tubular member 64, as shown in
In the above embodiment, the retaining member 76 prevents the tubular member 64 from being removed against spring force to modularize the pump cylinder 52 and the tubular member 64. Function of the pump can be checked in this modularized state.
If the lower face of the head part module 2 in
In order to mount the discharge pump on the container body, the mounting cylinder 6 is threaded onto the outer face of the neck portion N of the container body, as shown in an imaginary line in
In the present embodiment, the second fitting strip 30 as a fitting groove is formed beneath the outer wall 24. While the fitting groove should not be as deep as that of the first embodiment, it is sufficient if the link cylinder 10 is loosely linked with the cover ring 16 in a manner that the cover ring 16 is not disengaged from the mounting cap 4. The function of the link cylinder 10 can be also achieved in this embodiment, The link cylinder 10 is preferably clamped between the longitudinal cylinder 33 and the diameter-enlarged cylinder 25, so that it is not disengaged from the fitting strip groove.
In this embodiment, the link cylinder 10 is supported by the longitudinal cylinder 33 hanging from the outer wall. To this end, the longitudinal cylinder 33 is preferably formed thick enough to securely lock the link cylinder 10.
2 head part module
4 mounting cap
6 mounting cylinder
8 inward flange
8
a extended part
10 link cylinder
10A inner cylinder
10B outer cylinder
11 first engagement strip
16 cover ring
18 top plate
20 through hole
22 inner wall
24 outer wall
25 diameter enlarged cylinder
25
a outward flange
26 middle wall
26
a lower half of middle wall
26
b upper half of middle wall
28 first fitting strip
30 second fitting strip
30
a inner groove section
30
b outer groove section
32 additional wall
33 longitudinal wall
34 second engagement strip
35 concave
37 push down head
38 top plate
40 outer cylinder
42 first communication tube
44 nozzle
50 pump part module
52 pump cylinder
52
a upper end of pump cylinder
54 suction valve
56 suction tube
58 collar
60 contact rib
64 tubular member
66 piston
68 second communication tube
70 first upward step
71 second upward step
72 discharge valve
76 retaining means
78 locking piece
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2008-255669 | Sep 2008 | JP | national |
2009-156428 | Jun 2009 | JP | national |
2009-201098 | Aug 2009 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/JP2009/066808 | 9/28/2009 | WO | 00 | 12/13/2010 |