Dispenser for viscous products.

The invention relates to a dispenser for pasty products according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such dispensers are known as ambulatory reservoir in a variety of applications, including personal care, in medicine for the administration of drugs or in providing pasty food commercially.

According multiform is the embodiment of the dispenser used for the provision of the very different pasty materials, especially with respect to their immediate conveying and handling mechanism.

Conventional dispenser comprising a container and an on the upper side of the head piece, which contains a piston-conveying device and an actuator for this conveyor, but have the disadvantage of a relatively complicated design of this head piece, in particular with respect to the conveyor mechanism and its connection to an output channel for the pasty mass, so that the manufacturing and assembly costs for these parts are relative high and lead to more expensive of the donor, which affects its competitiveness to other, for example tube-shaped storage containers for pasty materials.

Such a dispenser is known eg from EP-A 0,084,638. This product is provided by a sealable means of a check valve output channel of the delivery piston, wherein the delivery piston forms the upper end of the product stock receiving, bottom-closed by a follower piston containing space.

Furthermore from US-PS 4485943 is a dispenser for liquid or pasty products are known in which an upper container opening, a head member is inserted, with a lower valve wall for defining a pumping chamber in which a feed piston is slidably received, with the piston by a arranged concentrically to a piston bearing spring is biased in an upper setting and the pumping chamber on the bottom side has a side opening with a flap valve, which leads to a laterally to the conveying piston assembly formed output channel. Such a dispenser is built up relatively complicated and therefore can not be produced in the desired, low-cost manner.

A dispenser of the type mentioned is known from JP-U-51-10134 (A2). Such a dispenser is limited to collapsible container and not comfortable in its operation in the desired manner. Also allows the arranged in the pump chamber return spring only a low utilization of the pump chamber volume.

A screwed onto a tube dispenser apparatus with a outside the pumping chamber arranged restoring spring which is arranged between two walls supported against a radial projection of the delivery piston, is known from JP-U-56-107341.

The invention has the object to improve a dispenser of the aforementioned type, such that at a relatively simple construction and low cost of installation, a precise and reliable, portioned dispensation of the product allows for easy handling of the dispenser.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1.

Fundamental to the achievable with this solution benefits in terms of an item arms, installation-friendly design is the construction of the headpiece of essentially two main parts, the hollow cylindrical member and slidably at this actuator cap, each of the main parts is designed multifunctional and is distinguished by a robust construction which ensures high reliability and long life of the dispenser. The actuator cap united in an integral design, the functions promoting the pasty product from the container, the guide of the product by an output channel to the outside as well as the actuation of the conveyor means and closes the container at the top thereof completely sealed to the outside. The hollow cylindrical part determines the available pumping chamber, thus significantly the flow rate per delivery stroke of the delivery piston is, as a sliding guide for the actuation cap effect, allows the support of a resetting device for the actuation cap and may in its connecting region with the container of the dispenser also a seat for a closure cap form of the dispenser. Here, it is also advantageously possible to the cylinder part, at least partially, in one piece to perform with the container, so that the assembly work in the manufacture of the dispenser is further reduced.

Taking into account the design of the check valve in the end face of the feed piston this can be cup-shaped configuration, in another embodiment in a simple manner and recorded by a catch connection on the tubular portion of the actuating cap.

In connection with an integral design of the valve body of the check valve of the delivery plunger may be formed in a simple manner in one piece on the relevant part of the tube section of the actuator cap of the delivery piston.

Further preferred designs for the installation of the output channel within and through the actuator cap itself, and the recording of the guide piston through the actuator cap, taking into account the simplest possible design of the check valve on the end face of the delivery piston are set out in claims 15 to 18th

The inventive design of the hollow cylindrical member meets all the requirements for both the sliding of the conveyor piston, as well as to the storage of the actuator cap and the return spring. allows a preferably integral design of the outer sleeve as approach the container for sliding and locking the actuator cap both a simple recording of the actuator cap restoring to its initial position return spring and also supports the planned reduction of the number of necessary items for the donor. In the remaining claims further preferred designs for the formation of the pump chamber on the one hand and for the mechanical mounting of the actuation cap on the other hand, specified.

The invention is illustrated below with reference to several embodiments and associated drawings. In these drawings:<dl id="dl0001"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>a longitudinal section of a dispenser according to a first embodiment of the invention,</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>a headpiece according to FIG. 1 in an enlarged representation,</dd><dt>Fig. 3</dt><dd>a longitudinal section through a head piece of the dispenser according to a second embodiment of the present invention,</dd><dt>Fig. 4</dt><dd>a longitudinal section through a headpiece of the dispenser of a third embodiment,</dd><dt>Fig. 5</dt><dd>a cross-section along the line II in Fig. 4, and</dd><dt>Fig. 6</dt><dd>a longitudinal section through a head piece of the dispenser according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.</dd></dl>

1 shows a first embodiment of the invention, first the main components of a dispenser 1 for pasty products, such as toothpaste, which main components of a cylindrical tube 2, an at this subsequent headpiece 3, a the donor final closure cap 4 and in the container gleitbeweglicher follower piston 5 are. The head piece 3 in turn consists of the hollow cylinder member 6 and the actuator cap 7. The individual parts of the dispenser 1 are made of spritzgußfähigem plastic, preferably of polyethylene or polypropylene, so that dispenser 1 is on the one hand easily, and on the other hand to influence the in the container 2 of the dispenser 1 filled paste mass through the material of the dispenser 1 is omitted. To provide the mass within the container 2 is used for the along the container inner wall gleitverschiebliche follower piston 5, by which the pasty mass is constantly held in the container 2 under the pressure of the ambient atmosphere, and is carried out in use of the dispenser 1, an emptying of the container 2 from the bottom upwards , In this way a very simple tracking of the pasty product within the container 2 is ensured up to a represented in the headpiece 3 conveyor unit of the dispenser 1 and at the output of the pasty product from the dispenser 1, a negative pressure inside the container 2 as well as an admission of Außenatmopshäre prevented to the container interior.

The hollow cylindrical part 6 of headpiece 3 is compared to a container casing, so that the whole dispenser 1 has a uniform cylindrical outer contour radially inwardly set back, wherein at the same time a seat is made for the closure cap 4 which can be mounted flush to the container second

The details of the first embodiment will be hereinafter with reference to Fig. 2 explained in more detail, which is an enlarged illustration of headpiece 3 of FIG. 1, including the cap 4 and reveals the details of this embodiment better.

As shown in FIG. 2, the container 2 has at its upper end on a shoulder 8, the peripheral surface of a seat surface for closure cap 4 forms a recess 9, which engages with an inner annular projection 10 upon closure of the dispenser 1 in this locking recess 9, so that the closure cap is recorded without gaps 4 aligned on the container the second At front of paragraph 8 is limited by a front wall 11, in the central one outlet opening 12 is excluded.

From the end wall 11 from extending axially in one piece an outer sleeve 13, which forms a basic element of the axially accreting to the container 2 hollow cylinder portion 6th The diameter of the outer sleeve 13 is smaller than that of container 2 to provide a sufficient radial space for receiving a sliding guide of the actuator cap 7 and to facilitate recording of the closure cap 4 in the axial extension of the container the second Forming an annular space 14 an inner sleeve 15 is inserted into the outer sleeve 13, which rests with its bottom surface on the end wall eleventh In the area of ​​its bottom surface, the inner sleeve 15 is provided with an external, circumferential annular shoulder 15a that radially corresponding to the width of the annular space and ensures a tight fit of the inner sleeve 15 in the outer sleeve. 13 The inner sleeve 15 has a cup-like shape, wherein in a central bottom region, a closing flap 16 is formed as a valve body, the 12 covers the end wall 11, the outlet opening and forming the valve body of a check valve formed in cooperation with the outlet opening 12th Preferably the closing flap 16 is partially cut out at its periphery from the ground material of the inner sleeve 15 and connected via a remaining web of material hingedly and pivotally connected to the remaining bottom portion of the inner sleeve 15 while maintaining a material relationship with the remaining bottom of the inner sleeve 15th This connection allows the closure flap 16 to pivot on one side, when a container internal pressure in the region of the outlet opening 12 is greater than a closing flap 16 above the prevailing pressure.

The outer sleeve 13 forms together with the inner sleeve 15 is a guide and holding means for actuator cap 7, which also forms the conveyor of the dispenser. 1

The actuator cap 7 has a generally cup-shaped configuration with a bottom portion 17 and an outer annular wall 18th Within the 17 wrapped by the annular wall 18 and the bottom portion of the interior of the actuator cap 7, this comprises a tubular section 19, which in turn consists of two sections, one arranged in the axial direction and a central piston-supporting pipe 20 and an adjoining the bottom portion of actuator cap 7 thereon, obtuse-angled manifold 21 is. At the piston support tube 20, a delivery piston 22 is included having an axially hineinerstreckenden in the actuator cap 7 hollow cylindrical projection 23 at the moment. The delivery plunger 22 is dimensioned in its outer diameter so that it is tightly guided slidably in the inner sleeve 15th

The outer sleeve 13 has an upper and a lower annular projection 25, 26, which form on its circumferential surface a sliding guide for the annular wall 18 of actuator cap 7 on the inside thereof. With a lower, inward-facing annular projection 27 of actuator cap 7, this is locked with the annular protrusion 25 of the outer sleeve 13 so that the actuator cap 7, but during use of the dispenser 1 is axially slidably held captive on the outer sleeve. 13

Through the sealed sliding of the delivery piston 22 in the inner sleeve 15, a pump chamber 24 is formed below an end face 28 of the delivery piston 22 in the direction of the flap 16, the size of the axial position or displacement of actuator cap 7 and thus of the delivery piston 22 depends. In an end face 29 of the delivery piston 22 an inlet opening 29 is provided which is covered by a closing flap 30 as a valve body in the piston interior. This closing flap 30 forms a swivel molded neck a valve sleeve inserted into the feed piston 22 and a valve body 31 of the inlet opening 29 associated non-return valve. The valve sleeve 31 is using the tubular cylinder projection 23 of the delivery piston 22 is inserted into this and the closing flap 29 is held in the bottom region of the valve sleeve 31 via a web of material hingedly thereto.

The delivery piston 22 is secured to the piston support tube 20 via a snap connection.

In the annular space 14 between the inner sleeve 15 and the outer sleeve 13 is provided as a return spring for actuator cap 7, a coil spring 32 is received, which is supported at one end on the outer annular shoulder of the inner sleeve 15 and on the other hand at the bottom of actuator cap 7 and this in the absence of an actuating force in the in Fig. 2 shown, holds by the annular projections 26 and 27 certain position.

The bottom portion 17 of actuator cap 7 forms on its outer side the actuating face, the actuating force for dispensing the pasty product engages on the vertically downward from the dispenser. 1 For this purpose, forms the tube section 19 an output channel 33rd

In order to avoid an adverse rectangular guide of the output channel 33, the bottom portion 17 of actuator cap 7 is designed in a substantially inclined to the longitudinal axis of the dispenser 1 level.

The dispenser 1 operates as follows: Assuming initially assumes that before a first actuation of dispenser 1, only the container 2 with the pasty mass is filled, takes place upon axial depression of actuator cap 7 by volume reduction of the pumping chamber 24, first a return stroke, that is, as a result the pressure rise upon depression of the delivery piston 22 in the pump chamber 24 pivots the closing cap 30 of the delivery piston 22 upward, so that the inlet opening 29 is released in the piston end surface 28 and air escapes from the pump chamber 24 through the dispensing channel 33 to the outside.

If subsequently the actuator cap 7 no longer burdened by an actuating force, slide the actuator cap 7 under the action of the return spring 23 back to its initial position upwards, wherein the pump chamber 24 increases again. The resulting vacuum in the pump chamber 24 to a hand out to the fact that the closing flap 30 of the delivery plunger 22 returns to its initial position and closes the entrance opening 29 and on the other hand, the closure flap is raised or pivoted 16 on the front wall 11 of the container 2 and the pasty product the container 2 can flow into the pump chamber 24 until a pressure equalization between the pumping chamber 24 and the interior of the container 2 is made, and the closing flap 16 is lowered again to the outlet opening 12 in the end wall eleventh Re-depression of the actuator cap 7 amplifies on the one hand the pressure on the closing flap 16 so that the pump chamber 24 is completely separated from the interior of the container 2 and on the other hand results in the removal of the closing flap 30 of the inlet opening 29 in the end face 28 of the delivery piston 22, so that the pasty product is pressed through the output channel 33, that is, through the piston carrier tube 20 and the manifold 21 to the outside.

The output product quantity thus determined by the extent of the piston movement, which promotes the product from the pump chamber 24 through the output channel 33rd Upon completion of the pressurization of the actuator cap 7 this returns again under the influence of the restoring coil spring 32 in its initial position, the resultant vacuum leads in the pump chamber 24 to close the piston side closing flap 30th This is supported by the up exploiting dividend yet in output channel 33 of the actuator cap 7 quantity of product is sucked back through the delivery channel 33 in the direction of the pump chamber 24 at a magnification of the volume of the pumping chamber 24 and not yet completely sealing closure flap 30th Simultaneously performs, as described above, the negative pressure in the pump chamber 24 to an opening of the product supply from the pumping chamber 24 severing closing flap 16, so that the product from the interior of Berälters 2 flows into the pump chamber 24 to this to fill again with the product and after pressure equalization, the closure flap 16 returns to its closed position on the bulkhead 11th

Of course, it is also possible 24 to fill before a first use of the dispenser 1, the pumping chamber also with the pasty product, so that instead of the first idle stroke immediately at the first depression of actuator cap 7, the paste product can be dispensed from the dispenser. 1

In further embodiments, variations in the structure of the actuator cap 7 or the inner and outer sleeve 15, 13 indicated, without causing the described conveying principle is abandoned. Always the paste material is displaced from the pumping chamber 24 through the discharge channel 33 outwards upon depression of actuator cap 7, while in the sliding recycling of actuator cap 7 pasty in its initial position Good is sucked from the Gutvorrat in the container 2 into the pumping chamber 24th The same parts as in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 are provided in the following 3 to 6 with the same reference numerals.

2 The embodiment of FIG. 3 differs from that of FIG. Only in that is omitted the use of a valve sleeve 31 in the feed piston 22 and instead formed in the inlet opening 29 at the end face 28 of the delivery plunger 22, a check valve by a closing body 30 is integrally molded as a hinged tab on the piston-supporting pipe 20 and bent at right angles. This will at the same time a reliable bias the closing body 30 in the closing direction, that is achieved for closing the entrance opening 29 in the end face 28 of the conveyor piston 22nd

Through the valve sleeve 31, the piston support tube 20 to brought close to an inner side of the piston end face, whereby the length of the hollow cylindrical projection 23 of the delivery piston 22 can be shortened.

Another embodiment shown in FIG. 4 and 5 differs from the previous by a modified mounting of the closure flap 30 of the check valve in the feed piston 22. Here, the piston support tube 20 a segment-reinforced wall portion 35, in which a longitudinal slot 36 is formed. In this a prismatic plastic shaft 37 is partially taken up, with the closure flap 30 is integrally connected and pivotable about a tab.

This solution enables a reliable and easy position fixing of the flap 30 via the inlet opening 29 of the delivery plunger 22nd

Figure 6 shows an embodiment of the dispenser 1, the further reduction of the number of individual parts of the head piece 3 achieved in that in the foregoing embodiments, separate from the outer sleeve 13 inner sleeve 15 is united now with this become an integral component of the feed sleeve 38, whose wall has a U-shaped cross-section, so that the coil spring 32 between an inner wall 39 and an outer wall is received and guided conveyor 40 of the sleeve 38th The end wall 11 has formed integrally on a sleeve projection 41, in which the delivery sleeve 38 is held by a press fit.

Also, the design and mounting of the delivery piston 22 to the piston support tube 20 is modified from that in Fig. 1 to 5 shown embodiments. In this case, the piston carrier tube 20 is provided at its front end with a lug 42, which has a larger diameter than the remainder of piston carrier tube 20 so that on the outer surface of the supporting tube 20, an undercut 43 is formed, while the inner surface of piston carrier tube 20 in this area a having waistband.

is on the inside of the projection 42, similar to Figure 2, in turn, a valve sleeve 31 was added, which is for one of the pivotal mounting of the closure flap 30 of the piston-side check valve and at the same time covering the inner collar of the piston support tube 20 so that the flow resistance for the pasty mass is not increased in this area of ​​the discharge channel 33rd

The delivery plunger 22 is designed so that the hollow cylindrical projection 23 forms an integral part of the piston sealing surface and with a front sealing lip of the delivery piston 22 to the inner wall 39 of the feed tube 38 slides.

With a locking ring 44 of the hollow cylindrical projection engages 23 around the neck 42 of the piston support tube 20 around and latched to the piston support tube 20 in the region of the undercut 43. In this way, the delivery piston can be pushed onto the neck 42 22 simple and safe form fit on the piston support tube 20 held, with a further delay of the delivery piston 22 through the valve sleeve 31 and the neck 42 is prevented.

This version has in addition to simple storage hardware required for the promotion of the pasty product to the actuator cap 7 has the advantage of further improved guidance stability for the operation sleeve 7 due to the increased piston sealing surface. The outer guidance of the actuating sleeve 7 is irrespective of in the same manner as in the foregoing embodiments achieved by the annular projections 25 and 26 which are formed in this case on the outer wall 40 of the conveying sleeve 38th

The closing cap 16 of the check valve at the top of the container 2 either forms a separate closure member or connected by a material lug with the inner wall 39 of the conveying sleeve 38th

A further simplification of this embodiment may be found that the outer projection 41 for receiving the feed tube 38 is omitted and instead the U-profiled conveying sleeve 38 is formed integrally with the end wall 11 of the container the second

The handling of the dispenser 1 is in this embodiment also improved in that the bottom portion 17 of actuator cap 7 to which the hand attack occurs for the actuation of the dispenser 1, comprises a double-sided, opposing outer slope so that an actuating finger carried out in the middle of the outer actuating surface and a reliable initiation of the operating force is secured in the actuator cap. 7

Also in this embodiment the dispenser operates in the manner described in connection with FIG. 2.

The feed piston 22 can be performed entirely in one piece with the piston support tube 20 further also, so that the hollow cylindrical projection 23 of the delivery plunger 22 may be omitted. In this case, the closure flap 30 is integrally and pivotally connected to the inside of the piston end face 28th In the context of the design according to the invention of the dispenser 1 also further modifications, for example, are possible in so far as the coil spring 32 can be designed as resilient plastic ring and an injection-molded part, as are the remaining components of the dispenser. 1 Modifications in the design of the check valves at the top of the container 2 and in the feed piston 22 can also be made a function of the consistency of the pasty product to be conveyed, respectively. The dispenser is everywhere applicable where it comes to the portioned delivery of pasty products, such as for medical applications, in cosmetics and personal care, in budgetary matters and on the issue of pasty foodstuffs.