EP0098939B1 - Spray or dosage pump - Google Patents

Abstract

The cylindrical pump housing (13) which may be screwed on top of a bottle carries a stack of discs (22) above which projects the piston rod (15) of the pump. A cylindrical skirt (17) forming a cap (11), extends downwards from a flat top with a central opening connected by a side outlet to a dispensing nozzle projecting radially outwards. When the cap is pressed, the contents of the bottle are forced upwards through the central opening and through the nozzle due to the pumping action. The cap can be rotated about its vertical axis to control the discharge. In one position, the bottom of the skirt is blocked by the top disc, so that it cannot be pushed down. By rotating the cap until a vertical rib (19) inside is aligned with grooves (20,23) on the vertical outside faces of the discs, the cap can be pushed down.

Description

The invention relates to a manually operable discharge pump for media, such as liquids, with a pump housing and a pump pusher which can be displaced relative to it and which, as a cap with a cap jacket, engages axially slidably over a ring part of a sleeve-shaped pump carrier, a projection on the inside of the cap jacket and on the outer circumference of the ring part and a stop shoulder are provided for this, which are adjustable relative to each other by relative rotation of the cap shell for the purpose of adjusting the pump stroke.

From FR-A-2 300 916 a discharge pump is known in which the stop shoulder is formed by a helical, continuous slope surface with a relatively steep slope, which is why an exact adjustment of the pump stroke is hardly possible and there is a risk that when the associated one hits Projection on the stop shoulder such a large torque is exerted on the pump handle that it rotates at the end of the set pump stroke and there is a larger than the desired pump stroke. It is also known to provide several circumferential axial grooves for the engagement of a projection, but in this case the pusher runs inside the ring part, which is why it has to carry the projection for engagement in the recesses on its outer circumference. Such a design has numerous disadvantages, especially with regard to the slight contamination of the depressions, which quickly leads to inaccurate stroke paths. The above projection is also a hindrance because it can easily get caught on it and, because of its exposure, it can easily be broken off or damaged so that its intended function can no longer be guaranteed.

The invention has for its object to provide a discharge pump of the type mentioned, in which each of the predetermined stroke distances of the pump lever can be set safely and precisely without the risk of self-adjustment, and in which the depressions are nevertheless protected within the cap shell, even with small dimensions, it should also be possible in a simple manner that only very low sliding friction forces act on the pump handle.

This object is achieved in a manually operated discharge pump of the type described at the outset according to the invention in that a plurality of axially offset stop shoulders are provided and are formed by end transverse surfaces of a plurality of axially groove-shaped depressions spaced apart from one another about the axis of rotation. A particular advantage of this solution also results from the fact that the sliding guide between the cap casing and the bellhousing does not have to take place through relatively large circumferential surfaces, but that it is sufficient if the protrusion (s) only run on the bottom surfaces of the depressions, so that there is very little sliding friction despite the play-free guidance. As a result, the design according to the invention is particularly suitable for discharge pumps which are of very small dimensions and are therefore quite sensitive to tilting when actuated.

A particularly safe and simple mounting of the pump pusher and simple manufacture of the discharge pump result if the depressions are provided on at least one ring part of the pump carrier and at least two rib-shaped projections on the cap jacket of the pump pusher.

According to a further feature of the invention, when the projection is in the rotational position, the actuation pusher is locked in a locking position against actuation in at least one of the recesses, so that inadvertent actuation of the pump pusher can be avoided in a simple manner.

Accidental pulling of the actuating button during the adjustment of its rotational position can be avoided in a simple manner in that the respective projection is guided in the direction of rotation on a circumferentially adjacent, also recessed peripheral surface, which is expediently slightly less deepened, so that the Guided by a slight contact pressure with a predetermined friction inhibition.

If the depressions form resilient rotary catches together with the respective projection, the respective pump stroke setting is determined by detent, which means that on the one hand it can be found easily and on the other hand it can hardly be adjusted accidentally.

A particularly simple handling of the discharge pump results if the pump pusher is arranged such that it can be rotated relative to the pump carrier and preferably the stop shoulder of the longest depression is formed by an outer ring shoulder of the associated ring part.

In a further embodiment of the invention, at least one projection cooperates with a recessed peripheral surface extending only over part of a circular circumference, from which the depressions originate and the two ends of which limit the rotary movement of the projection, in the region of one end of the peripheral surface a depression which releases the axial movement of the projection can be provided, so that on the one hand the rotational end positions of the pump pusher are precisely defined and on the other hand the rotational position in which the pump pusher is to be actuated axially can be easily found.

If the peripheral surface forms a catch for the projection in the locking position, then this is even better secured in the locking position.

By further training it is also possible in an advantageous manner that the projection in the locking position against pulling direction of the pusher engages securely in a recess, which is preferably formed at one end of the peripheral surface by the associated, designed as a circumferential groove, so that the Pump pusher in the locking position cannot be inadvertently pressed off by the discharge pump, even with greater loads.

Particularly when the discharge pump is intended for containers that can be refilled by the user, it is advantageous if a screw thread of the pump support for screwing onto a container and the arrangement of the peripheral surface are such that the projection is in the locking position when screwed on, so that an axial actuation of the pump pusher is blocked when screwing on.

To adjust the discharge pump, the ring part can also be rotatably mounted, preferably on the pump support, so that, in particular in the case of non-cylindrical containers, a certain preferred alignment of the pump pusher with respect to the container can essentially be maintained.

Above all, the last-mentioned design also makes it possible to provide axial recesses in the ring part, which is preferably rotatably mounted to a limited extent on the bellhousing, and in the region of the bellhousing adjacent to the pump lever, in which at least one inner projection of the in this area engaging pump trigger can run. The separate ring part is also advantageous for securing against actuation and / or against pulling off the pump pusher, because then the predetermined safety rotary position is independent of the position of the pump on the container of the actuation pusher, for example due to a thread, for example for packaging into a specific one Location can be rotated. This can be particularly important if both the container and the pump pusher have a non-rotationally symmetrical shape, for example a flat or square container is provided with a pump pusher with a lateral projection.

In all of the described embodiments, the projections or recesses, which should also be understood to include shoulders, steps, stop surfaces, etc., can be provided either on the pump lever or on the pump housing. Through at least partially undercut design of the projections or recesses, the pump pusher can be secured in a single predetermined rotational position both against being pulled off the pump piston rod and against its actuation, so that not only loss of the pump pusher, but also contamination of the outlet channel of the pump piston rod is ensured is avoided.

The discharge pump according to the invention is also particularly suitable for pharmaceutical products or for dispensing any flowable substances, such as liquid, gel-like or pasty media. With the discharge pump it is possible to dose very precisely and the metered quantity can also be sprayed out. Further advantages and features of the invention also emerge from the subclaims and the following description in conjunction with the drawings. The features of the subclaims are useful and advantageous individually or in combination with one another.

• Fig. 1 einen vertikalen Schnitt durch einen Pumpdrücker und einen Teil eines auf einen Behälter aufgeschraubten Pumpengehäuses,
• Fig. 2 eine entsprechende Darstellung der gleichen Ausführung in einer anderen Arbeitsstellung,
• Fig. 3 einen Schnitt nach der Linie 111-111 in Fig. 2,
• Fig. 4 eine teilgeschnittene Seitenansicht von Pumpdrücker und Pumpengehäuse einer anderen Ausführungsform,
• Fig. 5 eine perspektivische Ansicht der Unterkante eines Pumpdrückers mit darin eingeformten Nuten und Vorsprüngen,
• Fig. 6 eine von unten gesehene, teilgeschnittene Ansicht des Pumpdrückers nach Fig. 5 mit einem geschnittenen Teil des Pumpengehäuses und
• Fig. 7 einen senkrechten Teilschnitt durch Pumpdrücker und Pumpengehäuse einer weiteren Ausführungsform.

The drawings show:

• 1 shows a vertical section through a pump pusher and part of a pump housing screwed onto a container,
• 2 shows a corresponding representation of the same embodiment in a different working position,
• 3 shows a section along the line 111-111 in FIG. 2,
• 4 is a partially sectioned side view of the pump handle and pump housing of another embodiment,
• 5 is a perspective view of the lower edge of a pusher with grooves and projections molded therein;
• Fig. 6 is a partially sectioned view of the pump pusher according to Fig. 5 seen from below with a section of the pump housing and
• Fig. 7 is a vertical partial section through the pump handle and pump housing of a further embodiment.

1 to 3, a discharge pump 11 is shown, which is screwed onto a container 12. The discharge pump 11 has a pump housing 13 on which a pump cylinder (not shown), which partially protrudes into the container, is provided with a single-acting piston pump. A piston rod 15 of the pump protrudes upwards out of the pump housing and a pump pusher 14 is pressed onto it as an actuating pusher, said pusher 14 containing an outlet channel 27 which is connected to the outlet channel of the hollow piston rod and which, in an orifice tube, laterally over the rest, and vice versa Pot-shaped part protruding push button protrudes. The bottom of the pot is formed by the actuating pressure surface 16, which the user presses in the direction of arrow 28 to actuate the pump.

The cylindrical cap jacket 17 of the pump pusher 14 has four projections 19 in the form of axially extending ribs on its inner surface in the present example. While the cap jacket 17 is dimensioned in its inner diameter so that it extends over an upper cylindrical ring part 21 of the pump housing, the projections 19 are dimensioned such that they normally rest on a step 29 in the ring part 21. However, in the same arrangement as the ribs 19, four depressions 20 are provided in the ring part 21 in the form of longitudinal grooves which can accommodate the projections 19.

In an annular groove 24 of the pump housing, an annular part 22 of essentially L-shaped shape is axially immovable, but is rotatably mounted in the circumferential direction. The outer surface of its L-leg extending in the axial direction connects seamlessly to the ring part 21 and also has recesses 23 designed as axial grooves, which can be aligned with the recesses 20 by rotating the ring part 22 (see FIG. 1). On the outwardly projecting L-leg of the ring part 22 and the adjacent area of the pump housing 13, markings 25 are provided, the two positions of the ring part 22 correspond. In these positions, the ring part 22 can find the limit of its rotational position by any stops (not shown). It is also possible to assign resilient detents to the two positions.

The mode of operation of the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3 is as follows:

In the position shown in Fig. 1, the discharge pump is at full stroke (indicated by the mark "1"). The two depressions 20, 23 are aligned with one another. If the pump pusher 14 is now pressed down, the projection 19 runs in the aligned recesses 20, 23 and only comes to a stop at the lower stop shoulder 30 of the ring part 22. This corresponds to the full pump stroke.

In the position according to FIG. 2, half the stroke is set by rotating the ring part 22. The recesses 20 and 23 are not in alignment, so that the projection 19 can now only run through the recess 20 and then comes to rest on the upper end face 26 of the ring member 22. Fig. 3 also shows this position with mutually offset recesses 20, 23rd

It should also be noted that in this embodiment the pump can be completely blocked by turning the pump pusher 14 relative to the pump housing 13 so that the projections 19 rest on the step 29 when they are not aligned with the recesses 20. This is a securing position against unintentional activation of the pump.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment which enables adjustment in several stages, namely the stages 0, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 1 according to the markings 25a. For this purpose, a ring part 22a is provided, which has on its outer circumference a recess in the form of a recess 23a in the cylindrical wall of the ring part 22a, the lower surface of which rises in five steps as stop shoulders 26a. In Fig. 4, the pump is shown in the position "0", in which a projection 19a rests on the inner surface of the cylindrical shell of the pump pusher 14a at the highest level. At this stage, the recess 23a is overlapped by a web 31, so that the projection 19a in the 0 position secures the pump pusher 14a against any axial movement, both in the working direction and against the actuation pusher being pulled off.

In order to prevent the pump pusher from tilting, the same arrangement can be provided again on the opposite side.

When adjusted to any desired stroke value, the pump pusher 14a can be pushed down until the projection 19a rests on the corresponding stop shoulder 26a.

5 and 6, an embodiment is shown in which the pump pusher 14b has a system of recesses and webs in the region of a lower edge 32, which system cooperates with corresponding projections 19b on the pump housing 13 or an annular part mounted thereon.

The system of recesses is arranged on the inner circumference of the cap jacket 17b of the pump pusher 14b and consists of four identical system units. Each contains an axially extending recess 33 in the form of a slot, which is recessed in the inner wall of the cap jacket 17b and which is adjoined by a slightly less recessed peripheral surface 34 in the region of the lower edge 32. This is open towards the edge 32 and is only covered in its end remote from the recess 33 by a web 35 such that a channel-like groove is formed in this short area. In this area, a recess 36 is provided in the peripheral surface 34.

The total of four projections 19b are dimensioned in their width and depth in such a way that they can run in the peripheral surface 34 with slight contact pressure, while they can run in the recess 33, which is further deepened compared to the peripheral surface, without obstacle. The pump can be operated in the latter position. If, on the other hand, the pump pusher 14b is rotated in the rest position so that the projections 19b run in the peripheral surface 34, the pump is locked against actuation. When turning further to the end 37 or stop, the projections 19b run into the channel-like section of the peripheral surface 34, so that the pump pusher 14b is also secured against removal by the web 35. The recesses 36, together with the projections 19b, form catches which resiliently fix the pump pusher 14b in this position. The direction of rotation is selected so that when the pump, which is provided with a screw thread 42 (see FIG. 7), is screwed onto a container, the pump pusher automatically assumes this safety rotary position, which is shown in FIG. 6. This means that the pump is secured for transport as soon as it is placed on the container.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment which works with a pump trigger 14b according to FIGS. 5 and 6. In this case, the pump housing 13c contains the pump cylinder 38 as a separately inserted part. However, pump housing is generally understood to mean all parts of the pump that are fixed relative to the container or against which the pump pusher moves axially.

On the pump housing 13c, an annular part 22c is inserted in an annular edge recess 39 and is secured against axial movement by snapping an annular bead 40 into a corresponding groove and its rotation is braked in a controlled manner. On the outer periphery of the ring part 22c, which is flush with the outer periphery of the pump housing 13c, the four projections 19b are formed, which cooperate with the depressions 33 and the peripheral surfaces 34. The arrangement of this ring part 22c, which can be rotated against a certain resistance, makes it possible to turn the pump pusher 14b into any position and, from this basic position, to perform the functions of pump actuation, blocked actuation and locking position described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

This is important to e.g. B. to turn a muzzle tube 18 into a suitable position for transport and still secure the pump pusher 14b in the axial direction. Instead of the mouth tube, however, an atomizing nozzle or a generally different design of the pump lever could also be used.

Claims (12)

1. Manually operable discharge pump for media, such as liquids, with a pump casing (13) and a pump pusher (14) displaceable with respect thereto and which as a cap with a cap casing (17) engages in axially displaceable manner over a socket-like pump carrier, whereby on the inside of the cap casing (17) and on the outer circumference of ring part (21, 22) is provided a projection (19) and a stop shoulder (26, 30) for the same, which can be adjusted with respect to one another by relative rotation of the cap casing (17) for setting the pump stroke, characterised in that there are several axially displaced stop shoulders (26, 30) and by terminal transverse spaces are formed several spaced, axial slot-like depressions (20, 23) distributed about the rotation axis.

2. Discharge pump according to claim 1, characterised in that the depressions (20, 23) are provided on at least one ring part (21, 22) of pump carrier (13) and at least two rib-like projections (19) are provided on cap casing (17) of pump pusher (14).

3. Discharge pump according to claims 1 or 2, characterised in that when the projection is in the rotation position it is locked against operation in at least one of the depressions of the operating pusher in an arresting position.

4. Discharge pump according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the projection (19b) is guided in a somewhat less recessed circumferential surface (34), particularly with slight contact pressure and with a predetermined friction stoppage connected in the circumferential direction on the particular depression (33) in the rotation direction.

5. Discharge pump according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the depressions form resilient rotation catches together with the particular projection (19b).

6. Discharge pump according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the pump pusher is rotatably arranged with respect to the pump carrier and preferably the stop shoulder of the longest depression is formed by an outer ring shoulder (30) of the associated ring part (22).

7. Discharge pump according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one projection (19b) co-operates in the initial position of pump pusher (14b) with a recessed circumferential surface (34) extending over part of a circumference and from which emanate the depressions (33) and whose two ends (37) limit the rotary movement of projection (19b) and in that in the vicinity of one end of circumferential surface (34) is provided a depression (33) freeing the axial movement of the projection.

8. Discharge pump according to one of the claims 4 to 7, characterised in that the circumferential surface (34) forms a catch for projection (19b) in the arresting position.

9. Discharge pump according to one of the claims 3 to 8, characterised in that the projection (19b) engages in a recess (36) in the arresting position secured against the removal direction of pump pusher (14b) and is preferably formed on one end of the circumferential surface (34) by the associated depression (36) constructed as a circumferential slot.

10. Discharge pump according to one of the claims 3 to 9, characterised in that a screw-on thread of the pump carrier for screwing onto a container and the arrangement of the circumferential surface (34) are such that the projection (19b) is in the arresting position on screwing down.

11. Discharge pump according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the ring part (22) is rotatably mounted, preferably on pump carrier (13).

12. Discharge pump according to claim 11, characterised in that axial depressions (20, 23), which can be aligned, are provided on the ring part (22) mounted in preferably limitedly rotatable manner on pump carrier (13) and in the adjacent area (21) of pump carrier (13) in the direction of pump pusher (14) and into said depressions can run at least one inner projection (19) of the pump pusher (14) engaging in said area.

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