JP7485541B2 - Pumps and pumped products - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a pump and a pump-type product for pumping liquid.

A conventional pump is known that includes a cylinder, a piston that is movable relative to the cylinder in the axial direction of the cylinder, a head that moves in conjunction with the piston, and a head movement limiting unit that limits the movement of the head relative to the cylinder in the axial direction of the cylinder (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the pump described in Patent Document 1, the restriction on the movement of the head relative to the cylinder in the axial direction by the head movement limiting unit is released by rotating the head in the circumferential direction of the cylinder relative to the head movement limiting unit.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-103703

However, in conventional pumps, the head can be rotated circumferentially relative to the head movement restricting portion with a relatively weak force, which creates the problem that the restriction on the head's movement relative to the cylinder in the axial direction of the cylinder may be accidentally released.

The present invention aims to provide a pump and a pump-type product that can reduce the possibility of accidentally releasing the restriction on the movement of the head relative to the cylinder in the axial direction of the cylinder.

The pump of the present invention is a pump including a cylinder, a piston that is movable relative to the cylinder in the axial direction of the cylinder, a head that moves in conjunction with the piston, and a head movement limiting part that limits the movement of the head relative to the cylinder in the axial direction, the restriction on the movement of the head relative to the cylinder in the axial direction by the head movement limiting part is released by rotating the head in the circumferential direction of the cylinder relative to the head movement limiting part, the head movement limiting part includes a head rotation limiting part that limits the rotation of the head relative to the head movement limiting part in the circumferential direction by contact with the head, the head includes a rotation limiting part contacting part whose rotation of the head relative to the head movement limiting part in the circumferential direction is limited by contact with the head rotation limiting part, and the pump is characterized in that at least one of the head rotation limiting part and the rotation limiting part contacting part protrudes in the axial direction, so that the rotation limiting part contacting part contacts the head rotation limiting part in the circumferential direction.

With this configuration, the pump of the present invention has at least one of the head movement limiting portion, which limits the rotation of the head relative to the head movement limiting portion in the circumferential direction of the cylinder by contact with the head, and the rotation limiting portion contact portion, which limits the rotation of the head relative to the head movement limiting portion in the circumferential direction of the cylinder by contact with the head rotation limiting portion, protruding in the axial direction of the cylinder. Therefore, since the rotation limiting portion contact portion comes into contact with the head rotation limiting portion in the circumferential direction of the cylinder, the head needs to be rotated in the circumferential direction of the cylinder with a relatively strong force against the head movement limiting portion in order to release the contact between the rotation limiting portion contact portion and the head rotation limiting portion, and as a result, the possibility of accidentally releasing the restriction on the movement of the head relative to the cylinder in the axial direction of the cylinder can be reduced.

The pump of the present invention includes a biasing portion that biases the piston against the cylinder in a first axial direction that is one of the axial directions, and the pump may satisfy at least one of the following: the head rotation limiting portion protrudes in a second axial direction that is the opposite direction of the first axial direction in the axial directions; and the rotation limiting portion contact portion protrudes in the first axial direction, so that the rotation limiting portion contact portion contacts the head rotation limiting portion in the circumferential direction.

With this configuration, the pump of the present invention satisfies at least one of the following conditions: the head rotation limiting portion protrudes in a second axial direction of the cylinder, which is the opposite direction of the first axial direction in which the biasing portion biases the piston relative to the cylinder, and the rotation limiting portion contact portion protrudes in the first axial direction. Therefore, the rotation limiting portion contact portion contacts the head rotation limiting portion in the circumferential direction of the cylinder. Therefore, the force with which the head is rotated in the circumferential direction of the cylinder relative to the head movement limiting portion, which is necessary to release the contact between the rotation limiting portion contact portion and the head rotation limiting portion, can be increased by the biasing force of the biasing portion. As a result, the possibility of accidentally releasing the restriction on the movement of the head relative to the cylinder in the axial direction of the cylinder can be further reduced.

The pump-type product of the present invention may include a pump and a container for storing the liquid delivered by the pump.

With this configuration, the pump type product of the present invention can reduce the possibility that the restriction on the movement of the head relative to the cylinder in the axial direction of the cylinder will be accidentally released, making it easier to handle when the movement of the head relative to the cylinder in the axial direction of the cylinder is restricted by the head movement restricting part.

The pump and pump-type product of the present invention can reduce the possibility of accidentally releasing the restriction on the movement of the head relative to the cylinder in the axial direction of the cylinder.

1 is a side view of a pump-type product according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the pump shown in FIG. 1 in a state in which the head is fixed to a head fixing portion. 2 is a front cross-sectional view of the pump shown in FIG. 1 in a state in which the head is fixed to a head fixing portion. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the pump shown in FIG. 1 in a state in which the head is not fixed to the head fixing portion. 2 is a front cross-sectional view of the pump shown in FIG. 1 in a state in which the head is not fixed to the head fixing portion. FIG. 2 is a side view of the head and the head fixing portion shown in FIG. 1 with a portion of the head in cross section. FIG. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 6. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the head when viewed in the direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 6. 7 is a plan view of the head fixing portion shown in FIG. 6. 8 is a side view of a part of the head and the head fixing portion in a state where a part of the head is in cross section in an example different from the example shown in FIG. 7 . FIG. 11 is a side view of a part of the head and the head fixing portion in a state where a part of the head is in cross section in an example different from the examples shown in FIGS. 7 and 10 . FIG.

Below, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, we will explain the configuration of the pump-type product in this embodiment.

Figure 1 is a side view of the pump product 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, the pump-type product 10 includes a container 20 for storing liquid, and a pump 100 that is fixed to the container 20 to pump the liquid stored in the container 20 to the outside of the container 20.

Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the pump 100 when the head 150 is fixed to the head fixing portion 160. Figure 3 is a front cross-sectional view of the pump 100 when the head 150 is fixed to the head fixing portion 160. Figure 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the pump 100 when the head 150 is not fixed to the head fixing portion 160. Figure 5 is a front cross-sectional view of the pump 100 when the head 150 is not fixed to the head fixing portion 160.

As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the pump 100 comprises a suction tube 110 for sucking in liquid stored in the container 20 (see Figure 1), a cylinder 120 to which the suction tube 110 is attached, a piston 130 housed in the cylinder 120 so as to be movable relative to the cylinder 120 in both directions indicated by arrow 100a and the direction indicated by arrow 100b, which is the opposite direction to the direction indicated by arrow 100a, i.e., in the axial direction of the cylinder 120, a coil spring 140 as a biasing part housed in the cylinder 120 and biasing the piston 130 in the direction indicated by arrow 100a relative to the cylinder 120, a head 150 to be pressed by a user, a head fixing part 160 as a head movement limiting part that fixes the head 150 to limit the movement of the head 150 relative to the cylinder 120 in the direction indicated by arrow 100a, and a cap 170 for fixing the pump 100 to the mouth of the container 20. The suction tube 110, cylinder 120, piston 130, head 150, head fixing part 160 and cap 170 are made of synthetic resin.

The head 150 is directly or indirectly connected to the piston 130 and moves in conjunction with the piston 130. The head 150 is formed with a discharge port 150a that discharges the liquid that has passed through the inside of the piston 130 to the outside of the pump 100. The head 150 is equipped with a cylindrical cap portion 151 that covers a part of the head fixing portion 160 when the head 150 is fixed to the head fixing portion 160, and a fixing protrusion portion 152 that is formed on the inner circumference of the cap portion 151 and protrudes in a direction approaching the central axis of the cap portion 151 in order to fix the head 150 to the head fixing portion 160.

Figure 6 is a side view of the head 150 and the head fixing part 160 with a portion of the head 150 in cross section. Figure 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 6. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the head 150 when observed in the direction indicated by arrow A in Figure 6. Figure 9 is a plan view of the head fixing part 160.

As shown in Figures 6 to 9, the end 151a of the cap portion 151 in the direction indicated by the arrow 100b is the portion that comes into contact with the head fixing portion 160 when the head 150 is fixed to the head fixing portion 160.

The fixing protrusion 152 includes an away movement limiting portion 152a that limits the movement of the head 150 in the direction indicated by the arrow 100a, that is, away from the cylinder 120 (see FIG. 2), by contacting the head fixing portion 160, an approach movement limiting portion 152b that limits the movement of the head 150 in the direction indicated by the arrow 100b, that is, approaching the cylinder 120, by contacting the head fixing portion 160, and a head fixing portion 152c that limits the rotation of the head 150 in the direction indicated by the arrow 100c, i.e., in the circumferential direction of the cylinder 120, by contacting the head fixing portion 160. It is provided with a rotation limiting portion 152c that limits the rotation by contacting the fixed portion 160, an inclined surface 152d that is formed on the end side in the direction indicated by the arrow 100c and is inclined so that the downstream portion in the direction indicated by the arrow 100a is inclined so that the downstream portion in the direction indicated by the arrow 100a is inclined so that the downstream portion in the direction indicated by the arrow 100c ...

The rotation limiting portion 152c limits the rotation of the head 150 relative to the head fixing portion 160 in the direction indicated by the arrow 100c by contacting with the rotation limiting portion 163b (described below) of the head fixing portion 160 as the head rotation limiting portion, and constitutes the rotation limiting portion contact portion of the present invention. The rotation limiting portion 152c protrudes in the direction indicated by the arrow 100a.

The head fixing part 160 includes a base part 161 having a cap part end contact part 161a that contacts the end part 151a of the cap part 151 when the head 150 is fixed to the head fixing part 160, a cylindrical capped part 162 that is covered by the cap part 151 when the head 150 is fixed to the head fixing part 160, and a fixing protrusion part 163 that is formed on the outer periphery of the capped part 162 and protrudes in a direction away from the central axis of the capped part 162 in order to fix the head 150 to the head fixing part 160.

The base portion 161 and the fixing protrusion portion 163 extend in the direction indicated by the arrow 100c and form a protrusion groove 160a into which the fixing protrusion portion 152 of the head 150 can be inserted.

The base portion 161 is provided with a near-direction movement limiting portion 161b that limits the movement of the fixing protrusion 152 in the direction indicated by the arrow 100b, in which the head 150 approaches the cylinder 120, by contacting the near-direction movement limiting portion 152b of the fixing protrusion 152.

The fixing protrusion 163 is positioned in a position that is covered by the cap portion 151 when the head 150 is fixed to the head fixing portion 160. The fixing protrusion 163 includes a moving away direction limiting portion 163a that limits the movement of the fixing protrusion 152 in the direction indicated by the arrow 100a, in which the head 150 moves away from the cylinder 120, by contacting the moving away direction limiting portion 152a of the fixing protrusion 152, a rotation limiting portion 163b that limits the rotation of the head 150 relative to the head fixing portion 160 in the direction indicated by the arrow 100c, i.e., in the circumferential direction of the cylinder 120, by contacting the rotation limiting portion 152c of the fixing protrusion 152, an inclined surface 163c formed on the end side in the direction indicated by the arrow 100d and inclined so as to be in the direction indicated by the arrow 100c as it becomes more downstream in the direction indicated by the arrow 100a, and an inclined surface 163d formed on the end side in the direction indicated by the arrow 100c and inclined so as to be in the direction indicated by the arrow 100c as it becomes more downstream in the direction indicated by the arrow 100a.

The rotation limiting portion 163b limits the rotation of the head 150 relative to the head fixing portion 160 in the direction indicated by the arrow 100c by contacting with the rotation limiting portion 152c of the head 150, and constitutes the head rotation limiting portion of the present invention. The rotation limiting portion 163b protrudes in the direction indicated by the arrow 100b.

Next, we will explain how to fix the head 150 using the head fixing unit 160.

Fixing of the head 150 by the head fixing part 160 is preferably performed in a state where there is no liquid inside the pump 100. For example, fixing of the head 150 by the head fixing part 160 is performed before the pump 100 is fixed to the container 20 in which liquid is stored.

The head 150 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow 100b relative to the head fixing part 160 while being rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 100d. At this time, the head 150 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow 100b relative to the head fixing part 160 against the biasing force of the coil spring 140.

When head 150 is moved in the direction indicated by arrow 100b relative to head fixing part 160 while being rotated in the direction indicated by arrow 100d, inclined surface 152d of head 150 comes into contact with inclined surface 163c of head fixing part 160, and inclined surface 152d of head 150 slides against inclined surface 163c of head fixing part 160, thereby guiding fixing protrusion 152 of head 150 into protrusion groove 160a of head fixing part 160.

When the fixing protrusion 152 of the head 150 is guided into the protrusion groove 160a of the head fixing part 160, the end 151a of the cap part 151 of the head 150 and the near direction movement limiting part 152b of the fixing protrusion 152 of the head 150 come into contact with the cap part end contact part 161a of the base part 161 of the head fixing part 160 and the near direction movement limiting part 161b of the base part 161 of the head fixing part 160, respectively, the head 150 cannot be moved in the direction indicated by the arrow 100b relative to the head fixing part 160.

When the end 151a of the cap portion 151 of the head 150 and the near-direction movement limiting portion 152b of the fixing protrusion 152 of the head 150 are in contact with the cap portion end contact portion 161a of the base portion 161 of the head fixing portion 160 and the near-direction movement limiting portion 161b of the base portion 161 of the head fixing portion 160, respectively, and the head 150 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 100d relative to the head fixing portion 160, the rotation limiting portion 152c of the head 150 contacts the head When the head 150 comes into contact with the rotation limiting portion 163b of the head fixing portion 160, the force that rotates the head 150 in the direction indicated by the arrow 100d relative to the head fixing portion 160 causes the fixing protrusion 152 of the head 150 and the fixing protrusion 163 of the head fixing portion 160 to push against each other and deform, so that the rotation limiting portion 152c of the head 150 passes between the near direction movement limiting portion 161b of the head fixing portion 160 and the rotation limiting portion 163b of the head fixing portion 160. Therefore, the pump 100 is in the state shown in Figures 2, 3, 6, and 7.

Next, we will explain how to release the head 150 from the head fixing unit 160.

The fixation of the head 150 by the head fixing portion 160 can be released, for example, by the user of the pump-type product 10.

When the head 150 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 100c relative to the head fixing part 160, if the rotation limiting part 152c of the head 150 comes into contact with the rotation limiting part 163b of the head fixing part 160, the force that rotates the head 150 in the direction indicated by the arrow 100c relative to the head fixing part 160 causes the fixing protrusion 152 of the head 150 and the fixing protrusion 163 of the head fixing part 160 to push against each other and deform, so that the rotation limiting part 152c of the head 150 passes between the near direction movement limiting part 161b of the head fixing part 160 and the rotation limiting part 163b of the head fixing part 160.

After the rotation limiting portion 152c of the head 150 passes between the near direction movement limiting portion 161b of the head fixing portion 160 and the rotation limiting portion 163b of the head fixing portion 160, when the head 150 is further rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 100c relative to the head fixing portion 160, the head 150 is biased in the direction indicated by the arrow 100a by the coil spring 140, so that the inclined surface 152e of the head 150 comes into contact with the inclined surface 163d of the head fixing portion 160, and the inclined surface 152e of the head 150 slides against the inclined surface 163d of the head fixing portion 160, so that the fixing protrusion 152 of the head 150 is guided to the outside of the protrusion groove 160a of the head fixing portion 160.

When the contact between the fixing protrusion 152 of the head 150 and the fixing protrusion 163 of the head fixing part 160 is released, the head 150 is biased in the direction indicated by the arrow 100a by the coil spring 140, so that the pump 100 is in the state shown in Figures 4 and 5.

In other words, the restriction on the movement of the head 150 relative to the cylinder 120 in the direction indicated by the arrow 100a by the head fixing part 160 is released by rotating the head 150 relative to the head fixing part 160 in the direction indicated by the arrow 100c.

As described above, in the pump 100, the rotation limiting portion 152c of the head 150 protrudes in the direction indicated by the arrow 100a, and the rotation limiting portion 163b of the head fixing portion 160 protrudes in the direction indicated by the arrow 100b. This causes the rotation limiting portion 152c to come into contact with the rotation limiting portion 163b in the direction indicated by the arrow 100c. In order to release the contact between the rotation limiting portion 152c and the rotation limiting portion 163b, the head 150 needs to be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 100c with a relatively strong force relative to the head fixing portion 160. As a result, the possibility of accidentally releasing the restriction on the movement of the head 150 relative to the cylinder 120 in the direction indicated by the arrow 100a can be reduced.

The pump type product 10 can reduce the possibility of accidentally releasing the restriction on the movement of the head 150 relative to the cylinder 120 in the direction indicated by the arrow 100a, and therefore can facilitate handling when the movement of the head 150 relative to the cylinder 120 in the direction indicated by the arrow 100a is restricted by the head fixing part 160 as shown in Figures 2, 3, 6 and 7.

In the present embodiment, the pump 100 has the rotation limiting portion 152c of the head 150 protruding in the direction indicated by the arrow 100a, but the rotation limiting portion of the head 150 may also protrude in the direction indicated by the arrow 100b. Similarly, in the present embodiment, the pump 100 has the rotation limiting portion 163b of the head fixing portion 160 protruding in the direction indicated by the arrow 100b, but the rotation limiting portion of the head fixing portion 160 may also protrude in the direction indicated by the arrow 100a. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the pump 100 may have a configuration in which the rotation limiting portion 152f of the head 150 protrudes in the direction indicated by the arrow 100b, and the rotation limiting portion 163e of the head fixing portion 160 protrudes in the direction indicated by the arrow 100c.

In the present embodiment, the pump 100 has both the rotation limiting portion 152c of the head 150 and the rotation limiting portion 163b of the head fixing portion 160 protruding in the axial direction of the cylinder 120, but it may also be configured such that only one of the rotation limiting portion 152c of the head 150 and the rotation limiting portion 163b of the head fixing portion 160 protrudes in the axial direction of the cylinder 120. For example, the pump 100 may be configured such that the rotation limiting portion 152g of the head 150 does not protrude in the axial direction of the cylinder 120, as shown in FIG. 11.

In the pump 100, the rotation limiting portion 152c of the head 150 protrudes in the direction indicated by the arrow 100a in which the coil spring 140 biases the piston 130 relative to the cylinder 120, and the rotation limiting portion 163b of the head fixing portion 160 protrudes in the direction indicated by the arrow 100b, which is the opposite direction to the direction indicated by the arrow 100a. This allows the rotation limiting portion 152c to come into contact with the rotation limiting portion 163b in the direction indicated by the arrow 100c. This increases the force with which the head 150 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 100c relative to the head fixing portion 160, which is necessary to release the contact between the rotation limiting portion 152c and the rotation limiting portion 163b, by the biasing force of the coil spring 140. As a result, the possibility of accidentally releasing the restriction on the movement of the head 150 relative to the cylinder 120 in the direction indicated by the arrow 100a can be further reduced.

In addition, even if the pump 100 satisfies only one of the conditions that the rotation limiting portion 152c of the head 150 protrudes in the direction indicated by arrow 100a and the rotation limiting portion 163b of the head fixing portion 160 protrudes in the direction indicated by arrow 100b, the effect of being able to increase the force with which the head 150 is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow 100c relative to the head fixing portion 160, which is necessary to release contact between the rotation limiting portion 152c and the rotation limiting portion 163b, can be obtained by the biasing force of the coil spring 140. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the pump 100 has a configuration in which the rotation limiting portion 163b of the head fixing portion 160 protrudes in the direction indicated by the arrow 100b, but the rotation limiting portion 152g of the head 150 does not protrude in the direction indicated by the arrow 100a. Even if this configuration is such that the force required to rotate the head 150 in the direction indicated by the arrow 100c relative to the head fixing portion 160 and release the contact between the rotation limiting portion 152g and the rotation limiting portion 163b can be increased by the biasing force of the coil spring 140.

10 Pump-type product 20 Container 100 Pump 100a Arrow (Arrow indicating the axial direction of the cylinder, Arrow indicating the first axial direction)
100b Arrows (arrow indicating the axial direction of the cylinder, arrow indicating the second axial direction)
100c Arrow (arrow indicating the circumferential direction of the cylinder)
120 Cylinder 130 Piston 140 Coil spring (biasing part)
150 Head 152c Rotation limiting portion (rotation limiting portion contact portion)
152f rotation limiting portion (rotation limiting portion contact portion)
152g Rotation limiting portion (rotation limiting portion contact portion)
160 Head fixing portion (head movement limiting portion)
163b Rotation limiting portion (head rotation limiting portion)
163e Rotation limiting unit (head rotation limiting unit)

Claims (3)

A cylinder and
a piston movable relative to the cylinder in an axial direction of the cylinder;
A head that moves in conjunction with the piston;
a head movement limiting portion that limits movement of the head relative to the cylinder in the axial direction ;
a biasing portion that biases the piston with respect to the cylinder in a first axial direction that is one of the axial directions;
A pump comprising:
the head is rotated in a circumferential direction of the cylinder relative to the head movement limiting portion, and the restriction on the movement of the head relative to the cylinder in the axial direction by the head movement limiting portion is released by the head being rotated in a circumferential direction of the cylinder relative to the head movement limiting portion;
the head movement limiting portion includes a head rotation limiting portion that limits rotation of the head relative to the head movement limiting portion in the circumferential direction by contacting the head,
the head includes a rotation limiting portion contact portion that limits rotation of the head relative to the head movement limiting portion in the circumferential direction by contact with the head rotation limiting portion,
In the pump, at least one of the head rotation limiting portion and the rotation limiting portion contact portion protrudes in the axial direction, so that the rotation limiting portion contact portion comes into contact with the head rotation limiting portion in the circumferential direction,
a pump comprising: a head and a head movement limiting portion which contact each other such that, when rotation of the head in the circumferential direction relative to the head movement limiting portion is limited by contact between the head rotation limiting portion and the rotation limiting portion contact portion in the circumferential direction, the head is urged against the head movement limiting portion in only the first axial direction of the first axial direction and the circumferential direction by the urging portion urging the piston against the cylinder in the first axial direction . 2. The pump according to claim 1, characterized in that the head rotation limiting portion protrudes in a second axial direction that is an opposite direction to the first axial direction among the axial directions, and the rotation limiting portion contact portion protrudes in the first axial direction, thereby causing the rotation limiting portion contact portion to come into contact with the head rotation limiting portion in the circumferential direction. A pump according to claim 1 or 2;
and a container for containing the liquid to be pumped by the pump.

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