Media dispenser

• US 6,250,509 B1
• Filed: 09/02/1999
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ing. Erich Pfeiffer GmbH (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ing. Erich Pfeiffer GmbH (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fuchs, Karl-Heinz
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bui, Thach H
• Application Number:
  US09/388,517
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 222/321.1, 222/321.2, 222/321.6, 222/321.7, 222/380, 222/420, 222/422
• US Class Current: 222/321.6
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/00444 with provision for filtering or cleaning the air flow drawn into the container
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0059 allowing operation in any orientation, e.g. for discharge in inverted position
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0064 Lift valves B05B11/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0072 A valve member forming part of an outlet opening
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0075 Two outlet valves being placed in a delivery conduit, one downstream the other
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1004 comprising a movable cylinder and a stationary piston
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1026 the piston being deformable and its deformation allowing opening of the outlet
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1053 combined with means, other than pressure, for automatically opening a valve during actuation; combined with means for automatically removing closures or covers from the discharge nozzle during actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/107 Gate valves; Sliding valves
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1074 located outside pump chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/2075 in which the stem is raised by the pressure of the contents and thereby opening the valve

Abstract

The dispenser orifice (13) may be closed off microbiologically tight by a valve plug (25) closing contrary to the direction of flow (11) and is opened against a spring (34) in the direction of flow (11). The medium gains access to the orifice (13) via throttling elements (22, 21, 49) so that it creeps practically non-pressurized to the attaching surface area (51) of a droplet former (50) where it accumulates into a droplet suspending in the upside-down position, as a result of which the medium contained in the dispenser (1) may be protected from germ contamination and the droplet may be simply administered to an eye or the like. Instead of being formed by a plunger pump (9) the delivery and compression chamber (15) may also be formed by a tube.

Claims

1. A dispenser for discharging a medium under pressure, comprising:

a base body (4, 4a, 5a);

a conveying chamber (15, 15a) disposed in the base body (4, 4a, 5a) for containing the medium under pressure, said conveying chamber (15, 15a) having an outlet passageway (55, 23a);

a discharge actuator (8, 8a) that is operable for initiating flow of the medium out of the conveying chamber;

an outlet duct (14, 14a) in communication with the outlet passageway (55, 23a) for receiving the medium from the conveying chamber (15,15a) and ending in a medium outlet (13, 13a), said outlet duct (14, 14a) determining a flow direction, and

a valve (20, 20a) closing said outlet duct (14, 14a), said valve having closing faces (27, 28, 27a, 28a) including a valve seat (28, 28a), said valve (20, 20a) including first and second valve bodies (25, 26;

25a, 26a), said valve including means for applying a stress (34, 34a) to hold said first valve body (25,25a) in a closed position, said first valve body (25,25a) being lifted off said valve seat (28, 28a) in response to movement of the fluid under pressure and counter to a closing stress, wherein when opening said valve, said first valve body (25, 25a) moves substantially in a same direction as said flow direction (11, 11a).

2. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said dispenser (1, 1a) includes said first valve body and another portion of said dispenser which together define external faces which are operationally freely accessible, said first valve body including a projection jutting over said external faces, said valve body (25, 25a) traversing said valve seat (28, 28a).

3. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said outlet duct (14, 14a) connects upstream to said output passageway (55, 23a), said conveying chamber being a pressure chamber (15, 15a), and outlet closure (23) being included and closing said output passageway (55, 23a), and said dispenser further comprising control means (30) for opening said outlet closure and thereafter open said valve (20, 20a).

4. The dispenser according to claim 3, wherein said valve (20, 20a ) opens at a lower pressure than said outlet closure (23, 23a).

5. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said valve seat (28, 28a) is substantially stationary relative to said base body (4, 4a, 5a), said first valve body (25, 25a) being unseatable from said valve seat in said flow direction (11, 11a) and towards said medium outlet (13, 13a).

6. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said first valve body (25, 25a) includes a seating face (27, 27a) contacting said valve seat (28, 28a), said valve seat being conical.

7. The dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising a control piston (31, 31a) which bounds a volumetrically variable control chamber (14) and wherein said valve (20, 20a) is driven by said control piston.

8. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said second valve body (26) is a component separate from and protruding beyond said base body (4).

9. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said second valve body (26, 26a) includes a housing (40, 40a) which encapsulates a control piston (31, 31a).

10. The dispenser according to claim 1 and further including a throttle (21, 22, 23;

21a, 22a, 23a) which defines a smallest passage cross-section of said outlet duct (14, 14a), wherein said throttle (21, 22, 23;

21a, 22a, 23a) is located upstream and spaced from said valve seat (28, 28a).

11. The dispenser according to claim 10, wherein said smallest passage cross-section is resiliently variable.

12. The dispenser according to claim 10, further including a control body (31, 31a) operationally displaceable substantially parallel to said first valve body (25, 25a), wherein said throttle (21, 22;

21a,22a ) is located between said control body (31, 31a) and said valve seat.

13. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein for assembling said first valve body (25, 25a) is inserted in said valve seat (28, 28a) counter said flow direction (11, 11a).

14. The dispenser according to claim 1, further including a discharge head (40) separate from said base body (4), wherein said discharge head (40) projecting inside and said discharge head in said flow direction (11), said base body (4) enveloping a duct closure (23) variably constricting said outlet duct (14).

15. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said valve seat (28, 28a) is operationally rigid.

16. The dispenser according to claim 1, further including a first chamber body (64, 62a) and a second chamber body (71, 66a) displaceable with respect to said first chamber body and bounding said conveying chamber (64, 62a), wherein said first chamber body and said second chamber body constrict said conveying chamber (15, 15a) while pressurizing the medium toward said medium outlet (13, 13a).

17. The dispenser according to claim 16, wherein said first chamber body (64) is a pump cylinder and said second chamber body (71) is a pump piston.

18. The dispenser according to claim 17, wherein said pump cylinder (64) is unitary with said base body (4) and said valve seat (28).

19. The dispenser according to claim 16, wherein said conveying chamber (15a) is bounded by a squeeze container including chamber walls (62a, 66a), said chamber walls.

20. The dispenser according to claim 19, wherein said valve seat (28a) and said chamber bodies (62a, 66a) are made in one part, said conveying chamber being a reservoir (6a) for storing the medium, said reservoir being internal volumerically larger than said outlet duct (14a) which holds the medium independent from a direction in which said dispenser is oriented.

21. The dispenser according to claim 1, further including a connector (86, 86b) for connecting said dispenser (1, 1b) to a reservoir (6, 6b) for the medium, wherein said valve seat (28) is operationally displaceable relative to said connector (86, 86b) for at least one of

pressurizing the medium, and

displacing said first valve member (25, 25b)

relative to said valve seat (28).

22. The dispenser according to claim 1, further including venting means (18, 18b) for venting a reservoir (6, 6b), wherein said venting means (18, 18b) include a venting duct (79, 81) traversing said dispenser (1) and bypassing said medium outlet (13, 13a).

23. The dispenser according to claim 22, wherein said venting means (18, 18b) include germicidal means (80, 80b).

24. The dispenser according to claim 22, wherein said venting duct (79, 81) includes a closure (24, 24b) which is openable.

25. The dispenser according to claim 1, further including a sealing flange (7) for sealingly connecting said dispenser (1) to a reservoir (6) for the medium, wherein a connector (86) is included for connecting said dispenser (1) to the reservoir (6), said sealing flange (7) being a component separate from said connector (36) and including a riser duct (17, 85) for the medium.

26. The dispenser according to claim 1, further including a reservoir (6a) for the medium, wherein said reservoir (6a) includes an entrance (7a) which is closeable, a control member (31a) being included and operating said valve (20a), said control member (31a) being assembled by being inserted through said entrance in said reservoir (6a).

27. The dispenser according to claim 1, further including a reservoir (6a) for the medium, wherein said reservoir (6a) includes a closeable entrance (7a) at an end remote from said medium outlet (13a), the medium being filled into said reservoir (6a) through said closeable entrance (7a).

28. The dispenser according to claim 1, further including a drop former (50, 50a) for presenting the medium in drop clusters, wherein means are included for adhering said drop clusters individually only to said drop former (50, 50a) which is a unitary component.

29. The dispenser according to claim 28, wherein said drop former (50, 50a) includes mutually remote end faces (27, 51) and a substantially annular edge (52) between said mutually remote end faces (27, 51).

30. A dispenser for discharging media comprising:

a base body (4;

4a, 5a);

a discharge actuator (8, 8a);

an outlet duct (14, 14a) supplied with the medium from an output (55, 23a) of a conveying chamber (15, 15a) and ending in a medium outlet (13, 13a), said outlet duct determining a flow direction (11, 11a);

means for supplying a fluid under pressure;

a valve (20, 20a) closing said outlet duct (14, 14a) at closing faces (27, 28, 27a, 28a) including a valve seat (28, 28a), said valve (20, 20a) including first and second valve bodies (25, 26;

25a, 26a), and

means for generating a closing stress, said first valve body (25, 25a) operationally assuming valve positions including a closed position and when in said closed position said first valve body (25, 25a) lifting off said valve seat (28, 28a) by being driven from the fluid under pressure counter to said closing stress (34, 34a),

wherein for assembling said first valve body (25, 25a), said first valve body (25, 25a) is inserted through said base body (4, 4a) toward said valve seat (28, 28a) counter said flow direction (11, 11a), said second valve body (26, 26a) including said valve seat (28, 28a), said valve seat (28, 28a) enveloping said first valve body (25, 25a), said base body (4;

4a, 5a) being traversed by said outlet duct (14, 14a) and said medium outlet (13, 13a).

31. A dispenser for discharging media comprising:

a base body (4;

4a, 5a);

a discharge actuator (8, 8a);

an outlet duct (14, 14a) supplied with the medium from an output (55, 23a) of a conveying chamber (15, 15a) and ending in a medium outlet (13, 13a), said outlet duct determining a flow direction (11, 11a);

means for supplying a fluid under pressure;

a valve (20, 20a) closing said outlet duct (14, 14a) at closing faces (27, 28, 27a, 28a) including a valve seat (28, 28a), said valve (20, 20a) including first and second valve bodies (25, 26;

25a, 26a), and

means for generating a closing stress, said first valve body (25, 25a) operationally assuming valve positions including a closed position and when in said closed position said first valve body (25, 25a) lifting off said valve seat (28, 28a) by being driven from the fluid under pressure counter to said closing stress (34, 34a),

wherein said dispenser (1, 1a) includes a first chamber body (62a) and a second chamber body (66a) displaceable with respect to said first chamber body and bounding said conveying chamber (15a) commonly with said first chamber body (62a), said first chamber body (62a) and said second chamber body (66a) constricting said conveying chamber (15a) while pressurizing the medium toward said medium outlet (13a), said conveying chamber (15a) being bounded by a squeeze container including chamber walls (62a, 66a), said chamber walls including said chamber bodies, said first valve body (25a) directly connecting to a valve stem (33a) slidingly displaceable within said base body (4a, 5a) and circumferentially entirely bounding said outlet duct (14a).

32. The dispenser according to claim 31, wherein said valve seat (28a) and said chamber bodies (62a, 66a) are commonly made in one part, said conveying chamber being a reservoir (6a) for storing the medium, said reservoir being internally volumetrically larger than said outlet duct (14a) which holds the medium independent from how said dispenser is oriented, said reservoir (6a) being closed with a reservoir bottom located remote from said medium outlet (13a) and directly connecting to said chamber bodies (62a, 66a).

33. A dispenser for discharging media comprising:

a base body (4;

4a, 5a);

a discharge actuator (8, 8a);

an outlet duct (14, 14a) supplied with the medium from an output (55, 23a) of a conveying chamber (15, 15a) and ending in a medium outlet (13, 13a), said outlet duct determining a flow direction (11, 11a);

means for supplying a fluid under pressure;

a valve (20, 20a) closing said outlet duct (14, 14a) at closing faces (27, 28, 27a, 28a) including a valve seat (28, 28a ), said valve (20, 20a) including valve bodies, namely first and second valve bodies (25, 26;

25a, 26a), and

means for generating a closing stress, said first valve body (25, 25a) operationally assuming valve positions including a closed position and when in said closed position said first valve body (25, 25a) lifting off said valve seat (28, 28a) by being driven from the fluid under pressure counter to said closing stress (34, 34a),

wherein said dispenser (1a) includes a reservoir (6a) for the medium, said reservoir (6a) including a bottom end facing away from said medium outlet (13a), said bottom end bounding an entrance (7a) which is closeable, a control member (31a) being included and operating said valve (20a), said control member (31a) being assembled by being inserted through said entrance and said reservoir (6a).

34. A dispenser for discharging media comprising:

a base body (4;

4a, 5a);

a discharge actuator (8, 8a);

an outlet duct (14, 14a) supplied with the medium from an output (55, 23a) of a conveying chamber (15, 15a) and ending in a medium outlet (13, 13a), said outlet duct determining a flow direction (11, 11a);

means for supplying a fluid under pressure;

a valve (20, 20a) closing said outlet duct (14, 14a) at closing faces (27, 28, 27a, 28a) including a valve seat (28, 28a), said valve (20, 20a) including valve bodies, namely first and second valve bodies (25, 26;

25a, 26a), and

means for generating a closing stress, said first valve body (25, 25a) operationally assuming valve positions including a closed position and when in said closed position said first valve body (25, 25a) lifting off said valve seat (28, 28a) by being driven from the fluid under pressure counter to said closing stress (34, 34a),

wherein said dispenser (1a) includes a reservoir (6a) for the medium, said reservoir (6a) including a closeable entrance (7a) at an end facing away from said medium outlet (13a), the medium being filled into said reservoir (6a) through said closeable entrance (7a), said closeable entrance (7a) and said medium outlet (13a) being commonly bounded in one part, after closing said closeable entrance being squashed flat.

35. A dispenser for discharging media comprising:

a base body (4;

4a, 5a);

a discharge actuator (8, 8a);

an outlet duct (14, 14a) supplied with the medium from an output (55, 23a) of a conveying chamber (15, 15a) and ending in a medium outlet (13, 13a), said outlet duct determining a flow direction (11, 11a);

means for supplying a fluid under pressure;

a valve (20, 20a) closing said outlet duct (14, 14a) at closing faces (27, 28, 27a, 28a) including a valve seat (28, 28a), said valve (20, 20a) including valve bodies, namely first and second valve bodies (25, 26;

25a, 26a), and

means for generating a closing stress, said first valve body (25, 25a) operationally assuming valve positions including a closed position and when in said closed position said first valve body (25, 25a) lifting off said valve seat (28, 28a) by being driven from the fluid under pressure counter to said closing stress (34, 34a),

wherein said dispenser (1, 1a) includes a drop former (50, 50a) for presenting the medium in drop clusters, means being included for adhering said drop clusters individually only to said drop former (50, 50a ) which is a unitary component separate from said base body (4;

4a, 5a), said base body bounding said medium outlet (13, 13a).

36. A dispenser for discharging media comprising:

a base body (4;

4a, 5a);

a discharge actuator (8, 8a);

an outlet duct (14, 14a) supplied with the medium from an output (55, 23a) of a conveying chamber (15, 15a) and ending in a medium outlet (13, 13a), said outlet duct determining a flow direction (11, 11a);

means for supplying a fluid under pressure;

a valve (20, 20a) closing said outlet duct (14, 14a) at closing faces (27, 28, 27a, 28a) including a valve seat (28, 28a), said valve (20, 20a) including valve bodies, namely first and second valve bodies (25, 26;

25a, 26a), and

means for generating a closing stress, said first valve body (25, 25a) operationally assuming valve positions including a closed position and when in said closed position said first valve body (25, 25a) lifting off said valve seat (28, 28a) by being driven from the fluid under pressure counter to said closing stress (34, 34a),

wherein said dispenser (1, 1a) includes a drop former (50, 50a) for presenting the medium in drop clusters, said drop former (50, 50a) including mutually remote end faces (27, 51) and a substantially annular edge (52) between said mutually remote end faces (27, 51).