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EP4417540A1 - Accumulateur de pression pour distributeur de liquide et distributeur de liquide comprenant un tel accumulateur de pression - Google Patents

Accumulateur de pression pour distributeur de liquide et distributeur de liquide comprenant un tel accumulateur de pression Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4417540A1
EP4417540A1 EP23157038.3A EP23157038A EP4417540A1 EP 4417540 A1 EP4417540 A1 EP 4417540A1 EP 23157038 A EP23157038 A EP 23157038A EP 4417540 A1 EP4417540 A1 EP 4417540A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pressure accumulator
closure unit
outlet section
liquid
valve
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP23157038.3A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Jürgen Greiner-Perth
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Aptar Radolfzell GmbH
Original Assignee
Aptar Radolfzell GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Aptar Radolfzell GmbH filed Critical Aptar Radolfzell GmbH
Priority to EP23157038.3A priority Critical patent/EP4417540A1/fr
Priority to CN202480012721.6A priority patent/CN120693288A/zh
Priority to PCT/EP2024/051821 priority patent/WO2024170250A1/fr
Publication of EP4417540A1 publication Critical patent/EP4417540A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
    • B65D83/14—Containers for dispensing liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant
    • B65D83/44—Valves specially adapted for the discharge of contents; Regulating devices
    • B65D83/48—Lift valves, e.g. operated by push action
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
    • B65D83/14—Containers for dispensing liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant
    • B65D83/60—Containers for dispensing liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant with contents and propellant separated
    • B65D83/62—Containers for dispensing liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant with contents and propellant separated by membranes, bags or the like

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a pressure accumulator for holding pharmaceutical or cosmetic liquids and for use as part of a liquid dispenser.
  • the invention also relates to a liquid dispenser with a pressure accumulator.
  • Liquid dispensers of this type are used to dispense liquids, including highly viscous liquids and foam-forming liquids. They have a pressure reservoir, the contents of which are already under pressure when delivered and the contents of which can be dispensed using a manually operated outlet valve.
  • Such pressure reservoirs which in the past were mostly made from metal sheets, are usually provided with an outlet valve, which is attached in particular to a metal crimp cover of the pressure reservoir.
  • the outlet valve can usually be opened by pressing in a valve socket using a discharge head attached to the pressure reservoir, so that the outlet valve is thereby opened.
  • Locking units for pressure accumulators made of plastic are also known.
  • WO 2020/041792 A1 A plastic closure unit is already available, to which sealing material is applied using the 2K process, which serves to seal against a container neck.
  • closure unit which has a sleeve-like sealing part which is arranged between the closure unit and a container neck.
  • the object of the invention is to provide a pressure accumulator which is inexpensive to manufacture, which reliably maintains the pressure in the pressure accumulator and which can be advantageously recycled.
  • a pressure accumulator for holding pharmaceutical or cosmetic liquids is proposed, as well as a liquid dispenser which in particular comprises such a pressure accumulator as described below.
  • a pressure accumulator according to the invention has a container body made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), so that it can be recycled as part of conventional plastic recycling.
  • the container body has an outlet section, for example in the form of a tapered bottle neck, which opens into a container opening.
  • the container opening is closed by means of a closure unit which is placed on the outlet section mentioned and which is penetrated by an outlet channel.
  • the closure unit is preferably made entirely or almost entirely from plastic, preferably from plastics which can be fed into a uniform recycling process together with the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) of the container body.
  • the closure unit remains placed on the pressure accumulator during operation.
  • the closure unit has a switchable outlet valve, which can preferably be opened by pressing down a valve nozzle belonging to the closure unit or interacting with it. If the outlet valve is opened, the outlet channel penetrating the closure unit is released and liquid can exit the pressure accumulator, in particular to be guided into a discharge head and to its discharge opening.
  • the closure unit of the pressure accumulator together with the container body, defines an interior space which is under pressure when the pressure accumulator is delivered and contains the liquid to be discharged.
  • the liquid it is possible for the liquid to be located directly in the interior space formed by the inside of the container body and to rest against the inside of the container body.
  • a design with a liquid bag is preferred. This is attached tightly to the closure unit and contains the liquid.
  • a pressure medium is arranged between the outside of the bag and the inside of the container body. in particular a gas under pressure such as air. The pressure medium compresses the bag so that the liquid contained therein is also under pressure and can only flow out after the outlet valve is opened.
  • the closure unit has a circumferential coupling ring which is coupled to an outside of the outlet section of the container body.
  • the coupling can be carried out via a snap geometry on the coupling ring, but a screw connection with an external thread on the outlet section and a corresponding internal thread on the coupling ring or a bayonet connection with corresponding bayonet geometries on the outside of the outlet section and on the inside of the coupling ring are also possible.
  • the closure unit has an outwardly directed sealing lip within the outlet section, which rests with a distal contact area of the sealing lip on a preferably substantially cylindrical inner side of the outlet section.
  • This sealing lip forms the dividing line between the excess pressure of the interior of the pressure accumulator and an external atmosphere.
  • the invention provides a sealing lip that projects outward from the closure unit, more precisely from a central support structure of the closure unit.
  • the sealing lip is preferably designed as a flat sealing lip, the length of which from a support structure to the distal contact area is at least twice as large as a thickness of the sealing lip orthogonal to the length, preferably at least three times as large.
  • the length of the sealing lip from the support structure to its distal contact area is preferably at least 2 mm, preferably at least 3 mm.
  • the sealing lip rests with its distal contact area on the inner surface under slight pre-tension, regardless of the internal pressure in the pressure accumulator.
  • the sealing lip is arranged in such a way that it is additionally pressurized radially outward by an internal pressure in the pressure accumulator and is thereby pressed against the inside of the outlet section.
  • the sealing lip is preferably expanded radially by the internal pressure in the pressure accumulator and thereby stretched tangentially.
  • the sealing lip as a whole preferably has a conical shape and extends radially outwards from a support structure and axially away from the container opening.
  • the sealing lip In the relaxed state before assembly, the sealing lip, more precisely a connecting line between its connection point with the central support structure and its distal end, encloses an angle of at least 5% with an axial direction.
  • the sealing lip rests with its distal contact area on an inner surface of the outlet section, wherein this inner surface is preferably cylindrical or almost cylindrical over at least a partial length.
  • the inner surface is considered almost cylindrical if it runs over a length of at least 3 mm between two imaginary coaxial cylinders whose diameter does not differ by more than 10% of the said length of at least 3 mm.
  • the sealing of the container interior achieved by the sealing lip is not dependent on the precise position of the sealing lip due to the essentially cylindrical inner surface of the outlet section. Even if the coupling achieved by the coupling ring weakens as a result of relaxation of the plastic material and the closure unit is pushed outwards by the pressure in the container interior, the container interior remains sealed.
  • a snap connection is understood to be a positive connection that is achieved by the closure unit being pressed onto the outlet section, elastically deforming in the area of an undercut of the outlet section and then snapping back beyond the undercut as the pressing continues, so that the closure unit is then attached to the outlet section.
  • the container body preferably has at least one snap-in web on the outside of the outlet section, to which the coupling ring is snapped.
  • the snap-in bar is preferably designed all the way around. However, it can also be provided with interruptions.
  • a plurality of internal grid elevations are arranged on the coupling ring, which serve to snap into place with the undercuts mentioned.
  • several openings are preferably provided on the coupling ring, which facilitates the deflection of the grid elevations during coupling.
  • the grid elevations can be provided, for example, on a web that limits the above-mentioned openings at the bottom. It can also be provided that grid elevations are arranged on support arms that protrude into the openings provided on the coupling ring, preferably from the side or from below.
  • the screw thread formed in this way is associated with a reverse rotation lock, i.e. cooperating stops or locking elements on the side of the coupling ring and on the side of the outlet section, which allow the coupling ring to be screwed on, but subsequently prevent it from being completely unscrewed by contact with one another.
  • a reverse rotation lock i.e. cooperating stops or locking elements on the side of the coupling ring and on the side of the outlet section, which allow the coupling ring to be screwed on, but subsequently prevent it from being completely unscrewed by contact with one another.
  • Such a reverse rotation lock is preferably designed in such a way that it only allows unscrewing to an extent that the sealing lip remains in contact with the inside of the outlet section. Even if the coupling ring comes loose accidentally or a child tries to unscrew the closure unit, the seal of the pressure accumulator is maintained.
  • the screw connection is preferably designed in such a way that contact between the sealing lip and the inside of the outlet section is lost before the screw connection is completely loosened, i.e. before the internal thread and the external thread of the screw connection completely lose contact with each other. This ensures that the pressure loss takes place before the effect of the pressure can cause the closure unit to be thrown away in an uncontrolled manner. The risk of injury is thus significantly reduced.
  • the sealing lip is preferably attached to a substantially dimensionally stable support structure and extends circumferentially outwards from this.
  • the closure unit can have a one-piece inner component which has the sealing lip on the outside and which spans the inner region of the outlet section with the support structure, in which at least one opening is provided for forming an outlet channel.
  • the opening in the support structure preferably has a clear cross-section which is not more than 40% of the inner cross-sectional area of the outlet section in the region of the sealing lip, preferably not more than 20%.
  • the inner component mentioned is preferably made of a uniform material for the support structure and the sealing lip, in particular polyethylene (PE), preferably low-density polyethylene (LDPE) with a low melting point, which will be explained in more detail below.
  • PE polyethylene
  • LDPE low-density polyethylene
  • the inner component can take on other functions, as described below.
  • the pressure accumulator When the pressure accumulator is designed with a bag in which the liquid is stored before discharge, this bag is preferably attached to an intake pipe of the inner component, for example by means of a welded connection, as will also be described below.
  • the inner component preferably has two outward-facing collars.
  • a sealing collar forms the sealing lip already described.
  • a further collar extending outward from the support structure forms a support collar which is provided above the sealing collar and rests on a front-side support surface of the outlet section. By means of this support collar, the inner component is secured against falling into the interior of the pressure accumulator.
  • valve lip and the coupling ring are formed by a one-piece component.
  • the inner component described is directly connected in one piece to the coupling ring. If such a one-piece component forms both the coupling ring including the coupling geometry there and the sealing lip, it is advantageous if the component is made of polypropylene (PP).
  • a design is preferred in which, in addition to an inner component forming the sealing lip, a further structural component is provided as part of the closure unit, namely a one-piece fastening component on which the coupling ring is provided and by means of which the inner component is secured to the outlet section.
  • the inner component is preferably secured to the outlet section by a support collar of the inner component being held in a clamped manner between a front support surface of the outlet section and an inner clamping surface of the fastening component.
  • the fastening component therefore projects over the front surface of the outlet section and secures the support collar here.
  • the inner component and the fastening component are already directly connected to one another by means of a positively acting coupling device or by means of a non-positively acting coupling device.
  • Such a fixing of the two components to one another facilitates the joint handling of the inner component and the fastening component and possibly other parts of the closure unit as a pre-assembly unit.
  • the parts coupled in this way before final assembly can be attached together to the container body, with an assembly device preferably directly guiding the fastening component and thereby indirectly the inner component.
  • the coupling ring of the fastening component is provided with recesses or even openings on the inside, into which coupling cams on the outside of the inner component engage, so that a separation of the inner component and the fastening component is prevented by a positive fit.
  • the fastening component is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and thus preferably of a uniform material with the container body.
  • PET polyethylene terephthalate
  • the inner component together with the sealing lip is preferably made of a polyethylene material (PE), in particular a low-density polyethylene (LDPE).
  • PE polyethylene material
  • LDPE low-density polyethylene
  • low-density polyethylene is understood to mean a polyethylene with a density of less than 0.94 g/cm 3 .
  • PET has a density greater than that of water and thus sinks in water, while PE floats on the water.
  • the closure unit is the carrier of a switchable outlet valve that can be operated from the outside.
  • the closure unit can have a valve connector for this purpose, which is a permanent part of the closure unit and which opens the valve by a movement, in particular by pressing or tilting against a spring force.
  • an opening can also be provided in the closure unit through which a pin or valve connector that does not directly belong to the closure unit can be inserted and can thereby open the outlet valve.
  • a particularly preferred embodiment of the outlet valve provides that it has a valve body which is provided in a valve chamber between the inner component and the fastening component and is movable between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, this valve body seals an outlet channel which penetrates the closure unit. From the closed position, the sealing body can be elastically deflected so that the outlet channel can be opened and liquid can escape from the pressure accumulator.
  • the valve body has a recess surrounded by a sealing surface into which an external valve pin or valve socket belonging to the closure unit protrudes from the outside. If this valve pin is pressed down or tilted, it displaces the valve body via its end protruding into the recess, so that the sealing surface surrounding the recess loses contact with a counter valve surface and liquid can flow into the recess and from there outwards.
  • the valve body can in particular consist of a polyethylene material (PE), in particular of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), whereby high-density polyethylene in the sense of the invention is understood to mean a polyethylene with a density greater than or equal to 0.94 g/cm 3.
  • PET polyethylene terephthalate
  • valve body of the exhaust valve is preferably pressed towards the closed position by a valve return spring.
  • valve return spring is formed in one piece with the valve body and preferably from a uniform material.
  • a cage spring has proven to be particularly suitable as a valve return spring, particularly in the aforementioned one-piece configuration.
  • a cage spring is understood to be a spring with a cylindrical or conical outer surface, in the outer surface of which openings are provided. Between the openings, the outer surface forms a structure of webs that surround the openings. The aforementioned webs undergo bending deformation when the valve return spring is compressed.
  • the desired spring behavior can be precisely configured by designing the cross sections of the webs and the shape of the openings.
  • a cage spring of the type described is particularly advantageous if the spring is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
  • PET polyethylene terephthalate
  • PE Polyethylene material
  • PP polypropylene material
  • PE polyethylene
  • PET polyethylene terephthalate
  • the fastening component has a recess which is open in the direction of the inner component and which can be identical to the above-mentioned recess for the clamping coupling of the inner component and the fastening component.
  • the valve body is preferably arranged within the recess of the fastening component.
  • it preferably seals in a closed position of the outlet valve with a sealing element, in particular in the form of a flat sealing disk, which is arranged in the recess and is preferably clamped and sealed between the fastening component and the inner component protruding into the recess.
  • This or another designed sealing element in particular in the form of a sealing disk, is preferably provided between the inner component and the fastening component.
  • the sealing element is preferably made of an elastic material, in particular of a thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO), of polypropylene (PP) or of polyethylene (PE).
  • TPO thermoplastic polyolefin
  • PP polypropylene
  • PE polyethylene
  • This sealing element can perform one of the following functions, but preferably performs two or three of the following functions.
  • the sealing element can be in sealing contact with the inner component and the fastening component in an outer region, in particular it can be clamped between the two. This seals the outlet channel penetrating the closure unit to the outside and prevents liquid from penetrating into an intermediate region between the inner component and the fastening component.
  • the sealing element can provide a counter valve surface for contact with the sealing surface of the valve body.
  • the sealing element is preferably provided with an opening through which the outlet channel extends. On the outside of this central opening, a contact area is provided against which the valve body rests in the closed position and thereby blocks the outlet channel. If the valve body is displaced, the liquid can flow in from the outside and flow out through the opening or be directed into a connected discharge head.
  • the sealing element can be provided with an opening, the size of which is designed to ensure that an inner edge of the sealing element fits tightly against a valve nozzle arranged in the opening.
  • the sealing element thus ensures that escaping liquid does not escape on the outside of the valve nozzle, but simply flows through a channel provided in the valve nozzle.
  • the invention also relates, according to a second aspect of the invention, to a pressure accumulator whose special feature is the design of a liquid bag.
  • a pressure accumulator preferably has both the feature of the sealing lip described above and the design of the liquid bag described below.
  • the above-mentioned features apart from the sealing lip are also in a pressure accumulator according to this second aspect of the invention.
  • all other features of the pressure accumulator described in the context of the first aspect of the invention can also be advantageously implemented individually or in combination in a pressure accumulator according to this second aspect of the invention.
  • a pressure accumulator is equipped with a container body made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which has a container opening which is closed by a closure unit in the assembled state.
  • PET polyethylene terephthalate
  • the closure unit is preferably made completely or at least almost completely from plastic, in particular from PET and/or PE, in particular LDPE.
  • the special feature according to the second aspect of the invention lies in the design of the liquid bag, which is arranged inside the container body and serves to hold the liquid.
  • This bag is attached to a component of the closure unit by means of a welded connection, in particular to the inner component described above, which is provided with the sealing lip on the outside.
  • the liquid bag has a wall that consists of at least two layers, of which an innermost layer is integrally connected to the said component of the closure unit and in particular is welded so that the innermost layer forms an integral connection with the material of the component of the closure unit.
  • the said at least two layers are provided, which are made of material with different melting points.
  • An outer layer of the liquid bag has a higher melting point than the said innermost layer. This enables a welding process in which the innermost layer is indirectly melted as part of the coupling to the component of the closure unit by heating the outer layer, but does not yet reach its melting point. Instead, it transfers the heat to the innermost layer, which melts and forms the desired integral connection with the component of the closure unit.
  • the innermost layer therefore ensures that a tight and reliable connection is established between the component of the closure unit and the bag, while at least one outer layer ensures the tightness of the bag.
  • the liquid bag can also have more than two layers. However, a design that uses exactly two layers is preferred.
  • the walls of the bag are made of two layers of polyethylene (PE) with different melting points.
  • the innermost layer can be a layer of low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Its melting point is in the range of approximately 105°C.
  • An outer layer can be made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which usually has a melting point above 120°C.
  • the innermost layer is also made of polyethylene, in particular LDPE, while an outer layer of the bag is made of polypropylene (PP), which has a melting point of approximately 160°. Due to the comparatively high melting point of PP, the inner layer can also be made of a material with a melting point above 105°C, in particular a material above 120°C. HDPE can therefore also be considered as a material for the innermost layer.
  • polyethylene in particular LDPE
  • PP polypropylene
  • the component to which the bag is attached in particular the said inner component of the closure unit, preferably consists of a material whose melting point is below 160°C, in particular preferably of a material whose melting point is below 120°C.
  • Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is considered ideal.
  • a pressure accumulator according to the invention can preferably be processed in a uniform recycling process. This is achieved in particular by the fact that it consists exclusively of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and other materials with a density of ⁇ 1 g/cm 3 . It is particularly preferred that the pressure accumulator, including the closure unit, consists of at least 95% polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and/or polyethylene (PE) and/or polypropylene (PP). A small amount of contamination by materials with a density of ⁇ 1 g/cm 3 is acceptable.
  • PET polyethylene terephthalate
  • PE polyethylene
  • PP polypropylene
  • the invention also relates to a liquid dispenser for dispensing liquids such as cosmetic or pharmaceutical liquids including salt water, which has a pressure accumulator with a container body and a closure unit with an outlet valve and which additionally has a discharge head by means of which the outlet valve of the closure unit can be opened and liquid can be dispensed.
  • a liquid dispenser for dispensing liquids such as cosmetic or pharmaceutical liquids including salt water
  • the pressure accumulator can be designed in particular in the above-described inventive manner with a sealing lip and/or a two-layer bag.
  • a possible construction based on of such a pressure accumulator according to the invention provides that the discharge head is part of a discharge unit which has an interior space into which the pressure accumulator can be inserted. Depending on the design, this can ensure that the pressure accumulator can no longer be seen from the outside when the liquid dispenser is in an operational state.
  • a pressure accumulator is provided with a container body made of plastic and with a closure unit with an outlet valve made of plastic with a discharge head that is connected to the closure unit by means of a snap connection.
  • the pressure accumulator made of plastic forms an outer wall of the liquid reservoir, which can be seen from the outside in a similar way to the sheet metal containers commonly used today and is preferably provided with a label.
  • the closure unit is not only designed to close the container body of the pressure accumulator, but also simultaneously forms a support for attaching the discharge head.
  • the discharge head is preferably also made entirely of plastic, in particular polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE).
  • PP polypropylene
  • PE polyethylene
  • the discharge head can be designed in one piece or consist of several components.
  • the discharge head is attached here using a snap connection.
  • the discharge head which is preferably also made entirely of plastic, has an inward-facing coupling structure on its side facing the pressure accumulator, which is partially deflected outwards when snapped onto the closure unit and then snaps into place with the closure unit.
  • other coupling methods such as a threaded connection are also possible.
  • a structure of the liquid dispenser with a plastic closure unit that supports a discharge head allows a structure similar to that of known liquid dispensers with sheet metal containers.
  • the container is closed on the outlet side by a metallic crimp lid, the outer edge of which is used to attach the discharge head.
  • the design proposed here also replicates this for plastic pressure accumulators in that the plastic closure unit, in particular its fastening component, is used as a carrier instead of the crimp lid.
  • the closure unit preferably has an outer diameter that allows the coupling of a discharge head, which can also be coupled in the same configuration with a crimp lid of a metallic pressure accumulator.
  • an external snap-on collar is preferably provided on the closure unit, which can in particular be provided on the fastening unit of the closure unit.
  • the snap-on collar preferably has an external diameter of between 30 mm and 35 mm, in particular preferably between 32 mm and 33 mm.
  • the snap-in collar is a circumferential snap-in collar.
  • the snap-in collar in the form of individual collar sections spaced apart from one another.
  • the coupling structure on the discharge head which interacts with the snap-in collar is provided on a base of the discharge head, in particular in the form of an inwardly directed snap geometry on a housing part of the discharge head which is pushed onto the closure unit in a sleeve-like manner.
  • the discharge head preferably has an actuating surface for the purpose of opening the outlet valve of the pressure accumulator.
  • this actuating surface is preferably formed in one piece with the snap geometry mentioned, the mobility of the actuating surface relative to the snap geometry being achieved by the deformability of the plastic material of the discharge head.
  • the discharge head is preferably provided with a valve nozzle which has an inner channel which creates the connection to a discharge opening of the discharge head.
  • This valve nozzle interacts with the outlet valve of the pressure accumulator, so that actuation of the actuating surface leads to opening of the outlet valve.
  • the valve nozzle preferably extends into an opening of the fastening component of the closure unit and acts there directly on the valve body.
  • the valve nozzle preferably extends into the recess in the valve body described above.
  • Fig.1 shows a liquid dispenser 10 which is intended for dispensing a liquid.
  • the liquid dispenser 10 has a pressure reservoir 30 for receiving the liquid and a dispensing head 100 for manually operating the liquid dispenser 10 and for dispensing the liquid, depending on the specific design of the dispensing head in liquid form, in foamed form or in sprayed form.
  • the liquid can be a liquid from the area of personal care and cosmetics, such as a deodorant or the like. However, it can also be a medication that is intended for oral or topical application, for example. This also includes liquids that are to be inhaled in nebulized form, such as salt water to relieve breathing difficulties. Furthermore, a pressure reservoir of the type described below can also be used to store liquid stimulants, for example to store liquids containing nicotine.
  • the liquid dispenser according to Fig.1 is made entirely or almost entirely of plastic.
  • the visible container body 40 is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
  • Fig.2 shows a first variant of the liquid dispenser 10 in a sectional view, in which Fig.2 the lower part of the container body 40 and the Fig.1 The protective cap shown is not shown.
  • the pressure accumulator 30 comprises a closure unit 50 which is attached to an outlet section 44 of the container body 40.
  • the individual components of the closure unit 50 are shown in Fig.3 shown again.
  • the main components of the closure unit 50 are an inner component 60 and a fastening component 70. Together with a valve component 82 and a sealing element 86, they form the four parts of the closure unit 50.
  • a valve component 82 and a sealing element 86 they form the four parts of the closure unit 50.
  • the inner component 60 and the fastening component 70 are realized as a common component and/or in which the valve component 82 is divided into two components, the design of the closure unit 50 from a total of four components 60, 70, 82, 86 is considered to be optimal.
  • the inner component 60 is made of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and is therefore made of a comparatively soft material, but in the majority of its sections it has a wall thickness that prevents any significant deformation. These sections include a central support structure 63, which defines, among other things, an intake pipe 65 penetrated by an outlet channel 66 and an upwardly pointing cylindrical coupling section 67.
  • the inner component 60 is designed to be thinner-walled towards the outside, whereby this applies to an external support collar 64 and in particular to a sealing collar arranged below the support collar, which forms a sealing lip 62.
  • the sealing lip 62 and the support collar 64 protrude outwards in the form of two extensions in a Y-like manner with respect to the cross-section.
  • the sealing lip can be easily deformed due to the choice of material, the LDPE, and its thin-walled design.
  • the support collar 64 rests in the assembled state on a front support surface 44C of the outlet section 44 of the container body 40.
  • the sealing lip 62 rests simultaneously with a distal contact area 62A on a cylindrical inner surface 44A of the outlet section 44.
  • the sealing lip 62 is arranged in such a way that the pressure prevailing in the container body can press from the inside against its relatively long inner side and thereby presses the sealing lip 62 and in particular its contact area 62A against the inner surface 44A.
  • Fig.3 shows, the sealing lip 62 is still When not assembled, the shaft is slightly conical. When assembled, the Fig.2 It therefore presses its distal contact area 62A against the inner surface 44A.
  • the cylindrical inner surface 44A preferably has a length in the axial direction 2 of at least 3 mm. In the present case, its length is 5 mm. It ensures that the sealing of the interior of the container body 40 is ensured even if the closure unit 50 is not in its desired position in axial terms. It has been found that such a deviation from the desired position is hardly avoidable if the container body 40 and the coupling ring 72 are made of plastic, especially not in the case of long storage times under pressure. In such a case, the plastic of the container body 40 and the coupling ring 72 can relax under the pressure and thus cause a continued displacement of the closure unit 50 in axial terms away from the container body 40.
  • the sealing lip 62 described prevents leaks even in such a situation over a long period of time.
  • the second structural component of the closure unit 50 is provided for permanently fastening the inner component 60 to the outlet section 44 of the container body 40.
  • This is preferably a component made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
  • the fastening component 70 has a coupling ring 72 which, in the assembled state, is arranged outside the outlet section 44 and has an inner coupling geometry which cooperates in a coupling manner with an outer side 44B of the outlet section 44.
  • the coupling ring is provided with locking projections 74A, which interact with a circumferential snap-fit web 46 on the outlet section 44 to produce a snap-fit connection. This will be explained below.
  • the fastening component 70 extends inward from the coupling ring 72 and forms a cover surface which is centrally penetrated by the outlet channel 76. Part of this cover surface is a clamping surface 75 which is arranged above the support surface 44C and thus presses the support collar 64 of the inner component 60 against the support surface 44C and thus secures the inner component 60.
  • the valve component 82 comprises a valve body 84 and a valve return spring 88.
  • the valve component 82 is a one-piece component, preferably made of high density polyethylene (HDPE) or made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
  • HDPE high density polyethylene
  • PET polyethylene terephthalate
  • the valve return spring 88 rests with its lower end on a constriction of the outlet channel 66 and thereby presses the valve body 84 upwards.
  • the valve return spring 88 is designed as a cage spring. It therefore has an envelope wall which is provided with openings which are circumferentially surrounded by the material of the valve return spring 88.
  • the valve return spring 88 is made up of a number of ring segments which are connected to one another by axial webs which are offset from one another.
  • a sealing element 86 is arranged between the inner component 60 and the fastening component 70. It is a perforated sealing disc, which is preferably made of a thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO).
  • TPO thermoplastic polyolefin
  • This sealing element 68 takes on several functions: The sealing element 86 is in the assembled state of the Fig.2 at the bottom of a downwardly open cylindrical recess 77 of the fastening component and is fixed here from below by the aforementioned cylindrical coupling section 67 of the inner component 60. With this arrangement, the sealing element 86 prevents liquid from entering an external space between the fastening component 70 and the inner component 60. Furthermore, the sealing element 86 also forms the annular contact surface against which the valve body 84 rests when it is pressed into its closed position by the valve return spring 88. How the outlet valve 80 is opened and what advantageous effect this has due to the sealing element 68 will be explained below.
  • the aforementioned cylindrical elements of the cylindrical coupling section 67 of the inner component and the cylindrical recess 77 of the fastening component 70 fulfill another function in addition to the common delimitation of the valve chamber.
  • the fastening component 70 and the inner component 60 form a structural unit that is assembled together even before the closure unit 50 is mounted on the container body 40.
  • the coupling section 67 and the recess 77 are designed to form a preliminary coupling, in particular by a slight oversize on the coupling section 67, by means of which a clamping connection with the recess 77 is created.
  • the coupling section 67 and the recess 77 together ensure a centering of the inner component 60, so that the necessarily centered attachment of the fastening component 70 to the outlet section 44 also indirectly centers the inner component 60.
  • the Fig. 5 and 6 show alternative designs of the fastening component 70 and in particular of the coupling ring 72.
  • a total of eight openings 72B are provided in the coupling ring 72, whereby, in contrast to the previously described design, support arms 72C are provided here which extend into the openings 72B and at the distal end of which the grid elevation 72A is provided on the inside.
  • openings 72B and support arms 72C with internal grid elevations 72A are provided, whereby the support arms 72C in this case protrude from below into the openings 72B.
  • the openings 72B allow for the design of the Fig. 4 to 6 in each case primarily the attachment of the inner grid elevations 72A in a manner in which the deflectability is ensured and, in particular, can be specifically adjusted by the size and shape of the openings 72B and the design of the support arms 72C, even in the case of an otherwise thick-walled coupling ring 72. However, they can also take on an additional function in that the inner component 60 has external cams that extend into the openings 72B. In this case, a pre-assembly coupling is possible via this as an alternative or in addition to the pre-assembly coupling of the coupling section 67 and the recess 77.
  • Fig.7 shows an alternative construction to that of the Fig.2 Unless otherwise stated below, the construction methods are otherwise identical.
  • the coupling ring 72 is not designed to snap into the container body 40, but rather to produce a threaded connection.
  • An external thread 48 is therefore provided on the outside 44B of the outlet section 44.
  • an internal thread 78 is provided on the inside of the coupling ring.
  • a reverse rotation lock is provided.
  • This comprises a locking element 49 on the container body 40 and a corresponding locking element 79 on the coupling ring 72. If the closure unit 50 is screwed onto the container body 40, the locking elements 49, 79 slide past each other under elastic designs, but then prevent reverse rotation due to their shape.
  • the sealing lip 62 and the inner surface 44A of the outlet section 44 are adapted to the reverse rotation lock in such a way that at least unscrewing until the reverse rotation lock engages does not lead to a spacing of the sealing lip 62 from the inner surface 44A and thus the tightness is maintained.
  • the inner surface 44A of the outlet section is provided with a bevel so that contact between the sealing lip 62 and the inner surface 44A is lost when the closure unit 50 is unscrewed.
  • This bevel is dimensioned in such a way that the loss of contact and thus the loss of pressure occurs before the internal thread 78 and the external thread 48 become disengaged. If the closure unit 50 is unscrewed in an improper manner, this does not entail the risk of the closure unit 50 being thrown away under the effect of the pressure, thus creating a risk of injury.
  • the described closure units 50 can be designed with a riser pipe which extends to a bottom of the container body. In such a case, the liquid and a gas under pressure are not separated from one another in the container body 40.
  • An alternative design provides for a drag piston to be provided in the container body, which acts on the liquid by means of a spring means and thereby permanently maintains the liquid pressure.
  • a liquid bag 90 is provided within the container body 40, which contains the liquid and which is connected to the outlet channel 66 of the inner component 60. This is shown in Fig.8 In a space between the outside of the There is a gas under excess pressure between the liquid bag 90 and the inside of the container body 40, which puts the liquid bag 90 and the liquid contained therein under pressure and thus presses it in the direction of the closure unit 50 and the outlet valve 80.
  • the bag 90 is designed in two layers here, although designs with additional layers are also possible. It is important, however, that at least two layers 90A, 90B are provided, which consist of materials with different melting points, with the innermost layer 92A having a lower melting point than at least one outer layer 92B.
  • the inner layer can, for example, consist of LDPE with a melting point of approximately 105°C, while the outer layer consists of HDPE with a melting point of 125°C.
  • the inner layer could consist of HDPE or LDPE, while the outer layer consists of polypropylene (PP) with a melting point of 160°C.
  • a design with an inner layer 92A with a comparatively low melting point enables an advantageous attachment to the inner component 60, which in the Fig. 9 to 11 is shown.
  • the two-layer liquid bag 90 is first pushed onto the intake pipe 65 of the inner component 60. This is shown in Fig.9 to recognize.
  • welding jaws 200 are moved to the suction pipe 65 with the liquid bag 90 pushed on, as in Fig.10 is shown.
  • the liquid bag 90 is then heated in the area of the intake pipe 65 by means of these welding jaws 200, the temperature remaining below the melting temperature of the outer layer 92B, ideally even below the softening temperature. At the same time, the temperature is high enough to melt the inner layer 92A.
  • an inner layer 92A made of LDPE, an intake pipe made of LDPE and an outer layer made of PP with a temperature of 110°C it could be achieved that the inner layer and the Intake pipe 65 melts, while the polypropylene of the outer layer is not or hardly brought into the range of its softening temperature and does not run the risk of being heated to such an extent that the subsequent tightness of the bag 90 is threatened.
  • FIG. 11 shows the intake pipe 65 and the inner layer 92A of the bag are brought into a material-locking connection by the welding jaws 200, thereby creating a long-term secure and tight connection.
  • the liquid dispenser 10 has a discharge head 100 in addition to the pressure reservoir 30. Referring in particular to the Fig. 2 and 7 its operation and in particular its attachment to the pressure accumulator 30 is explained.
  • the discharge head 100 is designed in three parts, but could also be designed in two parts or even in one piece.
  • An essential feature of the discharge head 100 is that it has a liquid channel 102 that extends from an inlet nozzle 104 to a discharge opening 103.
  • the inlet nozzle 104 projects through the outlet channel 76 in the fastening component 70 into the region of the valve body 84 and into a recess 84B provided in this valve body, so that pressing down the inlet nozzle 104 can open the outlet valve 80.
  • the outside of the inlet nozzle 104 is adapted to the sealing element 86 in such a way that when the inlet nozzle 104 is pressed down and thus when the outlet valve 80 is open, liquid cannot flow out between the inside of the sealing element 86 and the outside of the inlet nozzle 104.
  • the discharge head 100 has a fastening collar 110, which has a snap geometry 112 on the inside.
  • the discharge head 100 is fastened to the pressure accumulator 30, namely to its closure unit 50.
  • a snap collar 52 is provided on the outside of the fastening component 70, behind which the snap geometry 112 snaps during assembly.
  • the coupling ring 72 therefore fulfills the requirements in the case of the design of the Fig.2 a dual function, since on the one hand it serves for the internal snap connection with the container body 40 and on the other hand it serves for the external snap connection with the discharge head 100.
  • the discharge head also has an actuating surface 106, which in the case of the design shown here is formed as one piece with the fastening collar 110, but which can also be provided as a separate component. In the present one-piece design, the actuating surface 106 can be pressed down while the corresponding component of the discharge head 100 is simultaneously elastically deformed.
  • the liquid is discharged into an environment, whereby the design of the discharge opening 103 and possibly upstream throttles can be used to influence the discharge, for example to discharge a spray jet or an unatomized jet.
  • the discharge opening 103 is provided on a separate discharge part 108, which is movable and thereby allows optional discharge in atomized and non-atomized form and/or different opening angles of the discharge.
  • the liquid dispensers 10 described and shown are very advantageous in terms of their recyclability. They can be fed into a recycling process in which the liquid dispenser is shredded and thus breaks down into residues of PET, PE and possibly PP and/or TPO. During recycling, the PET is separated from the remaining materials by sinking in a water bath. The remainder preferably consists entirely or almost entirely of PE and minor acceptable contamination by TPO and PP.
  • Fig. 12 shows a third variant of a closure unit 50.
  • the special feature compared to the previous variants is that a one-piece component 61 is provided, which supports both the valve lip 62 and the coupling ring 72. Although a fastening component 71 is also provided here, this only serves to secure the valve body 84 and the sealing element 86.
  • component 61 alone is intended for securing and sealing the closure unit 50 as a whole at the outlet section 44. It fulfils the Fig.2 explained the corresponding functions that in the case of Fig.2 the inner component 60 and the fastening component 70 Polypropylene (PP) has proven to be an advantageous material for such a component 61, which in the manner shown is responsible both for the sealing by means of the sealing lip 62 and for the securing by means of the grid elevations 72A.
  • PP Polypropylene

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
EP23157038.3A 2023-02-16 2023-02-16 Accumulateur de pression pour distributeur de liquide et distributeur de liquide comprenant un tel accumulateur de pression Pending EP4417540A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP23157038.3A EP4417540A1 (fr) 2023-02-16 2023-02-16 Accumulateur de pression pour distributeur de liquide et distributeur de liquide comprenant un tel accumulateur de pression
CN202480012721.6A CN120693288A (zh) 2023-02-16 2024-01-25 用于液体分送器的压力存储器以及具有这样的压力存储器的液体分送器
PCT/EP2024/051821 WO2024170250A1 (fr) 2023-02-16 2024-01-25 Accumulateur de pression pour distributeur de liquide, et distributeur de liquide comprenant ledit accumulateur de pression

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP23157038.3A EP4417540A1 (fr) 2023-02-16 2023-02-16 Accumulateur de pression pour distributeur de liquide et distributeur de liquide comprenant un tel accumulateur de pression

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4417540A1 true EP4417540A1 (fr) 2024-08-21

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EP23157038.3A Pending EP4417540A1 (fr) 2023-02-16 2023-02-16 Accumulateur de pression pour distributeur de liquide et distributeur de liquide comprenant un tel accumulateur de pression

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4417540A1 (fr)
CN (1) CN120693288A (fr)
WO (1) WO2024170250A1 (fr)

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA1337812C (fr) * 1987-10-26 1995-12-26 Winfried Jean Werding Appareil de stockage et de livraison regulee de produits sous pression
WO1999016684A1 (fr) * 1997-10-01 1999-04-08 Osaka Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. Contenant sous pression double conçu pour charger une sous-cupule et produits sous pression doubles utilisant ce contenant
US9199783B2 (en) 2007-08-28 2015-12-01 Westrock Dispensing Systems, Inc. Plastic valves and methods of using the same
WO2019192839A1 (fr) * 2018-04-05 2019-10-10 L'oreal Dispositif de fermeture pour un récipient sous pression contenant un produit, notamment un produit cosmétique
WO2020041792A1 (fr) 2018-08-24 2020-02-27 Clayton Corporation Coupelle de montage en plastique et soupape pour récipient sous pression
WO2021022281A1 (fr) * 2019-07-26 2021-02-04 The Procter & Gamble Company Ensemble vanne pour distributeurs

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN114144367B (zh) * 2019-07-26 2023-08-18 宝洁公司 分配器的阀组件

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA1337812C (fr) * 1987-10-26 1995-12-26 Winfried Jean Werding Appareil de stockage et de livraison regulee de produits sous pression
WO1999016684A1 (fr) * 1997-10-01 1999-04-08 Osaka Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. Contenant sous pression double conçu pour charger une sous-cupule et produits sous pression doubles utilisant ce contenant
US9199783B2 (en) 2007-08-28 2015-12-01 Westrock Dispensing Systems, Inc. Plastic valves and methods of using the same
WO2019192839A1 (fr) * 2018-04-05 2019-10-10 L'oreal Dispositif de fermeture pour un récipient sous pression contenant un produit, notamment un produit cosmétique
WO2020041792A1 (fr) 2018-08-24 2020-02-27 Clayton Corporation Coupelle de montage en plastique et soupape pour récipient sous pression
WO2021022281A1 (fr) * 2019-07-26 2021-02-04 The Procter & Gamble Company Ensemble vanne pour distributeurs

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
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CN120693288A (zh) 2025-09-23

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