EP2183054A2

EP2183054A2 - Stopper valve and method for making such valve

Info

Publication number: EP2183054A2
Application number: EP08827742A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Laurent Decottignies
Original assignee: AirlesSystems SAS
Current assignee: Aptar France SAS
Priority date: 2007-08-01
Filing date: 2008-07-18
Publication date: 2010-05-12
Also published as: CN101801540A; FR2919589A1; FR2919589B1; CN101801540B; US8602265B2; WO2009024694A2; BRPI0813860A2; US20100200616A1; BRPI0813860A8; WO2009024694A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a stopper valve for a fluid product dispensing member (4), the valve including a substantially rigid main body (2) and an elastically deformable membrane (3), the body and the membrane being made of chemically compatible materials so that the material of the membrane adheres to the material of the body, the body defining an anchoring area (24) and an area for the flow of the fluid product (25), characterised in that the membrane (3) adheres to the anchoring area (24) and extends on the flow area (25), the flow area including an interface that is connected to the flow area but does not adhere to the membrane in order to define an outlet channel (1) for the fluid product between the interface and the membrane in the presence of a pressurised fluid product.

Description

Shut-off valve and method for making such a valve

The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser member shut-off valve, a fluid dispenser head comprising such a shut-off valve, a fluid dispenser comprising such a shut-off valve and a method of manufacturing such a shutter valve. In the fields of perfumery, cosmetics or even pharmaceuticals, the fluid dispensing members, such as pumps or valves, incorporate one or more shut-off valves allowing the selective passage of the fluid product. to distribute. In a pump, there is generally provided an inlet valve separating the reservoir from the pump chamber and an outlet valve separating the pump chamber from the dispensing orifice.

The present invention more particularly relates to shut-off valves comprising a substantially rigid base body and an elastically deformable membrane. The base body forms a valve seat, while the deformable membrane forms a movable valve member which moves in the presence of fluid under pressure. From the prior art, there is known for example EP 0 713 832 which describes a dispensing head comprising a shutter constituted by an elastic lip away from a seat by bending. The seat is made of a first rigid plastic material and the lip is made of a second elastomeric material which is chemically incompatible with the plastic material of the seat. To achieve the attachment of the lip on the seat, there is provided a hooking element formed by the lip and embedded in the rigid material constituting the seat. The latching element performs a mechanical latching function. To do this, the attachment element has a suitable configuration for its maintenance or trapping inside a closed space formed by the material constituting the seat. It is therefore understood that the configuration of the membrane and the seat is relatively complicated to be able to provide this function of mechanical strength between two chemically incompatible materials.

The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art by defining an elastically deformable membrane shutter whose attachment is simplified.

To achieve this object, the present invention provides a shutter valve fluid dispenser member, the valve comprising a substantially rigid base body and an elastically deformable membrane, the body and the membrane being made of chemically compatible materials , so that the material of the membrane adheres to the body material, the body defining an anchoring zone and a fluid flow zone, characterized in that the membrane adheres to the anchoring zone and extends over the passage zone, the passage zone comprising an interface which is integral with the passage zone but which does not adhere to the membrane, so as to define a fluid product outlet channel between the interface and the membrane; presence of fluid under pressure. According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the anchoring zone surrounds the passage zone except at one side defining an opening for selective distribution of fluid product. According to another aspect of the invention, the passage zone may be curved, the membrane conforming to the curvature of the quiescent zone and deforming substantially symmetrically in the presence of fluid under pressure. The membrane thus deforms in a controlled manner.

According to a first embodiment, the interface comprises a coating applied to the passage zone, the coating adhering to the passage zone and not adhering to the membrane. In this case, the body may be made of a material selected from the group of polyolefins, for example polyethylene or polypropylene, the membrane may be made of a material selected from the group of elastomers adhering to polyolefins, and the interface coating may be made of a material selected from the group of elastomers and styrenes. Such a valve can be performed by a tri-injection process with three different plastics.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the interface is formed by the passage zone which has been chemically modified by a treatment, such as a plasma treatment, so that the membrane does not adhere to it. Plasma treatment for example breaks a covalent bond, thus preventing the adhesion of the membrane.

The present invention also relates to a fluid dispensing head intended to be associated with a dispensing member, the head comprising a shutter valve as defined above, as an outlet shutter at which the user takes the fluid product. Additionally or alternatively, the shutter valve of the dispensing head may serve as an outlet valve of a pump chamber. The shut-off valve of the present invention can be used interchangeably in a dispensing member such as a pump or a valve. The shut-off valve can act as an inlet valve, an outlet valve and / or a shut-off valve at the dispensing orifice. However, a preferred application is that of the outlet valve at the dispensing opening. The present invention also relates to a fluid dispenser comprising a shutter valve as defined above.

The present invention further defines a method of manufacturing a fluid dispenser member closure valve, the valve comprising a substantially rigid base body and an elastically deformable membrane, the body and the membrane being made with chemically compatible materials, such that the membrane material adheres to the body material, the body defining an anchoring zone and a fluid flow zone, the method being characterized in that a coating of interface on the passage zone, the coating adhering to the passage zone, and in that the membrane is then molded on the anchoring zone and the coating, the membrane adhering to the anchoring zone, but not not adhering to coating, so as to define a fluid product outlet channel between the coating and the membrane in the presence of fluid under pressure.

The present invention also defines a second method for manufacturing a fluid dispenser member shut-off valve, the valve comprising a substantially rigid base body and an elastically deformable membrane, the body and the membrane being made with chemically compatible materials, so that the membrane material adheres to the body material, the body defining an anchoring zone and a fluid flow zone, the method being characterized by chemically treating the passage so that the membrane does not adhere to it, and in that the membrane is then molded on the anchoring zone and the passage zone, the membrane adhering to the anchoring zone, but not adhering to the treated passage zone, so as to define a fluid product outlet channel between the treated passage zone and the membrane in the presence of fluid under pressure.

The spirit of the invention is to treat superficially the base body of a shutter valve made of a material chemically compatible with that of the deformable membrane so as to be able to mold the membrane on the body without adhering the membrane to level of the treated area, in this case the passage area, to form an outlet channel and a closable dispensing orifice. The surface treatment is preferably carried out at the level of the base body, but it could possibly be made at the level of the elastically deformable membrane. Treatment of the basic body and the membrane is not excluded. However, since the traditional injection / molding process of such a shutter valve firstly comprises molding the base body and then overmolding or comouler the deformable membrane on the base body, it is more practical and quick to treat the surface of the base body at the anchoring zone (s). This is true, whether applying an interface coating or chemically treating the passage area. The invention will now be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings giving by way of non-limiting example an embodiment of the invention.

In the figures: FIG. 1 is a view in vertical cross-section through a fluid dispenser incorporating a shut-off valve according to the present invention,

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are perspective and top views of the dispenser head of the dispenser of FIG. 1 incorporating the shut-off valve of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a very greatly enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 4, and

- Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 for a second embodiment of the invention. We will firstly describe in general with reference to Figure 1 the structure of a fluid dispenser incorporating a shutter valve according to a non-limiting embodiment of the invention. The dispenser comprises a dispensing member mounted on a reservoir 5. Optionally, the dispensing member may be provided with a protective cover 6. The dispensing member here incorporates a pump 4 associated with a fluid dispensing head 1. In the present embodiment, the shut-off valve of the invention is integrated with the dispensing head 1. However, the shut-off valve of the invention, in a different embodiment, can also be integrated. directly in the pump 4, for example at its inlet valve.

The reservoir 5 comprises a cylindrical sliding barrel 51 defining at its upper end an opening 52 serving as a receiving collar for the pump 4. The barrel 51 is provided with a follower or scraper piston 53 which moves with a water-tight sliding motion. inside the drum 51 as fluid is extracted from the reservoir by the pump 4. The follower piston 53 moves in response to a depression generated in the reservoir each time the pump 4 is actuated. Instead of this reservoir 5 , any other type of tank can be used without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, it is possible to provide a deformable container or a flexible bag.

Pump 4 is a flexible wall pump that does not use a sliding piston or return spring. The pump 4 defines a pump chamber C whose volume variation comes from the deformation of a flexible wall 46 which also fulfills the function of return spring for bringing the chamber to the rest position. This is a particular type of pump: however, any other pump, for example sliding piston, can be used in the context of the present invention.

The pump 4 here comprises a fixing cup 41 which is sealingly engaged in the opening 52 of the drum 51. The cup 4 may optionally serve as holding support for the cover 6. The cup 4 also serves as a support for the heart of the pump which comprises here a base 42 and a flexible part 45. The base 42 is fixedly received, sealed and preferably definitive inside the cup 41. The base 42 forms a fluid product inlet under the form of several holes 43 communicating with the tank 5. The base 42 is provided with an inlet valve 44 which is movable relative to the base 42 so as to selectively close the inlet holes 43. More precisely the check valve 44 may be described as a valve movable member intended to come into sealed contact with a valve seat formed by the base 42 around the inlet holes 43. The flexible part 45 is anchored in a fixed and sealed manner on the base 42 of mani re together to define a pump chamber of variable volume C. The soup piece 45 comprises a flexible wall 46 which is elastically deformable. On the other hand, the part 45 comprises a rigid axial sleeve 47 which internally defines an outlet duct for the fluid product.

The pump 4 comprises or is associated with a dispensing head 1 which is sealingly mounted on the sleeve 47. This dispensing head

1 comprises a substantially rigid base body 2 and an elastically deformable membrane 3. The base body 2 comprises a bushing of connection 22 engaged around or inside the sleeve 47. The base body 2 also comprises an outer peripheral skirt 23 which surrounds the sleeve 22. The dispensing head 1 also comprises a bearing surface 11 which can be partially formed by the body 2 at an upper wall 21 and the elastically deformable membrane 3.

According to the invention, the membrane 3 is fixed at 31 to the body 2 at an anchoring zone 24. On the other hand, the membrane 3 rests without adhesion at 32 on the body 2 at a zone of fluid passage 25. This passage zone 25 extends to the level of an outer edge forming a dispensing opening 13. Advantageously, this dispensing opening is made at the end of a spout. distribution 12.

The operating cycle of the dispenser of FIG. 1 is very simple. By pressing on the bearing surface 11, the dispensing head 1 is caused to move axially downwards, this being made possible by the deformation of the flexible wall 46. The deformation of this wall results in a decrease in the volume of the the pump chamber C, which has the effect of increasing the pressure of the fluid within the chamber. As a result, the membrane 3, at its portion 32 will peel off the passage zone 25 thereby creating an outlet channel 14 for the fluid under pressure. The user can then collect the fluid product at the opening 13 at the end of the spout 12. By releasing the axial pressure on the head 1, the elastic memory of the flexible wall 46 returns the dispensing head 1 in its initial rest position shown in Figure 1. During the return to the initial position, a vacuum is created inside the tank 5, the follower piston 53 is subjected to this depression so that it is forced to move by sliding towards the pump 4. The operating cycle is then completed.

Referring now to Figures 2 to 5 to describe in detail the structure, operation and manufacturing method of the dispensing head incorporating the shutter valve according to the invention. The upper wall of the body 2 can be divided into several zones, namely a peripheral zone 21 partially defining the bearing wall 11, an anchoring zone 24 at which the membrane 31 is fixed and a passage zone 25 on which the membrane rests without adhesion. The outer peripheral zone 21 has a configuration in the form of a crescent moon inside which is inscribed the anchoring zone 24. This anchoring zone 24 also has a crescent-shaped configuration inside which is inscribed the 25. The anchoring zones 24 and passage 25 are indicated in FIG. 2 with dotted fastening shanks since they are located below the deformable membrane 3, they are not this is not visible. Indeed, the membrane 3 forms an anchoring portion 31 fixed to the anchoring zone 24 and a passage portion 32 which rests without adhesion on the passage zone 25. The passage zone 25 is surrounded by the zone of anchoring 24 except at an outer edge. Equivalently, the passage portion 32 of the membrane 3 is surrounded by the anchoring portion 31 except at an outer edge, thus defining, with the underpass zone 25, the product dispensing opening. 13. Referring more particularly to FIGS. 4 and 5, it can be seen that the passage portion 32 of the diaphragm 3 is curved so as to form a bowl which is truncated at the opening 13. Part of passage 32 intimately in the shape of the passage zone 25, it can be readily concluded that the passage zone also has this curved shape in a bowl. However, the passage portion 32 is locally out of contact with the passage zone 25 at the connecting sleeve 22. In FIG. 5, the shape of the membrane can be seen in dashed lines when it is deformed by fluid product under pressure. Its curvature is then reversed with respect to the rest position. The outlet channel 14 is then formed: the opening 13 has the shape of an eye or a shuttle.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the material constituting the body 2 is a rigid plastic material which is chemically compatible or miscible with the material constituting the membrane 3 which may advantageously be an elastomeric thermoplastic. In other words, the constituent materials of the body and the membrane are naturally capable of binding by chemical adhesion. However, according to the invention, this chemical adhesion has been neutralized by a chemical modification of the surface of the body 2 at the passage zone 25. This chemical surface modification has been advantageously obtained using a plasma treatment, for example an air plasma. Plasma treatment has the effect of breaking a covalent bond which normally allows the adhesion of the membrane to the base body 2 at the level of the treated zone, namely the passage zone 25. Thanks to this surface treatment, the constituent material of the membrane can adhere effectively to the base body at the anchoring zone without adhering to the passage zone. The membrane can be applied to the basic body by simple overmoulding or comoulage. Plasma treatment may advantageously be carried out during molding of the dispensing head, for example by opening the mold once the molded body, by treating the anchoring zone with the plasma, and then closing the mold to overmold the membrane on the body. With this technique, it is not necessary to provide mechanical attachment element for fixing the deformable membrane on the base body.

Reference will now be made to FIG. 6 which illustrates a second embodiment of the invention, in which the plasma surface treatment of the passage zone has been replaced or supplemented by the application of a specific coating 25 ' an interface between the body 2 and the membrane 3. The material constituting the coating has qualities of chemical adhesion on the passage zone, but not on the membrane. The membrane is thus fixed on the anchoring zone without sticking to the coating in the passage zone, allowing its elastic deformation to fulfill its valve function. Such a shutter valve can be made by tri-injection in the same mold with drawers. The body is first injected molded, then the coating 25 'on the body, then the membrane on the coating. The body material may be a polyolefin, such as polyethylene PE or polypropylene PP. The membrane can be made in elastomer and the interface coating may be made of elastomer or styrene.

In both embodiments described, an adhesive / non-stick interface is created at the passage zone, either by surface treatment of the passage zone or by application of a coating.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to a shut-off valve serving both as an outlet valve and an outlet valve, it is quite possible to imagine applying a shut-off valve according to the invention to another location of a dispensing member, such as the inlet valve or the conventional outlet valve not fulfilling the function of output shutter.

It should be noted that in the distributor of Figure 1 the base body 2 and the deformable membrane 3 fill, at the passage zone 25 and the passage portion 32, both a function of the outlet valve and an output shutter function at the dispensing aperture. The shut-off valve of the invention comprises a seat formed by the passage zone 25 and a movable valve member intended to selectively bear tightly against its seat formed by the passage portion 32.

Claims

claims

1. Fluid product dispenser shutter valve (4), the valve comprising a substantially rigid base body (2) and an elastically deformable membrane (3), the body and the membrane being made of materials chemically compatible, so that the material of the membrane adheres to the body material, the body defining an anchoring zone (24) and a fluid flow zone (25), characterized in that the membrane (3) adheres to the anchoring zone (24) and extends over the passage zone (25), the passage zone comprising an interface which is integral with the passage zone but which does not adhere to the membrane, so as to defining an outlet channel (1) of fluid product (14) between the interface and the membrane in the presence of fluid under pressure.

2. Shutter valve according to claim 1, wherein the anchoring zone (24) surrounds the passage zone (25) except at one side defining a selective fluid dispensing opening (13).

3.- shutter valve according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the passage zone (25) is curved, the membrane (3) conforming to the curvature of the transition zone at rest and deforming substantially symmetrically in the presence of fluid under pressure.

4. Shutter valve according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the interface comprises a coating (25 ') applied to the passage zone (25), the coating adhering to the passage zone and not adhering to the membrane.

5. Shutter valve according to claim 4, wherein: the body (2) is made of a material chosen from the group of polyolefins, for example polyethylene or polypropylene,

- The membrane (3) is made of a material selected from the group of elastomers adhering to polyolefins, - the interface coating (25 ') is made of a material selected from the group of elastomers and styrenes.

6. Shutter valve according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the interface is formed by the passage zone which has been chemically modified by a treatment, such as a plasma treatment, so that the membrane do not adhere to it.

7. Fluid dispensing head (1) intended to be associated with a dispensing member (4), the head comprising a shut-off valve according to any one of the preceding claims, as an outlet shutter at where the user takes the fluid product.

8. Fluid dispensing head (1) intended to be associated with a pump (4), the head comprising a shut-off valve according to any one of claims 1 to 6, as an outlet valve of a pump chamber (C).

9. A fluid dispenser comprising a shut-off valve according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

10. A method for manufacturing a shutter valve fluid dispenser member (4), the valve comprising a substantially rigid base body (2) and an elastically deformable membrane (3), the body and the membrane being made of chemically compatible materials, so that the material of the membrane adheres to the body material, the body defining an anchoring zone (24) and a fluid passage zone (25), the method being characterized in that an interface coating (25 ') is molded on the passage zone, the coating adhering to the passage zone, and in that the membrane is then molded on the anchoring zone and the coating, the membrane adhering to the anchoring zone, but not adhering to the coating, so as to define a fluid product outlet channel between the coating and the membrane in the presence of fluid under pressure.

11.- A method of manufacturing a fluid dispenser valve closure valve (4), the valve comprising a substantially rigid base body (2) and an elastically deformable membrane (3), the body and the membrane being made of chemically compatible materials, so that the material of the membrane adheres to the body material, the body defining an anchoring zone

(24) and a fluid passage zone (25), the method being characterized in that the passage zone is chemically treated so that the membrane does not adhere thereto, and in that the mold is then molded the membrane on the anchoring zone and the passage zone, the membrane adhering to the anchoring zone, but not adhering to the treated passage zone, so as to define a fluid outlet channel between the zone treated passage and the membrane in the presence of fluid under pressure.