Nozzle mounting structure of component container

Provided is a nozzle mounting structure of a component container by which a nozzle configured to rotate between a first position and a second position may be mounted to a housing without the need for a high processing precision and a high assembly precision. A pair of shaft portions support a body with the nozzle unitarily formed therewith. The nozzle rotates between the first position and the second position. A curved convex surface provided on the body is pressed against a curved concave surface provided on a first bottom wall portion of a housing by a pressing force imparted from a support portion.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a nozzle mounting structure that may be applied to a component container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Japanese Patent No. 4956616 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Patent No. 5112438 (Patent Document 2), which are the patents owned by the applicant of the present invention, each disclose a conventional example of a two-component mixing container such as a dental cement capsule. In this two-component mixing container, a powder material and a liquid material are contained in isolation from each other as two kinds of chemicals, and the powder material and the liquid material are discharged after having been mixed together in the two-component mixing container.FIGS. 19 and 20Ato20C are respectively FIGS. 10 and 11A to 11C in Patent Document 1. The structure of the conventional two-component mixing container will be described below, using these drawings. The conventional two-component mixing container includes a housing8, a nozzle16, a partition wall member (12,18), a second-component containing member13, and a piston member19. The housing8includes a first cylindrical portion10having a first opening portion at one end thereof and a first bottom wall portion11closing the other end of the first cylindrical portion10. Then, the housing8includes in its inside a mixing chamber5configured to contain a first component and to mix the first component and a second component when the second component is injected from the one end of the first cylindrical portion10. The housing8also has a discharge port23in the first bottom wall portion11. The discharge port23is configured to discharge a mixture of the first component and the second component from the mixing chamber5. The nozzle16is provided at the first bottom wall portion11of the housing8. A mounting structure of the nozzle16is configured to dispose the nozzle16at a first position which causes the nozzle to close the discharge port23before the mixture is discharged from the discharge port23and to dispose the nozzle16at a second position which allows the discharge port and a passage of the nozzle to communicate with each other when the mixture is discharged from the discharge port23.

A partition wall member (12,18) is slidably held in the housing8. The partition wall member (12,18) includes a second cylindrical portion18having a second opening portion at one end thereof, a second bottom wall portion closing the other end of the second cylindrical portion18, and a partition wall portion12provided at the second bottom wall portion, whereby the partition wall portion slides liquid-tightly inside the mixing chamber5. Then, the second-component containing member13is fitted in the partition wall member (12,18) such that the second-component containing member13may rotate about an axial line X. The second-component containing member13includes a third cylindrical portion having a third opening portion at one end thereof and a third bottom wall portion closing the other end of the third cylindrical portion, and includes in its inside a second-component containing chamber3configured to contain the second component. The second bottom wall portion (12) of the partition wall member (12,18) is formed with a first communication passage20, and the third bottom wall portion of the second-component containing member13is formed with a second communication passage21. When the second-component containing member13rotates about the axial line X by a predetermined angle and then the second-component containing member13and the partition wall member (12,18) come into a predetermined positional relationship, the first communication passage20and the second communication passage21communicate with each other, thereby allowing the second component to flow into the mixing chamber5. The piston member19includes a piston portion located at one end of the piston member19and an operating rod portion located at the other end of the piston member19. The piston portion is configured to be inserted into the third cylindrical portion from the third opening portion of the second-component containing member13and liquid-tightly slide inside the third cylindrical portion. The operating rod portion projects out from the third opening portion.

Before an operation of mixing the first component and the second component is started, the conventional two-component mixing container maintains a holding state in which the partition wall member (12,18) is held in a retracted position so as to form the mixing chamber5in the housing8. By performing a predetermined first operation (operation of rotation about the axial line X) on the operating rod portion of the piston member19in this state, the first communication passage20and the second communication passage21are aligned to communicate with each other. A communication passage (comprising the communication passages20and21) is thereby formed between the second-component containing chamber3and the mixing chamber5. Then, after the communication passage has been formed, the piston member19is moved toward the first bottom wall portion11to inject the second component within the second-component containing chamber3into the mixing chamber5through the communication passage (comprising the communication passages20and21) that has been formed. Then, by performing an operation (second operation) of rotation about the axial line X on the piston member19, the holding state of the partition wall member (12,18) is released. The nozzle16is then disposed at the second position (position where the passage of the nozzle16and the discharge port23communicate with each other) from the first position (position shown inFIG. 19).

The piston member19is further moved toward the first bottom wall portion11in this state to discharge the mixture to an outside through the nozzle16. Then, in the conventional two-component mixing container, the base of the nozzle16is formed to be spherical, and the base of the nozzle16is fitted in a spherical fitting opening provided in the first bottom wall portion of the housing8, thereby aligning the passage of the nozzle and the discharge port23provided in the housing8. An engagement relationship between the housing8and the partition wall member (12,18) is achieved by engagement between a projection (24) and a guide groove (25). An engagement relationship between the partition wall member (12,18) and the second-component containing member13is achieved by engagement between a projection (26) and a guide groove (27). An engagement relationship between the second-component containing member13and the piston member19is achieved by a projection (28) and a guide groove (29). These projections (24,26,28) and guide grooves (25,27,29) are shown inFIG. 20(corresponding to FIG. 11 in Patent Document 1).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the structure of the conventional two-component mixing container, the base of the nozzle16is formed to be spherical, and the base of the nozzle16is fitted in the spherical fitting opening provided in the first bottom wall portion of the housing8. In this structure, severe processing precision and severe assembly precision are required so as to allow the base of the nozzle16to be fitted in the spherical fitting opening and to prevent the mixture from leaking from a gap between the base of the nozzle16and the spherical fitting opening. Further, when the base of the nozzle16is spherical, a complex design for preventing the base of the nozzle16from rotating in an undesired direction is needed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a nozzle mounting structure of a component container by which a nozzle configured to rotate between a first position and a second position may be mounted to a housing without the need for a high processing precision and a high assembly precision.

The present invention aims at improvement of a nozzle mounting structure of a component container. The component container includes a housing including a cylindrical portion having an opening portion at one side thereof; a chamber provided in the housing and configured to contain a predetermined component; and a bottom wall portion closing the other end of the cylindrical portion and having a discharge port configured to discharge a component from the chamber. The nozzle mounting structure is configured to dispose a nozzle at a first position which causes the nozzle to close the discharge port before the component is discharged from the discharge port and to dispose the nozzle at a second position which allows the discharge port and a passage of the nozzle to communicate with each other when the component is discharged from the discharge port.

The nozzle mounting structure of a component container according to the present invention comprises a body and a body holding structure. The body includes a closing portion unitarily formed with the nozzle and configured to liquid-tightly close the discharge port when the nozzle is disposed at the first position; and an entrance portion where an entrance of the passage of the nozzle is formed. The body holding structure is configured to hold the body to allow the nozzle to rotate between the first position and the second position with respect to the center of rotation. Then, the body includes a curved convex surface curved in an arc with respect to the center of rotation. The entrance of the passage of the nozzle opens in an end portion of the curved convex surface to form the entrance portion. The closing portion is formed by the curved convex surface except the entrance portion. A curved concave surface is formed on an outer surface of the bottom wall portion of the housing such that the curved convex surface slides thereon, and the discharge port opens in the curved concave surface. The body holding structure includes a pair of shaft portions provided at the body and extending in opposite directions along a line passing through the center of rotation; and a support portion provided at the bottom wall portion of the housing and configured to rotatably support the pair of shaft portions and to impart on the body a pressing force for pressing the curved convex surface against the curved concave surface.

According to the present invention, the body is supported by the pair of shaft portions. Thus, the nozzle rotates between the first position and the second position, constantly describing a same locus. Further, the curved convex surface provided on the body is pressed against the curved concave surface provided on the bottom wall portion of the housing by the pressing force imparted from the support portion. Thus, the composition will not leak from between the curved convex surface and the curved concave surface. Thus, according to the present invention, the nozzle configured to rotate between the first position and the second position may be mounted to the housing without the need for a high processing precision and a high assembly precision.

The support portion may include a pair of standing walls located on both sides of the curved concave surface and standing from the bottom wall portion. In this case, a pair of fitting grooves are formed in opposing wall portions of the pair of standing walls opposing each other. The pair of fitting grooves each include a first opening portion opening in one direction orthogonal to a direction where the pair of standing walls extend away from the bottom wall portion; and a second opening portion opening in a direction where the pair of standing walls oppose each other. Then, inner wall surfaces of the pair of fitting grooves and a section of the bottom wall portion located between the pair of standing walls on the side of the first opening portions rather than the curved concave surface are each shaped such that the pair of shaft portions are tightly fitted in the pair of fitting grooves when inserted into the pair of fitting grooves through the first opening portions of the fitting grooves, and the pair of shaft portions are fitted in the fitting grooves to allow the shaft portions to rotate and to produce the pressing force when the curved convex surface is fitted in the curved concave surface. When the support portion of this structure is used, the nozzle may be mounted to the housing just by pressing the pair of shaft portions into the pair of fitting grooves through the first opening portions.

Preferably, projections are unitarily formed with the inner wall surfaces of the pair of fitting grooves. The projections are configured to come into contact with outer peripheral surfaces of the pair of shaft portions to impart a force toward the first bottom wall portion on the pair of shaft portions when the curved convex surface is fitted in the curved concave surface. When such projecting portions are provided, the pressing force may be reliably produced. Liquid tightness between the curved concave surface and the curved convex surface may be thereby ensured.

Preferably, a pair of guide grooves are formed in portions of the inner wall surfaces of the pair of fitting grooves that oppose the second opening portions, and a pair of guided projections to be fitted in the pair of guide grooves are provided at axially outer end surfaces of the pair of shaft portions. In this case, preferably, the pair of guide grooves and the pair of guided projections are configured such that the nozzle is brought into the first position when the pair of shaft portions are fully fitted in the pair of fitting grooves by moving the pair of guided projections along the pair of guided grooves, and the pair of guided projections may get out of the pair of guide grooves when the nozzle is displaced into the second position. When such a pair of guide grooves and such a pair of guided projections are provided, the nozzle may be readily assembled onto the housing, using a simple structure. In addition, the nozzle can be disposed into the second position from the first position.

Preferably, the body and the pair of shaft portions are concentrically and unitarily formed. Preferably, the pair of shaft portions each have a radius smaller than the radius of curvature of the curved convex surface. When such a configuration is adopted, the pressing force for pressing the curvature convex surface against the curved concave surface may be reliably produced.

Preferably, a stopper is unitarily formed with at least one of the body and the bottom wall portion and is configured to prevent the nozzle from being rotated in a direction opposite to the first position when the nozzle is at the second position. When such a stopper is provided, the nozzle may be reliably stopped at the second position.

A projecting portion projecting in a radial direction and movable in a gap between the pair of standing walls is unitarily formed with the body, and a contact portion to be contacted by the projection portion is unitarily formed with the bottom wall portion, for example. Then, the projecting portion and the contact portion may form the stopper. When this structure is adopted, the stopper may be readily formed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An example of an embodiment of a nozzle mounting structure of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to drawings.FIGS. 1A to 1Dare respectively a front view, a right side view, a bottom view, and a left side view of an embodiment of a nozzle mounting structure of the present invention that is applied to a two-component mixing container.FIGS. 2A and 2Bare respectively a sectional view taken along a line IIA-IIA inFIG. 1Cand a sectional view taken along a line IIB-IIB inFIG. 2A.FIG. 3Ais a sectional view taken along a line IIIA-IIIA inFIG. 1B.FIG. 3Bis an enlarged view of a portion A inFIG. 3A.FIG. 4Ais a sectional view taken along a line IVA-IVA inFIG. 1B, andFIG. 4Bis an enlarged view of a portion A inFIG. 4A. In the present specification, the terms “the first component” and “the second component” each refer to any material in a dischargeable form such as liquid, paste, and powder, including at least one kind of material (whether one kind or a plurality of kinds). The two-component mixing container101in this embodiment is configured to store two kinds of chemicals (components) for producing a dental material such as amalgam or a medical material such as bone cement, or, in particular, a powder material and a liquid material in isolation from each other, and to mix the two kinds of chemicals to discharge (eject) a desired mixture (or a reaction product), if necessary, when in use. The two-component mixing container101includes a housing103made of a resin (specifically made of polypropylene), a nozzle105formed of a resin, a nozzle mounting structure106, a partition wall member107made of a resin, a second-component containing member109made of a resin, a piston member111made of a resin, and a holding structure112. The two-component mixing container101shown inFIGS. 1A to 4Bshows an unused state where the piston member111is not operated with two components (powder and liquid) not shown filled in the two-component mixing container101.

The housing103includes a first cylindrical portion133having a first opening portion131at one end thereof and a first bottom wall portion135closing the other end of the first cylindrical portion133. The housing103includes two recesses or concave portions137separated from each other at an interval of 180 degrees around the first opening portion131. The housing103also includes in its inside a mixing chamber139configured to contain a first component (powder) and to mix the first component and a second component (liquid) when the second component is injected from a side of the one end of the first cylindrical portion133. The housing103also has in the first bottom wall portion135a discharge port141configured to discharge a mixture of the first and second components from the mixing chamber139. The nozzle105is provided at the housing103and configured to discharge the mixture, whereby the mixture comes out of the discharge port141and is discharged through the nozzle105. The nozzle mounting structure106is configured to dispose the nozzle105at a first position which causes the nozzle to close the discharge port141before the mixture is discharged from the discharge port141and to dispose the nozzle105at a second position which allows the discharge port141and a passage151of the nozzle105to communicate with each other when the mixture is discharged from the discharge port141. Details of the nozzle mounting structure106will be described later.

As shown inFIGS. 2A,3A,4A, and5A to5C, the partition wall member107is held in the first cylindrical portion133of the housing103, and unitarily includes a second cylindrical portion173having a second opening portion171at one end thereof, a second bottom wall portion175closing the other end of the second cylindrical portion173, and a partition wall portion177provided at the second bottom wall portion175, whereby the partition wall portion slides liquid-tightly inside the mixing chamber139. A columnar portion179extending along the second cylindrical portion173is unitarily formed with the central portion of the second bottom wall portion175of the partition wall member107. A pair of projecting pieces181extending in a radial direction of the second cylindrical portion173are provided at end portions of the second cylindrical portion173of the partition wall member107on the side of the second opening portion171. The pair of projecting pieces181are separated from each other by 180 degrees in a peripheral direction of the second cylindrical portion173. The pair of projecting pieces181are fitted in a pair of concave portions137provided in the first cylindrical portion133when the partition wall member107is fitted in the housing103. In this embodiment, the pair of projecting pieces181and the pair of concave portions137form the holding structure112. The holding structure112is configured to hold the partition wall member107in a fixed state with respect to the housing103until the second component is injected into the mixing chamber139and to release the fixed state when the mixture is discharged through the nozzle105. The pair of projecting pieces181are provided such that the pair of projecting pieces181are bent or get broken by pressing the piston member111toward the third bottom wall portion195of the second-component containing member109by a force of a predetermined level or higher. The piston member111will be described later. With this arrangement, the fixed state of the partition wall member107may be achieved using a simple structure. In addition, the fixed state of the partition wall member107is released by bending or breaking the pair of projecting pieces181. Thus, an advantage of simplifying a structure for releasing the fixed state may be obtained. It may also be so arranged that three or more of the projecting pieces181and three or more of the concave portions137are provided.

As shown inFIGS. 2A,3A, and4A, the second-component containing member109is fitted in the second cylindrical portion173of the partition wall member107. The second-component containing member109is held in the second cylindrical portion173, and includes a third cylindrical portion193having a third opening portion191at one end thereof and a third bottom wall portion195closing the other end of the third cylindrical portion193, as shown inFIGS. 6A and 6B. Then, the second-component containing member109includes in its inside a second-component containing chamber201configured to contain the second component (liquid). Then, a circular through hole197is formed in the central portion of the third bottom wall portion195of the second-component containing member109, whereby the columnar portion179is fitted into the circular through hole197.

The following arrangements are made, as shown inFIGS. 3A,5A to5C,6A and6B, and7C. The second cylindrical portion173of the partition wall member107is unitarily formed with a pair of engaging pieces183each including an engaging portion184which projects above the second opening portion171. The third cylindrical portion193of the second-component containing member109is formed with a pair of recesses or concave portions199in an end portion of the third cylindrical portion on the side of the third opening portion191, whereby the engaging portions184of the pair of engaging pieces183are engaged in the pair of concave portions199. Then, the third cylindrical portion193of the second-component containing member109is provided with a pair of extended portions200between the pair of concave portions199. A pair of fitting grooves196(FIG. 6A) are formed in the pair of extended portions. When the piston member111is rotated about an axial line X, the pair of extended portions200come into contact with the engaging portions184of the pair of engaging pieces183to define a rotation range of the second-component containing member109.

As shown inFIGS. 2B,3B, and5A to5C, a first communication passage187is formed in the second bottom wall portion175of the partition wall member107and the columnar portion179such that one end187A of the first communication passage187opens in an outer surface of the columnar portion179and the other end187B of the first communication passage187opens in an outer wall surface of the second bottom wall portion175. Further, as shown inFIGS. 2B,4B, and6A and6B, a second communication passage198is formed in an inner wall of the third bottom wall portion195of the second-component containing member109such that one end198A of the second communication passage198communicates with the circular through hole197and the other end198B of the second communication passage198opens toward the second-component containing chamber201. That is, the second bottom wall portion175of the partition wall member107is formed with the first communication passage187and the third bottom wall portion195of the second-component containing member109is formed with the second communication passage198. When the second-component containing member109and the partition wall member107come into a predetermined positional relationship, the first communication passage187and the second communication passage198communicate with each other, thereby allowing the second component to flow into the mixing chamber139. The columnar portion179and the circular through hole197are shaped and sized such that the third cylindrical portion193of the second-component containing member109rotates with respect to the columnar portion179in a liquid-tight state until the one end187A of the first communication passage187and the one end198A of the second communication passage198communicate with each other. As shown inFIGS. 2A,3A, and4A, the piston member111includes a piston portion113located at one end thereof and an operating rod portion115located at the other end thereof. The piston portion113is configured to be inserted into the third cylindrical portion193from the third opening portion191of the second-component containing member109to liquid-tightly slide inside the third cylindrical portion193. The operating rod portion115projects out from the third opening portion191. A contact surface of the piston portion113configured to come into contact with an inner wall surface of the third cylindrical portion193of the second-component containing member109is set to be smaller in dimension than a contact portion117of each spring structure portion119as measured in a longitudinal direction of the operating rod portion. Consequently, contact resistance between the piston portion113and the inner wall surface of the third cylindrical portion193may be reduced. A force necessary for causing the piston member111to perform a linear motion operation may be therefore reduced.

As shown inFIGS. 7A,7B, and10B, a pair of the spring structure portions119are provided at the operating rod portion115of the piston member111and arranged at equal intervals in a peripheral direction of the piston portion113. Each spring structure portion119includes the contact portion117. The spring structure portion119is configured to deform by contact between an inner wall portion194of the third cylindrical portion193and the contact portion117and thereby impart a pressing force on the inner wall surface of the third cylindrical portion193when each spring structure portion119is inserted from the third opening portion191of the second-component containing member109. The pair of fitting grooves196(FIGS. 7C and 10B) are formed in the third cylindrical portion193of the second-component containing member109at equal intervals in a peripheral direction of the third cylindrical portion193. The contact portions117are fitted in the pair of fitting grooves196when the contact portions117are inserted into the pair of fitting grooves196.

The piston member111used in this embodiment is unitarily formed of a synthetic resin material such as polypropylene. Then, each spring structure portion119includes a pair of arm portions121unitarily provided on both sides of the contact portion117. A space123is formed between the arm portions121and the operating rod portion115to allow the arm portions121to deform. For that reason, a spring property may be imparted to each contact portion117, using a simple structure. The contact portion117is supported by the pair of arm portions121, in particular. Thus, reduction of mechanical strength of the spring structure portion119may be prevented. Further, a mold necessary for manufacturing the piston member111is simplified. Though two spring structure portions119are provided in this embodiment, three or more of the spring structure portions119may be of course provided. In that case, three or more of the fitting grooves196should be provided in the third cylindrical portion193of the second-component containing member109.

Deformation of the pair of spring structure portions119at the piston member111causes the contact portions117at the spring structure portions119and the fitting grooves196in the third cylindrical portion193of the second-component containing member109to be brought into the fitting state. Even if the operating rod portion115of the piston member111is rotated in this state, the contact portions117do not get out of the fitting grooves196.

The state shown in each ofFIGS. 1 to 3andFIG. 8Ais a state where the contact portions117are fitted in the fitting grooves196. When the operating rod portion115is rotated about the axial line X (refer toFIG. 1C) in this state, the two-component mixing container is brought into a state shown in each ofFIGS. 8A,9A to9C,10A to10C, and11A and11B. As shown inFIG. 10Bin particular, the piston member111and the second-component containing member109rotate together without the contact portions117getting out of the fitting grooves196. When the piston member111is rotated about the axial line X, the pair of extended portions200provided at the second-component containing member109come into contact with the engaging portions184of the pair of engaging pieces183provided at the partition wall member107to define the rotation range of the second-component containing member109.

As shown inFIG. 10CandFIGS. 11A and 11Bin particular, this rotation of the piston member111may cause the first communication passage187and the second communication passage198to communicate with each other, using a fitting surface formed between the columnar portion179at the central portion of the second bottom wall portion175of the partition wall member107and the circular through hole197in the central portion of the third bottom wall portion195of the second-component containing member109. Consequently, the first communication passage187and the second communication passage198may be more reliably communicated with each other than in the conventional two-component mixing container. Further, a high processing precision is not needed for each of the partition wall member107and the second-component containing member109.

As shown inFIGS. 7A and 7B, andFIG. 100B, the spring structure portions119and the fitting grooves196(FIG. 7CandFIG. 10B) are formed such that the contact portions117of the spring structure portions119get out of the fitting grooves196when a force of a predetermined level or higher toward the third bottom wall portion195is applied when the first communication passage187and the second communication passage198are in the communication state. Specifically, a taper122is provided at an end portion of each contact portion117on the side of the piston portion113. Further, the strength of the spring force of each spring structure portion119is also set to allow the contact portion117to get out of the fitting groove196when the force of the predetermined level or higher toward the third bottom wall portion195is applied to the operating rod portion115. Two or more of the fitting grooves196provided in the second-component containing member109have a simple, linearly extending shape. Consequently, a mold used for manufacturing the second-component containing member109is simple. According to this embodiment, the piston member111may be made to perform a rotating motion operation and a linear motion operation without the need for a complex guide groove. Assume that the second-component containing chamber201and the mixing chamber139are in a communication state. Then, when the force of the predetermined level or higher toward the third bottom wall portion115is applied to the operating rod portion115of the piston member ill, the contact portions117get out of the fitting grooves196. The piston member111thereby moves toward the third bottom wall portion195of the second-component containing member109, so that the second component may be injected into the mixing chamber139.

FIGS. 12A to 12Dshow a state where the contact portions117of the spring structure portions119get out of the fitting grooves196and then the piston portion comes into contact with an inner wall surface of the third bottom wall portion195of the second-component containing member109when the first communication passage187and the second communication passage198are in the communication state and the force of the predetermined level or higher toward the third bottom wall portion195is applied to the operating rod portion115. In this state, the partition wall member107is held in the fixed state with respect to the housing103by the holding structure (137,181). The nozzle105is positioned and held at the first position by the nozzle mounting structure106.

FIG. 13Ashows an enlarged view of a relevant portion D in the sectional view shown inFIG. 12B, andFIGS. 13B and 13Care respectively sectional views cut at predetermined cutting positions, in order to explain the structure of the nozzle mounting structure.FIGS. 14A and 14Brespectively show a perspective view and a side view of portions of the nozzle105and the nozzle mounting structure.FIGS. 15A to 15Care respectively a front view and perspective views of the two-component mixing container101before the nozzle105is mounted to the two-component mixing container101. As shown inFIGS. 12Aand12B andFIG. 13A, the nozzle mounting structure106includes a body161and a body holding structure164. As shown inFIG. 13A, the body161includes a closing portion162unitarily formed with the nozzle105and configured to liquid-tightly close the discharge port141when the nozzle105is disposed at the first position (position shown inFIGS. 12A to 12D), and an entrance portion163where an entrance105B of a passage105A of the nozzle105is formed. The body holding structure164has a structure configured to hold the body161to allow the nozzle105to rotate between the first position (position of the nozzle shown inFIGS. 12A to 12D) and the second position (position of the nozzle shown inFIGS. 16A to 16C) with respect to the center of rotation. As shown inFIGS. 14A and 14B, the body161includes a curved convex surface165curved in an arc with respect to a rotation center CX. The entrance105B of the passage105A of the nozzle105opens in an end portion of the curved convex surface165to form the entrance portion163. The closing portion162is formed by the curved convex surface165except the entrance portion163. Then, as shown inFIGS. 12B,13A, and15C, a curved concave surface136is formed on an outer surface of the first bottom wall portion135of the housing103such that the curved convex surface165slides thereon. The discharge port141opens in this curved concave surface136. The body holding structure164includes a pair of shaft portions166provided at the body161and extending opposite directions along a line passing through the rotation center CX, and a support portion167provided at the first bottom wall portion135of the housing103and configured to rotatably support the pair of shaft portions166and to impart on the body161a pressing force for pressing the curved convex surface165against the curved concave surface136.

According to this embodiment, the body161is supported by the pair of shaft portions166. Thus, the nozzle105rotates between the first position and the second position, constantly describing a same locus. Further, the curved convex surface165provided on the body161is pressed against the curved concave surface136provided on the first bottom wall portion135of the housing103by the pressing force imparted from the support portion167. Thus, the mixture will not leak from between the curved convex surface165and the curved concave surface136. Consequently, according to this embodiment, the nozzle105configured to rotate between the first position and the second position may be mounted to the housing103without the need for a high processing precision and a high assembly precision.

As shown inFIGS. 15A to 15C, the support portion167includes a pair of standing walls168located on both sides of the curved concave surface136and standing from the first bottom wall portion135. A pair of fitting grooves169are formed in opposing wall portions of the pair of standing walls168opposing each other. The pair of fitting grooves169each includes a first opening portion169A and a second opening portion169B. The first opening portion169A opens in one direction orthogonal to a direction where the pair of standing walls168extend away from the first bottom wall portion135. The second opening portion169B opens in a direction where the pair of standing walls168oppose each other. Then, inner wall surfaces of the pair of fitting grooves169and a section135A of the first bottom wall portion135located between the pair of standing walls168on the side of the first opening portion169A rather than the curved concave surface136are each shaped such that the pair of shaft portions166are tightly fitted in the pair of fitting grooves169when inserted into the pair of fitting grooves169through the first opening portions169A of the fitting grooves169, and the pair of shaft portions166are fitted in the fitting grooves169to allow the shaft portions166to rotate and to produce the pressing force when the curved convex surface165is fitted in the curved concave surface136. Specifically, the section135A of the first bottom wall portion135has a shape that curves to be convex toward an outside (in the direction where the pair of standing walls168extend from the first bottom wall portion135). When the support portion167with this structure is used, the nozzle105may be mounted to the housing103just by pressing the pair of shaft portions166into the pair of fitting grooves169through the first opening portions169A.

The body161and the pair of shaft portions166are concentrically and unitarily formed. The pair of shaft portions166each have a radius smaller than the radius of curvature of the curved convex surface165. When such a configuration is adopted, the pressing force for pressing the curved convex surface165against the curved concave surface136may be reliably produced.

In this embodiment, projecting portions169C are unitarily formed with the inner wall surfaces of the pair of fitting grooves169, as shown inFIGS. 13B, and15A and15B. The projecting portions169C are configured to come into contact with outer peripheral surfaces of the pair of shaft portions166to impart a force toward the first bottom wall portion135on the pair of shaft portions166when the curved convex surface165is fitted in the curved concave surface136. When such projecting portions169C are provided, the pressing force may be reliably produced. Liquid tightness between the curved concave surface136and the curved convex surface165may be thereby ensured.

As shown inFIGS. 13C and 15Aand15B, a pair of guide grooves169D are provided in portions of the inner wall surfaces of the pair of fitting grooves169that oppose the second opening portions169B. Further, as shown inFIGS. 14A and 14B, a pair of guided projections169E to be fitted in the pair of guide grooves169D are provided at axially outer end surfaces of the pair of shaft portions166. In this case, when the pair of shaft portions166are fully fitted in the pair of fitting grooves169by moving the pair of guided projections169E along the pair of guide grooves169D, the nozzle105is brought to the first position. The width and the depth of each guide groove169D and an amount of projection of each guided projection169E are set such that the pair of guided projections169E may get out of the pair of guide grooves169D when the nozzle105is displaced into the second position. When such a pair of guide grooves169D and such a pair of guided projections169E are provided, the nozzle105may be readily assembled onto the housing103, using a simple structure.

A projecting portion170is unitarily formed with the body161. The projecting portion170projects in a radial direction of the body161and is movable in a gap G (FIG. 15AandFIG. 15C) between the pair of standing walls168. Then, a contact portion138to be contacted by the projecting portion170is unitarily formed with the first bottom wall portion135of the housing103. The projecting portion170and the contact portion138form a stopper for preventing the nozzle105from being rotated in a direction opposite to the first position when the nozzle105is at the second position. Since such a stopper is provided, the nozzle may be reliably stopped at the second position. The stopper may be provided for at least one of the body161and the first bottom wall portion135.

When the second component (liquid material) is injected into the mixing chamber139as shown inFIGS. 12A to 12D, the liquid material and the powder material are mixed into the mixture (or the reaction product) by shaking well the two-component mixing container101. When the liquid material and the powder material are sufficiently mixed, the nozzle105is displaced into the second position, as shown inFIGS. 16A to 16Cto align the entrance105B of the nozzle105and the discharge port141, thereby forming a discharge passage. In this state, the pair of guided projections169E have gotten out of the pair of guide grooves169D, as shown inFIG. 17B.

The two-component mixing container101shown inFIGS. 16A to 16Cis mounted to a dedicated extruder not shown. The dedicated extruder includes a piston configured to push the piston member111.FIGS. 18A to 18Cshow diagrams used for explaining a state where the piston member111has been pushed to move the partition wall portion177of the partition wall member107to the first bottom wall portion135of the housing103. The partition wall portion177of the partition wall member107in this embodiment is shaped to deform according to the shape of an inner wall surface of the first bottom wall portion135of the housing103when the piston member111is moved toward the first bottom wall portion135to discharge the mixture to the outside from the mixing chamber139through the nozzle105(refer toFIGS. 18B and 18C). Consequently, a maximum amount of the mixture may be discharged from the mixing chamber139.

When the piston member111is moved toward the first bottom wall portion135, the pair of projecting pieces181are bent by pressing the piston member111toward the first bottom wall portion135by the force of the predetermined level or higher. In this embodiment, the pair of projecting pieces181are provided in the vicinity of the second opening portion171of the second cylindrical portion173of the partition wall member107and extend radially outward. The bent pair of projecting pieces181thereby enter into the housing103. Since such a structure of bending the pair of projecting pieces181is adopted, a structure for releasing fixation is simplified.

In this embodiment, a through hole189for air extraction is formed in the second bottom wall portion175of the partition wall member107, as shown inFIGS. 5A to 5C. The through hole189is configured to communicate the mixing chamber139and a gap between the second bottom wall portion175and the third bottom wall portion195of the second-component containing member109. With this arrangement, the air extraction is performed using the gap. Thus, when injecting the second component into the mixing chamber139, air extraction may be readily performed without preparing for a special structure.

In the present embodiment, a nozzle mounting structure of the present invention is applied to a two-component mixing container (or component container). Of course, a nozzle mounting structure of the present invention may be applied to a one-component container configured to discharge only a primary component.

According to the present invention, the body is supported by the pair of shaft portions. Thus, the nozzle rotates between the first position and the second position, constantly describing the same locus. Further, the curved convex surface provided on the body is pressed against the curved concave surface provided on the bottom wall portion of the housing by the pressing force imparted from the support portion. Accordingly, the mixture will not leak from between the curved convex surface and the curved concave surface. Thus, according to the present invention, the nozzle configured to rotate between the first position and the second position may be mounted to the housing without the need for a high processing precision and a high assembly precision.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity with reference to the drawings, obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.