I. Manufacturing Process
A lotion pump is a matching tool used to dispense contents from a cosmetics container, such as a plastic bottle or a glass bottle. It is a liquid dispenser that utilizes the principle of atmospheric balance to pump out the liquid inside the bottle by pressing, while allowing ambient air to enter the bottle to replenish the volume.
1. Structural Components A conventional lotion pump head often consists of components such as an actuator/button, upper piston, closure/lock cap, gasket, bottle cap, pump plug, lower piston, spring, pump body, glass ball, and dip tube. Depending on the structural design requirements of different pumps—such as a standard lotion pump, a left-right lock lotion pump, or a treatment pump—the relevant accessories may vary, but the principle and the ultimate goal remain consistent—to effectively dispense the contents from the plastic bottle or glass bottle.
2. Production Process Most components of the pump head are primarily made of plastic materials such as PE, PP, and LDPE, and are manufactured through injection molding. Among them, accessories like glass beads, springs, and gaskets are generally outsourced and purchased. The main components of the pump head can be finished using methods such as electroplating, anodized aluminum shells, spraying, or customized injection molding colors. Graphic and text printing can be applied to both the surface of the pump actuator and the closure surface, using printing processes like hot stamping (gold/silver), silk screen printing, and pad printing.
II. Product Structure
1. Product Classification
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Conventional Diameters: Ф18, Ф20, Ф22, Ф24, Ф28, Ф33, Ф38, etc. (commonly matched with various plastic bottle and glass bottle neck sizes).
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By Lock Type: Directional block lock, screw lock, clip lock, non-locking, and left-right lock lotion pump.
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By Structure/Type: External spring pump, plastic spring pump, water-resistant lotion pump, high-viscosity material pump, and treatment pump.
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By Dispensing Method: Airless bottle type and dip tube type.
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By Dosage (Output): 0.15/0.2cc (often used for treatment pump types), 0.5/0.7cc, 1.0/2.0cc, 3.5cc, 5.0cc, 10cc and above.
2. Working Principle When the actuator is pressed down manually, the volume in the spring chamber decreases and the pressure rises. The liquid enters the nozzle cavity through the hole in the valve core and is then sprayed out through the nozzle. When the actuator is released, the volume in the spring chamber increases, creating negative pressure. The glass ball opens under the effect of the negative pressure, allowing the liquid in the plastic bottle or glass bottle to enter the spring chamber. At this point, a certain amount of liquid is already stored in the valve body. When the actuator is pressed again, the liquid stored in the valve body will rush upward and spray out through the nozzle.
3. Performance Indicators The primary performance indicators of a lotion pump include: prime strokes (number of empty presses required), dosage (output), actuation force (downward pressure), head opening torque (especially for a left-right lock lotion pump), rebound speed, water ingress indicators, etc.
4. Difference Between Internal Spring and External Spring The external spring does not come into contact with the contents inside the plastic bottle or glass bottle, preventing contamination of the formulation caused by spring rusting.
Pump heads (including standard lotion pump, left-right lock lotion pump, and treatment pump) are widely used in the cosmetics industry, with applications spanning skincare, personal care, and perfumes. They are commonly found in product categories such as shampoo, body wash, body lotion, serum, sunscreen lotion, BB cream, liquid foundation, facial cleanser, hand sanitizer, and more.