CARTRIDGE, METHOD OF MAKING A CARTRIDGE AND METHOD OF USING A CARTRIDGE

Abstract

A cartridge for an adhesive or a coating, the cartridge including a head part having an outlet, the head part being integrally formed with a cartridge wall. The outlet has one, two or more outlet passages formed therein. A valve is disposed in each one of the one, two or more outlet passages, with the valve being axially and radially fixed in position relative to the head part at a peripheral portion of the valve.

Claims

1. A cartridge configured for use with adhesives or coatings, the cartridge comprising: a head part having an outlet, the head part being integrally formed with a cartridge wall, and the outlet having one, two or more outlet passages formed therein that extend in parallel to a longitudinal direction of the cartridge; and a valve disposed in at least one of the one, two or more outlet passages, with the valve being axially and radially fixed in position relative to the longitudinal direction and the head part at a peripheral portion of the valve.

2. The cartridge in accordance with claim 1, wherein the valve is an injection molded valve.

3. The cartridge in accordance with claim 2, wherein the valve is an injection molded valve that is formed from one composition.

4. The cartridge in accordance with claim 3, wherein the one composition includes one polymer or polymer blend.

5. The cartridge in accordance with claim 1, wherein the valve is opened when a pre-determinable pressure is applied to the valve and is closed when a pressure less than the pre-determinable pressure is applied to the valve.

6. The cartridge in accordance with claim 5, wherein the pre-determinable pressure is selected in the range of 1.2 to 60 bar.

7. The cartridge in accordance with claim 1, wherein the valve is arranged between an inlet opening of the least one of the one, two or more outlet passages and an outlet opening of the least one of the one, two or more outlet passages.

8. The cartridge in accordance with claim 7, wherein the valve is arranged at an inlet end of the least one of the one, two or more outlet passages that is remote from an outlet opening of the least one of the one, two or more outlet passages.

9. The cartridge in accordance with claim 8, wherein the valve is arranged at an axial height of the least one of the one, two or more outlet passages with respect to the inlet opening of the least one of the one, two or more outlet passages that amounts to 3 to 20% of a length of the least one of the one, two or more outlet passages.

10. The cartridge in accordance with claim 7, wherein the valve is arranged at an outlet end of the respective outlet passage that is remote from an inlet opening of the outlet passage.

11. The cartridge in accordance with claim 10, wherein the valve is arranged at an axial height of the least one of the one, two or more outlet passages with respect to an outlet opening of the least one of the one, two or more outlet passages that amounts to 80 to 97% of a length of the least one of the one, two or more outlet passages.

12. The cartridge in accordance with claim 7, wherein the valve is arranged at an axial height of the least one of the one, two or more outlet passages with respect to the inlet opening of the least one of the one, two or more respective outlet passages that amounts to 20 to 80% of a length of the least one of the one, two or more outlet passages.

13. The cartridge in accordance with claim 1, wherein a shape of the valve is one of flat or at least substantially flat, deformed, convex in a direction of an outlet opening of the least one of the one, two or more outlet passages or concave in a direction of the outlet opening of the least one of the one, two or more outlet passages, at least in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

14. The cartridge in accordance with claim 1, wherein the valve has a planar portion or an at least a substantially planar portion, with the planar portion comprising one or more slits extending through the planar portion in the axial direction.

15. The cartridge in accordance with claim 1, wherein the valve is disposed in the least one of the one, two or more outlet passages after the cartridge has been formed.

16. The cartridge in accordance with claim 1, wherein the head part is overmolded around parts of the valve.

17. The cartridge in accordance with claim 1, wherein the valve is made from a material having a hardness measured with the Shore A Durometer selected in a range of 20A to 90A; or the head part is made from a material having a hardness measured with the Shore D Durometer selected in the range of 55D to 100D; or the valve is a thermoplastic elastomer; a material of the head part has a hardness that is greater than a hardness of a material of the valve; or a thickness of the valve is selected in a range of 0.25 to 1.5 mm, in particular of 0.4 to 1 mm.

18. The cartridge in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cartridge wall is formed by a flexible film bag.

19. The cartridge in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cartridge wall is formed in one piece with the head part.

20. The cartridge in accordance with claim 19, wherein the cartridge wall is formed in one piece with the head part and from the same material as the head part.

21. The cartridge in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cartridge is filled with an adhesive material or a coating material.

22. The cartridge in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cartridge is a two-component cartridge and the least one of the one, two or more outlet passages includes first and second outlet passages, and the valve is arranged in only one of the first and second outlet passages or the valve is one of first and second valves and the first and second valved are respectively disposed in the first and second outlet passages of the cartridge.

23. The cartridge in accordance with claim 22, wherein the first and second valves are either identical in design or differ in design.

24. A method of making the cartridge in accordance with claim 1, the method comprising: providing the valve(s) in an injection mold; and injection molding the head part around parts of the valve(s) to axially and radially fix the valve to the head part while integrally forming the head part to the cartridge wall.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the providing the valve comprises injection molding the valve in situ prior to the injection molding the head part around the valve.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the valve is injection molded from a material different from that of the head part.

27. A method of making the cartridge in accordance with claim 1, the method comprising: providing the head part; inserting the valve(s) into the at least one of the one, two or more outlet passages of the head part; and fixing the valve(s) in the at least one of the one, two or more outlet passages in an axial and radial position.

28. A method of operating the cartridge in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cartridge is filled with a multi-component material, the method comprising: dispensing a portion of the multi-component material via the at least one of the one, two or more outlet passages by applying a pressure on the multi-component material; releasing the pressure on the multi-component material; and sealing the outlet with the valve to prevent multi-component material from exiting the outlet when pressure is applied to the multi-component material that is below a pre-determinable pressure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0051] The invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings.

[0052] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cartridge;

[0053] FIGS. 2A to 2E are cross-sectional views through the head parts of cartridges showing different kinds of valves arranged therein;

[0054] FIGS. 3A to 3C are cross-sectional views through the head parts of a cartridge showing a further kind of valve arranged therein, with the valves being closed (FIG. 3A) and open (FIGS. 3B and 3C); and

[0055] FIGS. 4A to 4C are top views of different valves present in a respective head part.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] In the following the same reference numerals will be used for parts having the same or equivalent function. Any statements made having regard to the direction of a component are made relative to the position shown in the drawing and can naturally vary in the actual position of application.

[0057] FIG. 1 shows a cartridge 1 configured as a two-component cartridge. The cartridge 1 comprises two generally cylindrical cartridge chambers 2, 3. The cartridge chambers 2, 3 are each bound by a cartridge wall 4, 5 as well as by a head part 6, 7, with each head part 6, 7 being arranged at a respective front end 8, 9 of the cartridge wall 4, 5. Each cartridge wall 4, 5 extends in a longitudinal direction A of the cartridge 1 from a respective rear end 10, 11 to the respective front end 8, 9.

[0058] Each head part 6, 7 is a stable shaped part of generally plate-like shape and comprises respective dispensing outlets 12, 13 having outlet openings 12′, 13′ via which a respective medium (not shown) can be dispensed from the cartridge chambers 2, 3. The two dispensing outlets 12, 13 extend from the head parts 6, 7 as outlet passages 14, 15 through a common outlet 16. A mixing tip or closure part (each not shown) can be connected to the common outlet 16.

[0059] Each head part 6, 7 has a collar 17, 18, with each collar 17, 18 surrounding the dispensing outlet 12, 13 in a radially outer region of the head part 6, 7. A radial direction B is indicated relative to the arrow A used to identify the longitudinal direction A. Each collar 17, 18 has a length extending in the longitudinal direction A. The front end 8, 9 of each cartridge wall 4, 5 is sealingly and non-releasably connected to the collar 17, 18 of the head part 6, 7.

[0060] When using the cartridges 1 that have cartridge walls 4, 5 formed from a film 4′, 5′, the film bags are inserted into sleeves (not shown) and a piston (not shown) is inserted into the sleeve together with the film bag in order to actuate the film bag and dispense the multi-component material in a manner known per se.

[0061] The cartridge walls 4, 5 are each formed from a film 4′, 5′. Each rear end 10, 11 of the cartridge walls 4, 5, formed from the film 4′, 5′, is welded shut in a sealing manner in the present example to form a film bag.

[0062] It should be noted in this connection that the cartridge walls 4, 5 could also be formed in one piece with each head part 6, 7 from the same material as the head part 6, 7 (not shown). The cartridge walls 4, 5 would then be adapted to permit movement of a piston (also not shown) within the cartridge walls 4, 5 in order to dispense the multi-component material.

[0063] It should further be noted in this connection that the film 4′, 5′ forming the cartridge walls 4, 5 can be a multilayer film having at least two layers formed from different materials. Such multi-layer films are used e.g. when particularly aggressive substances are stored in the cartridge 1.

[0064] It should also be noted that the film 4′, 5′, regardless of whether it is a film made from one type of material or a multilayered film made from one or more different types of materials, can have a thickness of at most 0.3 mm, more specifically of at most 0.15 mm, preferably of approximately 0.085 mm.

[0065] FIG. 2A shows a cross-sectional view through the head parts 6, 7 of the cartridge 1 showing a first kind of valve 19 arranged in each of the outlet passages 20 of the respective dispensing outlet 12, 13. The outlet passages 20 extend in parallel to the longitudinal direction A of the cartridge 1.

[0066] The valve 19 is arranged at an inlet end 21 of the respective outlet passage 20 that is remote from the outlet opening 12′, 13′ of the dispensing outlet 12, 13. More specifically the valve is arranged at an axial height of the passage with respect to an inlet opening 22 of the respective outlet passage 20 that amounts to 3 to 20% of a length of the outlet passage 20.

[0067] The length of the outlet passage 20 is defined as the length between a corresponding inlet opening 22 and the respective outlet opening 12′, 13′ associated therewith.

[0068] The valve 19 is an injection molded valve that is formed from only one material. On attaching the valve 19 to the respective outlet passage 20 the valve 19 is axially and radially fixed in position relative to the respective head part 6, 7 at a peripheral portion 23 of the valve 19.

[0069] The valve 19 is opened if a pre-determinable pressure is applied to the valve 19 and is closed if a pressure less than the pre-determinable pressure is applied to the valve 19, in particular wherein the pre-determinable pressure is selected in the range of 1.1 to 60 bar, especially within 1.5 to 55 bar most especially 10 to 50 bar.

[0070] The first kind of valve 19 shown in FIG. 2A is a flat planar valve 19. As is also indicated e.g. in FIG. 4A, the planar valve 19 comprises flaps 24 that are separated by one or more slits 26 (see FIG. 4A). In this way the valve 19 can function in a manner similar to a mitral valve on dispensing multi-component material from the cartridge 1.

[0071] FIGS. 2B and 2C show cross-sectional views similar to FIG. 2A, with the valve 19 respectively being open. FIG. 2B in this connection shows how the flaps 24 of the valves 19 are deflected in the longitudinal direction A towards the outlet opening 12′, 13′ of the common outlet 16. This is the shape the flaps 24 of the valves 19 adopt during a dispensing process. After dispensing, pressure on the material is removed permitting the flaps 24 to adopt the position shown in FIG. 2A and thereby preventing further material from flowing out of the chambers 4, 5 and hence from exiting the outlets 12, 13 which could cause cross contamination at the outlets 12, 13.

[0072] FIG. 2C in this connection shows how the flaps 24 of the valves 19 are deflected in the longitudinal direction A away from the outlet opening 12′, 13′ of the common outlet 16. This is the shape the flaps 24 of the valves 19 adopt during a filling process. After the filling process is completed a filling nozzle (not shown) which permits the flaps 24 to adopt the position shown in FIG. 2A. When closing, the flaps scrape off any material that may be present at the end of the filling nozzle and thereby also aid in the avoidance of cross-contamination.

[0073] FIGS. 2D and 2E show cross-sectional views similar to FIG. 2A of further kinds of valves 19′, 19″. In FIG. 2D the peripheral portion 23 of the valve 19′ is wider than the planar portion 25 and projects beyond the planar portion 25 of the valve 19′ in the longitudinal direction A toward the outlet opening 12′, 13′ of the common outlet 16. In FIG. 2E the peripheral portion 23 of the valve 19″ is also wider than the planar portion 25 and projects beyond the planar portion 25 of the valve 19′ in the longitudinal direction A away from the outlet opening 12′, 13′ of the common outlet 16.

[0074] In this connection it should further be noted that the peripheral portion 23 can also be formed such that it projects beyond the planar portion 25 of the valve 19′ on both sides of the valve 19′. The different shaped designs of the peripheral portion 23 are selected such that the attachment of the valve 19, 19′, 19″ to the head part 6, 7 can be further enhanced in dependence on the viscosity of the material stored in the cartridge 1.

[0075] FIG. 3A shows a cross-sectional view through the head parts 6, 7 of the cartridge 1 showing a further kind of valve 19′″ arranged therein. The valve 19′″ is deformed in comparison to that shown in FIG. 2A. In particular the valve 19′″ is shaped as convex in the direction of the outlet opening 12′, 13′ of the common outlet 16.

[0076] The convex shaped valve 19′″ also has a planar portion 25 like the valve 19 shown in FIG. 2A. The planar portion 25 comprises one or more slits, preferably 1 to 18 slits, and as indicated in FIG. 4B can comprise four flaps 24 separated by two such slits 26.

[0077] FIGS. 3B and 3C show cross-sectional views similar to FIG. 3A, with the valve 19′″ respectively being open. FIG. 3B in this connection shows how the flaps 24 of the valves 19′″ are deflected in the longitudinal direction A towards the outlet opening 12′, 13′ of the common outlet 16. This is the shape the flaps 24 of the valves 19′″ adopt during a dispensing process.

[0078] FIG. 3C in this connection shows how the flaps 24 of the valves 19′″ are deflected in the longitudinal direction A away from the outlet opening 12′, 13′ of the common outlet 16. This is the shape the flaps 24 of the valves 19′″ adopt during a filling process.

[0079] In this connection it should be noted that the peripheral portion 23 of the valve 19′″ could be adapted in a manner similar to that shown and discussed in connection with FIGS. 2D and 2E.

[0080] FIGS. 4A to 4C show top views of different valves 19, 19′″, 19″″ inserted into a respective common outlet 16. In FIG. 4A the valve 19 is a planar valve composed of two flaps 24 that are separated by one slit 26.

[0081] The valve 19′″ in FIG. 4B has a convex shape in the direction of the outlet opening 12′, 13′ of the common outlet 16. The valve 19′″ comprises four flaps 24 that are separated by two slits 26.

[0082] The valve 19″″ in FIG. 4C is shaped as concave in the direction of the outlet opening 12′, 13′ of the common outlet 16. The valve 19″″ comprises four flaps 24 that are separated by two slits 26.

[0083] In each embodiment, the valve 19, 19′, 19″, 19′″, 19″″ is axially and radially fixed in position within the respective outlet passage 20. The valve only comprises its flaps 24 as moveable parts, but the remainder of the valve 19, 19′, 19″, 19′″, 19″″ is fixed in its position.

[0084] In the drawings of FIGS. 2A to 4C, the respective head part 6, 7 is overmolded around parts of the valve, in particular around the peripheral portion 23 of the valve 19, 19′, 19″, 19′″, 19″″.

[0085] The valves 19, 19′, 19″, 19′″, 19″″ discussed in the foregoing can be made from a material having a hardness measured with the Shore A Durometer selected in the range of 20A to 90A.

[0086] Moreover, the respective head part 6, 7 and the common outlet 16 can be made from a material having a hardness measured with the Shore D Durometer selected in the range of 55D to 100D.

[0087] A thickness of the respective valve 19, 19′, 19″, 19′″, 19″″ can be selected in the range of 0.25 to 1.5 mm, in particular of 0.4 to 1 mm.

[0088] The cartridge 1 can be made in an injection molding process in which the valve 19, 19′, 19″, 19′″, 19″″ is either provided prior to or after injection molding the head parts 6, 7. Optionally the valve 19, 19′, 19″, 19′″, 19″″ can be injection molded in situ prior to injection molding the head part 6, 7 around the valve 19, 19′, 19″, 19′″, 19″″. In this connection it should be noted that the valve can be made from a material different from that of the head part 6, 7.

[0089] When using the cartridge 1 with such a valve 19, 19′, 19″, 19′″, 19″″, the cartridge 1 is filled with a multi-component material, and the method of using the cartridge 1 comprises the steps of dispensing a portion of the multi-component material via the outlet 16 by applying a pressure to the multi-component material; releasing the pressure on the multi-component material; and sealing the outlet 16 by the valve 19, 19′, 19″, 19′″, 19″″ to prevent multi-component material from exiting the outlet 16 if a pressure is applied on the multi-component material that is below a pre-determinable pressure.

[0090] The valve 19, 19′, 19″, 19′″, 19″″ can generally be used to control the pressure present within the cartridge 1 and the outlet passage 14, 15, 20 both on filling the cartridge chamber 2, 3 and when dispensing from the cartridge chamber 2, 3. For a two-component cartridge it is namely desirable if the materials dispensed from the cartridge exit the cartridge at the same time in order to prevent a so-called off-ratio from arising. This off ratio is due to the less viscous of the two materials from exiting the cartridge 1 before the other component exits, this is particularly the case if there is a large difference between the viscosities of the materials to be mixed. Such an off ratio leads to a faulty mixing ratio and hence the presence of the valves 19, 19′, 19″, 19′″, 19″″ in the outlet passages 14, 15, 20 enables the faster, i.e. the less viscous, of the materials to be slowed down in comparison to the other material, in order to achieve improved mixing results.