REFILLABLE MASTIC CARTRIDGE, DISPENSER, FILLING STATION AND SYSTEM COMPRISING A MASTIC CARTRIDGE, A DISPENSER AND A FILLING STATION, AS WELL AS CARTRIDGE AND CONNECTOR FOR A CARTRIDGE

Abstract

A refillable mastic cartridge for a mastic medium to be dispensed includes a rigid head part having a dispensing outlet, and a mastic cartridge chamber configured to store a component of the mastic medium to be dispensed from the mastic cartridge via the dispensing outlet.

Claims

1. A refillable mastic cartridge for a mastic medium to be dispensed, the mastic cartridge comprising: a rigid head part having a dispensing outlet; and mastic cartridge chamber configured to store a component of the mastic medium to be dispensed from the mastic cartridge via the dispensing outlet.

2. The mastic cartridge in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mastic cartridge is capable of being refilled 5 or more times.

3. The mastic cartridge in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) element.

4. The mastic cartridge in accordance with claim 3, wherein the AIDC element is an RFID element.

5. The mastic cartridge in accordance with claim 3, wherein the AIDC element comprises information relating to a material stored in the mastic cartridge chamber; or the AIDC element comprises information relating to a number of times the mastic cartridge has been filled; or the AIDC element comprises information relating to a date of a last filling of the mastic cartridge; or the AIDC element comprises information relating to a maximum storage life of media stored in the mastic cartridge chamber; or the AIDC element comprises information relating to a correct installation of the mastic cartridge at one of a dispenser and a filling station; or the AIDC element comprises information relating to dispenser specific dispensing information correlated to the material stored in the mastic cartridge; or the AIDC element comprises information relating to a maximum number of filling cycles for the mastic cartridge.

6. The mastic cartridge in accordance with claim 3, wherein the AIDC element comprises information on dispensing behavior of the mastic cartridge.

7. The mastic cartridge in accordance with claim 1, wherein the rigid head part comprises alignment members configured to ensure a correct mechanical alignment of the rigid head part at a filling station.

8. The mastic cartridge in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a flexible film, the flexible film forming a mastic cartridge wall, with the flexible film bounding the mastic cartridge chamber and extending at least partially in a longitudinal direction of the mastic cartridge, the flexible film having a front end that is sealingly and non-releasably connected to the rigid head part.

9. The mastic cartridge in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a rigid mastic cartridge wall bounding the cartridge chamber and extending at least partially in a longitudinal direction of the mastic cartridge, the rigid mastic cartridge wall having a front end that is sealingly and non-releasably connected to the rigid head part.

10. A dispenser for dispensing a medium from a mastic cartridge, the dispenser comprising: a control and evaluation unit configured to communicate with an AIDC element of the mastic cartridge.

11. A filling station configured to fill a mastic cartridge, the filling station comprising: a control and evaluation unit configured to communicate with an AIDC element of the mastic cartridge.

12. The filling station in accordance with claim 11, further comprising counter alignment members that are formed complementary to alignment members present at the mastic cartridge, with the counter alignment members being configured to ensure a correct mechanical alignment of rigid head part at the filling station.

13. A system comprising: a mastic cartridge for a medium to be dispensed; a dispenser configured to dispense the medium from the mastic cartridge; and a filling station configured to fill the mastic cartridge with the medium, the mastic cartridge comprising an Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) element configured to communicate with a corresponding element arranged at the dispenser and at the filling station.

14. The mastic cartridge in accordance with claim 1, wherein the head part includes an aperture leading from an outer side of the head part to the cartridge chamber, the cartridge further comprising a connector sealingly insertable into and removable from the aperture, the connector further having a film extending over a surface of the connector with the surface facing the cartridge chamber.

15. A connector for the mastic cartridge according to claim 1, the connector being sealingly insertable into and removable from an aperture of the rigid head part.

16. The mastic cartridge in accordance with claim 6, wherein the dispensing behavior of the mastic cartridge comprises information relating to a dispensing pressure or a clamping of the film.

17. The mastic cartridge in accordance with claim 6, wherein accepted values relating to the dispensing behavior of the mastic cartridge are stored in the AIDC element and when a determination is made that the dispensing behavior deviates from the accepted values then a decision is taken to not permit a refilling of the mastic cartridge.

18. A connector for the mastic cartridge according to claim 15, wherein the connector has a film extending over a surface of the connector with the surface facing the cartridge chamber when connected to the cartridge.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0064] The invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings.

[0065] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a two-component mastic cartridge;

[0066] FIG. 2 is a frontal view of a head part of the two-component mastic cartridge according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0067] FIG. 3 is a frontal view of a head part of the two-component mastic cartridge according to another embodiment of the invention:

[0068] FIG. 4 is a frontal view of a head part of the two-component mastic cartridge according to another embodiment of the invention;

[0069] FIG. 5 is a frontal view of a head part of the two-component mastic cartridge according to another embodiment of the invention:

[0070] FIG. 6 is a frontal view of a head part of the two-component mastic cartridge according to another embodiment of the invention:

[0071] FIG. 7 is a frontal view of a head part of the two-component mastic cartridge according to another embodiment of the invention;

[0072] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a system comprising a central unit with a memory, a filling station and a plurality of mastic cartridges;

[0073] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a schematically shown filling station for filling a mastic cartridge:

[0074] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a connector for a cartridge; and

[0075] FIG. 11 is a schematic view of possible positions for connection of a connector, such as the one of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0076] 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 the application.

[0077] FIG. 1 shows a refillable mastic cartridge 1 configured as a two-component cartridge. The mastic 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 mastic cartridge 1 from a respective rear end 10, 11 to the respective front end 8, 9.

[0078] Each head part 6, 7 is a stable shaped part of generally plate-like shape, which comprises a common dispensing outlet 12 via which a mastic medium (not shown) can be dispensed from the cartridge chambers 2, 3. For this, the two components of the mastic medium stored within the chambers 2, 3 mix or combine at the dispensing outlet 12 before being released outwardly as a combined mastic medium from a common outlet part 14 of the dispensing outlet 12. The dispensing outlet 12 extends from the head parts 6, 7 as an outlet passage through the common outlet part 14. A mixing tip or closure part (each not shown) can be connected to the outlet part 14.

[0079] Each head part 6, 7 has a collar 17, 18. 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.

[0080] It should be noted that the cartridge 1 can also be configured as a one-component cartridge (not shown), comprising only one generally cylindrical cartridge chamber with a single head part and a film forming the cartridge wall. In the following, corresponding features of the one-component cartridge and corresponding features of the two-component cartridge 1 mutually hold true.

[0081] The cartridge chambers 2, 3 are configured to be refillable with their respective component of the mastic medium. In particular, the cartridge chambers 2, 3 can be refilled five or more times. The cartridge 1 comprises an Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) element 20, which comprises an information relating to the one or two cartridge chambers 2, 3. The cartridge 1 can also comprise two AIDC elements 20, one for each cartridge chamber 2, 3. For example, the AIDC element 20 is designed as a RFID element. The information comprised by the AIDC element 20 can comprise one or more of the following data: the type of mastic medium component stored by a particular cartridge chamber 2, 3; a number of times a cartridge chamber 2, 3 of the mastic cartridge 1 has been filled; a date of a last filling of the mastic cartridge 1 or a respective chamber 2, 3; a maximum storage life of media stored in the mastic cartridge chambers 2, 3; a maximum number of filling cycles for a mastic cartridge 1 respectively a cartridge chamber 2, 3.

[0082] Furthermore, the information comprised by the AIDC element 20 can relate to a dispensing behavior of the mastic cartridge 1. For this, a dispensing pressure at the dispensing outlet 12 can be monitored. The AIDC element 20 can also comprise an information about accepted values relating to the dispensing behavior of the mastic cartridge 1, such as accepted values for the dispensing pressure. If a determination is made that the current dispensing behavior deviates from the accepted values, then a decision is taken to not permit a refilling of the mastic cartridge 1 respectively a mastic cartridge chamber 2, 3.

[0083] The cartridge 1 is being positioned with its head parts 6, 7 at a filling station in order to refill the chambers 2, 3, for example when an information from the AIDC element 20 shows that a particular chamber 2, 3 is empty or its filling state has passed below a critical threshold. When refilling the chambers 2, 3 of the two-component mastic cartridge 1, care has to be taken in order to not accidentally refill a chamber 2, 3 with another mastic medium component than the one that has been previously been contained by the respective chamber 2, 3. As mastic medium is particularly adhesive, a chamber 2, 3 will most likely never be entirely emptied out of the mastic medium component. A mixing of different components within the chambers 2, 3 is to be avoided.

[0084] FIGS. 2-7 schematically show different embodiments of the rigid head parts 6, 7 of the cartridge 1 in a frontal view. Each of the shown head parts 6, 7 comprise a filling port 21, 22 through which the respective bounding chamber 2, 3 of the cartridge 1 can be refilled. In order to ensure the correct positioning of the cartridge 1 at the filling station, at least one of the rigid head parts 6, 7 comprises at least one alignment member 23, 23, 24, 24′, 25, 25′. The alignment members 23, 23′, 25, 25′ shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 6 and 7 are designed as indentations in the material of the respective rigid head part 6, 7. The shown indentations have a triangular or round shape, but any other shape can also be possible. The alignment members 24, 24′ shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are designed as indentations in the material of the dispensing outlet 12. The here shown indentations 24, 24′ are equally not constrained to be of triangular shape. As shown in FIGS. 2-7, it is sufficient if only one head part 6 of the two head parts 6, 7 of the two-component cartridge 1 comprises the at least one alignment member 23, 23′, 24, 24′, 25, 25′. It is also possible for both head parts 6, 7 to comprise of an alignment member, each differently shaped and/or positioned.

[0085] The alignment members 23, 23′, 24, 24′, 25, 25′ provide a distinguishing feature between the two parts 6 and 7. With this, one can manually recognize which chamber 4, 5 of the cartridge 1 contains which mastic medium component. Furthermore, a machine can recognize the alignment members 23, 23′, 24, 24′, 25, 25′ when a positioning and refilling of the cartridge 1 at the refilled station is configured as an automatized process. For example, a member of the filling station that is to be placed on the filling ports 21 and 22 of the head parts 6, 7 of the cartridge 1 such as a valve and/or a dispenser of a particular mastic medium component comprises counter alignment members. The counter alignment members are formed complementary to alignment members 23, 23′, 24, 24′, 25, 25′ of the head parts 6, 7. For example, the counter alignment members protrude from the valve and/or the dispenser of the mastic medium component. When placing the rigid head parts 6, 7 of the cartridge 1 at the valve and/or the dispenser, the alignment members 23, 23′, 24, 24′, 25, 25′ of the head part 6 align with the counter alignment members. In this way, the filling ports 21, 22 of the two chambers 4, 5 of the cartridge 1 are correctly positioned at the filling station.

[0086] FIG. 8 shows schematically a system comprising a central processing unit 30 with a memory 32, a filling station 34 and multiple mastic cartridges 1. Each cartridge 1 comprises a AIDC element 20 which comprises information data relating to a state of the cartridge 1 as described previously. The AIDC elements 20 comprise a transmitter capable of transmitting the information to the central processing unit 30. Said central processing unit 30 is configured to store the received information from the various cartridges 1 into the memory 32. Using the information from one cartridge 1 or a combined information from multiple cartridges 1, the central processing unit 30 can determine a strategy for filling one or more cartridges 1 at the filling station 34. For example the central processing unit 30 can determine that a cartridge 1 is to be brought to the filling station 34 as soon as the transmitted AIDC element data shows that one of the chambers 4, 5 of the cartridge 1 has a filling state lower than a critical threshold filling state. As another example, the central processing unit 30 can determine that only when a certain amount of cartridge chambers 4, 5 are indicated to be empty, the corresponding cartridges 1 are to be brought to the filling station 34 and be refilled. The strategy determined by the central processing unit 30 can follow preset rules determining to create a filling process of the cartridges 1 that uses as little amount of time and/or energy as possible.

[0087] FIG. 9 shows schematically in a perspective view a filling station 34 and a cartridge 1 as shown in FIG. 1. The filling station 34 can correspond to the filling station 34 shown in FIG. 8. As shown for example by FIG. 7, the head part 6 of the cartridge 1 comprises an alignment member 25 in the shape of a triangular indentation and/or recess. The filling station 34 comprises a filling mandrel 35 which is to be positioned on the outlet part 14 of the dispensing outlet 12 of the cartridge 1. The filling mandrel 35 or a part of the filling manifold comprising the filling mandrel 35 comprises a counter alignment member which aligns with the alignment member 25 of the head part 6 when the cartridge 1 is being placed correctly on a cartridge tray 36 of the filling station 34. When it is determined that the positioning of the cartridge 1 is correct, plungers 37 of the filling station 34 can be activated in order to refill the chambers 4 and 5 of the cartridge 1. The information about a determined correct positioning of the cartridge 1 at the filling mandrel 35 can be provided via an AIDC element 20 of the cartridge 1, with said AIDC element 20 communicating with a control and evaluation unit of the filling station. The control and evaluation unit of the filling station can be located centrally on a server comprising the central processing unit 30 or can be comprised by the filling station itself.

[0088] FIG. 10 shows a connector 40 for a mastic cartridge, as for example for the mastic cartridge 1. The connector 40 is designed to be connected to an aperture 43 of a head part 6 of the cartridge 1 that is for example not formed by the dispensing outlet 12 of the cartridge 1 shown by FIGS. 1-7.

[0089] The connector 40 comprises an outlet 42 having a passage arranged therein for connecting a cartridge chamber 2, 3 to a further component. When the connector 40 is connected to the cartridge head part 6, 7, the outlet 42 can correspond to an outlet of the respective cartridge chamber 2, 3 through which the mastic medium component stored within the respective cartridge chamber 2, 3 is to be dispensed. The connector further comprises at least one inlet 44 through which the mastic medium component that is to be dispensed from the cartridge chamber 2, 3 passes through.

[0090] The connector 40 further comprises an outer thread or a male thread 46 which is designed to be sealingly inserted within the aperture 43 of the cartridge 1 or one of the cartridge head parts 6, 7. The aperture 43 of the head part 6, 7 of the cartridge 1 comprises an inner thread or female thread 48 which is mating with the outer thread or male thread 46 of the connector 40. In other words, the connector 40 is designed to be screwed into the aperture 43 of the cartridge head part 6, 7 via corresponding male and female threads 46, 48. For this, an outer diameter of a cylindrically shaped male thread 46 can be chosen to correspond to an inner diameter of a cylindrically shaped aperture 43 with the female thread 48.

[0091] Alternatively to the connection formed by the male thread 46 and the female thread 48, the connector can form with the aperture 43 of the cartridge head part 6, 7 a screwed connection, a bayonet type of connection, a plug and rotate type of connection, an adhesive bond, a thermal welding bond, an ultrasonically welded bond, a press and/or interference fit, and/or a snap in connection.

[0092] The connector can be used for or alternatively be removed when refilling the respective cartridge chamber 4, 5. A filling can then occur via the outlet 42 or directly via the aperture 43. The use of such a connector 40 on filling can aid in avoiding a cross contamination between the one or more outlets from the cartridge 1 further ensuring the lifetime of the cartridge 1.

[0093] FIG. 11 schematically shows the head parts 6, 7 with the common dispensing outlet 12 of the mastic cartridge 1 as described for FIG. 1. Each head part 6, 7 comprises a filling connector port 50, 52 designed to provide a connection interface to connect the connector 40 to a respective cartridge chamber 2, 3 of the cartridge 1 via the filling connector ports 50, 52. For example, each filling connector port 50, 52 is designed as an aperture, as for example the aperture 43 shown by FIG. 10. The cartridge 1 can comprise in total two connectors 40 each allowing to dispense a respective mastic medium component stored within the chambers 2, 3 via the outlets 42 of the connectors 40. In addition or alternatively, the connectors 40 can provide a support for a filling process. For example, the outlet 42 connects to a storage container filled with the mastic medium component to be filled into the cartridge chamber 6. When it is determined that a connector 40 respectively its outlet 42 has spanned its lifetime, for example because too much residue of the mastic medium component has accumulated within a valve of the connector 40 or the outlet 42, the connector 40 can be simply replaced without having to replace the entire cartridge head part 6, 7 respectively cartridge 1.