Multi-component applicator

Abstract

Multi-chamber applicator (1) comprising a multi-chamber container (2) for storing at least two subcomponents, said chamber comprising a device (3) for removing a mixture of the subcomponents.

Claims

1. A multi-component applicator, wherein the applicator comprises at least two chambers within the applicator for in each case at least one subcomponent (A, B), at least one removal apparatus comprising at least one directing element for directing the subcomponents from the at least two chambers into at least one dispensing duct which comprises separate inlet openings to the at least two chambers as well as an outlet, and a piston that is axially displaceable in the duct between at least two positions such that in a starting position, the outlet and the inlet openings are closed, and in an end position, the outlet and the inlet openings are open.

2. The multi-component applicator of claim 1, wherein the applicator comprises at least two chambers for in each case one subcomponent (A, B), an apparatus, connected to the at least two chambers, for removing the subcomponents contained in the chambers and comprising at least one element for directing each subcomponent stream, at least one dispensing duct, in which the subcomponent streams are combined and the subcomponents are mixed and which comprises a separate inlet opening for each subcomponent, a mixing chamber, and a dispensing opening from which a mixed partial preparation can emerge, the mixing chamber being in the form of a rectilinear hollow body and the dispensing duct comprising on an inside thereof a piston which is displaceable in a form-fitting and sealing manner along a main axis of the dispensing duct, such that the dispensing opening is closed in an end position and the mixing chamber and the inlet openings are open in an opposite end position, and the subcomponents can enter the dispensing duct and emerge from the dispensing opening.

3. The multi-component applicator of claim 2, wherein the mixing chamber is cylindrical or tubular.

4. The multi-component applicator of claim 1, wherein one or more chambers are under an external pressure that is higher than an ambient pressure of the applicator.

5. The multi-component applicator of claim 1, wherein the applicator comprises a bag-in-can system.

6. The multi-component applicator of claim 1, wherein the applicator comprises a system having piston chambers as the at least two chambers for the subcomponents.

7. The multi-component applicator of claim 1, wherein one or more chambers have an internal pressure that is higher than an ambient pressure of the applicator.

8. The multi-component applicator of claim 7, wherein the applicator is at least one aerosol container pressurized with propellant.

9. The multi-component applicator of claim 1, wherein the element for directing the subcomponent stream is a valve.

10. The multi-component applicator of claim 1, wherein the element for directing the subcomponent stream is a pump.

11. The multi-component applicator of claim 1, wherein the applicator further comprises at least one safety device which is capable of blocking a movement of the piston.

12. The multi-component applicator of claim 11, wherein the safety device comprises a spring element, a connecting duct, a mixing-chamber piston, and a safety piston, the spring element acting on the safety piston, the safety piston being arranged in the connecting duct such that the safety piston closes the latter and/or a further connecting duct and blocks the mixing-chamber piston, the connecting duct establishing a connection between the chamber and a dispensing duct inlet, and the safety piston being moved from a first position into a second position when a pressure is built up in the connecting duct by a subcomponent contained in the chamber.

13. The multi-component applicator of claim 12, wherein as a result of the safety piston moving into a second position, the blocking of the mixing-chamber piston is undone.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the schematic drawings of two exemplary embodiments. For simplification, the structure and function are explained in each case using a multichamber container having only two chambers. However, this is not intended to have a limiting effect on the invention. Analogously to the arrangement of two chambers with two subcomponents, it is also possible for more than two chambers having more than two subcomponents to be realized in the multichamber applicator according to the invention.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a particular embodiment of the multichamber applicator

(3) FIGS. 2 to 4 show the dispensing head in an exploded illustration from different perspectives

(4) FIGS. 5a to 5c schematically show the piston movement in the dispensing head during dispensing

(5) FIG. 6 shows a cross section through the duct-forming elements

(6) FIG. 7 schematically shows a second embodiment of a multichamber applicator in a front view (FIG. 7a) and a side view (FIG. 7b)

(7) FIGS. 8a to d schematically show the movement of the mixing chamber piston in conjunction with the safety device during dispensing

(8) FIG. 9 schematically shows a dispensing head with two safety devices

(9) The following reference signs are used for the six parts: 1/100 Multichamber applicator 2/102 Multichamber container 3/103 Dispensing head 4/104 Chamber for partial preparation 5/105 Chamber for partial preparation 6/106 Container 7/107 Valve having coaxially arranged ducts 7.1/107.1 and 7.2/107.2 8 Valve attachment 9 Inner duct element with mixing chamber 9.1, dispensing opening 92, passages 9.3 and 9.5, connecting duct 9.4 10 Central duct element with passages 10.1 and 10.3, connecting duct 10.2 11 Outer duct element with passage 11.1 12/112/212 Mixing chamber piston with protrusion 12.1 13/113 Actuating element with button 13.1/113.1, button holder 13.2, film hinge 13.3 and eccentric cams 13.4 14/114 Casing 15/115 Bending spring 16/116 Pull rod 109/209 Mixing chamber with dispensing opening 109.1 and inlet openings 109.3/209.3 and 109.5/209.5 120 Spring element 121/221 Safety piston with blocking element 121.1 122/222 Connecting duct 123/223 Connecting duct 224 Safety piston A Subcomponent A B Subcomponent B P Gas pressure

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(10) FIG. 1 shows a multichamber applicator (1) according to the invention, having a multichamber container (2) with a removal apparatus (3), referred to as “dispensing head” in the following text. This container (2) contains two chambers (4) and (5), which are enclosed by the container (6). The container (2) is closed with a specific valve (7) from which the subcomponents contained in the chambers can emerge separately. In the interior of the container, the two ducts of the valve are each connected to a bag made of composite plastic/aluminum film, the chambers, which are filled with the subcomponents (A) and (B). The container is subjected to a positive gas pressure (P) (compressed air or some other propellant), which exerts a pressure on the chambers (4) and (5) (bag-in-can arrangement, for example multichamber container according to EP 2634111 A).

(11) The dispensing head (3) has a cylindrical casing (14), via which it is held on the multichamber container (2).

(12) When the valve is pressed vertically into the can by way of its stem, the openings in the valve are moved relative to rubber seals and the subcomponents flow out of the chambers, on account of the positive pressure, through the coaxially arranged ducts (7.1) and (7.2) and into the valve attachment (8). The valve is pressed in by means of the actuating element (13), which is anchored in the cylindrical casing (14) via the button holder (13.2). Via the film hinge (13.3), the button (13.1) is connected movably to the button holder (13.2). The button (13.1) bears on the valve attachment (8). As a result of the button being pressed, the valve attachment is pressed onto the valve (7), which opens and releases the subcomponents into the valve attachment.

(13) For greater understanding, the dispensing head is reproduced in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 in an exploded illustration.

(14) The central part in the dispensing head is the valve attachment (8), into which the concentrically arranged ducts (7.1) and (7.2) of the valve (also referred to as stem) lead. The subcomponents A and B are conducted via a duct system formed from three concentrically arranged, cylindrical duct elements (9), (10) and (11). The inner duct element (9) has the mixing chamber (9.1) in its interior and the nozzle opening (9.2) at its end.

(15) In the dispensing head, the two subcomponents are introduced into the interior of the inner duct element (9), which serves as mixing chamber, from the valve attachment (8) through the connecting ducts (9.4) and (10.2), formed by the duct elements (9), (10) and (11), and the passages (9.3), (9.5), (10.1), (10.3) and (11.1).

(16) In order to orient the duct elements (9), (10) and (11) relative to one another and to the valve attachment (8), the valve attachment and duct elements have corresponding grooves and protrusions (8.1), (9.6), (10.4) and (11.2). (FIG. 6).

(17) The mixing chamber (9.1) transitions into the dispensing duct (9.2), which ends with its dispensing opening in the region of the lateral surface of the dispensing head.

(18) In the interior of the inner duct element (9), a piston (12) is arranged such that it closes the mixing chamber in a sealed manner. The mixing chamber piston (12) has, on its side facing the dispensing duct, a protrusion (12.1) that has the dimensions of the dispensing duct (9.2).

(19) In order to dispense the mixed subcomponents A and B, the button (13.1) is depressed, with the result that the valve (7) opens and releases the subcomponents into the valve attachment. Simultaneously with the opening of the valve, the mixing chamber piston (12) is retracted such that the eccentric cams (13.4) act on the bending spring (15) and the bending string is moved away from the dispensing duct in the direction (W). Via the pull rod (16), the mixing chamber piston (12) is connected to the bending spring (15) such that the mixing chamber piston follows the movement of the bending spring (15). If the mixing chamber piston is retracted, the dispensing duct becomes passable and the passages (9.3) and (9.5) are opened. The subcomponents A and B can flow into the mixing chamber, mix together and leave the mixing chamber as a mixture AB via the dispensing duct. This process is schematically illustrated in FIGS. 5a to 5c.

(20) FIG. 5a shows a state in which the button (13.1) has not been pressed. The mixing chamber piston (12) in this case fills the mixing chamber and the dispensing duct. The passages (9.3) and (9.5) are blocked by the mixing chamber piston.

(21) FIG. 5b reproduces the state in which the button (13.1) has been pressed halfway in the direction of the valve (7). The distance a′ between the casing (14) and bending spring (15) has decreased compared with the distance a in FIG. 5 by the action of the eccentric cams (13.4) on the bending spring. The piston has been retracted as a result to such an extent that the dispensing duct (9.2) is completely open. In this state, the valve (7) is not yet open.

(22) FIG. 5c shows the state in which the button (13.1) has been completely pressed and the mixing chamber piston (12) has been completely retracted. In this case, the distance a″ between the casing (14) and bending spring (15) has decreased to a maximum extent. In this state, the valve (7) is open and the subcomponent A can flow via the passage (9.3) into the mixing chamber (9.1). The inlet opening (9.5—not visible on account of the illustration) for subcomponent B is likewise open.

(23) If the pressure on the button (13.1) is released, the valve (7) pushes the valve attachment and the button into the starting position (FIG. 5a). In the process, the bending spring (15) moves into the starting position at a maximum distance a from the casing (14), with the result that the mixing chamber piston (12) slides in the direction of the dispensing duct and delivers the mixture AB present in the mixing chamber out of the dispensing duct. In the system according to the invention, in the state in which no dispensing of the mixture takes place, there is also no mixture in the mixing chamber or the dispensing duct.

(24) In the rest state, in which no dispensing of a mixture takes place, the piston is in a forward position in the dispensing duct or mixing chamber and as a result closes the openings of the mutually opposite inlet ducts in the side wall of the dispensing duct or mixing chamber. The piston is designed such that it completely fills the mixing chamber as far as the dispensing opening. In the example shown, the dispensing opening has a smaller diameter compared with the dispensing duct. The dispensing opening is completely closed by the corresponding design of the piston. Thus, no residues can form and clog the dispensing duct.

(25) The present embodiment described by the figures is designed for a commercially available system made up of a valve with two coaxial ducts in a stem. Systems are also available in which the valves have two or more valve stems, or systems which consist of two or more separate cans that are connected together by a supporting structure. The duct routing in the dispensing head has to be accordingly adapted.

(26) The whole can also be applied to a pressureless container with two or more chambers and two or more pumps or in an analogous manner to two or more separate containers that each have a pump. There are also further possibilities, known to a person skilled in the art, for feeding pressurized fluids into such a dispensing head.

(27) According to the invention, the application direction does not have to be horizontal but can also point obliquely upwards or downwards or vertically upwards. The mechanism of the button and of the piston has to be adapted accordingly. By way of a corresponding design via deflections, the dispensing direction can also be decoupled from the direction of movement of the piston.

(28) FIG. 7 shows a multicomponent applicator (100) according to the invention, having a dispensing opening and safety device oriented parallel to the main axis, having a multichamber container (102) with a removal apparatus (103), referred to as dispensing head in the following text. This container (102) contains two chambers (104) and (105), which are enclosed by the container (106). The container is closed with a valve group (107) having two separate valves with a separate outlet (stem) (107.1) and (107.2) from which the subcomponents contained in the chambers can emerge separately. In the interior of the container, the two ducts of the valve assembly are each connected to a bag made of composite plastic/aluminum film, the chambers, which are filled with the subcomponents (A) and (B). The container is subjected to a positive gas pressure (P) (compressed air or some other propellant), which exerts a pressure on the chambers (bag-in-can arrangement, for example multichamber container according to EP 2886625 A).

(29) The dispensing head (103) has a cylindrical casing (114), via which it is held on the multichamber container (102).

(30) The multichamber applicator reproduced in FIG. 7 has a safety device consisting of a spring element (120) and a safety piston (121). The safety piston (121) has at its front end a blocking element (121.1), which projects through the wall of the connecting duct and out under the mixing chamber piston (112) and prevents the mixing chamber piston from being able to move in the mixing chamber. The safety piston is arranged in the connecting duct (122) for the subcomponents A such that a buildup of pressure in the connecting duct leads to the safety piston (121) being pushed out transversely to the connecting duct, with the result that the blocking element (121.1) is retracted and the movement of the mixing chamber piston (112) is enabled. To this end, the safety piston has, on a connecting duct side facing the storage chamber, a notch or flattened portion, behind which the subcomponents A can flow.

(31) The operating principle of the dispensing head is reproduced schematically in FIGS. 8a to d. FIG. 8a shows the rest position. The button for releasing dispensing is in the top position, the can valve is closed. The mixing chamber piston (112) entirely fills the mixing chamber and in the process also closes the passages (109.3) and (109.5) that represent the inlet for the subcomponents into the mixing chamber. The safety piston (121) is in the blocking position (rest position) and blocks, with the blocking element (121.1), the mixing chamber piston (112).

(32) FIG. 8b shows the state in which the button has been partially depressed and the can valve is open. The partial preparations flow into the connecting ducts (122) and (123). The mixing chamber is still completely filled with the mixing chamber piston. In the connecting duct (122), the subcomponent A has advanced as far as the safety piston. The subcomponent B has already been able to advance as far as the passage (109.5) but is prevented from entering the mixing chamber by the mixing chamber piston (121).

(33) If the pressure of the subcomponent A in the connecting duct (122) is enough to move the safety piston (121) out of a rest position, the piston is pushed out of the duct (active position) and the subcomponent A can flow as far as the mixing chamber (FIG. 8c). As a result of the safety piston being retracted, the blocking element (121.1) was pulled away from under the mixing chamber piston, with the result that the latter can slide down and open the mixing chamber (109) (FIG. 8d). The mixture of the subcomponents can subsequently pass out of the dispensing opening (109.1).

(34) FIG. 9 schematically shows a dispensing head with two safety devices. Only when sufficient pressure has built up in both connecting ducts (222) and (223) do the safety pistons (221) and (224) move out of the rest position into the active position and as a result enable the movement of the piston (212) in the mixing chamber. As a result of the retraction of the mixing chamber piston (212) that then takes place, the inlet openings (209.3) and (209.5) of the mixing chamber are opened, with the result that the subcomponents can flow into the mixing chamber (209). If one of the two subcomponents is no longer present in a sufficient quantity to bring the respective safety piston into the active position, the mixing chamber piston remains blocked.

(35) In the application for a mass-consumption product, it is appropriate to produce the dispensing head from a plastics material. A large number of resins and thermoplastics which can be used depending on their compatibility with the subcomponents are known to a person skilled in the art from the prior art. PP, PE, PA, PS, SAN, ABS or PET have specific advantages and drawbacks, but are in principle suitable for the construction of a dispensing head and multichamber component according to the invention.

(36) Injection-molded parts made of PP and PE are preferred.

(37) Injection-molding is the first choice of manufacturing method for large quantities. However, this dispensing head can also be produced by drilling, milling, turning and a large number of additive manufacturing processes.

(38) The mixing performance of the chamber can be increased by an appropriate design of the flow ducts. By way of an approximately tangential direction of inward flow, an additional rotational flow can be introduced into the mass to be mixed, resulting in more intensive blending.

(39) In formulations which do not provide equal volume fractions (1:1), it is possible to achieve a different mixing ratio by way of different cross sections of the inflow ducts and valves/pumps. Likewise, with a different viscosity, a mixing ratio of 1:1 can be created by a corresponding design.

(40) The mixing chamber does not have to be cylindrical in cross section, and other shapes, such as square, elliptical, inter alia, are possible.

(41) The outlet opening does not have to lie on the axis of the mixing chamber. In particular in the case of mixing ratios other than 1:1, an off-center position is advantageous.