Abstract
The invention relates to a mixer (11) for dispensing a multi-component material comprising: a first inlet (14a, 14b) for at least a first component (A, B) of the multi-component material; a mixing tube (18); a compartment (21a, 21b) for at least a second component (C) of the multi-component material; a duct (25a, 25b) that establishes a fluid communication between the inlet and the compartment, wherein the duct forms a first exit (20a, 20b) into the mixing tube and the compartment forms a second exit (22a, 22b) into the mixing tube.
Claims
1. A mixer for dispensing a multi-component material comprising: a first inlet for at least a first component of the multi-component material; a mixing tube; a compartment for at least a second component of the multi-component material; a duct that establishes a fluid communication between the inlet and the compartment, wherein the duct forms a first exit into the mixing tube and the compartment forms a second exit into the mixing tube.
2. The mixer of claim 1 comprising a housing and a static mixer.
3. The mixer of claim 1, wherein the mixing tube provides a hollow space for receiving a static mixer.
4. The mixer of claim 1, wherein the static mixer comprises a mixing helix.
5. The mixer of claim 1, wherein the mixer comprises a compartment valve member for opening and closing an entrance of the compartment.
6. The mixer of claim 1, wherein the mixer comprises a further compartment valve member for opening and closing the second exit of the compartment.
7. The mixer of claim 1, wherein the first and the second exit as well as the inlet of the mixer are designed such, that if the first component is urged through the inlet and the duct that the further component is urged by the at least one component out of the compartment through the second exit towards the mixing tube.
8. The mixer of claim 1 wherein, the sizes of the first and the second exit are selected such that the needed amount of the further component stored in the compartment of the mixer gets dispensed towards the mixing tube.
9. The mixer of claim 1, wherein the compartment of the mixer is arranged inside of the housing of the mixer.
10. The mixer of claim 1, wherein the compartment of the mixer comprises an outer wall from the housing of the mixer and an inner wall from the static mixer.
11. The mixer of claim 1, wherein the multi-component material is a dental material.
12. System for dispensing a multi-component material comprising: a mixer according to claim 1; a cartridge comprising at least one compartment for at least one component of the multi-component material.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the cartridge comprises two compartments, wherein the compartments are arranged concentrically.
14. The system of claim 12, wherein the cartridge comprises a plunger that comprises at least one piston receivable in the at least one compartment of the cartridge for extruding the material from the compartment of the cartridge through the mixing tip of the device.
15. The system of claim 12, wherein the mixer is prefilled with at least one component for the multi-component material in it's at least one compartment.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0051] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mixer according to one embodiment of the invention together with a system according to the invention:
[0052] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the front portion of the system of FIG. 1 showing the central portion of the mixer:
[0053] FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the mixer of the system of FIG. 1;
[0054] FIGS. 4a and 4b are partial cross-sectional views of the mixer of the system of FIG. 1 with a valve in an open position and in a close position;
[0055] FIG. 5a to 5d are partial cross-sectional schematical views of the system according to FIG. 1 with different filling conditions;
[0056] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the mixer of FIG. 1 showing a cavity for receiving a cartridge; and
[0057] FIG. 7a to 7d are partial schematical cross-sectional views of the mixer of FIG. 1 with different valves for the compartment of the mixer with the valves in open and in closed positions.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0058] FIG. 1 shows a system 10 for dispensing a multi-component material. The multi-component material may for example be a dental multi-component material. The system 10 comprises a mixer 11 with a cannula or mixing tube 18 received at a front end of the system 10. The mixing tube 18 provides a static mixer 19. The mixer 11 is releasably mounted to the system 10 and allows for removing and/or replacing the mixer 11, for example by a user. The system 10 further comprises a container or cartridge 12 which has two chambers or compartments 12a and 12b for containing two different components A and B of for example a dental multi-component material (not shown). The cartridge 12 is attached to the mixer 11. An activator or plunger 13 with two pistons 13a and 13b is placed in the cartridge 12 and the compartments 12a and 12b of the cartridge 12. The pistons 13a and 13b are movable within the compartments 12a and 12b for extruding the material from the compartments 12a and 12b towards an outlet of the cartridge 12. The plunger 13 comprises a pressure plate 16 for applying a force onto the plunger 13 with the pistons 13a and 13b. The system 10 for dispensing a multi-component material according to the invention further comprises two fingerplates 17a and 17b which are arranged along the longitudinal axis of the system and spaced apart from each other.
[0059] A cartridge valve member 15 (as will be described in more detail below and as shown in FIG. 2) may close the outlet of the cartridge 12 of the system 10 in a storage mode. The cartridge valve member 15 can be brought from the storage mode into an operative mode. In the operative mode the cartridge valve member 15 is open to the outlet and thereby establishes a fluid communication between the outlet of the cartridge 12 and the mixer 11. Thus in an operative mode the system 10 can be used to extrude material from the compartments 12a and 12b of the cartridge 12 through the mixer 11.
[0060] Although the example of FIG. 1 shows a system 10 for dispensing a multi-component material having two compartments 12a and 12b with two pistons 13a and 13b, the skilled person will appreciate that a system having only one compartment with one piston, or a system having multiple compartments with multiple pistons may likewise be used with the present invention.
[0061] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the front portion of the system 10 of FIG. 1 showing the central portion of the mixer. The system 10 comprises a cartridge 12 with two compartments 12a and 12b. Each of the compartments 12a and 12b provide an opening corresponding to inlets 14a and 14b of the mixer 11. The openings may be closed by the cartridge valve with a cartridge valve member 15. The functionality of the cartridge valve with the cartridge valve member 15 will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 4a and 4b.
[0062] As already pointed out above the mixer 11 provides a static mixer 19, which is received in the mixing tube 18 of the mixer 11. The static mixer 19 provides a mixing helix 26 with a number of paddles. The number of paddles of the mixing helix 26 is selected such that it is enough to mix all the components through that are urged through the mixing tip. At its rear end, which is directed towards the cartridge 12, the static mixer 19 provides two ducts 25a and 25b. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 the ducts 25a and 25b are built by the static mixer 19 and essentially provide a hollow space enabling a fluid communication between the inlets 14a and 14b and the first exits 20a and 20b. It is also possible that the ducts 25a and 25b are formed by other parts of the mixer 11.
[0063] The mixer 11 also provides two compartments 21a and 21b for receiving a further component of the multi-component material. The compartments 21a and 21b are arranged underneath the ducts 25a and 25b of the mixer 11 on both sides of the mixing helix 26. In FIG. 2 the compartments 21a and 21b are open towards the ducts 25a and 25b of the mixer 11 as well as towards the inlets 14a and 14b and may be separated from the compartments 12a and 12b with help of the cartridge valve member 15 mentioned above. The compartments 21a and 21b each provide an exit 22a and 22b which is directed towards the mixing helix 26 in the mixing tube 18 of the static mixer 19, which mixes a material flow when the device 10 is in use. The exits 22a and 22b are arranged downstream of the flow of the material coming out of the cartridge 12.
[0064] The mixer 11 for dispensing a multi-component material according to the invention thus comprises first exits 20a and 20b which are formed by the ducts 25a and 25b and which end into the mixing tube 18. The mixer 11 for dispensing a multi-component material according to the invention further comprises second exits 22a. 22b which are formed by the compartments 21a and 21b and which also end into the mixing tube 18.
[0065] In an operative mode of the system 10 the ducts 25a and 25b align with the inlets 14a and 14b as well as with the openings of the compartments 12a and 12b carrying the two components, for example A and B, for the multi-component material. In the operative mode the two components A and B of the multi-component material can thus be urged through the pistons 13a and 13b of the plunger 13 through the inlets 14a and 14b of the mixer 11 and through the ducts 25a and 25b of the mixer 11 and through the first exits 20a and 20b towards the mixing helix 26 of the static mixer 19.
[0066] The components A and B from the two compartments 12a and 12b of the cartridge 12 may also take another way. The other way is the way through the compartments 21a and 21b of the mixer 11. By taking this second way the material A and/or B urges onto a third component, e.g. material C, in the compartments 21a and 21b. Further information of the different flows of material can be found below with reference to FIG. 5a to 5d.
[0067] FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of only the mixer 11 of the system of FIG. 1. The mixer 11 comprises a housing and a static mixer 19. Housing and static mixer 19 build the following functional parts of the mixer 11: two inlets 14a and 14b for receiving two components, e.g. A and B, of a multi-component material for example from a cartridge (not shown in FIG. 3); a mixing tube 18 for receiving a mixing helix 26 of the static mixer 19; two compartments 21a and 21b for receiving an additional component, e.g. C, of the multi-component material; two ducts 25a and 25b enabling or establishing a fluid communication between the inlets 14a, 14b and the compartments 21a, 21b; and two kind of exitsfirst exits 20a and 20b formed by the ducts 25a and 25b into the mixing tube 18and second exits 22a and 22b formed by the compartments into the tube 18. The compartments 21a and 21b are formed by outer walls 23a and 23b of the housing 11 of the mixer and inner walls 24a and 24b from the static mixer 19.
[0068] With reference to FIGS. 4a and 4b the functionality of a cartridge valve with a cartridge valve member 15 for the inlets 14a and 14b will be described. FIGS. 4a and 4b are partial cross-sectional views of a mixer 11 of the system of FIG. 1 with a cartridge valve in an open position and in a close position. The mixer 1 of FIGS. 4a and 4b is attached to a cartridge 12 with two compartments 12a and 12b. The cartridge 12 can is rotatable connected with the mixer 11. By rotating the cartridge 12 within the mixer 11 the device can be brought from a storage mode in an operative mode. The cartridge valve comprise a cartridge valve member 15. The cartridge valve member 15 is arranged between the housing of the mixer 11 and the cartridge 12. Depending on the position of the cartridge 12 relative to the housing of the mixer 11 with the cartridge valve member 15, the system 10 can be brought either in the storage mode or the operative mode.
[0069] FIG. 4a shows the system 10 in an operative mode. In the operative mode the cartridge valve member 15 is open towards the inlets 14a and 14b of the mixer 11 and thereby establishes a fluid communication between the compartments 12a of the cartridge 12 and the mixer 1. Thus in an operative mode the system 10 can be used to extrude material from the compartments 12a and 12b through the mixer 11.
[0070] FIG. 4b shows the system 10 in a storage mode, in which the cartridge valve member 15 closes the inlets 14a and 14b of the mixer 11 thereby prohibiting a fluid communication between the compartments 12a and 12b of the cartridge 12 and the mixer 11. As pointed out above, the cartridge valve member 15 can be activated by rotating the cartridge 12 relative mixer 11. Other valve members are possible as well, such as for example valve members that may be activated from the outside either by a linear movement or by a rotational movement.
[0071] Referring now to FIG. 5a to 5d the functionality of the mixer according to the invention will be described. FIG. 5a is a partial cross-sectional schematical view of the mixer 11 for a system for dispensing a multi-component material according to the invention. The mixer 11 comprises a static mixer 19 with a mixing helix 26 and is prefilled with a component C. Component C is filled in the further compartments 21a and 21b of the mixer 11.
[0072] FIG. 5b is a cross-sectional schematical view of the mixer 11 of FIG. 5a with a cartridge 12 attached to it. The device is shown in an operative mode, enabling a fluid communication between the cartridge 12 and the mixer 11. The cartridge 12 comprises two compartments 12a and 12b, each compartment 12a and 12b being filled with a different component A and B, wherein component A is provided in compartment 12a and component B is provided in compartment 12b. In FIG. 5b the components A and B have not entered the mixer 11.
[0073] FIG. 5c is a cross-sectional schematical view of the mixer 11 and the cartridge 12 of FIG. 5b with the components A and B starting to enter the mixer 11 through the inlets 14a and 14b and the ducts 25a and 25b. As indicated with the arrows Z and Y the components A and B take two ways through the mixer 11. Arrow Z indicates the way of a component A or B through the ducts 25a and 25b and the first exits 20a and 20b towards the mixing tube 18. The second way is indicated with the arrow Y and goes after the ducts 25a and 25b through the further compartments 21a and 21b of the mixer 11, where the prefilled component C is present. By urging component A and component B onto component C, component C is pressed out of the compartments 21a and 21b through the second exit 22a and 22b, which are directed towards the mixing tube 18 of the mixer 11 (see FIG. 5d). As also can be seen in FIG. 5d, the upper most part of the mixing helix 26 is used to mix components A and B together. Further down, where component C is entering the flow of material, all three components A, B and C are mixed together with the help of the mixing helix 26.
[0074] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the mixer 11 of FIG. 1 showing a cavity for receiving a cartridge. The housing of the mixer 11 has a triangular shape with three extensions 32 extending on the outside of the housing of the mixer 11. The extensions 32 are helpful means for attaching the mixer 11 on a cartridge by rotating the mixer 11 relative to the cartridge. The mixer 11 provides a cavity 33 for receiving a cartridge. At the ground of the cavity of the mixer 11 the upper part of the static mixer 19 with the two inlets 14a and 14b can be seen.
[0075] Turning now to FIG. 7a to 7d, which are partial schematical cross-sectional views of the mixer 11 of FIG. 1 with different valves for the compartments 21a and 21b of the mixer 11 with the valves in open and in closed positions. FIG. 7a shows the mixer 11 with the compartments 21a and 21b for receiving an additional component for a multi-component material and ducts 25a and 25b. At the entrance of the compartments 21a and 21b, between the ducts 25a and 25b and the compartments 21a and 21b, compartment valve members 27a and 27b are positioned. The compartment valve members 27a and 27b are shown in a closed position, where no fluid communication between the ducts 25a and 25b and the compartments 21a and 21b is possible. The compartment valve members 27a and 27b can be activated from the outside of the mixer by lateral movement of the compartment valve members 27a and 27b. The compartment valve members can also be a disk like element with through holes which can be activated by a rotational movement. FIG. 7b shows the same embodiment as FIG. 7a with the compartment valve members 27a and 27b in an open position, where fluid communication between the ducts 25a and 25b and the compartments 21a and 21b is possible.
[0076] FIG. 7c shows the mixer 11 with the compartments 21a and 21b for receiving an additional component for a multi-component material. At the exits 22a and 22b (second exits of the mixer 11) of the compartments 21a and 21b, between the compartments 21a and 21b and the mixing tube, other compartment valve members 28a and 28b are positioned. The valve members 28a and 28b are shown in a closed position, where no fluid communication between the compartments 21a and 21b and the mixing tube 18 is possible. The compartment valve members 28a and 28b can be activated from the outside of the mixer 11 by lateral movement of the compartment valve members 28a and 28b. The compartment valve members and can also be a disk like element with through holes which can be activated by a rotational movement. FIG. 7d shows the same embodiment as FIG. 7c with the compartment valve members 28a and 28b in an open position, where a fluid communication between the compartments 21a and 21b and the mixing tube 18 is possible.
