TWO-COMPONENT MIXING CAPSULE, PARTICULARLY FOR HIGHLY VISCOUS DENTAL MATERIALS

Abstract

Disclosed is a two-component mixing capsule for intake and for mixing of two compositions with a capsule housing having a discharge spout at its front end, wherein the mixing capsule comprises a first mixing chamber and a second mixing chamber, wherein the two mixing chambers may be separated from each other for storage or for transport, by the first mixing chamber being rotatable into a first position in which the first mixing chamber is separated from mixing chamber, by a rotatably mounted handhold element, the rotational axis of which is approximately perpendicularly arranged to the longitudinal axis of the mixing capsule. The two mixing chambers form a common mixing chamber by rotating the first mixing chamber into a second position in which the central axes of the first and second mixing chamber are substantially coaxially arranged, wherein the composition may be discharged after mixing by attaching a squeezing piston.

Claims

1. A two-component mixing capsule for intake and for mixing of two compositions with a capsule housing having a discharge opening at its front end, wherein the mixing capsule comprises a rotary element rotatably mounted in the capsule housing and a lid arranged opposite the rotary element in the capsule housing without a handhold or without handholds, the rotational axis of the rotary element being approximately perpendicularly arranged to the longitudinal axis of the mixing capsule, and a rotatably mounted first mixing chamber being assigned to the rotary element in the capsule housing, and a second mixing chamber being arranged in the capsule housing.

2. The mixing capsule according to claim 1, wherein the lid without handhold(s) is rotatably or non-rotatably connected to the capsule housing.

3. The mixing capsule according to claim 2, wherein the respective rotational axes of the rotary element and optionally of the rotatable lid without handhold(s) are coaxially arranged to each other and are approximately perpendicularly arranged to the longitudinal axis of the mixing capsule, optionally the rotary element and optionally the lid element are rotatable only together about a common rotational axis being approximately perpendicularly arranged to the longitudinal axis of the mixing capsule.

4. Mixing capsule according to claim 2, wherein the rotatably mounted rotary element and the rotatably mounted lid without handhold(s) are interconnected, or at least the rotary element is rotatably connected to the capsule housing.

5. The mixing capsule according to claim 2, wherein the first mixing chamber (5a) is arranged at the lid without handhold(s) (4.1) rotatably mounted in the capsule housing (2) and/or the rotatably mounted rotary element (4.2), the rotatably mounted rotary element and the first mixing chamber (5a) forming a one-piece component.

6.-8. (canceled)

9. The mixing capsule according to claim 1, wherein the movable sealing piston is arranged in an opening at the back end of the capsule housing and the diameter of the movable sealing piston is reducible.

10. The mixing capsule according to claim 1, wherein a guiding adapter, in which a movable squeezing piston is arranged, is attachable to the back end of the housing of the mixing capsule.

11. The mixing capsule according to claim 1, wherein a) a separated handhold element is attachable to the rotary element or lockable to it, or a separated handhold element or the squeezing piston is insertable into the rotary element in an opening, and/or b) the rotary element has at least one groove, and/or c) the rotary element has at least one handhold integrally connected to the rotary element, and/or d) the rotary element has at least one groove, a polygonal opening, an opening having one-fold or multi-fold symmetry, to receive a polygonal profile, or at least one protrusion at the lateral periphery of the lid or at least on protrusion retractable into the lid or at least one protrusion foldable into the rotary element or at least one handhold element foldable into the rotary element.

12. The mixing capsule according to claim 1, wherein a) the lid without handhold(s) has the same outer surface contour as the capsule housing, and/or b) the lid without handhold(s) has an arched, textured and/or planar outer surface, and/or c) the lid without handhold(s) has a recess in the form of a 3D reproduction of a trademark component or trademark, and/or d) the lid without handhold(s) has at least one grove, a polygonal opening, an opening (16) having one-fold or multi-fold symmetry, to receive a polygonal profile, or at least one protrusion at the lateral periphery of the lid or at least one protrusion retractable into the lid.

13. A method for mixing at least two compositions A and B into a composition C in a mixing capsule according to claim 1, comprising the steps of (i) transferring the mixing capsule from a) a first position into b) a second position by the pipe section being rotated in the direction toward the longitudinal axis of the capsule housing, by rotating the rotary element with the pipe section, in which the mixing chamber and composition B are located, about its rotational axis, so that the first mixing chamber comprising composition B and the second mixing chamber in the capsule housing comprising composition A form a common mixing chamber, (ii) mixing compositions A and B with each other, by the mixing capsule being moved, and (iii) obtaining composition C.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein (iv) discharging of composition C from the mixing capsule is made, with the steps of (iv.1) fastening the guiding adapter with movable squeezing piston at the back end of the capsule housing, (iv.2) pushing the squeezing piston into the capsule housing of the mixing capsule along with the sealing piston, so that the sealing piston is pushed through the common mixing chamber by the squeezing piston.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the mixing capsule a) is in a first position when the longitudinal axis of the pipe section is twisted by approximately 90 to the longitudinal axis of the capsule housing, so that the first mixing chamber, comprising composition (B), and the second mixing chamber, comprising composition (A), are separated from each other, or the mixing capsule being b) in a second position when the longitudinal axis of the pipe section is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the capsule housing, so that the first mixing chamber and the second mixing chamber form a common mixing chamber, comprising compositions (A and B), or the mixing capsule in position b) being also in a discharge position c) when the guiding adapter with movable squeezing piston is arranged at the back end of the capsule housing, the movable squeezing piston and the sealing piston are displaceable through the common mixing chamber in the direction towards the discharge opening.

16. Method of using a mixing capsule for mixing, in which a first mixing chamber is rotatable in a first position for storing and in a second position for mixing and applying, by rotating about its rotational axis of the rotary element, wherein the rotational axis is approximately perpendicularly arranged to the longitudinal central axis of the capsule housing of the mixing capsule, wherein the first mixing chamber and a second mixing chamber form a common mixing chamber in the second position, wherein a sealing piston is arranged in the capsule housing at the back end, wherein the sealing piston is passable through the first mixing chamber and/or the hollow pipe section and a second mixing chamber along the longitudinal axis of the mixing capsule when the mixing chamber or the pipe section are coaxially oriented with the longitudinal axis of the mixing capsule, for applying from the common mixing chamber.

17. Method of using a mixing capsule according to claim 1 for storing, mixing and applying of pasty to kneadable dental two-component compositions.

18. The mixing capsule according to claim 2, wherein the first mixing chamber is arranged at the lid without handhold(s) rotatably mounted in the capsule housing and/or the rotatably mounted rotary element, and the rotatably mounted rotary element and the first mixing chamber being in the form of a pipe section or a one-side-closed cylindrical sleeve forming an integral component.

19. The mixing capsule according to claim 18, wherein the pipe section connected to the rotatably mounted rotary element or the cylindrical one-side closed sleeve forms the first mixing chamber and a) the second mixing chamber is located in the front region in the capsule housing or b) the second mixing chamber is located in the back region in the capsule housing.

20. The mixing capsule according to claim 18, wherein the pipe section connected to the rotatably mounted rotary element forms the first mixing chamber and the second mixing chamber is located in the front region in the capsule housing, the mixing capsule being a) in a first position (storage) when the longitudinal axis of the pipe section is twisted by approximately 90 to the longitudinal axis of the capsule housing, so that the first mixing chamber and the second mixing chamber are separated from each other, or the mixing capsule being b) in a second position when the longitudinal axis of the pipe section is substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the capsule housing, so that the first mixing chamber and the second mixing chamber form a common mixing chamber, or the mixing capsule in position b) being in a discharge position c) when a guiding adapter with movable squeezing piston is arranged at the back end of the capsule housing, the movable squeezing piston and a sealing piston being displaceable through the common mixing chamber in the direction toward the front end of the capsule housing or in the direction toward the back region.

21. The mixing capsule according to claim 18, wherein the sealing piston is passable through the first mixing chamber being in the form of a pipe section and the second mixing chamber along the longitudinal axis of the mixing capsule when the mixing chamber or in the form of a pipe section is coaxially oriented with the longitudinal axis of the mixing capsule.

Description

[0046] The figures show:

[0047] FIG. 1: mixing capsule 1 according to the invention (empty) with guiding adapter 7 in sectional view and sealing piston 6 slid forward.

[0048] FIGS. 2a and 2b: as FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 2a is a sectional view and FIG. 2b is a top view.

[0049] FIGS. 3a, 3a*and 3a**: mixing capsule 1 in sectional view in first position (storage position) with compositions A and Bwith guiding adapter 7 and squeezing piston 8 not being fixed.

[0050] FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c: sectional view of the mixing capsule 1 in second position with coaxial orientation of the first and second mixing chamber 5a and 5b.

[0051] FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c: mixing capsule 1 with mixed composition C ready for application with attached guiding adapter 7 and squeezing piston 8.

[0052] FIGS. 5d and 5e: mixing capsule in a position in which application of composition C is already done with sealing piston completely slid forward and squeezing piston.

[0053] FIGS. 6a, 6b, 6c: rotary element with pipe section

[0054] FIGS. 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d: sealing piston 6

[0055] FIGS. 8a, 8b: squeezing piston 8

[0056] FIG. 9: guiding adapter 7 with bayonet catch

[0057] FIGS. 10a and 10b: discharge spout with resistance means 9 inside.

[0058] FIGS. 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, 11e, 11f and 11g: various rotary elements 4.3 to which various handhold elements 13 are attachable or integrally formed.

[0059] FIG. 1 shows an empty mixing capsule 1 according to the invention with guiding adapter 7 and squeezing piston 8 in sectional view with sealing piston 6 slid forward. The mixing capsule 1 comprises a capsule housing 2 with a discharge spout 3. Further, the rotatably mounted rotary element 4.2 as well as the lid 4.1 is shown. FIGS. 2a and 2b show a mixing capsule according to FIG. 1 in cross-section and in top view. In FIG. 2a, the first mixing chamber 5a is coaxially arranged with the second mixing chamber 5b in the mixing capsule 1 so that the sealing piston 6 is shown pushed through the first mixing chamber 5a to the second mixing chamber 5b by the squeezing piston 8 being movably mounted in the guiding adapter 7. In this position, the first and the second mixing chamber form the common mixing chamber. The back 3.3 and the central 3.2 region in the inside of the discharge spout as well as the discharge opening 3.1 are shown in the discharge spout 3. The rotary element 4.2 may be rotated about the rotational axis Y, wherein the pipe section 5.1 comprising the first mixing chamber 5a is rotated concurrently. Preferably, the rotary element has protrusions laterally at the outer periphery (not shown) or the planar rotary element has ridges on the outer surface, particularly preferably the rotary element has a groove 15 (s. FIG. 11f) on the outer surface or an opening 16 (s. FIG. 11d), as well as, where appropriate, additional elevations and/or recesses, such as ridges, which facilitate slewing of the rotary element about the central axis for the user and/or show the position of the mixing capsule. An elongated auxiliary means such as a profile or a pin may be pushed into the groove 15. The longitudinal axis Z of the mixing capsule is indicated in FIG. 2b. The front region 8.1 of the squeezing piston is inserted into the recess 6.4 in the sealing piston 6. The central region 8.2 of the squeezing piston 8 serves for guiding the piston in the mixing chamber. The back region 8.3 may be further pushed in the direction of the mixing chamber by an external tool. The lamellae 6.1 and 6.2 of the sealing piston 6 are on the inside of the mixing chamber.

[0060] FIGS. 3a, 3a* and 3a** show a mixing capsule 1 in sectional view in the first position (sale/storage position) comprising composition B in the first mixing chamber 5a and composition A in the second mixing chamber 5b. The longitudinal axis Z1 of the first mixing chamber or pipe section, respectively, is approximately perpendicularly shown to the longitudinal axis Z of the capsule or the capsule housing, respectively. A sealing means 2.4 is integrally formed at the capsule in the back region, such as e.g. a bayonet catch 2.4. Further, FIGS. 3a* and 3a** show the guiding adapter 7 with inserted squeezing piston 8. The squeezing piston is locked with the adapter by locking means 8.4 such as ridges or cams or noses 8.4, respectively, circumferenting at the outer periphery in the upper region of the squeezing piston. FIG. 3b shows a pipe section 5.1 with first mixing chamber 5a, whose longitudinal axis Z1 is rotated to the longitudinal axis Z of the capsule by 90. Composition A is shown in the second mixing chamber 5b. In FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c, the second position of the mixing capsule 1 is shown in which the first mixing chamber 5a and the second mixing chamber 5b are coaxially arranged to each other. In the second position, compositions A and B may be mixed with each other in the formed total mixing chamber 5a and 5b. In this embodiment, the pipe section 5.1 with the rotary element 4.2 forms an integral component. The non-rotatable or rotatable lid 4.1 (FIG. 1, 2a) and the rotatable rotary element 4.2 (FIG. 1, 2a) are rotatably locked with the capsule housing 2 in the opening 14 (FIG. 3a) and/or with themselves. According to an alternative, the rotary element is rotatably locked with the capsule housing, in particular if the lid is non-rotatable. According to another alternative, the rotary element 4.2 and the rotatable lid are locked with themselves and are rotatably mounted in the capsule housing 2 only together. The end of the pipe section 5.1 is close to the inside wall 12 of the housing. The front circumferential lamella 6.1 of the sealing piston 6 is shown in FIG. 4c.

[0061] In FIGS. 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d and 5e, the mixing capsule 1 with mixed composition C is shown in a section view. The squeezing piston 8 is inserted into the recess 6.4 of the sealing piston 6 and pushed through the first mixing chamber 5a to the second mixing chamber 5b. Composition C may now be applied from the mixing capsule 1 by further driving the squeezing piston 8 as well as the sealing piton 6. In this position, the sealing piston is still present with a diameter D1 with protruding lamellae, as shown in FIG. 5c. Upon further driving the sealing piston, the lamellae attach to the outside of the sealing piston 6 and the diameter of the sealing piston decreases to diameter D2, as shown in FIGS. 5d and 5e.

[0062] FIGS. 6a, 6b, 6c show the rotary element 4.2. The rotary element 4.2 comprises the pipe section 5.1 forming the first mixing chamber 5a. The pipe section 5.1 or the one-side closed cylindrical sleeve 5.1 has, at least in part, an arched contour at their open ends 10 at two opposing shell surfaces.

[0063] Preferably, the rotary has an opening 16 or a groove 15 (s. FIG. 11d/f) on the outer surface, into which an auxiliary aid may be inserted to rotate the rotary element 4.2. The groove 15 preferably shows the position of the first mixing chamber. When the groove is coaxially arranged to the longitudinal axis of the capsule housing, the first mixing 5a is coaxially arranged to the longitudinal axis of the capsule housing also. The second position, i.e. mixing and/or discharge position, is shown. When the groove is perpendicularly orientated to the longitudinal central axis of the capsule housing, the first position, i.e. transport and/or storage position, is displayed (s. FIG. 11f).

[0064] In FIGS. 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d, the sealing piston 6 is shown, wherein FIGS. 7a and 7c show the recess 6.4 on the side 6b averting the mixing chamber. FIG. 7b shows the surface roughness 6.3 of the sealing piston on the side 6a facing the first mixing chamber 5a. The single- or double-phase lamellae 6.1 and 6.2 are shown in FIG. 7d. In FIGS. 8a, 8b and 9, the guiding adapter 7 as well as the squeezing piston 8, preferably being manufactured from PC (polycarbonate), with its front 8.1, central 8.2 and back region 8.3 is shown, wherein knobs being on the inside of the guiding adapter 7 are shown in top view in FIG. 8b. FIG. 9 shows a means 7.1 for fixing the guiding adapter, such as a bayonet catch 7.1, at the housing of the mixing capsule 2. In FIGS. 10a and 10b, the reference means 9 are shown, which may be formed as a partial wall or nose(s) protruding inwardly and being directed in the direction of the mixing chamber. FIGS. 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d and 11e show various embodiments of the separate handhold elements 13 which may be attached to the rotary element, or a rotary element with integral flat handhold element 13 approximately perpendicularly extending to the surface of the rotary element. FIG. 11d shows a rotary element with central opening 16 on the upper side to receive the front region 8.1 of the guiding piston by means of which the rotary motion may be performed. According to an alternative, the rotary element 4.2 has a hexagonal opening 4.1, in particular a polygon socket opening, into which the squeezing piston 8 is insertable with its front region 8.1 having a hexagonal profile. In FIG. 11e, an approximately perpendicularly protruding flat or outwardly running handhold element 13 extends on the rotary element, being integral with the rotary element 4.2 or being insertable into recesses of the rotary element via protrusions. FIG. 11f shows a rotary element having a groove 15 into which an elongated auxiliary means may engage in order to effect the torque to perform the rotary motion of the rotary element. The groove may extend over the diameter of the rotary element and may have virtually any useful profiling, such as also a hollow profile, into which an auxiliary means may engage. FIG. 11g shows a rotary element 4.2 with protrusions 17 arranged at the lateral periphery of the lid.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0065] 1 mixing capsule [0066] 2 capsule housing; 2.1 front end; 2.2 central region, 2.3 back end of the capsule housing 2, [0067] 2.4 locking means, such as bayonet catch [0068] 3 discharge spout, 3.1 discharge opening; 3.2, 3.3 inside the outlet; 3.2 front region, 3.3 back region in inner discharge spout 3 [0069] 4.1 lid [0070] 4.2 rotary element in the housing [0071] 5a rotatably mounted first mixing chamber; 5b second mixing chamber; 5a+5b total mixing chamber; 5.1 pipe section, in particular cylindrical sleeve or cylindrical one-side closed sleeve 5.1 [0072] 6 sealing piston, 6a side facing the mixing chamber 5a, side averting the mixing chamber 6b 6.1 lamella, at the side 6a facing the mixing chamber, 6.2 lamella, at the [0073] side 6b averting the mixing chamber [0074] 6.3 surface roughness of the sealing piston [0075] 6.4 recess at the side 6b facing the mixing chamber [0076] 7 guiding adapter, 7.1 means for fastening, such as bayonet catch [0077] 8 squeezing piston, 8.1 front region of the squeezing piston 8, 8.2 central region, 8.3 back region of the squeezing piston 8, 8.4 arresting means, such as elevation/ridge [0078] 9 resistance means, partially wall or nose(s) or spigots/tappets [0079] 10 open end(s) of the pipe section or one-side closed sleeve [0080] 11 end with curved contour, in particular circular sections [0081] 12 housing inner wall [0082] 13 separated handhold element, the handhold element is connectably and releasably fastenable with the rotary element [0083] 14 opening to receive the rotary element [0084] 15 groove to receive the torque in conjunction with an auxiliary means [0085] 16 opening, e.g. symmetrical and/or one- or multi-fold, such as internal polygon socket opening [0086] 17 protrusion [0087] D1, D2 diameter D1 of the sealing piston is substantially reducible to diameter D2 [0088] Y rotational axis of the rotary element (4.2) and optionally of the lid 4.1 and/or of the mixing [0089] chamber 5a [0090] Z longitudinal axis of the capsule, Z1 longitudinal axis pipe section [0091] A pasty or kneadable dental composition (component A) [0092] B pasty or kneadable dental composition (component B) [0093] C mixed pasty or kneadable dental composition (mixture of components A and B)