Multi-chamber film bag and use thereof

Abstract

A multi-chamber bag portion can be used as a package for a curable multi-component compound. The multi-chamber bag portion has at least two chambers separated from one another in liquid-tight manner, where one of the chambers is filled with a reactive component and at least one other chamber with a hardener component for the reactive component. The multi-chamber bag portion also has at least one separating element, which in storage condition separates the chambers from one another in liquid-tight manner and in ready-to-use condition provides fluidic communication between the chambers for mixing of the reactive component and the hardener component. An opening portion, which can be opened to discharge the mixed multi-component compound, is also a component of the multi-chamber bag portion.

Claims

1. A multi-chamber bag portion for a curable multi-component compound, comprising: at least two chambers separated from one another in liquid-tight manner, wherein one of the chambers is filled with a reactive component and at least one other chamber with a hardener component for the reactive component, at least one separating element, which in storage condition separates the chambers from one another in liquid-tight manner and in ready-to-use condition provides fluidic communication between the chambers for mixing of the reactive component and the hardener component, and an opening portion, which can be opened to discharge the mixed multi-component compound, wherein the separating element comprises a clamping rail equipped with a longitudinal groove and a clamping strip, and wherein either the clamping rail or the clamping strip is securely joined to a border of the film bag disposed opposite the opening portion and has a gripping portion, which permits a rotational movement of the clamping rail or of the clamping strip in order to wind the film bag up to the clamping rail or the clamping strip.

2. The multi-chamber film bag according to claim 1, wherein the multi-component compound is an organic compound comprising an epoxide, a (meth)acrylate, or a polyurethane.

3. The multi-chamber film bag according to claim 1, wherein the multi-component compound is an inorganic multi-component compound with a hydraulically binding component as the reactive component and a water-containing component as the hardener component.

4. The multi-chamber film bag according to claim 3, wherein the multi-component compound is an inorganic fire-protection foam or insulating foam.

5. The multi-chamber film bag according to claim 1, wherein the at least two chambers directly adjoin one another.

6. The multi-chamber film bag according to claim 1, wherein the at least two chambers are disposed at a distance from one another, a first one of the at least two chambers having a first cross section, a second one of the at least two chambers having a second cross section, and the multi-chamber film bag includes a bag portion disposed between the chambers, the bag portion having a third cross section less than the first cross section and the second cross section.

7. The multi-chamber film bag according to claim 1, wherein the opening portion comprises a screw cap.

8. The multi-chamber film bag according to claim 1, wherein the opening portion has a nozzle tip welded into the bag.

9. The multi-chamber film bag according to claim 1, wherein the opening portion comprises a socket with tear seam molded in one piece onto the film bag.

10. The multi-chamber film bag according to claim 1, wherein the clamping strip is removably disposed in the longitudinal groove of the clamping rail.

11. The multi-chamber film bag according to claim 1, wherein the clamping rail and/or the clamping strip are joined securely to the film bag by adhesive bonding or welding.

12. The process for manufacturing a curable multi-component compound using a multi-chamber film bag according to claim 1, the process comprising: filling one of the chambers of the multi-chamber film bag with a reactive component and another one of the chambers with a hardener component for the reactive component, wherein the chambers, in a storage condition, are separated from one another in a liquid-tight manner by a separating element and wherein, in a ready-to-use condition, fluidic communication between the chambers is established by opening the separating element and the reactive component is mixed with the hardener component, wherein after the components have been mixed, the opening portion is opened and the film bag is wound in the direction of the opening portion up to the clamping rail or the clamping strip, so that the mixed components are expelled from the opening portion.

13. The process according to claim 12, wherein, in the storage condition, the clamping rail is placed on one side of the film bag and the film bag is held in the clamping rail by pressing the clamping strip into the longitudinal groove from the opposite side of the film bag, thus forming two separate chambers.

14. The process according to claim 12, wherein the mixing of the components is performed manually by kneading.

15. The multi-chamber film bag according to claim 7, further comprising a nozzle tip configured to be attached to the screw cap.

Description

(1) Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description hereinafter and from the attached drawings, to which reference is made. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the inventive film bag according to a first embodiment, with opened separating element;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a side view of a schematic diagram of the inventive film bag according to the first embodiment, with closed separating element;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the inventive film bag according to a further embodiment, with opened separating element; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of the inventive film bag according to another embodiment.

(6) Multi-chamber film bag 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 has two chambers 12, 14, wherein chamber 12 is filled with a reactive component 16 and chamber 14 with a hardener component 18 for the first component.

(7) Multi-chamber film bag 10 is presented here as a flat bag of plastic with securely welded side border 20. Alternatively, a tubular bag may also be used, which then does not have any welded side border 20 but is closed, preferably welded, only at the ends of the tube.

(8) In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the two chambers 12, 14 directly adjoin one another. This embodiment is suitable for all applications with components that can be physically mixed well, such as low-viscosity components or a low-viscosity component and a pasty or powdered component, for example.

(9) In FIG. 1, bag 10 is illustrated in the ready-to-use condition with opened separating element 22. Separating element 22 comprises a clamping rail 24 with longitudinal groove 26 and a clamping strip 28. In the embodiment illustrated here, clamping strip 28 is securely joined to a border 32 of film bag 10 disposed opposite the opening portion 30 and is provided with a gripping portion 34. Clamping rail 24 may be supplied as a separate, loose part or may be joined to film bag 10, for example by adhesive bonding on an external film wall of the film bag. Alternatively, clamping rail 24 may also be securely joined to border 32 and support gripping portion 34. In this case, clamping strip 28 may exist as a loose part or be joined to the film bag. Tear seam 38 formed on opening portion 30 for simplified opening of the bag is shown. This may be advantageously supplemented or replaced by a notch.

(10) FIG. 2 shows a side view of bag 10 described in FIG. 1 in the storage condition with closed separating element 22. Bag 10 is folded over in the region of chamber 12, and chambers 12, 14 are separated from one another in liquid-tight manner by closed separating element 22. One flat side of film bag 10 rests on longitudinal groove 26 of clamping rail 24. Clamping strip 28 joined to border 32 is inserted from the opposite flat side of film bag 10 into longitudinal groove 26 and presses the film walls of film bag 10 disposed between clamping strip 28 and clamping rail 24 together in longitudinal groove 26. In this way, separating element 22 separates chambers 12, 14 from one another in liquid-tight manner.

(11) Further compulsory mixing joints (not shown) in the form of continuous weld seams may be provided in the region of separating element 22. After separating element 22 has been opened in the ready-to-use condition of film bag 10, these provide for compulsory mixing of the components in chambers 12, 14.

(12) FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of film bag 10 with opened separating element 22. In this embodiment, chambers 12, 14 are disposed at a distance from one another. A bag portion 40 with reduced cross section is situated between chambers 12, 14. Hereby better intermixing is achieved, since the compound can be forced in alternating manner through a constriction. This embodiment therefore permits the mixing of highly viscous components.

(13) In the illustrated embodiment, hardener component 18 in chamber 14 is bounded by a further separating element 36, in this case a heat-sealed peel seam, and is separated in liquid-tight manner from bag portion 40 with reduced cross section. Alternatively, a clamping seam such as a lip closure or a zipper closure may also be provided here. It is also possible to form further separating element 36 by a clamping rail, in which a clamping strip is inserted, whereby chamber 14 is separated from the rest of the contents of the bag. The clamping rail and/or the clamping strip may exist as loose parts or be fastened on the film bag. In two-component systems, it is also possible to do without further clamping element 36.

(14) For manufacturing and processing of the curable multi-component compound, one of the chambers 12, 14 of multi-chamber film bag 10 is filled with a reactive component 16 and the other chamber 12, 14 with a hardener component 18 for reactive component 16. In the storage condition, chambers 12, 14 are separated from one another in liquid-tight manner by separating element 22. For this purpose, clamping rail 24 is placed on one flat side of film bag 10 and film bag 10 is held from the opposite flat side of film bag 10 by pressing clamping strip 28 into longitudinal groove 26 of clamping rail 24 (FIG. 2). In this way, two separate chambers 12, 14 are formed that are separated from one another in liquid-tight manner by the fact that the film walls of film bag 10 are pressed together in longitudinal groove 26 of clamping rail 24.

(15) To transform the film bag shown in FIG. 1 into the ready-to-use condition, when the curable compound is to be processed and filled into openings of the building, separating element 22 is opened by removing clamping strip 28 from longitudinal groove 26 of clamping rail 24, thus providing fluidic communication between chambers 12, 14. Reactive component 16 is mixed with hardener component 18 by manual kneading while film bag 10 is closed. After components 16, 18 have been mixed, opening portion 30 is opened by tearing tear seam 38 and film bag 10, starting from border 32, is wound in the direction of opening portion 30 up to clamping rail 24 or clamping strip 28. Winding may be achieved with one hand via gripping portion 34, while the opening portion is guided with the other hand on or in the opening to be filled. When the film bag is wound up to clamping strip 28 or clamping rail 24, the mixed curable compound is expelled from opening portion 30 and introduced into the opening of the building. Almost complete emptying of the residues is possible with the inventive film bag. Thus less waste is produced and the manufacturing costs per opening to be filled can be significantly reduced.

(16) In one embodiment, the opening portion 30 may be provided with a screw cap 80, for example, as shown in FIG. 4. The screw cap may make it possible to attach commercial cartridge nozzles or nozzle tips 85, with which the multi-component compound may be discharged from the film bag in a manner appropriate for the desired purpose of use at the point of application. In one case, the nozzle tip 85 or a socket 90 having a tapered shape may be welded to the film bag, as alternatively shown in FIG. 4.

(17) To transform the film bag shown in FIG. 3 into the ready-to-use condition, when the curable compound is to be processed and filled into openings of the building, separating element 22 is opened by removing clamping strip 28 from longitudinal groove 26 of clamping rail 24 and further separating element 36 (heat-sealed peel seam) by pressure on chamber 14, thus providing fluidic communication between chambers 12, 14 via bag portion 40 with reduced cross section. Reactive component 16 is transferred into chamber 12 by being expelled and completely emptied from bag 14, and is mixed with hardener component 18 by manual kneading while film bag 10 is closed. Return flow of the component can be prevented, for example by pinching off bag 14 in the region of bag portion 40 with reduced cross section. After components 16, 18 have been mixed, bags 12 and 14 are separated from one another by tearing tear seam 38, opening portion 30 is opened and film bag 10, starting from border 32, is wound in the direction of opening portion 30 up to clamping rail 24 or clamping strip 28. Winding may be achieved with one hand via gripping portion 34, while the opening portion is guided with the other hand on or in the opening to be filled. When the film bag is wound up to clamping strip 28 or clamping rail 24, the mixed curable compound is expelled from opening portion 30 and introduced into the opening of the building. Almost complete emptying of the residues is possible with the inventive film bag. Thus less waste is produced and the manufacturing costs per opening to be filled can be significantly reduced.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

(18) 10 Multi-chamber film bag 12 First chamber 14 Second chamber 16 Reactive component 18 Hardener component 20 Side border, welded 22 Separating element 24 Clamping rail 26 Longitudinal groove 28 Clamping strip 30 Opening portion 32 Border of the film bag opposite opening portion 30 34 Gripping portion 36 Further separating element 38 Tear seam 40 Bag portion with reduced cross section