RECEPTACLE FOR STORING A SUBSTANCE

Abstract

A receptacle for storing a substance, wherein the receptacle has a cartridge and a valve. A valve inner side is here covered by a sealing element, with the result that a receptacle volume is substantially delimited by the cartridge and the sealing element.

Claims

1. A receptacle for storing a substance, the receptacle comprising a cartridge and a valve, wherein a valve inner side is covered by a sealing element, with the result that a receptacle volume is substantially delimited by the cartridge and the sealing element.

2. The receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receptacle is under pressure, with the result that the substance flows out of the receptacle upon an actuation of the valve.

3. The receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein an adhesive or sealant is arranged for storage in the receptacle.

4. The receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing element is a foil.

5. The receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foil has a thickness of 5 to 30 m.

6. The receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein walls of the cartridge are formed from metal.

7. The receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve has a housing, a plunger, a through-passage, a seal and a fastening element.

8. The receptacle as claimed in claim 7, wherein, in a closed state of the valve, the through-passage is closed by the seal, and wherein the plunger is displaceable in the housing in such a way that, in an opened state of the valve, the through-passage forms a connection between the receptacle volume and an outside volume.

9. The receptacle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the seal is formed from rubber.

10. The receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in a storage state of the receptacle, the receptacle volume is sealed from an outside volume by the sealing element and by the seal of the valve, and wherein, in a closed use state of the receptacle, the receptacle volume is sealed from the outside volume only by the seal of the valve, and wherein, in an opened use state of the receptacle, the receptacle volume is connected to the outside volume by a through-passage of the valve.

11. A method for sealing a receptacle having a cartridge and a valve, the method comprising the following steps: providing a sealing element; shaping the sealing element; covering a valve inner side with the shaped sealing element; and fastening the valve with the sealing element to the cartridge, with the result that a receptacle volume is substantially delimited by the cartridge and the sealing element.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein a piece of aluminum foil is provided when providing the sealing element.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein, when shaping the sealing element, the sealing element is placed by a first shaping element over a second shaping element, with the result that the sealing element assumes a shape of the second shaping element, wherein the second shaping element has a substantially part-ball-like shape.

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the method comprises the following step: subjecting the receptacle to pressure, with the result that a substance flows out of the receptacle upon an actuation of the valve, and with the result that the sealing element is pressed onto the valve inner side.

15. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the receptacle is formed for storing a substance, the receptacle comprising a cartridge and a valve, wherein a valve inner side is covered by a sealing element, with the result that a receptacle volume is substantially delimited by the cartridge and the sealing element.

Description

[0028] Details and advantages of the invention will be described hereinbelow on the basis of exemplary embodiments and with reference to schematic drawings, in which:

[0029] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary receptacle comprising a cartridge and a valve according to the prior art;

[0030] FIG. 2a shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary receptacle having a covered valve in a storage state;

[0031] FIG. 2b shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary receptacle having a covered valve in an opened use state; and

[0032] FIGS. 3a-3i show a method for sealing a receptacle having a cartridge and a valve

[0033] An exemplary receptacle 1 according to the prior art having a cartridge 3 and a valve 2 is illustrated in FIG. 1. The cartridge 3 and the valve 2 delimit a receptacle volume 4 with respect to an outside volume 15. The valve has a valve outer side 5 which adjoins the outside volume 15, and a valve inner side 6 which adjoins the receptacle volume 4.

[0034] Such receptacles 1 are for example under pressure, with the result that, when opening the valve 2, a substance which is stored in the receptacle 1 flows into the outside volume 15 through the valve 2.

[0035] A disadvantage of such solutions is the limited storability for certain substances, such as, for example, polyurethane-containing adhesives or sealants which are water-curing. Customary valves 2 are sealed by a seal made of rubber. However, such seals are not perfectly tight, with the result that certain amounts of water from the outside volume 15 pass through the seal to the receptacle volume 4, where the water-curing adhesive or sealant begins to cure. Consequently, after a certain storage time, the substance can no longer be used as intended.

[0036] FIGS. 2a and 2b each illustrate a section through a schematic and exemplary receptacle 1 having a cartridge 3, a valve 2 and an additional sealing element 12 which covers the valve inner side 6. Here, the receptacle 1 in FIG. 2a is illustrated in a storage state and the receptacle 1 in FIG. 2b is illustrated in an opened use state.

[0037] The valve 2 comprises a housing 8, a plunger 7, a through-passage 11, a seal 9 and a fastening element 10. The fastening element 10 serves to connect and/or fasten the valve 2 to the cartridge 3. The housing 8 is arranged on the fastening element 10. The plunger 7 is arranged so as to be displaceable in and relative to the housing 8. Here, the plunger 7 is displaceable from a closed position into an opened position. In this exemplary embodiment, the through-passage 11 is arranged as a duct in the plunger 7. The seal 9 is arranged around the plunger 7 in such a way that, in the closed position of the plunger 7, the through-passage 11 is sealed by the seal 9 and that, in the open position of the plunger 7, the through-passage 11 connects the receptacle volume 4 to the outside volume 15.

[0038] In FIG. 2a, the sealing element 12 is in an intact state, with the result that the receptacle volume 4 is effectively sealed with respect to the valve 2 by the sealing element 12. In FIG. 2b, the sealing element 12 is in a torn state, with the result that a substance can flow from the receptacle volume 4 through the through-passage 11 of the valve 2 into the outside volume 15. Here, the sealing element 12 is torn during a first opening of the valve 2. The displacement of the plunger 7 subjects the sealing element 12 to a force, causing it to tear. In a closed use state (not shown), the valve 2 is closed and the sealing element 12 is in a torn state, with the result that the receptacle volume 4 is sealed from the outside volume 15 only by the seal 9 of the valve 2. Therefore, the storability of the receptacle 1 with the substance contained therein is limited in a closed use state.

[0039] FIGS. 3a to 3i illustrate a method for sealing a receptacle 1 having a cartridge 3 and a valve 2.

[0040] First of all, the sealing element 12 is provided.

[0041] FIG. 3a shows a provided sealing element 12. In this exemplary embodiment, the sealing element 12 is a circular piece of foil. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, use is made of an aluminum foil having a thickness of approximately 15 m and a weight of approximately 30 g/m.sup.2. Here, the circular piece has a diameter of approximately 70 mm. Such pieces can be cut out of a larger foil, for example using a cutting mold.

[0042] The sealing element 12 is then shaped.

[0043] FIGS. 3b and 3c show a shaping of the sealing element 12. Here, the sealing element 12 is placed by a first shaping element 13 over a second shaping element 14. In this exemplary embodiment, the sealing element 12 is subjected to suction by the second shaping element 14. The first and the second shaping element 13, 14 are then offset with respect to one another, with the result that the sealing element 12 assumes a shape of an interspace between the shaping elements 13, 14. In this exemplary embodiment, the second shaping element 14 has a substantially part-ball-like shape, and the first shaping element 13 has a substantially cylindrical shape.

[0044] FIG. 3d shows two shaped sealing elements 12, with the sealing elements 12 being oriented differently in space. Here, the part-ball-like shape of the sealing elements 12 is visible.

[0045] The valve inner side is then covered with the preshaped sealing element 12.

[0046] FIG. 3e shows a valve 2 without sealing element 12. FIG. 3f shows the same valve 2 as in FIG. 3e, but with a sealing element 12 arranged on the valve inner side. Here, the sealing element 12 covers the plunger, the seal and the housing on the valve inner side. Only the fastening element of the valve 2 is not completely covered by the sealing element 12.

[0047] Finally, the valve 2 with the sealing element 12 is fastened to the cartridge 3, with the result that a receptacle volume 4 is substantially delimited by the cartridge 3 and the sealing element 12.

[0048] FIG. 3g shows the valve 2 with the sealing element 12 fastened to the cartridge 3. The receptacle volume 4 is now substantially delimited by the cartridge 3 and the sealing element 12. If the cartridge 3 and the sealing element 12 are formed from aluminum, the entire receptacle volume 4 can thus be sealed from the outside volume by aluminum elements. Very good storability with at the same time a high degree of user-friendliness is thus achieved.

[0049] In a preferred development, the receptacle 1 is subjected to pressure, with the result that a substance flows out of the receptacle 1 upon actuation of the valve 2, and with the result that the sealing element 12 is pressed onto the valve inner side.

[0050] FIG. 3g shows a valve 2 with a sealing element 12 pressed onto the valve inner side. It is visible here how the sealing element 12 has assumed the contours of the valve inner side. Pressurizing the receptacle 1 in such a way affords improved sealing by the sealing element 12 because the sealing element 12 is thus better shaped onto the valve and the valve 2 is consequently better sealed with respect to the receptacle volume 4. FIG. 3g shows a valve 2 in a storage state.

[0051] FIG. 3i shows a valve 2 with a sealing element 12 in a torn state arranged thereon. Here, the valve 2 is in an opened use state. Consequently, a substance stored in the receptacle 1 can flow from the receptacle volume 4 through the valve 2 into the outside volume 15.

[0052] In a closed use state (not shown), the receptacle volume 4 is sealed from the outside volume 15 only by the seal of the valve 2. The sealing element 12 remains torn in a use state irrespective of whether the valve 2 is in an opened or in a closed position. Thus, storability of the substance stored in the receptacle 1 is lower in a use state of the sealing element 12 than in a storage state of the sealing element 12.