CARTRIDGE ASSEMBLY FOR INSERTION INTO A DISPENSER AND DISPENSER FOR DISPENSING MATERIALS

Abstract

A cartridge assembly includes a collapsible cartridge having a film cartridge wall and an outlet, the film wall bounding a chamber, the chamber extending along a longitudinal axis of the cartridge. The collapsible cartridge further includes a first end having a head part with the outlet for dispensing material being formed at the head part, a support sleeve including a rigid sleeve wall forming a receiving area to receive the collapsible cartridge. The support sleeve includes first and second ends and a support sleeve axis extending therebetween, two half shells connectable with one another to form the support sleeve and the receiving area therebetween, or, the support sleeve includes a connector to releasably fix the collapsible cartridge inside a respective receiving area of the support sleeve.

Claims

1. A cartridge assembly for insertion into a dispenser comprising: a collapsible cartridge having a film cartridge wall and an outlet, the film wall bounding a cartridge chamber for material to be dispensed, the chamber extending along a longitudinal axis of the cartridge, and the collapsible cartridge further comprising a first end having a head part with the outlet for dispensing the material being disposed at the head part; and a support sleeve comprising a rigid sleeve wall forming a receiving area configured to receive the collapsible cartridge, the support sleeve comprising first and second ends and a support sleeve axis extending therebetween, and two half shells connectable with one another to form the support sleeve and the receiving area therebetween.

2. The cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein the two half shells are connectable to one another along respective longitudinal axes or along a transverse axis extending perpendicular to the respective longitudinal axes.

3. The cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein the support sleeve further comprises a fixing structure configured to releasably fix the half shells to one another, with the fixing structure being one of a snap fit connection, a latching connection, a plug-in connection, a clamp connection, a hook connection or combinations thereof.

4. The cartridge assembly according to claim 1, further comprising at least one separate connection element configured to clamp the cartridge assembly.

5. The cartridge assembly according to claim 4, wherein the at least one separate connection element is configured to clamp the two half shells to one another by bounding the half shells from at least three sides.

6. The cartridge assembly according to claim 4, wherein the connection element is at least one of a clamp, a ring, a ferrule or combinations thereof.

7. The cartridge assembly according to claim 4, wherein the at least one separate connection element is further configured to connect the head part to the support sleeve, or the at least one separate connection element is connectable to the head part.

8. The cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein the head part includes at least two separate head pieces connectable with one another by a click connection.

9. The cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein one of the cartridge and the support sleeve comprises a piston configured to urge the material to be dispensed towards the outlet during dispensing.

10. The cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein the support sleeve further comprises a connector configured to releasably fix the collapsible cartridge inside a respective receiving area of the support sleeve by connecting the support sleeve with the head part.

11. A cartridge assembly for insertion into a dispenser comprising: a collapsible cartridge having a film cartridge wall and an outlet, the film wall bounding a cartridge chamber for material to be dispensed, the chamber extending along a longitudinal axis of the cartridge, and the collapsible cartridge further comprising a first end having a head part with the outlet for dispensing the material being formed at the head part, with the head part including at least two separate head pieces connectable with one another by a click connection; and a support sleeve comprising a rigid sleeve wall forming a receiving area configured to receive the collapsible cartridge, the support sleeve comprising first and second ends and a support sleeve axis extending therebetween, and a connector configured to releasably fix the collapsible cartridge inside a respective receiving area of the support sleeve by connecting the support sleeve with the head part.

12. A cartridge assembly for insertion into a dispenser comprising: a collapsible cartridge having a film cartridge wall and an outlet, the film wall bounding a cartridge chamber for material to be dispensed, the chamber extending along a longitudinal axis of the cartridge, and the collapsible cartridge further comprising a first end having a head part with the outlet for dispensing the material being formed at the head part, the head part including at least two separate head pieces connectable with one another by a click connection; a support sleeve comprising a rigid sleeve wall forming a receiving area configured to receive the collapsible cartridge, the support sleeve comprising first and second ends and a support sleeve axis extending therebetween; and a tray element configured to repeatedly receive the support sleeve.

13. The cartridge assembly according to claim 11, wherein the support sleeve comprises two half shells connectable with one another to form the support sleeve and the receiving area therebetween. the half shells being connectable to one another along respective longitudinal axes or along a transverse axis extending perpendicular to the respective longitudinal axes.

14. The cartridge assembly according to claim 13, wherein the support sleeve further comprises fixing structure configured to releasably fix the half shells to one another, with the fixing structure being one of a snap fit connection, a latching connection, a plug-in connection, a clamp connection or combinations thereof.

15. The cartridge assembly according to claim 11, further comprising at least one separate connection element configured to clamp the cartridge assembly, and or the connection element is connectable to the head part.

16. The cartridge assembly according to claim 15, wherein the connection element is configured to clamp the two half shells to one another by being configured to bound the half shells from at least three sides, with the connection element being at least one of a clamp, a ring, a ferrule or combinations thereof.

17. The cartridge assembly according to claim 10, wherein one of the cartridge and the support sleeve comprises a piston configured to urge the material to be dispensed towards the outlet during dispensing.

18. The cartridge assembly according to claim 10, wherein the connector is chosen from the group of snap fit connections, plug-in connections, latching connections, clamp connections, hook connections or combinations thereof.

19. A dispenser for dispensing materials, comprising: a receptacle configured to repeatedly receive the cartridge assembly according to claim 1; a rack configured to be connected to a piston and moveable through the receptacle to urge the film cartridge wall towards the dispensing outlet of the cartridge to dispense the material stored inside the cartridge chamber; and a trigger configured to activate the movement of the rack of the dispenser in a direction of the receptacle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0063] The disclosure will be explained in more with reference to the drawings.

[0064] FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a cartridge assembly;

[0065] FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate an alternative embodiment of a head part;

[0066] FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of a cartridge assembly;

[0067] FIG. 4 illustrates a third embodiment of a cartridge assembly;

[0068] FIGS. 5A-SD illustrate an alternative embodiment of a connection element;

[0069] FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate a fourth embodiment of a cartridge assembly; and

[0070] FIG. 7 illustrates a scheme of a dispenser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0071] FIG. 1 shows a cartridge assembly 10 according to the disclosure with a collapsible cartridge 12 having a film cartridge wall 14 and an outlet 16. The outlet 16 is formed at a head part 18 of the cartridge 12. The head part 18 is usually made out of a rigid material such as plastic.

[0072] The head part 18 can be formed of a single piece (as can be seen in FIG. 1) or of at least two separate head pieces 18a, 18b (as can be seen in FIGS. 2A-2C).

[0073] The two head pieces 18, 18b shown in FIGS. 2A-2C can then be connected to one another, for example, by a shown click connection to form the head part 18.

[0074] Alternatively a further type of connection such as a press-fit or form fit connection between two head pieces 18, 18b can lead to the formation of the head part 18.

[0075] As can further be seen in FIGS. 2A-2C, such an embodiment can particularly be advantageous for applications comprising a cartridge 12 that is designed as a side-by-side cartridge, thereby comprising two separate cartridge containers 12a, 12b that can be connected with one another at the head part 18, i.e. by the click connection of the head part 18.

[0076] In this connection it can further be possible that each head piece 18a, 18b comprises one outlet 16a, 16b respectively, thereby leading to a head part 18 with two outlets 16a, 16b (see e.g. FIGS. 2A-2C).

[0077] The cartridge 12 is surrounded by a support sleeve 20 which is formed out of two half shells 22. The support sleeve 20 can also be made out of a rigid material such as plastic to be able to serve as an exoskeleton for the cartridge 12.

[0078] In the embodiment of FIG. 1 the half shells 22 can be connected to one another by a fixing means (structure) 24 formed by a hook 26 and a corresponding recess 28. The fixing means 24 can also be formed by other types of connections such as a snap fit connection, a latching connection, a plug-in connection, a clamp connection and/or combinations of the foregoing, as long as the connections can opened and closed rather easily to ensure a simple and fast way of changing an empty cartridge 12.

[0079] Both the cartridge 12 and the support sleeve 20 comprise first and second ends 12A, 12B, 20A, 20B, respectively, wherein the first end 12A of the cartridge 12 aligns with the first end 20A of the support sleeve 20, and with the head part 18 of the cartridge 12 being arranged at the first end 12A of the cartridge 12. Hence, the first ends 12A, 20A of the cartridge 12 and the support sleeve 20 correspond to the dispensing end of the cartridge assembly 10, where a material stored inside the cartridge 12 is dispensed when the cartridge assembly 10 is used.

[0080] The second end 12B, 20B of the cartridge 12 and/or the support sleeve 20 can further comprise a trumpet shape. A trumpet shaped second end 12B, 20B facilitates the insertion of a piston of a dispenser 40 (see below) into the support sleeve 20, since the piston is usually dimensioned such that none of the material of the collapsible cartridge 12 is caught between the support sleeve 20 and the piston which could damage the film wall 14 and hence cause the material stored therein to come into direct contact with moveable parts of the dispenser 40 and hence possibly influence the working thereof.

[0081] Another embodiment of the cartridge assembly 10 according to the disclosure is shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows a support sleeve 20 into which a cartridge 12 is not yet fully inserted. Thus, according to this embodiment the support sleeve 20 is made out of a single piece. Therefore, the cartridge 12 can be inserted into the support sleeve 20 from the front end, i.e. the first end 20A, of the support sleeve. In order embodiments (not shown) it can also be possible to load the cartridge from the back, i.e. from the second end 20B. In this case, it can be necessary to provide an additional component such as a clamp (see below), which is configured to fix the cartridge 12 inside the support sleeve 20 during use.

[0082] According to the embodiment of FIG. 3 the support sleeve 20 further comprises connection means (connector) 30 configured to releasably fix the collapsible cartridge 12 inside its respective receiving area of the support sleeve 20. To do so, the connection means 30 can connect the support sleeve 20 and the head part 18 of the cartridge 12 with one another such that the cartridge 12 can be held in place during use of the cartridge assembly 10.

[0083] The connection means 30 shown in FIG. 3 are designed as hinges, that can swivel from an open (see dotted lines) to a closed position. In the closed position the connection means 30 can engage with the head part 18 by, for example, comprising a hook or anything the like, which is configured to connect the head part 18 to the support sleeve 20.

[0084] In general, a great variety of connection means 30 can be applied such as, for example, snap fit connections, plug-in connections, latching connections, clamp connections, hook connections and/or combinations of the foregoing. Hence, the exact type of connection means 30 can be chosen freely and/or in accordance with the precise application, e.g. in accordance with the material which is supposed to be dispensed.

[0085] In this connection it should also be noted that the embodiments of FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 can also be combined to another embodiment, where the cartridge assembly 10 comprises a support sleeve 20 that is made out of two half shells 22 and further comprises connection means 30 that fix the cartridge 12 in place by connecting with the head part 18 of the cartridge 12.

[0086] Another embodiment of the disclosure is shown in FIG. 4, where the cartridge assembly 10 comprises a separate connection element 32 which clamps the cartridge assembly 10 from at least three sides. In particular, the connection element 32 can be configured to clamp the two half shells 22 of the support sleeve 20 in order to support the connection of the half shells 22.

[0087] The connection element 32 can be formed in various ways, examples of which are clamps, rings, ferrules and/or combinations of the foregoing. FIG. 4 shows an eight shaped ferrule 32 comprising a joint 34 such that it can be opened and closed. In order to keep the ferrule 32 in the closed position during use, it can further comprise closure elements (not shown) configured to keep the connection element 32 in the closed position. Examples for such closure elements can be magnets, plug-connections, and/or other conventionally used elements.

[0088] The precise shape of the connection element 32 can also vary in dependence of the application. For example, a connection element 32 that is configured to clamp a side-by-side cartridge 12 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 will rather be shaped like an eight while a connection element 32 that is designed for a single cartridge will most likely be ring-shaped.

[0089] In this connection it should be noted that FIGS. 5A-5D illustrate an alternative embodiment of the connection element 32. In the example shown the connection element 32 is formed by two half shells that once clicked together form the eight.

[0090] Each half shell can cover between 30% to 70%, especially 40 to 60% of the respective cartridge 12 prior to connection and following the connection of the two half shells will cover 100% of the cartridge 12 at the point of connection. In the example shown in FIGS. 5A-5D each half shell covers 50% of the cartridge 12 at the point of connection.

[0091] In other examples the connection element 32 does not surround the support sleeve 20 completely. In such cases the connection element can for example be formed as a clamp. Thus, one can see that a great variety of shapes are possible.

[0092] In some embodiments (see FIGS. 5A-5D) it can also be possible that the connection element 32 is arranged at the first end 20A of the support sleeve 20 such that it not only clamps the support sleeve 20 but also the head part 18 in order to fix the cartridge 12 in an axial direction during use. Hence, it can be possible that the connection element 32 can be used instead of the connection means 30 as described before. In some cases, if for example high pressures are applied to the cartridge during use, also both possibilities, i.e. the connection means 30 as well as the connection element 32, can be applied to fix the cartridge 12 in place.

[0093] In this connection it should further be noted that the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5 could also be combined with one or all embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0094] FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of a cartridge assembly 10 according to the disclosure. According to the shown embodiment the cartridge assembly 10 comprises a (side-by-side) cartridge 12 (not directly visible in FIGS. 6A-6C), a support sleeve 20 and a tray element 50. As one can see from FIGS. 6A-6C the tray element 50 can be designed as a cover that is configured to receive and hold the support sleeve 20. Hence, the tray element 50 can act as an additional support (see dashed lines of lower part of FIGS. 6A-6C).

[0095] The tray element 50 can generally be shaped as a hollow cylinder comprising a circular or an elliptical cross section as can be seen in FIGS. 6A-6C. According to further embodiments the tray element 50 can also be designed having other outer shapes and/or another cross section, such as for example generally the same shape of the support sleeve 20.

[0096] According to an alternative embodiment, the tray element 50 can also be designed as an exoskeleton, i.e. the tray element 50 cannot comprise a continuous outer surface but it can rather be composed of a plurality of longitudinal and/or circumferential ribs.

[0097] The tray element 50 can further generally comprise the same or almost the same shape as the support sleeve 20 such that the support sleeve 20 can be easily covered by the tray element 50. However, in some embodiments the shape of the tray element 50 can also vary if, for example, a special outer shape or specific dimensions are needed.

[0098] That is, as can be seen in FIGS. 6A-6C, the tray element 50 can also comprise a trumpet-shaped second end just like the support sleeve 20 (see in particular middle part of FIGS. 6A-6C).

[0099] In the embodiment of FIGS. 6A-6C the assembly 10 further comprises a connection element 32 that clamps the support sleeve 20 and the cartridge 12 (see upper part of FIGS. 6A-6C). One can also see that according to this embodiment the connection element 32 is arranged at the respective first ends 12A, 20A of the cartridge 12 and support sleeve 20, i.e. is near the head part 18 and the outlet 16 of the cartridge 12. This way, the connection element 32 can be suitable to hold the cartridge 12 inside the support sleeve 20 during use such that no further connection means, such as the ones shown in FIG. 3, are necessary.

[0100] Additionally, it could also be possible that the connection element 32 is arranged at an outer side of the tray element 50 such that it not only clamps the support sleeve 20 and the cartridge 12 but also the tray element 50.

[0101] However, generally, it can also be possible that the connection element 32 is arranged somewhere else between the first end 12A, 20A and the second end 12B, 20B of the cartridge 12 respectively the support sleeve 20.

[0102] Therefore, generally it can also be possible that the embodiment of FIGS. 6A-6C furthermore comprises the connection means 30 that is configured to connect the head part 18 of the cartridge 12 with the support sleeve 20 during use.

[0103] To dispense the material stored inside the cartridge 12 a dispenser 40 such as the one shown in FIG. 7 can be used. Such a dispenser 40 is configured to receive a cartridge assembly 10 according to the disclosure. As can be seen in FIG. 7, the dispenser 40 comprises a receiving space 42 configured to receive the cartridge assembly 10, i.e. the support sleeve 20 that is connected with the cartridge 12.

[0104] A head plate 41 is arranged at a front end of the dispenser 40 which is configured to hold the cartridge assembly 10 in axial direction during dispense. As can also be seen in FIGS. 6A-6C, the front plate 41 together with the receiving space 42 can be brought into an open position (see dotted lines) that make the removal of the cartridge assembly 10, e.g. upon replacement of the cartridge 12, easier.

[0105] To dispense the material stored inside the cartridge 12 the dispenser 40 further comprises a rack 44 that is connected to a piston (not shown). The piston can either be part of the cartridge 12 or of the support sleeve 20. By pressing the trigger 46, which is located near the handle 48 of the dispenser 40, the rack 44 moves in a forward direction towards the cartridge assembly 10 and presses the piston against the cartridge 12 such that the material stored therein is urged towards the outlet of the cartridge 12 and thus out of the dispenser.