Receptacle for storing and preserving a cartridge having a nozzle for dispensing a polymerizable resin

Abstract

The application relates to a receptacle for storing and preserving a reserve of polymerisable resin. The receptacle is a receptacle for storing and preserving at least one cartridge having a nozzle for dispensing a resin. The receptacle includes a rigid blind tube having an axial extension, which provides a cavity for receiving one such cartridge, and a head for depressurisation and leaktight closure of the tube, the head being removably mounted at an open end of the tube and the cartridge being inserted inside the tube and/or withdrawn from the tube via the open end.

Claims

1. A receptacle for storing and conserving a reserve of polymerizable resin, wherein the receptacle is a receptacle for storing and conserving at least one cartridge having a nozzle for dispensing a resin, the receptacle comprising at least: at least one blind rigid tube of axial extent forming a receiving portion for receiving one said cartridge, one axial end of the tube being open and forming a passage for introducing the at least one cartridge into the at least one blind rigid tube and conversely removing the at least one cartridge from the at least one blind rigid tube, the other axial end of the at least one blind rigid tube being blind and forming a leaktight closure bottom of the tube, and a head for generating negative pressure in and leaktight closure of the at least one blind rigid tube, which head is mounted detachably at the one axial end of the at least one blind rigid tube, wherein the other axial end of the tube is hermetically closed by a base sealed around the leaktight closure bottom of the at least one blind rigid tube, the base having a centering member for axially centering the cartridge inside the at least one blind rigid tube.

2. The receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the head comprises: a depressurization member for depressurizing the at least one blind rigid tube provided with a first mounting member for leaktight mounting of the head at the one axial open end of the at least one blind rigid tube, a cap for leaktight closure of the receptacle provided with a second mounting member for leaktight mounting on the depressurization member, the cap being mounted detachably on the depressurization member between an active state in which the cap mounted on the depressurization member hermetically closes off the receptacle and an inactive state in which the removed cap allows a detachable vacuum pump belonging to the head to interact with the depressurization member.

3. The receptacle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first leaktight-mounting member has a ring which forms the depressurization member and a first fixing member for reversible fixing of the ring at the one axial end of the at least one blind rigid tube via a first seal, the depressurization member having a valve accommodated inside the ring, the valve being naturally held in a closed position and being manoeuverable into an open position via the vacuum pump applied against the valve.

4. The receptacle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second mounting member for leaktight mounting of the cap on the depressurization member is formed by a second fixing member for reversible fixing of the cap at the one axial open end of the ring that faces toward an outside of the receptacle via a second seal.

5. The receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one axial end of the at least one blind rigid tube is provided with a recessed body sealed around the tube, on which recessed body the head is mounted detachably at the one axial end of the at least one blind rigid tube.

6. The receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a depressurization chamber for depressurizing the at least one blind rigid tube is formed around the cartridge installed inside the at least one blind rigid tube, between a wall of the at least one blind rigid tube and the cartridge held centered inside the at least one blind rigid tube at least via the centering member.

7. The receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receptacle is equipped with a cover for receiving the nozzle of the cartridge accommodated inside the at least one blind rigid tube, the cover being installed around the nozzle.

8. The receptacle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cover axially accommodates a sleeve for receiving the nozzle which opens onto an interior volume of the at least one blind rigid tube through a partition for closing the cover at its end facing toward the other axial end of the at least one blind rigid tube, and through a hood which is hermetically sealed on the cover at its an end of it that facing toward the one axial end of the at least one blind rigid tube and which is provided with a centering bushing for axially centering the nozzle inside the cover.

9. The receptacle as claimed in claim 8, wherein the cover axially accommodates a sleeve for receiving the nozzle which opens onto an interior volume of the at least one blind rigid tube through a partition for closing the cover at its end facing toward the other axial end of the tube, and through a hood which is hermetically sealed on the cover at an end of it that facing toward the one axial end of the at least one blind rigid tube and which is provided with a centering bushing for axially centering the nozzle inside the cover and wherein the cover comprises, along an axial extent of it, a perforated peripheral wall, the perforations of which form passages for air between an interior volume of the cover surrounding the sleeve and an outside of the cover toward the depressurization chamber, the interior volume of the cover forming at least one compartment for receiving at least one agent for treating an air contained inside the tube, said at least one treatment agent being conditioned to be permeable to the air.

Description

PRESENTATION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The invention will be better understood on reading the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, in relation to the following figures on the appended plates, in which:

(2) FIG. 1: FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective illustration of a receptacle in accordance with the invention, designed to store and conserve a cartridge having a nozzle for dispensing a polymerizable resin.

(3) FIG. 2: FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective illustration of the receptacle illustrated in FIG. 1 in a first use configuration. In FIG. 2, the cartridge is accommodated inside a tube in which a negative pressure is generated via a depressurization member which has a head belonging to the tube and interacts with a vacuum pump belonging to the head, the head being mounted on the tube in a first operating state.

(4) FIG. 3: FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective illustration of the receptacle illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 in a second use configuration. In FIG. 3, the cartridge is accommodated inside the tube and the receptacle is hermetically closed by a cap of the head mounted on the tube in a second operating state.

(5) FIG. 4: FIG. 4 is an illustration, in axial section, of a perforated cover belonging to the receptacle. Said cover is intended to be accommodated inside said tube and has a sleeve through which extends the nozzle of a cartridge installed inside the receptacle. Said cover forms, around the sleeve, at least one compartment receiving at least one agent for treating the air contained inside the tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) The figures and their non-limiting detailed description set out the invention according to particular modes which do not restrict the scope of the invention. The figures and their detailed description may serve to better comprehend and define the invention, if required in relation to the general description that has just been given. Furthermore, to avoid overloading the figures and thus make them easier to read, the reference numbers allocated to the terms and/or concepts used to describe the invention and indicated in any of the figures may be given in the description of any other figure without implying they are present in all of the figures.

(7) In FIGS. 1 to 3, a receptacle 1 for storing and conserving a cartridge 2 having a nozzle 3 for dispensing a resin mainly has a rigid tube 4 of axial extent A1 and a head 5 which is mounted detachably on the tube 4 at one of its ends 4a, depending on the alternative differentiated operating states of the head 5 on the basis of selective utilization of various members of which it is composed.

(8) The tube 4 forms a casing for receiving the cartridge 2. The tube 4 is preferably transparent to make the presence and/or absence of the cartridge 2 inside the tube 4 and its typology, depending on the type of resin it contains, visible through the wall of the tube 4. The tube 4 is a blind tube 4 having, along its axial extent, an open end 4a via which the cartridge 2 can be introduced into the tube 4. The other axial end of the tube 4 is a blind end 4b which forms a leaktight closure bottom of the tube 4.

(9) The blind end 4b of the tube 4 is closed by a base 6 which is hermetically sealed around the tube 4 at its blind end 4b. The base 6 has a centering member 6a for axially centering the cartridge 2 inside the tube 4. The cross section of the tube 4 is slightly larger than that of the body of the cartridge 2, and this forms, between them, a depressurization chamber 7 extending axially between the wall of the tube 4 and the cartridge 2.

(10) The centering member 6a is in the form of a bowl 6c axially A1 accommodating an abutment member 6b. The wall of axial extent of the tube 4 is interposed between the wall of the base 6 delimiting the bowl 6c and the centering member 6a for centering the cartridge 2. If too great a negative pressure is generated in the tube 4 accommodating a cartridge 2 of the piston cartridge type, the movable bottom of the cartridge 2 is blocked by being applied against the abutment member 6b in order to prevent escape of the resin from the reservoir of the cartridge 2.

(11) In various alternative configurations and uses of the head 5, the head 5 is selectively exploited: either by removing the head 5 into an inactive state allowing the cartridge 2 to be introduced into the tube 4 and/or removed from the tube 4 via its open end 4a, as illustrated in FIG. 1, or in a first active state of the head 5, in which the head 5 is utilized to generate a negative pressure in the interior volume of the tube 4 accommodating the cartridge 2, as shown in FIG. 2, or in a second active state of the head 5, in which the head 5 is utilized to hermetically close the receptacle 1 and more specifically the tube 4 at its open end 4a, as shown in FIG. 3.

(12) It is specified here that the head 5 may be placed in the second active state in the presence or absence of a cartridge 2 inside the tube 4: in the presence of a cartridge 2 inside the tube 4 and after depressurization of the tube 4 as illustrated in FIG. 2, the head 5 is placed in the second active state to effectively conserve the negative pressure inside the tube 4 generated beforehand and to protect a participating valve 14 of a depressurization member 9, for depressurizing the tube 4, of the head 5, in the absence of a cartridge 2 inside the tube 4, the head 5 is placed in the first active state to limit the size of the receptacle 1. A vacuum pump 8 belonging to the head 5 is then stowed inside the tube 4, thereby facilitating the packaging of the receptacle 1 logistically when it is being transported and stored pending delivery to a user, and thereby making it possible to avoid losing the vacuum pump 8 while the cartridge 2, notably, is being used.

(13) It will also be noted that, in the presence of a cartridge 2 inside the tube 4, the vacuum pump 8 can be easily placed in a position on the wall of the tube 4 retained to its outer face, via a reversible-attachment member of simple structure such as at least one elastic ring, or via adhesive tapes or hook-and-loop tapes (commonly denoted velcro tape) respectively fixed to the tube 4 and to the vacuum pump 8.

(14) The head 5 is mainly composed of said depressurization member 9 for depressurizing the tube 4, with a cap 10 for leaktight closure of the receptacle 1, and with the vacuum pump 8. The depressurization member 9 is axially mounted detachably at the open end 4a of the tube 4 via a first mounting member 11 for leaktight mounting of the head 5 at the open end 4a of the tube 4. The cap 10 is axially mounted detachably on the depressurization member 9 via a second leaktight-mounting member 12. The vacuum pump 8 is selectively installed on the depressurization member 9 by the user, as a substitute for the cap 10.

(15) In FIG. 1, the depressurization member 9 has a ring 13 accommodating said valve 14 which is naturally held in a closed position. The ring 13 constitutes said first mounting member 11, being fitted with a first seal 15a and a first fixing member 16a for reversible fixing of the depressurization member 9 at the open end of the tube 4, such as by screwing in the example illustrated.

(16) In the example illustrated, the depressurization member 9 is mounted on an axially A1 recessed body 17 which is hermetically sealed around the tube 4 at its open end 4a, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3.

(17) In FIGS. 1 and 2, said second mounting member 12 for mounting the cap 10 on the depressurization member 9 has a second seal 15b and a second fixing member 16b for reversible fixing of the cap 10, such as by screwing the cap 10 around a threaded bushing 13a formed at the open end of the ring 13 facing toward the outside of the receptacle 1.

(18) In FIGS. 1 to 3, the cap 10 and the ring 13 each have, around their periphery, gripping reliefsrespectively 10a and 9avia which the user can easily handle the cap 10 and the ring 13, without having to use a tool to rotate them. Such reliefs 10a, 9a are for example formed by axial projections as illustrated, or by knurling.

(19) Furthermore, in FIGS. 1 to 3, the receptacle 1 is equipped with a cover 18 for receiving the nozzle 3 of the cartridge 2 accommodated inside the tube 4. The cover 18shown on its own in FIG. 4is installed by the user around the nozzle 3, either before or after the cartridge 2 is introduced into the tube 4.

(20) The cover 18 has a lateral peripheral wall 18a of axial extent, which is provided with perforations 19 distributed across it, only some of these perforations 19 being provided with references so as to not overburden the figures.

(21) The cover 18 is provided with a hood 20 for closing its end facing toward the open end 4a of the tube 4, and with a partition 21 in its bottom, this partition facing toward the blind bottom 4b of the tube 4. The hood 20 is sealed at the outer face of the peripheral wall 18a of the cover 18 and has a centering bushing 20a for centering the nozzle 3 inside the cover 18 in a position centered inside the tube 4. According to the example illustrated, the hood 20 is in one piece, advantageously being formed by injection molding a plastics material or by stamping a metal material via a stamp.

(22) According to an embodiment variant which is not illustrated, the centering bushing 20a for centering the nozzle 3 may be utilized to interact with a member for blocking the nozzle 3 of which the end is cut off. The axial position of said blocking member inside the centering bushing 20a is advantageously adjustable by the user to make it come to bear at the tip of the nozzle 3, notably after the nozzle has been cut. Such a blocking member may for example be formed by a set screw screwed into the centering bushing 20a or by example be formed by a pin tightly mounted slidingly inside the centering bushing 20a.

(23) FIG. 4 more particularly shows that a sleeve 22 open at each of its axial A1 ends, forming a receiving portion for receiving the nozzle 3, is integrated axially in the cover 18. The sleeve 22 extends axially A1 between the hood 20 and the partition 21 for closing the cover 18 at its bottom, the sleeve 22 leading out through said partition 21 and being apllied against the horizontal face of the body of the cartridge 2, together with the partition 21 for closing the bottom of the cover 18. The centering bushing 20a is push-fitted into the sleeve 22, it being possible for the end of the nozzle 3, if appropriate, to emerge from the hood 20, notably in the case of a new cartridge.

(24) The peripheral wall 18a of the cover 18 surrounds the sleeve 22 at a distance, the sleeve being integrated in the peripheral wall of the cover 18 via fixing flanges 23, shown in FIG. 1. The separation volume between the peripheral wall 18a of the cover 18 and the sleeve 22 forms, between them, compartments 24a, 24b for receiving at least one agent for treating the air contained inside the tube 4 and conditioned so as to be permeable to air, including notably a moisture absorbing agent via which the moisture is removed from any remaining air that might be present inside the tube 4 after the tube has been depressurized.

(25) Said compartments 24a, 24b are in fluidic communication with the depressurization chamber 7 via the perforations 19 formed through the peripheral wall 18a of the cover 18. Thereafter, generation of a negative pressure in the tube 4 via the depressurization member 9 placed in an active position by interaction with the vacuum pump 8 manoeuvered by the user causes evacuation of the air contained in the cover 18 passing through said at least one treatment agent and escaping out of the cover 18 toward the depressurization chamber 7. The air present in the depressurization chamber 7 is then at least partially evacuated out of the tube 4, circulating toward the vacuum pump 8 through the valve 14 placed in an open position to be evacuated out of the receptacle 1.

(26) More specifically in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cap 10 initially mounted on the depressurization member 9 to hermetically close the receptacle 1 is removed by the user to allow the vacuum pump 8 and the depressurization member 9 to interact.

(27) The vacuum pump 8 is a conventional piston pump of simple structure, which has a bushing 8b via which the vacuum pump 8 is push-fitted inside the cutout of the ring 13by being applied against the valve 14and a piston 8a for manoeuvering the vacuum pump 8. The introduction and the pressing of the end of the bushing 8b against the valve 14 by the user, and then the manoeuvering of the piston 8a that they carry out, cause air contained in the depressurization chamber 7 to be extracted by suction, placing the valve 14 in the open position and the air to be evacuated out of the tube 4, which air escapes into the ambient air outside the receptacle 1 via the vacuum pump 8.

(28) Then, the tube 4 being depressurized, the user removes the vacuum pump 8, having the effect of placing the valve 14 naturally in a closed position, preventing air from entering the interior of the tube 4. To ensure hermetic closure of the tube 4, the user then installs the cap 10 on the ring 13 of the depressurization member 9 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

(29) The receptacle 1 makes it possible to store the cartridge 2 inside the tube 4 in an ambient environment favorable for its conservation. The receptacle 1 is hermetically closed off at each of its ends respectively via the cap 10 and its blind bottom, said ambient environment thus formed inside the tube 4 being depressurized and the moisture being removed therefrom. More particularly, a said treatment agent contained inside the cover 18 is used to remove the moisture from a residue of air lingering inside the tube 4 after it has been depressurized.

(30) The receptacle 1 is obtained at low cost, such as preferably by injection molding most of its components, notably the tube 4, the recessed body 17 and the base 6 which are mounted by sealing around the ends of the tube 4 that are associated with them, and the participating members of the head 5cap 10, ring 13, valve 14, seals 15a, 15b and vacuum pump 8, and also the cover 18 in which the sleeve 22 and the partition 21 for closing its bottom are integrated by injection molding and which is provided with the hood 20 sealed on the cover 18.

(31) The receptacle 1 is easy to use, since the tube 4 can be tightly held manually by the user to place the head 5 in the various operating configurations.

(32) The size and arrangement of the receptacle 1 make it possible to limit the logistic costs linked with its packaging, its transport and/or its storage. The head 5 is kept housed on the receptacle 1 except for the vacuum pump 8, which can then be stowed inside the tube 4 in the absence of the cartridge 2 or be attached to the tube 4 in the presence of a cartridge inside the tube 4.

(33) It should be noted that the arrangement of the receptacle 1 forms in itself a device for storing and conserving the cartridge 2 having a nozzle 3 so as to preserve its contents, using the tube 4 and the head 5 which is permanently held on the tube 4 selectively in whole or in part depending on the various steps of using the receptacle 1.

(34) The size of the receptacle 1 is reduced to the best possible extent-notably owing to the arrangement of the head 5 allowing it to be used in various configurations on the basis of the alternative installation on the depressurization member 9 either of the cap 10 or of the vacuum pump 8. The reduced size of the receptacle 1 makes it possible to conserve the receptacle 1 itself in an ambient mediumsuch as a refrigerating ambient mediumpromoting the effectiveness of the conservation of the cartridge 2 inside the tube 4 which is depressurized and of which a residue of air that it contains preferably has the moisture removed from it.

(35) The tube 4 and the head 5 interact with one another to this end, with the tube 4 accommodating the cartridge 2 and the components of the head 5 being alternatively utilized by the user depending on the various use states of the head 5 to place the interior volume of the tube 4 under negative pressure and/or to hermetically close the tube 4. The receptacle 1tube 4 and head 5then form a whole which makes up a device for storing and conserving the cartridge 2 which is prepared by a user of the cartridge 2 who has the task in this case of forming a bead of resin between two adjoining surfaces.