CA1304352C - Apparatus for dosing and mixing at least two reactive components and a cartridge assembly to be used in the apparatus - Google Patents

Apparatus for dosing and mixing at least two reactive components and a cartridge assembly to be used in the apparatus

Info

Publication number
CA1304352C
CA1304352C CA000581059A CA581059A CA1304352C CA 1304352 C CA1304352 C CA 1304352C CA 000581059 A CA000581059 A CA 000581059A CA 581059 A CA581059 A CA 581059A CA 1304352 C CA1304352 C CA 1304352C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
cartridge
cartridges
diaphragm
mixing
outlet
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
CA000581059A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Wolfgang Saur
Robert Tonolla
Franz Taschke
Siegfried Staemmele
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Dow Automotive AG
Original Assignee
Gurit Essex AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from CH4173/87A external-priority patent/CH674828A5/de
Priority claimed from DE3823708A external-priority patent/DE3823708C2/en
Priority claimed from CH2749/88A external-priority patent/CH674949A5/en
Application filed by Gurit Essex AG filed Critical Gurit Essex AG
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1304352C publication Critical patent/CA1304352C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F33/00—Other mixers; Mixing plants; Combinations of mixers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05C—APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05C17/00—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces
    • B05C17/005—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces for discharging material from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool through an outlet orifice by pressure without using surface contacting members like pads or brushes
    • B05C17/00503—Details of the outlet element
    • B05C17/00516—Shape or geometry of the outlet orifice or the outlet element
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05C—APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05C17/00—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces
    • B05C17/005—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces for discharging material from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool through an outlet orifice by pressure without using surface contacting members like pads or brushes
    • B05C17/00553—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces for discharging material from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool through an outlet orifice by pressure without using surface contacting members like pads or brushes with means allowing the stock of material to consist of at least two different components
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05C—APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05C17/00—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces
    • B05C17/005—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces for discharging material from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool through an outlet orifice by pressure without using surface contacting members like pads or brushes
    • B05C17/00553—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces for discharging material from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool through an outlet orifice by pressure without using surface contacting members like pads or brushes with means allowing the stock of material to consist of at least two different components
    • B05C17/00566—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces for discharging material from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool through an outlet orifice by pressure without using surface contacting members like pads or brushes with means allowing the stock of material to consist of at least two different components with a dynamic mixer in the nozzle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05C—APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05C17/00—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces
    • B05C17/005—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces for discharging material from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool through an outlet orifice by pressure without using surface contacting members like pads or brushes
    • B05C17/00586—Means, generally located near the nozzle, for piercing or perforating the front part of a cartridge
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05C—APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05C17/00—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces
    • B05C17/005—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces for discharging material from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool through an outlet orifice by pressure without using surface contacting members like pads or brushes
    • B05C17/01—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces for discharging material from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool through an outlet orifice by pressure without using surface contacting members like pads or brushes with manually mechanically or electrically actuated piston or the like
    • B05C17/0103—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces for discharging material from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool through an outlet orifice by pressure without using surface contacting members like pads or brushes with manually mechanically or electrically actuated piston or the like with electrically actuated piston or the like
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29B—PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS
    • B29B7/00—Mixing; Kneading
    • B29B7/30—Mixing; Kneading continuous, with mechanical mixing or kneading devices
    • B29B7/34—Mixing; Kneading continuous, with mechanical mixing or kneading devices with movable mixing or kneading devices
    • B29B7/38—Mixing; Kneading continuous, with mechanical mixing or kneading devices with movable mixing or kneading devices rotary
    • B29B7/40—Mixing; Kneading continuous, with mechanical mixing or kneading devices with movable mixing or kneading devices rotary with single shaft
    • B29B7/401—Mixing; Kneading continuous, with mechanical mixing or kneading devices with movable mixing or kneading devices rotary with single shaft having a casing closely surrounding the rotor, e.g. with a plunger for feeding the material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29B—PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS
    • B29B7/00—Mixing; Kneading
    • B29B7/30—Mixing; Kneading continuous, with mechanical mixing or kneading devices
    • B29B7/34—Mixing; Kneading continuous, with mechanical mixing or kneading devices with movable mixing or kneading devices
    • B29B7/38—Mixing; Kneading continuous, with mechanical mixing or kneading devices with movable mixing or kneading devices rotary
    • B29B7/40—Mixing; Kneading continuous, with mechanical mixing or kneading devices with movable mixing or kneading devices rotary with single shaft
    • B29B7/405—Mixing heads
    • B29B7/407—Mixing heads with a casing closely surrounding the rotor, e.g. with conical rotor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29B—PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS
    • B29B7/00—Mixing; Kneading
    • B29B7/30—Mixing; Kneading continuous, with mechanical mixing or kneading devices
    • B29B7/58—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
    • B29B7/60—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations for feeding, e.g. end guides for the incoming material
    • B29B7/603—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations for feeding, e.g. end guides for the incoming material in measured doses, e.g. proportioning of several materials
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/32—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging two or more different materials which must be maintained separate prior to use in admixture
    • B65D81/325—Containers having parallel or coaxial compartments, provided with a piston or a movable bottom for discharging contents
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F2101/00—Mixing characterised by the nature of the mixed materials or by the application field
    • B01F2101/2305—Mixers of the two-component package type, i.e. where at least two components are separately stored, and are mixed in the moment of application
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05C—APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05C17/00—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces
    • B05C17/005—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces for discharging material from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool through an outlet orifice by pressure without using surface contacting members like pads or brushes
    • B05C17/01—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces for discharging material from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool through an outlet orifice by pressure without using surface contacting members like pads or brushes with manually mechanically or electrically actuated piston or the like
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05C—APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05C17/00—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces
    • B05C17/005—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces for discharging material from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool through an outlet orifice by pressure without using surface contacting members like pads or brushes
    • B05C17/01—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces for discharging material from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool through an outlet orifice by pressure without using surface contacting members like pads or brushes with manually mechanically or electrically actuated piston or the like
    • B05C17/0116—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces for discharging material from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool through an outlet orifice by pressure without using surface contacting members like pads or brushes with manually mechanically or electrically actuated piston or the like characterised by the piston driving means
    • B05C17/0133—Nut and bolt advancing mechanism, e.g. threaded piston rods

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Geometry (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Coating Apparatus (AREA)
  • Dental Tools And Instruments Or Auxiliary Dental Instruments (AREA)
  • Package Specialized In Special Use (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

The invention provides an apparatus for dosing and mixing at least two reactive components in order to prepare a multi-com-ponent substance intended for immediate application. The re-active components to be mixed together are contained in car-tridges, each cartridge being connected to a common mixing unit by means of connecting tubes. These parts form a compact car-tridge assembly which cannot be separated by the user without destroying it. Associated to each cartridge is a pusher member to discharge the content of the cartridge. At the outlet end and/or at the opposite, operating end of the cartridges, there is provided a closing member opening under the influence of a mechanical force, particularly a pressure force. Thus, the car-tridge assembly can be inserted into the apparatus and is ready for operation without the need to prepare, i.e. open the car-tridges prior to use.

Description

~ f~35Z

AN APPARATUS FOR DOSING AND MIXING AT LEAST TWO REACTIVE
COMPONENTS AND A CARTRIDGE ASSEMBLY TO BE USED IN THE APPARATUS
_ _ BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention The present invention refers to an apparatus for dosing and mixing at least two reactive components in order to prepare a multi-component substance intended for immediate application.
The apparatus comprises a housing, driving means mounted in said housing, cartridge retaining means provided in said hous-ing and a plurality of cartridges having essentially tubular shape with an outlet end and an operating end and replaceably received in said cartridge retaining means, each cartridge containing one of the reactive components. Each cartridge com-prises a piston-like ejection member slidably mounted within the interior of the cartridge.

The apparatus further comprises a plurality of pusher means driven by said driving means to a linear movement and cooperat-ing with said ejection means in the cartridges when the car-tridges are inserted into the cartridge retaining means, and a mixing means common to all cartridges having an outlet opening through which the prepared multi-component substance is dis-charged, and a plurality of inlet openings, and tubular means 3.;~ 3'i2 connecting the outlet opening of each of the cartridges to one of said inlet openings of the mixing means.

Further, the present invention refers to a cartridge assembly ~o be used in an apparatus for dosing and mixing at least two reactive components in order to prepare a multi-component sub-stance intended for immediate application. The assembly com-prises a plurality of cartridges having essentially tubular shape with an outlet end and an operating end and adapted to be replaceably received in a cartridge retaining means of the apparatus, each cartridge containing one of the reactive com-ponents. Each cartridge comprises a piston-like ejection member slidably mounted within the interior of the cartridge. A mixing means common to all cartridges has an outlet opening through which the prepared multi-component substance is discharged, and a plurality of inlet openings. Tubular means are provided con-necting the outlet opening of each of the cartridges to one of said inlet openings of the mixing means.

Prior Art Power-driven means for the application of multi-component sub-stances are known in the art. Particularly, these means are used to apply a two-component adhesive material to two objects to be adhesively connected one to each other. The appara~us used for this purpose comprises two cartridges containing each ti2 a reactive component. The two components have to be mixed to-gether to form the adhesive substance. Thus, ejection members are provided to discharge the content of each cartridge simul-taneously to a mixing means in which they are thouroughly mixed whereby a chemical reaction between the two components starts.
The adhesive substance prepared in this way is discharged through an outlet nozzle of the mixing means and applied onto the objects to be glued together.

According to the prior art, the cartridges containing the re-active substances are brought into operating condition and, thereafter, inserted into the apparatus. However, the discharg-ing of the cartridges often presents difficulties. The cartrid-ges are provided with a piston-like ejection member slidably mounted in the interior of the cartridge. Since the ejection member can not seal the interior of the cartridge perfectly, the cartridges are provided with a cover member in order to safely avoid that atmospheric air can gain access to the inte-rior of the cartridge and, thereby, to the substance contained therein during storage of the cartridge. This measure must be taken because an unintended contact of the substance contained in the cartridge with atmospheric air could trigger an undesir-ed preliminary chemical reaction of the substance contained in the cartridge.

Such a cover member, however, prevents or at least impedes the access to the piston-like ejection member.

~.3~ 43~2 The other end of the cartridge provided with an outlet opening must be sealed as well during storage of the cartridge in order to avoid an access of atmospheric air to the content of the cartridge up to the moment when the cartridge is used. Thus, in order to prepare the apparatus for operation, it is not only necessary to insert the cartridges, usually two, into the appa-ratus, but also to open the cover at the end of the piston-like ejection member as well as the sealing at the outlet end of the cartridge. This proceeding is particularly difficult and cum-bersome to perform in the case when the cartridges form a unit with the mixing means and the tubular means connecting the car-tridges to the mixing means, ready to be inserted as a whole into the apparatus. In this case, the outlet openings of the cartridges provided with a sealing cover means are not acces-sible with the result that the cartridges have to be released from the associated connecting tube in order to enable an ope-rator to remove the sealing cover means at the outlet opening.
Consequently, the use of ready-to-use units, consisting of e.g.
two cartridges, a mixer and two connection tubes connecting the two cartridges to the mixer, preferably in the form of units which can be disposed after use, was not possible, such units, on the other hand, would be very practical, safe and time sav-ing.

1.3~ 3~)2 OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an appara-tus for dosing and mixing at least two reactive components in order to prepare a multi-component substance intended for im-mediate application which avoids the disadvantages of the ap-paratus' of the prior art.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for dosing and mixing at least two reactive compo-nents in order to prepare a multi-component substance intended for immediate application which makes use of ready-to-use car-tridge assemblies consisting of at least two cartridges, a mix-ing unit and tubular means connecting the cartridges to the mixing unit.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for dosing and mixing at least two reactive compo-nents in order to prepare a multi-component substance intended for immediate application which avoids the need to prepare the cartridges containing the reactive components of the multi-com-ponent material prior to use, particularly to avoid any step of opening the cartridges at the outlet end thereof and, eventual-ly, at the operating end thereof.

It is a still further object of the present invention to pro-vide an apparatus for dosing and mixing at least two reactive ~ 3~3~2 components in order to prepare a multi-component substance in-tended for immediate application which avoids the danger that the e.g. two cartridges are connected to the mixing unit in the wrong way, or e.g. to avoid that two cartridges with the same content are connected to the mixing unit and used in the appa-ratus of the invention.

It is a still further object of the present invention to pro-vide a cartridge assembly including a mixing unit to be used in an apparatus for dosing and mixing at least two reactive com-ponents in order to prepare a multi-component substance intend-ed for immediate application which cartridges are substantially in a ready-to-use condition thereby avoiding the need to pre-pare the cartridges for operation prior to insertion of them into the apparatus. Particularly, according to the invention, the cartridges forming part of the ready-to-use unit shall be prepared for operation, according to one embodiment, only by removing the tear strip cover provided at the operating end thereof or, according to another embodiment, shall not need any preparation at all.

It is a still further object of the present invention to pro-vide a cartridge assembly including a mixing unit to be used in an apparatus for dosing and mixing at least two reactive com-ponents in order to prepare a multi-component substance intend-ed for immediate application in which the cartridges are fixed-ly connected to the mixing unit by tubular members during the 131~435~

manufacture of the assembly thereby avoiding the danger that an operator connects the cartridges in a wrong manner to the mix-ing unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To achieve these and other objects, the invention provides, firstly, an apparatus for dosing and mixing at least two re-active components in order to prepare a multi-component sub-stance intended for immediate application. The apparatus com-prises a housing, driving means mounted in said housing, and cartridge retaining means provided in said housing.

Further, a plurality of cartridges having essentially tubular shape with an ou~let end and an operating end is provided, said cartridges being replaceably received in the cartridge re-taining means and each cartridge containing one of said re-active components.

Each cartridge comprises a piston-like ejection member slidably mounted in the interior of the cartridge. The apparatus is pro-vided with a plurality of pusher means driven by said driving means to a linear movement and cooperating with the ejection means in the cartridges when the cartridges are inserted into the cartridge retaining means.

13~.?9~3~2 A mixing means common to all cartridges has an outlet opening through which the prepared multi-component substance is dis-charged and a plurality of inlet openings, whereby the mixing means is driven by the aforementioned driving means. Tubular means connect the outlet opening of each of the cartridges to one of the inlet openings of the mixing means.

The plurality of cartridges, the mixing means and the tubular means constitute a ready-to-use unit which can be inserted in~o the apparatus and removed therefrom as a whole whereby the tu-bular members are inseparably, without destroying the unit, connected to the mixing means and the cartridges, respectively, and whereby each of the cartridges comprises at its outlet end and/or at its operating end a cover means automatically opening upon the action o~ a mechanical force provided by the driving means and acting on said cartridges.

Thus, a cumbersome preparing manipulation at the outlet end of the cartridges prior to inserting the cartridges into the ap-paratus is avoided. The result is that the cartridge assembly can be prepared during manufacturing to a ready-to-use condi-tion inasmuch as the cartridges can be fixedly connected, by tlle tubular means, to the common mixing unit without the danger that the cartridges could be interchanged or that two identical cartridges are connected to the same mixing unit.

According to the prior art, one was forced to take special pre-13~ 35Z

g cautions to avoid the danger of confusion of cartridges. For instance, it was usual to mark the cartridges and the associat-ed connecting tubes by identical colors, or to provide one car-tridge and the associated tube with a normal thread, and the other cartridge and the associated tube with a contrary thread in order to avoid a wrong connection of the cartridges to the mixing unit.

Secondly, to achieve the above mentioned and other objects, the invention provides a cartridge assembly to be used in an appa-ratus for dosing and mixing at least ~wo reactive components in order to prepare a multi-component substance intended for imme-diate application. The assembly of the invention comprises a plurality of cartridges having essentially tubular shape with an outlet end and an operating end and adapted to be replaceab-ly received in a cartridge retaining means of the apparatus, each cartridge containing one of said reactive components.

Each cartridge comprises a piston-like ejection member slidably mounted in the interior of the cartridge, a mixing means common to all cartridges having an outlet opening through which the prepared multi-component substance is discharged and a plurali-ty of inlet openings, and tubular means connecting the outlet opening of each of said cartridges to one of said inlet open-ings of said mixing means.

The plurality of cartridges, the mixing means and the tubular :13~43~2 means constitute a ready-to-use unit which can be inserted into the apparatus and removed therefrom as a whole whereby said tubular members are inseparably, without destroying the unit, connected to the mixing means and the cartridges, respectively.
Each of the cartridges comprises at its outlet end and/or at its operating end a cover means automatically opening upon the action of a mechanical force acting on the cartridges.

An essential advantage of a preferred embodiment in which the outlet opening of the cartridge as well as the operating end of the cartridge are provided with a diaphragm opening upon the action of the force of the pusher means of the apparatus is that the cartridges, being a part of the replaceable cartridge assembly, have not to be prepared prior to insertion into the apparatus. The usual removal of a tear strip cover is avoided.
For this purpose, suitable cover members are provided which are preferably constituted by diaphragms having a rated breaking portion. However, it is also possible to provide the outlet opening of the cartridges with a valve opening under the action of a pressure built up in the interior of the cartridge.

According to a further preferred embodiment, each cartridge is provided with an outlet flange, a diaphragm located in the in-terior of said outlet flange, a coupling member connected to said outlet flange and being axially displaceable relative to said outlet flange, and a cutting means located in the interior of said coupling member. Upon a relative movement between the l3n43~2 cartridge and the coupling member the diaphragm is cut open at least to such an extent that it releases the passage through the outlet flange at least partially or wholly under the in-fluence of the pressure which is exerted on the cut diaphragm when the substance contained in the cartridge is ejected.

As far as the apparatus for dosing and mixing at least two re-active components in order to prepare a multi-component sub-stance intended for immediate application is concerned, the invention is defined in claim 1 and preferred embodiments are defined in dependent claims 2 to 19. With regard to the car-tridge assembly to be used in the apparatus for dosing and mix-ing at least two reactive components in order to prepare a multi-component substance intended for immediate application, the inrention is defined in claim 20 and preferred embodiments are defined in dependent claims 21 to 32.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, some preferred embodiments of the invention will be further explained, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

ig. 1 shows a schematic view of the dosing and mixing apparatus in part, including the cartridge assembly of the invention, according to a first embodiment;

13~43~Z

Fig. 2 shows a cartridge being part of the cartridge assembly of the invention, in an enlarged axially sectioned view, according to the first embodiment shown in Fig. l;

ig. 3 shows a detail view of the cartridge of Fig. 2 in a larger scale;

ig. 4 shows a side view of a part of a dosing and mixing apparatus and of a cartridge assembly of the inven-tion, partially sectioned, according to a second embodiment;

ig. 5 shows an axially sectioned view of a coupling member in a larger scale;

ig. 6 shows a view in the direction of arrow A of Fig. 5;

ig. 7 shows a coupling member and a cartridge connected thereto as well as a ejection piston, essentially in an axially sectioned view; and ig. 8 shows a similar view as Fig. 7, but with the ejection piston moved forward.

~3~43~Z

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The apparatus of the invention serves for dosing and mixing of at least two reactive components which have to be brought into contact with each other to initiate a chemical reaction and thereafter dispensed to an arbitrary object in the form of a mixture intended for immediate use.

Preferably, the apparatus has the form of a manually operated tool comprising e.g. two cartridges each containing one of the substances to be mixed together, driven by an electro motor to dispense the substances from the cartridges and to mix them.
The apparatus comprises a housing receiving the above mentioned electro motor, serving as a driving unit and preferably incor-porating a gear box, and further comprising cartridge retaining means into which the cartridges containing the reactive sub-stances can be inserted. Associated with each cartridge retain-ing means is a pusher means cooperating with the associated cartridge, said pusher means being driven by said electro motor to a linear movement in order to eject the content of the asso-ciated cartridge. Furthermore, there is provided a mixing unit connected to the cartridges, said mixing unit being driven by the same electro motor/gear box driving unit.

Figs. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the apparatus for dos-ing and mixing two reactive components in order to prepare a multi-component substance intended for immediate application.

131~435Z

According to Fig. 1, there is provided a first cartridge 1 con-taining a first reactive component and a second cartridge 2 containing a second reactive component. The cartridges 1 and 2 have substantially tubular shape. The cartridges 1 and 2 have an outlet end with a flange 8 and, at the opposite side, an operating end. In the interior of the cartridges 1 and 2, there is provided, in each cartridge, a piston-like ejection member 3 and 3', respectively, which serves on the one hand to close the operating end of the cartridges 1 and 2, respectively, and to ejec~ the contents of the cartridges 1 and 2, respectively. The ejection members 3 and 3'5 respectively, are under the influ-ence of a pusher member 4 and 4', respectively; these pusher members 4 and 4', respectively, are mounted at the front end of a toothed rack member 5 and 5', respectively. For the opera-tion, i.e. the linear displacement of the rack members 5 and 5', respectively, a rack driving means 6 and 6', respectively, is provided which is operated by means of a common driving shaft 7. The latter one is driven to a rotational movement by a but schematically shown electro motor M and a gear box G. These parts are well known in the art and must not be explained in detail.

The opposite side of the cartridges 1 and 2, respectively, are provided with an outlet flange 8 adapted to be connected to a connecting tube 9 which is connected, with its free end, to a mixer 10.

13(~3~2 By chosing rack driving means 6 and 6', respectively, of dif-ferent configuration and/or rack members 5 and 5', respective-ly, having different pitch, the pusher means 4 and 4', respec-tively, can be driven with different advance motion in order to vary the amount of discharge of the substances contained in the cartridges 1 and 2, respectively.

The mixing unit 10 comprises a flange portion 11 having two inlet apertures to which the two tubes 9 are connected in such a way that the connection can not be released by an operator without destroying the mixing unit. Furthermore, the mixing unit comprises a mixing chamber 12 having conical shape and being provided with a discharge aperture 13.

In the interior of the mixing chamber 12, an impeller member 14 is rotatably mounted. The impeller member 14 is provided with two catch pins projecting from the mixing unit in upward direc-tion such that the adjacent end oE the driving shaft 7 can be releasably connected to the impeller member 14. For this pur-pose, the driving shaft 7 is equipped with a driving disc 15 having apertures correspondingly arranged with regard to the catch pins; the catch pins engage the apertures of the driving disc 15 in operating position.

The two cartridges 1 and 2, the two connection tubes 9 mounted on the outlet flanges 8 of the cartridges 1 and 2, respective-ly, and the mixing unit 10 form a cartridge assembly which can ~ 3~43~2 be inserted in the apparatus and removed therefrom as a whole.
The apparatus includes cartridge retaining means 16 into which the cartridges 1 and 2 are inserted.

The cartridge retaining means 16, the electro motor M with the associated gear box G, the toothed racks 5 and 5', the pusher members 4 and 4' and the driving shaft 7 are arranged in a com-mon housing (not shown). Thereby, the arrangement is such that, upon insertion of the cartridges 1 and 2 into the cartridge retaining means 16, the pusher members 4 and 4' as well as the driving shaft 7 are ready for operation. For this purpose, each cartridge 1 and 2, respectively, is in such a position in the associated cartridge retaining means 16 that it is coaxial to the associated toothed rack 5 and 5', respectively. Simul-taneously, the mixing unit 10 is in a position in which the axis of the impeller 12 coincides with the axis of the driving shaft 7 with the result that the catch pins engage the driving apertures of the driving disc 15.

It is of very great importance that the content of the car-tridges be air-tightly sealed up to the moment of use. However, the provision of the piston-like ejection members 3 and 3', respectively, provided in each cartridge can not prevent that air might introduce into the interior of the cartridges during storage thereof. Furthermore, it is of paramount importance that the outlet flange 8 to which the connecting tube 9 is ri-gidly connected be sealed such that no air can penetrate into 3.3t~43~2 the interior of the cartridge from that side. In order to solve these problems, the operating end of the cartridges 1 and 2, respectively, where the piston-like ejection member 3 and 3', respectively, is located, is provided with a tear strip cover 17 comprising a tear strip 18. The outlet end 8 of the car-tridges 1 and 2, respectively, are provided with a cover member 19 which opens automatically under the influence of a pressure force. It is particularly advantageous if the cover member 19 is constituted by a diaphragm having a circular groove as a rated breaking portion as can be seen from Fig. 3. On the other hand, it is possible to provide the outlet flange 8 of the car-tridges 1 and 2, respectively, with a valve (not shown) opening as soon as a certain pressure is built up in the interior of the cartridge.

The cartridges 1 and 2, the connecting tubes 9 and the common mixing unit 10 are fixedly connected to each other such that they can not be separated from each other by an operator of the apparatus without destroying the one or the other element. Pre-ferably, the above mentioned elements can be manufactured of inexpensive plastic and/or aluminium material. After having been used, particularly the mixing unit has not to be cleaned but the entire cartridge assembly may be discarded.

In the embodiment according to Figs. 1 to 3, immediatel~- prior to use, the tear strip cover 17 of each cartridge 1 and 2 is removed. Then, the assembly is put into the apparatus such that ~.3~ 3~2 the cartridges 1 and 2 are received in the associated cartridge retaining means 16. The correct orientation of the toothed racks 5 and 5', respectively, with the pusher members 4 and 4', respectively, with respect to the associated piston-like ejec-tion members 3 and 3', respectively, as well as the correct orientation of the driving shaft 7 with its driving disc 15 with respect to the impeller 12 is effected compulsorily. Now, the apparatus can be operated, the pusher members 4 and 4', respectively, engage the piston-like ejection members 3 and 3', respectively, of the cartridges 1 and 2 and displace the latter ones in axial direction. Consequently, the pressure in the in-terior of each cartridge 1 and 2 is increased. Due to this in-crease in pressure the diaphragm 19 of each cartridge 1 and 2 breaks and the content of the cartridges 1 and 2 is fed via the connecting tubes 9 to the mixing unit 10. The dosage of the mixed multi-component substance can be predetermined by suitab-ly chosing the pitch of the toothed racks 5 and 5', respective-ly .

Thus, care is taken that the cartridges 1 and 2 remain reliably sealed up to the moment in which the content of the cartridges is ejected into the mixing unit. The tear strip covers 17 of the cartridges 1 and 2 are removed only in the moment when the entire cartridge assembly is inserted into the apparatus. Even then, the piston-like ejection members 3, 3' in the interior of the cartridges 1 and 2 provide for a sufficient sealing of the cartridges. In use, the motor M is operated and the driving ~ 3(-~352 - 19 - .

shaft 7 begins to rotate. Thereby, the cooperation of the rack driving means 6 and 6' with the associated toothed racks 5 and 5' causes an axial displacement of the pusher members 4 and 4' towards the piston-like ejection members 3 and 3'. Upon engage-ment of the pusher members 4 and 4' with the ejection members 3 and 3' and during further operation of the apparatus, the pres-sure in the interior of the cartridges 1 and 2 increases with the result that the diaphragms 19 at the outlet openings 8 of the cartridges 1 and 2 break. The reactive components contained in the cartridges 1 and 2 are fed via the connecting tubes 9 to the mixing unit 10 where they are thoroughly mixed; the finish-ed multi-component substance is then discharged through the outlet aperture 13 of the mixing unit to the place of applica-tion.

When the cartridges are empty, the direction of rotation of the electro motor M is reversed and the toothed racks 5 and 5' are retracted. Now, the cartridge assembly comprising the two car-tridges 1 and 2, the connecting tubes 9 and the common mixing unit 10 can be removed from the apparatus. The used cartridge assembly can be discarded.

Now, the apparatus is ready for another operation cycle and a fresh cartridge assembly may be inserted into the cartridge retaining means 16 as described hereinabove.

Figs. 4 to 8 illustrate a further embodiment of an apparatus 3~2 for dosing and mixing at least two reactive components in order to prepare a multi-component substance intended for immediate application and of a cartridge assembly to be used in this ap-paratus. According to Fig. 4, the apparatus comprises a thread-ed spindle 31 which is rotatably mounted in a gear box housing not shown in the drawing. The spindle 31 is driven by a (not shown) electro motor and engages a carriage member 32 which comprises a spindle nut 33 received in the interior of the car-riage member 32. For instance~ the carriage member 32 may be constructed of a square or rectangular hollow profile material.
A supporting member 34 is connected to the other end of the carriage member 32, said supporting member receiving the back ends of two pusher piston rods 35 and 36 which are arranged in parallel relationship to each other. The carriage member 3~ may be displaced in axial direction by means of the threaded spind-le 31 and the spindle nut 33. Particularly, the carriage member is displaced in the interior of a hollow longitudinal beam 37 made of a square or rectangular profile member incorporating a guiding member 38 for the two pusher piston rods 35 and 36 as well as for the carriage member 32. The back end surface of the threaded spindle 31 is provided with a stop member 39 against which the supporting member 34 abuts as soon as the carriage member 32 reaches its frontal end position.

The guiding member 38 cooperates with cartridge retaining mem-bers 40 and 41 adapted to receive two cartridges 42 and 43. The cartridges 42 and 43 contain the reactive components to be mix-13~ t~ 3~j2 ed together, for instance each cartridge containing one compo-nent of a two-component adhesive material. The apparatus fur-ther comprises two pusher members 44 and 45 mounted on the piston rods 35 and 36 and associated with the bottom or operat-ing end of the cartridges 42 and 43.

The lower portion of Fig. 4 shows the cartridge 43 and the po-sition of the apparatus prior to operation thereof. The pusher member 45 contacts the associated bottom portion of the car-tridge 43 which may be in the form of a piston-like ejection member 69 slidably mounted in the interior of the cartridge 43.
Thereby, the arrangement is such that each cartridge 42 and 43 is axially displaceable in the cartridge retaining means con-stituted by the guiding member 38 and the cartridge retaining members 40 and 41, respectively. The purpose of this design will be further explained hereinafter.

The cartridge retaining members 40 and 41 each comprise coup-ling members 50, these members 50 being connected to a common mixing unit 48 having a mixer head 48' and a discharge nozzle 49, by means of connecting tubes 46 and 47.

Upon a linear displacement of the pusher members 44 and 45 to-wards the cartridges 42 and 43, the content thereof will be fed to the mixing unit 48 via the connecting tubes 46 and 47 as will be further explained in detail hereinafter. The lower por-tion of Fig. 4 shows the pusher member 45 in its initial posi-tion, the cartridge 43 being full, while the upper portion of Fig. 4 shows the pusher member 44 in its advanced position after the content of the cartridge 42 having been discharged and pressed through the connecting tube 46 into the mixing unit 48.

According to the embodiment shown in the drawings, a connection between the tubes 46 and 47 and the associated coupling members 50 is realized which can not be released by the operator with-out destroying the cartridge assembly. The same is true for the connection between the tubes 46 and 47 and the common mixing unit 48; consequently, the mixing unit 48 with its mixer head 48', the connecting tubes 46 and 47 with their coupling members 50, as well as the cartridges 42 and 43 form a compact car-tridge assembly unit which can be replaced only as a whole.

Furthermore, it must be noted that a shaft part 31' is provided to drive the mixing unit 48. The shaft part 31' is connected to the threaded spindle 31 such that the mixing unit 48 is driven simultaneously with the movement of the carriage member 32 via the spindle nut 33.

Figs. 5 and 6 show the design of the coupling members 50 in more detail. The coupling member 50 preferably has tubular shape and is made of plastic material. It comprises an annular groove provided in one of its frontal surfaces serving as a receiving chamber 51. The inner wall 51' delimiting the receiv-1.31~?4352 ing chamber 51 is obliquely cut with regard to the axis of thetubular coupling member and designed as a cutting element 52, having a cutting edge 67. The outer wall 54 of the receiving chamber 51 projects outwardly over the inner wall 51' and is provided with cam-like protrusions 55 and 55', respectively, arranged diametrally opposite to each other and delimiting a further groove 57 in which an annular fixing member 53 is re-ceived. Preferably, the fixing member 53 is constituted by a spring washer whereby the cam-like protrusions 55, 55' prevent an axial displacement of the fixing member 53. Furthermore, the groove 57 is delimited by a collar-shaped stop surface 56.

As can be seen from Fig. 6, the cam-like protrusions 55, 55' extend in circumferential direction over the distance S whereby a lug 58 prevents the spring washer from a rotation and, simul-taneously, protects it against falling out. In order to enable the spring washer to radially escape outwardly during the mounting of the coupling member 50 on the outlet flange 60 and 61, respectively, of the cartridges, slit-shaped apertures 62, 62' are provided in the wall of the coupling member 50 located behind the cam-like protrusions 55, 55', the dimensions of the apertures 62, 62' in circumferential direction substantially corresponding to the ones of the cam-like protrusions 55, 55'.
Thus, the fixing member 53 can escape into these apertures 62, 62' if it is resiliently deformed in radial direction. When the coupling members 50 are connected to the outlet flange 60 and 61, respectively, the fixing member 53 engages a circumferen-3~

tial groove 63 provided in the outer surface of the outlet flanges 60 and 61, respectively tcf. Fig. 8).

The connection of the coupling members 50 with the associated connecting tube 46 or 47 is illustrated in Figs. 5, 7 and 8; in the following, reference is made to Fig. 5. The coupling member 50 is provided with resilient tongues 64 at the end directed towards the connecting tube 46 and 47, respectively. The ton-gues 64 comprise latches 64' projecting radially inwards which, the tube 46 and 47, respectively, being connected to the coup-ling member S0, engage a circumferential groove 65 provided at the ends of the connecting tubes 46 and 47. The coupling member is protected against rotation by means of two stop members 66 provided in the circumferential groove 65.

According to Figs. 7 and 8, a cartridge 42 and 43, respective-ly, is illustrated which comprises a sealing diaphragm 68 lo-cated in the region of the outlet flange 60 and 61, respective-ly. Thereby, the arrangement is such that the cartridge 42 shown in Fig. 7 is somewhat movable in axial direction in its initial position where it is protected by the fixing member 53.
This is possible because some space remains in the receiving chamber 51 adapted to receive the flange 60 and 61, respective-ly .

If the threaded spindle 31 is rotated, the mixing unit 48 is driven by the shaft part 31' and, simultaneously, the pusher ~ ~3~3S2 members 44 and 45 contact the axially movable ejection member 69 of the cartridges 42 and 43 or the diaphragm 70 arranged in front of the ejection member 69 whereby the diaphragm is de-stroyed. A moisture absorbent substance can be provided between the diaphragm 70 and the ejection member 69.

Simultaneously, each of the cartridges 42 and 43 is axially displaced relative to the fixed coupling members 50 after the fixing members 53 having been radially extended. Upon this axial displacement movement of the cartridges 4Z and 43, the closing diaphragm 68 in the outlet flange 60, 61 is cut open by means of the cutting blade 67 of the cutting member 52. This situation is illustrated in Fig. 8. Thereby, the annular bottom 71 of the receiving chamber 51 of the coupling member consti-tutes a stop means for the axial displacement of the cartridge.
The closing diaphragm 68 is bent in a hinge-like manner toward the interior wall of the coupling member 50 under the influence of the pressure of the reactive component discharged from the cartridge such that the passage through the outlet flange 60 is almost fully opened with the result that the reactive component contained in the cartridge can be pressed out without problems.
The length of the cutting blade 67 in circumferential direction as well as its design has to be chosen according to the parti-cular circumstances; however, it has proven advantageous that the cutting blade extends over an angle of about 60 to 100 in circumferential direction.

'1.3S'~3S2 During the discharge step, the coupling member S0 rests on a frame part 72 shown in Figs. 7 and 8; thus, the coupling member 50 is fixed and can not be displaced together with the associ-ated cartridge.

According to the embodiment just hereinbefore described and shown in the drawings, the cartridge 42 is provided with a closing diaphragm 68 located in the outlet flange 60 and en-suring an air-tight sealing of the interior of the cartridge 42. The opening of the diaphragm 68 was performed by an axial displacement of the cartridge 42 towards the cutting element 52 which is incorporated in the interior of the coupling member S0.

Within the scope of the invention, there is another possibili-ty: Instead of the diaphragm 68 as hereinbefore described, which must be cut by means of a cutting member provided in the coupling member 50, a similar diaphragm can be provided which includes a rated breaking portion; such diaphragm can be simi-lar to the diaphragm 19 as described in connection with Figs. 2 and 3. Consequently, if the pressure in the interior of the cartridge increases under the influence of the pusher member 44 acting onto the ejection member 69, the diaphragm will break thereby enabling the content of the cartridge to flow through the outlet of the cartridge, through the coupling member S0 and through the connecting tube 46 to the mixing unit 48.

Within the scope of the invention, there is still another pos-3~Z
r sibility: The diaphragm 70, shown in Fig. 7, is constituted by a diaphragm member having a rated breaking portion and sealing the cartridge 42 at its operating end, i.e. at the end where the pusher member 44 will engage the cartridge 42. As soon as the pusher member 44 is operated, i.e. axially displaced to-wards the cartridge 42, the diaphragm with the rated breaking portion will be destroyed with the result that the pusher mem-ber 44 directly acts on the piston-like ejection member 69 of the cartridge 42. The rated breaking portion can be constituted by a circular groove provided in the diaphragm.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the car-tridges can be provided, at their outlet ends, as a valve which is inserted into the outlet flanges 60, 61 of the cartridges 42, 43. The valve is designed such that it opens as soon as a certain pressure is built up in the interior of the cartridges 42 and 43, respectively. The exact value of the pressure re-quired for the opening of the valve can be set by any person skilled in the art considering the particular operating condi-tions, the content of the cartridges etc., by suitably dimen-sioning a valve spring provided in the aforementioned pressure valve.

According to the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 to 8 of the draw-ings, the diaphragm 68 at the outlet end of the cartridges 42 and 43, respectively, is opened upon an axial displacement of the cartridges. However, according to a further embodiment not ~.3(~435~

shown in the drawings but being within the scope of the present invention, measures can be taken that the cartridges are not only axially displaced under the influence of the pusher mem-bers, but also driven to a rotational movement. Thus, a spiral-like motion relative to the cutting element S2 provided in the coupling member 50 results such that the diaphragm 68 is com-pletely cut out.

All embodiments hereinbefore described with reference to Figs.
4 to 8 offer the advantage that a compact cartridge assembly can be realized, consisting of the cartridges, the coupling members, the connecting tubes and the common mixing unit. The cartridges are reliably sealed and the opening of the car-tridges is effected fully automatically upon operation of the apparatus; with other words, the operator of the apparatus just has to insert the cartridge assembly into the apparatus and operate the apparatus without the need of taking any prepara-tion steps of the cartridges prior to operation.

The embodiment shown in ~igs. 4 to 8 and hereinbefore described offers a preferred solution in which the reactive components contained in the cartridges are reliably sealed against the influence of atmospheric air, particularly the moisture and the oxygen contained therein. Thus, the cartridge assembly can be stored for a long time period without the danger that the con-tent of the cartridges could be spoiled during storage. The opening of the cartridges and the discharge of their content is 43~iZ

effected fully automatically upon inserting the cartridge as-sembly and operation of the apparatus. Any faulty operation which could be possible by an operator is excluded.

As a summary, the advantages of the present invention can be recapitulated as follows:

1. The cumbersome connecting of the cartridges to the connect-ing tubes is avoided and there is no danger that the car-tridges are connected in the wrong way or that two identi-cal cartridges are used. The need to mark the connecting tubes and the cartridges, e.g. by color marking or by pro-viding right- and left-threads for the two cartridges and the connecting tubes, is avoided as well.

2. The need to clean the mixing unit and the connecting tubes is avoided since the cartridge assembly is designed as an inexpensive ready-to-use unit which is discarded after use.

3. The provision of closing elements to be opened under the influence of a mechanical force, particularly the provision of cover members opening under the influence of a pressure force, at the outlet end and/or at the operating end of the cartridges provides for a nearly unlimited storage life of the content of the cartridges, and further offers the pos-sibility to provide the operator with a ready-to-use car-tridge assembly having fixedly connected tubes between the 3~i2 cartridges and the mixing unit. Particularly the cover mem-ber at the outlet end, and in certain embodiments also the cover member at the operating end of the cartridge, is au-tomatically opened under the influence of mechanical pres-sure or of dynamic pressure in the interior of the car-tridges without the need that an operator has to perform any manipulations prior to putting the cartridge assembly into the apparatus of the invention.

It should be pointed out once again that no such cartridge as-semblies have been known in the prior art, i.e. cartridge as-semblies consisting of two or more cartridges, connecting tubes fixedly connected to the outlet end of the cartridges and also fixedly connected to a common mixing unit. With the assemblies of the prior art, it was always necessary to open at least the outlet end of the cartridges and to connect the cartridges to the connecting tubes prior to operation. Consequently, it was necessary to mark the cartridges and the connecting tubes to avoid a confusion, particularly to avoid that two cartridges with the same content are used. In this respect, the present invention offers a considerable simplification with regard to the fool-proof use of an apparatus as described in this inven-tion as well as a substantial technical progress.

Claims (32)

1. An apparatus for dosing and mixing at least two re-active components in order to prepare a multi-component sub-stance intended for immediate application, the apparatus com-prising:
a housing;
driving means mounted in said housing;
cartridge retaining means provided in said housing;
a plurality of cartrides having essentially tubular shape with an outlet end and an operating end and replacably received in said cartridge retaining means, each cartridge con-taining one of said reactive components;
each cartridge comprising a piston-like ejection member slidably mounted within the interior of the cartridge;
a plurality of pusher means driven by said driving means to a linear movement and cooperating with said ejection means in said cartridges when said cartrides are inserted into said cartridge retaining means;
a mixing means common to all cartridges having an outlet opening through which the prepared multi-component substance is discharged and a plurality of inlet openings, said mixing means being driven by said driving means;
tubular means connecting the outlet opening of each of said cartridges to one of said inlet openings of said mixing means;

said plurality of cartridges, said mixing means and said tubular means constituting a unit which can be inserted into the apparatus and removed therefrom as a whole whereby said tubular members being inseparably, without destroying the unit, connected to said mixing means and said cartridges, respective-ly;
each of said cartridges comprising at its outlet end and/or at its operating end a cover means automatically opening upon the action of a mechanical force provided by said driving means and acting on said cartridges.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which each of said cartridges is provided with a cover means opening under the action of a pressure force at its outlet end and/or at its operating end.
3. An apparatus according to claim 2 in which said cover means opening under the action of a pressure force and located at the outlet end of the cartridge is a diaphragm provided with a rated braking portion, thereby clearing the passage from the interior of the cartridge to the tubular means connected to the outlet end of the cartridge upon a raise of pressure in the interior of the cartridge.
4. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said cover means located at the operating end of the cartridge is a dia-phragm with a rated braking portion releasing the access to said ejection member in the interior of the cartridge upon ac-tion of a pressure force onto said diaphragm.
5. An apparatus according to claim 3 or 4 in which said rated braking portion is a circular groove provided in said diaphragm.
6. An apparatus according to claim 2 in which said cover means opening under the action of a pressure force located at the outlet end of the cartridge is a valve member opening upon a raise of pressure in the interior of the cartridge.
7. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said cover means located at the outlet end of the cartridge is a dia-phragm, said apparatus further comprising a means for breaking through said diaphragm provided at the end of said tubular means adjacent to said outlet opening of the cartridge, said diaphragm being placed near to said means for breaking through said diaphragm such that it is within its range of operation.
8. An apparatus according to claim 7 in which said tubu-lar means connecting said outlet end of the cartridge to said mixing means and the associated cartridge are movable relative to each other.
9. An apparatus according to claim 8 in which the car-tridge is slidably received in said cartridge retaining means in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the cartridge to-ward said means for breaking through said diaphragm.
10. An apparatus according to claim 8 or 9 in which each cartridge is provided with an outlet flange, a diaphragm locat-ed in the interior of said outlet flange, a coupling member connected to said outlet flange and being axially displaceable relative to said outlet flange, and a cutting means located in the interior of said coupling member, such that upon a relative movement between said cartridge and said coupling member the diaphragm is cut open at least to such an extent that it re-leases the passage through said outlet flange at least par-tially or wholly under the influence of the pressure which is excerted on the cut diaphragm when the substance contained in the cartridge is ejected.
11. An apparatus according to claim 8 in which the car-tridge is rotatable relative to said means for breaking through said diaphragm.
12. An apparatus according to claim 8 in which said mix-ing means and said tubular means connecting said cartridges to said mixing means are immovably fixed in the apparatus, and that the cartridges are movably received in said cartridge re-taining means and displaceable in the direction of their longi-tudinal axis.
13. An apparatus according to claim 8 in which said tu-bular means each comprises a coupling member located at the end adjacent to the associated cartridge, said coupling member being fixed to said cartridge retaining means and incorporating said means for breaking through said diaphragm.
14. An apparatus according to claim 13 in which said coupling member comprises a tubular body provided on its one end a circular groove cut into the front face of said tubular body, thereby serving a a receiving chamber for receiving said outlet flange of the cartridge upon a displacement of the car-tridge toward said coupling member.
15. An apparatus according to claim 14 in which the in-ner wall of said tubular body delimiting said circular groove is shaped as a cutting member having a frontal cutting blade.
16. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said mix-ing means and said pusher means are driven by a common driving motor via an associated gear box.
17. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which each car-tridge is provided with a diaphragm located between said ejec-tion means of the cartridge and said pusher means, said dia-phragm being destroyed upon the operation of said pusher means.
18. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which each car-tridge comprises a tear strip cover located at the operation end of the cartridge.
19. An apparatus according to claim 17 or 18 in which a moisture absorbent substance is provided in the space between said diaphragm and said ejection means and between said tear strip cover and said ejection means, respectively.
20. A cartridge assembly to be used in an apparatus for dosing and mixing at least two reactive components in order to prepare a multi-component substance intended for immediate application, the assembly comprising:
a plurality of cartrides having essentially tubular shape with an outlet end and an operating end and adapted to be replacably received in a cartridge retaining means of the appa-ratus, each cartridge containing one of said reactive compo-nents;
each cartridge comprising a piston-like ejection member slidably mounted within the interior of the cartridge;
a mixing means common to all cartridges having an outlet opening through which the prepared multi-component substance is discharged and a plurality of inlet openings;
tubular means connecting the outlet opening of each of said cartridges to one of said inlet openings of said mixing means;
said plurality of cartridges, said mixing means and said tubular means constituting a unit which can be inserted into the apparatus and removed therefrom as a whole whereby said tubular members being inseparably, without destroying the unit, connected to said mixing means and said cartridges, respective-ly;
each of said cartridges comprising at its outlet end and/or at its operating end a cover means automatically opening upon the action of a mechanical force acting on said cartridges.
21. An assembly according to claim 20, in which each of said cartridges is provided with a cover means opening under the action of a pressure force at its outlet end and/or at its operating end.
22. An assembly according to claim 20 or 21 in which said cover means opening under the action of a pressure force and located at the outlet end of the cartridge is a diaphragm provided with a rated braking portion, thereby clearing the passage from the interior of the cartridge to the tubular means connected to the outlet end of the cartridge upon a raise of pressure in the interior of the cartridge.
23. An assembly according to claim 20 in which said co-ver means located at the operating end of the cartridge is a diaphragm with a rated braking portion releasing the access to said ejection member in the interior of the cartridge upon ac-tion of a pressure force onto said diaphragm.
24. An assembly according to claim 22 or 23 in which said rated braking portion is a circular groove provided in said diaphragm.
25. An assembly according to claim 20 in which said co-ver means opening under the action of a pressure force located at the outlet end of the cartridge is a valve member opening upon a raise of pressure in the interior of the cartridge.
26. An assembly according to claim 20 in which said co-ver means located at the outlet end op the cartridge is a dia-phragm, said apparatus further comprising a means for breaking through said diaphragm provided at the end of said tubular means adjacent to said outlet opening of the cartridge, said diaphragm being placed near to said means for breaking through said diaphragm such that it is within its range of operation.
27. An assembly according to claim 26 in which said tu-bular means connecting said outlet end of the cartridge to said mixing means and the associated cartridge are movable relative to each other.
28. An assembly according to claim 27 in which each of said cartridges is movabale in the direction of the longitudi-nal axis of the cartridge with regard to the associated means for breaking trough said diaphragm.
29. An assembly according to claim 26 in which each of said cartridges is rotatable with regard to the associated means for breaking trough said diaphragm.
30. An assembly according to claim 20 in which each of said cartridges is provided with a diaphragm provided behind said piston-like ejection member at the operating end of the cartridge which is adapted to be destroyed upon the action of a pressure force action along the longitudinal axis of the car-tridge.
31. An assembly according to claim 20 in which each of said cartridges is provided with a tear strip cover provided behind said piston-like ejection member at the operating end of the cartridge.
32. An apparatus according to claim 30 or 31 in which a moisture absorbent substance is provided in the space between said diaphragm and said ejection member and between said tear strip cover and said ejection member, respectively.
CA000581059A 1987-10-23 1988-10-24 Apparatus for dosing and mixing at least two reactive components and a cartridge assembly to be used in the apparatus Expired - Lifetime CA1304352C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH4173/87A CH674828A5 (en) 1987-10-23 1987-10-23
CH4173/87-6 1987-10-23
DEP3823708.3 1988-07-13
DE3823708A DE3823708C2 (en) 1988-07-13 1988-07-13 Motor-driven device for dosing and mixing at least two substances
CH2749/88-8 1988-07-19
CH2749/88A CH674949A5 (en) 1988-07-19 1988-07-19 Dispenser and mixer for reaction multicomponent substance

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1304352C true CA1304352C (en) 1992-06-30

Family

ID=27173900

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000581059A Expired - Lifetime CA1304352C (en) 1987-10-23 1988-10-24 Apparatus for dosing and mixing at least two reactive components and a cartridge assembly to be used in the apparatus

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0313519B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH0271868A (en)
KR (1) KR890006294A (en)
CA (1) CA1304352C (en)
DE (1) DE3863896D1 (en)
ES (1) ES2023714B3 (en)
GR (1) GR3002724T3 (en)

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EP4072741A4 (en) * 2019-12-09 2024-02-21 Tonsan Adhesive, Inc. Apparatus for dispensing viscous fluid and method for dispensing viscous fluid with the same

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Publication number Publication date
KR890006294A (en) 1989-06-12
JPH0271868A (en) 1990-03-12
EP0313519A1 (en) 1989-04-26
GR3002724T3 (en) 1993-01-25
DE3863896D1 (en) 1991-08-29
ES2023714B3 (en) 1992-02-01
EP0313519B1 (en) 1991-07-24

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