CA2613893C

CA2613893C - A device for the storage and metering of a plurality of components

Info

Publication number: CA2613893C
Application number: CA2613893A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Andreas Staub; Markus Gasser
Original assignee: Sulzer Chemtech AG
Current assignee: Sulzer Chemtech AG
Priority date: 2007-01-18
Filing date: 2007-12-10
Publication date: 2015-06-09
Anticipated expiration: 2027-12-10
Also published as: US20080173565A1; CN101224809A; TW200836982A; ATE543744T1; JP2008174305A; CA2613893A1

Abstract

A device (1) for the storage of a plurality of components which are intended for joint use including a first storage region (2) for the reception of a first component and a second storage region (3) for the reception of a second component. The storage regions (2, 3) are arranged substantially one above the other. Each storage region includes a pocket (4, 8), which is sealingly closable by a cover (5, 11), wherein the cover (5, 11) can be sealed to the pocket (4, 8) by forming a seam (14) and the storage regions (2,3) can be connected outside the seam (14) via a connecting means (16).

Description

P.7619/He/Li Sulzer Chemtech AG CH-8404 Winterthur (Switzerland) A device for the storage and metering of a plurality of components The invention relates to a device for the storage and metering of a plurality of components, which are intended to be mixed with one another or ap-plied directly prior to use. Packaging of this kind is used, for example, for the storage of the individual components of a multi-component adhesive.
A further use is in the food industry or for the packaging of medicinal preparations. Common to all this packaging is that the individual compo-nents are stored in separate containers, which are lockable, until they are used. Packaging of this kind is, in particular, blister packaging. Blister packages for liquid ingredients and ingredients in powder form consist of a deep drawn foil (deep drawn film) and a sealing foil which closes off the ingredients.
In the case of some foodstuffs, cosmetics, pharmaceutical products or ad-hesives, a plurality of components have to be or should be packaged sepa-rately, which are then, however, used together at the same time. Thus it is characteristic for this kind of package that it consists of at least two blis-ter packages which can be connected to one another in a suitable manner.
So-called double blister package is known in which two components are stored next to one another. These double blister packages comprise a deep drawn foil with two deep drawn pockets lying next to each other. A com-ponent is inserted into each of the pockets. The components are closed with a sealing foil so that the components can be stored in their pockets, without there being a danger of a leak. During use, the components are pressed out one after the other. Alternatively the pockets lying next to

2 each other are folded over one another over a pre-determined bending edge and are jointly pressed out. In this case the two pockets are brought to lie one above the other and the pressing out process can take place ex-actly at the same time for all components. The aforementioned packages are simple to manufacture, however they have the disadvantage that the correct use has to be explained to the user and there is also the possibility of faulty manipulation. Moreover, a solution with a common outlet pas-sage or with an integrated mixer cannot be realised in this form because either a common outlet passage cannot be provided designwise or because a separate closing mechanism has to be provided which prevents a dis-charge of the components from their respective pockets during storage. A
closing mechanism would be only be releasable during use in order to fa-cilitate a discharge of the components into a common discharge passage.
A multi-component foil container is known from DE 20 2005 001 203U1 (= P.7501) and also from W02006079413. The multi-component foil con-tainer has a lower half shell and also an upper half shell which is manu-factured from an inherently stable plastic foil by deep drawing or thermo-forming. The two half shells are fixedly connected to one another by weld-ing or gluing. Each of the half shells contains a storage region for the re-ception of a respective component in a chamber provided for this. Adjacent chambers for different components are separated from each other by a partitioning foil. In accordance with DE 20 2005 001 203 U 1 the cham-bers are arranged one above the other in the half shells. The chambers open out on the one side into a mixing region, which is separated from the chambers, so that each component is kept sealed so long as it is stored.
In the first embodiment shown in W02006/079413 in accordance with which horizontal partitioning webs can be inserted between the chambers of the half shells filled with a component and a trough-shaped depression

3 into which a mixing element can be inserted. With regard to the partition-ing webs, it is only mentioned that they are designed in such a way that they are pressed apart by the emerging components at a predetermined point, in order to open a passage from the chambers to the trough-shaped depression which the forms the discharge passage. In accordance with all other embodiments opening spikes, plungers or webs coupled to the mixer element or webs of the mixer element are provided, in order to establish a connection between the chambers and the mixer element, which makes the discharge of the components possible. Discharge means can be pro-vided in order to guarantee a uniform discharge, which can not be achieved with manual handling.
Since the manufacturing of the devices from the prior art is often associ-ated with great expense, a simpler solution should be sought for the re-duction of the costs. Furthermore, the danger of faulty manipulation ought to be reduced.
The non-releasable connection of such blister packages lying one above the other has caused considerable problems up until now. Thus in blister packages in accordance with the prior art the two rear sides of the sealing foils have to be connected together. This can be done at most by an addi-tionally applied sealant layer and later sealing, and when using one of these named methods the material choice for the sealing foils is very re-stricted.
It is the object of the invention to create an improvement on the named device with the object of manufacturing a simple and economical device with sealed storage regions lying one above the other for flowable compo-nents, wherein the connection of the two devices is non releasable, so long as the device is not in use. This has the advantage that the storage regions

4 can be stored together safely until use. Thus mistakes are excluded, of combining storage regions with the same components by mistake. An ex-ample of a faulty manipulation of this kind would be the bringing together of two storage regions which both only contain the hardener component of a two-component adhesive. If a device of this kind were used, the two-component adhesive would not harden, since the binder component is missing. The necessary chemical reaction between the hardener compo-nent and the binder component would be missing, so that no adhesive connection could take place. For this reason, all components should al-ready be stored in separate storage regions even during the manufacture of the device, wherein the storage regions remain together by means of a non releasable connection, at least for the duration of the storage. Thus it is apparent that the two components have to be used together. A common discharge passage for the components can be integrally moulded. More-over, the two components can be pressed out simultaneously and in a de-fined amount by simple pressing by hand or using a simple auxiliary de-vice. If the two components are adhesive components which have to be mixed in a predetermined ratio, then this precise metering has a special significance.
If a mixing element is additionally inserted into a discharge passage inte-grally moulded to the package, as was shown in WO 2006/079413, then a non releasable, sealed and pressure-resistant connection of the two stor-age regions is essential. The mixing element has a high pressure loss due to the plurality of deflecting elements, so that a relatively high pressing out pressure is required. The storage regions and also the connecting pas-sages to the mixing elements and the passage in which the mixing element is received have to be resistant to this pressing out pressure.

The object is satisfied by the device for the storage of a plurality of compo-nents which are intended for joint use. The device includes a first storage region for the reception of a first component and a second storage region for the reception of a second component, with the storage regions being

5 arranged substantially one above the other. Each storage region includes a pocket, which is sealingly closable by a cover. The cover can be sealed to the pocket while forming a seam and the storage regions can be connected outside the seam via a connecting means. In this arrangement the foils consisting of the same material, which are in particular designed as deep drawing foils, can be non-releasably and sealingly connected, preferably by thermal welding, ultrasonic welding or laser welding. Thermal welding has proved to be a particularly simple and safe method. In this connection readily weldable deep drawing foils which contain in particular polypro-pylene or polyethylene, are welded together by the pressing together of two heated stamps of a welding tool lying opposite one another. In order to improve the chemical or physical characteristics such the resistance to chemicals for example, multi-layer foils such as for example composite aluminium foils can be used, in which the surface to be welded is made of a readily weldable plastic.
According to a preferred embodiment a cover for a plurality of pockets is provided or alternatively one cover is provided per pocket. The selection of one of these embodiments is on the one hand conditional on the chemical and physical characteristics of the components. It can, for example, be necessary for particularly reactive components to provide a special cover and/or lining of the storage region. The manufacture of pockets with dif-ferent volumes lying one above the other can likewise make it necessary that each component has its own cover. Furthermore, the manufacturing method can make it necessary for the step of the filling of the pockets to take place sequentially. This means that the pockets are first filled with a

6 first component and have to be closed immediately. The filling of the pock-ets with the second component only takes place once the desired batch size is reached.
At least one discharge passage is provided for each device through which the components are pressed out as a consequence of the action of an ap-plied pressure on the pockets forming the storage regions.
In accordance with a further advantageous variant a discharge tube is provided downstream of the discharge passage and can contain a mixing element.
In accordance with a further advantageous variant an opening means is provided in order to open the storage regions directly prior to use. An opening means of this kind can, on the one hand, be formed as a parti-tioning means. A partitioning means includes cutting edges which bring about cutting through of the cover, wherein the opening means is formed as a plunger or as a web of a mixing element. As an alternative to this the o0ening means can release a discharge passage in that a dilation of a slot takes place without the material of the cover or of the foils having to be cut through. An opening means of this kind is formed as a wedge for ex-ample. A further category of opening means includes means for the releas-ing of the connection of the foils by kinking movements in the region of the still closed discharge passage. A movement of the discharge tube towards the pockets results in kinking in the region of the discharge passage, which prevents the discharge of the components into the discharge tube.
Thus a passage is released by the kinking movement acting on the outlet passage through which the associated component can flow, after the open-ing means has been activated.

= 7 The device in accordance with any one of the previous embodiments is particularly suitable for multi-component adhesives.
The method for the storage and for the metering of a plurality of compo-nents includes the steps of:
- the filling of a storage region with a first component, - the closing of the storage region for the storage of the first compo-nent, =
- the filling of a storage region with a second component, - the closing of the storage region for the storage of the second com-ponent, - the arranging of the storage regions substantially one above the other, - the fastening of the storage regions to one another by a connecting means.
To meter the components a simultaneous pressing out of the storage re-gions takes place for the direct combination of the two components in the desired ratio to one another.
Subsequent to the combination the components are mixed in a mixing element.
The opening means can be provided for each of the previously described embodiments, in order to open the storage regions directly prior to use.
An opening means is arranged between a discharge tube and the storage =
regions, and can be operated in particular by a kinking movement of the storage regions and of the discharge tube so that a passage is released = through the kinking movement through which the components flow into the discharge tube.

7a In some embodiments, there is provided a device for the storage of a plurality of components which are intended for joint use including a first storage region for the reception of a first component and a second storage region for the reception of a second component wherein the storage regions are arranged substantially one above the other, wherein each storage region includes a pocket, which is sealingly closed by a cover, wherein the cover is sealed to the pocket by forming a seam and wherein the storage regions are connected outside the seam via a connecting means.
= In some embodiments, there is provided use of the device as described herein for multi-component adhesives.
In some embodiments, there is provided a method for the storage and for the metering of a plurality of components including the steps of: filling of a first storage region with a first component, closing of the first storage region for the storage of the first component, filling of a second storage region with a second component, closing of the second storage region for the storage of the second component, arranging of the storage regions substantially one above the other, fastening of the storage regions to one another by means of a connecting means and outside a seam formed for closing pockets of said storage regions.

The invention will be explained in the following with the help of the draw-ings, which show:
Fig. 1 a device in accordance with the prior art, Fig. 2 a section through a device in accordance with the prior art, Fig. 3 a further device known from the prior art, Fig. 4 a first part of a device in accordance with the invention, Fig. 5 a first and a second part of a device in accordance with the invention according to Fig. 4, Fig. 6 the assembly of two parts in accordance with a first embodi-ment, Fig. 7 the assembly of two parts in accordance with a second em-bodiment, Fig. 8 the construction of a device with an integrated mixing element and Fig. 9 a section through the welding tool, Double blister packages 1 in accordance with Fig. 1 are known, in which two components are stored next to each other. The double blister package 1 is illustrated in Fig. 1 right at the top in a view from above. Underneath this there is a view from the side which includes the discharge passages (7, 9). Next to this on the right a view from the front is shown. In this case only the storage region 2 and the discharge passage 7 are visible, the stor-age region 3 and also the discharge passage 9 are hidden. Below these two views there is a view of the double blister package from below which is designated as Fig. 2. Section A-A also belongs to Fig. 2 which comprise the interior of the storage regions (2, 3) filled with the first and the second components. A double blister package 1 in accordance with Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 includes a deep drawn foil 6 with two deep drawn pockets (4, 8) lying next to one another. The deep drawn pockets (4, 8) each form a storage region (2, 3) and serve for the reception of a component. A cover 5 is provided in order to enclose the component in its associated storage region. This cover 5 is in particular formed as a sealing foil. The component is enclosed in the storage region (2, 3) by a sealing foil, so that the component can be stored in the pocket (4, 8) sealed against environmental influences. In use the components are pressed out one after the other. Alternatively the two pockets (4, 8) are folded one over the other over a pre-determined bending edge and are pressed out together, as is shown in Fig. 3. For the pressing out a pressure is applied to the pockets (4, 8) after a communication be-tween the pocket and the environment has been created. Suitable for means for the manufacture of a connection of this kind are disclosed in W02006/079413.
This package is certainly simple to manufacture however it has the disad-vantage that the correct use has to be explained and there is also the pos-sibility of faulty manipulation. Moreover, a solution with a common dis-charge passage or with an integrated mixing element can not be realised.
Fig. 3 shows the variant likewise known from the prior art of bringing storage regions (2, 3) lying next to one another which are filled with differ-ent components into an oppositely disposed position. To this end the axis of symmetry 18 of the device 1 is used as a bending edge. The right-hand part of Fig. 3 shows the process of the folding down of the two halves of the device 1. With this the two discharge passages 7 and 9 end up lying one above the other, as do the pockets (4, 8), so that an applied pressure 5 can be exerted on both pockets together. This arrangement has the advan-tage that both components are pressed out simultaneously. However, it should be guaranteed that the volumes of the two pockets (2, 3) are at least approximately the same, so that the applied pressure can be exerted as evenly as possible. The arrangement in accordance with Fig. 3 thus 10 only has a limited clearance to press out different volumes and/or compo-nents with greatly differing flow characteristics.
The disadvantages of the prior art can be avoided using a device in accor-dance with the invention for the storage of a plurality of components which are intended for joint use, as is illustrated in three views in Fig. 4.
The uppermost part of Fig. 4 shows a view of the device 1 from above, wherein only the part of the device 1 associated with the first storage re-gion 2, which is intended for the reception of the first component, is shown. The middle part of Fig. 4 shows a side view of the upper part of the device 1. The lower part of Fig. 4 shows the upper part of the device 1 from below. The device includes a first storage region 2 for the reception of a first component. The storage region 2 is illustrated as a pocket 4. The pocket 2 is enclosed by a foil 6, which fully surrounds the ring-shaped pocket. The pocket has the shape of a half shell which is to be regarded as a particularly advantageous embodiment due to the simple manufactura-bility. Regardless of this the pocket can have any other shapes which have a hollow space in their interior, which can serve for the reception of a component, in particular of a flowable component. A discharge passage 7 is connected to the storage region 2 and protrudes beyond this in part.
The storage region 2 and the discharge passage 7 are enclosed by a cover = -5. The cover is a sealing foil, in particular a sealing foil which is sealingly connected to the foil by means of a seam 14 in such a way that the com-ponent can be stored in the interior of the pocket.
Fig. 5 shows three views of the entire device 1 with the exception of a dis-charge tube and a mixing element optionally arranged therein. The illus-tration corresponds to Fig. 4. The device includes a first storage region 2 for the reception of a first component and a second storage region 3 for the reception of a second component wherein the storage regions (2, 3) are arranged substantially one above the other. Each storage region (2, 3) in-cludes a pocket (4, 8), which is sealingly closable by a cover 5. The cover 5 can be sealed to the pocket while forming a seam 14 and the storage re-gions can be connected outside the seam via a connecting means 16. In this arrangement the foils 6 are made up of the same material and are in particular designed as deep drawing foils can be inseparably and sealingly connected preferably by thermal welding, ultrasonic welding or laser weld-ing. Thermal welding has proved to be a particularly preferable method because it is simple and safe. In this connection readily weldable deep drawn foils, which contain polypropylene or polyethylene for example, are welded together by the pressing together of two heated stamps of a weld-ing tool lying opposite one another. In order to improve the chemical or physical characteristics such as resistance to chemicals, multiple layer foils such as aluminium composite foils can be used in which the surface to be welded is made of a readily weldable plastic.
Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 show two further preferred embodiments. According to Fig. 6 a cover (5, 11) is provided per storage region (2, 3) which is designed as a pocket (4, 8). For particularly reactive components it can, for exam-ple, be necessary to provide a special covering and/or lining of the storage region. The use of pockets lying one above the other with different volumes can also make it necessary for each component to have its own cover. Fur-thermore, the manufacturing process can provide for the step of filling of the pockets to take place sequentially. This means that the pockets have first to be filled with a first component and closed. The filling of the pock-ets with the second component only takes place once the desired batch size has been reached. In accordance with Fig. 6 a first pocket is formed in a foil 6. The pocket 4 has the shape of a half shell, which is illustrated in Fig. 6 in section. The half shell includes an outlet passage 7. The pocket 4 and the outlet passage 7 are covered by the cover 5 after a first component has been filled into the pocket. The cover is sealingly connected to the pocket with the connection including a sealing operation. In this case the cover is formed as a sealing foil. Subsequent to this a second storage re-gion 3, which can be formed as a second half shell, is formed from a foil 10. The storage region 3 likewise contains an outlet passage 9. The stor-age region 3 is filled with a second component and subsequently covered with the cover 11 and enclosed between the cover 11 and the foil 10. The two storage regions are positioned one above the other which is shown in the right-hand part of Fig. 6. Then the foils 6, 10 are joined outside of the sealing by means of a joining means 16, with the joining means including in particular a welding tool for the manufacture of a welded connection.
In Fig. 7 a cover 5 for a plurality of storage regions (2, 3) is provided. The filling and sealing of the first storage region 2 which extends between the first pocket 4 and the cover 5 takes place in the same way as illustrated and described in Fig. 6. Thereafter the pocket 8 of the second storage re-gion 3 is filled. In this case instead of the cover 11, the cover 5 of the stor-age region 2 is used as a cover because the whole storage region 2 is laid on the storage region 3. A connection is made by means of a connecting means 16 around the sealing of the first storage region, so that the two storage regions 2 and 3 are fixedly connected to one another. The connec-tion means 16 in particular includes a welded connection of the foil 6 to the foil 10 outside of the sealing of the storage region 3 with the cover 5.
In accordance with a further advantageous embodiment of the device a discharge tube 13 is provided downstream of the outlet passage which can contain a mixing element 12. Fig. 8 shows a particularly advantageous embodiment of a device 1, which includes an outlet passage 7 and a dis-charge tube 13 joined to it. In the view illustrated at the very top the de-vice 1 is illustrated from above. The storage region 2 for the second corn-ponent and its outlet passage 9 are not visible. In the middle view the foil 6 is omitted so that the interior of the device is visible. The cover 5 and also the outlet passages (7, 9) of the two components are shown in par-ticular. The discharge tube 13 is also left out in this view in order to make the mixing element 12 situated in the interior of this discharge tube visi-ble. In the bottom view on the other hand the cover 5 is again left out, however the foil 10 surrounding the storage region 3 is shown. An opening means 17 can be provided, to open the storage regions directly prior to use. An opening means of this kind can, on the one hand, be formed as a partitioning means. An opening means of this kind includes cutting edges, which effect a cutting through of the cover wherein the opening means 17 is formed as a cutting edge which is arranged in the region of the outlet passage or is formed as a plunger or a web of a mixing element. On the other hand, the opening means 17 can release an outlet passage in that a widening of a slit takes place without material of the cover 5 or of the foils 6 needing to be cut through. An opening means of this kind 17 is formed as a wedge for example. A further category of opening means 17 includes means for the releasing of the connection of the foils by kinking move-ments in the region of the still closed outlet passage (7, 9). Through movement of the discharge tube 13 towards the pockets (4, 8), kinking in the closing region of the outlet passage results, which prevents the dis-charge of the components into the discharge tube 13, as long as the device is not in use. Thus the cover is torn open by means of the kinking move-ment acting on the outlet passage (7, 9), so that a passage is freed through which the associated components can flow after the opening means 17 have been actuated. The outlet passages (7, 9) are arranged off-set relative to one another. The upper cover 5 is torn open by means of the outlet passage 9, the lower cover 11, if present by means of the outlet pas-sage 7. The whole device is connected outside the sealing and, if neces-sary, around the discharge tube 13 for the mixing element 12 by a con-necting means 16. A welded connection can in particular be manufactured by means of the connecting means.
Fig. 9 shows a possible design of a welding tool 15, which can be used for the manufacture of the device 1. The foil 6 which forms the pocket 4 for the storage region 3 and the outlet passage 7 and the foil 10 which forms the pocket 8 for the storage region 3 and the outlet passage 9 are welded together by means of welding tool. The welding takes place outside the cover 5, i.e. outside the sealing.
The device in accordance with any one of the previous embodiments is in particular suitable for multiple component adhesives or multiple compo-nent sealants.
The method for the storage and for the metering of a plurality of compo-nents includes the steps:
- the filling of a storage region 2 with a first component, - the closing of the storage region 2 for the storage of the first com-ponent, - the filling of a storage region 3 with a second component - the closing of the storage region 3 for the storage of the second component, - the arranging of the storage regions (2, 3) substantially one above the other, the fastening of the storage regions to one another by means of a connecting means 16.
For the metering of the components a simultaneous pressing out of the storage regions (2, 3) takes place for the direct combination of the two components for metering in the desired ratio to one another. Subsequent to the combination the components can be mixed in a mixing element 12.
An opening means 17 can be provided for each of the previously described embodiments in order to open the storage regions (2, 3) directly before use, so that the components can emerge from the storage regions. The opening means 17 is arranged between the discharge tube 13 and the storage regions (2, 3) and can in particular be operated by a kinking move-ment of the storage regions and of the discharge tube 13, so that a pas-sage is released by the kinking movement cover) through which the com-ponents flow into the discharge tube 13.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A device for the storage of a plurality of components which are intended for joint use including a first storage region for the reception of a first component and a second storage region for the reception of a second component wherein the storage regions are arranged substantially one above the other, wherein each storage region includes a pocket, which is sealingly closed by a cover, wherein the cover is sealed to the pocket by forming a seam and wherein the storage regions are connected outside the seam via a connecting means.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein one cover is provided for a plurality of pockets.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein one cover is provided per pocket.

4. A device in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one outlet passage is provided.

5. A device in accordance with claim 4 wherein a discharge tube is provided downstream of the at least one outlet passage.

6. A device in accordance with claim 5 wherein the discharge tube contains a mixing element.

7. A device in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein an opening means is provided in order to open the storage regions directly prior to use

8. A device in accordance with claim 7, wherein the opening means includes a plunger or a web of a mixing element.

9. A device in accordance with claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the opening means includes a passage releasable by a kinking movement.

10. Use of the device in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 9 for multi-component adhesives.

11. A method for the storage and for the metering of a plurality of components including the steps of:
- filling of a first storage region with a first component, - closing of the first storage region for the storage of the first component, - filling of a second storage region with a second component, - closing of the second storage region for the storage of the second component, - arranging of the storage regions substantially one above the other, - fastening of the storage regions to one another by means of a connecting means and outside a seam formed for closing pockets of said storage regions.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein a simultaneous pressing out of the storage regions takes place for the direct combination of the two components.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the components are mixed in a mixing element.

14. A method in accordance with any one of claims 11 to13 wherein an opening means is provided in order to open the storage regions directly before use.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the opening means is arranged between a discharge tube and the storage regions, and is operated by a kinking movement of the storage regions and of the discharge tube so that a passage is released through the kinking movement through which the components flow into the discharge tube.