CZ295569B6 - Container and coupling assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an assembly of a container and a coupling for coupling said container to a device for applying a component present in said container, wherein the coupling comprises a first and a second coupling piece (1, 2) that are rotatably connectable, whereby one of said coupling pieces (1, 2) is provided in circumferential direction with at least one guide (21) and the other coupling piece (1, 2) is provided with at least one projection (11) adapted for insertion in said guide (21) and movement therein during at the most one revolution, at the most, of one of the coupling pieces (1, 2) relative to the another between an initial position (28) corresponding to an uncoupled state of said coupling and closed position of a container (3) valve (9), and a final position (29) corresponding to a coupled state of the coupling and open position of the container (3) valve (9), whereby the guide (21) has a main edge being adapted for ensuring a shift toward an application gun (4) of the connectable piece (1, 2) in the direction of the container (3) valve (9) opening, and an auxiliary edge arranged oppositely to the main edge wherein distance of said auxiliary edge from the main edge is adjusted so that there is a minimum clearance between said projection (11) and said guide (21) both edges.

Description

Technical field

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a coupling, in particular for connecting a container to a spray gun and comprising a first coupling piece and a second coupling piece which are connectable by relative rotation thereof, one coupling piece being adapted to be connected to the spray gun. The application gun may also be a gun which is used, inter alia, to apply a mixture which may comprise several components, for example silicone paste, polyurethane foam or a two-component adhesive.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The known applicator assembly includes a container and a first connecting piece for attachment to the container. The first connecting piece is usually made of plastics. The known assembly also includes a second coupling piece that serves to attach to the gun. The second connecting piece is usually made of metal, for example aluminum or bronze. The first and second connecting pieces can be rotatably connected by means of a screw connection. In the known coupling, the coupling is realized by inserting the first coupling piece into the second coupling piece and tightening the screw connections to the stop. This is usually done manually.

The known assembly has the disadvantage that the union is difficult to unscrew. It has also been found that the thread of the fitting is often contaminated with the mixture contained in the container. If a new container or even a gun is to be reused, then one or both of the connecting pieces, including the screw thread, must be cleaned beforehand. Depending on which mixture is used, cleaning can be difficult, sometimes impossible.

Further research has found that the mixture does not enter the thread of the fitting during operation, but rather gets there when tightening the fitting, i.e. when commissioning the coupling.

In order to obtain a robust, non-self-releasing coupling, it is necessary that the thread of the fitting connects the two parts along its entire length, i.e. the maximum possible number of turns. Therefore, the first coupling piece is rotated stepwise with respect to the second coupling piece until it stops.

At the same time as the coupling is tightened, the valve is opened by means of the second coupling piece. Since the valve is in contact with the second coupling piece for almost the entire time of tightening the coupling, it is affected from the outset by any relative movement of the first and second coupling pieces. The valve opens from the very beginning of tightening of the fitting. Since the valve has been opened from the beginning of the coupling assembly, the mixture may leak before tightening the fitting.

The problem of valve leakage during assembly of the coupling can be particularly pronounced if both coupling pieces are made of plastic. In practice, it has been shown that the screw connection in the plastic is of a rather poor quality and has a large play.

After considering the problem, it is clear that the solution of the leakage of the mixture through the valve is not to be sought in improving the valve itself, but rather in the method of mounting the coupling.

US 5,549,228 discloses a rotatable locking system for a dispensing container for a dispensing gun. The rotary locking system includes a mounting adapter that is a removable locking ring located on the container and a connecting portion located on the gun. The ring comprises a main ring with an upper and a lower surface, the lower surface being a surface joining the rim. A pair of projections protrude from the ring inwardly, which are separated by notches, and which include a downwardly directed stop foot.

-1 CZ 295569 B6

The connecting portion includes a cylindrical side wall supporting a first locking pair and a second locking pair of locking feet, both pairs overlap in the height direction of the cap. The container is attached to the dispensing gun by placing the first locking pair in the notches and rotating the guns against the dispenser until the main edge of the locking lugs contacts the lug stop. At this point, there is a vertical alignment between the passages that allow the contents of the container to leave the container. Further, the connector is pushed downward and toward the ring, thereby lowering the locking shoe below the level of the shoe stopper, further rotating, allowing the locking lugs to engage below the lower surface of the ring lugs, preventing the locking lugs from moving upward. At the same time as the locking feet are lowered, the container valve opens and the contents of the container flow from the container towards the dispenser.

The pivoting locking system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,228 presents the disadvantage that when the locking lugs are pushed downwards, the valve opens and the contents can leave the container before the locking lugs have reached the locking position. In the event of accidental release of the locking lugs, after they have been pushed down and before they have reached the bottom surface of the ring, the contents can leak out of the container and fill the space left between the ring and the coupling part.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a coupling that does not leak during assembly. This object is achieved by a coupling comprising a first coupling piece and a second coupling piece which are connectable by relative rotation thereof, one of the coupling pieces being adapted to be connected to a spray gun and the other to the container according to the present invention, that one of the connecting pieces comprises at least one guide in the circumferential direction and the other of the connecting pieces comprises at least one projection adapted to be inserted into and moved within the guide during a maximum of one revolution of one of the connecting pieces relative to the other between the initial position; corresponding to the disengaged state of the clutch and the closed position of the container valve, and an end position corresponding to the disengaged state of the clutch and the open position of the container valve, the guide having a main edge adapted to move to the applicator gun in the opening direction in the container, and a side edge opposed therefrom whose distance from the main edge is adjusted such that there is minimal clearance between the projection and the two edges of the guide.

The coupling further comprises the fact that the first coupling piece and the second coupling piece, made of plastic, preferably nylon-6 or polypropylene, comprise means for securing the coupling in a locked state, comprising a snap lock arranged such that the first coupling piece it has a peripheral rim that is provided with at least one catch holder, and the second coupling piece has a peripheral rim on which at least one recess is provided to engage the catch and thereby secure the clutch in the coupled state.

It is also essential for the coupling according to the invention that the projection is in the form of a pin and the guide is in the form of a groove, and that the coupling pieces have a circular shape, one coupling piece having two opposing pins and the other coupling piece having two opposing grooves.

Finally, it is essential for the coupling that the first coupling piece is provided with means for attaching it to the bead of the container head, the means being an outer peripheral recess in the first peripheral rim and a peripheral edge of the peripheral rim; valve flange in the container head. This makes it possible to obtain a double connection of the connecting piece to the container and to increase the surface of their mutual contact

On the other hand, the amount of frictional force that must be overcome for the coupling to move relative to the container.

The clutch assembly of the present invention is accomplished by a continuous movement, wherein the valve is activated during this continuous movement. Since the time of valve activation is short, the risk of leakage when assembling the coupling is very low.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The specific embodiment of the coupling according to the invention will be described in more detail in the next paragraph with reference to the attached drawing, where

Giant. 1 shows a device for applying a two-component mixture,

Giant. 2a - a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the coupling according to the invention in the disconnected state,

Giant. 2b is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a coupling according to the invention in a coupled state,

Giant. 3a is a side view of a second coupling piece of a first embodiment of a coupling according to the invention,

Giant. 3b is a side view of a first coupling piece of a first embodiment of a coupling according to the invention mounted on a container,

Giant. 3c is a plan view of a first embodiment of a coupling according to the invention in a coupled state,

Giant. 3d - side view of a first embodiment of a coupling according to the invention in a coupled state,

Giant. 4a is a side view of a second embodiment of a coupling according to the present invention in a coupled condition, and

Giant. 4b is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a coupling according to the invention in a coupled state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The apparatus of Fig. 1 comprises a gun 4 for applying a two-component mixture. The container 3 comprises the first component of the mixture under pressure. The second container 5 contains the second component of the mixture under pressure. The container 3 comprises a first coupling piece 1 which fits into the second coupling piece 2. The second coupling piece 2 is arranged so that it can be connected to the gun 4. The first coupling piece 1 and the second coupling piece 2 can be rotatably connected.

It is preferred that the first connecting piece 1 and the second connecting piece 2 are made of plastic, for example nylon-6 or polypropylene.

The container 3 has a body 10 of substantially cylindrical shape and includes a head 7 which is connected to the body 10 of the container 3 via a flange 6. The head 7 of the container 3 comprises a central opening with a flange 8 into which the valve 9 is inserted.

In the first embodiment of the coupling assembly of Figs. 2a and 2b, the first coupling piece 1 is connected on one side by means of an outer peripheral recess 17 in the peripheral rim 16 to the rim 6 of the head 7 of the container 3 and connected by an inner peripheral recess 18 to the rim 8 of the valve 9. The peripheral rim 16 includes a peripheral rim 15 which cooperates with the rim 6 to intensify the connection of the first connecting piece 1 to the container 3.

-3 CZ 295569 B6

The valve 9 is attached to the first coupling piece 1 by means of an at least partially compressible sealing ring 30 and is actuated in the direction of the inner volume of the container 3. The mixture component in the container 3 can exit the container 3 through the valve opening 32 in the valve 9 and flow through the second connecting piece 2 to gun 4.

The outer surface of the first coupling piece 1 comprises a projection 11. The second coupling piece 2 then includes a guide 21 into which the projection 11 fits. The projection 11 can move in the guide 21 between the starting position 28 and the ending position 29.

The projection 11 and the guide 21 are formed by a pin and a groove. The embodiment of Figures 2a and 2b comprises two opposing pins and two grooves. Since the pins and grooves are spaced along the circumference of the respective connecting pieces 1, 2, the manufacturing process of the connecting pieces 1, 2 can be greatly simplified. A molding system composed of two symmetrical halves can be used to manufacture the connecting pieces 1, 2. For the opening and closing of the mold, the possibility of moving the two mold halves together and apart in one line can be used, thus avoiding the system of rotating the mold halves relative to each other.

The guide 21 is of such a length that the projection 11 can move from the start position 28 to the end position 29 within a maximum of one revolution. For example, the length of the guide 21 may be equal to or less than the circumference of the second connecting piece 2.

The protrusion 11 and the guide 21 may have complementary cooperating surfaces to provide a better grip. The guide 21 may include a recess that extends from the outer front peripheral rim 24 of the second coupling piece 2, which facilitates insertion of the projection 11 without having to open the valve 9. This also provides a degree of free movement.

The protrusion 11 may have different shapes. It can have a square shape, a rectangular shape, but also another shape. The guide 21 may be opened toward the outer surface of the second coupling piece 2, or may be a groove on the inner surface of the wall of the second coupling piece 2, or may include a set of rails on the inner surface of the second coupling piece 2 into which the projection 11 fits.

It is also possible to reverse the location of the protrusion 11 and the guide 21, i.e. to locate the protrusion 11 on the second coupling piece 2 and the guide 21 on the first coupling piece 1.

The first and second coupling pieces 1, 2 are provided with a latch lock which serves to secure the coupling without using a bolt. The advantage of the latch lock is that it fits automatically by itself.

The peripheral rim 20 of the second coupling piece 2 comprises at least one recess 22, which is intended to cooperate with a catch 14 disposed with its actuator 12 via a holder 13 on the peripheral flange 16 of the first coupling piece 1. If required, the catch 14 and the recess 22 may include cooperating auxiliary profiles.

It is preferred that the clip 14 is movable away from and towards the coupling piece 1, 2 to obtain a bolt-free connection, as shown in Figure 2b. The second connecting piece 2 comprises a connecting end 27, the purpose of which is to connect the second connecting piece 2 to the gun 4.

The second coupling piece 2 comprises a one-way valve 23, which makes it possible to prevent the mixture from being returned from the gun 4 back to the container 3.

The second coupling piece 2 further comprises an outer front peripheral skirt 24 which, after assembly of the coupling, abuts the outer surface of the first coupling piece 1.

-4GB 295569 B6

The inner front peripheral rim 25 of the second coupling piece 2, after assembly of the coupling, permits the permeability of the valve 9. In this inner front peripheral rim 25 there is an axial bore 26 with which a portion of the valve 9 fits. container 3 into the gun 4.

When assembling the coupling, the first coupling piece f having a circular shape is inserted into the circular second coupling piece 2. In this case, the projection 11 is inserted into the starting position 28 on the corresponding guide 21, as shown in FIG. 3d. The first coupling piece 1 rotates continuously relative to the second coupling piece 2 by a maximum of one revolution. The protrusion 11 moves from the start position 28 towards the end position 29 in the direction of the arrows (see FIG. 3d). At the same time, the valve 9 (FIG. 2b) is continuously moved towards the inner volume of the container 3, compressing the sealing ring 30 of the valve 9. By moving the valve 9 towards the inner volume of the container 3, the valve 9 opens. through the opening 32 in the valve 9 in the direction (indicated by the arrows) to the second coupling piece 2. The one-way valve 23 in the second coupling piece 2 is opened and the mixture thus passes towards the gun 4 as indicated by the arrows.

When the projection 11 reaches the end position 29, the catch 14 engages in the recess 22 on the second coupling piece 2, whereby the coupling is not only coupled but also secured against spontaneous disengagement.

The elasticity of the plastic material from which the two connecting pieces 1, 2 are made is used to disengage the coupling. The actuator 12 is pushed in the direction of the container 3 (FIG. 2b) so that the catch 14 leaves the recess 22. The projection 11 can then move in the guide 21 in the direction opposite to the arrows (FIG. 3d). Once the projection 11 reaches the starting position 28, the two connecting pieces 1, 2 can be separated from each other.

Another preferred embodiment of the clutch assembly is shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b.

According to this embodiment of the coupling, the first coupling piece 1 comprises a projection 11 which cooperates with the guide 21 of the second coupling piece 2. The projection 11 moves inside the guide 21 in the direction of the arrows (see Fig. 4a) between the starting position 28 and the end position 29. which corresponds to the coupled state of the coupling. To facilitate insertion of the protrusion 11 into the guide 21, a considerable clearance is provided in the initial position 28 in the form of a recess that extends from the initial position 28 in the guide 21 towards the outer front peripheral rim34 of the second coupling piece 2.

The second connecting piece 2 has a catch on its outer surface, at the end position 29 of the guide 21

35, which cooperates with the projection 11. The catch 35 has a recess on the side facing the pin 11

36, which keeps the pin 11 in the end position 29. As shown in FIG. 4a, the protrusion 11 and the recess 36 may include auxiliary cooperating surfaces. The latch 35 is connected to the second connecting piece 2 by means of the connecting bracket 37. As shown in broken lines in Fig. 4b, the latch 35 is movable towards and from the protrusion 11 and from and to the second connecting piece 2.

Thus, the connection can be made by inserting the first coupling piece 1 into the second coupling piece 2, and further adjusting the projection 11 to the starting position 28 in the guide 21. The projection 11 further moves from the starting position 28 towards the end position 29 so that the first coupling piece 1 rotates a maximum of one revolution with respect to the second coupling piece 2. As soon as the projection 11 comes close to the end position 29, it simultaneously comes into contact with the recess 36 of the catch 35. The lower part of the catch 35 moves with the projection 11 away from the second coupling piece 2. as shown in dashed lines in Fig. 4a. Once the projection 11 reaches the end position 29, the catch 35 begins to move back toward the second coupling piece 2. The coupling is thereby not only assembled but also secured, since the auxiliary surfaces of the projection 11 and the recess 36 keep the pin 11 in the end position 29.

To release the clutch, the catch 35 moves in the direction away from the second coupling piece 2 by moving the upper portion of the holder 37 towards the second coupling piece 2. Since the projection 11 is no longer held by the catch 35 in the end position 29, the projection 11 can move. from the end position 29 towards the starting position 28, and in this connection the connecting pieces 1, 2 can move in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrows and thereby disengage.

PATENT CLAIMS

Claims (5)

Coupling, in particular for connecting a container (3) to a gun (4), comprising a first coupling piece (1) and a second coupling piece (2), which are connectable by relative rotation thereof, one of the coupling pieces (1), 2) is adapted to be connected to a gun (4) and the other to a container (3), characterized in that one of the connecting pieces (1, 2) comprises at least one guide (21) in the circumferential direction and the other of the connecting pieces The pieces (2, 1) comprise at least one projection (11) adapted to be inserted into the guide (21) and moved therein during a maximum of one revolution of one of the connecting pieces (1,2) relative to the other between the initial position (28) corresponding to the disengaged state of the coupling and the closed position of the valve (9) of the container (3), and an end position (29) corresponding to the engaged state of the coupling and the open position of the valve (9) of the container (3). designed to provide displacement to the applicator gun (4) of the attachable piece (1, 2) in the opening direction of the valve (9) of the container (3), and a secondary edge disposed opposite therefrom; ) and there is minimal clearance between both edges of the guide (21). A coupling according to claim 1, characterized in that the first coupling piece (1) and the second coupling piece (2) comprise means for securing the coupling in the coupled state. Clutch according to claim 2, characterized in that the means for securing the clutch in the coupled state are formed by a latch lock. Coupling according to claim 3, characterized in that the first coupling piece (1) has a peripheral rim (16) which is provided with at least one catch holder (13) and a second coupling piece (13). the piece (2) has a circumferential rim (20) on which at least one recess (22) is provided to engage the catch (14) and thereby secure the coupling in the coupled state. Coupling according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the projection (11) is in the form of a pin and the guide (21) is in the form of a groove. Coupling according to claim 5, characterized in that the connecting pieces (1, 2) have a circular shape, one of the connecting pieces (1, 2) being provided with two oppositely arranged pins and the other of the connecting pieces (2, 1) being provided with two opposing grooves. Coupling according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first coupling piece (1) is provided with means for connecting it to the rim (6) of the head (7) of the container (3). Coupling according to claim 7, characterized in that the means for attaching the first connecting piece (1) to the flange (6) of the head (7) of the container (3) is an outer circumferential recess (17) in the first peripheral rim (16). ) and a peripheral edge (15) of the peripheral rim (16). -6GB 295569 B6 Coupling according to claim 7, characterized in that the means for attaching the first coupling piece (1) to the flange (8) of the valve (9) in the head (7) of the container (3) is an inner circumferential recess (18). Coupling according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the connecting pieces (1, 2) are made of plastic, preferably nylon-6 or polypropylene.