EP0330723B1 - Multi-chamber container - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a multi-chamber container according to the preamble of claim 1.

The multi-chamber containers according to the invention contain in each chamber a component of a substrate which is produced by mixing the components and, after it has been mixed, generally has to be processed for a limited period of time. In particular, the invention relates to double-chamber containers which contain two chambers, each separated by a chamber partition, for one component of the substrate and are mainly used below to explain the invention in more detail. The substrates housed in double chamber containers are preferably chemicals, e.g. an epoxy resin and wine hardener or polyurethane foam made from two components. The correct application of such materials requires compliance with the prescribed pot life and mixing conditions.

The double-chamber containers according to the invention are suitable for mixing the components and dispensing the substrates, before their use the components filled into the chambers are kept separate.

The multi-chamber container according to the invention can therefore also be used as packaging for the substrates, in particular as disposable packaging. Then his chambers also serve as measuring cups and force the right mixture, which can therefore be adhered to by laypeople. The mixing of the substrate takes place in the container shortly before application and in the absence of air, which may be the case for many substrates or their processability. is essential. Only after the mixing, the closure of the container is opened and the finished substrate is applied.

An example of the use of double-chamber containers according to the invention is the fastening technique, for example in masonry made of hollow blocks. The usual expansion anchors cannot be used here because the inner walls of the hollow block are not able to withstand the explosive forces of the anchors that are driven with a screw. In these cases, instead of the dowel, a sieve sleeve is inserted into the previously made borehole, which is then filled with the hardenable substrate. Instead of a screw, a wall anchor is then used, around which the substrate becomes solid and partially penetrates through the sieve of the sleeve. This ensures the firm fit of the in the hardened Ensured substrate wall anchor in the hollow block. The epoxy resins or other substrates previously used for this purpose are accommodated with their correctly dimensioned components in the multi-chamber container according to the invention, which is often supplied together with a predetermined number of fastening means and is thrown away after the substrate has been processed. In particular in these types of application of the invention, the new containers therefore largely consist of plastic.

In the double-chamber container according to the invention, the partition is initially used to adjust the chambers to the correct amount of components. Since the chamber septum is movable, it can be moved through both chambers with a free opening, the component in one chamber being displaced into the other chamber and thereby being mixed with the other component in this chamber. This process is a jet jet mixing and therefore very intensive, so that usually only a few strokes of the plunger are sufficient to finish mixing the substrate. To discharge the substrate, the chamber septum is adjusted to the beginning of the ram stroke and its opening is closed. After removing the container cap the substrate is applied with a ram stroke.

The shut-off device of the container according to the invention takes over the mutual closure after the two components have been filled into the two chambers. In its open position, the shut-off device opens the opening for the mixing process described. In its closed position, the shut-off device prevents the finished mixture from flowing into the empty chamber when the substrate is being discharged, thus allowing the container to be completely emptied. The chamber partition and the shut-off device can therefore be operated independently of one another. The exact dimensioning of the components and the low demands placed on the execution of the processing steps described in the closed container make the multi-chamber container according to the invention particularly suitable for laymen and those workers who are not familiar with the mixture of the substrate. For this reason, the shut-off device must function perfectly, in particular be leakproof until the components are mixed, and on the other hand it must be possible to operate it without error in order to produce the mixture and to apply the substrate.

From US-A-3 164 303 a multi-chamber container is known which has a partition which is movable through two chambers and has an opening which can be opened and closed by means of a plunger which can be operated from the outside. For this purpose, a valve spindle is inserted into the opening, the thread of which has longitudinal grooves which, by rotating the plunger alternately, allow passage from one chamber to the other or close it.

The invention is based on a known double-chamber container (DE-OS 28 25 230). In the hollow cylindrical container, which has an outlet connection in its closed end face, the chamber partition wall, which is designed as a piston, and a disk are accommodated. The piston has a plurality of openings on a bolt circle, while the disc resting on its rear forms a rotatable locking slide of the shut-off element, openings on a bolt circle being able to be aligned with the openings of the piston when mixing is to be carried out. The openings are closed by rotating the closure slide in order to keep the components separate and to discharge the substrate.

However, the previously known container is too complex for the disposable packaging described and for many other types of use. In addition to the plunger, he requires a rod for rotating the shut-off device and uses the plunger for power transmission for the movement of the chamber partition through the container. This results in a concentric linkage consisting of the tappet and a tube forming the rod, which has to be operated via separate handles. Furthermore the disk practically doubles the thickness of the chamber septum, thereby reducing the usable chamber volume. It is difficult to achieve a satisfactory sealing of the pane on the chamber septum.

The invention aims to simplify the construction and operation of such a multi-chamber container.

The invention solves this problem with the features of claim 1. Further features of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

According to the invention, the opening required for fastening the rod in the chamber septum is used several times, ie also for the mixing of the components of the substrate. This eliminates the openings previously provided for this purpose and the washer interacting with them. As a result, the usable volume of a given container is increased. The opening also serves to guide a spindle screwed into an internal thread of the opening, which spindle is used for the reciprocating movement of the chamber septum through the container. This results in a simplification of the linkage, the concentric arrangement of which is omitted.

The spindle is attached to the tappet and extends between the stop and the valve plate of the shut-off device. These two parts are alternately screwed onto their seats depending on the direction of rotation of the spindle. To release the grooves, they are lifted off their seats on both sides. The positive guidance through the spindle thread and the clamping forces guaranteed by this practically eliminate the previous sealing problems. With the linear movement of the ram, the stroke jet is mixed through the grooves via the longitudinal groove of the spindle thread. The stop prevents the spindle from overtightening. It can also serve as a second valve plate. Such a double arrangement of the valve plate causes each of the two valve plates to block the flow through the grooves past the threads when it is placed on its seat. Then the direction of rotation of the plunger, with which the flow is blocked, is irrelevant. The operation is greatly simplified in this embodiment and largely eliminates errors.

The invention therefore has the advantage of simplification because material is saved, which is essential for the disposable packaging. It also allows a clear separation of the different processing steps by the coordinated ones Movements of the spindle, so that errors can hardly occur, as often laypeople make when mixing and applying the substrate.

With the features of claim 2, the multi-chamber container according to the invention avoids further, significant disadvantages which could not be eliminated in the previously known multi-chamber containers. They are created when the substrate is removed by the formation of a vacuum behind the leading chamber septum. Since the chamber septum on the chamber walls must be reliably tight and the lid of the container also closes airtight to prevent air from entering the container, after a short advance the chamber septum when the substrate is being removed, the sliding resistance on the linkage increases sharply, which increases the output of the Substrates difficult. If the boom is released, which is forced by work breaks, it springs back. The chamber septum then draws in outside air through the open lid of the closed end of the container. Since the dispensing of the substrate has to be interrupted several times in many double-chamber containers, the substrate always comes into contact with the atmosphere. This is often associated with undesirable reactions. Also the outside air can form bubbles in the substrate, which may significantly reduce its quality.

With air-sensitive substrates, vacuum formation is often prevented with a check valve built into the rear wall of the container. Such check valves are then mostly used for filling a component held under the lid and are therefore used twice. However, they represent a very considerable additional effort, which is particularly important for disposable containers.

The solution to these problems according to the invention is given in claim 2. It requires practically no additional effort, especially if it is realized with the features of claim 3. This is because the air suction required to avoid the vacuum takes place past the valve spindle directly into the chamber via the axial recesses. In the packaging position of the chamber septum, in which it often stands in the middle of the container, the smooth cylinder section prevents air from entering the chamber under the spindle bushing. If, on the other hand, the components are mixed, the free cross-section can be matched appropriately of the recesses on the viscosity of the substrate prevent component or substrate mass from escaping to the outside. But if the chamber partition is withdrawn and the valve is closed, the air flows easily through the smallest opening cross-sections.

The chamber partition is suitably provided with its own seal. It is then expediently ensured that the rotational resistance of the chamber septum, which is reduced by the seal, is increased in order to preclude rotation when the plunger rotates. This is ensured by the features of claim 5.

The features of the following claims also improve the stackability of several containers and the packing density in packs of a given size.

However, the assembly of the valve plate arranged at the free end of the spindle is comparatively difficult because it has to be done after the chamber partition has been screwed on and requires an attachment to the relatively small cross section of the tappet. This difficulty can be avoided with the features of the alternative embodiment of claim 8.

According to this embodiment of the invention, the closure is accommodated in the plunger, so that the chamber septum also requires only one opening, which is in the middle in the case of hollow cylindrical containers. The rod slide therefore does not reduce the chamber volume and only requires axial movement in the ram. It is therefore not necessary to fix the chamber partition against rotation about its axis. Since the chamber septum has no openings outside the tappet, but is closed, the sealing difficulties are avoided. As a result, the chambers are reliably sealed off from one another and the container is fully emptied when it is being discharged. The mixing takes place with the rays that the substrate forms in the openings in the plunger. The number of these openings is arbitrary and is only limited by the mechanical strength of the tappet in the plane of the openings. These openings can therefore have a comparatively small opening cross-section, which ensures an intensive mixing as soon as the chamber septum is moved back and forth.

Preferably and with the features of claim 9, this embodiment of the double-chamber container according to the invention avoids the formation of a vacuum behind the leading chamber septum when the substrate is being discharged, although the chamber septum seals reliably on the chamber walls and thereby prevents air from entering the container through the lid of the container. This is achieved without a check valve built into the rear wall of the container, because such check valves represent a very considerable additional effort, which is particularly important for disposable containers.

The solution to the problem according to claim 9 requires practically no additional effort because the air is admitted with one piston stage through the hollow plunger and is blocked with the other piston stage. The step piston valve according to the invention then has three axial positions in the tappet. In the most retracted position of the slide rod, the large piston simultaneously closes the openings and the openings in the chamber partition. The larger piston closes in the middle position the opening in the chamber septum, but the small piston stands in front of the openings and thus allows air to enter through the tappet into the chamber behind the container lid, thus preventing the described vacuum formation. In the most retracted position of the step piston valve, the larger piston opens the opening in the chamber septum, so that the components can flow through these openings past the smaller piston, through the openings and mix.

With the features of claim 10, the chamber septum can be provided with an annular seal, which produces the absolutely tight seal of the two chambers before the substrate is mixed. This seal also enables complete emptying of the container because it wipes the container wall and prevents the backflow of substrate when the chamber partition is advanced.

According to claim 11, the container lid is also connected to the container in an airtight manner and fastened in such a way that air can possibly penetrate into the chamber behind the lid.

Therefore, this chamber can be filled without a non-return valve before the lid, which is penetrated by the rod, is applied, and a larger residual volume of air and the associated chemical reactions or air bubbles are avoided in the chamber after the substrate has been filled in. This is made possible by the sleeve used to guide the tappet because it has its own seal on the tappet and is only installed after the chamber has been filled and the cover has been fastened.

The design of the double-chamber container according to the invention in plastics technology, in particular for the purposes of the disposable packaging described at the beginning, serves the features of claim 12. They enable the container to be assembled by pressing the parts together, so that they are e.g. can be manufactured in highly productive injection molding technology.

The claim 13 allows error-free actuation of the chamber partition and the rod slide, in particular in the embodiment as a step piston slide with the three positions described above to improve the air-free application of the substrate.

With the sleeve described in claim 11, most of the air enclosed by the cover and the chamber filling can be filled to the outside. However, the sleeve encloses a residual volume of air, which can lead to errors with sensitive substrates. With the features of claim 14, this is avoidable. This is because the entire filling is covered with another chamber partition before the container is finally closed. Therefore, this feature of the invention is also capable of independent use.

Fig. 1

im Längsschnitt und so weit wie möglich vereinfacht einen erfindungsgemäßen Doppelkammerbehälter, wobei die Teile in ihrer Ausgangsstellung gezeichnet sind,

Fig. 2

eine Teildarstellung zur Wiedergabe der Teile bei der Hubstrahlmischung,

Fig. 3

einen Schnitt längs der Linie III-III der Fig. 1,

Fig. 4

in der Fig. 1 entsprechender Darstellung den erfindungsgemäßen Doppelkammerbehälter beim Ausbringen des fertiggemischten Substrates,

Fig. 5

schematisch und im Längsschnitt ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel des erfindungsgemäßen Doppelkammerbehälters, wobei die Teile in ihrer für das Durchmischen beider Komponenten erforderlichen Stellung und die Kammerscheidewand in einer Extremstellung des Stößelhubes wiedergegeben sind,

Fig. 6

in der Fig. 5 entsprechender Darstellung die Teile beim Mischen und die Kammerscheidewand am Ende des anderen Stößelhubes,

Fig. 7

eine abgeänderte Ausführungsform der Erfindung in der Fig. 5 entsprechender, jedoch abgebrochener Darstellung und

Fig. 8

ein drittes Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to several exemplary embodiments, which are shown in the drawings. Show it

Fig. 1

in longitudinal section and as far as possible simplified a double chamber container according to the invention, the parts being drawn in their starting position,

Fig. 2

a partial representation for rendering the parts in the jet jet mixing,

Fig. 3

2 shows a section along the line III-III of FIG. 1,

Fig. 4

1 corresponding representation of the double-chamber container according to the invention when dispensing the ready-mixed substrate,

Fig. 5

schematically and in longitudinal section a second embodiment of the double-chamber container according to the invention, the parts in their position required for the mixing of the two components and the chamber partition being shown in an extreme position of the ram stroke,

Fig. 6

5 corresponding representation of the parts during mixing and the chamber partition at the end of the other ram stroke,

Fig. 7

a modified embodiment of the invention in Fig. 5 corresponding, but broken representation and

Fig. 8

a third embodiment of the invention.

In the initial position of its parts (FIG. 1), the new double-chamber container (1) has a chamber partition (4) which is axially movable through the one chamber (2, 3). Because of the cylindrical shape of the container (FIG. 3), it is designed as a piston which has on its cylinder jacket a groove (5) for an O-ring seal (6) which seals on the inside (7) of the container. It can have an outline deviating from the circular shape in order to prevent its rotation about the axis of the container. If the container also has a polygonal outline, the outline of its clear interior forms the envelope of the outline of the chamber partition or the seal.

The piston has an opening (8) in the middle. This enables the two chambers (2, 3) to be connected. The opening interacts with a shut-off element generally designated (9) in FIG. 1. The shut-off device is opened and closed using a tappet (10). The plunger is guided outwards through a container lid (11) and has a knurled knob (12) on its free end as a handle. There is an internally cylindrical opening (13) in the cover, between which and the plunger (10) a play of movement (14) is left.

A cylindrical bushing (15) is held in a force-locking manner in a recess (16) in the cover and holds an O-ring seal (17) which seals the plunger (10) on the outer cylinder (18).

The lid (11) also has a two-leaf handle (18) with which the container is held in the axial direction by the container when the plunger (10) is actuated.

The opposite end of the container is closed with an annular disc (20) which forms a structural unit with the container wall. In the middle of the disc (20) there is a pipe socket (21) through which the substrate can be applied. This is closed with a removable cap (22).

The opening (8) of the chamber septum (4) is aligned with the plunger (10). This forms with its thread (23) screwed into the opening (8) of a poppet valve with two plates, which are formed at the thread ends. The seat of one valve plate (24) is formed on the front (26) of the chamber septum (4) at (27) (Fig. 2). Since the parts are made of flexible plastic, it is necessary no special sealing.

The spindle thread (23) is grooved several times, the grooves extending to the valve plate (24).

As can be seen from FIG. 3, four grooves (28-31), each offset by a quarter circle, are provided in the exemplary embodiment. The grooves are guided up to just before the thread attachment (32), but end at a distance from this. An O-ring seal (33) sits on the threaded end (32) and is supported on an annular collar (34) which forms the inner end of the tappet cylinder (19) and acts as a second valve disk.

The spindle thread (23) serves as a tensile and pressure-resistant connection of the plunger (10) to the chamber septum (4). It also works when the plunger rotates with the button (12) for alternately placing and lifting the valve plate (24) or the O-ring seal (33) on an annular seat on the rear (35) of the chamber partition (4), so that the seals the second valve plate (32).

The outer cylinder (19) of the rod (10) has axial recesses (36-40). These are axially aligned, but leave a cylinder section (41) free. The spindle bushing is sealed with the O-ring seal (17) over this length in the central position of the chamber partition (4) shown in FIG. 1.

First, the position of the parts according to Fig. 1 is established. The chamber septum is in a position with which the volumes in the chambers (2, 3) are adjusted. By turning the rod (10) to the left until the valve plate (24) rests on the seat (27), the chambers are sealed off from each other. The component to be accommodated in the chamber (3) is introduced through the nozzle (21) with the cover (22) open. The other component is filled through an opening (42) in the lid (11), which is then closed with a stopper (43). The filling of the chamber (2) displaces the trapped air through the recess in the cover (11) before the bushing (15) and the O-ring seal (17) are attached. This happens only after the chamber (2) is completely filled, which prevents air pockets.

After closing the pipe socket (21) with the cap (22), the two components in the chambers (2, 3) are against each other and towards the outside airtight.

As soon as the substrate is to be produced, the position of the parts according to FIG. 2 is produced by turning the knurled knob (12) to the right. The valve disc (24) is lifted from its seat (27) and the jet jet is mixed through the grooves (28-31) when the rod (10) moves axially with the knurled knob (12).

As soon as the substrate has been mixed with one or more successive strokes, the valve disc (24) is completely lifted from its seat (27) by turning the knob (12) to the right until the O-ring seal (33) on the side (35) the chamber septum (4) and the ring flange (34) seals. This position of the parts is shown in Fig. 4. It serves to squeeze the substrate out of the container (1) with the piston initially retracted into the cover (11), the cap (22) being removed from the pipe socket (21). The pressing takes place by axial movement of the plunger (10). If the user is wrong in the direction of rotation, the valve disc (24) is put on and the result is the same. It is therefore only necessary to turn the rod as far as it will go when the mixture ends and the chamber septum is withdrawn. The rod only needs to be freely rotatable for mixing. Errors are practically excluded.

When pressing, air flows through the mentioned recesses (36-40) on the outer cylinder (19) of the rod (10) into the enlarging chamber (2) and prevents the formation of a vacuum there.

Between the chamber partition (4) and the cover (11) one or more further chamber partitions can be accommodated in the container, which allow more than two chambers and are pushed back with the plunger-proof chamber partition for mixing on the cover (11) before the substrate is applied .

According to the illustration in FIG. 5, the double-chamber container (51) has a chamber partition (52) which is movable through the chamber. The container is formed by a hollow cylinder (50). The chamber septum is therefore an annular disc. This sits with a hub (53) on a hollow plunger (54) in a rotationally fixed manner. A rim (56) is attached to the outer circumference of the disk wall (55). This has an annular groove (57) for an O-ring (58). This seals on the inside (59) of the hollow cylinder (50). 6, the chamber septum has a central opening (60) in its hub, the free cross section of which is limited by the end (61) of the tappet hollow cylinder.

Behind the hub (53), a plurality of openings (64) are arranged side by side in a hollow plane (62) on a bolt circle in the tappet hollow cylinder (54). A connection between the chambers is established through the opening (60) and the openings (64).

A rod (65) is guided in the tappet hollow cylinder (54). The rod end has spaced-apart annular grooves (66 and 67) as a seat for O-ring seals (68 and 69) which seal on the inside of the tappet hollow cylinder (54). The rod end thereby forms a closure slide (70) for the opening (60) and for the openings (64).

Fig. 5 shows that the plunger (54), which is used to move the partition (52) and the rod (65) guided therein, which is used to open and close the closure slide (70), through a cover (71) of the hollow cylinder (50) are guided. The lid is in the embodiment similar to the chamber septum (52). It has a rim (72) with an annular groove (73) for an O-ring seal (74). A sleeve (75) surrounds the tappet (54) and, together with the disc (76), forms the seat (77) of an O-ring (78), which seals on the outer cylinder (49) of the tappet. The sleeve (75) is pressed onto an annular rib (79) of the cover (71) and is held positively by it.

The tappet cylinder (54) is provided with key surfaces at its end (80). These ensure a positive connection with a sleeve (81), which forms a structural unit with a sleeve (82) and is provided on the outside with grip grooves (83). With the aid of the sleeve (82), the hollow cylinder (54) can be moved axially, the chamber partition (52) being carried along.

The rod (65) is in turn provided with key surfaces at its end (84). These interact with a bush (85) of a sleeve (86), whereby a positive connection is established, which produces a rotationally fixed connection of the rod (65) with the sleeve (86). The sleeve (86) is also provided on the outside with grip grooves (87). It forms a structural unit with a sleeve (88), which has two longitudinal slots (89 and 90). A cam (91), which runs in a link (92), is formed in one piece with the sleeve (88). The backdrop sits in its handle (83) and defines by its two ends a retracted - shown - position, in which the ring seal (68, 69) release the openings (64) and the opening (60), as well as an advanced position, in the ring seals fit into the hub (53) of the chamber septum (52) and thereby close the opening (60) and the openings (64).

The chamber septum is brought into an intermediate position by actuating the handle (53), which lies between the extreme positions that are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Furthermore, the linkage including the handles (83 and 87) consisting of the rod (65) and the hollow cylinder (54) is fully assembled, but the cover (71) and the sleeve (78) are only threaded together with a cap (93), which can overlap the associated end of the hollow cylinder (53) with an annular flange. The opposite end of the hollow cylinder is closed with an annular flange (94) to which a discharge nozzle (95) is attached. The discharge nozzle (95) is hollow cylindrical. It can hold a nozzle or a hose. The discharge nozzle (95) in turn has a cover (96), which is first removed men.

In the described position of the parts, the two chambers can each be filled from the front. The cover (96) is then fastened on the connection piece (95) and the component located in the associated chamber is thereby sealed airtight. The other chamber is closed by pushing on the cover (71), the chamber filling up to the cover. The cover (71) is fixed with the aid of the cap (93). Then the sleeve (75) is pressed in, so that an airtight seal of the chamber is achieved. Pressing the sleeve in prevents air from being trapped at the end of the chamber. The two chambers are thus absolutely sealed to the outside and to each other.

The cam (91) normally sits in the inner end of the link, as a result of which the opening (6) and the openings (64) are sealed. Mixing of the two different components in the chambers is excluded.

In this position of the parts, the two components of a substrate are correctly sized and can be transported and stored without hesitation.

The substrate is produced shortly before use. For this purpose, the cam (91) is first adjusted to the position shown in FIG. 5. This connects the two chambers through the opening (60) and the openings (64). With the help of the handle (87), the chamber septum (52) is moved axially back and forth to mix the two components. These components pass through the opening (60) and the openings (64), resulting in an intensive mixture.

At the end of the mixing process, the parts assume the position shown in FIG. 6. Before the substrate is brought out, the cam (91) is first moved to the other extreme position of the link (92). This closes the passage through the opening (60) and the openings (64). Then the cover (96) is removed, whereby the nozzle (95) is released. With the help of the handle (87), the linkage from the parts (54 and 65) is pressed in, causing the chamber partition (52) is moved in the direction of the nozzle (95) and the substrate is applied.

7 uses a stepped piston (97) instead of the O-ring seals (68 and 69). The stepped piston is formed by a stepped hollow cylinder which is non-positively connected to the end (98) of the rod (65) with its smaller end. The larger piston (99) forms the free end of the stepped piston and seals on the inside (100) of the tappet hollow cylinder (54). An annular space (102) remains between the smaller piston (101) and the inner cylinder (100) of the tappet (54). This is connected to an annular space (103) which exists between the outer cylinder of the rod (65) and the inner cylinder of the plunger (54). The annular space (103) communicates with the atmosphere through the play which the outer rod end has in the sleeve (81) opposite the plunger.

In the position of the parts shown in FIG. 7, the larger piston (99) is withdrawn behind the openings (64) in the plane (62). This opens up the opening (60). There is a connection between the two chambers through the opening (60) and the openings (64). If the cam (91) (FIG. 5) is placed on the central path of the link (92), the larger piston (99) slides over the opening (62) and at the same time closes the opening (60). As a result, the connection between the two chambers is interrupted. The parts take up this position when the chambers are filled and the components are to be kept until the substrate is processed. When the mixture is ready, the cam (91) is in the inner end of the link (92). This closes the opening (60), but the path through the annular spaces (103 and 101) and openings (64) into the cover-side chamber is open. If the chamber septum (52) assumes the position shown in FIG. 6, air from the atmosphere can penetrate through the described annular spaces into the chamber on the cover side during the following ram stroke and prevent the formation of a vacuum there.

8, the container (120) is shown interrupted in the middle, so that the chamber septum (52) is missing, as are the parts of the plunger (54) and the directly interacting with it Rods (65) formed Hollow linkage, which can be seen in Fig. 8 at (121). A further chamber partition (122), shown schematically in FIG. 8, sits on the tubular rod, which also has the shape of an annular disc, which has an annular groove (12) on its circumference as the seat of an O-ring (124) on the inner cylinder (125) of the container (120) seals. An annular groove (127) for an O-ring (128), which seals on the outer cylinder of the tappet (154), sits in a central opening (126) through which the linkage (121) is guided.

As a result of this arrangement, the chamber (129), which is formed behind the first chamber partition (52) (not shown) in the container (120), is hermetically sealed by a third chamber (130). The chamber septum (122) is supported on a spiral spring (131) which in turn is supported on the cover and arranged in the chamber (130). In the exemplary embodiment, the gears of the spiral spring lie against the inner cylinder (125) of the container (120).

According to the embodiment of FIG. 8, the chamber located in front of the chamber partition, not shown, is replaced by the chamber in the tank bottom (133) Pipe socket (134) filled before the cap (135), which carries a plug (136) fitting into the pipe socket (134), is screwed onto the pipe socket. As a rule, this component is not particularly susceptible to a remaining enclosed air volume.

Before the chamber partition (122) is pushed onto the linkage (121), the second component of the substrate is introduced into the chamber (125). The chamber separating wall (122) then pushed onto the rod (121) is placed on the filling with this substrate, as a result of which all air escapes bypassing the seals (124, 128). The lid (71) is then attached to the container (120) while simultaneously tensioning the spring (131), which according to the exemplary embodiment is achieved by snapping an annular flange (137) that is integral with the container into an annular groove (138) on the outer circumference of the lid can be done. The filling and assembly steps described can be carried out automatically in a filling machine.

At the place where the substrate is used, the components are first mixed as described in connection with the illustration in FIGS. 5 to 8. Here, atmospheric air can penetrate the annular space (139) between the amply dimensioned opening (140) for the passage of the rod (121) and the rod, but do not pass the seal (124 and 128) of the partition (122), which therefore remains on the filling. This is also the case if, after setting the slide, the finished mixed substrate is pressed out of the nozzle (134) after the cap (135) has been removed. This prevents the formation of a vacuum in the chamber (130).

A dash-dotted line in FIG. 8 shows a preferably cylindrical recess (141) which penetrates the chamber septum (122) and belongs to a further exemplary embodiment which is provided for substrates which consist of a mixture of three components. This is e.g. around phenolic resin foams which harden when the substrate is applied. Such foams can e.g. find use for the production of free forms. If you make flower plug bodies from the phenolic resin, completely new Ikebana can be produced.

In this case, the third component is accommodated in the chamber (130), with a film strip on the back of the chamber partition (122) (145) is glued on. This film strip prevents the filling of the chamber (130) from mixing with the filling of the chamber (129) before the substrate is manufactured. If the first chamber partition, not shown, is moved to mix the components in the container (120), the film strip loosens as a result of the pressure rising in the recess (141) and no longer returns to its seat. As a result, all three components are mixed.

The recess (141) can also be sealed by a stopper, which, like the film strip, is released from its seat. These embodiments can stand alone, i.e. be realized regardless of the features described above.

Claims (16)

1. A multi-chamber container (1), in which is arranged at least one chamber dividing wall (4) movable through two chambers (2, 3) and having at least one aperture (8), which provides a connection between adjacent chambers (2, 3) and operates in conjunction with a shutoff device, which can be opened and closed by means of an externally operable drive member (10), wherein the chamber dividing wall (4) sealed with the inside of the container is movable within the container (1) and the aperture (8) of the chamber dividing wall (4) incorporates a grooved valve rod (23) rotatable with the drive member (10), which ends at a first valve head (24) operable in conjunction with one side (26) of the chamber dividing wall (4), wherein the first valve head (24) can be placed on its seating (27) by rotation of the drive member (10) in alternating directions and opens and closes the connection between the two chambers (2, 3), which is formed by longitudinal grooves (28, 31) in the valve rod (23), characterised in that the valve rod (23) ends with a valve head (32) formed by an annular portion (32) of the ram (10) and providing a seal on the opposite side (35) of the chamber dividing wall (4), wherein the second valve head (32) can be placed on its seating by rotation of the ram in alternating directions (10) and opens and closes the connection between the two chambers (2, 3) which is formed by the longitudinal grooves (28, 31) in the valve rod (23), which extend to the first valve head (24) located at the free end of the valve rod (23) and end at a distance from the second valve head (32) formed by the annular portion (32).
2. A multi-chamber container according to Claim 1, characterised in that when the aperture (27) is closed, the chamber (2) adjacent to the outwardly sealed valve drive member entrance (14) to the container is connected with the outside.
3. A multi-chamber container according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the outer cylinder (19) of the valve drive member (10) has axial notches (36-40) arranged on its cylinder casing so as to leave a smooth portion of the cylinder (41) with which the rod entrance (14) provides a seal when the chamber dividing wall (4) is at a halfway position.
4. A multi-chamber container according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the valve head (32) formed at the inner end of the valve rod (23) has an annular seal.
5. A multi-chamber container according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the container (1) is internally cylindrical and the external shape of the chamber dividing wall (4) is not circular.
6. A multi-chamber container according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the container (1) externally and internally has a polygonal, for example square, shape, and the shape of the free internal space of the container (1) forms the envelope curve of an O-ring seal (6) which is located in an annular groove (5) of the chamber dividing wall (4).
7. A multi-chamber container according to Claim 6, characterised in that the corners of the container (1) and of the chamber dividing wall (4) are of rounded shape.
8. A multi-chamber container (50), in which is arranged at least one chamber dividing wall (55) movable through two chambers with at least one aperture (60), which provides a connection between adjacent chambers and operates in conjunction with a shutoff device which can be opened and closed by an externally operable drive member (54), wherein the chamber dividing wall (55) is sealed with the inside of the container and is movable through the container (50), characterised in that the aperture (60) of the chamber dividing wall (52) opens into the drive member (54) which is hollow and the inner end of a rod (65) forms a sliding valve member which is arranged in the drive member (54) serving as a housing for the sliding valve member and moves backward and forward across one or more radial holes (64) in the drive member.
9. A multi-chamber container according to Claim 8, characterised in that the end of the rod is formed as a stepped piston (97) having a larger step (99) providing a seal with the drive member (54) and a smaller step forming an annular space (101) with the drive member (54) which serves to connect a chamber outwardly through an annular space (10) between the rod (65) and the drive member (54).
10. A multi-chamber container according to Claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the radial holes (64) are arranged adjacent to a disk-shaped member (55) which forms the chamber dividing wall (52) and whose edge (56) serves as seating (57) for a ring (58) providing a seal with the inside of the container (53).
11. A multi-chamber container according to any one of Claims 8 to 10, characterised in that the cover (71) of the hollow cylindrical container (53) has a ring (74) forming a seal with the container's inner wall and that the rod system passing through the cover (71) is surrounded by a housing fixed in the cover (71) which has seating (76) inside for a ring (77) providing a seal outside with the drive member (54).
12. A multi-chamber container according to any one of Claims 8 to 11, characterised in that the cover (71) and the housing (75) are held by means of a press on the end of the container (53).
13. A multi-chamber container according to any one of Claims 8 to 13, characterised in that a handle 87 of the rod has a guide 90 for a further hollow cylindrical handle 81-83 and the guide 90 has one or more cams 91 and acts in conjunction with a catch 92 on each cam 91, whose axial length corresponds to the operating distance of the sliding valve member between the closed position and the open position of the closing device 70.
14. A multi-chamber container according to Claim 1 or any one of Claims 8 to 13, characterised in that between the chamber dividing wall (4, 55) and the container cover (11, 76) a further chamber dividing wall is arranged and is supported in a cushioned manner on the cover.
15. A multi-chamber container according to Claim 14, characterised in that the further chamber dividing wall is movably arranged on the drive member with a seal and is supported by a spiral spring wherein the operation of the drive member through the cover is penetrable by air.
16. A multi-chamber container according to any one of Claims 1 to 15, characterised in that at least one of the chamber dividing walls (4, 55) has a hole which is provided on one side with a releasable closing device.

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