EP0557323B1 - Stick refill - Google Patents

Abstract

The cartridge is used to refill a pen (14), e.g. for adhesive, lipstick, deodorant, shaving soap, or coloured pen. It has a case (15), with a cap, and an opening at one end, and a longitudinally axially moveable piston, which moves the contents to apply a coat. The refill consists of a formed body (2) of the material (23), which conforms to internal volume and shape of the case. It is pushed/pulled into the open end of the case. The body is contained in a tube (22), and the piston is used to move the body from the tube to the case.

Description

The invention is directed to a method for refilling a stick, such as deodorant, adhesive, lipstick, release agent, shaving soap or colored stick, which releases product by painting a surface, which consists of a sleeve with an opening at the end and a closed bottom, into which a pin can be rotated about its longitudinal axis, which extends over the entire longitudinal axis of the sleeve beyond one side of the base as a threaded spindle and beyond the other side of the base outside the sleeve as a hand-operated knurled nut, and a feed element that prevents rotation in the Sleeve secured over the threaded spindle engaging in a continuous threaded bore of the feed element along the longitudinal axis of the sleeve for dispensing a preferably spreadable product mass located in the sleeve, such as deodorant stick, glue stick, shaving soap stick or colored pencil compound, and if necessary one over the upper sleeve edge slide-on cover cap, in which method for refilling the pin a molded body adapted to the internal volume free for receiving the respective product mass and the internal configuration of the sleeve from the respective, preferably spreadable, product mass with a concentric bore, preferably a blind bore, for Recording the threaded spindle is inserted into the sleeve from the opening at the end.

Furthermore, the invention is directed to a method for producing a refill cartridge for a pen, such as deodorant, adhesive, lip, release agent, shaving soap or colored pencil, which may be provided with a cap, by a product which is coated with a surface closable and at least one end opening having sleeve with therein for dispensing a, preferably spreadable, product mass located in the sleeve, such as deodorant, glue stick, lipstick, release agent stick, shaving soap stick or colored stick compound, piston which can be moved axially along the length of the sleeve , the piston being inserted into the base of a casting mold, if necessary, and then the product mass being poured into the casting mold, which is adapted to the internal volume free for receiving the product mass and the internal configuration of the sleeve, and, if appropriate, being poured into the piston and, after solidification, forming the predominant part of the refill cartridge Shaped body from preferably spreadable product mass is ejected from the mold.

Finally, the invention is directed to a system consisting of a pen and a refill cartridge for the pen, such as deodorant, adhesive, lipstick, release agent, shaving soap or colored pencil, which gives off product by brushing a surface, the pen having one end Opening having a sleeve with a closed bottom, into which a pin rotatable about its longitudinal axis is inserted, which is formed over the entire longitudinal axis of the sleeve, projecting beyond one side of the bottom as a threaded spindle and beyond the other side of the bottom outside of the sleeve as a hand-operated knurled nut, and a feed element, which is secured against rotation in the sleeve via the threaded spindle, which engages in a continuous threaded bore of the feed element, along the longitudinal axis of the sleeve for dispensing a preferably spreadable product mass, such as deodorant stick, glue stick, lipstick, release agent stick, shaving soap stick, located in the sleeve - or Colored pencil mass, is displaceable, and optionally has a cover that can be slid on over the upper edge of the sleeve, and the refill cartridge has a shaped body made of the respective, preferably adapted to the internal volume free for receiving the respective product mass and the inner configuration of the sleeve spreadable, product mass with a concentric to the longitudinal axis bore, preferably a blind bore, for receiving the threaded spindle.

From the prior art, a multiplicity of pens emitting product by coating a surface, such as deodorant, adhesive, lipstick, releasing agent, shaving soap or colored pens, are known, which optionally have a cap that can be closed and have at least one end opening Include sleeve with therein for dispensing a, preferably spreadable, product mass located in the sleeve and axially movable piston over the length of the sleeve. These have the disadvantage that they are generally not refillable.

For example, the glue sticks known from the prior art have to be thrown away after the glue has been used up or has dried out, although the glue stick mechanism is generally still fully functional after a single use of a filling. The known pens and glue sticks thus represent a not inconsiderable environmental impact as plastic waste. Also, new (plastic) material must always be used in the production of a new pen, which has an adverse effect on the production price in addition to the production costs. After all, the consumer is also forced to buy a completely new pen every time.

A generic method for refilling a pen emitting product by painting a surface and a generic refill cartridge are known from GB-A-246,657. This discloses a shaving soap dispenser from which the shaving soap can be discharged with the aid of a spindle-driven disc and which can be refilled with a shaped shaving soap body having a blind bore. To refill the donor, he becomes the Shaped shaving soap bodies having a blind bore are inserted into the dispenser housing via the spindle. This type of refilling is not suitable for pens which have a shaped body made of spreadable, soft plastic product mass, as is the case, for example, with glue sticks, since when the product mass is pushed in - which is done by hand - there is a risk that the product mass will deform is or even breaks off and can then no longer be inserted cleanly and precisely into the pen sleeve.

A generic method for the production of a refill cartridge for a pen which delivers product by coating a surface is known from US-A-2,753,991. This reference describes the production of a lipstick refill body, in which lipstick material is poured into a casting mold and a cup-like piston arranged therein and, after the mass has solidified, the lipstick shaped body with an end-side piston is inserted into a lipstick sleeve for refilling. To protect the lipstick molded body, it is surrounded by a sleeve which is stripped off when the molded body is drawn into the lipstick sleeve. Such lipstick refill cartridges are also known from DE-B-1 003 411 and FR-A-1.205.370. Refill cartridges of this type are not suitable for refilling pens with a screw spindle because, on the one hand, they reveal cup-like pistons with a closed bottom surface into which a screw spindle cannot be inserted, and on the other hand they do not disclose any measures to be taken when the screw spindle penetrates into the refill masses Prevent the refilling process from pulling off, bursting or swelling of the refill body when the mass is drawn into a pen sleeve.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved possibility for refilling with product mass for pins having a threaded spindle.

In a method for refilling the type mentioned above, this object is achieved according to the invention in that the molded body is inserted into the sleeve with a bore or blind bore aligned with the threaded spindle and the molded body is pulled into the sleeve base by actuating the knurled nut, the bore or The diameter of the blind bore is designed such that the threaded spindle cuts slightly into the product mass as it enters the bore or blind bore.

Because a molded body with a hole or blind hole is inserted into the sleeve during refilling, no or only a small amount of product mass needs to be displaced when inserted through the threaded spindle, so that no volume has to be provided in the pin or the pin sleeve in which the product mass could evade. Also, no excess volume of product mass emerges from the pen, which could contaminate the pen. The diameter of the bore or blind bore is such that the threaded spindle cuts only slightly into the product mass when it enters the bore or blind bore, so that radial expansion of the molded body and displacement of the adhesive composition when it is introduced into the sleeve are largely avoided.

On the other hand, the fact that the threaded spindle cuts slightly into the product mass ensures a mechanical transmission of force from the flanks of the spindle thread to the product mass, which causes the product mass to pull into the pin sleeve automatically when the knurled nut is actuated. As a result, it is no longer necessary, even with pins with a threaded spindle, to push the product mass into the sleeve by hand and there is no longer any danger of the product mass being deformed or breaking off.

In the embodiment of a molded body with piston at the end, which is listed below according to a further development of the subject of the invention, the slight incision of the threaded spindle into the product mass supports the propulsion caused by the piston when the mass is drawn into the sleeve and counteracts the product mass being torn off the piston.

In particular, the configuration according to the invention is advantageous in the embodiment of a molded body with an enveloping tube, from which the molded body is drawn into the sleeve, which is listed below according to a further development of the subject of the invention.

The invention is based on the basic idea that the user of a pen of the type described above is provided with a shaped body which is adapted to the internal volume free for receiving the product and the internal configuration of the sleeve from the respective, preferably spreadable, product mass, which is provided by the end opening can pull into the sleeve of the pen. After the first product filling has been used up, the consumer can thus refill the pen. The consumer no longer needs to buy a complete new pen. By reusing the essential, non-wearing parts of a pin, the waste, usually plastic waste, is reduced, since the usual pins are made of plastic. Plastic consumption is also reduced since the manufacturer no longer has to sell each product filling together with a pen that contains the entire pen mechanism.

The refilling of a pin is facilitated in that a tube with a molded body arranged therein is placed on the sleeve and the molded body is then drawn into the sleeve, the tube being completely removed from the molded body and then removed, as the invention provides in a further development.

This avoids that when refilling, the plastic product mass, in particular in the case of glue sticks, is peeled off in regions on the end edge of the pen sleeve and the pen is thereby contaminated.

A convenient and also a peeling of a soft plastic mass during the insertion of the molded body into the existing pen to prevent refilling can also be achieved by providing a molded body provided with a piston, for which purpose the invention provides that the feed element is a cup-like piston and that for refilling the piston of the pin is first removed from the product-empty sleeve and then a molded body having a piston with a threaded bore is placed on the threaded spindle with the threaded bore and is pulled in by actuating the knurled nut of the piston with the product mass to the base of the sleeve.

A particularly convenient refilling of the pen is possible if the molded body, preferably made of spreadable product mass, is surrounded by a tube and provided with a piston at the end. For this purpose, the invention provides in a further embodiment that the piston is inserted into the sleeve at its upper edge, gripped by the tube. The main idea here is that the preferably spreadable product mass is filled into a tubular sleeve, the bottom of which is formed by the piston in such a way that the upper part of the piston outer jacket is gripped by the sleeve. If the threaded bore of the piston is now screwed onto the threaded spindle and, by actuating the knurled nut, the piston, together with the product mass, is pulled to the bottom of the sleeve, the tube is continuously pushed away from the molded body at the same time, so that it can finally be removed. It is essential for the dimensioning of the tube that its end face when the piston is screwed down to the opposite sleeve wall end face hits, whereby the pushing of the tube from the molded body is achieved.

In a method for producing a refill cartridge of the type described in the introduction, the above-mentioned object according to the invention is achieved in that, in the base of the casting mold, a pin, which extends at least over a partial area of the casting mold, is arranged concentrically to the longitudinal axis to form a bore or blind bore in the product mass is, the bore or blind bore is designed in its diameter such that when the refill cartridge is inserted into the sleeve of a pin having a threaded spindle, the threaded spindle runs into the bore or blind bore and cuts slightly into the product mass when it enters the bore or blind bore. In this way, a refill cartridge is created in the simplest way, which can be inserted into an emptied pen, whereby the pen can also be refilled in a simple manner.

In order to be able to supply a piston specifically to the base of the casting mold during the manufacturing process and to be able to form the bore or blind bore in the molded body, it is provided that in the base of the casting mold concentric to the longitudinal axis of the pin, which extends at least over a partial region of the casting mold, optionally for receiving the threaded bore of the piston and / or to form the bore or blind bore in the product mass.

In an embodiment of the manufacturing process, the invention provides that a piston with a continuous threaded hole in the center and a pin in the threaded hole is inserted into the base of the casting mold. As a result, a unit of piston and molded body is formed from a preferably spreadable product mass, which can advantageously be drawn into the sleeve of a pin is. In particular, when the molded body is drawn in, the risk that the piston tears off the product mass is reduced.

For the manufacture of a refill cartridge in which the molded body, preferably made of spreadable product mass, is encased by a tube, it is particularly expedient according to a further embodiment of the invention that an extension for receiving a tube is formed in the casting mold and a tube with the product mass is poured into it its outer surface against the inner surface of the mold is set into the mold.

The methods are particularly advantageous when the stick is a glue stick and the shaped body consists of spreadable, soft plastic adhesive, which the invention also provides in one embodiment.

In a system consisting of a pen and a refill cartridge of the type mentioned above, the above object is achieved according to the invention in that the bore or blind bore is designed in its diameter such that when the refill cartridge is inserted into the sleeve, the threaded spindle when entering the Slightly cut hole or blind hole in the product mass. The molded body, which is preferably spreadable product mass, can be placed on the pin from the end opening of the pin sleeve and drawn into the pin. This makes the pen refillable. There is no need to dispose of the pen after the first product filling.

In order to be able to insert the refill cartridge into pins with a threaded spindle without risk of contamination of the pin sleeve, the shaped body has a bore or blind bore concentric to its longitudinal axis.

In order to facilitate the introduction of the refill cartridge into the sleeve of the pen, the invention provides in a further development that the feed element is a cup-like piston and that the shaped body has a piston with a continuous threaded bore in its center.

In order to prevent air from being trapped in the pen sleeve when the refill cartridge is inserted into the pen sleeve, the invention is characterized according to a further development in that the molded body has a longitudinal groove or notch on its outer circumference.

As already explained above for the manufacturing method and method for refilling a pen, the refilling of the pen can also be simplified in that the shaped body is arranged in a tube, as is also provided by the invention.

The invention further relates to a system which is characterized in that the tube has a length which is adapted to the free inner sleeve height of the pin and an inner diameter which is adapted to the inner diameter of the sleeve, and a base which is designed as a piston for the pin, the upper piston edge of the pipe is detected.

As already indicated above, this refill cartridge has a tube, which preferably encases the spreadable product mass, the length of which corresponds approximately to the free inner sleeve height of the pin, but it can also be only a part of the inner sleeve height. The tube has an adapted inner diameter like the pin sleeve, which makes it possible to pull the molded body into the interior of the sleeve while simultaneously stripping the tube. When using the refill cartridge, the part of the piston that is not covered by the tube is inserted into the sleeve, to the extent that when the knurled nut is actuated, the spindle thread enters the threaded bore of the Kolbens takes hold. With further rotation of the knurled nut, the piston is gradually pulled in the direction of the sleeve base, the threaded spindle tip likewise pulling the product mass into the cylinder after passing through the threaded hole in the shaped body while simultaneously "cutting" a thread. The knurled nut continues to rotate until the piston has reached the bottom of the sleeve. In this position, the molded body has been completely pulled out of the tube so that it can be removed. The refilled pen can now, as is known from the prior art, be closed with a cover cap at the open end of the sleeve. The refilling process can be repeated as often as the plastic parts are not subject to any significant wear when the knurled nut is actuated - both when the respective product is being driven out and when it is refilled.

In order to prevent the product mass from drying out on the side facing the piston, the threaded bore can be closed by a (thin) skin which can be pierced by means of the threaded spindle.
The threaded bore of the piston preferably has a single or multiple thread.

The threaded spindle of the pin, like all other parts, is made of inexpensive plastic, which may have a certain flexibility. In order to facilitate the insertion of the spindle tip into the threaded bore of the piston of the refill cartridge, the piston crown has an inner cone as an insertion aid.

The tube can also be closed at the end opposite the piston to prevent the product mass from drying out. For example, in this embodiment it is possible to prefabricate the tube in a cup shape and to fill the prefabricated cup sleeve with product mass before it is closed with the piston on the open cup side.

All that is important when dimensioning the tube is the inner diameter adapted to the sleeve. On the other hand, the tube wall thickness can in principle be chosen as desired, but for reasons of material savings it should at most be the same size as the sleeve wall.

Likewise, the choice of the tube material is fundamentally optional, provided that the tube behaves rigidly when the molded body is pulled out of preferably spreadable product mass. The tube is preferably made of plastic or paper board, which can be coated. The piston, however, should preferably be made of plastic.

In order to enable easy insertion of the molded body into the sleeve, a central blind bore is provided for the threaded spindle along the longitudinal axis of the molded part. This allows the inner diameter of the tube to be of the same size as the sleeve.

It is of course also possible to provide a continuous bore along the longitudinal axis of the shaped body instead of a blind bore.

In order to make it easier to pull out the shaped body, the tube or the tube inner jacket is preferably slightly conical, the conical taper forming a cone angle of at most 3 ° to the end opposite the piston.

According to a development of the invention, the tube has at one end a sleeve surrounding the piston in a ring at a distance, the inside diameter of which is dimensioned such that the sleeve can be pushed over the upper part of the sleeve outer jacket. The sleeve also has an inner annular stop surface for the end face of the sleeve. This way is not just a safe one Fixing the refill cartridge on the pen sleeve, but also and above all a centering of the tube of the refill cartridge and the sleeve is guaranteed. The wall thicknesses of the sleeve and tube no longer need to be exactly coordinated.

The sleeve is preferably dimensioned such that its free sleeve end is flush with the piston crown or slightly projects above it. This creates a sufficiently long annular space, seen in the axial direction, between the inner sleeve shell and the outer piston sleeve.

In a first embodiment, the sleeve and the tube are formed in one piece, in particular produced by injection molding, a radial cross-sectional widening then being formed in the region of the connection point between the tube and the sleeve, which creates an annular stop face for the cylinder end face.

As an alternative to this, however, it is also possible to design the pipe and the sleeve in two parts, the parts being connected to one another via a preferably ring-shaped latching or snap connection.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the piston is connected to the sleeve via a plurality of webs which tear off when the piston is pulled in the direction of the sleeve base, that is to say serve as predetermined breaking points. In this embodiment, the piston and the sleeve can be manufactured as a one-piece injection-molded part, optionally together with the pipe. As an alternative to this, it is possible to connect the piston and the sleeve via a latching or snap connection that can be released when the piston is pulled in the direction of the sleeve base to connect with each other, such that small locking lugs or locking hooks or the like are molded on during manufacture. These connections also become detached from the socket after the threaded spindle has been inserted during the refilling process.

The advantages listed above for individual designs or refinements of the system, the method for refilling and the manufacturing method relate both to the method and to the system or the refill cartridge, even if these are only given for one subject of the invention.

Figur 1

eine Nachfüllpatrone in Seitenansicht;

Figur 2

ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel einer Nachfüllpatrone in Aufsicht;

Figur 3

einen Formkörper mit teilweise dargestellter Gießform;

Figur 4

ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel einer Nachfüllpatrone;

Figur 5 + 6

jeweils Seitenansichten eines Klebestiftes mit aufgesetzter Nachfüllpatrone nach einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel in teilweise gebrochener und geschnittener Darstellung und in

Figur 7

eine Querschnitts-/Seitenansicht einer Nachfüllpatrone nach einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel.

The invention is explained below with reference to the drawing, for example. This shows in

Figure 1

a refill cartridge in side view;

Figure 2

another embodiment of a refill cartridge in supervision;

Figure 3

a molded body with a mold partially shown;

Figure 4

another embodiment of a refill cartridge;

Figure 5 + 6

each side views of an adhesive stick with attached refill cartridge according to another embodiment in a partially broken and sectioned representation and in

Figure 7

a cross-sectional / side view of a refill cartridge according to another embodiment.

The example below is for a glue stick. The stick is therefore called the glue stick and the product mass is called the glue mass.

Analogously, there would be talk of the deodorant stick mass for a deodorant stick, of the lipstick stick for a lipstick, of the release agent stick stick for a release agent stick, of a shaving soap stick stick for a shaving soap stick and of the colored stick stick for a colored stick. Generalized it is the respective product mass. This is preferably spreadable and soft plastic.

The refill cartridge, designated overall by 1 in FIG. 1, consists of a cylindrical shaped body 2 made of soft, plastic, spreadable adhesive composition 23. The three-dimensional shape of the shaped body 2 is adapted to the internal volume free for adhesive reception and the internal configuration of the sleeve of an adhesive stick such that it is in the direction of the arrow 3 to be inserted into the sleeve of the glue stick and to be fully drawn into the sleeve. An example of such a pen is described below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. In its simplest form, the refill cartridge 1 is a smooth, cylindrical molded body 2.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of a refill cartridge 1 a, the cylindrical shaped body 2 of which is provided on its outer circumference with a longitudinal groove or notch 4. Along this notch 4, air can escape from the interior of the glue stick sleeve when the shaped body 2 is inserted into the sleeve of a glue stick.

FIG. 3 shows a shaped body 2 made of spreadable adhesive composition 23, which is provided with a piston at the end. FIG. 3 shows the molded body 2 in the partially illustrated casting mold 6 immediately after the adhesive compound 23, which was initially still liquid during production, has been cast and has solidified. The piston is generally cup-shaped with a cylindrical elevation 7 in its center. On the inside of the piston and on the outside of the cylindrical elevation 7, annularly projecting collars 8 and 9 are formed. These collars securely anchor the adhesive mass 23 in the cup-shaped piston and prevent tearing or shearing off of the soft plastic adhesive mass 23 when the shaped body is inserted into the sleeve of an adhesive stick.

FIG. 4 shows, as a further exemplary embodiment, a refill cartridge 1c, the molded body 2 of a spreadable adhesive composition 23 has a piston 11 at its end with a continuous threaded bore 10 in its center. The piston 11 is likewise cup-shaped like the piston according to FIG. 3 and is provided on its inside with a collar 12 which is formed in a ring-shaped manner on its inside. A blind bore 13 is shown in this shaped body 2 concentrically with its longitudinal axis.

The refill cartridges 1, 1a and 1c shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 can be encased in the longitudinal direction by a tube in a manner not shown, as described below for the exemplary embodiments of the refill cartridges 1d and 1e.

The glue stick 14 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is known in principle from the prior art. It consists of a sleeve 15 with a closed base 16, into which a pin, rotatable about its longitudinal axis, is inserted by means of a snap connection (not shown), which extends beyond the entire longitudinal axis of the sleeve beyond one side of the snap connection as a threaded spindle 17 and beyond the other side of the snap connection outside the sleeve 15 is designed as a manually operable knurled nut 18. In the sleeve 15, a piston 19 is slidably disposed along the longitudinal axis via the threaded spindle 17. Since in Figures 5 and 6, the patch Refill cartridges 1d are shown, the cover cap which can usually be pushed over the upper sleeve edge is not shown. This is to be releasably attached to the sleeve outer jacket by means of snap connections 20 or threaded or snap connections.

The piston 19 has a continuous threaded bore 21 on its bottom, in which the threaded spindle 17 can engage. The piston 19 forms the bottom part of the refill cartridge 1d, which, moreover, consists of a tube 22, the lower edge region of which encompasses and / or encompasses the upper piston edge. The upper tube end 22a can be closed so that the spreadable adhesive mass 23 does not dry out. The piston head of the refill cartridge 1d, which has not yet been inserted, can furthermore have a pierceable skin 24 which closes the threaded bore 21. The piston crown inner cone 25 serves as an insertion aid. Furthermore, the piston 19 has on its outer jacket in the longitudinal axial direction to the underside of the piston triangularly widening groove-shaped depressions 26 which, together with corresponding ribs 32 of the sleeve inner jacket, prevent rotation of the piston 19 when the knurled nut 18 is actuated.

A further alternative embodiment is shown in FIG. 7, which differs essentially from the refill cartridges 1, 1a, 1c and 1d described above by the design and use of a sleeve 27. This sleeve 27, like the pipe 22, is cylindrical and is connected to the pipe 22, for example, via an annular snap connection 28. This sleeve 27 has an inner diameter 29 which is dimensioned such that the sleeve 27 can be pushed onto the outer jacket of the sleeve 15 (see FIGS. 5, 6). The sleeve 15 slides into the annular cavity 30 between the sleeve 27 and the piston 19, the refill cartridge 1e being securely fixed and centered with respect to the glue stick 14.

In the present case, the sleeve 27 is pushed over the sleeve 15 until the end face 15a (see FIG. 5) and the annular stop face 27a are in contact with one another.

However, the sleeve 27 can also be designed as a one-piece body with the tube 22, in which case there is an internal radial cross-sectional widening in the region of the connection point between the tube 22 and the sleeve 27, forming an annular end face analogous to the stop face 27a.

The piston 19 is connected to the sleeve 27 via radially extending webs 31 which tear off during the refilling process, i.e. when the piston 19 is moved in the direction of the sleeve base 16, whereby the piston is detached from the sleeve 27. In particular in the embodiment in which the tube 22 and the sleeve 27 are formed in one piece, the piston 19 can also be connected to the aforementioned one-piece piece 22, 27 by means of a releasable snap or snap connection. All parts can consist of injection molded parts which, as far as they should be in one piece or connected to each other, can also be produced in one operation.

Of course, the cross-sectional geometry of the refill cartridges 1, 1a, 1c, 1d, 1e is to be adapted to that of the sleeve 15 of the glue stick 14, for example the glue stick could also deviate from the tubular cylinder shape and be polygonal.

The diameter of the blind bore 13 is such that the threaded spindle 17 when entering the blind bore 13 cuts only slightly into the adhesive mass 23, so that a radial expansion of the molded body 2 and displacement of the adhesive mass 23 is largely avoided when it is inserted into the sleeve 15.

For the production of the shaped bodies 2 of the refill cartridges 1 and 1a, the adhesive mass which is initially liquid in the manufacturing process is poured into casting molds 6, which is shaped to match the internal volume which is free for the adhesive receptacle and the internal configuration of the sleeve 15. The molds can be made of metal, plastic or silicone rubber. The casting molds are preferably integrated in a cooling belt. The casting molds pass through a cooling section until the adhesive mass 23 has solidified and the shaped body 2 has formed. To produce the refill cartridge 1, the corresponding casting mold is designed as a cylindrical hollow body with a closed bottom surface. To produce the refill cartridge 1 a, a longitudinal rib or a web is also formed in the corresponding mold to form the notch 4, which projects into the mold. To produce the refill cartridge 1c, the piston 11 is first inserted into the casting mold and then the still liquid adhesive compound 23 is poured into the piston 11 and the casting mold 6. In this case, a pin extending in its longitudinal extent at least over a partial area of the casting mold for receiving the threaded bore 10 of the piston 11 and for forming the blind bore 13 is arranged beforehand in the base of the casting mold, concentrically with the longitudinal axis. The pin projects into the area of the shaped body 2 in accordance with the length of the blind bore 13, which corresponds to the length with which the threaded spindle 17 of the adhesive stick 14 is to later penetrate into the shaped body 2. Here, too, the liquid adhesive mass 23 is poured into the casting mold after the piston 11 has been inserted into the casting mold or the threaded bore 10 has been placed on the central pin. After solidification, the refill cartridges 1c are ejected from the mold.

In cases where the refill cartridge or the adhesive molded body 2 is still to be encased by a tube 22, the tube 22 is first inserted into the casting mold, then, if desired, a piston 11 or 19 through the tube 22 in the mold is inserted before the adhesive compound 23 is then poured into the tube 22.

For the production of refill cartridges with the tube 22 enveloping the molded body 2, casting molds are used which have an extension over a partial region of their longitudinal extent, into which the respective tube 22 is to be inserted in a form-fitting manner. The bottom of these molds is slightly lower than the lower edge of these recesses, so that either an inserted piston or the inflowing adhesive mass can penetrate deeper into the mold, so that afterwards with the finished refill cartridge either adhesive or the piston protrudes over the tube and the refill cartridge first with this area can be inserted into the sleeve of the glue stick to be refilled.

With multi-part molds that can be divided after the adhesive mass has solidified, it is also possible, basically to provide recesses or extensions in the casting mold, into which the pistons 11 or 19 are to be inserted with a precise fit, so that a crack forms at the end of the piston between the outer diameter of the piston and the outer diameter of the moldable body of spreadable adhesive. As a result, the risk of coming into contact with the adhesive mass is reduced when handling the piston as an insertion aid when inserting the refill cartridge into the glue stick sleeve by hand.

After the various refill cartridges have been ejected from the respective casting molds, they can be packaged in the usual way in foils, paper or combinations thereof. For example, the following are possible also sealed edge bags, deep-drawn parts, wood pulp or starch derivative molded parts. Several refill cartridges can also be packed in one package, from which individual refill cartridges can be individually removed or removed, for example by tearing or breaking off.

It is also possible to line the casting mold 6 with packaging material, such as plastic film, for example, before the adhesive mass 23 is filled in. The packaging material then acts as a separating aid and makes it easier to eject the solidified mass from the casting mold 6. In this way, a refill cartridge that is already almost completely packaged is obtained. For this purpose, the packaging material is introduced into the mold 6 before the adhesive compound 23 is poured and the piston 11, 19 and / or tube 22, possibly with a sleeve 27, is inserted, preferably in such a way that it is close to the inner surfaces of the Cast mold is present.

To refill glue sticks, all or part of the packaging surrounding the respective refill cartridge is removed.

An end of the refill cartridge which has been freed from the packaging, which is either part of the molded body 2 or which is a piston, is then fitted or inserted onto the end opening of a glue stick sleeve 15 and the refill cartridge is then drawn into the sleeve 15. It is always retracted when the glue stick 14 has a threaded spindle 17, the threads of which engage in a threaded bore of a piston and / or a blind bore 13. Refilling the glue stick 14 of Figures 5 and 6 is shown below as an example. First, the refill cartridge 1d with the piston 19 is pushed slightly into the sleeve 15 until the threaded spindle tip 17a abuts the skin 24. With a slight jerk, possibly with simultaneous rotation of the knurled nut 18, the skin 24 is pierced and the piston 19 is pressed down until the thread of the threaded spindle 17 engages in the threaded bore 21. With continuous actuation of the knurled nut 18, the piston 19 is pulled further down until the edge-side end face 22b abuts the opposite end face 15a of the sleeve 15. With further rotation of the threaded spindle 17 by rotating the knurled nut 18, the piston 19 is continuously pulled downward, the threaded spindle 17 simultaneously cutting a thread in the blind bore 13 of the adhesive compound 23 and pulling the molded body 2 evenly downward. Here, the position of the tube 22 relative to the sleeve 15 remains unchanged, so that the material column of the adhesive 23rd is finally completely removed from the tube 22. Since the tube length is matched to the interior height of the sleeve, the free adhesive end face is finally flush with the upper edge of the sleeve 15, so that the tube 22 can be removed without content. The glue stick 14 is refilled and can be used again.

In an analogous manner, the remaining refill cartridges are to be drawn into the respective glue stick sleeve in such a way that they are then arranged flush with the end edge of the glue stick sleeve in the glue stick.

Claims (28)

1. A method for refilling a stick (14) which releases product by application to a surface, such as a deodorant stick, an adhesive stick, a lip stick, a release agent stick, a shaving soap stick or colouring stick and which consists of

   - a holder (15) with a solid base (16) and an opening at one end into which a stick rotatable about its longitudinal axis is fitted, the stick which extends over the entire longitudinal axis of the holder being formed by a screwthreaded spindle (17) beyond one side of the base (16) and by a hand-operated knurled nut (18) beyond the other side of the base (16) outside the holder (15), and of

   - a feed element which is non-rotatably mounted in the holder (15), being designed for displacement longitudinally of the holder by means of the screwthreaded spindle (17) engaging in a screwthreaded bore (10,21) extending throughout the feed element to apply a preferably spreadable product mass (23) accommodated in the holder (15), such as a deodorant stick, adhesive stick, lip stick, release agent stick, shaving soap stick or colouring stick mass, and optionally of

   - a closure cap designed to be pushed on over the upper edge of the holder,
   in which method for refilling the stick (14) a moulding (2) of the particular, preferably spreadable, product mass (23) adapted to the free internal volume - designed to accommodate the product mass - and internal configuration of the holder (15) and formed with a bore, preferably a blind hole (13), concentrically to the longitudinal axis to receive the screwthreaded spindle (17) is inserted into the holder (15) from the opening at the end thereof,
   characterized in that the moulding (2) with the bore or blind hole (13) aligned to receive the screwthreaded spindle (17) is introduced into the holder (15) and, by actuation of the knurled nut (18), the moulding (2) is drawn in up to the base (16) of the holder, the diameter of the bore or blind hole (13) being gauged in such a way that the screwthreaded spindle (17) cuts slightly into the product mass (23) on entering the bore or blind hole (13).
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a tube (22) with a moulding (2) accommodated therein is fitted onto the holder (15) and the moulding (2) is then drawn into the holder (15), the tube (22) being completely withdrawn from the moulding (2) and, finally, removed.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the feed element is a cup-like plunger (11,19) and in that, for refilling, the plunger (11,19) of the stick (14) is first removed from the product-free holder (15) and a moulding (2) comprising a plunger (11,19) with a screwthreaded bore (10,21) at one end is fitted with the screwthreaded bore (10,21) onto the screwthreaded spindle (17) and, by actuation of the knurled nut (18), the plunger (11,19) is drawn with the product mass (23) up the base (16) of the holder.
4. A method as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the plunger (11,19) is introduced into the holder (15) surrounded by the tube (22) at its upper edge (19a).
5. A process for the production of a refill cartridge (1,1a,1c,1d,1e) for a stick (14) which releases product by application to a surface, such as a deodorant stick, an adhesive stick, a lip stick, a release agent stick, a shaving soap stick or colouring stick, comprising a holder (15) which is optionally designed for closure by a cap, has an opening at at least one end and comprises a plunger (11,19) designed for axial displacement over the length of the holder (15) to apply a preferably spreadable product mass accommodated in the holder (15), such as a deodorant, adhesive, lip stick, release agent, shaving soap or colouring stick mass, the plunger (11,19) optionally being placed at the bottom of a mould and the product mass (23) being subsequently introduced into the mould (6) adapted to the free internal volume - designed to accommodate the particular product mass - and internal configuration of the holder (15) and optionally into the plunger (11,19), and after solidification, being ejected from the mould (6) as a moulding (2) of preferably spreadable product mass (23) which forms the major part of the refill cartridge (1,1a,1c,1d,1e),
   characterized in that a stick extending over at least part of the mould (6) is placed in the bottom thereof concentrically to the longitudinal axis to form a bore or blind hole (13) in the product mass (23), the diameter of the bore or blind hole (13) being gauged in such a way that, when a refill cartridge (1,1a,1c,1d,1e) is introduced into the holder (15) of a stick (14) with a screwthreaded spindle (17), the screwthreaded spindle (17) enters the bore or blind hole (13) and cuts slightly into the product mass (23) on entering the bore or blind hole (13).
6. A process as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that a plunger (11,19) formed throughout with a central screwthreaded bore (10,21) and receiving the stick in the screwthreaded bore is placed at the bottom of the mould (6).
7. A process as claimed in claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the mould (6) is widened to accommodate a tube (22) and, before the product mass (23) is poured in, a tube (22) is introduced into the mould (6) with its outer surface adjoining the inner surface of the mould (6).
8. A process as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the stick (14) is an adhesive stick and the moulding (2) consists of a soft and plastic spreadable adhesive (23).
9. A system consisting of a stick (14) and a refill cartridge (1,1a,1c,1d,1e) for the stick (14) which releases product by application to a surface, such as a deodorant stick, an adhesive stick, a lip stick, a release agent stick, a shaving soap stick or colouring stick, the stick (14) comprising

   - a holder (15) with a solid base (16) and an opening at one end into which a stick rotatable about its longitudinal axis is fitted, the stick which extends over the entire longitudinal axis of the holder being formed by a screwthreaded spindle (17) beyond one side of the base (16) and by a hand-operated knurled nut (18) beyond the other side of the base (16) outside the holder (15), and

   - a feed element which is non-rotatably mounted in the holder (15), being designed for displacement longitudinally of the holder by means of the screwthreaded spindle (17) engaging in a screwthreaded bore (10,21) extending throughout the feed element to apply a preferably spreadable product mass (23) accommodated in the holder (15), such as a deodorant stick, adhesive stick, lip stick, release agent stick, shaving soap stick or colouring stick mass, and optionally

   - a closure cap designed to be pushed on over the upper edge of the holder,
   and the refill cartridge (1,1a,1c,1d,1e) comprising a moulding (2) of the particular, preferably spreadable, product mass (23) adapted to the free internal volume - designed to accommodate the product mass (23) - and internal configuration of the holder (15) and formed with a bore, preferably a blind hole (13), concentrically to the longitudinal axis to receive the screwthreaded spindle (17),
   characterized in that the diameter of the bore or blind hole (13) is gauged in such a way that, when a refill cartridge (1,1a,1c,1d,1e) is introduced into the holder (15), the screwthreaded spindle (17) cuts slightly into the product mass (23) on entering the bore or blind hole (13).
10. A system as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the feed element is a cup-like plunger (11,19) and, at its end, the moulding (2) comprises a plunger (11,19) formed throughout with a central screwthreaded bore (10,21).
11. A system as claimed in claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the moulding (2) is formed in its outer circumference with a longitudinal groove or notch (4).
12. A system as claimed in any of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the moulding (2) is arranged in a tube (22).
13. A system as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the tube (22) has a length adapted to the free internal holder height of the stick (14), an internal diameter adapted to the internal diameter of the holder (15) and a base serving as a plunger (11,19) for the stick (14), the upper edge (19a) of the plunger being surrounded by the tube (22).
14. A system as claimed in any of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the screwthreaded bore (10,21) is closed by a membrane (24) designed to be pierced by the screwthreaded spindle (17).
15. A system as claimed in any of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that the screwthreaded bore (10,21) has a single or multiple screwthread.
16. A system as claimed in any of claims 10 to 15, characterized in that the base of the plunger is formed internally with a cone (25) as an insertion aid for the spindle end (17a).
17. A system as claimed in any of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that the tube (22) is closed at its end (22a) opposite the plunger (10,19).
18. A system as claimed in any of claims 12 to 17, characterized in that the wall thickness of the tube (22) is equal to that of the holder (15).
19. A system as claimed in any of claims 10 to 18, characterized in that the tube (22) and/or the plunger (19) is/are made of paperboard or plastic.
20. A system as claimed in any of claims 12 to 19, characterized in that the tube (22) or rather the inner surface thereof is made slightly conical in shape, the conical taper towards that end opposite the plunger (11,19) forming a cone angle of at most 3°.
21. A system as claimed in any of claims 12 to 20, characterized in that, at one end, the tube (22) is connected to a sleeve (27) which annularly surrounds the plunger (19) at a distance, the internal diameter of the sleeve (27) being such that the sleeve (27) can be pushed on over the upper outer surface of the holder, and which comprises an annular stop surface (27a) for the front (15a) of the holder.
22. A system as claimed in claim 21, characterized in that the free end of the sleeve is level with, or projects slightly beyond, the base of the plunger.
23. A system as claimed in claim 21 or 22, characterized in that the holder (27) and the tube (22) are made in one piece.
24. A system as claimed in claim 21, characterized in that the sleeve (27) and the tube (22) are joined together by a preferably annular drop-in or snap-in connection.
25. A system as claimed in any of claims 21 to 24, characterized in that the plunger (19) is joined to the sleeve (27) by several bridges (31) which break when the plunger (19) is drawn towards the holder base (16).
26. A system as claimed in claim 25, characterized in that the plunger (19) and the sleeve (27) are injection-moulded in one piece.
27. A system as claimed in any of claims 21 to 24, characterized in that the plunger (19) and the sleeve (27) are joined together by drop-in or snap-in connections which are designed to release when the plunger (19) is drawn towards the holder base (16).
28. A system as claimed in one or more of claims 9 to 27, characterized in that the stick (14) is an adhesive stick and the moulding (2) consists of a soft and plastic spreadable adhesive (23).

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