EP3696111B1 - Cartridge for squeezing filler materials, adapter, lid and cartridge system - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a cartridge system according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a cartridge is for example in the DE 198 18 455 A1 described. The cartridge filled with a filling substance, for example with grease or with silicone, can be emptied in a hand lever press. For this purpose, the cover is removed from the first end of the cartridge and the cartridge is inserted with this end first into an open hand-lever press. Simultaneously or subsequently, the base at the second end of the cartridge is opened by removing the separable base area and closing the hand-lever press. To empty the cartridge, a piston of the hand lever press is inserted through the first end into the cartridge and the filling substance is pressed out through the open base at the second end of the cartridge. The protruding wall area at the second end of the cartridge presses against an annular seal of the hand lever press.

In the cartridge described above, the filling substance is emptied by means of an (over) pressure applied by the piston to the filling substance is exercised. In addition to such cartridges or associated emptying systems, there are also cartridges in which the filling substance is emptied via a vacuum by sucking the filling substance at the second end of the cartridge. In this case, the cartridge is closed at the first end with a piston which is drawn into the cylindrical base body of the cartridge during vacuum evacuation. In the case of cartridges for vacuum emptying, a connector, in particular a threaded connector, is generally formed at the second end at which the filling substance is sucked in.

Cartridges or emptying systems with pressurized emptying of filling substances, in particular of fats, are more common than cartridges and corresponding emptying systems with vacuum emptying, but many filling companies also use cartridges for vacuum emptying. These filling companies must therefore decide before or during the filling process into which type of cartridge the fats are to be filled in order to serve a respective sales market or customer with the appropriate cartridges. This means that the filling companies have to keep both types of cartridges in stock in empty packaging, which requires a corresponding storage capacity. In the filling process, the filling machines also have to be adjusted to the cartridge system intended for filling, which causes set-up times.

A cartridge system is offered on the website of GR Produkter AB, Sweden (http://hugocartridge.com/en/home), which can optionally be adapted to both emptying systems. The cartridge system has a so-called universal one Lid which has a tear-off collar and a piston area which remains in the cartridge after the collar has been torn off.

From the DE 10 2010 030 402 a cartridge system with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known.

At present, however, there is no cartridge or cartridge system that the end user can optionally adapt to both emptying systems, which means that bottling companies or along the entire value and supply chain can work with just one cartridge system.

The object of the invention is to provide a cartridge system which can optionally be used for emptying the filling substances by (over) pressure or by vacuum suction and at the same time has the advantages of previous cartridge systems.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a cartridge system according to claim 1, in particular in that the protruding wall area of the cartridge is set back at least partially in the radial direction relative to the cylindrical base body in order to fasten an adapter that can be placed on the second end of the cylindrical base body, in particular bounced on is. In this way, the protruding wall area of the conventional cartridge described above is changed in such a way that it can interact with the adapter without increasing the diameter of the cartridge. The adapter has a geometry which is adapted to a respective emptying system provided for vacuum emptying of the cartridge. By resetting the wall area, the construction of a conventional cartridge provided for emptying by means of overpressure is changed only minimally. The wall thickness of the recessed Projecting wall area typically corresponds to the wall thickness of the cylindrical base body. In this way, the weight advantages that a conventional cartridge for pressure emptying has compared to cartridges for vacuum emptying are retained. As a rule, the protruding wall area is set back as a whole, ie over its entire height, with respect to the cylindrical base body. It is also possible, however, for the protruding wall area to be set back only partially, specifically at its free end, with respect to the cylindrical base body in order to interact with the adapter in order to fasten it.

In a further development, the protruding wall area is set back by no more than 2 mm compared to the cylindrical base body. In order to ensure that the protruding wall area at the second end of the cartridge seals off with the sealing ring of a conventional hand lever grease gun, e.g. in accordance with DIN 1283, the protruding wall area must not be offset too far radially inward relative to the cylindrical base body. For cartridges according to DIN 1284 with a nominal volume of 450 cm ³ , the offset value described above should typically be observed in order to ensure the sealing effect.

In a further development, the protruding wall area has at least one latching element or a latching edge for interacting with at least one latching element or a latching edge on the adapter in order to secure the adapter to the cartridge, preferably irreversibly, ie not in a non-destructive manner or releasably with considerable effort. Locking elements or a (essentially) completely encircling locking edge are typically used for fastening formed on the protruding wall area, which usually interacts with complementary shaped locking elements or a complementary shaped locking edge on the adapter. The adapter can, for example, have latching elements projecting radially inward on its outer edge. The protruding wall area of the cartridge can accordingly have a circumferential, radially inwardly recessed locking edge and / or radially outwardly and / or inwardly protruding locking elements. The latching system is preferably formed at the end of the protruding wall area that faces the floor. The combination of locking elements on the cartridge or on the protruding wall area and on the adapter facilitates the irreversible locking of the adapter and cartridge.

In a further development, the separable floor area has an inner floor area and preferably a (ring-shaped) circumferential floor area which connects to an outer, non-separable floor area. The inner floor area can be connected directly to the outer, non-separable floor area by a radial section with reduced resistance, for example by a V-shaped groove. Alternatively, between the inner base area and the outer base area, an in particular ring-shaped circumferential base area can be provided which forms an intermediate area. The annularly encircling floor area can be connected to the inner floor area and to the outer floor area by a respective section with reduced resistance, for example by a V-shaped groove. In this case, the inner base area can be detached in that the ring-shaped circumferential base area is separated from the outer base area and, if necessary, also from the inner base area.

After separating the inner base area - possibly by releasing the ring-shaped circumferential base area - the outer base area remains, which forms a circumferential collar on the inside of the cylindrical base body. The outer bottom area can prevent the filling substance from splashing out when the cartridge is opened, as cited in the introduction DE 198 18 455 A1 is described. In addition, the outer floor area can be used to support the adapter and, if necessary, for an additional locking connection to the adapter, as will be described in more detail below. Alternatively, it is possible that a smooth passage is formed when the bottom is separated from the cartridge, as shown in FIG FR 2 709 732 B1 is described, that is, no outer bottom area remains on the cylindrical base body.

In a further development of this embodiment, at least one stop projecting above the floor is formed on the outer floor area as a rotation lock for the adapter, the stop preferably being spaced apart from the projecting wall area. In evacuation systems with vacuum evacuation, a threaded connector is often formed at the second, closed end of the cartridge, which is screwed to a corresponding thread of the evacuation system. In order to use an adapter provided with a threaded connector in such an emptying system, it is necessary to fasten the adapter to the cartridge in a rotationally secure manner. This can be achieved by the (radial) stop described above. The stop can also be used to align the cartridge in a labeling system or during printing in a predetermined manner with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge.

For the sealing closure of the second end of the cartridge, a circumferential sealing edge or a cup seal is typically formed on the adapter, which is used for (sealing) contact preferably on the inside of the protruding wall area. In order not to interrupt the circumferential sealing edge, it is advantageous if the stop is separated from the protruding wall area, i.e. at a distance from it in the radial direction. Since the circumferential sealing edge does not necessarily extend over the entire height of the protruding wall area, the stop can, if necessary, nevertheless be connected to the protruding wall area along a section adjacent to the floor.

In a further development of this embodiment, a pull-off device for separating from the outer base area is formed on the inner base area and / or on the (ring-shaped) circumferential base area. The pull-off device can be, for example, a pull-off ring which is formed on the inner bottom area, as shown in FIG DE 198 18 455 A1 is described. The pulling device can also be formed on the annularly encircling floor area, which extends, for example, between two V-shaped grooves in the floor, as shown in FIG FR 2 709 732 B1 is described. The inner base area can alternatively only be connected to the outer, non-separable base area via a section with reduced resistance, for example by a single groove or by a recess in the base.

The cartridge described in DIN 1284 can have a smooth geometry, ie the protruding wall area has a constant wall thickness without a thickening protruding outward in the radial direction. Such a cartridge can usually be used directly in an emptying system for vacuum emptying. In the event that the cartridge has a geometry, also described in DIN 1284, with a circumferential bead, its use in a vacuum emptying system may, however, not be possible without further ado.

In a further development, the protruding wall area has a circumferential bead protruding in the radial direction, which is detachably fastened to the wall area. The provision of a circumferential bead, as described in DIN 1284, can be useful so that the cartridge can be used in certain emptying systems for emptying by means of excess pressure. Due to the bead, however, the cartridge has too large a diameter to be used in some vacuum evacuation systems. For this reason, it is favorable to fasten the bead detachably to the wall area. For this purpose, the bead can be designed, for example, as a separate component which can be bounced or flanged onto the cartridge or onto the protruding edge area. Alternatively, the bead can be molded onto the protruding wall area via an area with low resistance or via a circumferential thin point. In this case, the bead can be separated from the protruding wall area, e.g. by means of a pull-off device, before the adapter is attached to the protruding wall area. The problem here may be that the outside of the wall area does not run completely smooth after the bead has been pulled off.

An embodiment has therefore proven to be particularly advantageous in which the bead with a small number of point-like connections (for example in the form of thin webs) to the projecting wall area and the bead is otherwise completely spaced from the projecting wall area. Here, the areas between the point-like connections of the bead for separating it from the cartridge can be grasped without any problems and a sufficiently large pull-off force can be exerted. The point-like connections can be provided geometrically in such a way that they tear off almost without leaving any residue and the sealing effect on the protruding wall area is not impaired. The punctual connection can be realized, for example, by webs tapering towards the cartridge or in some other way.

In a further development, which can be combined in particular with the aspect described above, the base has a preferably dome-like projection in the separable base area, the end face of which preferably ends flush with an end face of the protruding circumferential wall area. With conventional cartridges according to DIN 1284 it has been shown that they have problems with the drop stiffness if they fall with the closed second end on the floor: The second end of the cartridge bounces when it hits the floor, which can result in the inner, separable floor area breaks out unintentionally. This problem can occur in particular when transporting the cartridge, for example when sending a parcel. As a result of the projection, more precisely by lifting the end face of the projection, which typically forms the sprue area, to the level of the end face of the protruding wall area, the closed second end of the cartridge no longer resiliently resiliently when it hits the floor and the inner floor area breaks accordingly no longer off.

The invention also includes an adapter for placing, in particular for bouncing, on a protruding, circumferential wall area of a second end of a cylindrical base body of a cartridge, which is designed as described above, comprising: an outer wall area for preferably irreversible attachment of the adapter to the protruding Wall area of the cartridge, as well as a preferably circumferential support section for supporting the adapter on the outer bottom section of the bottom of the cartridge.

The adapter has an essentially flat base body, on the outer circumference of which the outer wall area is formed. The adapter is attached with the outer wall area to the protruding wall area of the cartridge. The support section, which can for example be in the form of an axially extending rib or the like, extends from the flat base body in the same direction as the outer wall area, i.e. in the direction of the bottom of the cylindrical base body of the cartridge. The support section is set back radially with respect to the outer wall area of the adapter.

In one example, the adapter has a circumferential sealing edge for sealingly closing the second end of the base body, which is preferably designed to rest on an inside of the protruding wall area. The sealing edge is offset radially inward relative to the outer wall area of the adapter and is typically designed in the manner of a sealing lip. The protruding wall area of the cartridge is typically at least partially received between the radially inner sealing edge and the radially outer outer wall area of the adapter. Of the Support section is typically offset radially inward relative to the sealing edge.

In a further example, the adapter comprises a connecting piece, in particular a threaded connecting piece, in which an opening for emptying filling substances is formed. The threaded connector typically protrudes beyond the flat base body on the front of the adapter. The threaded connector can be connected to a thread of an emptying system, which is used for (vacuum) emptying the contents of the cartridge. The thread or its geometry can, for example, be designed to be suitable for a grease gun system from Mato (see "http://mato.de/de/schmiertechnik/fettpressen-standard-lubeshuttle.html"), which enables vacuum emptying. Other geometries are also possible, for example the threaded connector can be designed in the geometry of a silicone cartridge, as it is, for example, in FIG DE 10 2006 055 236 A1 is described. It goes without saying that the adapter can also be used in other emptying systems than those described here.

In a further development of this example, the opening is closed by a closure, in particular by a rotary closure, or by a cover area that is preferably releasably fastened to the socket. The closure (lid) can be, for example, a closure that is injection-molded onto the adapter, can be torn off and, if necessary, reclosed. Alternatively, the closure (cover) can also be designed as a separate component that is screwed onto the threaded connector, for example.

The opening of the adapter can also be closed by a, for example, planar cover area which is permanently attached to the socket. When the adapter is manufactured using the injection molding process, the connecting piece can, for example, be injected closed on its upper side. In this case, in order to empty the filling substances from the cartridge, it is necessary to remove the lid area with the aid of a tool, e.g. with the aid of a knife. Alternatively, the cover area can be releasably attached to the connector, for example by connecting it to the inside of the connector with thin webs so that the cover area can be broken out. Covering the opening of the adapter by means of the cover area offers the advantage that an area is available on the top of the adapter for operating instructions, ... that may be attached.

In a further example, at least one, in particular rib-shaped, projection extending outward in the radial direction is formed on the support section and serves to rest against the stop serving as a rotation lock for the adapter. The or one of the rib-shaped projections is pressed against the stop when the threaded connector is turned and in this way blocks further rotational movement between the adapter and the cartridge. In this way, the threaded connector can be screwed into a receiving thread of a (vacuum) grease gun by rotating the cartridge around its longitudinal axis.

In a further example, at least one, preferably rib-shaped, projection extending inward in the radial direction is formed on the support section, which when the adapter is placed against a pull-off device of the cartridge for pulling off the detachable The bottom area presses in order to prevent the adapter from being attached to the protruding wall area of the cartridge as long as the second end of the cartridge is not open. As described above, the pull-off device can be a pull-off ring, for example. If necessary, the projection extending inward in the radial direction can press against the dome-like projection when the adapter is placed in order to prevent the adapter from being attached until the second end of the cartridge has been opened.

The rib-shaped projection (s) are designed in such a way, in particular arranged at such a distance from the underside of the adapter or from the bottom of the cartridge, that they, together with the height of the pull-off device, prevent the adapter from bouncing against the protruding wall area, provided that the inner bottom area has not yet been removed. For example, this common height can be selected so that the adapter cannot be pushed or bounced so far onto the cartridge that the locking element (s) on the outer wall area of the adapter lock onto the protruding wall area of the cartridge. The inwardly extending protrusion or protrusions are also designed or arranged so far away from the bottom of the cartridge that a piston can be pulled completely from the first end to the second end of the cartridge during vacuum emptying without doing too much Residual mass of the filling substances remains in the cartridge.

The inwardly and outwardly extending projections can be attached to the support portion at the same location in the circumferential direction. The projections can in particular be arranged uniformly distributed in the circumferential direction. A number of approx. 5-10 projections have proven to be advantageous, but more or fewer projections can also be provided on the adapter. In principle, a single protrusion extending outwards or inwards is sufficient to ensure the function.

In a further example, the support section has at least one latching element or a latching edge which interacts with an inner edge of the outer base section for fastening the adapter. In this way, a latching in the opposite direction to the latching on the outer wall area of the adapter can be produced on the outer bottom section of the cartridge. The locking element or locking edge formed on the support section typically protrudes with the free end downwards over the bottom, which may be unfavorable for the stability of the cartridge if the adapter is attached to a cover at the first end of the cartridge, as further is described in more detail below.

In a further example, the outer wall area has at least one locking element for interacting with a locking element or a locking edge of the protruding wall area of the cartridge or is designed as a locking edge. As described above in connection with the protruding wall area of the cartridge, the outer wall area of the adapter has one or more latching elements or a latching edge on its inside for interacting with the outside of the protruding wall area. The outer wall area of the adapter is usually dimensioned in such a way that its outer diameter corresponds to the outer diameter of the cylindrical base body of the cartridge.

In a further development, the at least one latching element projects radially inward and is formed in the area of an opening in the outer wall area of the adapter, which partially extends into a radially inwardly extending wall section of the adapter, the radial extent of the latching element preferably being at most the radial extent corresponds to the opening in the radially inwardly extending wall section. The openings in the outer wall area of the adapter allow a larger undercut of the locking elements when manufactured using the injection molding process than in the case of forcibly demolded locking elements. Details on the formation of the breakthroughs or the hole technology are, for example, in EP 2 322 447 A1 or in the DE 10 2010 029 586 A1 described. When producing the locking element (s) or the locking edge on the protruding wall area of the cartridge in the injection molding process, slide technology can generally be used and the provision of openings can be dispensed with, because sufficiently dimensioned undercuts of locking elements can also be produced by the slide technology.

The cartridge system includes a lid for releasable attachment to a first (open) end of a cartridge, which is designed in particular as described above, the lid comprising: a receiving area for attachment, in particular for bouncing, an adapter, as described above is on the lid. The front of the adapter is typically attached to the receiving area on which the protruding stub is usually formed. The receiving area is generally essentially pot-shaped for receiving the connecting piece of the adapter.

By attaching the adapter to the lid, more precisely on the side of the lid facing away from the cartridge, the assembly of the lid and the adapter attached to it can be attached to the first open end of the cartridge directly during or after the cartridge is filled with the filling substance Cartridge to be attached. The lid closes the first end of the cartridge tightly and also has the adapter which is required for an adaptation to vacuum emptying, which may be desired by the end customer. For emptying by (over) pressure, it is necessary to pull the assembly from the cover and the adapter completely from the first end of the cartridge. It goes without saying that in the event that vacuum emptying is not desired, the second end of the cartridge can be closed with a conventional lid, such as that used for cartridges in accordance with DIN 1284.

In one example, the cover has a piston area for insertion into the cylindrical base body of the cartridge, the piston area having a circumferential side wall for abutment against an inner wall of the cylindrical base body of the cartridge and a head area, as well as an outer wall detachably connected to the piston area for abutment an outside of the cylindrical base body of the cartridge. In the event that the cartridge is to be vacuum-emptied, it is necessary for the piston area of the lid to be drawn forward through the interior of the cartridge by a vacuum applied to the first end of the cartridge. In order to make this possible, the outer wall detachably connected to the piston area is separated from the piston area, typically by tearing it off. In this way, only the piston area of the cover remains, which, as with conventional pistons, has a circumferential side wall for guidance and for sealing against the inside of the base body of the cartridge as well has a head area for pressing against the filling substance. The outer wall of the cover can be detached from the piston area by means of a suitable pull-off device. In the event that the contents of the flask are to be emptied by overpressure, the entire assembly of cover and adapter can be detached from the cartridge.

In a further example, the receiving area of the cover has a thread for interacting with the threaded connector of the adapter. In this case, the adapter is screwed to the thread of the receiving area. Such a type of fastening is advantageous if the adapter has a threaded connector.

In a further example, the receiving area is designed to receive a connector of the adapter that is closed with a closure, in particular with a rotary closure. The connector of the adapter that is closed with the closure is usually dented into the receiving area and can in particular be (releasably) latched to it, for which purpose latching elements can be attached to the closure and / or to the receiving area. If necessary, the (rotary) closure itself can have an external thread in order to be screwed to the receiving area with a thread.

In a further example, the outer wall has at least one latching element or a latching edge on its inner side, which interacts with a projection on the outer side of the cylindrical base body of the cartridge to fasten the cover to the cartridge. The projection can be a thickening of the wall thickness of the cylindrical base body, for example a small bead, which by the latching element or the latching edge of the outer wall is engaged from behind in order to fix the lid on the cartridge.

The invention relates to a cartridge system comprising: an adapter which is designed as described above and which is received in a receiving area of a cover which is designed as described above, and preferably a cartridge which is designed as described above . As explained above, the adapter and the cover can form a common assembly that can optionally be delivered separately from the cartridge. Alternatively, the entire cartridge system, i.e. the cartridge, can be delivered together with the lid attached to it and the adapter attached to the lid. This cartridge system is initially self-contained and is only opened when the separable bottom part is torn off. If necessary, the cover and the adapter can also be delivered separately from the cartridge.

The adapter as described above closes as part of the above-described assembly or generally preferably on its underside, whereby the cartridge system can be filled with conventional cartridge filling systems and the above-described assembly can be automatically bounced onto the first end of the kart search in such systems .

In one example, the cartridge, the adapter and / or the cover of the cartridge system are formed from plastic, preferably from polyolefins, in particular from polyethylene or from polypropylene. The cartridge, the adapter and / or the cover are usually manufactured using an injection molding process. The cartridge can be manufactured with the aid of what is known as fluid centering in the area of the cartridge base take place in the injection molding process. Fluid centering (for aligning the injection mold core with respect to the injection mold shell) is a very thin (a few tenths of a millimeter), symmetrical flow area opposite to the injection direction. This makes it difficult, on the one hand, to design the floor so that it can be easily opened and, on the other hand, to be stable enough to avoid unintentional opening. Alternatively, the cartridge can be manufactured in an injection molding process - analogous to the procedure for silicone cartridges - with a movable inner core and initially star-shaped injection (to align the injection mold core and shell). As a result, the number of thin spots can be reduced by one, which is why the coordination described above is simplified.

Further advantages of the invention emerge from the description and the drawing. The embodiments shown and described are not to be understood as an exhaustive list, but rather have an exemplary character for describing the invention.

Fig. 1a,b

schematische Darstellungen eines Kartuschen-Systems, welches eine Kartusche, einen Deckel und einen Adapter an einem ersten Ende der Kartusche beinhaltet, in einer perspektivischen Darstellung sowie in einer Schnittdarstellung,

Fig. 2

eine Detaildarstellung des Deckels und des Adapters von Fig. 1b,

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht auf die Unterseite des Adapters,

Fig. 4

ein Kartuschen-System, bei dem der Deckel das erste Ende der Kartusche verschließt und der Adapter an einem zweiten Ende der Kartusche befestigt ist,

Fig. 5

ein Detail eines äußeren Wandbereichs des Adapters und eines überstehenden Wandungsbereichs der Kartusche von Fig. 4,

Fig.6a,b

Schnittdarstellungen des Kartuschen-Systems von Fig. 4 vor und nach der Vakuum-Entleerung von in der Kartusche befindlichem Schmierfett,

Fig. 7a,b

Darstellungen analog zu Fig. la,b mit einer umlaufenden, lösbar mit einem überstehenden Wandungsbereich der Kartusche verbundenen Wulst, sowie

Fig. 8a,b

eine Draufsicht auf die Vorderseite und auf die Rückseite eines Bodens der Kartusche mit einem abtrennbaren Bodenbereich.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings and is explained in more detail using exemplary embodiments. It shows the:

Fig. 1a, b

schematic representations of a cartridge system which contains a cartridge, a cover and an adapter at a first end of the cartridge, in a perspective representation and in a sectional representation,

Fig. 2

a detailed representation of the cover and the adapter of Figure 1b ,

Fig. 3

a top view of the underside of the adapter,

Fig. 4

a cartridge system in which the lid closes the first end of the cartridge and the adapter is attached to a second end of the cartridge,

Fig. 5

a detail of an outer wall area of the adapter and a protruding wall area of the cartridge from FIG Fig. 4 ,

Fig. 6a, b

Sectional views of the cartridge system from Fig. 4 before and after vacuum emptying of the lubricating grease in the cartridge,

Figures 7a, b

Representations similar to FIGS. 1 a, b with a circumferential bead detachably connected to a protruding wall area of the cartridge, and

Figures 8a, b

a plan view of the front and the back of a bottom of the cartridge with a separable bottom area.

Fig. 1a, b show a cartridge system 1 which comprises a cartridge 2, a cover 3 and an adapter 4. The cartridge 2 has a cylindrical base body 5 with a first, in Fig.1a, b lower end 6a and a second, in Fig. La, b upper end 6b . The second end 6b of the base body 5 has a base 7 which is connected in one piece to the base body 5. The bottom 7 has an annularly encircling bottom region 7a which is located between two V-shaped grooves the underside of the base 7 is formed and which has a thickening projecting downward beyond the base 7. The annular bottom area 7a separates a radially inner bottom area 7b from a radially outer bottom area 7c. The inner base area 7b can be separated from the base body 5 of the cartridge 2 by an operator actuating a pull-off device 8 in the form of a pull-off ring, which is formed on the annular base area 7a or connected via a web. When the pull-off device 8 is actuated, the ring-shaped circumferential base area 7a is separated along the V-shaped grooves, which each form a section with reduced resistance, the inner base area 7b also being separated from the base body 5 of the cartridge 2.

A filling substance stored in the cartridge 2 or in the base body 5 can be emptied through the opening formed in the separated bottom area 7a, 7b at the upper end 6b of the cartridge 2. For this purpose, the cover 3 is first pulled off together with the adapter 4 from the lower end 6a of the cartridge 2. Here, a circumferential outer wall 9 of the cover 3, which is designed in the form of a tear-off tape, is removed from the outer side 5 a of the base body 5. After the cover 3 has been removed, the lower end 6a of the cartridge 2 is open, so that a piston of a hand lever press (not shown) can be inserted into the base body 5 through the lower end 6a of the cartridge 2. When the piston exerts pressure on the filling substance, it is emptied through the opening formed at the upper end 6b of the cartridge 2. Here, a circumferential wall area 10 of the base body 5 protruding in the axial direction beyond the base 7 presses with its end face against a sealing ring of the hand lever press.

As in Figure 1b It can also be seen that the inner bottom region 7b has a dome-like projection 11 , the end face of which in the example shown is flush with the end face of the protruding wall region 10 of the base body 5. This is favorable in order to prevent the inner bottom region 7b from breaking out unintentionally if the cartridge 2 hits the ground with the upper end 6b, for example during transport. In this case, the dome-like projection 11 of the inner bottom area 7b also hits the ground, which prevents the inner bottom area 7b from springing back and counteracts the unwanted breaking out of the inner bottom area 7b.

The cartridge system 1 shown in FIGS. 1 a, b can also be used in an emptying system which is designed for vacuum emptying of the filling substance. For this purpose, the adapter 4 fastened to the cover 3 at the lower end of the cartridge 2 is detached from the cover 3 and placed on the upper end 6b of the cartridge 2 or on the cylindrical base body 5. The cover 3 initially remains at the lower end 6a of the cartridge, ie the outer wall 9 of the cover 3 in the form of the tear-off tape is not pulled off the outer side 5a of the base body 5. When the adapter 4 is removed, the cover 3 is therefore not released from the second end 6a of the cartridge 2, since a circumferential locking edge 12 of the cover 3 engages behind a bead-like projection 13 on the outside 5a of the base body 5 of the cartridge 2.

The adapter 4 is received on the cover 3 in a pot-shaped receiving area 14 and is releasably fastened to the cover 3. In the in Fig. La, b the example shown, the cup-shaped receiving area 14 of the lid 3 a (inner) screw 15 which is screwed to a threaded neck 16 of the adapter 4 (see FIG. Fig. 2 ) . To loosen the adapter 4 is this unscrewed from the cover 3. The adapter 4 can also be releasably attached to the cover 3 in a manner other than in FIGS. 1 a, b. For example, the adapter 4 can be pushed onto the cover 3 or pushed onto it in the axial direction. This is advantageous, for example, if the adapter 4 has a non-threaded connector, or if an opening 17 in the threaded connector 16 of the adapter 4, through which the filling substance is to be squeezed, is closed with a (rotary) closure. In this case, the receiving area 14 of the cover 3 can be designed to be correspondingly wider in order to accommodate the threaded connector 16 of the adapter 4, which is closed with the twist lock. In this case, however, the remainder of the filling substance remaining in the cartridge 2 after it has been squeezed out may be somewhat larger, since the part of the lid 3 serving as a piston cannot dip into the opening of the base 7 formed when the inner base area 7b is pulled off.

The opening 17 in the threaded connector 16 of the adapter 4 can be closed with a cover area which extends along the top of the opening 17. The cover area can be releasably attached to the threaded connector 16, for example via thin webs that can be broken out in order to expose the opening 17 in the threaded connector 16. The cover area can be used to apply a lettering or a graphic design, for example in the form of an instruction manual or the like.

The adapter 4 detached from the cover 3 is subsequently placed on the upper end 6b of the cartridge 2, more precisely on the protruding wall area 10, more precisely pounded on. In this case, an annular, circumferential outer wall area 18 of the adapter 4 lies on the outside of the wall area 10 protruding beyond the base 7 of the cartridge 2, as shown in Fig. 4 as in Fig. 5 can be seen. In order to prevent the outer wall region 18 of the adapter 4 from protruding laterally over the base body 5 of the cartridge 2, the wall region 10 of the cartridge 2 protruding over the base 7 is set back in the radial direction relative to the cylindrical base body 5 of the cartridge 2.

In the case of the in Fig. La, b and in Fig. 4 In the example shown, the protruding wall area 10 is set back over its entire height relative to the base body 5 of the cartridge 2, but it is alternatively also possible to set back the protruding wall area 10 only partially at its upper end relative to the base body 5 of the cartridge. As in Fig. 4a, b As can be seen, the cartridge 2 with the attached adapter 4 has a constant outer diameter which corresponds to the standardized diameter of a grease cartridge according to DIN 1284. In order to ensure that when the cartridge 2 is emptied in a hand lever press according to DIN 1283, ie without the adapter 4, the protruding wall area 10 seals off with a sealing ring of the hand lever press, the protruding wall area 10 is no more than a distance d = 2 mm offset radially inward relative to the cylindrical base body 2 (cf. Fig. 5 ).

For the attachment of the adapter 4, the protruding wall area 10 of the cartridge 2 has on its outside a locking edge 19 in the form of a circumferential groove into which a radially inward protruding locking edge 20 engages, which is formed on the inside of the outer wall area 18 of the adapter 4 is. The latching of the adapter 4 on the cartridge 2 is ideally irreversible, ie the adapter 4 can cannot be detached from the cartridge 2 without a considerable expenditure of force or not in a non-destructive manner.

As in Fig. 5 As can be seen, the adapter 4 has a circumferential support section 21 in the example shown in order to support the adapter 4 on the upper side of the base 7 of the base body 5 of the cartridge 2. The support section 21 is in the in Fig. 5 The example shown is designed as an axially circumferential rib which extends from an annular circumferential planar section on the upper side of the adapter 4, which surrounds the threaded connector 16, to the lower side of the adapter 4. In the radial direction between the support section 21 and the outer wall area 18 of the adapter 4, a circumferential sealing edge 22 is formed which rests against the inside of the outer wall area 18 of the adapter 4. The protruding wall area 10 of the cartridge 2 is encompassed by the radially inner sealing edge 22 and the radially outer outer wall area 18 of the adapter 4 and overlapped by the adapter 4, so that the second end 6b of the base body 5 is sealed by the adapter 4 and the filling substance can only exit through the opening 17 of the threaded connector 16.

To attach the adapter 4 to an emptying system for vacuum emptying, it is screwed to a corresponding thread of the emptying system by rotating the cartridge 2 connected to the adapter 4 about its longitudinal axis. In order to ensure that the rotary movement of the cartridge 2 is transmitted to the adapter 4, the outer base area 7c of the base body 5 has a stop 23 protruding beyond the base 7 (cf. Fig. 1a ) on. The stop 23 is radially spaced from the protruding wall area 10 of the cartridge 23 or designed in such a way that it does not collide with the circumferential sealing edge 22 of the adapter 4.

Eight rib-shaped projections 24 extending outward in the radial direction are formed on the support section 21 (cf. Fig. 3 ), one of which comes into contact with the stop 23 serving as a rotation lock during the rotary movement of the cartridge 2. It goes without saying that the adapter 4 can also be protected against rotation relative to the base body 5 of the cartridge 2 in a way other than the use of rib-shaped projections 24.

In order to prevent the adapter 4 from being placed on the upper end 6b of the cartridge 2 when the inner base region 7b has not yet been separated, rib-shaped projections 25 projecting radially inward are formed on the support section 21. These rib-shaped projections 25 press against the top of the pull-off ring 8 shown in FIGS. Latching of the support section 21 with the in Fig. 5 The illustrated inner edge 26 of the outer bottom region 7c is prevented in this way. For such a latching, which runs in the opposite direction to the latching between the protruding wall area 10 and the outer wall area 18 of the adapter 4, the support section 21 can have one or more latching elements or a latching edge at its end facing the base 7.

This in Fig. 5 Latching element shown in section in the form of a latching lug 20, which protrudes radially inward over the outer wall area 18 of the adapter 4, can in the area of a - not shown - Breakthrough be formed in the outer wall region 18. The opening is formed above the latching element 20 and extends partially into a radially inwardly extending wall section 27 on the upper side of the adapter 4, which adjoins the outer wall area 10 of the adapter 4. The radial extension of the locking element 20 corresponds at most to the radial extension of the opening in the radially inwardly extending wall section 27. In this way, there is no undercut in the radial direction of the locking element 20 and the adapter 4 can be injection-molded without the use of Slides are demolded in the axial direction.

For vacuum emptying of the in Fig. 4a, b In addition to attaching the adapter 4 to the upper end 6b of the cartridge 2, it is necessary to detach the circumferential outer wall 9 in the form of the tear-off tape from the cover 3 at the lower end of the cartridge 2. The circumferential outer wall 9 of the cover 3 is releasably connected to a piston area 28 of the cover 3, as shown in FIG Fig. 6a, b can be seen. The piston area 28 has a circumferential side wall 30 for resting on the inside of the cylindrical base body 5 of the cartridge 2 and a head area 29 , on the underside of which the receiving area 14 for the adapter 4 is formed.

In Figure 6a the piston area 28 of the cover 3 is shown in the form of the tear-off tape immediately after the circumferential outer wall 9 has been loosened. During the vacuum emptying of the cartridge 2, the piston area 28 is drawn into the base body 5 until the filling substance of the cartridge 2 is completely emptied. Figure 6b shows the piston area 28 of the lid 3, which rests against the underside of the outer bottom area 7c of the cartridge 2 after the filling substance has been completely emptied.

Figures 7a, b show an example of a cartridge 2, which differs from that in Fig. la, b shown cartridge 2 characterized in that on the protruding wall portion 10 is formed in a radially outwardly projecting circumferential bead 31. The bead 31 makes it possible to use the cartridge 2 in applications which require the geometry with a bead 31 described in DIN 1284. The bead 31 is in the in Figures 7a, b The example shown is releasably attached to the protruding wall area 10. For this purpose, the bead 31 is connected to the projecting wall area 10 via eight thin spots 32 in the form of tear-off webs, as shown in FIG Figures 8a, b can be seen. The webs 32 enable a point connection of the bead to the protruding wall area 10. To separate the circumferential bead 31 from the cartridge, the areas between the point-like connections of the bead 31 can be easily grasped by an operator and a sufficiently high pulling force can be exerted. The webs 32 are tapered to a point and form a point-like connection to the protruding wall area 10, so that the bead 31 can be torn off almost without leaving any residue and the sealing effect on the protruding wall area 10 is not impaired. The removal of the bead 31 from the protruding wall area 10 is necessary if the cartridge 2 is to be used for vacuum emptying and the diameter of the cartridge 2 provided with the bead 31 is too large to be introduced into a corresponding emptying system. Alternatively, the bead 31 can also be releasably connected to the cartridge 2 in some other way, for example via a circumferential tearable thin point.

The cartridge 2, the cover 3 and the adapter 4 are made of plastic and, in the example shown, are manufactured by injection molding. Polyolefins, in particular polyethylene or polypropylene, have proven to be advantageous as plastic materials.

The bottom 7, more precisely the inner bottom region 7b, of the cartridge 2 shown in FIGS. 1 a, b is produced with the aid of what is known as fluid centering, in which a movable inner core of the injection molding tool is centered with the aid of the liquefied plastic material. Due to this production method, the inner base region 7b has an additional thin point on a section of the inner base region 7b that protrudes into the interior of the cartridge 2. The bottom 7 of the in Figures 7a, b In contrast, the cartridge 2 shown was manufactured with a movable inner core and initially star-shaped injection without fluid centering, as is customary, for example, in the manufacture of silicone cartridges. The inner bottom area 7b of the in Figures 7a, b The cartridge 2 shown therefore has no thin point or no section protruding into the interior of the cartridge 2.

Claims (16)

1. Cartridge system (1), comprising:
   a cartridge (2) which is suitable for pressing filler materials out of the cartridge (2), the cartridge (2) comprising:

   a cylindrical basic body (5) having a first, open end (6a) and

   having a second end (6b) which has a base (7) connected integrally with the cylindrical basic body (5), which base comprises a detachable base area (7a, 7b), wherein on the second end (6b) is formed a peripheral wall area (10) protruding beyond the base (7),

   a lid (3) for closing the first end (6a) of the cartridge (2),

   characterised by

   an adapter (4) for setting onto the protruding peripheral wall area (10) of the second end (6b) of the cylindrical basic body (5) of the cartridge (2), wherein the adapter (4) has an outer wall area (18) for fastening the adapter (4) to the protruding wall area (10) of the cartridge (2) as well as a supporting portion (21) for supporting the adapter (4) on the outer base portion (7c) of the base (7) of the cartridge (2), wherein the lid (3) has a receiving area (14) for the detachable fastening of the adapter (4) to the lid (3), in which the adapter (4) is accommodated, and wherein the protruding wall area (10) for fastening the adapter (4) which can be set onto the second end (6b) of the cylindrical basic body (5) is recessed at least partially in radial direction with respect to the cylindrical basic body (5).
2. Cartridge system according to claim 1, in which the protruding wall area (10) has at least one latching element or a latching edge (19) for interaction with at least one latching element (20) or a latching edge of the adapter (4) for the preferably reversible fastening of the adapter (4) to the cartridge (2).
3. Cartridge system according to any of claims 1 or 2, in which the detachable base area (7a, 7b) has an inner base area (7b) and preferably a peripheral base area (7a) which adjoins on an outer, non-detachable base area (7c), wherein preferably on the outer base area (7c) a stop (23) protruding beyond the base (7) is in the form of an anti-rotation device for the adapter (4), wherein the stop (23) is in particular spaced from the protruding wall area (10).
4. Cartridge system according to claim 3, in which on the inner base area (7b) and/or on the peripheral base area (7a) is formed a pull-off device (8), in particular a pull-off ring, for separating the detachable base area (7a, 7b) from the outer base area (7c).
5. Cartridge system according to any of the preceding claims, in which the protruding wall area (10) has a peripheral bead (31) protruding in radial direction, which is fastened detachably to the wall area (10).
6. Cartridge system according to any of the preceding claims, in which the base (7) has a preferably dome-shaped projection (11) in the detachable base area (7a, 7b), the end face of which closes preferably flush with an end face of the protruding peripheral wall area (10).
7. Cartridge system according to any of the preceding claims, in which the adapter (4) comprises a peripheral sealing edge (22) for the sealing closure of the second end (6b) of the basic body (5), which is in particular designed to rest on an inner side of the protruding wall area (10).
8. Cartridge system according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising: a socket, in particular a threaded socket (16) in which is formed an opening (17) for emptying filler materials, wherein preferably the opening (17) is closed by a closure, in particular by a twist cap, or by a lid region fastened preferably detachably to the socket (16).
9. Cartridge system according to any of the preceding claims in which on the supporting portion (21) is formed at least one projection (25) extending in radial direction to the inside, which is configured such that, when the adapter (4) is set on, it presses against a pull-off device (8) of the cartridge (2) for pulling off the detachable base area (7a, 7b) and thereby prevents the adapter (4) from being fastened to the protruding wall area (10), as long as the detachable base area (7a, 7b) is not detached from the second end (6b) of the cartridge (2).
10. Cartridge system according to any of the preceding claims in which the socket portion (21) has at least one latching element or a latching edge which interacts with an inner edge (26) of the outer base portion (7c) for fastening the adapter (4).
11. Cartridge system according to any of the preceding claims in which the outer wall area (18) of the adapter (4) has at least one latching element (20) for interacting with a latching element or a latching edge (19) of the protruding wall area (10) of the cartridge (2), or is formed as a latching edge.
12. Cartridge system according to claim 11, in which the at least one latching element (20) protrudes radially inwards and is formed in the region of a breach in the outer wall area (18) of the adapter (4) which extends partially into a wall portion (27) of the adapter (4) which extends radially inwards, wherein preferably the radial extension of the latching element (20) is at most equal to the radial extension of the breach in the wall portion (27) which extends radially inwards.
13. Cartridge system according to any of the preceding claims, in which the receiving area (14) has a thread (15) for interaction with a threaded socket (16) of the adapter (4).
14. Cartridge system according to any of the preceding claims, in which the lid (3) further comprises: a piston area (28) for inserting into the cylindrical basic body (5) of the cartridge (2), wherein the piston area (28) has a peripheral side wall (30) for resting on an inner side of the cylindrical basic body (5) of the cartridge (2) and a head region (29), as well as an outer wall (9) connected detachably to the piston area (28) for resting on an outer side (5a) of the cylindrical basic body (5) of the cartridge (2).
15. Cartridge system according to claim 14, in which the outer wall (9) has on its inner side at least one latching element or a latching edge (12) which interacts with a projection (13) on the outer side of the cylindrical basic body (5) of the cartridge (2), for fastening the lid (3) to the cartridge (5).
16. Cartridge system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, in which the cartridge (2), the adapter (4) and/or the lid (3) are made of plastic, especially preferably of polyolefins, in particular of polyethylene or polypropylene.

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