EP0481250B1 - Cartridge for fitting in a dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a cartridge (2), shaped in the form of a plastic bag, for fitting in dispensers (1), which can be emptied by displacing the cartridge, for pasty substances (M). To achieve a solution which is advantageous, in particular, in respect of the shape, it is proposed that a weld (28) at the bottom has at least two fingers (29) which are arranged spaced apart, are located on the side of the outer wall, are filled with the substance and fold into the spacing (30) under internal pressure. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a cartridge designed in the form of a plastic bag which is at least sealed at the bottom by a weld seam, according to the preamble of claim 1.

As is known, thin-walled hose material is used to create a plastic sack, which is cut to the appropriate length. One end is welded to form the bottom of the sack, while the other end is assigned a discharge opening. After filling the plastic bag forming the cartridge, in the area of the bottom weld seam, the outer surface of the cartridge protrudes horns, which make it difficult to insert the filled cartridge into the dispenser. If the latter is designed in such a way that the cartridge has to be moved to remove the pasty mass, this leads to increased friction on the inner wall of the cartridge. Are provided on this toothed strips, which are used to move a piston acting on the cartridge base, this can even lead to the destruction of the plastic bag combined with the inoperability of the dispenser.

Although it is possible to choose a smaller diameter of the cartridges, this is at the expense of the filling quantity. This also applies if the cartridge base is dome-shaped.

The object of the invention is based on the design of a cartridge of the type in question in a technically simple manner so that, in addition to easy insertion of the cartridge, a maximum Cartridge volume is present and that, in addition, no significant friction is exerted on the inner wall of the dispenser by the cartridge wall when the dispenser is actuated.

The object of the invention is solved by the features specified in the characterizing part of claim 1.

The subclaims represent advantageous developments of the inventive solution.

As a result of such a configuration, a generic cartridge of increased utility value is created. The bottom weld seam is now arranged so that it leaves at least two spaced fingers on the jacket wall side. The pasty mass can enter this. With a corresponding internal pressure of the pasty mass, the fingers then fold into the spacing space, so that protruding horns do not appear over the jacket wall of the plastic bag. If the filled plastic sack forming the cartridge is inserted mechanically, the gripper grasping this increases the internal pressure even slightly, which contributes to the fingers folding even more into the space. They then even extend back to the lateral surface and allow a certain threading effect when inserting the cartridge into the dispenser. The same can also be achieved if the cartridge, designed as a plastic bag, is inserted into the dispenser by hand. Since there are no protruding horns even after the cartridge has been inserted, a dispenser actuation can be carried out with accompanying displacement of the cartridge without any significant friction. This applies in particular if the inner wall of the dispenser should form a toothing for a piston which is on the bottom side Area of the cartridge. In particular, it makes sense to design the space as a free space. When the internal pressure in the cartridge increases, there is therefore no appreciable resistance to the folding of the fingers against one another, so that a relatively low internal pressure is sufficient to cause the fingers to move towards one another. If the plastic sack is formed by folding a plastic strip and welding it, it proves to be advantageous to provide the corresponding longitudinal weld seam on the center line between the fingers. Accordingly, there is no unfavorable wall stiffening extending in the area of the fingers, which would impair the folding in of the corresponding finger. The plastic bag is closed at the end opposite the floor by a welded head piece. This contains both the dispensing opening and the actuating pressure surface adjacent to it. When the dispenser is actuated, the head piece experiences the longitudinal displacement in the dispenser housing via the actuation pressure surface, which inevitably leads to the portioned dispensing of the pasty mass. An optimal design of the spacing space is achieved in that the mutually facing edge edges of the same run diverging and trapezoidal to the baseline. This ensures that the fingers fold wide against each other as the internal pressure increases within the cartridge. In order to prevent protruding horns in the area of the cartridge base even at low internal pressure, the outer flanks of the fingers run into the outer surface of the plastic bag via curves.

• Fig. 1 in etwa natürlicher Größe eine Ansicht einer ungefüllten, als Kunststoffsack ausgestalteten Kartusche,
• Fig. 2 den Schnitt nach der Linie II-II in Fig. 1,
• Fig. 3 eine Ansicht der gefüllten Kartusche,
• Fig. 4 den Schnitt nach der Linie IV-IV in Fig. 3,
• Fig. 5 eine Rückansicht der Fig. 1 mit Blick auf die sich auf der Mittellinie zwischen den Fingern erstreckende Längsschweißnaht,
• Fig. 6 in vergrößerter Darstellung den Schnitt nach der Linie VI-VI in Fig. 5,
• Fig. 7 in vergrößerter Darstellung einen Längsschnitt durch den das Kopfstück aufweisenden Bereich der Kartusche,
• Fig. 8 die in einen Spender eingesetzte Kartusche und
• Fig. 9 die von einem Greifer erfaßte Kartusche beim Einsetzen derselben in das Spendergehäuse.

An embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the drawings. It shows

• 1 is an approximately natural size view of an unfilled cartridge designed as a plastic bag,
• 2 shows the section along the line II-II in Fig. 1,
• 3 is a view of the filled cartridge,
• 4 shows the section along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3,
• 5 is a rear view of FIG. 1 with a view of the longitudinal weld seam extending on the center line between the fingers,
• 6 is an enlarged view of the section along the line VI-VI in Fig. 5,
• 7 is an enlarged view of a longitudinal section through the area of the cartridge having the head piece,
• 8 the cartridge inserted in a dispenser and
• Fig. 9 the cartridge gripped by a gripper when inserting the same into the dispenser housing.

Numeral 1 designates a dispenser which serves to dispense a pasty mass M which is contained in a cartridge 2 designed in the form of a plastic bag. After the cartridge 2 formed from plastic film has been emptied and removed, a new cartridge can be inserted into the dispenser 1. The relevant assignment takes place from the upper end of the dispenser 1 designed as a standing device.

The components of the dispenser 1 include a tubular dispenser housing 3 with an insert 4 incorporated therein. The latter is inserted from above and closes on the underside at most at the same level with a front end of the dispenser housing 3 which forms a setting edge 5.

The upper front end of the dispenser housing 3 is protruded radially and axially by a section of the insert 4 forming a slewing ring 6. The axial projection of the slewing ring 6 corresponds approximately to the dimension of a finger's width. By means of free cuts (not shown), the turntable 6 forms fingers arranged at equal angles, each of which has an inwardly directed latching lug 7 at its free end. These overlap a guide collar 8 of a mouthpiece 9, which accommodates the upper end 11 of the cartridge 2 or the plastic bag, which has a head piece 10, in a form-fitting manner. The mouthpiece 9 guided in the turntable 6 or dispenser housing 3 continues upwards into a spout 12 which rises to the side and which is connected to the dispensing opening 13 of the head piece 10.

The pasty mass is dispensed via the discharge opening 13 and spout 12 by means of a pressure plate 14, which is part of a transport device T which can be shifted gradually from the bottom area of the dispenser 1 in the dispensing direction x. In addition to the pressure plate 14, this includes an upper abutment plate 15 and a lower abutment plate 16, as well as a few rack strips 17, 18 of the insert 4, which rack strips 17, 18 - viewed in cross section - over approximately 90 ° with adaptation to the curvature of the tubular Extend dispenser housing 3. On the rack bars 17, 18, two diametrically opposite each other are supported Latching tongues 19, 20 of the abutment plates 15, 16 such that the transport unit T can only be moved in the direction of the arrow x.

As is apparent from Fig. 8, the teeth of the rack bars 17, 18 have a sawtooth structure. In the area near the floor, the rack strips 17, 18 are connected to one another via an end ring 21 of the insert 4.

A central, axially aligned bushing 22 extends from the upper abutment plate 15 and passes through the lower abutment plate 16. At the lower end of the sleeve 22 are not shown lifting fingers 23 articulated, the inwardly projecting arms of which are located in the effective area of a plunger 24 which is axially limited displaceably guided in the sleeve 22 and which in turn is a component of the pressure base 14 which is integrally formed on the material.

The two abutment plates 15, 16 are under the action of an expansion spring extending between them. With regard to the same, there are web-shaped spring elements 25 surrounding the bush 22, which in the exemplary embodiment shown proceed from the lower abutment plate 16 in the same material.

In the spread position, the two abutment plates 15, 16 are axially spaced from one another by approximately three full tooth gap distances. However, the distance could also be larger or smaller.

By exerting a compressive force in the direction of arrow P, the mouthpiece 9 is moved against the direction of arrow x, taking the headpiece 10 and the cartridge 2 attached to it. The pasty gets Mass under pressure, since it is supported on the pressure floor 14 like an abutment. The mass consequently emerges from the spout 12 in the form of a strand via the dispensing opening 13. When a certain pressure threshold is reached, the resistance breaks down. The pressure base 14 is moved downward with the plunger 24 via the filling level column of the cartridge 2. The lower end of the plunger 24 acts on the lifting fingers 23, which raise the lower abutment plate 16. Their locking tongues 20 now get caught in the higher level. If the pressure load is removed from the mouthpiece 9, the upper abutment plate 15 is subsequently lifted by the force of the spring elements 25, taking the pressure base 14 with it, and the cartridge 2 designed as a plastic bag is lifted. The upper abutment plate 15 in turn now interlocks with the rack bars 17, 18.

After the cartridge 2 has been emptied, the rotary part 6 is to be displaced such that the latching tongues 19, 20 of the abutment plates 15, 16 lose their hold on the rack strips 17, 18. The transport unit T slides back into the starting position depending on gravity. By gripping and pulling off the head piece 9, the cartridge 2 is removed from the dispenser housing 3.

For the manufacture of the cartridge 2, a strip-shaped plastic material is assumed, the two edge edges 26, 27 of which are welded together to form a longitudinal weld seam L. The hose formed in this way is closed at the end opposite the head piece 10 by a weld seam 28 on the bottom. This is designed in such a way that two fingers 29, which are arranged at a distance from one another and are located on the side of the jacket wall, are formed. The space 30 present between the fingers 29 is designed as a free space. The facing edge 31, 31 'of the space 30 are divergent and trapezoidal to the base line to each other. The bottom weld 28 is adapted to this course created by the space. As can be seen from the figures, the outer flanks of the fingers 29 run into the outer surface via curves 32. The bottom weld seam 28 is also adapted to these.

5 and 6 show it, the lateral longitudinal weld L extends on the center line between the fingers 29 such that the inner edge L 1 of the longitudinal weld L opens approximately at the level of the upper end of the edge 31 '. The edge edges 26, 27 of the longitudinal weld seam L lying one on top of the other are adapted at the end to the course of the spacing space 30. The weld seams 28 and L ensure that paste-like mass can only leave the cartridge 2 in the prescribed way.

The head piece 10 provided at the upper end 11 of the plastic bag has a circular plan. The circumferential length of the head piece 10 is such that it can be fitted into the upper end 11 of the plastic bag. The upper end 11 is connected there to the head piece 10 by welding. For this purpose, the head piece is also made of weldable plastic material.

From the lower edge of the outer edge 33 of the head piece 10, a collar 34 extends inwards and at an angle, which collar extends into a hub 35 extending parallel to the outer edge 33. This projects slightly beyond the upper edge of the outer edge 33. The stiffening of the hub 35 is used between the latter and the outer edge 33 extending webs 36 which are provided in the same circumferential distribution. In the exemplary embodiment, eight such webs 36 are present. The outlet opening 13 mentioned at the outset is formed by the hub 35 and communicates with the spout 12 of the mouthpiece 9. The actuating pressure surface 37 runs adjacent to the dispensing opening 13. This is formed by the upper edge of the outer edge 33. The mouthpiece 9 acts on it when it is acted upon in the direction of arrow P.

If the plastic bag forming the cartridge 2 is filled with the pasty mass M through the dispensing opening 13, this also reaches the area formed by the fingers 29. When the cartridge is filled, the internal pressure increases, which leads to the fingers folding in the direction of the clearance space due to the lack of back pressure due to the clearance space 30 such that the area of the fingers 29 on the casing wall side is flush with the casing wall of the plastic bag placed in a sausage mold, 3. The filled cartridge 2 can be closed after filling by a stopper 38 which is inserted into the dispensing opening 13 in a form-fitting manner. Cartridges 2 filled in this way are then suitable as so-called refill packs. After removing an empty cartridge 2, the plug 38 is to be removed from the dispensing opening 13 of a refill cartridge. Thereafter, the insertion of the upper end 11 with the head piece 10 into the mouthpiece 9 must take place, which insertion takes place with limited stroke. The cartridge 2 can then be inserted into the dispenser housing 3. Protruding horns in the area of the bottom weld 28 of the plastic bag are not present, so that this process can be carried out without problems. The fingers form during the actuation 29 also no annoying protrusions that z. B. could get caught on the rack bars 17, 18.

FIG. 9 illustrates an initial loading of the dispenser 1 with a filled cartridge 2. A gripper 39, illustrated in broken lines, grips the cartridge 2 approximately in its upper third. By gripping the cartridge 2 by the gripper 39, the internal pressure in the cartridge can rise slightly, so that with the increase in the internal pressure, the fingers 29 fold further in the direction of the spacing space 30 and thus still have a certain centering effect when the cartridge is inserted into the Guide dispenser housing 3.

It is understandable that sufficiently thick material must be used to manufacture the cartridge 2. However, it must not be too thick, since otherwise the folding in of the fingers 29 is impaired. In the exemplary embodiment, a weldable plastic film is selected to form the plastic bag, the thickness of which is approximately seven hundredths of a millimeter.

Claims (6)

1. Cartridge in the form of a plastic bag (2) sealed by a weld seam at least at the bottom, for insertion in dispensers (1) for pasty substances (M) which can be emptied by displacement of the cartridge, characterised in that by the bottom weld seam (28) there are formed two or more spaced-apart fingers (29) located on the peripheral wall side, which are filled with substance and fold into the gap (30) under internal pressure.
2. Cartridge, in particular according to claim 1, characterised in that the gap (30) is designed as a free space.
3. Cartridge, in particular according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the plastic bag is designed with a side longitudinal weld seam (L) which extends on the centre line between the fingers (29).
4. Cartridge, in particular according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that onto the plastic bag at the upper end (11) is welded a headpiece (10) which comprises both the outlet opening (13) and, adjacent thereto, an operating pressure surface (37) and which is guided longitudinally slidably in the dispenser housing (3).
5. Cartridge, in particular according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the mutually facing edges (31, 31′) of the gap (30) diverge, extending trapezoidally to the base line.
6. Cartridge, in particular according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the outer flanks of the fingers (29) extend via curvatures (32) into the peripheral surface.

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