Means for the correct attachment of a multiple component cartridge to a dispensing appliance

Abstract: The means for the coded attachment of a two component cartridge to a dispensing appliance having a holding means (8) for receiving the flange (5) of the cartridge (2) consists of a coding cut out (6) at the cartridge flange matching a corresponding coding protrusion (7) at the holding means of the dispensing appliance (1). This coding means of the cartridge and the dispensing appliance is further related to the cartridge front outlets coded attachment means (34, 35) for aligned attachment of an accessory. Such a coding means provides for an attachment of the cartridge in one single position only and facilitates the quick and routine attachment of an accessory such as a mixer or closure means to the cartridge front outlets.

Description: The present invention relates to a dispensing assembly comprising a dispensing appliance or Filling device and a multiple component cartridge and means for the correct attachment of the cartridge to the appliance or device, according to the introduction of the independent claims. The use of two or more component cartridges with manually and pneumatically driven dispensing appliances is well known where the cartridges are held within a framework at the front of the dispenser, with the front face of the cartridge supported structurally against the inside front of the frame when under dispensing load. In the case of smaller cartridges, prior art US-A-5 005 735, which represents the prior art as referred to in the preambles of claims 1 and 2, shows the use of a single holding flange at the rear of the two cartridge cylinders which fits into grooves at the front of a dispenser and prior art US-A-5 330 079 shows an integral double holding flange with strengthening webs in between. Both patents of the same applicant show types of rear flanges allowing cartridges to be attached to a dispenser in a single orientation only. However, in US-A-5 005 735 the cartridge is introduced lengthwise, that means in the axis connecting the centers of the two cartridge containers and thus the second container passes first the first outlet of the dispenser. While this does not have an influence if the cartridge and the dispenser are new and sealed, this might cause a contamination if these elements are re-used. The second mentioned patent is silent about the direction of introduction of the cartridge into the dispenser holder. The WO-A-92/04130 discloses a glueing machine with coding system which prevents its operation when the pump body is not correctly equipped. Each container of the cartridge has a sealing shoe comprising a ball valve, the shoes having a base which width is matching a guiding groove in the machine frame. On the basis of this prior art, it is a first object of the present invention to provide for an attachment of a multiple component cartridge to a dispensing appliance or filling device in a single orientation only in such a way that no contamination can occur during introduction of the cartridge. This object is attained with the dispensing assembly defined in independent claim 1. There is further a need for an attachment of accessories in a fixed orientation to the cartridge front outlets, such as a mixer and closure cap, and to align and to display a message, such as a warning or instruction on the cartridge, in a fixed orientation relative to an operator for viewing purposes. Furthermore, the same need arises for a cartridge within a holding device of filling equipment so as to ensure a specific orientation and connection of filling device outlets to cartridge inlets or outlets during filling or refilling. It is therefore a second object of the present invention to ensure a fixed relationship between the orientation of the cartridge to the dispensing appliance or filling device and the cartridge front outlets for alignment with a mixer or accessory. This object is attained with the dispensing assembly defined in independent claim 2. Further embodiments and improvements are defined in the dependent claims. The invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter with reference to a drawing of embodiments. Fig. 1 shows in an exploded view the rear part of a two component cartridge and the front part of an appliance with coded attachment means, Fig. 2 shows a front view of the cartridge of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the rear part of a variant of the cartridge of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 shows in an exploded view a second embodiment of the rear part of a two component cartridge and the front part of an appliance with coded attachment means, Fig. 5 shows a front view of the cartridge of Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 shows in an exploded view a further cartridge and a holding means at a device with coded attachment means. Fig. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a rear part of a two component cartridge 2 comprising two containers 3, 4 which may be cylinders of equal cross sectional area such as for a 1:1 volumetric ratio, integral with a single plate flange 5 at the rear which is rectangular in shape and incorporates a V-shape cut out 6 at the lower edge as a coding means to mate with a V-shape protrusion 7 on a holding means 8 at a dispenser 1 for aligned attachment in one orientation only. Instead of a dispenser, it could also be a holding device on a filling apparatus (not shown). Fig. 2 shows a front view of the same cartridge 2 as in Fig. 1 with flange 5 and cylinders 3, 4 leading to outlets 32 and 33 at the cartridge front, the flange 5 having a V-shape cut out 6 which, for the reasons as given in the above introduction when fitted to a dispenser, ensures that the V-shape notch 38 at the cartridge front is automatically positioned uppermost so that it may be used to visually align and match a V-shape notch at an accessory, such as a mixer (not shown), prior to the mechanically coded attachment of that mixer. The mechanical coded attachment means of a mixer or accessory can comprise f. ex. different width mixer/accessory cut outs between bayonet attachment lugs (not shown) aligning with different width cartridge sector shaped bayonet sockets 34 and 35 prior to the mixer/accessory lugs engaging within the internal recesses 36 and 37. One of the bayonet sockets, here 35, may be provided further with a V-shape cut out 52 for allowing the introduction of a corresponding protrusion at the accessory or mixer (not shown) or not allowing the attachment of a mixer or accessory when presented in the wrong orientation. Therefore, the coded attachment orientation of the cartridge relative to a dispenser provides for a predetermined orientation of the cartridge prior to the coded attachment of a mixer or accessory to the cartridge front and will assist an operator to routinely and quickly connect an accessory, such as a mixer or closure cap, to the cartridge front outlets. The same situation would apply when attaching a cartridge to a holding device of a filling apparatus, Fig. 3 illustrates as a variant to the cartridge 2 of Fig. 1 a perspective view of a cartridge 10 comprising two containers 11, 12 of equal cross sectional area integral with a double flange 13 at the rear which is rounded at the sides and incorporates a V-shape cut out 14 at the lower edge as an aligned attachment coding means to a dispenser or holding device of filling equipment. It is evident that the holding means at the dispenser are matched to the rounded flange of the cartridge, whereby the coded front part of the cartridge remains the same as in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 illustrates an exploded view of another embodiment of a cartridge 15 comprising two containers 16 and 17, of unequal cross sectional area, such as for a 10:1 volumetric ratio, integral with a double flange 18 at the rear which is rounded and follows the unequal contours of the containers 16 and 17, this unsymmetrically rounded shape, in itself, acting as an aligned attachment coding means to a dispenser or holding device of a filling apparatus. The dispenser or filling apparatus 19 comprises at its front part a holding means 20 with two unequally shaped cut outs 21, 22 for receiving the two unequal containers 16, 17 and retaining means such as grooves of unequal inside contours for receiving the flange. Fig. 5 shows another example of a relationship between the orientation of a coded cartridge flange relative to the coded front outlets specifically in regard to Fig. 4 cartridge 15, whereby the orientation and attachment of flange 18 in one position only relative to a dispenser, continues as a method of ensuring the correct orientation of the front of the cartridge 15 for the coded visual and mechanical attachment of a mixer or accessory to the outlets 23 and 24 while the cartridge 15 remains attached to the dispenser. Again and for these reasons, a V-shape notch 25 at the front of the cartridge 15 will follow as automatically positioned uppermost so that it may be used to visually align and match a V-shape notch at a mixer (not shown) prior to the mechanically coded attachment of that mixer. The mechanical coded attachment means may comprise different width cut outs between the mixer bayonet attachment lugs (not shown) aligning with different width cartridge sector shaped bayonet sockets 28 and 29 prior to the mixer lugs engaging within the internal recesses 30 and 31. This cartridge may also be provided with a V-shape cut out at one bayonet socket to match a protrusion on a mixer or accessory. Fig. 6 shows an exploded view of a holding device front 41 with front attachment lower fixed jaws 42 and pivoting jaws 43 for connection with a flange 44 as part of a cartridge 45 with unequal containers 46 and 47 which, by virtue of their unequal diameters, match and therefore form a mechanical coding means respectively in relation to the retention diameters 48 and 49 within the jaws 42 and 43. The resulting cartridge orientation in one position only allows the attached label 50 to be uppermost for correct viewing presentation of the message 51 to an operator. It follows from the foregoing that the coded attachment of a cartridge to a dispenser or filling apparatus can also be used to align the cartridge outlets for the coded attachment of a mixer, accessory or filling nozzles. It is also understood that the coding notches, cut outs and protrusions are not necessarily V-shape and can have any other shape. All disclosed examples show that the cartridge is introduced into the holding means of the dispensing apparatus or filling device perpendicular to the axis connecting the two centres of the containers.

Claims: A dispensing assembly comprising a dispensing appliance or filling device with a holding means and a two or more component cartridge (2, 10, 15, 45), comprising two or more containers (3, 4; 11, 12; 16, 17; 46, 47), whereby the cartridge (2, 10, 15, 45) has a retaining flange (5, 13, 18, 44) at its inlet end to be received in the holding means and both the dispensing appliance or filling device and the cartridge (2, 10, 15, 45) have means for the correct attachment of the cartridge (2, 10, 15, 45) to the dispensing appliance or filling device, the flange (5, 13, 18, 44) of the cartridge (2, 10, 15, 45) being provided with a coding means (6, 14; 16, 17, 18; 46, 47) matching a corresponding coding means (7; 21, 22; 48, 49) at the dispensing appliance or filling device (1, 19, 41) for the attachment in a single orientation only, characterized in that the holding means (8, 20, 42) and the cartridge (2, 10, 15, 45) are designed such that the cartridge is, in use, introduced perpendicular to the axis connecting the centers of the cartridge containers into the holding means (8, 20, 42) of the dispensing appliance or filling device (1, 19, 41). A dispensing assembly comprising a dispensing appliance or filling device with a holding means and a two or more component cartridge (2, 10, 15, 45), whereby the cartridge (2, 10, 15, 45) has a retaining flange (5, 13, 18, 44) at its inlet end to be received in the holding means and both the dispensing appliance or filling device and the cartridge (2, 10, 15, 45) have means for the correct attachment of the cartridge to the dispensing appliance or filling device, the flange (5, 13, 18, 44) of the cartridge (2, 10, 15, 45) being provided with a coding means (6, 14; 16, 17, 18; 46, 47) matching a corresponding coding means (7; 21, 22; 48, 49) at the dispensing appliance or filling device (1, 19, 41) for the attachment in a single position only, characterized in that the cartridge outlet end has a front visual coding (25, 28) and/or coded attachment means (28, 29; 34, 35) which are related in a predetermined way to the coding means of the cartridge flange and the dispensing appliance or filling device, for the aligned attachment of a mixer or accessory. A dispensing assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the cartridge outlet end has a front visual coding (25, 28) and/or coded attachment means (28, 29; 34, 35) which are related in a predetermined way to the coding means of the cartridge flange and the dispensing appliance or filling device, for the aligned attachment of a mixer or accessory. A dispensing assembly according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the coding means of the cartridge and dispensing appliance or filling device comprises a cut out (6, 14) at the cartridge (2, 10) and a protrusion (7) at the dispensing appliance or filling device (1), or vice versa. A dispensing assembly according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the coding means of the cartridge and dispensing appliance or filling device consist in that the cartridge (15, 45) has containers (16, 17; 46, 47) with unequal diameters and a flange of unequal outside contours (18) matching the holding means (20, 42) with unequal receiving cut outs (21, 22; 48, 49) for the containers retaining means of unequal inside contours for the flange (18).

Inventors: KELLER WILHELM A, KELLER, WILHELM A.
Applicants: KELLER WILHELM A, KELLER, WILHELM A.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B05C17
IPC codes: B05C17, B67D7