The present invention relates generally to composite films for bags of material dispensers, and more particularly relates to a layered structure for the composite film.
The present invention relates to component packs for the dispensing of various components via a dispenser, particularly to component packs employing a pair of film bags containing flowable compositions which are to be mixed when ejected from the dispenser, and more particularly to a component delivery system employing the pair of film bags.
Various compositions are packaged in tubular cartridges or bags for use in caulking guns and other types of dispensing mechanisms. Typically, such cartridges/bags have employed tubes of plastic, or coated or laminated paperboard, in single or multi-layer films. Existing cartridges/bags have been prone to leakage as a result of poor sealing characteristics. Further, existing cartridges/bags have problems related to permeability of light, oxygen, and/or moisture which may penetrate into the cartridges/bags and damage the materials stored therein. Still further, some existing cartridges/bags have issues with toughness and chemical compatibility. All of these issues associated with existing cartridges/bags can compromise the shelf life of materials.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved cartridge/bag that addresses these issues.
Disclosed herein are dispensers for dispensing a flowable material. In one embodiment, the dispenser includes at least one bag. The at least one bag includes an inner layer that is a coextruded film that defines an interior of the at least one bag configured to contain the flowable material. The at least one bag further includes an outer layer that defines an exterior of the at least one bag, and at least one intermediate layer disposed between the inner and outer layers. The apparatus also includes a face plate having an outlet configured to be placed in fluid communication with the interior of the at least one bag, where the flowable material is configured to flow from the interior of the at least one bag to be dispensed from the outlet of the face plate.
In another embodiment, a method for producing the at least one bag of the dispenser is disclosed. The method includes coextruding a coextruded film and providing at least one intermediate layer between an outer layer and the coextruded film. The method also includes forming the at least one bag out of the outer layer, the at least one intermediate layer, and the coextruded film such that the outer layer defines an exterior of the at least one bag and the coextruded film is an inner layer that defines an interior of the at least one bag.
Various additional features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The following detailed description is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purposes of illustration, examples are shown in the drawings; however, the subject matter is not limited to the specific elements and instrumentalities disclosed. In the drawings:
The bag 12 may be disposed in the arcuate housing 14, and may be supported in the sleeve 22. The actuator assembly 20 may initiate movement of the piston/rod 18 to press the end plate 16 against the shuttle 24 and thereby cause the shuttle 24 to move the within the sleeve 22. The movement of the shuttle 24 within the sleeve 22 may squeeze the bag 12 between the shuttle 24 and the face plate 26, which may cause the material from the interior of the bag 12 to be dispensed from the outlet 30 of the face plate 26 and through the nozzle 28 for use.
The composite film 100 may include an inner layer 110. The inner layer 110 may define a boundary of an interior of the bag 12 formed from the composite film 100. The interior of the bag 12 may contain the material therein. The inner layer 110 may have a thickness between 2.85 mm and 3.15 mm. For example, the thickness of the inner layer 110 may be 3.00 mm. The composite film 100 may further include an outer layer 120. The outer layer 120 may define an exterior of the bag 12 formed from the composite film 100. The outer layer 120 may have a thickness between 1.42 mm and 1.58 mm. For example, the thickness of the outer layer 120 may be 1.50 mm. The composite film 100 may also include at least one intermediate layer 130 disposed between the inner layer 110 and the outer layer 120. According to exemplary aspects of the invention, sealing characteristics of the bag 12 formed out of the composite film 100 may be improved. In addition, the composite film 100 may provide a barrier that efficiently blocks light, oxygen, and/or moisture from penetrating into the interior of the bag 12. Further, the toughness and the chemical compatibility of the bag 12 with the material stored therein may be improved. Still further, the shelf life of the material stored in the bag 12 formed out of the composite film 100 may be improved.
The inner layer 110 of the composite film 100 may be a coextruded film. The term “coextruded,” as used herein, may refer to a coextrusion process by which multiple materials are extruded together (e.g., simultaneously) such that the materials are maintained in separate layers in the final product. The coextrusion process may include feeding a plurality of materials together through a die (not shown) to form a single coextruded product (e.g., the coextruded film/inner layer 110), as would be readily understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art.
In addition, the term “coextruded,” as used herein in reference to a final product (e.g., the coextruded film/inner layer 110) that results from the coextrusion process, may be a generic description encompassing distinct structural characteristics imparted on the final product as a result of the coextrusion process. One such distinct structural characteristic of a coextruded product may be a unique adhesion/bond/tie between adjacent coextruded layers that results from the coextrusion process. Other distinct structural characteristics of a coextruded product may result from material interactions at the boundaries of different extruded materials, as would be readily understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the coextrusion process may be considered a manufacturing process that imparts distinctive structural characteristics to the final product whereby the final product can best be defined by the process (coextrusion) by which it is made. Thus, “coextruded,” as used herein in reference to a final product that results from a coextrusion process, may not only refer to the process by which the product is manufactured. Rather, the term “coextruded” in reference to a final product may also refer to distinctive characteristics imparted on the final product as a result of the coextrusion process. These distinctive characteristics may distinguish the product from other products comprised of similar materials.
The coextruded film (i.e., the inner layer 110), may include, in order from an inner side 100a of the composite film 100 to an outer side 100b of the composite film 100, a first layer 110a, a second layer 110b, a third layer 110c, a fourth layer 110d, and a fifth layer 110e. The first layer 110a and the fifth layer 110e may be made of at least one common material, such as a plastic material. The plastic material may be a polyethylene, and more particularly may be a linear low-density polyethylene. The linear low-density polyethylene may, for example, have a density between 0.915 and 0.925 g/cc. The first layer 110a and the fifth layer 110e may also be made of one or more additional materials. The additional materials may be common to both the first layer 110a and the fifth layer 110e, or may be unique to at least one of the first layer 110a and the fifth layer 110e. Alternatively, the first layer 110a and the fifth layer 110e may be made entirely of different materials. According to exemplary aspects of the invention, the first layer 110a and/or the fifth layer 110e may be constituent components of, for example, an improved barrier that may more efficiently block light, oxygen, and/or moisture from penetrating into the interior of the bag 12 formed from the composite film 100.
The second layer 110b and the fourth layer 110d may be made of at least one common material, such as a synthetic polymer. The synthetic polymer may be nylon. The second layer 110b and the fourth layer 110d may also be made of one or more additional materials. The additional materials may be common to both the second layer 110b and the fourth layer 110d, or may be unique to at least one of the second layer 110b and the fourth layer 110d. Alternatively, the second layer 110b and the fourth layer 110d may be made entirely of different materials. According to exemplary aspects of the invention, the second layer 110b and/or the fourth layer 110d may improve the strength and/or durability of the bag 12 formed from the composite film 100. Further, the second layer 110b and/or the fourth layer 110d may be constituent components of, for example, the improved barrier that may block chemical penetration into and out of the bag 12 formed from the composite film 100.
The third layer 110c may be made of ethylene vinyl alcohol, and may also be made of additional and/or alternative materials. According to exemplary aspects of the invention, the third layer 110c may further contribute to the chemical barrier provided by the composite film 100.
The outer layer 120 of the composite film 100 may be made of a plastic material. The plastic material may be a polyethylene, and more particularly may be a medium-density polyethylene. The medium-density polyethylene may have a density between 0.926 and 0.940 g/cc. The outer layer 120 may also be made of one or more additional materials. Further, the outer layer 120 may have design, emblem, insignia, etc. printed thereon. For example, the outer layer 120 may be transparent and may have a reverse-printed design provided on an inner surface of the outer layer 120 (i.e., a surface of the outer layer 120 that that faces the inner side 100a of the composite film 100) such that the design may be read by a user through the outer layer 120. The outer layer 120 may be adhered and/or laminated to an outer surface of the at least one intermediate layer 130 (i.e., a surface of the at least one intermediate layer 130 that faces the outer side 100b of the composite film 100) via an adhesive 140, such as a polyurethane. Additionally or alternatively, the adhesive may be a tie layer.
The at least one intermediate layer 130 may include a first intermediate layer 132 and a second intermediate layer 134. The first intermediate layer 132 may be disposed between the inner side 100a of the composite film 100 and the second intermediate layer 134. The first intermediate layer 132 may by a tie layer. That is, the first intermediate layer 132, the second intermediate layer 134, and the coextruded film (i.e., the inner layer 110) may be laminated together such that the first intermediate layer 132 ties the second intermediate layer 134 to the coextruded film. Further, as discussed above, the outer layer 120 may be laminated to an outer surface of the at least one intermediate layer 130, such as an outer surface of the second intermediate layer 134, via the adhesive 140. Accordingly, the outer layer 120, the adhesive 140, the first intermediate layer 132, the second intermediate layer 134, and the inner layer 110 may be laminated together to define the single composite film 100. The first intermediate layer 132 may be an adhesive, such as an ethylene acrylic acid copolymer. The first intermediate layer 132 may also be made of one or more additional materials. The first intermediate layer may have a thickness between 0.71 mm and 0.79 mm. For example, the thickness of the first intermediate layer may be 0.75 mm.
The second intermediate layer 134 may be a metal, such as aluminum. The second intermediate layer 134 may also be made of one or more additional materials. An outer surface of the second intermediate layer 134 and an inner surface of the outer layer 120 may be adhered via the adhesive 140. The second intermediate layer 134 may have a thickness between 0.27 mm and 0.30 mm. For example, the thickness of the first intermediate layer may be 0.285 mm. According to exemplary aspects of the invention, the second intermediate layer 134 may be a constituent component of, for example, the improved barrier provided by the composite film 100 that may more efficiently block light, oxygen, and/or moisture from penetrating into the interior of the bag 12 and may further contribute to the chemical barrier provided by the composite film 100.
The bag 12, as well as the bags used in the other exemplary dispenser embodiments of the invention described and/or incorporated herein, may be formed out of a flat composite film 100 that is formed into a tube bonded with overlapping edges. The bag(s) 12 may have openings that are bonded closed via adhesives, heat, sonic welding, and other techniques as would be readily understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art.
The two flexible film pack bags 202, 204 may have a common rigid face plate 206 with a discharge nosepiece 208 that may be integrally formed with the face plate 206. The face plate 206 may further be integrally formed with a front end portion of the flexible film pack bags 202, 204, as described below. Further, the face plate 206 and the outer layer of the flexible film pack bags 202, 204 may have at least one common material, such as the plastic material of the outer layer 120 of the composite film 100, described above. The discharge nosepiece 208 may have a partition (not shown) internally disposed that may maintain separate flow streams from respective ones of the two flexible film pack bags 202, 204. Further, the discharge nosepiece 208 may have an outlet (not shown) disposed therethrough for dispensing the material.
The dispenser 200 may further include a mixer 210 in fluid communication with the two flexible film pack bags 202, 204. The mixer 210 may be provided on a downstream side of the two flexible film pack bags 202, 204. The fluid communication between the mixer 210 and the two flexible film pack bags 202, 204 may be effectuated via a first flexible tube 212 that may be disposed on an upstream side of the mixer 210. The flexible tube 212 may be a single tube that fluidly connects the mixer 210 to the discharge nosepiece 208 of the face plate 206. The flexible tube 212 may be of any length suitable for a purpose disclosed herein. For example, the length of the flexible tube 212 may be a length limited by a potting time of the two components from the two film pack bags 202, 204 as they travel, and partially mix while they travel, through the flexible tube 212. The dispenser 200 may also include a material applicator 214 (e.g., a spray tip) in fluid communication with, and provided on a downstream side of, the mixer 210. The dispenser 200 may also include a second flexible tube 216 in fluid communication with the material applicator 214. The second flexible tube 216 may supply atomized fluid (e.g., air) under pressure to the material applicator 214 from a supply (not shown).
The material from the film pack bags 202, 204 may be dispensed through the flexible tube 212, the mixer 210, and out the material applicator 214. The dispenser 200 may include a trigger assembly 220, as shown in
The dispenser 300 may include two side-by-side sleeves 302, 304 each having a front end 306 and a back end 308. The two sleeves 302, 304 may be cylindrically shaped. The two cylindrical sleeves 302, 304 may have a higher rigidity than the flexible film bags, 202, 204, and may be of any material suitable for a purpose disclosed herein, such as aluminum, plastic, etc. As shown in
The dispenser 300 may further include a source 328 (e.g., an air compressor) of pressurized fluid (e.g., air) and a line 326 in fluid communication with the piston 314 and the source 328. The pressurized fluid supplied from the dispenser 300 through the line 326 may be utilized to drive the piston 314. The piston 314 may drive the push rods 312. The dispenser 300 may further include a trigger 324 that may be used to control flow of the pressurized fluid to the piston 314. The dispenser 300 may include a piston housing 318 that the two cylindrical sleeves 302, 304 may be fixedly attached to and that the piston 314 may be slidingly disposed within.
As shown in
As shown in
Additional and/or alternative features of the dispensers 200, 300 are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/361,681, published as U.S. Pub. No. 2017/0072426, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/361,681 also discloses a plurality of dispenser embodiments that utilize flexible bags, without a disclosure of forming the flexible bags out of the embodiments of the composite film 100 of the present invention. In accordance with aspects of the present invention, the dispenser embodiments disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/361,681 may also be formed from any of the embodiments of the composite film 100, described above. By forming the dispenser embodiments disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/361,681 from any of the embodiments of the composite film 100, described above, sealing characteristics of the bag may be improved. In addition, the composite film 100 may provide a barrier that efficiently blocks light, oxygen, and/or moisture from penetrating into the interior of the bag. Further, the toughness and the chemical compatibility of the bag with the material stored therein may be improved. Still further, the shelf life of the material stored in the bag formed out of the composite film 100 may be improved.
The dispenser 400 may include a face plate 406 that may have a neck 408 and a cap section 410. The cap section 410 may include a first opening 412 and a second opening 414 that may receive and be coupled to the two flexible sausage pack bags 402, 404. The cap section 410 may further include a first shoulder 416 and a second shoulder 418. The first shoulder 416 and the second shoulder 418 may be positioned adjacent to the first opening 412 and the second opening 414, respectively. The neck 408 may include a threaded portion 420, an outlet 422, and/or a passageway 424. The passageway 424 may extend from the outlet 422 through the threaded portion 420, and to the first opening 412 and the second opening 414 such that the passageway 424 is in fluid communication with the cap section 410. As shown in
The dispenser 400 may further include a nozzle 428 that may have a threaded portion 430 that may engage with the threaded portion 420 of the neck 408 of the face plate 406. The neck 408 of the face plate 406 may include a partition 432 that may extend through the passageway 424 from the outlet 422 to the first shoulder 416 and the second shoulder 418 of the cap section 410. The piercer 426 may include a first step 434 and a second step 436 that may engage with the first shoulder 416 and the second shoulder 418, respectively, to limit sliding of the piercer 426 within the passageway 424. The nozzle 428 may engage the piercer 426 to cause the piercer 426 to slide within the passageway 424 of the neck 408 to pierce the two flexible sausage pack bags 402, 404 and therefore allow material disposed therein to flow through the passageway 424 and out the outlet 422 for dispensing though the nozzle 428. The nozzle 428 may cause the first step 434 and the second step 436 of the piercer 426 to be brought into respective engagement with the first shoulder 416 and the second shoulder 418 to terminate the sliding of the piercer 426 within the passageway 424.
Additional and/or alternative features of the dispenser 400 are described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,579,686, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. U.S. Pat. No. 9,579,686 also discloses a plurality of dispenser embodiments that utilize flexible bags, without a disclosure of forming the flexible bags out of the embodiments of the composite film 100 of the present invention. In accordance with aspects of the present invention, the dispenser embodiments disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,579,686 may also be formed from any of the embodiments of the composite film 100, described above. By forming the dispenser embodiments disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,579,686 from any of the embodiments of the composite film 100, described above, sealing characteristics of the bag may be improved. In addition, the composite film 100 may provide a barrier that efficiently blocks light, oxygen, and/or moisture from penetrating into the interior of the bag. Further, the toughness and the chemical compatibility of the bag with the material stored therein may be improved. Still further, the shelf life of the material stored in the bag formed out of the composite film 100 may be improved.
At step 1120, the process 1100 may include providing at least one intermediate layer between an outer layer and the coextruded film. The at least one intermediate layer may include any of the embodiments of the at least one intermediate layer 130 of the composite film 100, disclosed above. The outer layer may be any of the embodiments of the outer layer 120, disclosed above. The process 1100 may further include adhering an outer surface of the at least one intermediate layer (e.g., an outer surface of the second intermediate layer 134) to the outer layer via an adhesive, such as a polyurethane.
Upon completion of the process 1100, at step 1130, the process 1100 may include forming the bag out of the outer layer, the at least one intermediate layer, and the coextruded film such that the outer layer defines an exterior of the bag and the coextruded film is an inner layer that defines an interior of the bag. The forming of the bag may include forming the bag into a tubular shape having a front end and a back end portion. The bag may be formed out of a flat composite film 100, according to any of the embodiments described above, which is formed into a tube bonded with overlapping edges. The process 1100 may include bonding openings of the bag to close the openings using adhesives, heat, sonic welding, and other techniques that would be readily understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art.
The process 1100 may also include connecting the bag to a dispenser, such as any of the dispensers described or incorporated herein. For example, the process 1100 may include mounting a front end portion of the bag on a mandrel. The process 1100 may further include inserting the mandrel and the front end portion into a mold and providing a cavity about an end of the mandrel and the front end portion of the bag. The process 1100 may also include injecting, into the cavity, molten synthetic resin of substantially the same composition as that of the outer layer (e.g., the outer layer 120) of the bag. The process 1100 may further include using heat of the molten synthetic resin to cause the outer layer of the front end portion of the bag to become molten and intermix with the molten synthetic resin to form a face plate of the apparatus sealingly overmolded on the front end portion of the bag. The face plate and the outer layer of the bag may be an integrated structure of essentially uniform composition having no distinct layers at an interface. The face plate may be formed with a discharge opening therein and a discharge nosepiece about the discharge opening aligned with the front end portion of the at least one bag. The bag may be disposed inwardly of the face plate.
The process 1100 may also include removing the face plate, the bag, and the mandrel from the cavity. The process 1100 may further include removing the bag and the face plate from the mandrel, and sealing the back end portion of the at least one bag.
As shown in
Molten synthetic resin may be injected into the cavity portion 86 through runners (not shown) to produce the desired face plate. The molten resin may heat the outer layer of exposed end portions of the bag to effectuate a strong bond between the bag and face plate, as described above. After cooling, the mold 76 may be opened and the mandrel fixture may be withdrawn. The bag may be slid off the mandrels 78, 80 and the opposite ends of the film bags may be sealed to provide an empty bag.
As shown in
While the aspects of the invention have been described in connection with the various embodiments of the various figures, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments can be used or modifications and additions can be made to the described embodiments. Therefore, the methods and systems as described herein should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather should be construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims.
This application is a National Stage Application of International Patent App. No. PCT/US2019/019732, filed Feb. 27, 2019, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent App. No. 62/637,292, filed Mar. 1, 2018, the entire disclosures of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2019/019732 | 2/27/2019 | WO | 00 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62637292 | Mar 2018 | US |