Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6299022
-
Patent Number
6,299,022
-
Date Filed
Friday, June 30, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, October 9, 200122 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Shaver; Kevin
- Buechner; Patrick
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 222 82
- 222 83
- 222 835
- 222 88
- 222 95
- 222 105
- 222 326
- 222 386
- 222 5412
- 222 5416
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A film packing for a pasty substance comprises a film tube bag (12) having a peripheral wall (14) and two ends (16), and a cover portion (22) fastened to one of the two ends (16) of the film tube bag (12). The cover portion (22) comprises an end face (24) having a passage opening (32) for the passage of pasty substance from the opened film tube bag (12), a peripheral face (26) joining the end face (24), and a sealing element (52) abutting to a receiving headpiece (36) attachable to the end (16) of the film tube bag (12) carrying the cover portion (22). The receiving headpiece (36) surrounds at least the end face (24) and the peripheral face (26) of the cover portion (22) and comprises an outlet piece (44) which is in fluid connection with the passage opening (32) of the cover portion (22) when the receiving headpiece is attached (36). In a first position in which the piercing pin (48) is arranged at a distance from the film tube bag (12), the cover portion (22) is locked to the receiving headpiece (36) for securing against unintended movement of the film tube bag (12) farther into the receiving headpiece. Upon deactivation of the locking device, the cover portion (22) can be moved from this position into a second position in which the piercing pin (48) penetrates the film tube bag (12).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a film packing for a pasty substance, in particular an adhesive, sealing and/or forming masses or other age-hardening substances.
Pasty substances are normally marketed in disposable packings which are inserted into application devices such that they can be applied. In some cases the disposable packings are configured as rigid cartridges having a movable bottom which is moved, like a piston, into the cylindrical housing of the cartridge to discharge the pasty substance. Due to the relatively large amount of packing material to be disposed of, flexible disposable packings in the form of film tube bags are frequently used. Said film tube packings are made of a metal or plastic film tube which is tied together by clips at its two ends. Such a film tube bag is inserted into the cylindrical chamber of an applicator which comprises an outlet piece at one end of the cylindrical chamber. A stamp-type plate of the applicator is moved into the other end of the cylindrical chamber, which plate exerts a pressure onto the film tube bag and the pasty substance contained therein so that said substance is discharged through a passage opening in the end of the film tube bag facing the outlet piece and leaves the applicator through said outlet piece. Film packings of the type described above are e.g. known from DE-U-296 17 654, DE-U-296 13 945, EP-A-0 863 088 and EP-A-0 653 362.
The known film tube packings have substantially proved successful in practical applications. However, the process of opening the film tube packings is still in need of improvement. A known procedure is to use piercing pins or spikes for this purpose, which pierce the film tube when the latter is inserted. The film tube and the receiving headpiece with the piercing pin and the outlet piece receiving the former must be assembled for the purpose of opening the film tube, which impedes the handling and is considered a nuisance.
It is an object of the invention to provide a film tube packing which is easier to open by means of a piercing pin.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This object is solved according to the invention by means of a film packing for a pasty substance comprises a film tube bag having a peripheral wall and two ends, and a cover portion fastened to one of the two ends of the film tube bag. The cover portion comprises an end face having a passage opening for the passage of pasty substance from the opened film tube bag, a peripheral face joining the end face, and a sealing element abutting to a receiving headpiece attachable to the end of the film tube bag carrying the cover portion. The receiving headpiece surrounds at least the end face and the peripheral face of the cover portion and comprises an outlet piece which is in fluid connection with the passage opening of the cover portion when the receiving headpiece is attached. In a first position in which the piercing pin is arranged at a distance from the film tube bag, the cover portion is locked to the receiving headpiece for securing against unintended movement of the film tube bag farther into the receiving headpiece. Upon deactivation of the locking device, the cover portion (
22
) can be moved from this position into a second position in which the piercing pin penetrates the film tube bag.
The locking device according to the invention allows the film tube bag to be locked via its cover element to the receiving headpiece in a preliminary position in which the piercing pin arranged on the receiving headpiece has not yet pierced the film tube bag. Only by moving the film tube bag, which is in particular snappingly held by the receiving headpiece, further into the receiving headpiece is in the film tube packing pierced. In this position, too, the cover element of the film tube bag is preferably locked to the receiving headpiece. The locking device arranged between receiving headpiece and film tube bag offers, in the preliminary position, the advantage that the two parts can be delivered together and that the user opens the film tube bag by a defined movement of the two parts. This is appropriate in particular when both the receiving headpiece and the film tube bag are configured as disposable articles.
The locking device between receiving headpiece and cover portion is preferably realized by elements optionally being adapted to be disengaged and appropriately configured as snapping device. Said snapping device comprises in particular complementary snapping projections and snap-in recesses arranged on the cover portion and the receiving headpiece. Said snapping projections and snap-in recesses are attached to e.g. elastic studs in particular of the cover portion. Generally such an elastic stud is sufficient; for reasons of ease of handling it is, however, appropriate to provide two studs arranged diametrically opposite each other on the cover portion. Said studs extend transversely to the end face of the cover portion and are accessible from outside when the cover portion can be released from the receiving headpiece when a force is applied from outside on the at least one stud.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention the locking device is configured as a connection having a weakening line. The connection between cover portion and receiving headpiece in the first position (preliminary position) can thus be released e.g. by a breakable release portion (e.g. breaking ring) so that the cover portion can then be shifted in the direction of the second position into the receiving head position.
The connection with the weakening line offers the advantage that the holding fixture of the cover portion on the receiving headpiece can be configured in such a stable and durable manner that during transport of the preassembled unit of receiving headpiece and film tube bag including the cover portion the cover portion does not separate from the receiving headpiece and assume the second position. Thus a special transport protective means is not required.
Further the locking device offers the advantage that the cover portion is adapted to be connected with the receiving headpiece to protect the cover portion against unintentional releasing from the receiving headpiece. This specific manner of locking of the cover portion to the receiving headpiece facilitates removal of a film tube bag from the applicator. Without this temporary connection the receiving headpiece would be taken out of the pressure chamber of the applicator with the film tube bag and its cover portion remaining in the cylindrical pressure chamber. To remove the film tube bag from the cylindrical pressure chamber the cover portion would have to be grasped by hand and the film tube thus pulled out of the pressure chamber. It is however easier to take the film tube bag out of the pressure chamber by grasping the receiving headpiece. This is realized according to the invention by the locking device between cover portion and receiving headpiece.
Alternative embodiments of the locking device are a bayonet catch or a thread. Besides a releasable positive locking the locking device may be realized by a releasable non-positive locking configured as frictional connection.
To facilitate movement of the cover portion with the film tube bag from the preliminary position to the final position on the receiving headpiece it is advantageous when the snapping action does not present too large a resistance. However this is disadvantageous to a certain degree during the transport of the film tube bag preliminarily positioned on the receiving headpiece. During the transport care should be taken that the film tube bag does not accidentally move from the preliminary position in the direction of the final position and further into the receiving headpiece since this would result in an unintentional opening of the film tube bag and thus discharge of the material contained therein.
To solve the aforementioned problem it is proposed, according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, to employ a film tube packing where, according to the invention, a stopping element is arranged on the receiving headpiece, the stopping element being movable between a stopping position, to prevent unintentional movement of the film tube bag from the preliminary position in the direction of the final position, and a release position in which the film tube bag can be moved into the final position. Said stopping element may have various configurations and e.g. lock the cover portion to the receiving headpiece such that the cover portion cannot be moved from the preliminary position either in the direction of the final position or in the opposite direction. However with regard to the considerations and solutions forming the basis of the present invention it is sufficient when the stopping element merely ensures that the film tube bag is not movable towards the final position. Thus it e.g. suffices when the stopping element in its stopping position extends into the space between the cover portion of the film tube packing and the receiving headpiece.
The stopping element, too, could unintentionally move from its stopping position into its release position. This is appropriately prevented by locking or blocking the stopping element to protect it against unintentional movement into the release position. For this purpose e.g. a frictional or positive connection of the stopping element with the receiving headpiece or the cover portion is sufficient.
As described above, the receiving headpiece comprises an outlet piece. It would be the obvious approach to shift the stopping element from the end averted from the film tube bag into the outlet piece wherein the stopping element extends over the other end of the outlet piece and acts as a stop to delimit the movement of the cover portion and the film tube bag towards the outlet piece. In this embodiment of the present invention the stopping element is twistable between a first and a second twisting position in the outlet piece. In the first twisting position the stopping element is in its stop position. In the first twisting position it is advantageous when the stopping element is protected against unintentional axial movement out of the outlet piece by being locked in the outlet piece or to the cap and/or the cover portion. This can e.g. be realized by cooperating locking or stopping faces on the stopping element on the one hand and on the outlet piece, the receiving headpiece and/or the cover portion on the other hand. By twisting the stopping element from the first twisting position into the second twisting position the stopping element is unlocked from the receiving headpiece; now the stopping element can be pulled out of the outlet piece and moved into its release position in which the cover portion and the film tube bag fastened thereto can be moved towards the outlet piece and thus towards the piercing pin.
In the version of the present invention described above the stopping element appropriately has the form of a pin or a bolt. At that end of the stopping element which extends from the end averted from the film tube bag when the stopping element is in the outlet piece, the stopping element is configured such that it allows said end of the stopping element to be manually grasped and twisted.
The above development of the film tube packing according to the present invention comprising a stopping element as transport protection means of the preliminarily positioned film tube bag is realizable for receiving headpieces whose outlet pieces exceed a certain minimum diameter. If however the diameter of the outlet piece is too small, the stopping element must be relatively thin. This leads to stability problems and problems with regard to locking the stopping element on the receiving headpiece.
Thus it is advantageous when the stopping element, in its stopping position, extends transversally through the space between the cover portion and the end wall of the receiving headpiece. This can e.g. be effected by the stopping element, in its stopping position, extending through an opening in the peripheral edge on the end wall of the receiving headpiece. With regard to the positional stability of the stopping element it is appropriate when the stopping element extends through two openings arranged opposite each other on the edge. Said two openings are preferably located on a mathematical straight line extending as a secant to the receiving headpiece when the latter is substantially configured as a cylindrical cap. The stopping element, which displays in particular a pin or bolt form, is appropriately adapted to be locked on the receiving headpiece to protect it against unintentional slipping out of the opening/openings of the receiving headpiece. Locking is preferably realized by means of a locking projection which, in a first twisting position of the stopping element, is inserted into a snap-in recess on the receiving headpiece and, in a second twisting position, is disengaged from this snap-in recess with the stopping element being adapted to be axially moved out of said space in this twisting position.
Thus the stopping element forms a transport protection means for the film tube packing when the film tube bag plus the cover portion are preliminarily positioned on the receiving headpiece. This improves handling of the film tube packing according to the invention.
In a preferred development of the present invention it is further provided that the passage opening of the cover part is at least partially surrounded by a sealing projection, or the receiving headpiece comprises a sealing projection which extends through the passage opening and may be of peripheral configuration. In the condition as used said sealing projection rests against the film tube bag. Within the area defined by the sealing projection the film tube bag is open when the pasty substance is discharged from the bag. As mentioned above, the film tube bag can be opened by means of a piercing pin or a similar piercing tool arranged on the receiving headpiece. The lip-type sealing projection seals the area around the opening in the film tube bag, which reduces the risk that the pasty substance leaving the film tube bag smears the inner face of the receiving headpiece.
Arrangement of the piercing tool on the receiving headpiece separated from the film tube bag offers the advantage that the film tube bag is opened only when the receiving headpiece is placed onto the cover portion of the film packing. Thus the opening process takes place after the film packing has been inserted into the pressure chamber of the dispenser or the applicator and only when the user places the receiving headpiece onto the cover portion which rests on one end of the pressure chamber of the dispenser or the applicator.
The above receiving headpiece and its features, in particular a central projection on the inside facing the end of the film tube bag with the snap-in recess for a closing clip arranged at the end of the film tube bag, are to be considered themselves as patentable within the scope of this description.
The known film packings have substantially proved successful in practical applications. Problems may arise concerning sealing of the film tube bag front end facing the outlet piece within the cylindrical chamber of the applicator. Said sealing of the end is realized in DE-U-296 17 654 and DE-U-296 13 945 by means of an O-ring seal arranged at the end in a cover element covering one end of the film tube bag. This type of sealing requires that the cover portion is permanently pressed at sufficient force against the end of the cylindrical chamber carrying the outlet piece. This is not adequately ensured at least in those phases in which the film tube bag is located inside the applicator and no pressure is exerted on the film tube bag.
From EP-A-0 607 609 an applicator is known where the components to be applied are inside a film tube bag. Said components are fed through a headpiece to an outlet nozzle. The headpiece is anchored to a cylindrical container wall by means of a screw cap. Further the headpiece is sealed towards the cylindrical container wall via a sealing ring. Said sealing ring is not attached to the film tube bag. Further said sealing ring is effective only in the screwed-together condition of the applicator and is not effective with regard to the screw cap.
Further, EP-A-0 693 437 describes an applicator for two components each packed in a foil tube wherein a headpiece is arranged on each foil tube, the headpiece comprising a central outlet piece. Both outlet pieces extend into the ends of channels of a counterpart and are sealed towards the channels via an external sealing ring.
In EP-A-0 863 088 and EP-A-0 653 362 it is described that one end of the film tube bag is permanently attached to a cap comprising an outlet piece. Said cap and its outlet piece are arranged at the front end of the cylindrical chamber of the applicator. Thus the cap forms part of the film packing and must be disposed of together with the film packing, which is expensive because of the relatively large amount of material used for the cap.
For this reason the sealing element of the film tube packing according to the present invention is advantageously arranged on the peripheral face and/or in the transition area between end face and peripheral face of the cover portion of said film packing. The film packing according to the present invention thus possesses a radially acting sealing towards the applicator.
The film packing according to the present invention is provided with a film tube bag comprising a peripheral wall and two end faces where the film tube bag is tied together or closed in any other way. One of said two ends carries the cover portion which may be configured as a ring or a disk. Said cover portion comprises an end face and a peripheral face adjoining said end face. Said cover portion and at least a portion of the film tube bag end connected with the cover portion are inserted into a receiving headpiece of an applicator, said receiving headpiece being adapted to be positioned at one of the two ends of a cylindrical pressure chamber of the applicator. Said receiving headpiece is provided with an outlet piece communicating with a passage opening of the cover portion when the receiving headpiece is attached.
To discharge a pasty substance from the film tube bag according to the present invention with the aid of an applicator comprising a stamp-type pressure plate, the film tube bag is opened in an area of its one end being in alignment with the passage opening of the cover portion, so that the pasty substance can leave the open film tube bag through the passage opening and the outlet piece being in fluid connection with the latter.
Sealing between the end of the film tube bag carrying the cover portion and the applicator is effected via a radially arranged sealing element located on the peripheral face of the cover portion and/or in the transition area between end face and peripheral face. In the condition as used of the film tube bag said sealing element rests against the receiving headpiece and/or the cylindrical pressure chamber of the applicator. The sealing element remains in sealing contact with the receiving headpiece and/or the cylindrical pressure chamber irrespective of the pressure exerted by the pressure plate onto the film tube bag. Thus reliable sealing is ensured from the beginning of an application process. In this way the applicator can be effectively prevented from becoming soiled with pasty substance. Only the film tube bag and the cover portion must be disposed of; the receiving headpiece can be reused.
The radially arranged sealing element according to the present invention may have different configurations. Appropriately a sealing ring (in particular an O-ring seal) is used as sealing element, which is arranged in a receiving groove arranged in the peripheral face of the cover portion. Besides a round profile a flat profile may also be used as cross-section of the sealing ring. The sealing element may also be configured as an elastic sealing lip integrally formed with the cover portion. Said sealing lip rests from the inside against the receiving headpiece or the cylindrical pressure chamber of the applicator thus sealing it. A further alternative is to configure the seal as labyrinth seal between the cover portion and the applicator (receiving headpiece and/or cylindrical pressure chamber). Such a labyrinth seal can e.g. be realized by the cover portion comprising on its peripheral face at least one and preferably a plurality of annular projections. In a preferred development of the present invention the cover portion comprises on its peripheral edge a shoulder area within which the cover portion surrounds the transition area between the end and the peripheral wall of the film tube bag. Such a shoulder-type structure of the cover portion allows for improved guiding of the film tube bag and positioning it in the receiving headpiece or the cylindrical pressure chamber of the applicator. When the cover portion is of substantially flat configuration, there is sufficient room for attaching and arranging the sealing element within the surrounding edge of the cover portion.
An alternative to the embodiment of the cover portion described above provides for the cover portion being substantially configured as a disk which does not comprise a projecting surrounding edge and in whose peripheral face defined by the thickness of the disk the sealing element is arranged.
Appropriately the cover portion is configured as an annular portion. This offers advantages with regard to the reduced amount of material required for the cover portion. The annular portion surrounds the film tube bag in the transition area between one end and the peripheral wall. In the remaining area the end of the film tube bag is exposed. Thus the annular portion defines a central passage opening within which the connection with the outlet piece can be effected even if the latter is eccentrically arranged, with the connection between the eccentric outlet piece and the passage opening being of substantially straight configuration, i.e. without considerable deflections which may lead to increased flow resistances. If however a disk-type cover portion is used instead of an annular cover portion and if the receiving headpiece comprises an eccentrically arranged outlet piece, care must be taken during insertion of the film tube bag into the pressure chamber of the applicator that a certain twisting alignment of the film tube bag is adhered to in order to utilize, in the case of eccentric arrangement of the outlet piece, the advantages of a substantially straight flow connection between the passage opening and the outlet piece. However this can be realized at relatively small expenditure by providing the cover portion with engagement projections and recesses cooperating with corresponding engagement recesses/projections of the receiving headpiece thus allowing insertion of the cover portion into the receiving headpiece in only one position (coding).
In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the cover part comprises within its area flatly resting against the end of the film tube bag a (central) projection acting upon the tied-together section of the film tube bag and pressing said tied-together section into the end of the film tube bag. This allows more material to be taken out of the film tube bag since pressure is not only applied to the bag from the pressure plate side but also through the central projection which moves the tied-together section of the film tube bag in inward direction.
Within the central projection a recess for a closing clip of the film tube bag may be arranged by means of which the film tube bag is tied together and sealed.
Even in the case of an annular configuration of the cover portion additional pressure can be applied by the central projection described above to the end of the film tube bag. In this case the central projection is not located on the cover portion but on the receiving headpiece with said central projection extending through the outlet piece defined by the ring and acting upon the film tube bag. This configuration further presents the advantage that owing to the central impression of the film tube bag the latter arches on the peripheral edge of its end, which facilitates automatic opening of the film tube bag by means of a piercing pin or a similar tool of the receiving headpiece.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Hereunder embodiments of the present invention are explained in detail with reference to the drawings in which:
FIG. 1
shows a longitudinal section of the front end of a pressure container with attached receiving headpiece and a film packing located in the receiving headpiece and the pressure container,
FIGS. 2
to
4
show enlarged views of area II of
FIG. 1
to explain the different configurations of the radial seal of the film packing,
FIG. 5
shows a longitudinal section similar to that of
FIG. 1
showing the completely compressed condition of the film tube bag,
FIG. 6
shows a schematic view of the situation in which the compressed film tube bag is removed from the pressure cylinder by pulling off the receiving headpiece,
FIG. 7
shows an enlarged representation of the snap-in connection between the film packing and the receiving headpiece and in particular the situation in which the locking device is unlocked,
FIG. 8
shows a top view of the cover portion of the film packing according to
FIGS. 1
to
7
,
FIGS. 9 and 10
show representations of an alternative cover portion and the configuration of the film packing in the condition as used in the transition area to the receiving headpiece,
FIGS. 11 and 12
show another exemplary embodiment where the film tube bag, in a preliminary position, is snapped in the receiving headpiece such that it is shifted from said preliminary position into a final position in which the piercing pin has opened the film hose bag,
FIGS. 13 and 14
show, supplementary to the exemplary embodiment of
FIGS. 11 and 12
, a representation in which the film tube bag is protected against unintentional movement from its preliminary position towards its final position by an additional stopping element, said stopping element being shown in
FIG. 13
in a twisting position within the outlet piece in which it is protected against axial movements, and in
FIG. 14
in a twisting position in which the stopping element is adapted to be pulled out of the outlet piece, and
FIGS. 15
to
20
show different sectional views of an alternative to the supplement to the exemplary embodiment according to
FIGS. 13 and 14
with a stopping element, in different stopping element positions, extending transversally through the space between the cover portion and the receiving headpiece.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1
shows an embodiment of a film packing
10
comprising a film tube bag
12
having an peripheral wall
14
and two end regions
16
(only one of which is shown). On both ends
16
, the film tube bag
12
is tied together by means of a closing clip
18
and thus is closed. The sausage-shaped film tube bag
12
contains a pasty substance
20
, which can be, e.g., a component of a multi-component shapeable dental mass. Arranged on the end
16
shown in
FIG. 1
(hereunder also referred to as the front end) of the film tube bag
12
is a cover portion
22
which is fixedly connected to front end
16
. Said cover portion
22
comprises an end face
24
facing away from the film tube bag
12
, and has its peripheral edge region
26
formed with an edge
28
protruding from end face
24
. Edge
28
surrounds the film tube bag
12
in the manner of a shoulder in the transition region
30
between the front end
16
and the peripheral wall
14
of bag
12
. Cover portion
22
extends across the whole end
16
of film packing
10
and has its end face
24
provided with a passage opening
32
(cf. also FIG.
8
). When the film tube bag
12
is opened in the region of passage opening
32
, the pasty mass will be discharged through this passage opening
32
from the interior of film tube bag
12
.
According to
FIG. 1
, the film packing
10
is arranged in a cylindrical pressure chamber
34
whereof that end which in
FIG. 1
is the upper end is provided with a receiving headpiece
36
. The other end of pressure chamber
34
(which is not shown in
FIG. 1
) has a stamp-like pressure plate
38
(cf.
FIG. 5
) extending thereinto, acting on the film tube bag
12
to axially compress the bag and thus press out the pasty mass
20
from the bag. Pressure chamber
34
forms part of a dispenser or applicator (not shown in greater detail) which is used to discharge and apply the pasty mass. By means of a holding member (likewise not shown), the receiving headpiece
36
is held in position on the front end of pressure chamber
34
shown in
FIG. 1
; thus, it is prevented that the receiving headpiece
36
becomes detached from pressure chamber
34
when pressure is exerted onto the film tube bag
12
by the pressure plate
38
.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, the receiving headpiece
36
has a cap-shaped structure comprising an end wall
40
and a peripheral edge
42
axially projecting along the periphery of end wall
40
. Within end wall
40
, there is arranged an outlet piece
44
with a discharge channel
46
which in the mounted condition of the receiving headpiece
36
is in fluid connection with passage opening
32
. The receiving headpiece
36
further comprises a piercing pin or spike which is arranged on the inner side of end wall
40
and in the situation according to
FIG. 1
extends through passage opening
32
into the film tube bag
12
. Thus, at the same moment that the receiving headpiece
36
is mounted to the cover portion
22
, the piercing pin
48
penetrates the end
16
of film tube bag
12
, thus automatically opening the bag.
During use of the film packing
10
, when the pasty substance
20
is applied, it is to be safeguarded that the substance
20
cannot laterally leak out from the dispenser or applicator, particularly in the region of the receiving headpiece
36
. According to the invention, a radially arranged seal
50
is provided for this purpose. As shown in
FIG. 1
, the seal
50
is provided as a separate annular sealing element
52
arranged in the projecting edge
28
of cover portion
22
. The annular sealing element
52
is accommodated in a peripheral receiving groove
53
(cf. also
FIG. 2
) formed in edge
28
. Thus, the sealing element
52
is arranged to face radially outwards and to bear from inside against the projecting edge
42
of receiving headpiece
36
. The inner side
54
of this projecting edge
42
is inclined so that the receiving headpiece
36
is tapered towards its end wall
40
. In this manner, a safe and reliable abutment of the sealing element
52
is obtained on the edge
42
of receiving headpiece
36
.
The sealing element
52
is either a flat seal (a shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
) or an O-ring. In both cases, the sealing element is provided as a separate component.
Alternative embodiments of the seal
50
of
FIGS. 1 and 2
are illustrated in
FIGS. 3 and 4
. Sealing
50
′ of
FIG. 3
comprises a seal lip
52
′ which projects radially outwardly from edge
28
of cover portion
22
and internally abuts the inner side
54
of edge
42
of receiving headpiece
36
. The seal
50
″ of
FIG. 4
is formed as a labyrinth seal comprising a plurality of radially projecting and continuous sealing ribs and sealing lips
52
″, respectively, which likewise are internally arranged in sealing abutment on edge
42
of receiving headpiece
36
when the receiving headpiece
36
has been mounted on the cover portion
22
. Thus, the seals
50
′ and
50
″ of
FIGS. 3 and 4
are embodiments wherein the sealing elements
52
′ and
52
″ are formed integrally with cover portion
22
.
In all of the above described seals
50
,
50
′,
50
″, the sealing elements
52
,
52
′,
52
″ project radially from cover portion
22
. Thus, the tight connection of the cover portion
22
with the receiving headpiece
36
exists not only when the pressure plate
38
exerts pressure on the film tube bag
12
, but is guaranteed also when the film tube bag
12
is in a relaxed condition and the cover portion
22
is in abutment on the end wall
40
of receiving headpiece
36
substantially without pressure. This situation is given whenever the film tube bag
12
is arranged in the dispenser or applicator device but no substance is presently being applied by the device.
A further characteristic feature of the film packing
10
will be described hereunder with reference to
FIGS. 5
to
7
. As evident form these Figures but also from
FIGS. 1
to
4
, cover portion
22
and receiving headpiece
36
are connected to each other by releasable locking engagement. For this purpose, said edge
42
projecting from end wall
40
of receiving headpiece
36
has its free end provided with a (continuously surrounding) inner locking projection
56
which cooperates with snap-in recesses
58
formed diametrically opposite each other on edge
28
of cover portion
22
. On edge
28
of cover portion
22
, flexible studs
60
are provided diametrically opposite each other in the region of the snap-in recesses
58
. By applying a force onto the studs
60
radially from the outside in the direction of arrow
62
, the studs
60
and the snap-in recesses
58
are moved inwards away from the locking projections
56
. In this manner, the locking projections
56
which previously had been sunk into the snap-in recesses
58
, can be moved out of their engagement with the snap-in recesses
58
, whereby cover portion
22
can be withdrawn or moved out of receiving headpiece
36
or vice versa. This selective locking between receiving headpiece
36
and cover portion
22
advantageously facilitates the removal of film tube bag
12
from pressure chamber
34
. Notably, as shown in
FIG. 6
, the film tube bag
12
which possibly has been compressed to the largest possible extent dictated by its design, can removed from out of pressure chamber
34
by removing the receiving headpiece
36
from the latter. During this phase, the receiving headpiece
36
serves as a “handling tab” for the film tube bag
12
which due to its folded or corrugated condition may rub against the inner wall of pressure chamber
34
and thus is removed from chamber
34
only by application of an increased force. After the film tube bag
12
has been removed in this manner from pressure chamber
34
as shown in
FIG. 6
, the studs
60
can be manually actuated to move inwards in the direction of arrow
62
of FIG.
7
and to thus release the locking arrangement
64
and thereby to separate cover portion
22
and receiving headpiece
36
from each other.
As can be seen particularly from
FIGS. 1 and 5
, cover portion
22
comprises a central protrusion
66
. This protrusion
66
is formed as a continuous collar
68
arranged on the inner end face of cover portion
22
facing towards the front end
16
of film tube bag
12
. Said collar
68
defines a centrally arranged receiving space
70
serving to accommodate the closing clip
18
of film tube bag
12
. Due to the central protrusion
66
, the film tube bag
12
, when subjected to pressure by pressure plate
38
, will be pressed inwards also on the front end
16
. In this manner, the residual volume of pasty substance
20
which still remains in the film tube bag
12
for design reasons, is advantageously reduced. The inward pressure exerted on film tube bag
12
on the front end
16
thereof offers the further advantage that the film tube bag
12
will bulge towards the edge of the front end
16
and thus, when used for the first time, will more reliably and tightly abut the edge of passage opening
32
and will be perforated more reliably by the piercing pin
48
.
A further characteristic feature of the film packing
10
of the invention will be explained hereunder with reference to
FIGS. 9 and 10
. The cover portion
22
′ of this film packing is arranged as a shoulder ring whose end face is an annular face
24
′ having the edge
28
extending therefrom. Because of its annular structure, cover portion
22
′ defines a passage opening
32
′ in which the major part of the end
16
of the film packing is left exposed. The opening—arranged on the inner side of receiving headpiece
36
—of the channel
46
formed by outlet piece
44
, is partially surrounded by a sealing lip
72
which is particularly formed integrally with the receiving headpiece
36
. Sealing lip
72
has the front end
16
of film tube bag
12
abutting thereon when the film tube bag
12
is subjected to pressure by pressure plate
38
. Thus, this sealing lip
72
will seal the film tube bag
12
on the front end
16
thereof against the receiving headpiece
36
. In this manner, even if the cover portion should not be formed as a full-faced disk, as is the case with the embodiment according to
FIGS. 1
to
8
, it is guaranteed that no pasty mass
20
will smudge the inner side of the receiving headpiece
36
.
FIGS. 11 and 12
show a further embodiment of the film packing. The difference over the above described film packings resides in that the cover portion
22
can be locked on the receiving headpiece
36
in two positions arranged at different heights within receiving headpiece
36
. The cover portion
22
comprises radially projecting snap-in projections
60
adapted to snap into one of two continuous inner grooves
80
,
82
. These inner grooves
80
,
82
are formed in the cylindrical circumferential edge
42
of receiving headpiece
36
and have different distances from the inner end side of receiving headpiece
36
. In the position according to
FIG. 11
, the snap-in projections
60
are locked in that inner groove
80
which is arranged at a farther distance from the piercing pin
48
; in this condition, the film tube bag
12
is spaced from the piercing pin
48
. The situation illustrated in
FIG. 11
represents e.g. the transport condition of film packing
10
. For opening the film tube bag
12
, the user merely has to shift the bag farther into the receiving headpiece
36
(see
FIG. 12
) until the cover portion
22
abuts on the inside of the end face of receiving headpiece
36
and the snap-in projections
60
have immersed into the inner circumferential groove
82
. In this condition, the piercing pin
48
projects into the film tube bag
12
so that the latter is opened.
FIGS. 13 and 14
show a further alternative/addition to the film tube packing according to
FIGS. 11 and 12
. As in the embodiment according to
FIGS. 11 and 12
, the film tube packing according to
FIGS. 13 and 14
comprises a film tube bag
12
which is prepositionable on the receiving headpiece
36
;
FIGS. 13 and 14
respectively show the situation wherein the cover portion
22
which is connected to the film tube bag
12
, is arranged in the preliminary position (first position) on the receiving headpiece
36
. In this preliminary position, the front end of film tube bag
12
does not yet contact the piercing pin
48
but is arranged at distance therefrom.
To reliably maintain the above preliminary position during transport of the film hose packing, the embodiment according to
FIGS. 13 and 14
is provided with a pin- or bolt-shaped stopping element
84
which is inserted into the outlet piece
44
. This stopping element
84
, hereunder referred to as a stopping pin, can be twisted within outlet piece
44
between the first twisting position according to FIG.
13
and the second twisting position according to FIG.
14
. For this purpose, stopping pin
84
is provided with a handle element
86
on its end
88
extending from the end of outlet piece
44
facing away from film tube bag
12
. In the condition of complete insertion into outlet piece
44
, the stopping end
90
of stopping pin
84
, arranged opposite the handle element
86
, extends beyond the end of piercing pin
48
(see the distance marked by
92
). This stopping end
90
is arranged directly opposite the cover portion
22
, so that, if the film tube bag
12
during transport is accidentally moved from the preliminary position towards the end position, the cover portion
22
is brought into abutment on the stopping end
90
of stopping pin
84
. In this manner, the movement of film tube bag
12
in the direction of film tube bag
12
is limited.
To make it impossible that the stopping pin
84
, while arranged in its stopping position according to
FIG. 13
, is undesirably moved axially out of outlet piece
44
, the stopping pin
84
is locked on receiving headpiece
36
in this stopping position. For this purpose, the shaft
94
of stopping pin
84
is formed with a locking groove
96
opened radially outwards and having a locking face
98
, with the latter formed that flank of locking groove
96
which is arranged closer to cover portion
22
. This locking face
98
cooperates with a locking face
100
of receiving headpiece
36
which is formed by a projecting
102
radially projecting into the extension of the outlet channel
46
formed by outlet piece
44
.
In the region where the locking groove
96
is formed, one half of the shaft
94
of stopping pin
84
is cut off as can bee seen in FIG.
14
. The remaining part of stopping end
90
is provided with the locking groove
96
. Thus, by rotating the stopping pin
84
, locking groove
96
can be moved away from projection
102
, so that the locking face
98
of stopping pin
84
will then not abut the locking face
100
of receiving headpiece
36
anymore. Consequently, in the twisting position according to
FIG. 14
, the locking pin
84
can now be moved axially out of outlet piece
44
so that the film tube bag
12
can then be moved in the direction of the piercing pin
48
and thus into the end position.
A further embodiment comprising an alternative configuration of the above securing arrangement for transport will be described hereunder with reference to
FIGS. 15
to
20
. In these Figures, components of the film tube packing which correspond to those of the preceding Figures, will be identified by the same reference numerals.
In the alternative film tube packing according to
FIGS. 15
to
20
, the stopping element
84
, when assuming its stopping position according to
FIGS. 15 and 16
, extends in parallel to the cover portion
22
and the end wall
40
of receiving headpiece
36
through the space which formed between cover portion
22
and end wall
40
. The stopping element
84
, which is again formed as a pin or bolt, extends as a secant through the receiving headpiece
36
with the cylindrical edge
42
. For this purpose, the continuous edge
42
comprises two openings
104
,
106
. That part of the stopping element
84
which joins the handle element
86
extends through the opening
106
, and the other end
108
of stopping element
84
extends through the other opening
104
.
The locking of stopping element
84
on receiving headpiece
36
is performed by means of a locking projection
110
radially projecting from stopping element
84
. Depending on the respective twisting position of stopping element
84
, locking projection
110
is immersed into a corresponding locking recess
120
within opening
106
(see
FIGS. 17
,
18
and
20
showing the locking position of stopping element
84
). In the unlocked position (see FIGS.
16
and
19
), the locking projection
110
has been moved out of locking recess
120
so that the stopping element
84
can be pulled out of the two openings
104
,
106
in axial direction. Thus, in the locked position, the locking projection
110
is in engagement behind a counterpart projection
122
delimiting the locking recess
120
towards the outer side of edge
42
of receiving headpiece
36
.
Claims
- 1. A film packing for a pasty substance, comprisinga film tube bag (12) having a peripheral wall (14) and two ends (16), and a cover portion (22) fastened to one of the two ends (16) of the film tube bag (12), the cover portion (22) comprising an end face (24) having a passage opening (32) for the passage of pasty substance from the opened film tube bag (12), a peripheral face (26) joining the end face (24), and a sealing element (52) abutting a receiving headpiece (36) attachable to the end (16) of the film tube bag (12) carrying the cover portion (22), the receiving headpiece (36) surrounding at least the end face (24) and the peripheral face (26) of the cover portion (22) and comprising an outlet piece (44) which is in fluid connection with the passage opening (32) of the cover portion (22) when the receiving headpiece is attached (36), wherein a locking device (64) is provided for locking the cover portion (22) in a first position in the receiving headpiece (36) for securing against unintended movement of the film tube bag (12) farther into the receiving headpiece, and the receiving headpiece (36) comprises a piercing pin (48) extending from the end wall (40) of the receiving headpiece (36) towards the cover portion (22), the piercing pin (48) being located at a distance from the film tube bag (12) in the first position of the cover portion (22) and penetrating the film tube bag (12) in a second position of the cover portion (22).
- 2. The film packing according to claim 1, wherein the cover portion (22) and the receiving headpiece (36) are provided with mutually engageable elements of the locking device (64) for connecting the receiving headpiece (36) to the cover portion (22) to prevent unintended detachment and unintended movement from the first position towards the second position.
- 3. The film packing according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element (52) is arranged on the peripheral face (26) and/or in the transition region (30) from the end face (24) to the peripheral face (26) of the cover portion (22).
- 4. The film packing according to claim 1, wherein the locking device is configured as a mechanical connection between the cover portion (22) and the receiving headpiece (36) in the first position, said connection being provided with a weakening line for intended detachment of said connection.
- 5. The film packing according to claim 4, wherein the cover portion (22) and/or the receiving headpiece (36) are provided with a detachment element for manual release and breaking, respectively, of said connection.
- 6. The film packing according to claim 1, wherein a stopping element (84) is arranged on the receiving headpiece (36) and/or the cover portion (22), the stopping element (84) being movable between a stopping position, to prevent an unintentional movement of the cover portion (22) from the first into the second position, and a release position for moving the cover portion (22) from the first into the second position.
- 7. The film packing according to claim 6, wherein the stopping element (84) is a movement delimiter for limiting the movement of the cover portion (22) from the first position towards the second position.
- 8. The film packing according to claim 6, wherein the stopping element (84) in its stopping position extends into the space between the cover portion (22) and the receiving headpiece (36).
- 9. The film packing according to claim 6, wherein the stopping element (84) comprises a handling end (86) adapted to be manually gripped and in the stopping position projecting from the receiving headpiece (36), provided for manual movement of the stopping element (84) from the stopping position into the release position.
- 10. The film packing according to claim 6, wherein the stopping element (84) in its stopping position can be locked and/or blocked on the receiving headpiece (36) and/or on the cover portion (22) against unintended movement towards its release position.
- 11. The film packing according to claim 6, wherein the stopping element (84) is a stopping pin or stopping bolt.
- 12. The film packing according to claim 6, wherein the stopping element (84) in its stopping position extends through an edge (42) of the receiving headpiece (36) laterally gripping around the cover portion (22), into the space between the cover portion (22) and the end wall (40) of the receiving headpiece (36).
- 13. The film packing according to claim 12, wherein the stopping element (84) in its stopping position extends through two openings (104,106) in the edge (42) of the receiving headpiece (36).
- 14. The film packing according to claim 6, wherein the stopping element (84) can be positioned in the outlet piece (44) of the receiving headpiece (36) for rotation between a first twisting position wherein the stopping element (84) is secured against axial movement out of the outlet piece (44), and a second twisting position wherein the stopping element (84) can be pulled out of the outlet piece (44).
- 15. The film packing according to claim 14, wherein, when the stopping element (84) is arranged in the first twisting position, the movement delimiting end (90) of the stopping element (84) extends across the outlet piece (44) towards the cover portion (22), farther than the piercing pin (48).
- 16. The film packing according to claim 15, wherein a handle end (86) projects beyond the end of the outlet piece (44) facing away from the cover portion (22).
- 17. The film packing according to claim 6, wherein the stopping element (84) in its stopping position and its first twisting position, respectively, is held in positive locking engagement on the receiving headpiece (36) and the outlet piece (44) thereof, respectively.
- 18. The film packing according to claim 17, wherein the stopping element (84) comprises a locking face (98) facing towards a handle end (86), which locking face (98) upon rotation into the first twisting position can be brought into abutment with a corresponding locking face (100) of the receiving headpiece (36) facing towards the cover portion (22), and upon rotation into the release position can be brought out of engagement with the locking face (100) of the receiving headpiece (36).
- 19. The film packing according to claim 18, wherein the receiving headpiece (36) comprises a disk-shaped end wall (40) and edge (42) projecting therefrom, which edge (42) has two openings arranged along a secant.
Priority Claims (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
99112692 |
Jul 1999 |
EP |
|
199 47 793 |
Oct 1999 |
DE |
|
199 61 446 |
Dec 1999 |
DE |
|
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Date |
Country |
296 13 945 U1 |
Nov 1997 |
DE |
296 17 654 U1 |
Feb 1998 |
DE |
0 653 362 A1 |
Sep 1994 |
EP |
0 863 088 A1 |
Jun 1998 |
EP |