Patent Application
20070181598
The present invention is directed to a packaging system for storing and dispensing a multi-component coating composition at a predetermined ratio.
In the area of automotive coatings and particularly in the area of refinish coatings in the collision industry, coatings are formulated to include several different components where some of the components are kept separated until they are to be applied to a substrate. The components of these systems are measured and mixed, in some instances, minutes prior to the application of the coating to a substrate since these coatings are formulated to have very rapid cure. Particularly, primers and clear coats are supplied having a first film forming resin component, a second cross-linker component and a third reducer component. At the time of application, the painter measures the proper amount of each component in a relatively exact mix ratio by weighing each component on a scale or by measuring each component by volume. Once the components are measured, they are mixed together and applied to a substrate. This process takes considerable time and there is much room for error. Furthermore, due to the coatings typically having fast cure times, if an error is made in calculating the correct amount of coating to be used, either more coating must be measured to finish a particular job or the leftover coating goes to waste. Therefore, a method to dispense the coating in a more efficient manner would be greatly appreciated.
The present invention is directed to a packaging system for storing and dispensing a multi-component coating composition. The packaging system comprises a first storage portion adapted to hold a first coating component having a first Theological profile where the first storage portion includes a first outlet that is in fluid communication with the first storage portion. Further, a second storage portion is provided and is adapted to hold a second coating component having a second rheological profile that is fluidly separable from the first storage portion and where the second storage portion includes a second outlet that is in fluid communication with the second storage portion. The first outlet and the second outlet are sized to dispense the first and second coating components at a predetermined ratio.
The present invention is also directed to methods of dispensing a multiple coating component composition at a predetermined ratio. The methods includes providing a packaging system having a first storage portion adapted to hold a first coating component having a first rheological profile. The first storage portion includes a first outlet that is in fluid communication with the first storage portion. A second storage portion is provided and is adapted to hold a second coating component having a second rheological profile. The second storage portion is fluidly separable from the first storage portion and includes a second outlet that is in fluid communication with the second storage portion. The method further includes dispensing the first coating component and the second coating component from the packaging system in a substantially simultaneously manner wherein the first outlet and the second outlet are sized to dispense the first and second coating components at a predetermined ratio.
The present invention is directed to a new packaging system for coatings. The new system comprises a container that separately stores different components of a coating composition and allows for dispensing the coating components at a predetermined ratio. The ratio may be by weight or volume and is more typically by volume. With this system, no measuring of components is necessary.
Turning now to
In the illustrated embodiment, a first storage compartment 118 and a second storage compartment 120 are illustrated, however, it is contemplated that more than two storage compartments may be employed for coating systems requiring more than two components.
The first dispensing outlet 122 and the second dispensing outlet 124 are adapted to dispense coating components from the first storage compartment 118 and the second storage compartment 120 at a predetermined ratio. For example, one way of adapting the first dispensing outlet 122 and the second dispensing outlet 124 to provide a predetermined ratio of the dispensed components is to control the properties of the outlets 122 and 124 based on the rheological properties of the dispensed components. The first dispensing outlet 122 has a first diameter D1 and a first length L1 and the second dispensing outlet 124 has a second diameter D2 and a second length L2 where the ratio of the components dispensed from the outlets 122 and 124 can be a function of their respective diameters D1 and D2 and/or lengths L1 and L2. For instance, if a ratio of 1:1 is desired and the component in the first storage compartment 118 has a different Theological profile than the component in the second storage compartment 120, the first dispensing outlet 122 may have a greater dispensing diameter D1 than the diameter D2 of the second dispensing outlet 124 where the lengths L1 and L2 are relatively the same. Appropriate dispensing diameters D, and D2 and lengths L1 and L2 are provided based on the rheological profiles of the coating components. It will be understood that the rheological profiles of each component can be the same or different as can the “D1,” D2,” and/or “L1,” “L2” values. Further, it will be understood that the packaging system is configured such that each of the components is delivered to a mixing vessel in a substantially simultaneous manner. By rheological profile is meant the viscosity of a component measure over a range of shear rates.
The first dispensing outlet 122 and the second dispensing outlet 124 can be adapted for any desired ratio of components. For instance, ratios of 2:1, 3:1, 3:2, 4:1, and so forth, can be realized by adjusting the first diameter D1 and/or first length L1 of the first dispensing outlet 122 and/or the second diameter D2 and/or second length L2 second dispensing outlet 124 to provide for a desired dispensing ratio based on the properties (i.e., Theological profile) of the coating components. Optional vents 123, as shown, may be employed to off-set any vacuum created during the dispensing of the components from the storage compartments. The vents 123 may also include vent caps (not shown). Other known means for off-setting any vacuum created during the dispensing of the components may be employed.
Certain coating compositions comprise components that are generally kept separated until at or near the time of application at which time the components are mixed. The mixture of components results in a coating composition that will subsequently cure. The composition may be applied to a substrate in the form of a film where subsequent curing results in a coating on the substrate. Cure can be achieved according to any means know in the art depending on the type of coating being employed. For example, in the area of automotive refinish coatings the components may include a film forming resin component, a hardener or cross-linking component that can cross link with the film forming resin component, and a reducer or solvent component. One example of a coating for use in the present invention comprises a clear coat comprising a film forming resin having hydroxyl functionality and a hardener having isocyanate groups that react with the hydroxyl functionality of the film forming resin. The components of this type of composition are kept separate until the time of application due to the reactivity of the film forming resin with the isocyanate. Further, this type of coating may be mixed at a predetermined ratio to obtain the optimal properties in the final cured film. “Predetermined ratio” as used herein refers to the ratio at which the components of a multi-component coating system are mixed together to form a coating. Examples of such ratios are described herein, such as a ratio of 1 part by volume of a first component to 2 parts by volume of a second component or 1:2. Although the ratios described herein are shown as whole numbers, i.e. 1:1, other ratios are contemplated such as, for example, 1.4:1. Further, let it be recognized that the any of the components used in the present packaging system may include additives, such as, but not limited to pigments, fillers, dyes, rheology additives, solvents, and other additives as known to those of skill in the art.
In one embodiment, the coating can be formulated to be usable with the instant packaging system by reformulating the coating into a two component system. In one embodiment, this can be accomplished by adding the reducer to either the film forming resin component or the hardener component or by dividing the reducer between the film forming resin component and the hardener component. In this fashion, a two-component system is provided that is dispensed at a specific predetermined ratio.
When employing the present packaging system, a user may pour from the container 100 an amount of a first component of the coating composition from the first storage compartment 118 and an amount of a second component of the coating composition from the second storage compartment 120 at the same time. According to various embodiments of the invention, the coating components will be dispensed at a predetermined ratio. The first component may comprise a film forming resin and the second component may comprise a hardener/cross-linker and vice versa. Once the components are poured out of the container 100, they are mixed prior to application of the coating to a substrate, such as an automobile. In certain embodiments, mixture of the components prior to application may be anywhere from a month to minutes prior to application.
Application of the coating to the substrate may be accomplished by conventional techniques. Such application techniques include, for example, spraying, wiping, brushing, and/or dipping. No weighing or volume measuring of the components is necessary. As such, if more paint is needed to complete a particular job, the painter need only to dispense a desired amount of the components from the container 100, mix the components, and apply the coating composition to a substrate. As is apparent, this is a considerable time saver and provides very little waste over conventional packaging.
In another embodiment, the container 100 may be adapted to dispense the proper ratio of components regardless of the orientation of the container 100 when dispensing the coating components.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the container 100 may be employed as a “one use” packaging system. By “one use” it is meant that the container 100 houses a first coating component in the first storage compartment 118 and a second coating component in the second storage compartment 120 where the proper predetermined mix ratio is achieved when all of the first coating component and all of the second coating component are completely emptied from the container 100 and mixed prior to application. In this embodiment, after the “one use” application, the container 100 may be discarded. The “one use” packaging system, as with the other embodiments of the present invention, can be employed in any size container as known to those in the art. Suitable container sizes include pints, quarts, and/or gallons. In the “one use” packaging system, the size of the first diameter D1 and/or length L1 of the first dispensing outlet 122 and the size of the second diameter D2 and/or length L2 of the second dispensing outlet 124 becomes less significant than with other embodiments of the invention since the entire contents of the container 100 are emptied prior to application. However, other variables, such as splash during dispensing, speed of dispensing and other concerns as apparent to those in the art, may have an impact on the desired size of the first diameter D1 and/or length L1 of the first dispensing outlet 122 and the size of the second diameter D2 and/or length L2 of the second dispensing outlet 124, presence of vents, etc.
Turning now to
Whereas particular embodiments of this invention have been described above for purposes of illustration, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that numerous variations of the details of the present invention may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims. Let it be understood that throughout this disclosure that references to the plural encompasses the singular and vice versa. For example, although reference may be made to “a” portion, “a” component, and the like, more than one is likewise contemplated.
This application claims priority to provisional application Ser. No. 60/764,464 filed Feb. 2, 2006.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60764464 | Feb 2006 | US |
