Cartridge for 2-part composition

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cartridge container for containing a two part composition consisting of two components in a container with two components isolated in such a manner that they are not mixed with each other, the two components being preserved in an isolated relation to each other prior to use, and if intended to be used, the components being mixed together and then placed into service, and particularly, to a cartridge container for containing a two part composition consisting of two components which are easy to isolate and can be easily mixed as desired to be used.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Adhesives, sealants, coatings, casting materials, etc., are principally placed into service by mixing a primary component such as epoxy, unsaturated polyester, vinyl ester, polyurethane, silicone and polymercapto resins with a curing agent (catalyst) as a secondary component and then causing a curing phenomenon in the resulting mixture to occur by a chemical reaction and cure it. Such two part compositions are preserved with individual components separately isolated prior to use and when the two part composition is to be used, these components are mixed and placed into service. Such two part compositions should be preserved with individual components separately isolated in such a manner that they are not mixed with each other.

It is conventionally known to use a container as shown in Fig.1 in containing such a type of two part compositions. As apparent from Fig.1(a), the container 1 is constructed with its interior divided into a space 3 and spaces 4 by isolating walls 2. For example, a primary component such as an epoxy resin is filled into the space 3, and a curing agent is filled into the spaces 4. Then, a cover layer 5 is mounted on the top of the container by heat sealing. In this way, the primary component and the curing agent are contained in the container in a separately isolated relation. When such two part composition is intended to be used, the cover layer 5 is stripped and then, the section of the space 3 is depressed down to deform the container 1 as shown in Fig.1(b) to mix the primary component with the curing agent.

With this type of containers, however, various disadvantages are encountered: It is not easy to depress down the section of the space 3 and in addition, in view of materials, a special flexible material must be selected. Moreover, only a relatively small volume of components may be filled.

Alternatively, a method has been adopted for containing and preserving two components in separate containers, wherein when these components are desired to be used, they are mixed. With this method, however, there is required an operation for transferring the contained components when they are to be mixed, resulting in a longer time. Additionally, it is feared that the remaining of the liquid causes a failure of curing or the like.

Specifically, DE-A-3014568 discloses a cartridge container for containing two components. Within a container body a tube is arranged. Both the tube and the container body are closed at one end by two piston parts, one for the container as such, the other one for the tube. A mixing chamber is provided at the opposite end of the container and tube, to provide mixing between said components when said two piston parts are pushed into the container and tube, respectively.

US-A-4,340,154 discloses a two component cartridge container somewhat similar to the container of DE-A-3014568, but with the inner tube being of an accordion-pleated design. Further, UK-A-1,065,560 relates to a single container for the storage of two or more interactive jellied substances. DE-A-2800587 discloses a cartridge comprising two chambers separated by foil which can be destroyed by an associated mixing rod which also serves to mix the components of the chambers before they are ejected by means of a piston.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cartridge container for containing a two part composition, wherein two individual components are easy to isolate and can be readily mixed when intended to be used, and wherein the disadvantages found in the above known prior art are overcome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention the above object is accomplished by providing a cartrigde container as said forth in claim 1.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from reading of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Continuation page 4 of the specification as filed March 1, 1989. <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li>Fig.1 is a sectional view illustrating the prior art method for containing a two part composition in the known container, Fig. 2(a) illustrating two components isolated and Fig.2(b) illustrating the two components mixed;</li><li>Fig.2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a container for use in the present invention;</li><li>Fig.3 is a partially sectional view illustrating the container of Fig.2 as being in use;</li></ul>

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above-descirbed two part compositions, which are preserved with the individual components isolated prior to use and when intended to be used, are placed into service with such individual components mixed with each other, consists of two components, for example, a primary component such as an adhesive, a sealant, a coating and a casting material and a curing agent as a secondary component. Illustrative of the primary components are epoxy, unsaturated polyester, acrylic, silicone, polyurethane, polymercapto resins, etc.

The viscosity modifiers which may be used include those commercially available, and sepcific examples of them are benzylidenesorbitol, lauroylglutamic dibutylamide, organobentonites, asbestos powders, silica powders, hydrogenated castor oils, etc. The amount of viscosity modifier added may be of any level depending upon the type of components and viscosities, but should be in a range sufficient to provide a viscosity, i.e., a jellied condition sufficient so that the viscosity modifier cannot be mixed with the other liquid component.

EXAMPLE

The present invention will now be described in more detail by way of Example.

Example

A two part composition which was used comprised a primary component (liquid A) (Epicoat® #828, bisphenol type epoxy resin available from Yuka shell Co., Ltd.) and a curing agent (modified alicyclic polyamine available from Three Bond Co., Ltd.), with a viscosity modifier of Coregulane GP® (laurylglutamic dibutylamide available from Ajinomoto Co., Ltd.) being added to each of the primary component and the curing agent in an amount of 5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight thereof to jelly them.

The above two part composition was contained in a container shown in Fig.2. Fig.2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a container for use in the present invention, and Fig.3 is a partially sectional view illustrating the container of Fig.2 as being in use, wherein the reference numeral 20 designates a container body. An isolating membrane 21 is longitudinally disposed within the container body 20, so that spaces 22 and 23 are defined within the container body 20 through the isolating membrane 21. The jellied components of the two part composition are contained respectively in the spaces 22 and 23 in such a tate that they are isolated by the isolating membrane 21.

The reference numeral 26 is a urging lid which is fitted in a bottom 20a of the container body 20 for sliding movement along an inner wall 20b of the container wall 20.

The reference numeral 27 is a mixing nozzle which is disposed at a leading end 20c of the container body 20. This disposition is provided, for example, by threadedly connecting a cap nut 29 to a screw 28 at the leading end 20c, as shown in Fig.3. Blades 30 are fitted in the mixing nozzle 27, for example, as shown in Fig.3, so that the two components are passed through the blades and mixed.

The filling of the two components into the container body 20 was conducted in the following manner: First, the viscosity modifier was added to the primary component as well as the curing agent at a temperature of 110 to 120°C and melted. While being hot and fluid, at first, the curing agent was filled into the container body 20 until it occupied half of the container, and it was cooled and then jellyed (component 25). Then, Nitto® tape (polyethylene film of 85 u available from Noitto electrochemical industries co., Ltd.) was placed onto the jellied component and thereafter, the primary component was introduced into the container, cooled and solidified.

The resulting container was found to be easy and complete to isolate the two components and also easy to mix the two components in use. More specifically, as shown in Fig.2, the two components 24 and 25 are separately preserved without being mixed in the container body and particularly with the isolating membrane 21 used, they are completely preserved, because they have been jellied prior to use. When the two components are intended to used, the isolating membrane 21 is withdrawn from the container body 20 and then, the two components are extruded into the mixing nozzle 17 by causing an urging piece 31 of an urging gun (not shown) to press and slide the urging lid 16 on the inner wall 20b. The two components 24 and 25 are mixed in the mixing nozzle 17 while being passed through the blades 30, and then taken out of the nozzle leading end 32 as a mixture which is then placed into service.

Therefore, with the above container, the two components are not only isolated by the isolating membrane 21 during preservation, but also cannot react to cure, because the two components themselves have been jellied. In use, the two components 24 and 25 are mixed together upon being pushed by the urging lid 26 after removal of the isolating membrane 21 and then placed into service. Accordingly, the above container is easy and complete to isolate the two components and also easy to mix them in use.