Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02309698 2000-OS-10
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B~GKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of dispense containers. More
specifically,
the present invention is directed to a unit dose dispense container for an
activating catalyst for
a heat curable impregnant.
The invention relates to a unit dose cartridge container for an ingredient to
be mixed
with a given quantity of a mixing component. A typical use for the present
invention is as a
storage and dispense cartridge for vazo catalyst. The vazo catalyst is
typically dispensed into
a 5 gallon carboy, having a 4 gallon fill, of heat cure impregnant. The
combined mixture is
then used for sealing porous metal or plastic parts.
Typically, the catalyst is added to the impregnant at the manufacturing
facility where
the mixture is also then applied. Current methods for mixing the catalyst with
the impregnant
involve manually scooping an amount of vazo paste from a wide mouth liter
container. Once
the vazo has been added to the 5 gallon carboy, the carboy is closed and then
shaken until the
vazo mixes in with the impregnant.
A liter container of vazo catalyst, however, includes about one kilogram of
vazo
catalyst which can catalyze about 7.6 carboys of heat cure impregnant. As the
carboy of heat
cure impregnant typically has a smaller opening than the vazo container, a
certain amount of
vazo scooping and scraping is required to complete the transfer. Furthermore,
the measuring
tools used by each operator may vary so that such mixing methods elude precise
dispensement of the ideal amount of catalyst for a carboy of impregnant. As a
result, the
catalyzation rate for each carboy of mixture may vary from operator to
operator. Such
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variances resulting from the imprecise apportioning of the vazo thereby
inhibit precise quality
control of the applied mixture.
These known methods for dispensing the vazo catalyst also pose risks for
personnel
and the environment. For example, manually scooping the vazo may expose an
operator to
the vazo paste itself, which is an irritant. Also, as the liter container does
not provide vazo
for an even number of carboys, and as the scooping method does not provide for
precise
measurement of the amount of vazo scooped, it is very possible that a
discarded liter
container may still contain some amounts of vazo therein which may then
accumulate at a
landfill.
It is known in the art that the vazo catalyst may be mixed with the impregnant
prior to
shipping, but the mixture must then be shipped refrigerated to maintain its
viability. As the
two ingredients may need to shipped to various facilities remote from the site
of manufacture
of the components, the increased costs for refrigerated shipping of the
mixture make this
1 S method unacceptably expensive.
It is therefore desirable to provide a transportation and dispense cartridge
for vazo
catalyst which reduces or eliminates risks to personnel and the environment
and which
provides higher assurance of precise catalyst dispensement into a carboy of
heat cure
impregnant.
The present invention provides a unit dose storage and dispenser cartridge for
a unit
dose of an ingredient includes a storage and dispense container dispensably
containing a unit
dose of the ingredient. The container includes a cylindrical interior wall
defining a cartridge
passageway having an ingredient-containing ingredient storage cavity portion.
The container
further defines a dispense opening communicating with the ingredient storage
cavity portion
and includes a first sealing member removably sealing the dispense opening. A
dispense
piston is movable by a dasher rod through the ingredient storage cavity
portion so as to
dispense the unit dose of the ingredient through the dispense opening. An
openable vent is
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positioned in registry with the cartridge passageway. It is contemplated that
the a dasher rod
may be provided for each cartridge or that a single dasher rod may be provided
for a given
number of cartridges. It is further contemplated that the present invention
may be provided in
kit form.
The present invention will be more readily appreciated in a reading of the
"Detailed
Description of the Invention" with reference to the following drawings.
BREF DDESCRIPTION O~,THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 shows an exploded view of the unit dose camidge assembly and dasher
rod
of the present invention.
Figure 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the unit dose cartridge
assembly of
the present invention.
Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the unit dose cartridge assembly of Figure
2.
Figure 4 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the piston employed in the
unit dose
cartridge assembly of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to Figures 1-3, the present invention provides a cartridge assembly
10 for
containing and dispensing a precise unit dose of an ingredient. Assembly 10 is
particularly
useful for containing and dispensing a vazo catalyst 12 into a carboy of heat
cure impregnant
(not shown). While the present invention is described for storing and
containing a unit dose
of vazo catalyst 12, it is understood that the present invention may be used
for storing and
dispensing any ingredient. The components of assembly 10, except where later
noted, are
desirably formed of a suitable plastic material. Assembly 10 includes a
cartridge housing 14
for containing a precise unit dose of catalyst 12. An example of a vazo
catalyst which may be
contained and dispensed by cartridge assembly 10 is sold by the assignee of
the present
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invention under the tradename "RESINOL~ INITIATOR PASTE". One type of heat
cure
impregnant especially suited to be mixed with vazo catalyst 12 is currently
sold by the
assignee of the present invention under the tradename "90C STOCK SOLUTION".
Cartridge assembly 10 includes an elongate tubular cartridge housing 14.
Cartridge
housing 14 includes an elongate cylindrical wall 16 having an interior surface
18 and an
exterior surface 20. Cylindrical tube 16 includes a distal open end 22
defining a dispense
opening 24 and a proximal open end 26 defining a mechanical access, or dasher-
insertion,
opening 28. Cylindrical wall 16 defines an elongate cartridge interior 30 in
fluid
communication with dispense opening 24 and dasher-insertion opening 28. The
exterior
surface 20 of cylindrical wall 16 has formed thereon an annular rib 32 in
flush edge
relationship with second end 26. It is also contemplated that a label 33
carrying visual indicia
may be adhered to exterior surface 20 of cylindrical wall 16.
An elongate rigid dasher rod 15 may be provided as a kit with cartridge
assembly 10,
or alternatively, one dasher rod 1 S may be provided per shipping unit of
multiple cartridge
assemblies. Dasher rod 15 is desirably formed of a suitable plastic material
and includes a
tapered first end 15a for insertion into cartridge housing 14 and a second end
15b from which
an operator manually drives first end 15a. Second end 15b desirably terminates
at a disc-
shaped dasher head 17. The length of dasher rod 15 is desirably selected as
described
hereinbelow. It is contemplated that the function of dasher rod 15 may be
performed by any
object having the described characteristics including, by way of illustration
and not by
limitation, a screwdriver.
Assembly 10 further includes a piston 34 to be inserted into cartridge
interior 30 of
cartridge housing 14 so as to provide slidable friction engagement with
interior surface 18 of
cylindrical wall 16. Once inserted in cartridge housing 14 piston 34 further
divides cartridge
interior 30 between an ingredient storage cavity portion 36 extending between
piston 34 and
dispense opening 24 and a dasher-receiving portion 38 extending between dasher-
insertion
opening 28 and piston 34. Cartridge housing 14 holds vazo catalyst 12 within
and dispenses
vazo catalyst 12 from ingredient storage cavity portion 36.
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With additional reference to Figure 4, piston 34 includes an elongate
cylindrical
piston wall 40 having a distal end 42 and a proximal end 44. Cylindrical
piston wall 40
includes exterior piston wall surface 46, an interior piston wall surface 47,
and defines a
piston interior 48. Interior piston wall surface 47 desirably has formed
thereon a number of
annular stiffening ribs 49 to provide increased structural rigidity to
cylindrical piston wall 40.
Exterior piston wall surface 46 is formed to provide slidable friction
engagement with interior
surface 18 of cylindrical wall 16.
A rounded piston end wall 50 extends from distal end 42 so as to provide a
convex
surface 52 extending into the ingredient storage cavity portion 36 of assembly
10. Convex
surface 52 terminates at a central transverse planar surface 54. End wall 50
also provides a
concave surface 56 facing piston interior 48 and dasher-receiving portion 38
of housing 14.
Concave surface 56 circumferentially bounds an axially central planar surface
58, opposite
planar surface 54. A dasher-engagement hub 60 extends from planar surface 58
towards
piston interior 48 and includes a cylindrical hub wall 62 defining a dasher
receiving cavity 64.
Hub 60 accommodates distal end 1 Sa of dasher rod 15 in frictional or abutting
engagement.
Piston 34 desirably includes an annular flared wiping rib 66 extending
distally from
distal end 42 of cylindrical piston wall 40. An annular groove 68 is defined
between convex
surface 52 and wiping rib 66. Wiping rib 66 is formed to provide a wiping
engagement with
interior surface 18 of cylindrical wall 16 as piston 34 is used to push vazo
catalyst I2 through
ingredient storage cavity portion 36 towards dispense end 22. Wiping rib 66
thereby reduces
the amount of residual vazo catalyst I2 remaining within cartridge housing 14
after
dispensement.
Refernng again to Figures 1-3, both dispense opening 24 and dasher-insertion
opening
28 of cartridge housing 14 are sealed for transportation and storage purposes.
Desirably,
cartridge housing 14 provides an hermetically sealed container of vazo
catalyst 12. A
dispense seal 70 is removably affixed over dispense opening 24. Dispense seal
70 is
desirably formed of a metallic foil such as aluminum foil or tin foil.
Dispense seal 70 may be
adhered to cartridge housing 14 or simply held in place by a dispense end cap
72. While
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dispense seal 70 is formed having a substantially circular shape, it desirably
provides a
graspable tab 71 extending radially outward therefrom. Tab 71 assists an
operator in pealing
dispense seal 70 from cartridge housing 14 prior to dispensing vazo catalyst
12. Dispense
end cap 72 is secured over dispense seal 70 in frictional engagement with
dispense end 24.
Dispense end cap 72 includes a substantially planar circular base 74
circumferentiaily
bounded by an upstanding housing engagement wall 76. Housing engagement wall
76 may
include an annular housing engagement rib 78 disposed over circular base 74 so
as to enhance
the deflectable frictional engagement of housing engagement wall 76 with
cartridge housing
14.
As cartridge assembly 10 may be subjected to high temperatures during its
storage
and transportation, a vented seal 80 is provided to relieve any resulting
excessive pressure
build-up within cartridge interior 30. Vented seal 80 removably affixed to
tube proximal end
26 over dasher-insertion opening 28. Vented seal 80 is desirably formed of a
metallic foil
such as aluminum foil or tin foil. Vented seal 80 is desirably adhered to
cartridge housing 14
or simply held in place by a proximal end cap 82. While vented seal 80 is
formed having a
substantially circular shape, it desirably provides a graspable tab 81
extending radially
outward therefrom. Tab 81 assists an operator in pealing vented seal 80 from
cartridge
housing 14.
Vented seal 80 includes a centrally-located vent aperture 84 to be positioned
in
registry with dasher-receiving portion 38 of cartridge interior 30. Vent
aperture 84 is covered
from cartridge interior 30 by a pressure-relief vent 86. Vent 86 includes a
venting plug 88 in
registry with vent aperture 84. Venting plug 88 is perimetrically bounded by
and
concentrically interposed between a first laminate member 90 and a second
laminate member
91. First laminate layer 90 adhesively attaches to vented seal 80. Venting
plug 88 is
desirably formed of microporous polytetraflouroethylene. Vent 86 is of the
type known in
the art and will prevent the exchange of air through vent aperture 84 until
elevated
temperatures cause excessive pressure build-up in cartridge interior 30, at
which point vent 86
will open and allow the high pressure air to escape through vent aperture 84.
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Proximal end cap 82 is secured over vented seal 80 and annular rib 32 so as to
provide
frictional engagement with proximal end 26 of cartridge housing 14. Proximal
end cap 82 is
a substantially disc-like member including a planar circular base 92 which
defines a central
aperture 94 and which is circumferentially bounded by an upstanding housing
engagement
wall 96. Central aperture 94 is formed to be positionable in registry with
vent aperture 84 and
to allow dasher rod 15 to be inserted therethrough to engage piston 34.
Central aperture 94 is
desirably too small to allow dasher head 17 therethrough in order that
circular base 92 may
prevent dasher head from being pushed into cartridge interior 30. The length
of dasher rod 15
is optimally selected so as not to force piston 34 out from cartridge interior
30 when dasher
head 17 abuts proximal end cap 82 while also desirably exposing convex surface
52 of piston
34 through dispense opening 24.
Housing engagement wall 96 of end cap 82 may include an annular housing
engagement rib 98 disposed over circular base 92 so as to enhance the
deflectable frictional
engagement of housing engagement wall 96 with cartridge housing 14. As
proximal end cap
1 S 82 must also deflectably engage annular rib 32 projecting from exterior
cylindrical wall 20
and dispense end cap 72 need only deflectably engage exterior cylindrical wall
20, assembly
10 desirably requires proximal end cap 82 to have a larger sealing diameter
than dispense end
cap 72. By providing end caps 72 and 82 with different sealing diameters,
assembly 10
provides an anti-malassembly feature that ensures the end caps 72 and 82 will
be placed over
the appropriate end 22 and 26, respectively, of tube 16.
Cartridge assembly 10 may therefore be constructed to hold a precise unit
dose, i.e.
about 130 grams, of vazo catalyst 12 for mixing with a five gallon carboy of
heat cure
impregnant. The present invention minimizes operator exposure to vazo catalyst
12 by
providing a single use disposable cartridge which minimizes operator handling
of
components that contact the vazo. Additionally, by providing and cleanly
dispensing a
precise unit dose of vazo catalyst 12, the present invention significantly
reduces the amount
of excess or unused vazo catalyst paste that may be thrown away.
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An operator may dispense vazo catalyst 12 from Cartridge assembly 10 as
follows.
Dasher rod 15 may be inserted through central aperture 94 of proximal end cap
82 to puncture
vented seal 80 so as to extend through dasher-receiving portion 38 and to
engage piston 34.
Tapered first end 15a of dasher rod 15 desirably partially extends into dasher
receiving cavity
64 and engages hub wall 62 of dasher-engagement hub 60. The operator may then
remove
dispense end cap 72 and peal dispense seal 70 from distal end 22 of cartridge
housing 14 to
expose vazo catalyst 12. Dispense opening 24 is then placed in registry with,
or into, an
opening of a carboy of heat cure impregnant. Holding cartridge assembly 10 in
the carboy
opening, the operator would then push on dasher head 17 of dasher rod 15 to
force piston 34
distally towards dispense opening 24 so as to dispense vazo catalyst 12 into
the carboy. As
I O piston 34 moves towards dispense opening 24, wiping rib 66 wipingly slides
along interior
cylindrical wall 18 to minimize residual catalyst 12 remaining within
cartridge interior 30.
The operator will continue pushing piston 34 distally until convex surface 50
extends fully
from cartridge interior 30. In this fully extended position, cylindrical
piston wall 40 still
frictionally engages interior cylindrical wall 18. The length of dasher rod 1
S is therefor
I S desirably selected to be sufficient to fully extend convex surface 50 from
cartridge interior 30
yet also to be insufficient to inadvertently force piston 34 out of cartridge
interior 30.
While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and
described in detail above, it will be evident to those persons of ordinary
skill that changes and
20 modifications may be made without departing from the teachings of the
invention.
Accordingly, that which is set forth in the foregoing description and
accompanying drawings
is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. The true scope
of the invention
is defined by the claims.
