Dispensing and mixing apparatus

Abstract

A dispensing device and disposable mixer for a plurality of fluids is provided in a combination in which the dispenser stores the fluids separately and delivers them to an orifice in which the fluids are maintained in separation to the point of interface between the orifice and the disposable mixer with means an arrangement in the inlet end of the mixer having low resistance to the flow of the fluids for preventing cross contamination between the fluids and optionally provided with means an arrangement at the inlet end of the mixer for both enhancing the mixing action downstream and for maintaining the integrity and separation between the fluids.

Description

FIG. 4a is a view of a cartridge end for three fluids; and

FIG. 4b is a view of the inlet end of a mixer for three fluids. abuttment abutment with the end of the baffle 4. This separator 14 may be contoured as one of the mixing elements, or it can merely serve to maintain the integrity and separation of the two streams with varying degrees of twist to flat.

It is necessary that the first element 14 (i.e. the separation means) of the mixer unit be fixed relative to the mixing tube 11 such that its inlet edge 15, after connecting the mixer unit 10 to the twin cartridge 1, as described before, is oriented parallel to and in abuttment abutment with the downstream end of baffle 4 in the orifice.

Accordingly the separation means 14 continues a substantial distance into the mixing tube 11 beyond the interface 20 (delivery point) between the end of the orifice and the first point at which the two, usually reactive, fluids actually contact each other. This distance is selected to ensure that, even during lengthy idle periods after dispensing has begun, no reaction or hardening of the cartridge content can occur either at the delivery point 20 of the orifice or by diffusion back into the cartridge. The term herein "substantial distance" is intended to mean such a dimension.

The necessary relative position of the separator 14 (and, consequently, of the following vanes 16) within the mixing tube 11 may be achieved preferably by means of a tight fit, i.e. by matching the diameters of the vanes and the bore of the tube. In the embodiment shown, however, the separator 14 is somewhat extended at its inlet edge 15 in the direction of the tube diameter, the extensions resting in corresponding notches 17 provided in the tube wall (FIG. 3). By this means, axial pressure is provided between the inlet edge 15 and the downstream end of baffle 4 to ensure tight connection. The inlet end 15 may preferably be formed with a bevel. If all the elements 14, 16 are formed, as usual, as as a single piece including both right and left mixing elements (of molded plastic), it is possible to fix the mixing elements as a united assembly in the tube 11 at its exit end 18 axially and in rotary position with respect to the tube 11 (e.g. as known per se, by means of cam-like guides at the innerside of the tube) in order to ensure the correct connection of the inlet edge 15; by suitably dimensioning of the lengths of the mixing element assembly and the tube, in that case, the inlet edge 15 may be urged with residual spring compression against the end of baffle 4 by slightly compressing the mixing element assembly axially when joining the mixer unit 10 with the cartridge 1.

Having now described a prefered embodiment of the invention, it will now be obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications and adaptations thereof can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus, it is not necessary that it be limited to the dispensing of two fluids inasmuch as additional fluids can be delivered simultaneously. In this case, the separator ribbon element 14 needs only to keep the fluids separated. This can be accomplished by forming it radially outwardly from the axis of the tube, with as many vane portions as there are fluids. FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate an embodiment for mixing three fluids, 4' being the baffle in the cartridge portion and 15' being the separator in the mixing tube. Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and therefore it is not our intention to limit the invention to the precise form shown in the drawings by rather to limit it only in the terms of the appended claims.

Claims

1. In a device for the simultaneous delivery of a plurality of separate fluids to a dispensing point downstream of which the fluids are to be admixed, the combination comprising:

a delivery orifice for said device for delivering said fluids to said delivery dispensing point;

a baffle in said orifice for separating said fluids upstream of said delivery dispensing point having a transverse radially extending downstream end;

a mixing tube having an inlet and end, an outlet end and a central longitudinal axis; a plurality of each of first and second stationary mixing elements in said tube;

said mixing elements substantially in the form of twisted ribbons spanning the interior diameter of said mixing tube and having transverse radially extending entrance and exit ends;

said mixing elements further comprising means for directing the how of said fluids in helical paths around the axis of said tube said first elements directing it in one direction and said second elements directing it in the opposite direction;

means for fixing said elements in said tube with the first and second elements alternating along the axis of said tube and with the entrance of each downstream element set at approximately right angles to the exit end of the next element upstream thereof;

means at the inlet end of said tube for releasably securing said tube to said orifice circumferentially sealing said orifice, said means comprising a pair of opposing flanges arranged on a first diameter of said inlet end of said mixing tube;

means for preventing cross contamination of the fluids comprising ribbon-like separation means affixed to said tube in the inlet end of said tube having a transverse, radially extending inlet end in abuttment abutment with and sealing the downstream end of said baffle when said tube is secured to said orifice for maintaining the separation and integrity of said fluids each to itself for a substantial distance within said mixing tube downstream of the downstream end of said baffle, said separation means being positioned on a second diameter of said inlet end of said mixing tube, said second diameter being approximately perpendicular to said first diameter; and

means in said tube for holding said separation means in abuttment abutment with and at right angles to the entrance end of the next element downstream.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 further characterized by:

means for subjecting the upstream end of the separation means to substantial residual spring pressure against the downstream end of said baffle when the tube is secured to said dispensing device.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 further characterized by:

said separation means in the inlet end of said mixing tube arranged to direct the fluids in a helical path, and

the stationary mixing element immediately downstream of said separation set at right angles to said separation means and directing the fluids in an oppositely rotating helical path.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 further characterized by:

said separation means in the form of one of said mixing elements for optimal preparation of the flow paths of said fluids for subsequent mixing.

5. The combination defined in claim 1 further characterized by:

said dispenser being adapted for dispensing only two fluids. 6. The combination defined in claim 1 further characterized by;

both said baffle and said separator means adapted to meaintain the

separation of a multiplicity greater than two of fluids.7. In a device for the supply and mixing of a plurality of separate fluids, said device having storage compartments for such separate fluids which are supplied to a delivery orifice, a baffle, having a transverse end, extending in said orifice for maintaining separation of fluids and a mixing tube removably affixed to said orifice by a pair of opposing flanges on said mixing tube, said flanges being positioned on a first diameter of the mixing tube and having a plurality of stationary mixing elements for supplying a mix of said fluids to a dispensing point, the improvement comprising:

separation means in said mixing tube arranged on a second diameter of the mixing tube for preventing cross-contamination of said fluids disposed at an inlet end of said tube in abutment with and sealing the transverse end of said baffle for maintaining the separation and integrity of said fluids for a substantial distance within said mixing tube from the end of said baffle so that admixing of said fluids at said delivery orifice is prevented, wherein said first diameter of the mixing tube is approximately perpendicular to said second diameter of the mixing tube. 8. The device of claim 7 wherein said separation means comprises a portion of the stationary mixing elements. 9. The device of claim 7, including means to align the separation means with the transverse end of the baffle. 10. The device of claim 7 including means to force the separation means against the transverse end of the baffle by sprint pressure. 11. The device of claim 7 wherein said static mixing elements and said separation means each comprise means for directing the flow of fluids in helical paths around the axis of the mixing tube. 12. The device in accordance with claim 11 wherein said static mixing elements include first and second elements which are substantially in the form of twisted ribbons, said first and second elements alternating in direction, said separation means also being in the form of a twisted ribbon and being the first element in a series of alternating first and second elements. 13. In a static mixing tube having an inlet for receiving a plurality of separate fluids, static mixing means for mixing said fluids, an outlet for dispensing a fluid mixture, and means for mounting said mixing tube to a store of separate fluids including a pair of opposing flanges arranged on a first diameter of said inlet of said mixing tube, the store of separate fluids having supply means with a separating baffle positioned therein to prevent mixing of said plurality of separate fluids, the improvement comprising:

separation means fixed within said mixing tube between said inlet and said static mixing means, said separation means being positioned on a second diameter of said inlet of said mixing tube, said second diameter being approximately perpendicular to said first diameter, said separation means for being positioned external to said supply means and for continuing to prevent mixing of said plurality of separate fluids after said plurality of fluids pass from said supply means into said mixing tube. 14. The mixing tube of claim 13 wherein said separation means comprises a portion of the static mixing means. 15. The mixing tube of claim 13 including means to align the separation means with the transverse end of the baffle. 16. The mixing tube of claim 13 comprising means to force the separation means against the transverse end of the baffle by spring pressure. 17. The mixing tube of claim 13 wherein the static mixing means and said separation means each comprise means for directing the flow of fluids in helical paths around the axis of the mixing tube. 18. The mixing tube in accordance with claim 13 wherein the static mixing means include first and second elements which are substantially in the form of twisted ribbons, said first and second elements alternating in direction, said separation means also being in the form of a twisted ribbon and being the first element in a series of alternating first and second elements. 19. In a static mixing tube having an inlet for receiving a plurality of separate fluids, static mixing means for mixing said fluids, an outlet for dispensing a fluid mixture, and means for mounting said mixing tube to a store of seperate fluids including a pair of opposing flanges arranged relative to a first diameter of said inlet of said mixing tube, the store of separate fluids having supply means with a separating baffle positioned therein to prevent mixing of said plurality of seperate fluids, the improvement comprising:

separation means fixed within said mixing tube between said inlet and said static mixing means, said separation means being positioned relative to a second dismeter of said inlet of said mixing tube, said second diameter being approximately perpendicular to said first diameter, said sepration means for being positioned external to said supply means and for continuing to prevent mixing of said plurality of seperate fluids after said plurality of fluids pass from said supply means into said mixing tube. 20. The mixing tube of claim 19 wherein said separation means comprises a portion of the static mixing means.

21. The mixing tube of claim 19 including means to align the separation means with the transverse end of the baffle. 22. The mixing tube of claim 19 comprising means to force the separation means against the transverse end of the baffle by spring pressure. 23. The mixing tube of claim 19 wherein the static mixing means and said separation means each comprise means for directing the flow of fluids in helical paths. 24. The mixing tube in accordance with claim 19 wherein the static mixing means include first and second elements which are substantially in the form of twisted ribbons, said first and second elements alternating in direction, said separation means also being in the form of a twisted ribbon and being the first element in a series of alternating first and second elements. 25. The mixing tube of claim 19 wherein said separation means is adapted to maintain the separation of a multiplicity greater than two of fluids. 26. In a device for the simultaneous delivery of a plurality of separate fluids to a delivery point downstream of which the fluids are to be admixed, the combination comprising:

a delivery orifice for said device for delivering said fluids to said delivery point;

a baffle in said orifice for separating said fluids upstream of said delivery point having a transverse radially extending downstream end;

a mixing tube having an inlet end, an outlet end and a central longitudinal axis; a plurality of each of first and second stationary mixing elements in said tube;

said mixing elements substantially in the form of twisted ribbons spanning the interior diameter of said mixing tube and having transverse radially extending entrance and exit ends;

said mixing elements further comprising means for directing the flow of said fluids in helical paths around the axis of said tube, said first elements directing it in one direction and said second elements directing it in the opposite direction;

means for fixing said elements in said tube with the first and second elements alternating along the axis of said tube and with the entrance of each downstream element set at approximately right angles to the exit end of the next element upstream thereof;

means at the inlet end of said tube for releasably securing said tube to said orifice circumferentially sealing said orifice, said means comprising a pair of opposing flanges arranged relative to a first diameter of said inlet end of said mixing tube;

means for preventing cross contamination of the fluids comprising ribbon-like separation means affixed to said tube in the inlet end of said tube having a transverse, radially extending inlet end in abutment with and sealing the downstream end of said baffle when said tube is secured to said orifice for maintaining the separation and integrity of said fluids each to itself for a substantial distance within said mixing tube downstream of the downstream end of said baffle, said separation means being positioned relative to a second diameter of said inlet end of said mixing tube, said second diameter being approximately perpendicular to said first diameter; and

means in said tube for holding said separation means in abutment with and at right angles to the entrance end of the next element downstream.