MXPA00003762A - Unit dose dispense package - Google Patents

Abstract

A unit dose storage and dispenser cartridge (10) for a unit dose of an ingredient (12) includes a storage and dispense container dispensably containing a unit dose of the ingredient (12). The container (10) includes a cylindrical interior wall (18) defining a cartridge passageway (30) having an ingredient-containing ingredient storage cavity portion (36). The container (10) further defines a dispense opening (24) communicating with the ingredient storage cavity portion (36) and includes a first sealing member (70) removably sealing the dispense opening (24). A dispense piston (34) is movable by a dasher rod (15) through the ingredient storage cavity portion (36) so as to dispense the unit dose of the ingredient (12) through the dispense opening (24). An openable vent (86) is positioned in registry with the cartridge passageway.

Description

t / UNIT DOSING PACKAGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the field of dispensing containers. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a unit dose spout container for an activating catalyst for a heat curable impregnant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATIVE TECHNIQUE The invention relates to a unit dose cartridge container for an ingredient to be mixed with a given amount of a mixing component. A typical use for the present invention is a storage cartridge and assortment for vazo catalyst. Vazo catalyst is typically supplied in a 18.9-liter jug, having a full 15.14 liters of heat-cured impregnant. The combined mixture is then used to seal porous metal or plastic parts. Typically, the catalyst is added to the impregnant in the manufacturing facility where mixing is also applied afterwards. Current methods for mixing the catalyst with the impregnant involve manually spooning a quantity of vazo paste from a liter-wide-mouth container. Once the vazo has been added to the 18-hr jug, the jug is closed and shaken. until the vazo is mixed with the impregnant. A liter container of vazo catalyst, however, includes about one kilogram of vazo catalyst which can catalyze approximately 7.6 carafes of heat curing impregnant. Since the heat-curable impregnating vessel typically has a smaller opening than the vat container, a certain amount of scoop and small additional portions of vazo are required to complete the transfer. In addition, the measuring tools used by each operator can vary such that such mixing methods escape from the precise supply of the ideal amount of catalyst for an impregnant jug. As a result, the rate of catalyst for each mixing vessel may vary from operator to operator. Such variations result from the imprecise distribution of the vazo so the precise quality control of the applied mixture is inhibited. These known methods for supplying the vazo catalyst also have a risk for personnel and the environment. For example, manual dippering of the vazo can expose an operator to the vazo pulp itself, which is an irritant. Also, because the liter container does not provide vazo for a uniform number of buckets, and the bucket method does not provide accurate measurement of the amount of vazo bucket, it is quite possible that a discarded liter container may still contain some vazo quantities. the same which can then be accumulated in a landfill. It is known in the art that the vazo catalyst can be mixed with the impregnant before shipping, but the mixture must then be shipped refrigerated to maintain its viability. As the two ingredients may need to be shipped to several remote facilities from the component manufacturing site, the increased costs for refrigerated shipping of the mixture makes this method unacceptably expensive. It is therefore desirable to provide a transport cartridge and vacuum catalyst assortment that reduces or eliminates hazards to personnel and the environment and that provides greater assurance of precise catalyst delivery to a heat-cure impregnating vessel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a unit dose storage and dispensing cartridge for a unit dose of an ingredient includes a storage and dispensing container that contains a unit dose of the ingredient. The container includes an interior cylindrical wall defining a cartridge passage having a cavity portion for storage of ingredient that ". . . . «- .. - -. . . - - - -contains ingredient. The container further defines a dispensing opening that communicates with the ingredient storage cavity portion and includes a first sealing member that removably seals the dispensing opening. A spout piston is movable by a pusher rod through the storage cavity portion of the ingredient to deliver the unit dose of the ingredient through the dispensing opening. A vent that can be opened is placed in register with the cartridge passage. It is contemplated that a pusher rod may be provided for each cartridge or that a single pusher rod may be provided for a given number of cartridges. It is further contemplated that the present invention may be provided in package form. The present invention will be appreciated more quickly by reading the "Detailed Description of the Invention" with reference to the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows an exploded view of the unit dose cartridge and push rod assembly 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 used 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. The assembly 10 is particularly useful for containing and supplying a vazoral catalyst 12 to a heat-curable impregnating vessel (not shown). Although the present invention is described for storing and containing a unit dose of vazo catalyst, it is understood that the present invention can be used to store and supply any ingredient. The components of the assembly 10, except where noted below, are desirably formed of a suitable plastic material. The assembly 10 includes a cartridge housing 14 for containing a precise unit dose of catalyst 12. An example of a vazo catalyst that can be contained and assorted by the cartridge assembly 10 is sold by the assignee of the present invention under the name commercial "RESI NOL® IN ITIATOR PASTE". A type of heat-cured impregnant suitable especially for mixing with the vazoral catalyst 12 is normally sold by the assignee of the present invention under the trade name "90C STOCK SOLUTION". The cartridge assembly 10 includes an elongated tubular cartridge housing 14. The cartridge housing 14 includes an elongated cylindrical wall 16 having an inner surface 18 and an outer surface 20. The cylindrical tube 16 includes a distal open end 22 defining a dispensing opening 24 and a proximal open end 26 defining a mechanical access , or opening 28 for insertion of agitator. The cylindrical wall 16 defines an elongated cartridge interior 30 in fluid communication with an assortment opening 24 and an opening 28 for agitator insertion The outer surface 20 of the cylindrical wall 16 has formed therein an annular rib 32 in relation to the ras It is also contemplated that label carrying visual indicators 33 may be adhered to the outer surface 20 of the cylindrical wall 16. A rigid elongated push rod 15 may be provided as a package with the assembly 10 of cartridge, or alternatively, a pusher rod 15 may be provided per unit shipped from multiple cartridge assemblies. The pusher rod 15 is desirably formed of a suitable plastic material and includes a first tapered end 15a for insertion into the cartridge housing 14 and a second end 15b from which an operator manually handles the first end 15a. The second end 15b desirably terminates in a disc-shaped agitator head 17. The length of the pusher rod 15 is desirably selected as described hereinafter. It is contemplated that the function of the pusher rod 15 may be realized by any object having the described features including, by way of illustration and not limitation, a screwdriver. The assembly 10 further includes a piston 34 to be inserted into the interior 30 of the cartridge of the housing 14 of the cartridge to provide sliding engagement by friction with the inner surface 18 of the cylindrical wall 16. Once inserted into the cartridge housing 14 the piston 34 further divides the interior 30 of the cartridge between an ingredient storage cavity portion 36 that extends between the piston 34 and the dispenser opening 24 and an agitator receiving portion 38 that extends between the portion 28 for agitator insertion and the piston 34. The cartridge housing 14 holds the vazo catalyst 12 and supplies the vacia catalyst 12 from the ingredient storage cavity portion 36. With additional reference to Figure 4, the piston 34 includes an elongated cylindrical piston wall 40 having a distal end 42 and a proximal end 44. The cylindrical piston wall 40 includes an outer piston wall surface 46, an inner piston wall surface 47, and defines a piston interior 48. The inner piston wall surface 47 has therein formed a number of strengthening annular ribs 49 to provide increased structural rigidity to the cylindrical piston wall 40. The outer piston wall surface 46 is formed to provide friction-sliding engagement with the inner surface 18 of the cylindrical wall 16. A rounded piston-end wall 50 extends from the distal end 42 to provide a convex surface 52 that is extends to the portion 36 of the ingredient storage cavity of the assembly 10. The convex surface 52 terminates in a transverse plane central surface 54. The end wall 50 also provides a concave surface 56 facing the piston interior 48 and an agitator receiving portion 38 of the housing 14. The concave surface 56 circumferentially limits an axially central planar surface 58, opposed planar surface 54. An agitator coupling hub 60 extends from the flat surface 58 to the piston interior 48 and includes a cylindrical hub wall 62 defining a stirrer receiving cavity 64. The hub 60 accommodates the distal end 15a of the pusher rod 15 in frictional or stopper collection. The piston 34 desirably includes an annular flared cleaning rib 66 extending distally from the distal end 42 of the cylindrical piston wall 40. An annular groove 68 is defined between convex surface 52 and cleaning rib 66. The cleaning rib 66 is formed to provide a cleansing stock with the interior surface 18 of the cylindrical wall 16 as the piston 34 is used to push the tumbler catalyst 12 through the ingredient storage cavity portion 36 toward the spout 22. The cleaning rib 66 thus reduces the amount of vazo catalyst 12 remaining within the cartridge housing 14 after dispensing. Referring again to Figures 1-3, both, the dispensing opening 24 and the agitator insert opening 28 for the cartridge housing 14 are sealed for transport and storage purposes. Desirably, the cartridge housing 14 provides a hermetically sealed container of vazo catalyst 12. A seal 70 for assortment is fixed removably on the dispenser opening 24. Seal 70 is desirably formed of a metal foil such as aluminum foil or tin foil. The assortment seal 70 may be adhered to the cartridge housing 14 or simply held in place by a final assortment cover 72. Although the assortment seal 70 is formed having a substantially circular shape, it is desirable to provide a graspable tab 71 that extends radially outwardly therefrom. The tab 71 assists an operator in removing the assortment seal 70 from the cartridge housing 14 prior to dispensing the tumbler catalyst 12. The assortment end cap 72 is secured on the assortment seal 70 in frictional engagement with the dispensing end 24. The assortment end cap 72 includes a circular base 74 substantially circumferentially limited by a vertical housing coupling wall 76. The housing coupling wall 76 may include an annular housing engaging rib 78 disposed on the circular base 74 to increase frictional engagement; deflectable from the housing coupling wall 76 with the cartridge housing 14. As the cartridge assembly 10 can be subjected to high temperatures during storage and transportation, a vent seal 80 is provided to relieve any resulting excessive pressure accumulated within the interior 30 of the cartridge. The vent seal 80 removably affixed to the proximal end 26 of the tube over the opening 28 for agitator insertion. The vent seal 80 is desirably formed of a metal foil such as aluminum foil or tin foil. The vent seal 80 is desirably adhered to the cartridge housing 14 or simply held in place by a proximal end cap 82. Although the vent seal 80 is formed having a substantially circular shape, it desirably provides a graspable tab 81 that extends out radially therefrom. The tab 81 assists an operator to remove the vent seal 80 from the cartridge housing 14 . The vent seal 80 includes a vent opening 84 centrally positioned to be placed in register with the agitator receiving portion 38 of the cartridge interior 30. The vent opening 84 is covered in the cartridge interior 30 by a pressure relief vent 86. The ventilator 86 includes a vent plug 88 in register with the vent opening 84. The vent plug 88 is perimetrally constrained by and interposed concentrically between a first laminated member 90 and a second laminated member 91. The first laminated layer 90 is adhesively attached to the ventilator seal 80. The vent plug 88 is desirably formed of microporous polytetrafluoroethylene. The vent 86 is of the type known in the art and will prevent air exchange through the vent opening 84 until the elevated temperatures cause excessive buildup of pressure within the cartridge interior 30, at which point the vent 86 will open and it will allow the air to escape at high pressure through the vent opening 84. The proximal end cap 82 is secured over the vent seal 80 and the annular rib 32 to provide frictional engagement with the proximal end 26 of the cartridge housing 14. The proximal end cap 82 is a substantially disc-like member that includes a flat circular base 92 which defines a central opening 94 and which is circumferentially constrained by a vertical housing coupling wall 96. The central opening 94 is formed so that it can be placed in register with the vent opening 84 and to allow the push rod 15 to be inserted through fc thereof to engage with the piston 34. The central opening 94 is desirably very small to allow the head 17 of the agitator to pass through it so that the circular base 92 can prevent the agitator head from being pushed into the interior 30 of the cartridge. The length of the pusher rod 15 is optimally selected so as not to force the piston 34 out of the interior 30 of the cartridge when the agitator head 17 abuts the proximal end cap 82 while also desirably exposing the convex surface 52 of the piston. 34 through the dispenser opening 24. The housing coupling wall 96 of the end cap 82 may include an annular housing coupling rib 96 disposed on the circular base 92 to increase the displaceable frictional engagement of the housing coupling wall 96 with the cartridge housing 14. . Since the cover 82 of the proximal end must also engage in a deflectable manner projecting from the outer cylindrical wall 20 and the spout end cap 72 needs only to engage defiably with the outer cylindrical wall 20, the assembly 10 desirably requires that the cap 82 The proximal end has a larger sealing diameter than the cap 72 of the dispensing end. By providing end caps 72 and 82 with different sealing diameters, the assembly 10 provides an anti-jamming aspect which ensures that the end caps 72 and 82 are placed on the ends 22 and 26, respectively, of the tube 16. The cartridge assembly 10 can therefore be constructed to maintain a pre unit dose, i.e., approximately 130 grams of vat catalyst 12 to mix with a 18.9 liter bottle of heat-cured impregnant . The present invention minimizes the exposure of the operator to the vazo catalyst 12 by providing a single-use disposable cartridge which minimizes the operator's handling of components that contact vazo. Additionally, by providing and neatly supplying a pre unit dose of vazo catalyst 12, the present invention significantly reduces the amount of excess or unused vazo catalyst paste that can be discarded. An operator can supply vazo catalyst 12 from the cartridge assembly 10 as follows. The push rod 15 can be inserted through the central opening 94 of the cover 82 of the proximal end to pierce the vent seal 80 to extend through the pusher receiving portion 38 and to engage with the piston 34. The first end 15a The taper of the pusher rod 15 desirably extends partially in the receiving cavity 64 of the pusher and engages with the cube wall 62 of the coupling hub 60 with the pusher. The operator can then remove the cap 72 from the dispensing end and remove the seal 70 for assortment of the distal end 22 of the cartridge housing 14 to expose the vaso catalyst 12. The dispenser opening 24 is then placed in register with, or in, an opening of a heat-curable impregnating jug. By holding the cartridge assembly 10 in the opening of the jug, the operator would then push on the head 17 of the push rod agitator 15 to force the piston 34 distally towards the dispensing opening 24 to supply the blow catalyst 12 to the jug. As the piston 34 moves toward the dispenser opening 24, the cleaning rib 66 slides past the inner cylindrical wall 18 to minimize remaining residual catalyst 12 within the cartridge interior 30. The operator will continue to push the piston 34 distally until the convex surface 50 extends completely from the cartridge interior 30. In this fully extended position, the cylindrical piston wall 40 still frictionally engages the inner cylindrical wall 18. The length of the pusher rod 15 is desirably selected to be sufficient to fully extend the convex surface 50 of the cartridge interior 30 so that it is also insufficient to force the piston 34 inadvertently out of the interior 30 of the cartridge. Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described in detail above, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill that changes and modifications can be made without departing from the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, what 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.

Claims (17)

1. CLAIMS 1. A storage cartridge and unit dose dispenser for an ingredient, comprising: an elongated tubular container having a first end defining a dispensing opening, a second end defining an opening for insertion of a pusher, and a passage elongate extending between said assortment and access openings; a first cover sealingly and removably attached to said first end in register with said dispensing opening, wherein said first cover comprises a first metal sheet member attached to said first end of the container; a second cover sealingly joined and removibbed to said second end in register with said pusher insertion opening, wherein said second cover comprises a second metal sheet member attached to said second end of the container; a piston member slidably received within said passage, said piston having a first larger surface and a second opposed major surface, said piston that can be placed inside said container to define a portion of ingredient storage cavity of said passage between said first larger surface of said piston and said first end of said portion of ingredient storage cavity, said portion of storage cavity of ingredient having a volume to accept a unit dose of said ingredient; a push rod that can be inserted through said opening for insertion of pusher and engageable with said second greater surface of said piston member to effect the sliding movement of said piston member to supply said unit dose of said ingredient through said piston member. assortment opening; and a pressure vent supported in one of said first and second metal sheets to vent internal pressure generated within said ingredient storage cavity portion of said passage prior to insertion of said pusher rod through said opening for insertion of the same. pusher 2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein said ingredient is a vazo catalyst. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein said first cover further comprises a first cover attached to said first end. The cartridge of claim 3, wherein said second cover further comprises a second cover attached to said second end, said second layer having a sealing diameter different from that of said first cover. The cartridge of claim 4, wherein said second cap further defines an opening for push rod for passage of said push rod therethrough to engage said second larger surface of said piston. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein said first major surface of said piston has an arcuate shape. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein said piston further includes a ring-shaped ring that can be deflected for sliding engagement for cleaning with said inner surface. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein said second major surface of said piston defines a rod receiving cube of 5 push to engage with said pusher. 9. A package for storing and dispensing a unit dose of an ingredient to a mixing volume, comprising: a hollow elongate cartridge for storage and assortment for housing a unit dose of said ingredient in sealed containment, said cartridge defining an elongate cartridge passage communicating between a spout end and a pusher insertion end; a piston adapted for sliding cleaning coupling with said cartridge within said cartridge passage, said unit dose of said ingredient that can be placed between said dispensing opening and said piston; a pair of removable fitting members adapted for removable sealing engagement with said ends, wherein said pair of removable sealing members further comprises a first metallic sheet adhered on said spout end and a second metallic sheet adhered on said end for insertion of pusher of said spout cartridge, wherein one of said first and second metal sheets further supports a pressure vent that can be opened; and a pusher rod adapted to be operable with said piston through said end for insertion of pusher to supply said unit dose of said ingredient therefrom in a single stroke. 10. A unit dose storage and dispensing cartridge for a unit dose of an ingredient, comprising: a storage container and assortment containing to supply a unit dose of said ingredient, said container having a cylindrical inner wall defining a assortment opening, an opening for insertion of pusher and a passage of cartridge having a portion of storage cavity of ingredient containing ingredient that extends between them, said container further including a first sealing member that removably seals said opening assortment comprising a first sheet metal member and a second sealing member that removably seals said pusher insertion opening comprising a second metal sheet member; a piston jet movable through said portion of ingredient storage cavity to supply said unit dose of said ingredient through said dispensing opening; and an openable vent supported by said second sheet metal member and placed in register with said cartridge passage. eleven . The cartridge of claim 10, wherein said first sealing member further comprises a first end cap fixed on said first sheet metal member. 12. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein said first sheet member is adhered to said container. The cartridge of claim 10, wherein said second sealing member further comprises a second end cap fixed on said second metal sheet member, and wherein said container further includes an annular projection on said container around said opening for pusher insertion to require said first and second end caps to be adapted to sealingly engage with only one end of said container. The cartridge of claim 13, wherein said second end cap further defines an opening for push rod for passage of said push rod therethrough to engage said jet piston. The cartridge of claim 10, wherein said spout piston includes an arcuate surface adjacent to said ingredient and an annular ring that can be deflected for sliding cleaning engagement with said inner wall of said container. 16. The cartridge of claim 10, wherein said ingredient is a vazo catalyst paste to be supplied to a container of a heat-curable impregnant. The cartridge of claim 10, further comprising a pusher rod coupled in a decoupling manner with said spout piston through said pusher insertion opening for pushing said piston toward said dispensing opening for effecting the delivery of said ingredient.