ES3041675T3 - Cartridge with a film head piece and support sleeve - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a cartridge (1) comprising: a circumferential cylindrical wall (2) designed as a film, and a headpiece (3) sealed and permanently connected to the cartridge wall (2). The headpiece (3) is designed as a film and has an end section (3a) and a fixing section (3b). The end section (3a) is located in an interior space (10) of the cartridge (1), at a longitudinal distance (6) from the end (5a) of the cartridge wall (2). The fixing section (3b) is sealed and permanently connected to the inner surface (2a) of the cartridge wall (2). The invention also relates to a support sleeve for the cartridge (1).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Cartridge with printhead piece designed as a sheet and support sleeve

The invention relates to a cartridge, particularly for silicones, comprising: a circumferential cylindrical cartridge wall designed as a sheet and a head piece that is sealed and inseparably connected to the cartridge wall.

Plastic bonding, sealing, and filling agents are typically packaged in dimensionally stable cartridges. These cartridges usually have a circumferential cylindrical wall made of a dimensionally stable material. At one end of the cylindrical wall, the cartridge has a head piece, which typically has an outlet for one or more filler substances contained within the cartridge. The outlet may, for example, form an opening in a threaded connector that allows a nozzle or similar fitting to be screwed on. At the other end, a piston is inserted inside the cylindrical wall of the cartridge. This piston can move longitudinally along the cartridge wall toward the head piece to dispense the filler substance(s) through the cartridge outlet. To dispense or eject the filler substance(s), these cartridges are typically inserted into a cartridge ejector gun. When the cartridge ejection gun is activated, a push rod presses the piston via a pressure plate to expel the filling substances from inside the cartridge through the outlet.

The use of so-called foil cartridges is also common for packaging bonding agents, sealants, and other fillers. Foil cartridges are tubular containers that can be cut open at the front to extract the filler. The advantage of foil cartridges is that, once the filler has been extracted, only the foil cartridge needs to be disposed of. However, with the dimensionally stable or rigid cartridges described earlier, the resulting waste volume corresponds to the full original volume of the cartridge. Furthermore, empty cartridges often have to be disposed of as hazardous waste. This is required by law, for example, if the filler is silicone.

Foil cartridges are generally not ejectable by conventional cartridge ejection guns. A foil cartridge ejection device is described in patent DE 8901554 U1. This device comprises a cylindrical tubular body for housing the foil cartridge, a headpiece positioned over the tubular body with an outlet opening for material ejection, and a piston body movable within the tubular body toward the headpiece. The front end of the foil cartridge, projecting into a neck of the headpiece, is cut so that the material can exit through the neck into a nozzle. Using the piston rod of a cartridge ejection gun equipped with a pressure plate, the piston is pressed forward against the rear end of the foil cartridge, fully compressing it. A mandrel for piercing the foil cartridge may be included on the inner side of the headpiece.

EP 2768 620 B1 describes a cartridge with at least one longitudinal receiving chamber for dispensing the medium. This receiving chamber consists of a head piece with an outlet for the medium, a base piece, and a cartridge wall configured as a sheet. Both the head piece and the base piece are dimensionally stable. The head piece is hermetically and inseparably connected to the cartridge wall. A protective sheet is located at the end of the receiving chamber, defined by the head piece, hermetically sealing the receiving chamber at this end.

In the cartridge described in document EP 2768 620 B1, both the head piece and the base piece protrude radially from the cartridge wall, so that a support sleeve, which is intended to hold the cartridge when dispensing filling substances, cannot rest directly against the outside of the cartridge wall.

The objective of the invention is to provide a cartridge that has a reduced waste volume and a high level of functional reliability and that can also be used flexibly.

This objective is achieved according to one aspect of the invention by means of a cartridge of the type mentioned at the beginning, the head piece being designed as a sheet and having a front section and a fixing section, the front section being disposed inside the cartridge at a distance from a first end of the cartridge wall in the longitudinal direction, and the fixing section being connected in a sealed and indivisible manner to an inner side of the cartridge wall.

In the cartridge according to this aspect of the invention, the printhead is not designed as a dimensionally stable component, but as a sheet. This sheet is hermetically and inseparably connected to the inside of the cartridge wall by means of the fixing section. The hermetic connection can be achieved, for example, by plastic welding or gluing. The fixing section typically has a cylindrical geometry and defines the front section of the sheet. Due to the cylindrical geometry of the cartridge wall, the front section of the printhead is typically circular and is separated from a first end of the cartridge wall along its longitudinal direction.

Unlike the protective film described in document EP 2768620 B1 cited at the beginning, the gap between the front section of the printhead and the first end of the cartridge wall creates a space inside the cartridge where a dimensionally stable connecting piece can be inserted. This piece has an outlet for the filling substances stored in the cartridge (see below). This increases the cartridge's flexibility of use, as connecting pieces of different designs can be inserted into the cartridge.

Conversely, in an example described in EP 2768 620 B1, the foil forming the cartridge wall is shaped with the liquid plastic during production, forming the printhead section after cooling. During shaping, the foil may shrink. Furthermore, a printhead section that protrudes radially from the cartridge wall presents the disadvantage, described earlier, that the support sleeve used to dispense the filling substances may extend longitudinally along the outside of the cartridge wall and possibly into the printhead section area when pressed. If the connecting piece is inserted inside the cartridge, the protrusion problem can be avoided.

In one embodiment, the longitudinal distance between the first end of the cartridge wall and the front section of the printhead is at least 0.3 cm. If the mounting section faces the first end of the cartridge, its longitudinal length is limited by the distance between the first end of the cartridge and the front section of the printhead. However, the mounting section must have sufficient surface area to withstand the forces exerted when dispensing the filling substances from the cartridge and to prevent the printhead from detaching from the cartridge wall. Generally, sufficient distance between the first end of the cartridge wall and the front section of the printhead is also required to secure the connecting piece to the cartridge or to prevent it from falling off (see below).

In another embodiment, the cartridge comprises a dimensionally stable connecting piece that is inserted into the cartridge at the first end and has an outlet for discharging the filling substances stored in the cartridge. The connecting piece preferably has a circumferential rim for contact with the inside of the cartridge wall and/or with the inside of the fixing section of the printhead. Since the inside of the cartridge is sealed by the foil printhead, the material of the dimensionally stable connecting piece can be selected with virtually complete freedom.

For the purposes of this application, the term "dimensionally stable" means that a component, for example, the connecting piece, does not change shape during normal use and can deform elastically at most without significant force. Compared to a dimensionally stable component, a foil component, for example, the foil cartridge wall, is significantly thinner. The thickness of the foil cartridge wall and the foil head piece is generally less than approximately 0.5 mm, possibly less than 0.3 mm or less than 0.2 mm.

As described above, the connector is inserted into the cartridge at the first end, where the headpiece is hermetically and inseparably connected to the cartridge wall. The connector is typically inserted longitudinally into the cartridge until it, or more precisely, a plate-shaped section of the connector, rests against the front section of the foil headpiece. The circumferential rim secures the connector radially to the inside of the cartridge wall or to the fixing section. The diameter of the connector's circumferential rim can be adapted to the inner diameter of the cartridge wall or the fixing section, so that the rim of the connector presses against the inside of the peripheral side wall, thus holding it in place during insertion and preventing it from falling out. The outlet of the connector can be, for example, an opening in a nozzle molded onto the plate-shaped section of the connector. The nozzle can be threaded for attaching a nozzle or similar device to the cartridge to dispense the filling substances.

In principle, the connecting piece can be permanently attached to the inside of the cartridge wall or the mounting section, for example, by welding or adhesive. The detachable attachment or connection of the connecting piece to the cartridge wall also allows the cartridge to be delivered to a filling machine, with the required connecting piece or connector type supplied separately, or the existing connecting piece to be reused for a new cartridge.

In one variant of this embodiment, a locking section, preferably in the form of a folded sheet, is formed in the fixing section of the printhead piece to secure the dimensionally stable connecting piece to the cartridge. The locking section may form a folded end of the fixing section that is not connected to the inside of the cartridge wall. In this case, once the fixing section (without the locking section) is connected to the inside of the cartridge wall, the locking section can be folded and made contact with the inside of the fixing section. If necessary, the folded sheet section can be connected to the inside of the fixing section, for example, by welding or adhesive bonding.

The folded sheet section acts as a locking section. When the connector is inserted into the cartridge, the circumferential edge of the connector moves beyond the folded sheet section until the end facing the first end is positioned behind the end of the folded sheet section, in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge. The free end of the folded sheet section forms a protrusion that effectively prevents the connector from moving toward the first end of the cartridge and thus detaching from the connector.

To dispense the filler substances, the foil head piece, or more precisely, the front section, must be permeable to the filler substances. This can be achieved in various ways.

In one embodiment, the dimensionally stable connecting piece has at least one mandrel for piercing the front section of the headpiece. As described above, the connecting piece is inserted longitudinally into the cartridge. The mandrel presses against the front section of the foil headpiece and pierces it.

In another embodiment, the front section of the printhead has a perforation, preferably covered by a protective sheet that is detachably attached to it. This perforation facilitates the piercing of the front section of the foil printhead. The perforation can be made in the foil, for example, using a punch, such as a cross-shaped punch. The perforation can be covered with a protective sheet that is detachably applied to the front section of the foil printhead. The operator removes the detachable protective sheet before inserting the connecting piece into the cartridge. In this case, the mandrel described above or another tool for piercing the front section of the foil printhead is unnecessary. However, it is also possible to use a printhead with at least one mandrel for piercing the front section of the foil printhead.

In another embodiment, the cartridge includes a piston that is inserted into the cartridge at a second end of the cartridge wall, opposite the first, and moves longitudinally along the cartridge wall to seal it. Like the connecting piece, the piston is a dimensionally stable component. After the cartridge is filled with the filling material, the piston is inserted to seal the interior. When the filling material is dispensed through the outlet at the first end of the cartridge wall, the piston moves longitudinally toward that first end of the cartridge wall.

In another variation, a foil is attached to the side of the piston facing the cartridge interior. With the foil on the cartridge interior side, the foil head piece, and the foil cartridge wall, the filler materials are completely surrounded by foil components. Applying the foil to the piston interior side can, for example, be done in a single operation using the IML process, but it can also be applied/welded on later in a separate operation. With this design, there are few restrictions on the selection of the piston material, as the foil forms a barrier for the piston, preventing it from being attacked by the filler material. In contrast, applying a protective foil to the piston interior end, as described in EP 2768620 B1, is not effective in protecting the piston itself.

During cartridge transport or if the filling materials are accidentally heated, the piston could shift along the cartridge wall toward the other end and detach unintentionally, causing the filling materials to leak from the second end of the cartridge. This is especially problematic when using a cartridge with a foil wall, as the frictional forces between the cartridge wall and the piston are lower compared to a conventional cartridge.

In another embodiment, the cartridge has a base piece inseparably connected, particularly in a sealed manner, to a second end of the cartridge wall, preferably on the inner side of the cartridge wall. The base piece has an opening for inserting the piston into the cartridge and, preferably, projects radially, at least partially, from an outer side of the cartridge wall. The base piece may be a dimensionally stable component, but it may also be designed as a sheet.

The base piece stabilizes the cartridge and facilitates filling. Like the foil head piece, the base piece is preferably permanently attached to the inside of the cartridge wall, for example, by welding or adhesive. The base piece may be sealed to the inner wall of the cartridge, although this is not essential. The base piece may have a section that projects radially from the outside of the cartridge wall, for example, as a circumferential rim, which acts as a stop for a support sleeve that is pushed from the first end of the cartridge outward from the cartridge wall. This section projects radially at least 0.3 mm from the outside of the cartridge. The base piece is preferably annular so that the piston can be inserted through the base piece into the cartridge. Since the cartridge wall is made of foil, it is advantageous for the base piece to project (partially) lengthwise from the cartridge wall, as this allows the cartridge to be positioned and stored upright.

In one variant, the base piece incorporates at least one retaining element, preferably elastic, that protrudes from the inside of the cartridge wall to prevent the piston from moving toward the other end of the cartridge. The retaining element(s) are preferably designed as elastic locking hooks, oriented (angled) inward from a circumferential edge of the base piece. When the piston is inserted into the cartridge, the elastic retaining elements are pressed radially outward. As soon as the piston, or more precisely its outer edge, passes the retaining elements, the elastic retaining elements move radially inward, thus preventing the inserted piston from moving toward the other end of the cartridge. It is advantageous for the base piece to have several retaining elements arranged equidistantly in a circumferential direction. In particular, the retaining elements can be designed as circular sectors. The retaining elements in the form of circular sectors may extend to the center of the base piece, but it is usually sufficient for the retaining elements to only protrude inwards along a radially outer edge of the base piece.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a cartridge of the type mentioned at the beginning, which is designed according to the first aspect of the invention. In the cartridge, the cartridge wall has, in the region of a second end, at least one retaining element and/or a retaining section that projects beyond the inner side of the cartridge wall to prevent the movement of a piston that can be displaced in a sealed manner in the longitudinal direction along the cartridge wall in the direction of the second end of the cartridge, and/or the cartridge wall has, in the region of the second end, at least one retaining element or a retaining section that projects beyond an outer side of the cartridge wall to limit the movement of a support sleeve that can be displaced in the longitudinal direction along an outer side of the cartridge wall in the direction of the second end of the cartridge.

In the cartridge according to the second aspect of the invention, the provision of a base piece can generally be dispensed with entirely, since the function described above of the base piece, i.e., protecting the piston from falling out of the cartridge and forming a stop for the support sleeve, can be assumed by the cartridge wall.

To achieve this, sections of the cartridge wall can be formed as retention sections through appropriate shaping, or one or more retention elements can be formed within the cylindrical wall of the cartridge. Shaping the cartridge wall in the second-end area can also serve to stabilize the cartridge as a whole.

In one embodiment, the piston protrudes at least partially longitudinally from the other end of the cartridge wall. The piston may have a circumferential, for example, cylindrical, section that protrudes from the other end of the cartridge wall and forms a support surface for the cartridge, allowing it to be placed and stored upright. However, for the cartridge to be placed upright, it is not absolutely necessary for the piston to have a protruding circumferential section; it is sufficient for the piston to have several protruding areas that provide support for placing the cartridge upright.

In another embodiment, the retaining section protruding from the inner side and/or the retaining section protruding from the outer side is formed by a flanged edge. In this case, the cartridge wall sheet is folded outwards at the second end to prevent the support sleeve from moving towards the second end of the cartridge wall and/or folded inwards to limit piston movement. In this case, the folded flanged edge forms a contact surface for the support sleeve.

In one embodiment, the retaining elements protruding from the inner side and/or the retaining elements protruding from the outer side form partially separated (usually perforated) sections of the cartridge wall. These partially separated sections are connected on at least one side to the remaining cylindrical cartridge wall. The connection of these partially separated sections on this at least one side can be designed, for example, as a leaf hinge. Because the cartridge wall is designed as a leaf, these partially separated sections of the cartridge wall exhibit some flexibility, i.e., they are typically elastic. The side on which the partially separated sections connect to the cartridge wall can be aligned in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge or the cartridge wall. In this case, the partially separated sections typically extend axially from the connection side to the first end of the cartridge wall. However, it is also possible for the connection side to be oriented at a different angle (other than 90°) with respect to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge wall. In particular, the connection side can run parallel to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge wall, so that the partially separated sections extend in a radial direction.

In another embodiment, the retaining elements protruding from the inner side and/or the retaining elements protruding from the outer side are formed by folded sections of the cartridge wall projecting from the second end of the cartridge wall. These protruding sections are preferably connected, in particular welded, at least partially to the inner side of the cylindrical cartridge wall or at least partially to the outer side of the cylindrical cartridge wall. By folding and, typically, by additional welding, the protruding and folded sections of the cartridge wall are aligned toward the first end of the cartridge wall to fulfill their function as retaining elements.

The protruding sections can be individually folded and bent, but they can also be connected to a peripheral section of the cartridge wall, which is itself folded and bent towards the first end of the cartridge wall, thus aligning the protruding sections with the first end of the cartridge wall. If necessary, the folded sheet section can be bent further to form the flanged edge described above, which protrudes from the outer side of the cartridge wall.

In another embodiment, the cartridge has a support sleeve with a cylindrical sleeve wall that rests against the outer side of the cartridge wall. The support sleeve can be made of plastic, but this is not essential, as it only serves to stabilize the cartridge during dispensing of the filling material. A support sleeve made of cardboard, cardstock, or another suitable material can also fulfill this function. The support sleeve can be inserted into a cartridge ejection gun along with the rest of the cartridge to dispense the filling material. Alternatively, the support sleeve can be attached to the cartridge ejection gun by inserting the cartridge without the support sleeve. In this case, the support sleeve can be reused multiple times. The support sleeve only needs to be replaced if it becomes soiled or damaged during dispensing.

In another embodiment, the head, piston, and/or support sleeve are manufactured, at least partially, or in particular entirely, from recycled plastic or are composed of recycled plastic. By using sheet components in the areas of the cartridge that come into contact with the filling substances, it is possible to use recycled plastic for the dimensionally stable components of the cartridge.

The support sleeve comprises a cylindrical sleeve wall for coupling with the outer side of the cartridge wall of a cartridge that is designed as described above (without any dimensionally stable connecting piece being inserted into the cartridge), having at a first end of the cylindrical sleeve wall a dimensionally stable connecting piece for insertion into the cartridge at a first end of the cartridge wall, the connecting piece being preferably connected to the cylindrical sleeve wall of the support sleeve through at least one predetermined breaking element.

In the described support sleeve, the dimensionally stable connecting piece is integrated within the sleeve and can be separated by piercing at least one predetermined break point. These break points can be located on the outer radial edge of the connecting piece and can be pierced by applying force to the front end of the connecting piece, for example, at a nozzle created in the connecting piece. When force is applied, the connecting piece is drawn into the cartridge and comes into contact with the front end of the foil head piece. The force on the connecting piece can be applied manually by an operator. Preferably, the force on the connecting piece is applied by means of a cartridge ejector gun, into which the support sleeve is inserted along with the cartridge. When force builds up in the cartridge ejector gun, a push rod acts on the cartridge piston via a pressure plate, pressing the connecting piece attached to the support sleeve against a plate of the cartridge ejector gun. The connecting piece is submerged in the cartridge and separated from the cylindrical sleeve wall of the support sleeve.

The sheet components described above, as well as the dimensionally stable components, are usually made from common cartridge plastics, with the possible exception of the support sleeve (see above). These plastics may be, for example, polyamides (PA), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), particularly high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), or polyolefins in general. If the filler is silicone, polypropylene generally cannot be used; in this case, HDPE is usually employed. As described above, the plastics may also be recycled plastics.

In particular, the foil components do not necessarily have to be made of a single material; they can also be laminated. A laminate consists of several layers of foil bonded together. The foil components, especially the foil cartridge wall, can also be printed. The structure of the foil components depends on the specific cartridge requirements based on the filler materials and can be individually tailored. For example, by selecting the appropriate foil materials, the cartridge's barrier properties against oxygen and water vapor can be enhanced, as well as its resistance to aggressive fillers.

Other advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description and drawings. The embodiments shown and described are not intended to be exhaustive, but serve as examples to illustrate the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail by embodiment examples. It is shown in the:

Fig. 1 A perspective view of a foil head piece, a foil cartridge wall and a base piece, which together form a cartridge,

Fig. 2 a perspective view of the cartridge of Fig. 1 and a connecting piece that can be inserted into the cartridge at one end,

Fig. 3 a cross-sectional view of the cartridge of Fig. 1 with the connecting piece inserted into the cartridge,

Fig. 4 an analogous representation to Fig. 3, where the connecting piece has a mandrel for drilling a front section of the sheet metal head piece,

Fig. 5 an analogous representation to Fig. 3, in which a perforation in the front section of the sheet metal head piece is covered by a protective sheet,

Fig. 6 a partial section of a cartridge designed analogously to Fig. 3, with a piston inserted into the cartridge at a second end, on the side facing the interior of the cartridge a sheet is applied,

Fig. 7 a cross-sectional view of the cartridge of Fig. 6,

Fig. 8a-d schematic representations of a support sleeve for a cartridge, as shown in Fig. 1, wherein the support sleeve has a cylindrical sleeve wall to which a connecting piece is attached by means of predetermined web-shaped breaking elements,

Fig. 9a,b cross-sectional views of a cartridge without a base piece, wherein flanged edges or retaining elements for the piston are formed on the cylindrical wall of the cartridge,

Fig. 10a,b schematic representations of a cylindrical cartridge wall where protruding retaining elements are formed in the form of sections partially separated from the cartridge wall, as well as

Fig. 11a,b Schematic representations of a blank cartridge wall, at the second end of which protruding sections are formed, and of a cylindrical cartridge wall with retaining elements formed by folding the protruding sections of the blank.

Figures 1 to 3 show a cartridge 1 having a circumferential cylindrical cartridge wall 2 and a head piece 3, both of which are designed as sheet metal. The cartridge 1 also has a base piece 4, which in the example shown is made of sheet metal, but could also be made of a dimensionally stable material. The cartridge wall 2 is joined at one end 5a to the head piece 3 and at the other end 5b inseparably connected to the base piece 4. The cylindrical cartridge wall 2 is formed from a rolled rectangular blank, the adjacent sides of which are joined, or more precisely, welded together in an overlap zone shown in shaded area in Figure 1. Alternatively, the cylindrical cartridge wall 2 could be formed from a sheet metal tube.

The foil head piece 3 has a circular or disc-shaped front section 3a and a cylindrical mounting section 3b. The mounting section 3b is attached to the radial outer edge of the front section 3a and extends longitudinally (see Fig. 3) from cartridge 1 to the first end 5a of cartridge wall 2. The mounting section 3a of the head piece 3 is sealed with its outer side, shown shaded in Fig. 1, and inseparably connected to an inner side 2a of the foil cartridge wall 2. In the example shown, this is a welded connection; however, the sealing and inseparable connection could also be adhesive or similar. The essentially annular base piece 4 is also inseparably connected, and in the example shown, also sealed to the inner side 2a of cartridge wall 2. The area of the outer side of the annular circumferential wall of base piece 4, which is connected to the inner side 2a of wall 2 of the cartridge, is also shown shaded in Fig. 1.

The base piece 4 also has an edge zone 7 that projects radially from the outer side 2b of the wall 2 of the cylindrical cartridge. The edge zone 7 projects from the second end 5b of the cartridge 1 not only radially, but also longitudinally 8. The projecting edge zone 7 of the base piece 4 forms a bearing surface for mounting the cartridge 1.

The base piece 4 also has a central opening 9 through which a piston (not shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 3) is pushed into the cartridge 1 (see Fig. 3). The base piece 4 also features several elastic retaining elements 11 that protrude from the inner side 2a of the cartridge wall 2. In the example shown, the elastic retaining elements 11 project radially inward from the circumferential edge of the base piece 4 and are aligned at an angle to the longitudinal direction 8 of the cartridge 1, toward the first end 5a of the cartridge 1. In the example shown, the retaining elements 11 are formed from a flat piece of the base piece 4 by drilling circular sectors into the piece, which are then bent to properly align the retaining elements 11. Since the retaining elements 11 are only connected to the annular edge of the base piece 4 on one side, they exhibit some elasticity and are pressed radially outwards when the piston is inserted through the second end 5b of the cartridge wall into the interior 10 of cartridge 1.

As can be seen in Fig. 3, the front section 3a of the foil head piece 3 is separated from the first end 5a of the cartridge wall 2. In the example shown, the distance A in the longitudinal direction 8 between the first end 5a of the cartridge wall 2 and the front section 3a of the head piece 3 is approximately 0.5 cm, although the distance A can also be greater or less, for example, approximately 0.3 cm. The separation between the front section 3a of the head piece 3 and the first end 5a of the cartridge wall 2 allows a dimensionally stable connecting piece 12 to be inserted into the cartridge 1.

The dimensionally stable connecting piece 12 has an outlet 13 for dispensing filling substances, which in the example shown is designed as a threaded connector with a through-hole. A nozzle or similar device can be connected to the threaded connector to dispense the filling substances. The connecting piece 12 has a plate-shaped section to which a radial outer edge 12a and a circumferential cylindrical edge 12a are attached. This edge serves to bear against the inner side 2a of the cartridge wall 2. In the example shown, where the fixing section 3b of the head piece 4 projects from the front section 3a toward the first end 5a of the cartridge wall 2, when the connecting piece 12 is inserted, the circumferential edge 12a comes into contact with the inner side 2a of the cartridge wall 2. As can be seen in Fig. 3, when inserting the connection piece 12 into cartridge 1, it is pushed until the plate-shaped section of the connection piece 12 makes contact with the front section 3a of the printhead piece 4.

As can be seen in Fig. 3, a support sleeve 14, consisting of a cylindrical sleeve wall 19, is fitted to the outer side 2b of the cartridge wall 2. The edge 7 of the base piece 4, shown in Fig. 1 and projecting radially beyond the outer side 2a of the cartridge wall 2, serves as a bearing surface for the support sleeve 14 and prevents the support sleeve 14 from moving beyond the second edge 5b of the cartridge wall 2.

In order for the filling substances to be discharged from cartridge 1 through outlet 13, the foil head piece 3 must be pierced at the front section 3a. This can be done in several ways. In the example shown in Fig. 4, the connecting piece 12 has a mandrel 15 mounted on the threaded connecting piece that forms outlet 13. When the connecting piece 12 is inserted into cartridge 1, the mandrel 15 presses against the front section 3a of the foil head piece 3 and pierces it. The mandrel 15 forms a cap-like section of outlet 13, which separates from the outlet 13 before dispensing the filling substances, so that the mandrel 15 does not obstruct the filling substances during dispensing. To facilitate piercing with the mandrel 15, the front section 3a of the foil head piece 3 may have a hole, although this is not strictly necessary.

In the example shown in Fig. 5, the front section 3a of the foil head piece 3 has a cross-punched perforation (not shown in Fig. 5). The perforation is covered by a protective foil 16 on the side facing the first end of the cartridge wall 2, preventing accidental leakage of the filling material. The protective foil 16 is removable and can be taken off the front section 3a before inserting the connecting piece 12 into the cartridge 1.

Figure 6 shows cartridge 1 from Figures 4 and 5, which also has a piston 17. The piston 17 is inserted into cartridge 1 at the second end 5b of the cartridge wall 2 and can be moved in a sealed manner in the longitudinal direction 8 of the cartridge wall 2. The piston 17 is a dimensionally stable component, on whose side facing the first end 5a of the cartridge wall 2, in the example shown, a sheet 18 is placed. The internal space 10 of cartridge 1 is defined by the sheet head piece 3, the cartridge sheet wall 2, and the sheet 18 attached to the piston 17. Therefore, the connecting piece 12 and the piston 17 do not come into direct contact with the filling substances, so a wide variety of materials (plastics) can be used for these components, especially recycled materials.

Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of cartridge 1 from Figure 6, filled, and also showing the connecting piece 12 inserted into cartridge 1. The plate-shaped section of the connecting piece 12 has a curve that matches the curve of the piston 17, which is oriented towards the first end 5a of cartridge 1. As can be seen in Figure 7, the front section 3a of the foil head piece 3 is pressed by the filling material against the curved, plate-shaped section of the connecting piece 12. The retaining elements 11, also visible in Figure 7 and attached to the base piece 4, act as a stop and prevent the piston 17 from being pulled out of cartridge 1 by the pressure exerted by the filling material at the second end 5b. The retaining elements 11 act as prongs that press against the piston 17 on one side facing the second end 5b of the cartridge 1 when it moves in the direction of the second end 5b of the cartridge wall 2.

The protective sleeve 14 shown in Fig. 3 to Fig. 7 consists of the cylindrical sleeve wall 19. Fig. 8a-d each show a support sleeve 14’, which differs from the protective sleeve 14 shown in Fig. 3 to Fig. 7 in that, in addition to the cylindrical sleeve wall 19, which is pushed outward 2a from the cartridge wall 2 to stabilize the cartridge wall 2 during the discharge of the filling substances, it has the connecting piece 12 described above. The connecting piece 12 is fixed at a first end 20a of the cylindrical sleeve wall 19 to the front side and has predetermined breaking elements 21 in the form of ribs extending radially to the cylindrical sleeve wall 19. Thanks to the presence of the connecting piece 12, the sleeve wall 19 can be injection molded together with the connecting piece in a single tool.

To insert the connecting piece 12 into the cartridge 1, first insert the cartridge 1 (without the connecting piece 12) into the support sleeve 14’, as shown in Fig. 8b. Then, the support sleeve 14’, with the cartridge 1 inserted, is inserted into a cartridge ejection gun 22, shown schematically in Fig. 8d. When the cartridge ejection gun 22 is actuated, a push rod 23 pushes through an impression plate 24 onto the piston 17 to force the filling substances out of the interior 10 of the cartridge 1 through the outlet 13. The cartridge 1 is pressed against a front plate 25 of the cartridge ejection gun.

When pressed against the front plate 25, a force is applied to the connecting piece 12, displacing it into the cartridge 10. The circumferential edge 12a of the connecting piece 12 has a length that essentially corresponds to the distance A between the front section 3a of the blade head piece 3 and the first end 5a of the cartridge wall 2. As can be seen in Fig. 7, the circumferential edge 12a of the connecting piece 12 inserted into the cartridge 1 is flush with the first end 5a of the cartridge wall 2 and also with the first end 20a of the cylindrical sleeve wall 19.

As an alternative to the example in Fig. 8d, a support sleeve 14, as shown, for example, in Fig. 3, can be a component of the cartridge ejection gun 22. In this case, cartridge 1 is inserted into the support sleeve 14 of the cartridge ejection gun 22. The connecting piece 12 can be supplied separately and is inserted into cartridge 1 before inserting cartridge 1 into the cartridge ejection gun 22, as described above in relation to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3. It should be noted that cartridge 1 can also be supplied with the connecting piece 12 already inserted.

The cartridges 1 described above have in common that they have a base piece 4. However, this base piece 4 is not absolutely necessary, as will be shown below with reference to the cartridges 1 described in Fig. 9a,b, Fig. 10a,b and Fig. 11a,b.

Figures 9a and 9b show a cartridge 1 that differs from the cartridge 1 in Figure 7 in that, instead of using the base piece 4, the dimensional stability of cartridge 1 is increased at its second end 5b by shaping the cartridge wall 2. Furthermore, shaping the cartridge wall 2 ensures the retention of the piston 17 in the cartridge 1 and limits the movement of the support sleeve 14 or 14’ towards the second end 5b of the cartridge wall 2.

In the cartridge 1 shown in Fig. 9a, the cartridge wall 2 has, directly at the second end 5b, a first retaining section in the form of a first flanged edge 26, projecting outward beyond the outer side 2b of the cartridge wall 2, and a second retaining section in the form of a second flanged edge 27 slightly spaced from the second end 5b of the cartridge wall 2, projecting from the inner side 2a of the cartridge wall 2. The two flanged edges 26 and 27 are formed by shaping the cartridge wall 2 material. The first flanged edge 26 restricts the movement of the support sleeve 14 toward the second end 5b of the cartridge wall 2, and the second flanged edge 27 restricts or prevents the movement of the piston 17 toward the second end 5b of the cartridge wall 2.

Cartridge 1, shown in Fig. 9b, also has the flanged edge 26 protruding from the outer side 2b of cartridge wall 2. At the second end 5b of cartridge wall 2, retaining elements 11 are formed which, analogously to the retaining elements 11 described in Fig. 1 to Fig. 3, serve to limit the movement of the piston 17 towards the second end 5b of cartridge wall 2. The retaining elements 11 are formed on a side edge of a blank of cartridge wall 2, which, after the cylindrical cartridge wall 2 has been manufactured, is folded back towards the first end 5a of cartridge wall 2. The folded section of cartridge wall 2 is welded to the inner side 2a of the remaining cylindrical cartridge wall 2. The retaining elements 11 are designed as hooks, as shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 3, and protrude from the folded portion of cartridge wall 2 toward the first end 5a of cartridge wall 2. The retaining elements 11 are connected on one side to the folded section of cartridge wall 2 and, with their free ends, press against the piston 17 as it moves toward the second end 5b of cartridge wall 2. The flanged rim 26 is formed after welding the folded section by bending the second end 5b of cartridge wall 2 outward toward the folded section (i.e., with twice the wall thickness).

In the cartridges 1 shown in Fig. 9a,b, the headpiece fixing section 3a has a locking section in the form of a folded sheet metal section 28 to secure the dimensionally stable connecting piece 12 to the cartridge 1. The sheet metal section 28, folded towards the second end 5b of the cartridge 1, is welded to the inside of the sheet metal headpiece fixing section 3b. A free end of the sheet metal section 28, folded towards the second end 5b of the cartridge wall 2, forms a protrusion that engages the free end of the circumferential edge 12a of the connecting piece 12 when the connecting piece 12 is inserted into the cartridge 1.

As can be seen in Fig. 9a, b, the connecting piece 12 has a mandrel 15 which, as described above, allows the front section 3a of the foil head piece 3 to be drilled. Unlike Fig. 4, the outlet 13 does not have a cap-like section that must be removed before using cartridge 1; the mandrel 15 connects via predetermined break points to the inside of the outlet 13 or to the threaded connector. After drilling the front section 3a of the foil head piece 3, the mandrel 15 can be removed from the connecting piece 12, exposing the opening for the filling materials.

Unlike what is shown in Fig. 9a,b, it is possible for the piston 17 to protrude at least partially in the longitudinal direction 8 beyond the second end 5b of the cartridge wall to form a support surface for the placement of the cartridge 1. This function is performed by the flanged rim 26 in the cartridges 1 shown in Fig. 9a,b.

In the example shown in Fig. 10a,b, the first retaining elements 11a are formed, protruding from the inner side 2a of cartridge wall 2, and the second retaining elements 11b are formed, protruding from the outer side 2b of cartridge wall 2. The first and second retaining elements 11a,11b are designed as sections partially separated from cartridge wall 2 and bent toward the inner side 2a and outer side 2b of cartridge wall 2, respectively. In the example shown in Fig. 10a,b, the first and second retaining elements 11a,11b are rectangular and attached to cartridge wall 2 on one side by a sheet hinge. Openings are formed in cartridge wall 2 by the partial separation of the first and second retaining elements 11a,11b in this area. Therefore, it is necessary to form the first and second retaining elements 11a and 11b in an area of cartridge wall 2 that is free of filler. In this case, the piston 17, which seals against the inner side 2a of cartridge wall 2, prevents the filler from escaping through the openings in cartridge wall 2. It should be noted that the retaining elements 11a and 11b, or the partially separated sections of cartridge wall 2, may differ from the rectangular geometry shown in Figures 10a and 10b.

The side joining the partially separated sections 11a and 11b to the cartridge wall 2 can have different orientations with respect to the longitudinal direction 8 of cartridge 1. For example, the connection side can be oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 8 of cartridge 1, as is the case with the first retaining elements 11a, which protrude outwards in Fig. 10a and are axially aligned. In the example in Fig. 10b, the side to which the first and second radially aligned retaining elements 11a and 11b are connected is oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction 8 of cartridge 1.

Figure 10b also shows how the first protruding retaining elements 11a limit the movement of the support sleeve 19 toward the second end 5b of the cartridge 1. Generally, the openings in the cartridge wall 2 can be used to attach a support ring or similar component to the cartridge wall 2. However, attachment of a support ring or base piece 4 is generally not required.

As shown in Fig. 10a, to increase the stability of cartridge wall 2, the foil can be folded in the area of the retaining or locking elements 11a and 11b. This can be achieved by folding the foil of cartridge wall 2 and welding the folded section to the outer side 2b of cartridge wall 2. Alternatively, the foil may have several folds or layers welded together in the area of the openings in cartridge wall 2 to further enhance cartridge stability.

Figures 11a and 11b show a blank cartridge wall 2 and a cylindrical cartridge wall 2 formed from the blank. As can be seen in Figure 11a, the protruding sections 11a and 11b are formed from the blank cartridge wall 2. These sections are folded back at the overlap zone toward the first end 5a of the cartridge wall 2, either before or after the cylindrical cartridge wall 2 is formed by welding. The protruding sections 11a and 11b are alternately folded outward or inward to form the first and second retaining elements 11a and 11b, as shown in Figure 11b. Typically, the protruding and folded sections 11a and 11b are welded to the inner side 2a of the cartridge wall 2 or to the outer side 2b of the cartridge wall 2, although this is not mandatory.

Claims (17)

1. Cartridge (1), comprising: a circumferential cylindrical wall (2) of the cartridge, which is designed as a sheet, a head piece (3), which is connected in a sealed and inseparable manner to the cartridge wall (2), characterized in that The head piece (3) is designed as a sheet and has a front section (3a) and a fixing section (3b), the front section (3a) being disposed in an interior (10) of the cartridge (1) at a distance in the longitudinal direction (8) from a first end (5a) of the wall (2) of the cartridge, and the fixing section (3b) being connected in a sealed and indivisible manner to an inner side (2a) of the cartridge wall (2). 2. Cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a distance (A) in the longitudinal direction (8) between the first end (5a) of the cartridge wall (2) and the front section (3a) of the head piece (3) is at least 0.3 cm. 3. Cartridge according to one of claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a dimensionally stable connecting piece (12) that is inserted into the cartridge (1) at the first end (5a) of the cartridge wall (2) and having an outlet (13) for the outlet of the filling substances stored in the cartridge (1), the connecting piece (12) preferably having a circumferential edge (12a) for contact with the inner side (2a) of the cartridge wall (2) and/or with an inner side of the fixing section (3b) of the head piece (3). 4. Cartridge according to claim 3, wherein in the fixing section (3a) of the head piece (3) a locking section is formed, preferably in the form of a folded sheet section (28), to keep the connecting piece (12) dimensionally stable in the cartridge (1). 5. Cartridge according to one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the dimensionally stable connecting piece (12) has at least one mandrel (15) for piercing the front section (3a) of the head piece (3). 6. Cartridge according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the front section (3a) of the printhead piece (3) has a perforation, which is preferably covered by a protective sheet (16), which is releasably attached to the front section (3a). 7. Cartridge according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising: a piston (17), which can be inserted into a second end (5b) of the cartridge wall (2) in an interior (10) of the cartridge (1) and can be moved in a sealed manner in the longitudinal direction (8) along the cartridge wall (2). 8. Cartridge according to claim 7, wherein a sheet (18) is fixed to one side of the piston (17) facing inwards (10) of the cartridge (1). 9. Cartridge according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising: a base piece (4), which is indivisibly connected, in particular in a sealed manner, to the cartridge wall (2), preferably to an inner side (2a) of the cartridge wall (2), at a second end (5b) of the cartridge wall (2), the base piece (4) having an opening (9) for insertion of the piston (17) into the interior (10) of the cartridge (1), and the base piece (4) preferably projecting at least partially beyond an outer side (2b) of the cartridge wall (2) in the radial direction. 10. Cartridge according to claim 9, wherein the base piece (4) has at least one retaining element (11), preferably elastic, which protrudes from the inner side (2a) of the cartridge wall (2) to prevent movement of the piston (1) towards the second end (5b) of the cartridge (1). 11. Cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cartridge wall (2) has, in the area of a second end (5b), at least one retaining element (11, 11b) protruding from the inner side (2a) of the cartridge wall (2), and/or a retaining section (27), to prevent movement, in the direction of the second end (5b) of the cartridge wall (2), of a piston (17) that is watertightly movable in the longitudinal direction (8) along the cartridge wall (2), I wherein the cartridge wall (2) has, in the area of the second end (5b), at least one retaining element (11a) protruding from an outer side (2b) of the cartridge wall (2), or a retaining section (26), to limit the movement, in the direction of the second end (5b) of the cartridge wall (2), of a support sleeve (14) that is movable in the longitudinal direction (8) along an outer side (2b) of the cartridge wall (2). 12. Cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the piston (17) protrudes at least partially from the second end (5b) of the cartridge wall (2) in the longitudinal direction (8). 13. Cartridge according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the retaining section (27) protruding from the inner side (2a) and/or the retaining section (26) protruding from the outer side (2b) are formed by a flanged edge. 14. Cartridge according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the retaining elements (11b) protruding from the inner side (2a) and/or the retaining elements (11a) protruding from the outer side (2b) form sections of the cartridge wall (2) that are partially separated from the cartridge wall (2). 15. Cartridge according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the retaining elements protruding from the inner side (2a) and/or the retaining elements protruding from the outer side (2b) are formed by folded sections (11a, 11b) of the cartridge wall (2) protruding from the second end (5b) of the cartridge wall (2), the folded sections (11a, 11b) preferably being at least partially welded to the inner side (2a) of the cylindrical cartridge wall (2) or at least partially welded to the outer side (2b) of the cylindrical cartridge wall (2). 16. Cartridge according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the head piece (3), piston (17) and/or support sleeve (14) are formed at least partially, in particular completely, from recycled plastic. 17. Cartridge according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 4 to 16, further comprising: a support sleeve (14’) with a cylindrical sleeve wall (19) that rests against an outer side (2b) of the cartridge wall (2), wherein a dimensionally stable connecting piece (12) for insertion into the cartridge (1) at a first end (5a) of the cartridge wall (2) is attached to a first end (20a) of the cylindrical sleeve wall (19), the connecting piece (12) being preferably attached to the cylindrical sleeve wall (19) of the support sleeve (14’) via at least one predetermined breaking element (21).