Dispensing and mixing apparatus
AssigneeColtene/Whaledent, Inc.
InventorChristen Simmen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dispensing and mixing apparatus for simultaneously dispensing from a cartridge into a static mixing element components which harden when mixed. The components exit the cartridge into the mixing element without intermixing as the components leave the cartridge. The initial intermixing of the components takes place within the mixing element. The cartridge is reusable since the components do not become mixed and harden as they come out of the cartridge. The chambers in the cartridge are of semi-cylindrical configuration and have rounded corners. Ribs can be provided on the cartridge for stiffening the cartridge from deforming under extrusion.
Claims18
A dispensing and mixing apparatus for mixing at least two components which react with one another after contact, comprising:
- a cartridge having elongated, parallel, separate chambers for holding the respective components, each chamber having an open end for receiving a piston therein for extruding the component and an outlet orifice in an opposing end of the chamber, separator means at an outer end of the cartridge including the outlet orifices of said chambers and separating them into laterally spaced apart outlet openings so as to prevent contacting of the components at the outer end of the cartridge;
- a disposable mixing element having an inlet end and an outlet end, and including a mixing chamber and adapter means provided at said inlet end and connected to said mixing chamber to be disposed therewith after use, said adapter means having inlet orifices spaced apart for alignment with the outlet orifices of the chambers, said adapter means providing passages communicating with said inlet orifices so as to remote said mixing chamber from said inlet orifices so that the components first contact each other inside the mixing chamber at a point spaced from the inlet orifices;
- and means for aligning and removably locking the adapter means onto the separator means of said cartridge such that the outlet orifices of the chambers and the inlet orifices of the chambers and the inlet orifices of the adapter means of the mixing element are in alignment, so that during extrusion of the components through the outlet orifices the components go directly into the passageways without contacting each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.