Mixer, mixing tip and mixing system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mixer (10), to a mixing tip and to a mixing system comprising such a mixer. The mixer comprising an outlet (16) and an inlet (12), wherein the inlet is configured to receive one or more flows (F, F') of material (M, M') from outlets (24) from a cartridge (26) and the inlet comprises an overflow guiding structure (18) for guiding an overflow of material from a first end (20) of the inlet to a second end (22) of the inlet.

Description

[0001]medmix Switzerland AG M29036PWO - To / Fk Mixer, mixing tip and mixing system The present invention relates to a mixer, to a mixing tip and to a mixing system comprising such a mixer. The mixer comprising an outlet and an inlet, wherein the inlet is configured to receive one or more flows of material from outlets from a cartridge and the inlet comprises an overflow guiding structure for guiding an overflow of material from a first end of the inlet to a second end of the inlet. Mixers respectively mixing tips, as they are also known as, are used to mix multi- component material dispensed from a multi-component cartridge. Such mixers are used in a plethora of fields of application ranging from industrial applications, such as the use of adhesives to bond structural components one to another, or as protective coatings for buildings or vehicles, to medical and dental applications, for example, to make dental molds. The multi-component material is, for example, a two-component adhesive comprising a filler material and a hardener. In order to obtain the best possible mixing result, e.g. an adhesive having the desired bond strength, the multi- component material has to be thoroughly mixed. For this purpose the mixers comprise mixing elements arranged one after the other that repeatedly divide and re-combine part flows of the multi-component material to thoroughly mix the multi-component material. On mixing the multi-component material, the material remaining in the mixer after the dispensing process is generally discarded as it remains in the mixer. Depending on the field of application the multi-component material can be comparatively expensive and may only be used for one application at a time. This is particularly true, for example in the dental field, where only part of the multi- component material stored in the cartridge is used for one application / patient at a time with the remaining multi-component material being stored in the multi- component cartridge for future applications. Thus, the excessive use of large volumes of multi-component material remaining in a mixer after a single use leads to unnecessary cost. Moreover, if the difference in viscosities between the two fluids present in the multi-component cartridge is too large, then the resistance the fluid having the higher viscosity experiences as it traverses through the mixer is greater than that of the low viscosity fluid and hence can cause the low viscosity fluid to traverse through the mixer faster than the high viscosity fluid causing a sub-optimal mixing result. For this reason it is an object of the present invention to provide a mixer that guides the multi-component material efficiently through the mixer for a thorough mixing of the multi-component material in the mixer, that enables a reduction in the amount of mixing material left behind in a mixer and that can be produced in an as facile manner as possible. This object is satisfied in accordance with the subject matter having the features of claim 1. Such a mixer comprises an outlet and an inlet, wherein the inlet is configured to receive two or more flows of material from cartridge outlets of a cartridge and the inlet comprises an overflow guiding structure for guiding an overflow of material from a first end of the inlet to a second end of the inlet. Such an overflow guiding structure aids in guiding the correct amount of material to the mixer to ensure an appropriate through mixing of the material and at the same time a feedback of the overflow such that less material is wasted at the beginning of a mixing process thereby reducing the overall amount of material used and left behind. By installing the overflow guiding structure at the inlet, the mixer can be formed in a facile manner. In this connection it should be noted that the inlet to the mixer is generally configured such that it cooperates with outlets of a cartridge, i.e. has inlet ports or the like that couple to the cartridge outlets of the cartridge. The overflow guiding structure may one or more channels for guiding the overflow of material to the second end of the inlet, for example one or more channels per inlet port of the mixer can be formed in a simple manner at the inlet of the mixer. The channels may have at least one of a half-moon shape, a part elliptical shape, a part circular shape, a linear shape, a zig zag shape, a triangular shape and combinations of the foregoing. Such shapes aid in guiding the material towards the second end of the inlet in a facile manner. The overflow guiding structure may comprise a stepped structure and / or cascaded structure between the first end of the inlet and the second end of the inlet. Such structures can be formed in a very simple and cost effective manner in the inlet. A lower step or cascade may be arranged closer to the second end than an upper step or cascade. In this way the radially outer steps or cascades are arranged closer to the inlet ports to ensure the material is guided back towards the inlet ports. A lower step or cascade may be arranged radially further outward than an upper step or cascade. This aids in guiding the faster flowing material back to the inlet ports. A radially outer step or cascade may have a larger size and / or shape than a radially inner step or cascade. Forming such structures larger in the radial outer regions ensures that the very fast flowing material is guided towards the second end in an efficient manner. The inlet may have an elliptical outer shape. Such a shape can be formed in a very cost efficient manner. The second end of the inlet may be configured to interact with the cartridge, e.g. via inlet ports that can connect to outlet ports of a cartridge, for example, with the inlets ports being configured to be plugged into or onto outlet ports of the cartridge. The overflow guiding structure may further comprise a buffer structure arranged therein. Such a buffer structure can further slow down the faster of two flowing materials, e.g. the low viscosity material. The buffer structure may be formed by a sponge and / or a foam. Such structures are simple and cost effective to produce. The channels may open into the second end of the inlet, for example into the inlet ports of the mixer. In this way the material can be guided in a simple manner in the manner of a feedback loop. The channels may be separated by walls present in the overflow guiding structure. Such walls can beneficially be used to guide the material in the feedback loop. Radially outer channels may have a larger length and / or width than radially inner channels. In this way the material can be guided to the second end in an efficient manner. Radially outer channels may have a greater depth than radially inner channels. Such structures are simple to form and ensure an adequate flow of the overflow material. A spacing between radially inner steps, channels or cascades may be smaller than between radially outer steps, channels or cascades. Such structures are simple to form and ensure an adequate flow of the overflow material. The overflow guiding structure may comprise both channels and a stepped structure. In this way one can safely ensure that the fast flowing material that may not be mixed and this leads to waste is guided in an efficient manner to the second end. The second end of the inlet may be arranged spaced apart further from the outlet than the first end of the inlet. In this way the overflow is guided backwards in the direction towards the cartridge and away from the outlet. According to a further aspect the present invention relates to a mixing tip comprising a mixer as described herein and a mixing element arranged within the mixer. Such a mixing tip can be either a static or dynamic mixing tip having improved mixing qualities and less waste. According to a further aspect the present invention relates to a mixing system comprising a mixing tip as described herein and a two-component cartridge, optionally filled with a material and optionally further comprising a dispenser. Such a mixing system can provide mixed 2K material with improved mixing qualities and less waste. Further embodiments of the invention are described in the following description of the Figures. The invention will be explained in the following in detail by means of embodiments and with reference to the drawing in which is shown: Fig.1a to e a first kind of mixer; Fig.2 a schematic representation of a mixing system with a second kind of mixer; and Fig.3 a mixing system with the first kind of mixer. Fig.1a to e shows a first kind of mixer 10 comprising an outlet 16 and an inlet 12, wherein the inlet 12 is configured to receive two or more flows F, F’ of material M, M’ from cartridge outlets 24 of a cartridge 26 (see Fig.2). The mixer comprises a housing 14 with an elongate part 50 configured to receive a mixing element 42 (see Figs.2 and / or 3). The elongate part 50 is arranged directly adjacent to the inlet 12. The elongate part 50 can have a rectangular, square, round, or oval cross-section in dependence on the type of mixing element 42 inserted therein. In this connection it should be noted that the mixing element 42 can be either a so- called static mixing element 42 or a dynamic mixing element. The inlet 12 of the mixer 10 comprises an overflow guiding structure 18 for guiding an overflow of material M, M’ from a first end 20 of the inlet 12 to a second end 22 of the inlet 12. The second end 22 of the inlet 12 is arranged spaced apart further from the outlet 16 than the first end 20 of the inlet 12. In the present example the overflow guiding structure 18 is integrally formed with the housing 14 at the first end 20 of the inlet 12 adjacent to the elongate part 50. Fig.1e shows a section of the mixer 10 of Fig.1c. As indicated in Fig.1e the overflow guiding structure 18 comprises several channels 28 for guiding the overflow of material M, M’ to the second end 22 of the inlet 12. The channels 28 have a part circular shape. As hinted at in Fig.1d, the channels 28 are separated by walls 32 present in the overflow guiding structure 18. In the present example the channels 28 each have the same shape and size. It should be noted in this connection that radially outer channels 28 may have a larger length and / or width than radially inner channels 28.Moreover, radially outer channels 28 may have a greater depth than radially inner channels 28. The channels 28 open into the second end 22 of the inlet 12. Fig.2 shows a schematic representation of a mixing system 48 with a second kind of mixer 10. The mixer 10 has an overflow guiding structure 18 comprising a stepped structure 30 and / or cascaded structure between the first end 20 of the inlet 12 and the second end 22 of the inlet 12. A lower step 36 or cascade is arranged closer to the second end 22 than an upper step 34. Moreover, the lower step 36 of the stepped structure 30 is arranged radially further outward than the upper step 34 of the stepped structure 30. A radially outer step 36 of the stepped structure 30 may have a larger size and / or shape than a radially inner step 34 of the stepped structure. The inlet 12 has an elliptical outer shape. The second end 22 of the inlet 12 is configured to interact with the cartridge 26. As indicated in Fig.2 the overflow guiding structure 18 further comprises a buffer structure 38 arranged therein. In the present example the buffer structure 38 is formed by a foam 40. In this connection it should be noted that also other types of buffer structure can be provided. It should be noted that also an inlet can be provided having both the overflow guiding structure 18 shown in connection with Figs.1 and 2, i.e. such that it comprises both channels 28 and a stepped structure 30. Fig.3 shows a mixing system 48 with the first kind of mixer 10 attached thereto. The mixing system 48 comprising a mixing tip 44, a two-component cartridge 26 filled with material M, M’ and a dispenser 46. The dispenser is a hand held manual dispenser 46. The channels 28 and / or stepped structure 30 or cascaded structure form a storage space for pre-flowing materials. The flow of material F comprising the lower viscosity material M can be caught in the storage space to prevent unmixed material M from flowing through a correspondingly formed mixing tip 44. In this way the faster flowing material is so to say slowed down to improve the mixing results and to thereby reduce the waste of material, as it is prevent from overflowing out of the mixer 10 by being guided in the overflow guiding structure 18. The two-component material M, M’ is, for example, a two-component adhesive comprising a filler material and a hardener. In order to obtain the best possible mixing result, e.g. an adhesive having the desired bond strength, the multi- component material M, M’ has to be thoroughly mixed. The two-component cartridge 26 can also be filled with materials M, M’ selected from the group of members consisting of topical medications, medical fluids, wound care fluids, cosmetic and / or skin care preparations, dental fluids, veterinary fluids, adhesive fluids, disinfectant fluids, protective fluids, paints and combinations of the foregoing. Such materials M, M’ and hence the mixing system 48 can therefore be expediently used in the treatment of target areas such as the nose (e.g. anti- histaminic creams etc.), ears, teeth (e.g. molds for implants or buccal applications (e.g. aphtas, gum treatment, mouth sores etc.), eyes (e.g. the precise deposition of drugs on eyelids (e.g. chalazion, infection, anti-inflammatory, antibiotics etc.), lips (e.g. herpes), mouth, skin (e.g. anti-fungal, dark spot, acne, warts, psoriasis, skin cancer treatment, tattoo removal drugs, wound healing, scar treatment, stain removal, anti-itch applications etc.), other dermatological applications (e.g. skin nails (for example anti-fungal applications, or strengthening formulas etc.) or cytological applications. Alternatively, the materials M, M’ and hence the mixing system 48 can also be used in an industrial sector both for the production of products as well as for the repair and maintenance of existing products, e.g. in the building industry, the automotive industry, the aerospace industry, in the energy sector, e.g. for wind- turbines, etc. The mixing system 48 can, for example, be used for the dispensing of construction material, sealants, bonding material, adhesives, paints, coatings and / or protective coatings. List of reference numerals 10 mixer 12 inlet 14 housing 16 outlet 18 overflow guiding structure 20 first end of inlet 22 second end of inlet 24 cartridge outlet 26 cartridge 28 channel 30 stepped structure 32 walls 34 radially inner step / upper step 36 radially outer step / lower step 38 buffer space 40 foam 42 mixing element 44 mixing tip 46 dispenser 48 mixing system 50 elongate part F, F’ flow, flow M, M’ material, material

Claims

medmix Switzerland AG M29036PWO - To / Fk Claims 1. A mixer (10) comprising an outlet (16) and an inlet (12), wherein the inlet (12) is configured to receive two or more flows (F, F’) of material (M, M’) from cartridge outlets (24) of a cartridge (26) and the inlet (12) comprises an overflow guiding structure (18) for guiding an overflow of material (M, M’) from a first end (20) of the inlet (12) to a second end (22) of the inlet (12).

2. A mixer (10) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the overflow guiding structure (18) comprises one or more channels (28) for guiding the overflow of material (M, M’) to the second end (22) of the inlet (12).

3. A mixer (10) in accordance with claim 2, wherein the channels (28) have at least one of a half-moon shape, a part elliptical shape, a part circular shape, a linear shape, a zig zag shape, a triangular shape and combinations of the foregoing.

4. A mixer (10) in accordance with one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, wherein the overflow guiding structure (18) comprises a stepped structure (30) and / or cascaded structure between the first end (20) of the inlet (12) and the second end (22) of the inlet (12).

5. A mixer (10) in accordance with claim 4, wherein a lower step or cascade is arranged closer to the second end (22) than an upper step or cascade.

6. A mixer (10) in accordance with claim 4 or claim 5, wherein a lower step (36) of the stepped structure (30) or cascade of the cascaded structure is arranged radially further outward than an upper step (34) of the stepped structure (30) or cascade of the cascaded structure.

7. A mixer (10) in accordance with one of claims 4 to 6, wherein a radially outer step (36) of the stepped structure (30) or cascade of the cascaded structure has a larger size and / or shape than a radially inner step (34) of the stepped structure or cascade of the cascaded structure.

8. A mixer (10) in accordance with one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, wherein the inlet (12) has an elliptical outer shape.

9. A mixer (10) in accordance with one of the preceding claims 2 to 8, wherein the second end (22) of the inlet (12) is configured to interact with the cartridge (26).

10. A mixer (10) in accordance with one of the preceding claims 1 to 9, wherein the overflow guiding structure (18) further comprises a buffer structure (38) arranged therein.

11. A mixer (10) in accordance with claim 10, wherein the buffer structure (38) is formed by a sponge and / or a foam (40).

12. A mixer (10) in accordance with one of the preceding claims 2 to 11, wherein the channels (28) open into the second end (22) of the inlet (12).

13. A mixer (10) in accordance with one of the preceding claims 2 to 12, wherein the channels (28) are separated by walls (32) present in the overflow guiding structure (18).

14. A mixer (10) in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein radially outer channels (28) have a larger length and / or width than radially inner channels (28).

15. A mixer (10) in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein radially outer channels (28) have a greater depth than radially inner channels (28).

16. A mixer (10) in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein a spacing between radially inner steps (34), channels (28) or cascades is smaller than between radially outer steps (36), channels (28) or cascades.

17. A mixer (10) in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein the overflow guiding structure comprises channels (28) and a stepped structure (30).

18. A mixer (10) in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein the second end (22) of the inlet (12) is arranged spaced apart further from the outlet (16) than the first end (20) of the inlet (12).

19. A mixing tip (44) comprising a mixer (10) in accordance with one of the preceding claims and a mixing element (42) arranged within the mixer (10).

20. A mixing system (48) comprising a mixing tip (44) in accordance with claim 19 and a two-component cartridge (26), optionally filled with material (M, M’) and optionally further comprising a dispenser (46).

Images