Mixing and dispensing curable multi-component materials

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11084008-B2
Application number	US-201816130776-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 13, 2018
Priority date	Dec 15, 2006
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, devices and systems for mixing and dispensing multi-component materials. The mixing and dispensing may be performed using a mobile, enclosed dispenser that can be used to supply a mixed multi-component material at the point of use. In some embodiments, the components to be mixed into the multi-component material may be supplied in cartridges.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for mixing curable multi-component materials, the method comprising:
providing a mobile dispenser comprising a first container containing a volume of a first component, a second container containing a volume of a second component, the mobile dispenser further comprising a mixing device that comprises a mixing chamber having a first inlet, a second inlet, an outlet, and wherein the mobile dispenser further comprises a drive shaft and a gear box;
feeding the first component from the first container to the mixing chamber through the first inlet;
feeding the second component from the second container to the mixing chamber through the second inlet;
mixing the first component and the second component in the mixing chamber during the feeding to form a first curable multi-component material, wherein the mixing step comprises rotating one or more mixing elements as the first component and second component are being fed; and
dispensing the first curable multi-component material comprising the first component and the second component from the mixing chamber outlet,
wherein the first component and second component meet one of the following sets of conditions:
(a) the volumetric ratio of the first component to the second component (or vice versa) in the mixing chamber is about 5:1 or less, and wherein the viscosity of the first component in the mixing chamber is about 10,000 cps to about 200,000 cps, and further wherein the ratio of the first component viscosity to the second component viscosity is about 4:1 or higher,
(b) the volumetric ratio of the first component to the second component (or vice versa) in the mixing chamber is about 5:1 or less, and wherein the viscosity of the first component in the mixing chamber is about 200,000 cps or higher, and further wherein the ratio of the first component viscosity to the second component viscosity is about 2:1 or higher,
(c) the volumetric ratio of the first component to the second component (or vice versa) in the mixing chamber is about 5:1 to about 10:1, and wherein the viscosity of the first component in the mixing chamber is about 10,000 cps or higher, and further wherein the ratio of the first component viscosity to the second component viscosity is about 2:1 or higher,
(d) the volumetric ratio of the first component to the second component (or vice versa) in the mixing chamber is about 10:1 to about 20:1, and wherein the viscosity of the first component in the mixing chamber is about 10,000 cps to about 200,000 cps, and further wherein the ratio of the first component viscosity to the second component viscosity is about 2:1 or higher,
(e) the volumetric ratio of the first component to the second component (or vice versa) in the mixing chamber is about 10:1 to about 20:1, and wherein the viscosity of the first component in the mixing chamber is about 10,000 cps or higher, and further wherein the ratio of the first component viscosity to the second component viscosity is about 2:1 or higher,
(f) the volumetric ratio of the first component to the second component (or vice versa) in the mixing chamber is about 10:1 to about 20:1, and wherein the viscosity of the first component in the mixing chamber is about 200,000 cps or higher, and further wherein the ratio of the first component viscosity to the second component viscosity is about 1.5:1 or higher,
(g) the volumetric ratio of the first component to the second component (or vice versa) in the mixing chamber is about 20:1 or higher, and wherein the viscosity of the first component in the mixing chamber is about 10,000 cps or higher, and further wherein the ratio of the first component viscosity to the second component viscosity is about 1:1 or higher.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the curable multi-component material comprises vehicle body repair material.

3. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
replacing the first container in the dispenser with a third container containing a fixed volume of a third component;
replacing the second container in the dispenser with a fourth container containing a fixed volume of a fourth component;
feeding the third component from the third container to the mixing chamber through the first inlet;
feeding the fourth component from the fourth container to the mixing chamber through the second inlet;
mixing the third component and the fourth component in the mixing chamber during the feeding to form a second curable multi-component body repair material; and
dispensing the second curable multi-component material comprising the third component and the fourth component from the mixing chamber outlet.

4. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising purging the first curable multi-component material from the mixing chamber outlet at one or more selected times.

5. A method according to claim 4 , further comprising selectively delivering only the first component to the mixing chamber.

6. A method according to claim 4 , further comprising selectively delivering only the second component to the mixing chamber.

7. A method according to claim 4 , wherein the purging comprises delivering compressed air to the mixing chamber.

8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein feeding the first component comprises passing the first component through a valve located between the first container and the mixing chamber.

9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein feeding the second component comprises passing the second component through a valve located between the second container and the mixing chamber.

10. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising passing the curable multi-component material out of the mixing chamber through a normally-closed valve.

11. A method according to claim 1 , wherein one or both of the first component and the second component comprise a plurality of sealed hollow elements, and wherein a majority of the plurality of hollow elements retain their integrity after the mixing.

12. A method according to claim 11 , wherein the sealed hollow elements comprise glass microspheres.

13. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the mobile dispenser is hand-held.

14. A method for mixing curable multi-component materials, the method comprising:
providing a mobile dispenser comprising a first container containing a volume of a first component, a second container containing a volume of a second component, the mobile dispenser further comprising a motor, a mixing device that comprises a mixing chamber having a first inlet, a second inlet and an outlet;
activating a motor to force the first component in the first container and the second component in the second container into the mixing chamber, wherein the first component is fed into the mixing chamber through the first inlet and the second component is fed into the mixing chamber through the second inlet;
mixing the first component and the second component in the mixing chamber during the feeding to form a first curable multi-component material, wherein the mixing step comprises rotating one or more mixing elements; and
dispensing the first curable multi-component material comprising the first component and the second component from the mixing chamber outlet.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising driving, along a first axis and using the motor, a follower comprising a first plunger associated with the first container and a second plunger associated with the second container.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein first container and the second container have a front end and a rear end and establish a longitudinal axis, wherein the first axis

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Janssen Jeffrey R
• Schulz Mark F
• Gullicks Scott D
• Keicher Dennis R
• Broyles Bruce R
• Simmers Ryan P
• Qiblawi Jameel R

Classifications

• B01F2101/19

  Mixing dentistry compositions · CPC title

• B01F27/092

  occupying substantially the whole interior space of the receptacle · CPC title

• B01F35/88 Primary

  by feeding the materials batchwise · CPC title

• B01F35/522

  comprising compartments keeping the materials to be mixed separated until the mixing is initiated (containers or packages for packaging two or more different materials which must be maintained separate prior to use in admixture B65D81/32) · CPC title

• B01F33/50114

  of the hand-held gun type · CPC title