Dispensing – Agitator followed by discharge assistant and/or... – One rotary and one reciprocating
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-03
2001-05-15
Jacyna, J. Casimer (Department: 3751)
Dispensing
Agitator followed by discharge assistant and/or...
One rotary and one reciprocating
C222S229000, C222S386000, C222S405000, C222S408500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230941
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1.0 Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to paste containers, and more particularly to paste containers including dispensing mechanisms.
2.0 Discussion of Related Art
Paste-form detergents are growing in importance and are being increasingly used in laundries. Paste-form detergents have the advantages of powder-form detergents, especially their high active-ingredient contents, but none of the disadvantages of liquid detergents, especially their water or solvent contents. Paste-form detergents are often pseudoplastic or thixotropic pastes, more particularly high-viscosity detergent pastes, which are mainly used in institutional laundries.
Pseudoplastic or thixotropic pastes have the property whereby their viscosity is reduced by mechanical shearing, for example by stirring or shaking or under the effect of ultrasound, but is restored after removal of the mechanical stress. This means that this property whereby the viscosity of such pastes decreases under the effect of increasing shear stress or shear rate can be utilized to make handling easier. Unfortunately, these properties of paste-form detergents, especially high-viscosity pastes, also cause particular packaging and handling problems.
German patent application P 43 32 850 describes a paste container with a removal system which is suitable for accommodating and removing pastes. It consists of a cylinder open on one side and a tightly closing follower plate arrangement for displacement on the open side of the cylinder, and comprises a removal system for removing and transporting the paste. A geared motor is mounted on the follower plate, a multiple-blade propeller stirrer being arranged on the shaft of the motor which extends centrally through the follower plate. The propeller stirrer is positioned just below the follower plate, and is able to turn freely in the paste, the viscosity of the thixotropic paste being reduced under the shearing effect. The paste which thus becomes easy to transport is delivered by the propeller stirrer to a removal system which transports the paste through an opening in the follower plate, and which comprises an external drive mechanism.
This solution has the disadvantage that it is very expensive. The separate drives for the propeller stirrer and the removal system are expensive and, because of the space they require, are difficult to accommodate above the paste container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved paste container with a removal system for reducing manufacturing and operating costs, and for providing compact packaging. In one embodiment of the invention, this object is met by providing a paste container with a propeller stirrer and removal system that share the same drive mechanism.
The paste container according to the invention has the advantage that the use of the same drive for the propeller stirrer and removal system leads to a distinct reduction in manufacturing and operating costs, and the limited space above the paste container can be better and more efficiently utilized through the elimination of a unit. Since, in order to reduce the viscosity of, and to transport, the thixotropic paste, the paste need only be stirred when it is also to be removed, the amalgamation of the drives of the propeller stirrer and the removal system is particularly advantageous.
This drive combination is particularly favorable in an embodiment in which the removal system comprises a rotation shaft of a feed element arranged perpendicularly of the follower plate. This can be solved particularly advantageously by the use of a screw pump which transports the paste delivered by the propeller stirrer outwards.
Where the removal system is non-centrally arranged, the distance to the shaft of the propeller stirrer can readily be bridged by interengaging gearwheels or a belt drive. If the removal system is centrally arranged on the follower plate, the propeller shaft or boss may be formed with particular advantage by lengthening the shaft of the feed element on the axis of rotation of the screw.
In one particular embodiment where the transported paste is delivered to an injector, the feed line is designed to be closed by a shutoff element, for example a ball cock, whereby the flow of paste can be briefly interrupted with particular advantage until a substantially constant feed volume has been established.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1851044 (1932-03-01), Genovesi
patent: 1859290 (1932-05-01), Davis
patent: 2895648 (1959-07-01), Woughter
patent: 2990978 (1961-07-01), Charos
patent: 4160514 (1979-07-01), Taupin
patent: 4174788 (1979-11-01), Casagrande
patent: 4790456 (1988-12-01), Nakane et al.
patent: 5244020 (1993-09-01), Bruno et al.
patent: 5662248 (1997-09-01), Collard, Jr.
patent: 5785210 (1998-07-01), Amberg et al.
patent: 43 32 850 (1995-03-01), None
Henkel - Ecolab GmbH & Co. OHG
Jacyna J. Casimer
Jaeschke Wayne C.
Murphy Glenn E. J.
Watov Kenneth
LandOfFree
Drive mechanism for agitator blades in a paste container does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Drive mechanism for agitator blades in a paste container, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Drive mechanism for agitator blades in a paste container will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2478565