Abstract: Sealant cartridge press fixtures are disclosed. The fixtures include a bracket comprising first and second side arms that receive a sealant cartridge therebetween. A transverse support bar connected to the first and second side arm is attached to a sealant filling nozzle. An air pressure cylinder mounted on the bracket includes a reciprocating piston rod that contacts and deforms a sidewall of the sealant cartridge at the beginning of a filling operation to allow trapped air to escape from the cartridge. An empty sealant cartridge having a slidable plunger therein is mounted at its front end on the sealant filling nozzle. The sealant is initially dispensed into the cartridge in the space between the front end of the cartridge and the plunger. While pressing and deforming the sidewall, it temporarily creates a gap between an interior surface of the sidewall and a plunger. The gap allows unwanted trapped air to escape from the sealant cartridge.

Abstract: Plungers (50) for use in sealant dispensing cartridges with collapsible sealant packaging (40) are disclosed. The plungers include anti-bypass retainers (60) to reduce or prevent unwanted passage of the flexible sealant packaging around the edges of the plungers during sealant dispensing operations.

Abstract: Sealant dispensing cartridge assemblies including radially expandable collets are disclosed. A plunger head assembly includes a ram head attached to a plunger rod. As the plunger rod is advanced into the sealant cartridge, the ram head presses against a rear side of a movable plunger against an opposing force created by a sealant contained in the cartridge on a front side of the plunger. As the plunger rod is further advanced, the collet contacts the ram head and radially expands against the inner sidewall of the plunger. The resulting radial force presses the sidewall of the plunger against the inner surface of the cartridge to thereby reduce or prevent unwanted leakage of the sealant around the plunger.

Abstract: A mixing impeller (10) for mixing a sealant inside a cartridge (1) is disclosed. The mixing impeller (10) comprises a central hub (11) and at least two mixing arms (20) extending radially outward from the central hub (11). Each of the mixing arms (20) may include a leading edge (24), a trailing edge (26), and a wiping edge (28) extending circumferentially between a leading tip (25) of the leading edge (24) and a trailing edge transition (27) of the trailing edge (26). The wiping edge (28) may have an arc length defining a wiping edge (28) angle, the leading tip (25) may be circumferentially offset in a direction of rotation of the mixing impeller (10) defining a leading edge (24) angle to provide a forward swept configuration, and the wiping edge (28) angle may be greater than the leading edge (24) angle. A sealant cartridge (1) and mixing impeller (10) assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: Sealant cartridge press fixtures are disclosed. The fixtures include a bracket comprising first and second side arms that receive a sealant cartridge therebetween. A transverse support bar connected to the first and second side arm is attached to a sealant filling nozzle. An air pressure cylinder mounted on the bracket includes a reciprocating piston rod that contacts and deforms a sidewall of the sealant cartridge at the beginning of a filling operation to allow trapped air to escape from the cartridge. An empty sealant cartridge having a slidable plunger therein is mounted at its front end on the sealant filling nozzle. The sealant is initially dispensed into the cartridge in the space between the front end of the cartridge and the plunger. While pressing and deforming the sidewall, it temporarily creates a gap between an interior surface of the sidewall and a plunger. The gap allows unwanted trapped air to escape from the sealant cartridge.

Abstract: Sealant dispensing cartridge assemblies including radially expandable collets are disclosed. A plunger head assembly includes a ram head attached to a plunger rod. As the plunger rod is advanced into the sealant cartridge, the ram head presses against a rear side of a movable plunger against an opposing force created by a sealant contained in the cartridge on a front side of the plunger. As the plunger rod is further advanced, the collet contacts the ram head and radially expands against the inner sidewall of the plunger. The resulting radial force presses the sidewall of the plunger against the inner surface of the cartridge to thereby reduce or prevent unwanted leakage of the sealant around the plunger.

Abstract: Loading systems for adhesives and sealants are disclosed in which flexible sealant/adhesive-containing cartridges may be loaded through the front end of a retainer into a sleeve for dispensing, and then removed from the front end of the retainer when the cartridges are spent.