초록

A method and apparatus for extruding the first fluid capable of foaming through a porous member to produce a first foamed extrudate while simultaneously dispensing a second flowable material preferably containing particulate matter adjacent the first extrudate.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A method of dispensing foam comprising: providing a first reservoir with a first fluid capable of foaming; providing a second reservoir of a flowable material; passing the first fluid together with air through a porous member to produce and extrude to an outlet an intermediate product

We claim: 1. A method of dispensing foam comprising: providing a first reservoir with a first fluid capable of foaming; providing a second reservoir of a flowable material; passing the first fluid together with air through a porous member to produce and extrude to an outlet an intermediate product including foam; simultaneously dispensing the flowable material to the outlet thereby producing a final product comprising the intermediate product including foam and the flowable material, wherein the flowable material is a second fluid and the step of simultaneously dispensing comprises simultaneously extruding the second fluid to the outlet, and the intermediate product including foam and the second fluid are each extruded as extrudate streams in a parallel direction, one of the streams being annular about the other of the streams; the first fluid and air are pressurized to be passed through the porous member and extruded as the intermediate product including foam, and the second fluid is simultaneously extruded by the movement of a single piston member within a piston chamber forming element defining therebetween an air chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet, a first fluid chamber having an inlet in communication with the first reservoir and an outlet, and a second fluid chamber having an inlet in communication with the second reservoir and wherein the piston member is reciprocally movable in the piston chamber forming element and a movement in a first direction, air is drawn into the air chamber, the first fluid is drawn into the first fluid chamber and the second fluid is drawn into the second fluid chamber and in movement in the opposite direction, air is expelled from the air outlet of the air chamber, the first fluid is expelled from the outlet of the first fluid chamber and the second fluid is expelled from the outlet of the second fluid chamber. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the intermediate product including foam and the second fluid are co-extruded into an outlet passage to coalesce in the outlet passage. 3. A method a claimed in claim 1 including mixing the intermediate product including foam and the flowable material. 4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stream comprising the intermediate product including foam being extruded annularly about the other stream comprising the second fluid. 5. A method of dispensing foam comprising: providing a first reservoir with a first fluid capable of foaming; providing a second reservoir of a flowable material; passing the first fluid together with air through a porous member to produce and extrude to an outlet an intermediate product including foam; simultaneously dispensing the flowable material to the outlet thereby producing a final product comprising the intermediate product including foam and the flowable material, wherein the flowable material consists of a dry, flowable, particulate solid material, the method including: extruding the intermediate product including foam from a lower end of a vertical foam dispensing tube open to atmosphere, dispensing the flowable material from a solid material outlet open to atmosphere disposed about the foam dispensing tube at a height above the lower end of the foam dispensing tube, wherein the solid material outlet is annular about the foam dispensing tube. 6. A method of dispensing foam comprising: providing a first reservoir with a first fluid capable of foaming; providing a second reservoir of a flowable material; passing the first fluid together with air through a porous member to produce and extrude to an outlet an intermediate product including foam; simultaneously dispensing the flowable material to the outlet thereby producing a final product comprising the intermediate product including foam and the flowable material, wherein the flowable material comprises a dry, flowable, particulate solid material, the method including: extruding the intermediate product including foam from a lower end of a vertical foam dispensing tube, dispensing the flowable material from a solid material outlet disposed about the foam dispensing tube at a height above the lower end of the foam dispensing tube, the solid material outlet is annular about the foam dispensing tube, the first fluid is extruded and the flowable material is simultaneously dispensed by the movement of a single piston member within a piston chamber forming element defining therebetween a first fluid chamber having an inlet in communication with the first reservoir and the foam dispensing tube as an outlet and a solid material chamber having an inlet in communication with the second reservoir and an outlet in communication with the solid material outlet, and wherein the piston member is reciprocally movable in the piston chamber forming element and in movement in a first direction, the first fluid is drawn into the first fluid chamber and the inlet to the solid material chamber is closed and in movement in the opposite direction, the first fluid is expelled from the foam dispensing tube and the inlet to the solid material chamber is opened. 7. A method of dispensing comprising: providing a first reservoir with a first fluid; providing a second reservoir with a dry flowable particulate solid material capable of flowing under gravity, dispensing the first fluid downwardly out of a lower end of a vertical fluid dispensing tube, and simultaneously dispensing the dry flowable particulate solid material downwardly from a solid material outlet disposed about the dispensing tube adjacent thereto, the solid material outlet being at a height spaced upwardly above the lower end of the fluid dispensing tube, wherein the first fluid is extruded and the flowable material is simultaneously dispensed by the movement of a single piston member within a piston chamber forming element defining therebetween a first fluid chamber having an inlet in communication with the first reservoir and the fluid dispensing tube as an outlet and a solid material chamber having an inlet in communication with the second reservoir and an outlet in communication with the solid material outlet, and wherein the piston member is reciprocally movable in the piston chamber forming element and in movement in a first direction, the first fluid is drawn into the first fluid chamber and the inlet to the solid material chamber is closed and in movement in the opposite direction, the first fluid is expelled from the fluid dispensing tube and the inlet to the solid material chamber is opened. 8. A method as claimed in claim 7 further characterized in that the particulate solid material is selected from the group comprising grit, pumice, plastic synthetic resin scrubber particles, wood powder, ground sponge, ground cork and finely divided silica. 9. A method as claimed in claim 7 further characterized in that the step of simultaneously dispensing comprises simultaneously extruding the first fluid out the lower end. 10. A method as claimed in claim 7 further characterized in that the first fluid is extruded and the flowable material is simultaneously dispensed by the movement of a single piston member within a piston chamber forming element. 11. A method as claimed in claim 7 further characterized in that the solid material outlet is annular about the fluid dispensing tube. 12. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the solid material outlet is spaced from the lower end of the fluid dispensing tube by a vertical gap and wherein in dispensing the flowable material form the solid material outlet, the flowable material drops through the vertical gap.