APPLICATION DEVICE FOR APPLYING GEL-LIKE AND/OR PASTE-LIKE COMPOSITIONS AND APPLICATION UNIT FOR AN APPLICATION DEVICE OF THIS TYPE

Abstract

The invention relates to an application unit for an application device, in particular an application gun for applying gel-like and/or paste-like compositions, having an output unit for dispensing the compositions, a connection element, such as a cover, for connecting the output unit to the main body of the application device, and a closure element, wherein the closure element is rotatable around an axis of rotation with respect to the connection element and the output unit for fastening the output unit on the connection element and for detaching the output unit from the connection element, wherein a lifting unit is formed and arranged in such a way that the output unit is lifted by a rotation of the closure element.

Claims

1. An application unit for an application device for applying gel-like and/or paste-like compositions, comprising: a dispensing unit for dispensing a composition; a connection element for connecting the dispensing unit to an application device main body; and a closure element, wherein the closure element is rotatable about a rotation axis with respect to the connection element and the dispensing unit in order to secure the dispensing unit to the connection element and to release the dispensing unit from the connection element, wherein a lifting device is constructed and arranged in such a manner that the dispensing unit will be lifted by rotating the closure element.

2. The application unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closure element and connection element form a bayonet closure in order to secure the dispensing unit to the connection element, wherein the lifting device is at least partially formed by the bayonet closure and wherein a common rib is a component of both the bayonet closure and the lifting device.

3. The application unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lifting device has a closure element stop and a dispensing unit stop, wherein the closure element stop and the dispensing unit stop, when the closure element is rotated, will come into sliding contact in such a manner that the dispensing unit will be lifted as a result of the rotation of closure element.

4. The application unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the closure element stop is a component of the bayonet closure and/or wherein a surface normal of the closure element stop and/or the dispensing unit stop extends parallel to the rotation axis.

5. The application unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the closure element stop is provided on an inner peripheral face of the closure element and/or the dispensing unit stop is provided on an outer peripheral face, of the dispensing unit.

6. The application unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the closure element stop and/or the dispensing unit stop is/are defined by a side face of a rib and/or wherein the closure element stop and/or the dispensing unit stop is/are defined by a side face, on a lower side, of a wing element.

7. The application unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dispensing unit has at least one radially outwardly directed, wing element, and the connection element has a corresponding recess for receiving the wing element.

8. The application unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dispensing unit comprises: a mixer unit and/or a nozzle element.

9. The application unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bayonet closure has an inclined introduction member which is formed on the closure element and which, when the dispensing unit is secured, runs against a pin of the connection element and/or wherein the bayonet closure has on the connection element an inclined connection element introduction member which, when the dispensing unit is secured, will run against a projection of the closure element.

10. The application unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closure element and connection element form a screw closure, comprising: two mutually corresponding threads, in order to secure the dispensing unit to the connection element.

11. An application device, configured as an application gun for applying gel-like and/or paste-like compositions, comprising: an application unit as claimed in claim 1.

12. A method for applying gel-like and/or paste-like compositions, comprising: dispensing a composition from a dispending unit connected via a connection element to an application device main body; rotating a closure element about a rotation axis with respect to the connection element and the dispensing unit to secure the dispensing unit to the connection element and to release the dispensing unit from the connection element; and lifting the dispensing unit via a lifting device by rotating the closure element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] An embodiment of the invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0031] In the drawings:

[0032] FIG. 1 is an oblique schematic view of an application device according to the invention;

[0033] FIG. 2 is an oblique view of the application device according to FIG. 1 without any closure element;

[0034] FIG. 3 is an oblique schematic view of a closure element;

[0035] FIG. 4 is an oblique view of a dispensing unit;

[0036] FIG. 5 is an oblique schematic view of a connection element;

[0037] FIG. 6 is a side view of the connection element according to FIG. 5 with dotted portions of the dispensing unit according to FIG. 4 and the closure element according to FIG. 3;

[0038] FIG. 7 is an illustration similar to FIG. 6 after a rotation of the closure element according to FIG. 3 with respect to the connection element according to FIG. 5 and the dispensing unit according to FIG. 4; and

[0039] FIG. 8 is an illustration similar to FIGS. 6 and 7 after a further rotation of the closure element.

[0040] Only the elements which are significant for direct understanding of the invention are shown.

METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION

[0041] FIG. 1 shows an application unit for an application device, in particular an application gun, for applying gel-like and/or paste-like compositions. The application unit comprises a dispensing unit 10, a closure element 11 and a connection element 12.

[0042] The connection element 12 is constructed as a cover element and terminates an application device main body (not shown) at the end thereof. The closure element 11 serves to secure the dispensing unit 10 to the connection element 12. The closure element 11 is constructed as an annular member and has on an outer peripheral face 13 axially extending projections 14 which facilitate a rotation of the closure element 11 when the application device is operated.

[0043] FIG. 2 corresponds to FIG. 1, wherein the closure element 11 has been omitted. It can thereby be seen that the dispensing unit 10 is received in the assembled state in a cylindrical member 15 of the connection element 12. Specifically, three (the number may also be smaller or larger) wings 16 are provided on the dispensing unit 10, wherein the wings 16 (in the assembly position) are arranged inside recesses 17 of the connection element 12. In principle, the dispensing unit 10, as illustrated in FIG. 2, could be removed from the connection element 12 by raising the dispensing unit. To this end, however, the (not inconsiderable) retention force of a shoulder element (not shown in the Figures) on which the dispensing unit is arranged inside the application device has to be overcome.

[0044] FIG. 2 further shows that the connection element 12 (on the cylindrical member 15) has a pin 18 and an inclined introduction member 19. The inclined introduction member 19 is in this instance defined by an (upper) peripheral edge 20 of the cylindrical member 15. The pin 18 is located on an outer peripheral face 21 of the connection element 12 or the cylindrical member 15.

[0045] The pin 18 is a component of a bayonet closure, the inclined introduction member 19 is a component of a lifting device in order to lift the dispensing unit 10 (via the wing 16 thereof) which is shown in the following Figures.

[0046] FIGS. 3 to 5 are oblique views of the elements dispensing unit 10, closure element 11 and connection element 12. FIG. 4 shows that the dispensing unit 10 has a mixer unit 22 and a discharge nozzle 23.

[0047] The function of the invention is explained below with particular reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 and FIGS. 6 to 8. FIGS. 6 to 8 are each a side view of the connection element 12. There is further illustrated with dotted lines: an inclined introduction member 24 of the closure element 11 (see also FIG. 3), a rib 25 of the connection element 11 (see also FIG. 3) and a projection 26 of the connection element 11 (see also FIG. 3) and one of the three wings 16 (see also FIG. 4) of the dispensing unit 10. In this instance, it should be noted that the elements shown with dotted lines in FIGS. 6 to 8 are illustrated in a highly schematic manner.

[0048] On the whole, it should be noted that the (mutually corresponding) elements with by the reference numerals 15, 16, 17, 19, 18, 24, 25 and 26 may be each provided three times. Another number is possible (for example, one, two or more than four). However, there is preferably provision for these elements to be constructed at least three times in order to enable a stable and reliable rotation of the closure element 11 or a stable and reliable securing of the dispensing unit 10. The triple construction (also shown in the Figures) is particularly preferred, wherein in particular the respective elements are arranged in a Mercedes-star-like configuration.

[0049] FIG. 6 shows a starting position of the application unit. This position is assumed when the dispensing unit 10 is connected to the connection element 12 via the closure element 11 (so that the application unit or the application device can be used). If the closure element 11 is now rotated (in FIGS. 3 to 8 in a counter-clockwise direction when viewed from above), the projection 26 runs against the inclined introduction member 19 so that the closure element 11 in addition to the rotation movement also carries out a translation movement away from the connection element 12. This translation movement is transmitted to the wings 16 and consequently the dispensing unit 10 so that it is also moved in a translational manner without moving in a rotational manner. This is shown in FIG. 7.

[0050] The translation movement of the closure element 11 brought about by the rotation of the closure element 11 (and associated translation movement of the wing element 16 or the dispensing unit 10) ends as soon as the projection 26 has reached an end of the inclined introduction member 19 (this is shown in FIG. 8). In this state, the retention forces applied by the application device main body (or a shoulder element of the application device) are (substantially) overcome so that the dispensing unit 10 can be completely removed without great application of force and in a simple manner (by the operator). On the whole, the significant components of the lifting device are the elements 25, 26 and 19. These elements force the wings 16 of the dispensing unit 10 upward or lift these wings 16.

[0051] The bayonet closure is in particular produced by means of the inclined introduction member 24 and the rib 25 (which together can form an integral component) together with the pin 18. If the FIGS. 8 to 6 are considered in reverse, the operating method of this bayonet closure can be derived. In this instance, FIG. 8 shows the position which the dispensing unit and the closure element 11 assume at the beginning of the securing operation. If the closure element 11 is now rotated (in FIGS. 3 to 8 in a clockwise direction when viewed from above), the inclined introduction member 24 runs against the pin 18 and forces the closure element 11 (together with the dispensing unit 10 via an annular projection 27, which is in abutment against the dispensing unit 10) downward (see FIG. 7). Further rotation finally leads to the end position according to FIG. 6, in which the dispensing unit 10 is secured to the connection element 12 and consequently the application unit or the application device can be used.

[0052] As can be seen in particular in FIG. 3, the inclined introduction member 24, the rib 25 and the projection 26 are located on an inner peripheral face 28 of the closure element 11. As can be seen in particular in FIG. 4, the wings 16 are located on an outer peripheral face 29 of the dispensing unit 10. The wings 16 can thereby be brought into engagement with the rib 25 in a particularly simple manner. Furthermore, the inclined introduction member 24 can also cooperate with the pin 18 (as described above) in a particularly effective manner.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0053] 10 Dispensing unit [0054] 11 Closure element [0055] 12 Connection element [0056] 13 Outer peripheral face [0057] 14 Projection [0058] 15 Cylindrical member [0059] 16 Wing [0060] 17 Recess [0061] 18 Pin [0062] 19 Inclined introduction member [0063] 20 Peripheral edge [0064] 21 Outer peripheral face [0065] 22 Mixer unit [0066] 23 Discharge nozzle [0067] 24 Inclined introduction member [0068] 25 Rib [0069] 26 Projection [0070] 27 Annular projection [0071] 28 Inner peripheral face [0072] 29 Outer peripheral face