Two-component dispenser

Abstract

A two-component dispenser includes first and second push rods guided within the two-component dispenser, first and second drive plate assemblies respectively associated with and embodied for engaging with the first and second push rods, and an actuation mechanism symmetrically arranged with respect to the first and second push rods and with respect to the first and second drive plate assemblies. The actuation mechanism displaceable in a linear manner between a release position and a plurality of dispensing positions and engaging the first and second drive plate assemblies in the dispensing positions to lock the first and second push rods by engagement with the first and second drive plate assemblies and to entrain the first and second push rods in a dispensing direction of the two-component dispenser.

Claims

1. A two-component dispenser comprising: first and second push rods guided within the two-component dispenser; first and second drive plate assemblies respectively associated with and configured to engage the first and second push rods; and an actuation mechanism symmetrically arranged with respect to the first and second push rods and with respect to the first and second drive plate assemblies, the actuation mechanism configured to be displaced in an at least substantially linear manner between a release position and a plurality of dispensing positions and configured to engage the first and second drive plate assemblies in the plurality of dispensing positions to respectively lock the first and second push rods by engagement with the first and second drive plate assemblies and to entrain the first and second push rods in a dispensing direction of the two-component dispenser.

2. The two-component dispenser in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first and second drive plate assemblies are inclined with respect to the first and second push rods in the plurality of dispensing positions of the actuation mechanism, or a respective first end of the first and second drive plate assemblies engaged by the actuation mechanism is deflected in the dispensing direction and a respective second end of the first and second drive plate assemblies is deflected away from the dispensing direction, so that the first and second drive plate assemblies are deflected in opposite directions.

3. The two-component dispenser in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first and second drive plate assemblies each comprise two plates separated by a spacer, or the first and second drive plate assemblies are pre-biased by retaining devices against the dispensing direction.

4. The two-component dispenser in accordance with claim 1, wherein the two-component dispenser is capable of adopting a neutral state by moving a carriage relative to the actuation mechanism to engage the first and second drive plate assemblies and in the neutral state the first and second drive plate assemblies are respectively arranged releasable with respect to the first and second push rods.

5. The two-component dispenser in accordance with claim 1, wherein the actuation mechanism is arranged in a first plane comprising the first and second push rods.

6. The two-component dispenser in accordance with claim 5, wherein the actuation mechanism is arranged in a second plane or symmetrically with respect to the second plane, the second plane being arranged transversely with respect to the first and second push rods and centrally between the first and second push rods.

7. The two-component dispenser in accordance with claim 1, wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a driving shaft and at least one push member arranged at or integrally formed with the driving shaft, the driving shaft configured to be moved to and fro in an at least substantially linear manner between the plurality of dispensing positions and the release position in parallel to the first and second push rods, and the at least one push member configured to engage the first and second drive plate assemblies in the plurality of dispensing positions of the actuation mechanism.

8. The two-component dispenser in accordance with claim 7, wherein the at least one push member is a push plate.

9. The two-component dispenser in accordance with claim 1, wherein, when the actuation mechanism is in the release position, first and second brake plates respectively lock the first and second push rods with the first and second brake plates and fix the position of the first and second push rods.

10. The two-component dispenser in accordance with claim 9, wherein the two-component dispenser is capable of adopting a neutral state by moving a carriage relative to the actuation mechanism to engage the first and second brake plates and in the neutral state the first and second brake plates are respectively arranged releasable with respect to the first and second push rods.

11. The two-component dispenser in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first and second push rods are guided in front and rear guides and the actuation mechanism is arranged between the front and rear guides.

12. The two-component dispenser in accordance with claim 11, wherein at least one of the rear guides is a guide for the actuation mechanism.

13. The two-component dispenser in accordance with claim 1, wherein the actuation mechanism is actuated by a trigger lever connected thereto.

14. The two-component dispenser in accordance with claim 13, wherein the trigger lever comprises a yoke with the first and second push rods being guided through an opening of the yoke of the trigger lever.

15. The two-component dispenser in accordance with claim 13, wherein the trigger lever is connected to the actuation mechanism via a reducer transmission.

16. The two-component dispenser in accordance with claim 15, wherein the actuation mechanism is arranged in a first plane comprising the first and second push rods, and the trigger lever or the reducer transmission are arranged in or symmetrically with respect to the first plane.

17. The two-component dispenser in accordance with claim 15, wherein the trigger lever or the reducer transmission is mounted in a housing of the two-component dispenser at at least one pivot point.

18. The two-component dispenser in accordance with claim 15, wherein the reducer transmission comprises a connection part and a gear arm arrangement.

19. The two-component dispenser in accordance with claim 18, wherein the gear arm arrangement comprises a yoke with the first push rod guided through an opening of the yoke of the gear arm arrangement.

20. The two-component dispenser in accordance with claim 18, wherein the gear arm arrangement comprises a yoke with the first push rod guided through an opening of the yoke of the gear arm arrangement, and an open end of the yoke of the trigger lever is connected to an open end of the yoke of the gear arm arrangement.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a two-component dispenser;

(3) FIG. 2 is a section through the two-component dispenser of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of some of the internal components of the two-component dispenser

(5) FIG. 4 is a section through the view of FIG. 3 with the actuation mechanism of the two-component dispenser in a release position;

(6) FIG. 5 is a section through the view of FIG. 3 with the actuation mechanism of the two-component dispenser in one of a plurality of dispensing positions; and

(7) FIG. 6 is a section through the view of FIG. 3 with the two-component dispenser in a neutral state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(8) In the following the same reference numerals will be used for parts having the same or equivalent function. Any statements made having regard to the direction of a component are made relative to the position shown in the drawing and can naturally vary in the actual position of application.

(9) FIG. 1 shows a two-component dispenser 10 having a cartridge 12 installed in a receptacle 14 present in the front half 16 of a housing 18 of the two-component dispenser 10. A handle 20 is attached to the housing 18 so that a user (not shown) of the two-component dispenser 10 can hold the two-component dispenser 10.

(10) In order to dispense substances from the cartridge 12 the user can activate a trigger lever 22 in order to effect a movement of first and second push rods 24, 26 (in the following also simply referred to as two push rods 24, 26) in a dispensing direction A. The two push rods 24, 26 are held by a rod handle 28 at the rear end 30 of the two-component dispenser 10.

(11) In use of the cartridge 12 a mixing tip (not shown) will typically be placed at the end of the cartridge 12 currently covered by an end cap 32.

(12) FIG. 2 shows a section through the two-component dispenser 10 of FIG. 1. The two push rods 24, 26 are guided in front and rear guides 34, 36 in order to engage two pistons 38, 40 present within the cartridge 12. In order to effect a movement of the two push rods 24, 26 in the dispensing direction A, the trigger lever 22 is operatively connected to an actuation mechanism 42 via a connection part 44 and a gear arm arrangement 46 within the housing 18.

(13) The trigger lever 22 and the gear arm arrangement 46 are linked to the housing at respective pivot points 48, 50. On a movement of the trigger lever 22 towards the handle 20, the actuation mechanism (actuator) 42 is displaced in the dispensing direction A, the actuation mechanism 42 thereby engages first and second drive plate assemblies 52, 54 (in the following also simply referred to as two drive plate assemblies 52, 54) that respectively engage the push rods 24, 26 in a locking manner. In this way the two drive plate assemblies 52, 54 are pushed into a position in which they are inclined with respect to the push rods 24, 26 and indeed such that they engage the push rods 24, 26 in a locking or clamping manner therebetween. If the trigger lever 22 is then moved further towards the handle 20, the actuation mechanism 42 is moved further in the dispensing direction A. Due to the locking engagement present between the two drive plate assemblies 52, 54 and the two push rods 24, 26, both the two drive plate assemblies 52, 54 and the two push rods 24, 26 are entrained, i.e. moved, in the dispensing direction A.

(14) In this connection it should be noted that the actuation mechanism 42 can adopt a plurality of dispensing positions between a first dispensing positionin which the two drive plate assemblies 52, 54 are deflected in such a way that they no longer only contact the two push rods 24, 26, but also such that they engage and lock the two push rods 24, 26and an end dispensing positionin which the trigger lever 22 cannot be moved closer towards the handle 20.

(15) When the actuation mechanism 42 is in a position in which it does not engage the two drive plate assemblies 52, 54, first and second brake plates 56, 58 (in the following also simply referred to as two brake plates 56, 58) are activated and prevent the push rods 24, 26 from traveling in a direction opposite to the dispensing direction A, as will be discussed in the following.

(16) In order to aid the movement of the two drive plate assemblies 52, 54 two springs 60, 62 are respectively arranged between the two drive plate assemblies 52, 54 and the front guide 34.

(17) In a similar way two springs 64, 66 are arranged between the two drive plate assemblies 52, 54 and the two brake plates 56, 58 in order to aid the movement of the brake plates 56, 58.

(18) The two drive plate assemblies 52, 54 and the two brake plates 56, 58 are each floatingly arranged at the push rods 24, 26. This means that the two drive plate assemblies 52, 54 and the two brake plates 56, 58 are not connected to the two push rods 24, 26, but rather are brought into and out of locking engagement with the two push rods 24, 26, through an interaction with the actuation mechanism 42 and/or the respective springs, 60, 62, 64, 66.

(19) In the plurality of dispensing positions of the actuation mechanism 42, the springs 60, 62 are biased with respect to the front guide 34 through the movement of the actuation mechanism 42 in the dispensing direction A. Together with the movement of the actuation mechanism 42, the bias provided by the springs 60, 62 with respect to the two drive plate assemblies 52, 54 ensures that these are inclined with respect to the two push rods 24, 26 in each of the plurality of dispensing positions and namely such that the two drive plate assemblies 52, 54 engage the two push rods 24, 26 in a locking manner.

(20) The bias exerted by the two springs 60, 62 also ensures that the springs 64, 66 are biased between the two drive plate assemblies 52, 54 and the two brake plates 56, 58. The tension on the springs 64, 66 is reduced during the movement of the two push rods 24, 26 and the two drive plate assemblies 52, 54 in the dispensing direction A. At the same time the locking engagement between the two push rods 24, 26 and the two brake plates 56, 58 is released due to the movement of the two push rods 24, 26 in the dispensing direction A.

(21) Once the trigger lever 22 has been released, i.e. is moved away from the handle 20, the actuation mechanism 42 is moved in the direction opposite to the dispensing direction A, so that finally it no longer engages the two drive plate assemblies 52, 54. Thereby the springs 60, 62 push the two drive plate assemblies 52, 54 into an at least substantially vertical position permitting the two drive plate assemblies 52, 54 to release their locking engagement with the two push rods 24, 26 and further move the released drive plate assemblies 52, 54 relative to the push rods 24, 26 against the dispensing direction A into their respective starting position. This movement of the two drive plate assemblies 52, 54 causes the tension on the springs 64, 66 to increase, whereby the springs 64, 66 exert a slight pressure on the two brake plates 56, 58 causing these to engage the push rods 24, 26 in a locking manner. The locked engagement between the two brake plates 56, 58 and the two push rods 24, 26 prevents the push rods 24, 26 from travelling in the direction opposite to the dispensing direction A when the actuation mechanism 42 is in the release position.

(22) In order to aid the locking engagement of the two brake plates 56, 58 with the two push rods 24, 26, the rear guide has two abutments 67a, 67b about which the two brake plates 56, 58 can pivot when acted on by the springs 64, 66.

(23) In this connection it should be noted that the actuation mechanism 42 is also guided in the rear guide 36. Since the actuation mechanism 42 is guided, at the one hand, within the rear guide 36 and, at the other hand, at the pivot point 50 an approximately linear movement of the actuation mechanism 42 is achieved with respect to the push rods 24, 26. In order to further ensure a substantially linear movement of the actuation mechanism 42 this comprises a linear guide 94 that is moveably arranged in a bore 96 present within the rear guide 36.

(24) It should further be noted that the trigger lever 22 is biased by a spring 98 mounted at the handle 20. In the view of FIG. 3 one can see that the other end of the spring 98 actually biases a brake release lever 70 and the trigger lever 22 with respect to one another.

(25) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of some of the internal components of the two-component dispenser that essentially form a so-called dispenser driving mechanism 100.

(26) FIG. 3 further shows a carriage 68 that covers and partly houses the two drive plate assemblies 52, 54 and the two brake plates 56, 58. The carriage 68 includes abutments 92a, 92b, 92c, 92d (see FIG. 6) which can engage the two drive plate assemblies 52, 54 and the two brake plates 56, 58 in order to position these in a neutral position so that these no longer engage the push rods 24, 26 (see FIG. 6 in this regard). With the two drive plate assemblies 52, 54 and the two brake plates 56, 58 in their respective neutral position the dispenser 10 is in a neutral state in which the two push rods 24, 26 can be moved in the direction opposite the dispensing direction A to retract the push rods 24, 26 in order to reinstall a cartridge 12 in the receptacle 14 (see FIG. 1).

(27) The carriage 68 can be brought into the corresponding position by moving the brake release lever 70 that is hinged within the housing 18 (see FIG. 1). On movement of the brake release lever 70 this abuts the carriage 68 at centrally arranged pins 72 (of which only one is shown in FIG. 3) in order to move the carriage 68 in the dispensing direction A.

(28) FIG. 3 also shows that the trigger lever has a yoke 74 formed at its end connected to the connection part 44, with the two push rods 24, 26 being guided through an opening 76 of the yoke 74. The gear arm arrangement 46 likewise comprises a yoke 78 at its end connected to the connection part 44 with only one push rod 24 being guided through an opening 80 of the yoke 78 of the gear arm arrangement 46. It should be noted that the pivot point 50 of the gear arm arrangement 46 is asymmetrically arranged between the two push rods 24, 26. In this way a compact design of the dispenser driving mechanism 100 can be achieved.

(29) FIG. 4 shows a section through the view of FIG. 3 with the actuation mechanism 42 of the two-component dispenser 10 adopting a release position. In the release position of the actuation mechanism 42, a push member 82 of the actuation mechanism 42 does not engage the two drive plate assemblies 52, 54. In this connection it should be noted that the actuation mechanism 42 is composed of a driving shaft 90 and the push member 82. In the present case the push member 82 is integrally formed with the driving shaft 90.

(30) In this connection it should be noted that the two drive plate assemblies 52, 54 respectively include two plates 84a, 84b, 86a, 86b and are connected to one another via a common spacer 88. The spacer 88 also maintains the position of the four plates 84a,b, 86a,b with respect to one another.

(31) In the release position of the actuation mechanism 42, the two brake plates 56, 58 are respectively inclined with respect to the two push rods 24, 26 due to the interplay of the bias of the springs 64, 66 acting thereon and the abutments 67a, 67b, thereby preventing a movement of the two push rods 24, 26 against the dispensing direction A.

(32) FIG. 5 shows a section through the view of FIG. 3 with the actuation mechanism of the two-component dispenser adopting one of a plurality of dispensing positions, namely the end dispensing position. In order to bring the push member 82 into engagement with the two drive plate assemblies, the trigger lever 22 is pushed in the direction towards the handle 20 (see FIG. 1), whereby the yoke 74 of the trigger lever 22 is pivoted about the pivot point 48 bringing about a pivot movement at the end of the yoke 74 connected to the connecting part 44 in the dispensing direction A and also at the end of the connecting part 44 where it is connected to the gear arm arrangement 46. This then causes the driving shaft 90 of the actuation mechanism to be pulled in an at least substantially linear manner in the dispensing direction A. The driving shaft 90 hence also pulls the push member 82, present in the form of a push plate, in the dispensing direction A, whereby the push member 82 then engages the two drive plate assemblies 52, 54 symmetrically between the two push rods 24, 26. The two drive plate assemblies 52, 54 thereby deflect with respect to the two push rods 24, 26, i.e. the two drive plate assemblies 52, 54 are moved such that they are inclined with respect to the two push rods 24, 26 and due to the inclination also lock the two push rods 24, 26. As the drive shaft 90 is moved from the first dispensing position to a further dispensing position, here the end dispensing position, in the dispensing direction A, the two push rods 24, 26 are entrained in the dispensing direction A.

(33) A length between the respective pivot points 48, 50 and a respective point of connection of the connection part 44 at the respective yoke 74 and of the yoke 78 determines the reduction in path length the driving shaft 90 can travel and hence the increase in force the push member 82 applies at the two drive plate assemblies 52, 54.

(34) FIG. 6 shows a section through the view of FIG. 3 with the two-component dispenser in a neutral state. In the neutral state the brake release lever 70 is pivoted with respect to the housing 18 (see FIG. 1) of the two-component dispenser 10 and engages the pins 72 (see FIG. 3) present at the carriage 68. This causes the carriage 68 to be entrained in the dispensing direction A relative to the two drive plate assemblies 52, 54 and the two brake plates 56, 58. The carriage 68 has abutments 92a, 92b, 92c, 92d connected to it in its interior. On a movement of the carriage 68 into the dispensing direction A the abutments 92a, 92b, 92c, 92d move the two drive plate assemblies 52, 54 and the two brake plates 56, 58 into their respective neutral position such that their locking contact with the two push rods 24, 26 has been released. Thereby the two push rods 24, 26 can be moved in the direction opposite the dispensing direction A in order to remove a spent cartridge 12.

(35) Moreover, due to the fact that the trigger lever 22 is biased with respect to the brake release lever 70 by the spring 98 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), means that on actuation of the trigger lever 22, the spring 98 causes the brake release lever 70 to maintain its position, i.e. such that it does not move in the direction of the pins 72. Furthermore, on releasing the trigger lever 22 the bias provided by the spring 98 also causes the trigger lever 22 to be pushed back into its position as it is shown e.g. in FIGS. 1 to 4, i.e. in the non-dispensing state.

(36) Through the provision of the spring 98, the spring constant of the springs 60, 62 can be reduced, to ensure that the tension on the two brake plates 56, 58 is slightly reduced on an activation of the trigger lever 22 to permit the movement of the first and second push rods 24, 26 in the dispensing direction A, while maintaining the capability of returning the trigger lever 22 into the non-dispensing state after a dispensing action.