Dispensing plunger, dispensing apparatus comprising the dispensing plunger and method

Abstract

A dispensing apparatus is suitable for the reception of a cartridge containing a dispensable medium. A dispensing plunger is configured to be arranged at or in the dispensing apparatus, the dispensing plunger having an end face which acts on the cartridge for a dispensing of the medium out of the cartridge. The dispensing plunger is configured such that the end face, during the dispensing of the medium, has at least a first dispensing cross-section and subsequently has at least a second dispensing cross-section.

Claims

1. A dispensing plunger for a dispensing apparatus for the reception of a collapsible cartridge containing a dispensable medium, the dispensing plunger being configured to be arranged at or in the dispensing apparatus, the dispensing plunger comprising: an end face configured to act on the collapsible cartridge to dispense the dispensable medium out of the collapsible cartridge, the dispensing plunger being configured such that the end face, while dispensing the dispensable medium, has at least a first dispensing area acting on the collapsible cartridge and subsequently has at least a second dispensing area acting on the collapsible cartridge, the first dispensing area being larger than the second dispensing area on intended movement of the dispensing plunger along an axial dispensing direction; a first plunger and a second plunger, which configure the dispensing plunger in at least two parts, and the first plunger, in at least in a section thereof, includes a hollow cylindrical shape configured to receive the second plunger, the first plunger comprising at least a first recess, with the first recess being a first opening, and the second plunger comprising at least a second recess; and a pin movably arranged in the first recess and in the second recess to enable a change between the first dispensing area and the second dispensing area, the first recess and the second recess being arranged with respect to one another so that the pin is capable of being movably arranged in the first recess and in the second recess.

2. The dispensing plunger in accordance with claim 1, wherein the pin is at least part of a coupling apparatus configured to couple or decouple the first plunger and the second plunger, the coupling apparatus being arranged at or in the dispensing plunger.

3. The dispensing plunger in accordance with claim 2, wherein the coupling apparatus is configured for reversible coupling or decoupling.

4. The dispensing plunger in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second plunger is arranged in the first plunger.

5. The dispensing plunger in accordance with claim 4, wherein the first plunger and the second plunger are arranged centered with respect to one another.

6. The dispensing plunger in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first recess is one of at least two first recesses, and the second recess is one of at least two second recesses, and the at least two first recesses are disposed spaced apart with respect to one another equidistantly in the circumferential direction of the first plunger.

7. The dispensing plunger in accordance with claim 1, wherein the pin tapers at a side facing the second recess or a side facing away from the second recess.

8. The dispensing plunger in accordance with claim 7, wherein the pin is a truncated cone.

9. The dispensing plunger in accordance with claim 1, wherein the pin is movably arranged so as to be movable between a coupling position and a decoupling position.

10. The dispensing plunger in accordance with claim 9, wherein the pin is capable of being moved in a direction perpendicular to the axial dispensing direction.

11. The dispensing plunger in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a support apparatus at a side distal from the end face, and configured to support the dispensing plunger at a support cartridge of the dispensing apparatus in a position of area change, the support apparatus being a flange.

12. The dispensing plunger in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first dispensing area and the second dispensing area have a different shape.

13. The dispensing plunger in accordance with claim 1, wherein, a combination of the first plunger and the second plunger has the first dispensing area and the second plunger has a second dispensing area, and the first dispensing area being larger than the second dispensing area is a result of the second plunger decoupling from the first plunger during dispensing.

14. A dispensing plunger for a dispensing apparatus for the reception of a collapsible cartridge containing a dispensable medium, the dispensing plunger being configured to be arranged at or in the dispensing apparatus, the dispensing plunger comprising: an end face configured to act on the collapsible cartridge to dispense the dispensable medium out of the collapsible cartridge, the dispensing plunger being configured such that the end face, while dispensing the dispensable medium, has at least a first dispensing area acting on the collapsible cartridge and subsequently has at least a second dispensing area acting on the collapsible cartridge, the first dispensing area being larger than the second dispensing area on intended movement of the dispensing plunger along an axial dispensing direction; a first plunger and a second plunger, which configure the dispensing plunger in at least two parts; and a pin movably arranged in a first recess and in a second recess to enable a change between the first dispending area and the second dispensing area, the second plunger comprising an entrainment apparatus configured to entrain the first plunger following decoupling on movement opposite to a dispensing direction, the entrainment apparatus comprising at least one lateral projection and an entrainer flange at a side adjacent the end face.

15. A dispensing apparatus comprising: a support cartridge configured to receive a collapsible cartridge; a dispensing plunger, the dispensing plunger being arranged at or in the dispensing apparatus and having an end face configured to act on the collapsible cartridge for dispensing a medium out of the collapsible cartridge, the dispensing plunger being configured such that the end face, while dispensing the medium, has at least a first dispensing area acting on the collapsible cartridge and subsequently at least a second dispensing area acting on the collapsible cartridge, the first dispensing area being larger than the second dispensing area on intended movement of the dispensing plunger along an axial dispensing direction; and a pin movably arranged in a first recess and in a second recess to enable a change between the first dispensing area and the second dispensing area, the support cartridge includes a depression configured to engage the pin in a decoupling position.

16. The dispensing apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the depression tapers away from the dispensing plunger at least in a section thereof.

17. The dispensing apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the depression has a chamfer.

18. A method for dispensing a dispensable medium from a collapsible cartridge, the method comprising: providing a dispensing apparatus comprising a support cartridge for the reception of the collapsible cartridge and a dispensing plunger, the dispensing plunger including an end face for acting on the collapsible cartridge for dispensing of the dispensable medium out of the collapsible cartridge, the end face of the dispensing plunger, during the dispensing of the dispensable medium, has at least a first dispensing area acting on the collapsible cartridge and subsequently has at least a second dispensing area acting on the collapsible cartridge; dispensing of the dispensable medium out of the collapsible cartridge by the dispensing apparatus through movement of the dispensing plunger along an axial dispensing direction, during the dispensing moving a pin from a first recess to a second recess to change from the first dispensing area to the second dispensing area at a position of area change, the first dispensing area being larger than the second dispensing area on the movement of the dispensing plunger along the axial dispensing direction.

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 schematic illustration of a dispensing apparatus in accordance with the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective illustration of a cartridge for use in a dispensing apparatus in accordance with FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of the dispensing apparatus in accordance with FIG. 1 in a first position;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective illustration of the dispensing apparatus in accordance with FIG. 1 in a second position;

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective illustration of the section of a dispensing apparatus in accordance with FIG. 3;

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective illustration of a section of the dispensing apparatus in accordance with FIG. 4;

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective illustration of a part of the dispensing apparatus in accordance with FIG. 3 with a visible coupling apparatus;

(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective illustration of an alternative dispensing apparatus in accordance with the invention in a start position;

(10) FIG. 9 is a perspective illustration of the dispensing apparatus in accordance with FIG. 8 in a decoupled position;

(11) FIG. 10 is a perspective illustration of the dispensing apparatus in accordance with FIG. 8 in a final position;

(12) FIG. 11 is a perspective illustration of two cartridges for a dispensing apparatus; and

(13) FIG. 12 is a perspective illustration of a dispensing apparatus for the two cartridges in accordance with FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(14) In a schematic illustration FIG. 1 shows a dispensing apparatus 2 in accordance with the invention.

(15) The dispensing apparatus 2 in accordance with FIG. 1 is present in a start position prior to the dispensing of a medium from a collapsible cartridge 3 which is arranged in the dispensing apparatus 2. The dispensing apparatus 2 comprises a support cartridge 10 for the reception of the cartridge 3. A sleeve 17 is moreover arranged in the support cartridge 10 which surrounds the cartridge in order to laterally support the cartridge 3 such that the cartridge 3 does not burst by means of the pressure exerted on the cartridge 3 for the dispensing. The sleeve 17 is configured to be telescopic in an axial direction 9 so that the collapsible cartridge 3 can be compressed for dispensing the medium.

(16) A dispensing plunger 1 is partly arranged in the support cartridge 10, wherein the dispensing plunger 1 can act on the cartridge 3 by an end face 4 through a movement of the dispensing plunger 1 along the axial dispensing direction 9.

(17) The dispensing plunger 1 is of two-part design and comprises a first plunger 7 and a second plunger 8. The second plunger 8 is arranged in the first plunger 7, wherein the first plunger 7 and the second plunger 8 are arranged substantially centered with respect to one another with reference to the longitudinal axes of the two plungers. The longitudinal axes of the two plungers are arranged substantially in parallel to the axial dispensing direction 9.

(18) The first plunger 7 has a flange 14 for the support of the dispensing plunger 1 at the support cartridge 10 in a decoupled position of the first plunger 7 at the side facing away from the end face 4. The first plunger 7 further has a first recess which is configured as a first opening 12.

(19) The second plunger 8 has an entrainment apparatus configured as an entrainer flange 16 for entraining the first plunger on a reverse movement of the dispensing plunger away from an outlet side 18 at the side facing the end face 4 so that following a decoupling of the first plunger 7 from the second plunger 8 a coupling of the plunger becomes possible.

(20) Pins 11 are arranged in the first openings 12 and in the second recesses 13 for coupling and/or decoupling the plunger. Moreover, depressions 15 are arranged in the support cartridge 10. The pins 11 can be moved into the depressions 15 in the decoupled position. In this embodiment, the pins no longer engage in the second recesses 13 in such a way that decoupling of the plungers can take place.

(21) The end face 4 has a first dispensing cross-section 5 which is formed by the end faces of the first plunger 7 and of the second plunger 8. The end face 4 in this connection acts on a movement of the dispensing plunger 1 with respect to the outlet side 18 towards the collapsible cartridge 3 such that the medium can be conveyed from the dispensing apparatus 2 through an outlet arranged in the outlet side 18. A static or dynamic mixing apparatus can be arranged at the outlet side 18 in accordance with the requirements, when, for example, the cartridge 3 includes at least two different components to be mixed as a medium. A conveying tube can also be arranged alternatively or additionally for conveying the medium to a position of application.

(22) A collapsible cartridge 3 is shown in FIG. 2 in a perspective illustration, such as can be used in the dispensing apparatus in accordance with FIG. 1.

(23) The same reference numerals relate to like features in all Figures.

(24) The dispensing apparatus 2 in accordance with FIG. 1 is shown in a perspective illustration in two positions in the FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 shows the dispensing apparatus 2 in a first position with the end face 4 which has the first dispensing cross-section 5. The first plunger 7 and the second plunger 8 are coupled by the pins 11.

(25) The dispensing plunger 1 is moved towards the outlet side 18 in FIG. 4. Hereby the first plunger 7 is moved with the second plunger 8 such that the first plunger has reached the decoupled position E in such a way that the flange 14 contacts the support cartridge 10 and thus the first plunger 7 is supported at the support cartridge 10. The pins 11 are moved into the depressions 15 through the force exerted in the axial dispensing direction 9 towards the outlet side 18 in the decoupled position E due to the ends thereof being configured as a truncated cone which pins engage in the second recesses 13 of the second plunger 8. A decoupling of the two plungers is hereby effected. Subsequently, the second plunger 8 can be moved further towards the outlet side 18. The dispensing plunger 1 has an end face 4 having the second dispensing cross-section 6 following the decoupling.

(26) The dispensing plunger 1 is thus configured as a two-stage dispensing plunger 1 with respect to the end face 4.

(27) During the movement of the dispensing plunger 1 towards the outlet side 18 a telescopic movement of the sleeves 17 is effected in such a way that the collapsible cartridge 3 is correspondingly laterally supported and that a dispensing of the medium is enabled at the same time.

(28) Naturally, it is also possible to use the collapsible cartridge 3 without the sleeve 17 in the dispensing apparatus 2.

(29) The second plunger 8 has the entrainer flange 16. On the reverse movement of the second plunger from the position such as is shown in FIG. 4 to the position in accordance with FIG. 3 an entrainment of the first plunger 7 by the second plunger 8 takes place. Hereby a force is exerted on the pin 11 by means of the first plunger 7 in such a way that the pin is moved out of the depression 15 and the plungers are again coupled.

(30) On this movement back to the position in accordance with FIG. 3, the sleeve 17 is furthermore moved apart again.

(31) Sections of the FIGS. 3 and 4 are illustrated in the FIGS. 5 and 6 in an enlarged manner. In FIG. 5 the design of the depression 15 having a chamfer 19 is shown to better enable the coupling and decoupling of the plunger as described above. The plungers are not visible in this example and are present in the coupled state.

(32) In FIG. 6 the coupled state of the plunger is visible. The pin 11 is moved from the second recess 13 into the depression 15 having the chamfer 19. The second recess 13 is likewise configured as tapering away from the support cartridge 10. The pin 11 has a frustoconical shape at both ends.

(33) A part of the dispensing apparatus in accordance with FIG. 3 with a visible coupling apparatus is shown in FIG. 7 in a perspective illustration, wherein the dispensing apparatus 2 in accordance with FIG. 3 is cut perpendicular to the axial dispensing direction 9 through the coupling apparatus and in this example the part facing away from the outlet side is shown. The coupling apparatus in this connection comprises the pins 11 which are arranged in first openings 12. Moreover, precisely one second recess 13 is circumferentially provided which is configured in the circumferential direction of the second plunger 8.

(34) The first plunger 7 has four first openings 12 in which the pins 11 are arranged. The first openings 12 are equidistantly spaced apart with respect to one another in the circumferential direction of the first plunger 7.

(35) The second plunger has precisely one circumferential second recess 13 in which the pins 11 can be moved. The arrangement of precisely one circumferential second recess 13 has the advantage that the first plunger 7 and the second plunger 8 can be rotated relative to one another without the functionality of the coupling and decoupling being influenced.

(36) An alternative dispensing apparatus 2 in accordance with the invention is shown in a start position in a perspective illustration in FIG. 8. The dispensing apparatus 2 is configured substantially like the dispensing apparatus in accordance with FIG. 3.

(37) In contrast to FIG. 3 an outlet 20 is shown in the outlet side 18 in the dispensing apparatus 2 in accordance with FIG. 8. Moreover, no sleeve is provided in the support cartridge 10 in contrast to FIG. 3.

(38) The dispensing apparatus 2 in accordance with FIG. 8 is illustrated in the decoupled position in FIG. 9. The first plunger 7 and the second plunger 8 of the dispensing plunger 1 are in this connection present in the decoupled position E. The cartridge 3 was collapsed for the dispensing of the medium.

(39) The dispensing apparatus 2 in accordance with FIG. 8 is illustrated in an end position in FIG. 10. The first piston 7 in this connection remains in the decoupled position E, wherein the second piston 8 is moved further toward the outlet side 18.

(40) Two cartridges 3 for the reception in a dispensing apparatus in accordance with FIG. 12 are illustrated in a perspective illustration in FIG. 11.

(41) The cartridges 3 have outlets 20 as well as a fastening apparatus 21, for example, for a static mixer. Naturally also different application apparatuses such as e.g. cannulas can be arranged at the fastening apparatus 21.

(42) Typically the two cartridges include different adhesive components which can be mixed by a static mixer arranged downstream of the outlets 20 at the fastening apparatus 21.

(43) A dispensing apparatus 2 in accordance with the invention is shown in a perspective illustration in FIG. 12.

(44) The dispensing apparatus 2 has a support cartridge 10 configured for the reception of the two cartridges 3. Moreover, the dispensing apparatus 2 comprises a static mixer 22 which can be fastened to the fastening apparatus 21 illustrated in the FIG. 11.

(45) The dispensing apparatus 2 further comprises a drive 23 comprising an electric motor for actuating the dispensing plunger not visible in this example. The dispensing apparatus 2 comprises two dispensing plungers for the substantially simultaneous dispensing out of the two cartridges 3.

(46) The dispensing plungers in this connection can be configured as illustrated in FIG. 8.

(47) Alternatively, the dispensing plunger can be configured as non-coupled dispensing plungers, wherein the drive 23 for each cartridge can have two plunger drives (not shown) which are effectively coupled to the plungers in such a way that the end face of the dispensing plunger has at least a first dispensing cross-section during the dispensing of the medium and subsequently has at least a second dispensing cross-section.