Dispenser

Abstract

The invention relates to a dispenser (100) for dispensing viscous and non-viscous materials. The dispenser (100) comprises a frame (5), a material reservoir (10) positioned within the frame (5) and containing at least one material to be dispensed, and a drive mechanism (7) for dispensing material from the material reservoir (10). The drive mechanism (7) is configured to move the piston (11) to dispense material from the material reservoir (10). The dispenser (100) comprises a force limiter (61) configured to limit and / or regulate the force exerted on the piston (11) by the drive mechanism (7) by at least partially releasing the force generated by the drive mechanism (7) or by preventing further generation of the force acting on the piston (11) when a threshold value of the force acting on the piston (11) is reached or exceeded.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing viscous and non-viscous materials. Background Art

[0002] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of an exemplary dispenser 100 with a fundamentally known basic function is illustrated. The dispenser 100 includes a dispenser handle 1, and a trigger 2 is pivotally coupled to the dispenser handle 1. A drive rod 3 engages with a spring-loaded drive mechanism 7 having a catchplate. The dispenser 100 includes a frame 5 which is fixed to the dispenser handle 1 and configured to support a support sleeve 6.

[0003] A spray valve 8 forming a manually operable valve assembly with a nozzle 9 is connectable to the proximal end of a flexible bag 10 within the support sleeve 6. The flexible bag 10 serves as a material reservoir for at least one material to be dispensed.

[0004] To dispense material from the flexible bag 10, a piston 11 is provided on the distal side of the flexible bag 10, which is axially movable along the support sleeve 6. The piston 11 is shaped to match the front portion of the flexible bag 10 in order to minimize the residual material within the flexible bag 10 after a full dispensing stroke with the piston 11.

[0005] A plunger 12 is fixed to the drive rod 3 of the dispenser 100 and configured to transfer the axial movement of the drive rod 3 caused by the operation of the trigger 2 onto the piston 11, so as to squeeze the flexible bag 10 to dispense material from the flexible bag 10. Additionally, a locking and releasing mechanism 30 is operably provided between the dispenser handle 1 and the drive rod 3 so as to axially lock the drive rod 3 releasably relative to the dispenser handle 1 when the trigger 2 is released. Since the structural and functional configurations of the various parts described above are well known to those skilled in the art, their detailed description is omitted for the sake of brevity.

[0006] Such a system can suffer damage to the flexible bag 10, which is caused by the suddenly increased force that the flexible bag 10 undergoes as the piston 11 moves. This is particularly applicable in cases where the piston 11 does not come into direct contact with the flexible bag 10 at the start of such movement. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In view of this, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a dispenser that does not suffer from such negative effects.

[0008] This problem is solved by a dispenser according to independent claim 1. Preferred modifications to this dispenser can be obtained from the dependent claims subordinate thereto and from the embodiments described herein.

[0009] According to the present invention, a dispenser for dispensing viscous and non-viscous materials includes a frame, a material reservoir positioned within the frame and containing at least one material to be dispensed, and a drive mechanism for dispensing the material from the material reservoir. The drive mechanism is configured to move a piston to dispense the material from the material reservoir. The dispenser includes a force limiter configured to limit and / or regulate the force applied by the drive mechanism on the piston when a threshold of the force acting on the piston is reached or exceeded, by at least partially releasing the force generated by the drive mechanism or by preventing further generation of the force acting on the piston.

[0010] Thus, a high force acting on the piston and transferred to the material reservoir, which could cause damage to the material reservoir, is reliably prevented.

[0011] Preferably, the force limiter is configured to limit the force applied by the drive mechanism to the piston by generating a counterforce (especially of a frictional type) acting against the force generated by the drive mechanism, especially by generating a deformation and / or movement perpendicular to the force generated by the drive mechanism.

[0012] This braking configuration depicts a first rather robust example for implementing the prevention of excessive force acting on the material reservoir via the piston.

[0013] Additionally preferably, the force limiter includes a braking unit positioned in the force transmission path between the drive rod and the piston and configured to apply the generated force from the drive mechanism to the piston. The braking unit is especially a part separated from the piston and / or from the drive rod.

[0014] This embodiment is very compact and reliable.

[0015] Additionally preferably, the braking unit is provided in the form of a cap-like connection to the piston or includes a spherical part.

[0016] These two options depict rather robust and reliable embodiments for the braking unit.

[0017] Preferably, the material reservoir includes a rigid support sleeve surrounding the container filled with the material. Activation of the force limiter is controlled based on the force transmitted from the drive mechanism via the piston to any one of the material reservoir and / or to one of the parts holding the material reservoir (such as the support sleeve).

[0018] This configuration is very robust and reliable.

[0019] Preferably, the support sleeve and the frame or the separate control sleeve are connected to each other via an engagement configuration to form a force limiter. The engagement configuration is configured to release when the force applied to the support sleeve reaches a predetermined threshold that causes axial movement of the support sleeve relative to the frame, to release the applied force acting between the frame and the support sleeve via the drive mechanism, and thus to release the force applied to the piston.

[0020] This force release configuration is very robust and reliable.

[0021] Preferably, the drive mechanism includes a locking and release mechanism for releasing the force or energy provided or generated by the drive mechanism, or a blocking unit for blocking the further generation of the force acting on the piston. The force limiter is configured to activate the locking and release mechanism or the blocking unit accordingly when a predetermined threshold for the force applied to the piston by the drive mechanism is exceeded and in particular as long as a predetermined threshold for the force applied to the piston by the drive mechanism is exceeded.

[0022] This configuration depicts a preferred alternative to the braking configuration described above.

[0023] Also preferably, the force limiter includes a pressure rod having an engagement segment at one end thereof that engages a segment (in particular the proximal end) of the material memory and / or one of the parts of the holding material memory, such as the support sleeve. The pressure rod is connected to a release part or a blocking part. The release part is configured to activate the locking and release mechanism when the force received via the pressure rod exceeds a predetermined value corresponding to a predetermined value defined for activating the force limiter, or as long as the force received via the pressure rod exceeds a predetermined value corresponding to a predetermined value defined for activating the force limiter. The blocking part is configured to block additional forces that cause movement of the drive mechanism.

[0024] This release or blocking configuration depicts a fairly reliable alternative to the braking configuration described above.

[0025] Also preferably, the release part or the blocking part is provided integrally with the pressure rod accordingly or is directly connected thereto and is configured to directly activate the release or blocking unit when the pressure rod moves axially.

[0026] This embodiment is very robust and reliable.

[0027] Preferably, the force limiter includes a force reducer and / or a force transmitter, the force reducer acting against the force transmitted via the pressure rod in order to reduce the amount of the force transmitted via the pressure rod, and the force transmitter acting between the pressure rod and the release part.

[0028] This part allows for the setting of the threshold of the force at which the force limiter is activated.

[0029] Furthermore preferably, the force reducer or force transmitter correspondingly includes a compression spring or is formed by a compression spring.

[0030] This embodiment is very stable and reliable.

[0031] Preferably, the release part is provided in the form of a release plate or a brake pawl, or the blocking part is a pressure rod configured to engage the distal end of the catch plate.

[0032] This embodiment is quite simple and reliable in structure.

[0033] Preferably, the material reservoir includes at least one flexible container or flexible bag for at least one material to be dispensed. The material reservoir particularly includes a rigid support sleeve that surrounds at least one flexible container or flexible bag.

[0034] This configuration is quite stable and enables convenient handling of the material reservoir and efficient dispensing of the material from the material reservoir.

[0035] Preferably, the dispenser is a handheld device. In particular, the dispenser has an overall shape like a pistol.

[0036] This embodiment is very easy to handle.

[0037] Preferably, the force limiter includes a spring-loaded frame that connects the material reservoir to the drive mechanism such that the force transmitted to the piston by the drive mechanism is limited by storing at least part of the force generated in the spring-loaded frame, which serves as an energy reservoir and / or buffer.

[0038] With this energy reservoir and / or buffer, the generated propulsion energy can be buffered for its subsequent output while reducing the force acting on the piston. Description of the Drawings

[0039] Exemplary embodiments and functions of the present disclosure are described herein in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

[0040] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of an exemplary dispenser having a fundamentally known basic function is illustrated;

[0041] Figure 2 A perspective side view of a force limiter according to a first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated;

[0042] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view and a perspective side view of a force limiter according to a second embodiment of the present invention are illustrated;

[0043] Figure 4Schematic diagram showing a force limiter according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 5 Two perspective side views showing a force limiting configuration according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention in its different states;

[0045] Figure 6 Shows in two different states Figure 5 Cross-sectional view of the force limiting configuration of;

[0046] Figure 7 Cross-sectional view showing a dispenser having a force limiter according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] Figure 8 Cross-sectional view showing a dispenser having a force limiter according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 9 Schematic cross-sectional view showing a dispenser having a force limiter according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] Figure 10 Perspective side view showing a dispenser having a force limiter according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention;

[0050] Figure 11 Shows Figure 10 Perspective side view of an alternative embodiment of the basic concept of the dispenser; and

[0051] Figure 12 Shows in connection with Figure 11 Perspective side view of an exemplary valve assembly used with the dispenser of. Detailed Description

[0052] In this document, the term "distal" refers to the component / end of the device, or the component / end of its part or member, that is located furthest from the delivery / injection site according to the use of the device. Correspondingly, the term "proximal" refers to the component / end of the device, or the component / end of its member, that is located closest to the delivery / injection site according to the use of the device.

[0053] First, a plurality of exemplary embodiments are described with reference to Figures 2 to 4 wherein the force limiter prevents further generation of the force acting on the piston in terms of the present invention.

[0054] Figure 2 Shows a first exemplary embodiment of a force limiter 61, which is provided in the form of an elastically deformable part 58 (in particular a ball), which is provided in Figure 1Between the piston 11 and the plunger 12 of the dispenser. The part 58 serves as a force transmission unit between the plunger 12 and the piston 11. It is configured such that when mechanical resistance acts against the movement of the piston 11 (in particular due to the increased pressure in the material reservoir 10 within the support sleeve 6), the part 58 is axially compressed between the plunger 12 and the piston 11.

[0055] This axial compression causes a radial expansion of the part 58 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drive rod 3. At a specific amount of deformation corresponding to the specific amount of the axial compression force acting on the part 58, the outer axial surface of the part 58 contacts the inner surface of the support sleeve 6. This contact causes a frictional force to act against the driving force applied to the piston 11 from the drive mechanism 7 via the drive rod 3 and the plunger 12. The amount of the resulting frictional force is proportional to the driving force generated by the drive mechanism 7 and transmitted to the part 58 via the plunger 12.

[0056] Accordingly, the part 58 prevents the transmission of at least part of the force provided by the drive mechanism 7 to the piston 11 and thus prevents the further generation of the force acting on the piston 11. This is the case when the force acting on the piston 11 reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold as a reaction force to the mechanical resistance. As a result, the amount of the force acting on the piston 11 and thus the amount of the force acting on the material reservoir 10 are limited and regulated via the part 58, and in terms of the present invention, the part 58 serves as a force limiter 61.

[0057] Figure 3 An alternative force limiting configuration according to the present invention is illustrated. Here, a coupling piston 58 and a coupling spring 59 are provided between the plunger 12 and the piston 11. The piston 11 includes a base portion 11a and a distally extending activation sleeve 11b, the base portion 11a being configured to contact the distal end of the material reservoir 10, and the activation sleeve 11b surrounding the proximal end of the coupling spring 59. The coupling piston 58 includes a base portion 58a and a proximally extending brake sleeve 58b, the base portion 58a being configured to contact via the plunger 12, and the brake sleeve 58b surrounding the distal end of the coupling spring 59.

[0058] The mechanical resistance to the movement of the piston 11 (especially due to the increased pressure in the material reservoir 10 within the support sleeve 6) causes the compression of the coupling spring 59 between the piston 11 and the coupling piston 58. At a specific amount of compression of the coupling spring 59 corresponding to the threshold of the force acting on the piston 11, the distal portion of the activation sleeve 11b contacts the inclined activation surfaces 58b1 and 58b2 on the inner circumference of the brake sleeve 58b. With a further increasing force acting between the coupling piston 58 and the piston 11, the activation sleeve 11b is pressed into the brake sleeve 58b. This causes the radial deformation of the brake sleeve 58b and an increased frictional force between the coupling piston 58 and the support sleeve 6 acting against the force from the drive mechanism 7. Thus, the coupling piston 58 prevents the transmission of at least part of the force provided by the drive mechanism 7 to the piston 11 and thus prevents the further generation of the force acting on the piston 11.

[0059] As Figure 3 can be seen, the brake sleeve 58b of the coupling piston 58 is surrounded by an O-ring 58c, which serves as both a force mediator between the coupling piston 58 and the support sleeve 6 and a reset part that ensures the radial recovery of the brake sleeve 58 (and thus ensures that the entire force limiter 61 functions as a reduced-force reset for the force-limiting configuration).

[0060] Figure 4 Schematically illustrates another exemplary force-blocking configuration for the force limiter in the dispenser 100 according to the present invention. In this configuration, the pressure rod 62 is guided from the proximal end of the support sleeve (not shown) to the catch plate 65 of the drive mechanism 7. The proximal end of the pressure rod 62 contacts the proximal end of the support sleeve 6 via a transfer spring (not shown). The distal end of the pressure rod 62 is configured to serve as a distal abutment for the catch plate 65.

[0061] During the dispensing operation of the drive mechanism 7, the piston 11 moves along the support sleeve 6, which causes the compression of the flexible bag 10 and an increased pressure within the flexible bag 10 (which depends on the speed at which the material is dispensed from the flexible bag 10). The pressure is transmitted via the proximal end of the support sleeve 6 and the transfer spring (not shown) to the pressure rod 62, which moves in the proximal direction (which depends on the amount of the transmitted force). Thus, in addition, the distal end of the pressure rod 62, which serves as the distal abutment for the catch plate 65, gradually shifts in the proximal direction. This limits the force that can be generated by the drive mechanism 7 acting on the piston 11 by preventing the further generation of the force acting on the piston 11.

[0062] Hereinafter, a plurality of exemplary embodiments are described with respect to Figures 5 to 9 wherein the force limiter 61 releases the force generated by the drive mechanism 7 in terms of the present invention.

[0063] As Figure 5 andFigure 6 As shown in Figure 6 , the force limiter 61 according to the present invention can be formed by an inner control sleeve 67 and an outer control sleeve 68. The inner control sleeve 67 surrounds the material reservoir 10, and the outer control sleeve 68 at least partially surrounds the inner control sleeve 67. The outer control sleeve 68 includes a plurality of (in particular six) proximally extending flexible fingers 68, each of which is provided with an outer pressure control flange 72 configured to engage a radially extending inner pressure control flange 71 of the inner control sleeve 67 (see

[0064] In the initial state of the dispenser 100 (which is shown on the left in Figure 5 and in the upper part of Figure 6 ), the inner pressure control sleeve 67 is at least partially provided within the outer pressure control sleeve 68 in an initial position relative to the outer pressure control sleeve 68. In this state, the pressure control flanges 71 and 72 engage with each other, preventing the proximal movement of the inner pressure control sleeve 67 relative to the outer pressure control sleeve 68 (in particular, moving out of the outer pressure control sleeve 68). At a specifically predetermined amount of force acting proximally on the material reservoir 10 via a piston (not shown here), the pressure control flanges 71 and 72 disengage from each other. This disengagement allows an axial relative movement of the inner pressure control sleeve 67 relative to the outer pressure control sleeve 68, which results in a sudden release of the force acting on the piston (not shown) and thus a sudden release of the force acting on the material reservoir 10. The complete disengagement of the inner pressure control sleeve 67 from the outer pressure control sleeve 68 is prevented by a radially extending abutment flange 80 provided around the distal end of the inner pressure control sleeve 67. This released state is shown on the right in Figure 5 and in the lower part of Figure 6 .

[0065] To inform the user of the release activation of this force limiter configuration, the inner pressure control sleeve 67 can be provided with a warning text 70 between the inner pressure control sleeve 71 and the abutment flange 80.

[0066] Referring to the known basic configuration described above with reference to Figure 1 , the outer pressure control sleeve 68 can be formed separately from or integrally with the frame 5. The inner pressure control sleeve 67 can be used as the support sleeve 6 described above.

[0067] Figure 7 Another exemplary embodiment of the force limiter 61 according to the present invention is illustrated. In this configuration, the support sleeve 6 is provided axially movably within the frame 5, which abuts against the proximal end segment of the pressure rod 62, similar to the above reference Figure 4The described configuration. However, instead of the transfer spring between the proximal end of the support sleeve 6 and the pressure rod 62 described above, a pressure spring 64 is clamped between the pressure rod end part 66 and the release plate 63 of the locking and releasing mechanism 30 of the dispenser 100. The pressure rod end part 66 can either be fixedly connected to the distal end of the pressure rod 62 or be connected thereto in an axially movable (in particular threaded) manner so that the pre-tensioning of the pressure spring 64 can be set.

[0068] As soon as the force acting on the material memory 10 via the piston 11 and thus the force transmitted to the release plate 63 via the pressure rod 62 and the pressure spring 64 exceeds a pre-determined threshold value, the locking and releasing mechanism 30 releases and the force generated by the drive mechanism 7 acting on the material memory 10 via the piston 11 is released. Thereafter, the locking and releasing mechanism 30, together with the release plate 63 and the pressure rod 62, moves back into its locked state until the force generated by the drive mechanism 7 and applied to the material memory 10 via the piston 11 again exceeds the pre-determined threshold value.

[0069] Figure 8 illustrates quite similarly to Figure 7 Another exemplary force limiter 61 according to the invention as shown in Figure 7 The main difference from the configuration described above is that the pressure spring 64 is not clamped between the pressure rod end part 66 and the release plate 63, but between the radially protruding part 16 of the support sleeve 6 and the radially protruding part 17 of the frame 5.

[0070] In this configuration, an increased force acting on the material memory 10 causes compression of the pressure spring 64 and proximal movement of the pressure rod 62. At a pre-determined amount of proximal movement of the pressure rod 62 together with its pressure rod end part 66 corresponding to the pre-determined threshold value of the force, the pressure rod end part 66 engages the release plate 63 of the locking and releasing mechanism 30 and operates the release plate 63 of the locking and releasing mechanism 30. Thus, any amount of force exceeding the force threshold is automatically released.

[0071] Alternatively, the pressure rod 62 can be coupled via its distal end to a catch plate 65, similar to that described above with reference to Figure 4 described.

[0072] Figure 9 illustrates quite similarly to that in Figure 7Another exemplary embodiment of the embodiment shown in [description], but where the locking and releasing mechanism 30 is different from the locking and releasing mechanism with the release plate 63 described above. In this configuration, the pivotally supported trigger 2 is releasably engaged with the drive teeth 73 on the drive rod 3 via a pivotally supported drive pawl 74. The drive rod 3 includes an upper braking tooth 75, which is configured to be engaged by a pivotally supported braking pawl 76. When the drive pawl 74 is moved via the operation of the trigger 2 to push the drive rod 3 in the proximal direction (i.e., to the left), the braking pawl 76 is configured to prevent the distal movement of the drive rod 3 when engaged with the braking tooth 75. Since the drive teeth 73 and the braking teeth 75 have the same orientation, they can be integrally formed as teeth on the radial circumference of the drive rod 3.

[0073] To release the braking pawl 76 from the braking tooth 75 when the threshold of the force acting on the piston 11 is reached, the pressure rod 62 is provided with a pawl flipper 78, which is configured to act on the braking pawl 76 in the proximal release direction with the proximal movement of the pressure rod 62. To be able to define the amount of force necessary for the amount of proximal movement of the pressure rod 62 to cause the release of the braking pawl 76, a pressure spring 64 is clamped between the pressure rod end part 66 and the support part 77, which is fixedly coupled to the dispenser handle (not shown here).

[0074] Relative to the configuration with the pressure rod 62 and the pressure rod end part 66 described above, fixing the provided pressure rod end part 66 in an adjustable axial position to the pressure rod 62 allows the setting of the threshold of the force necessary for activating the corresponding force limiter 61. In particular, the distal end of the pressure rod 62 can be provided with male threads, which engage with female threads in the through holes in the pressure rod end part 66.

[0075] Pointing out the fact that, in the configuration described in references Figure 4 and Figures 7 to 9 the function of the described separate pressure rod 62 can be taken over by the frame 5 when the frame 5 is axially movably coupled to the dispenser handle 1.

[0076] Finally, it relates to the preferred eighth exemplary embodiment regarding Figure 10 Here, the dispenser 100 includes a support sleeve 6, which is axially fixed but rotatably coupled to the proximal ends of the two arm-like parts 5a and 5b of the frame 5 around a corresponding pin member 18. Thus, the dispenser 100 is configured to be "rear-loaded". To load the dispenser 100 with the material memory 10, the support sleeve 6 rotates out of the

[0077] horizontal orientation of [description] to insert the material memory 10 into the support sleeve 6. Then, the support sleeve 6 rotates back to the Figure 10 horizontal orientation of [description] Figure 10In the horizontal orientation, the piston 11 can move into the support sleeve 6.

[0078] The arms 5a and 5b of the frame 5 are connected to each other at their proximal ends via the cantilever 5c. To guide the axial movement of the frame parts 5a to 5c relative to the dispenser handle 1, the guide plate 19 includes three through-holes, one for each of the two arms 5a and 5b and one for the drive rod 3, which is fixedly coupled to the dispenser handle 1 either directly or via additional intermediate parts. Each of the two arms 5a and 5b is provided with a collar 20 between the guide plate 19 and the cantilever 5c. The energy storage and / or buffer 13 is clamped in the form of a helical spring between each of these two collars 20 and the guide plate 19. Thus, a "spring-loaded frame" is formed that serves as both a force limiter and an energy storage and / or buffer for the purposes of the present invention.

[0079] In the following, the function of such a dispenser 100 is described:

[0080] The proximal movement of the drive rod 3 caused by the drive mechanism 7, in response to mechanical resistance in the support sleeve 6 that is partly due to friction and partly due to increased pressure in the material storage 10, causes the support sleeve 6 to move proximally relative to the guide plate 19 and thus causes the two arms 5a and 5b with their collars 20 to move proximally relative to the guide plate 19. This axial movement causes the compression of the helical spring, which serves as the energy storage and / or buffer 13.

[0081] When the axial movement of the arms 5a and 5b relative to the guide plate 19 and thus relative to the dispenser handle 1 exceeds a predetermined amount, the cantilever 5c operates a locking and releasing mechanism 30 for the drive rod 3 (similar to Figure 1 the locking and releasing mechanism 30 of ). This releases the energy still present in the dispenser 100.

[0082] With this configuration, the maximum amount of energy stored in the energy storage and / or buffer 13 and the maximum amount of force acting on the material storage 10 in the support sleeve 6 are limited.

[0083] To more accurately control the dispensing process with the dispenser 100, a valve assembly having a spraying valve 8 and a nozzle 9 can be coupled to the proximal outlet opening of the material storage 10. The spraying valve 8 has an operating handle 8a for manually closing and opening the spraying valve 8.

[0084] The said valve assembly 8, 9 can be directly coupled to the material storage 10 (especially in a rear-loaded configuration), for example via a threaded connection (in view of Figure 9 see Figure 10 ). Instead, the said valve assembly 8, 9 can be coupled to the support sleeve 6 (especially in a front-loaded configuration).Figure 11 Illustration of the Figure 10 front-loading embodiment of the "spring-loaded frame" configuration in the loaded state. The arrow indicates the direction in which the material reservoir 10 is introduced into the support sleeve 6. In this configuration, the valve assemblies 8, 9 can be provided with a capped portion 40 which is releasably coupled to the support sleeve 6 via a bayonet guide 41 and a bayonet pin 42. This configuration for the valve assemblies is shown in Figure 12 . However, other types of connections can also be implemented.

[0085] Pointing to the fact that the scope of the ultimate implementation of the protection is defined by the appended claims and also covers modifications and / or combinations of the exemplary embodiments described above.

[0086] In this text, the following additional features and modifications are pointed to:

[0087] The present disclosure relates to a dispenser 100 for dispensing viscous and non-viscous materials. The dispenser 100 includes a frame 5, a material reservoir 10 positioned within the frame 5 and containing at least one material to be dispensed, and a drive mechanism 7 for dispensing the material from the material reservoir 10. The drive mechanism 7 is configured to move a piston 11 to dispense the material from the material reservoir 10. The dispenser 100 includes a force limiter 61 which is configured to limit and / or regulate the force applied by the drive mechanism 7 on the piston 11 when a threshold of the force acting on the piston 11 is reached or exceeded, by at least partially releasing the force generated by the drive mechanism 7 or by preventing further generation of the force acting on the piston 11.

[0088] The force limiter 61 can include at least one part 58 which is configured to deform in such a way that the force applied by the drive mechanism 7 on the piston 11 is limited.

[0089] The force limiter 61 can be configured such that a limiting effect is exactly produced when a predetermined threshold of the force applied by the drive mechanism 7 on the piston 11 is reached.

[0090] The force limiter 61 can be configured to limit the force applied by the drive mechanism 7 on the piston 11 by generating a counterforce acting against the force generated by the drive mechanism 7, in particular by generating a deformation and / or movement perpendicular to the force generated by the drive mechanism 7.

[0091] The counterforce can be of a frictional type. In particular, the friction between the components of the drive mechanism 7 and the material reservoir 10 can be increased by a deformation and / or movement perpendicular to the force generated by the drive mechanism 7.

[0092] The force limiter 61 can include a braking unit 58, which is positioned in the force transmission path between the drive rod 3 and the piston 11 and is configured to apply the generated force from the drive mechanism 7 to the piston 11.

[0093] The braking unit 58 can be a part that is separate from the piston 11 and / or from the drive rod 3.

[0094] The braking unit 58 can be connected to the piston 11 via an energy storage and / or buffer 13, which is configured to store and transmit the force generated by the drive mechanism 7.

[0095] The energy storage and / or buffer 13 can be of a mechanical type.

[0096] The energy storage and / or buffer 13 can be formed of an elastically deformable material.

[0097] The energy storage and / or buffer 13 can be formed of a composite of elastically deformable materials.

[0098] The energy storage and / or buffer 13 can be a spring.

[0099] The energy storage and / or buffer 13 can be molded.

[0100] The energy storage and / or buffer 13 can be of a hydraulic type.

[0101] The energy storage and / or buffer 13 can be of a pneumatic type.

[0102] The braking unit 58 can be a part incorporated into the piston 11 or into the drive rod 3.

[0103] The braking unit 58 can be formed of the same material as the piston 11 or the drive rod 3.

[0104] The braking unit 58 can be formed of a material different from that of the piston 11 and / or the drive rod 3.

[0105] The force limiter 61 can be configured such that the braking unit 58 deforms in a radial direction with respect to the direction of movement of the piston 11, so that the braking unit 58 contacts the frame 5 or the support sleeve 6 of the material storage 10 in order to generate a frictional force acting against the force acting on the piston 11 generated by the drive mechanism 7.

[0106] The deformation can be caused by the squeezing of the braking unit 58 between the piston 11 and the force transmission parts of the drive mechanism 7.

[0107] The force transmission parts can be the drive rod 3 or the plunger 13 connected to the drive rod 3.

[0108] The brake unit 58 can be provided in the form of a cap-shaped coupling piston.

[0109] The brake unit 58 can be configured to receive or at least contact a section of the piston 11 and gradually deform with an increased force acting between the brake unit 58 and the piston 11 via the contact surfaces 58b1, 58b2.

[0110] The brake unit 58 can include a spherical part.

[0111] The brake unit 58 can be at least sectionally provided with a coating for adjusting (in particular increasing) the generated frictional force.

[0112] The brake unit 58 can include: a main body that serves as a force transmitter between the drive mechanism 7 and the piston 11; and a separate part 58c that is used to adjust (in particular increase) the generated frictional force.

[0113] The part 58c can be provided in the form of a sealing ring, in particular in the form of an O-ring.

[0114] The force limiter 61 can be configured to limit the output of the drive mechanism 7 by at least partially releasing the force generated by the drive mechanism 7 or to limit the force applied to the piston 11 by the drive mechanism 7 by preventing further generation of force when the maximum amount of force acting on the piston 11 is reached.

[0115] The material memory 10 can include a rigid support sleeve 6 surrounding a container filled with material. The activation of the force limiter 61 can be controlled based on the force transmitted from the drive mechanism 7 to any one of the material memories 10 and / or to one of the parts holding the material memory 10 (such as the support sleeve 6) via the piston 11.

[0116] The material memory can include at least one flexible container or flexible bag for at least one material to be dispensed and / or at least one rigid container or cylinder.

[0117] The support sleeve 6 and the frame 5 or a separate control sleeve can be connected to each other via an engagement configuration to form the force limiter 61. The engagement configuration can be configured to release when the force applied to the support sleeve 6 reaches a predetermined threshold that causes axial movement of the support sleeve 6 relative to the frame 5, so as to release the applied force acting between the frame 5 and the support sleeve 6 via the drive mechanism 7 and thus release the force applied to the piston 11.

[0118] The support sleeves 6, 67 and the frame 5 or the control sleeve 6 can be correspondingly provided with an abutment configuration 80 that is configured to limit the axial movement of the support sleeves 6, 67 relative to the frame 5 after the disengagement of the engagement configuration.

[0119] The frame 5 or the control sleeve 6 can include at least one flexible finger 69 which engages a pressure control flange 71 on the support sleeves 6, 67 to form an engagement configuration and engages an abutment flange 80 on the support sleeves 6, 67 to form an abutment configuration.

[0120] The pressure control flange 71 on the support sleeves 6, 67 can include an inclined contact surface to contact the flexible finger 69, wherein the angle of the inclined surface defines a threshold for the amount of force applied to the piston on which the force limiter 61 is activated.

[0121] The drive mechanism 7 can include a release unit 30 or a blocking unit 58, 65, the release unit 30 for releasing the force or energy provided or generated by the drive mechanism 7, the blocking unit 58, 65 blocking the further generation of the force acting on the piston 11. The force limiter 61 can be configured to activate the release unit 30 or the blocking unit 58, 65 correspondingly when a predetermined threshold for the force applied to the piston 11 by the drive mechanism 7 is exceeded and in particular as long as a predetermined threshold for the force applied to the piston 11 by the drive mechanism 7 is exceeded.

[0122] The force limiter 61 can include a pressure rod 62 which has an engagement segment at one of its ends which engages a section (in particular the proximal end) of the material memory 10 and / or one of the parts holding the material memory 10, such as the support sleeve 6. The pressure rod 62 can be connected to a release part 63, 78 or a blocking part 58, 62. The release parts 63, 78 can be configured to activate the release unit 30 when the force received via the pressure rod 62 exceeds a predetermined value corresponding to the predetermined value defined for activating the force limiter 61 or as long as the force received via the pressure rod 62 exceeds a predetermined value corresponding to the predetermined value defined for activating the force limiter 61. The blocking parts 58, 62 can be configured to block further forces for generating movement of the drive mechanism 7.

[0123] The release parts 63, 78 or the blocking parts 58, 62 can be provided integrally with the pressure rod 62 correspondingly or be directly connected thereto and be configured to directly activate the release or blocking units 58, 63, 65 when the pressure rod 62 moves axially.

[0124] The pressure rod 62 can be provided integrally with the frame 5.

[0125] The force limiter 61 can include a force reducer 64 which acts against the force transmitted via the pressure rod 62 in order to reduce the amount of the force transmitted via the pressure rod 62.

[0126] The force limiter 61 can include force transmitters 64, 66 which act between the pressure rod 62 and the release parts 63, 78.

[0127] The force reducer 64 or the force transmitter 64, 66 can correspondingly include a compression spring or be formed by a compression spring.

[0128] The release parts 63, 78 can be provided in the form of a release plate 63 or a brake pawl 78.

[0129] The release or blocking units 58, 63, 65 can include a biased but releasable catch plate 65 configured to contact the drive rod 3.

[0130] The drive mechanism 7 can include a toothed drive rod 3 that interacts with a brake pawl 76, which releasably engages the teeth 75 of the drive rod 3. The release part 78 can be configured to release the brake pawl 76 from the drive rod 3.

[0131] The release part 78 can be provided in the form of a pawl flipper operatively coupled to the brake pawl 76.

[0132] The drive mechanism 7 can be configured for manual actuation.

[0133] The drive mechanism 7 can include a motor.

[0134] The drive mechanism 7 can include an internal energy source for powering the motor.

[0135] The motor of the drive mechanism 7 can be configured to be supplied with electrical energy from an external source.

[0136] The motor of the drive mechanism 7 can be configured to be supplied with low voltage or mains voltage.

[0137] The material reservoir 10 can be replaceably mounted within the frame 5.

[0138] At least one material within the material reservoir 10 can be low-viscosity. In particular, at least one material can be a liquid.

[0139] The material reservoir 10 can include only one container filled with only one material.

[0140] The material reservoir 10 can include at least two separate containers filled with different materials to be dispensed in a specific mixing ratio.

[0141] The material reservoir 10 can include at least one flexible container or flexible bag for at least one material to be dispensed.

[0142] The material reservoir 10 can include a rigid support sleeve 6 surrounding at least one flexible container or flexible bag.

[0143] The material reservoir 10 can hold from 100 ml to 10 l (in particular 600 ml) of the material to be dispensed.

[0144] The dispenser 100 can be a handheld device.

[0145] The dispenser 100 can have a pistol-like overall shape.

[0146] The dispenser 100 can be a body-mounted device, in particular a device carried via a belt clip, a shoulder strap or a backpack.

[0147] The dispenser 100 can be a floor-mounted device, in particular a device directly located on the floor, which is provided with wheels or with legs, in particular configured to straddle the ridge of a corrugated roof.

[0148] The dispenser 100 can be a wall-mounted device.

[0149] The dispenser 100 can be configured such that a valve assembly having a spraying valve 8 and a nozzle 9 can be coupled, for example via a threaded connection or via a bayonet connection, to the material reservoir 10 or to the support sleeve 6, and the spraying valve 8 is operable via an operating handle 8a.

[0150] The force limiter 61 can include a spring-loaded frame 5, which connects the material reservoir 10 to the drive mechanism 7, such that the force transmitted by the drive mechanism 7 to the piston 11 is limited by at least partial storage of the force generated in the spring-loaded frame 5, which serves as an energy store and / or buffer 13.

[0151] List of reference numerals

[0152] 100 Dispenser

[0153] 1 Dispenser handle

[0154] 2 Trigger

[0155] 3 Drive rod

[0156] 5 Frame

[0157] 5a First arm of frame 5

[0158] 5b Second arm of frame 5

[0159] 5c Cantilever

[0160] 6 Support sleeve

[0161] 7 Drive mechanism

[0162] 8 Spraying valve

[0163] 8a Operating handle

[0164] 9 Nozzle

[0165] 10 Flexible bag / material reservoir

[0166] 11 Piston

[0167] 11a Base part

[0168] 11b Activation sleeve

[0169] 13 Energy storage and / or buffer

[0170] 14 Flared feature

[0171] 16 Radial extension of support sleeve 6

[0172] 17 Radial extension of frame 5

[0173] 18 Pin member

[0174] 19 Guide plate

[0175] 20 Collar

[0176] 30 Locking and releasing mechanism / release unit

[0177] 40 Cap part

[0178] 41 Bayonet guide

[0179] 42 Bayonet pin

[0180] 58 Elastically deformable part / connecting piston / braking unit / blocking unit

[0181] 58a Base part

[0182] 58b Braking sleeve

[0183] 58b1 Activation surface

[0184] 58b2 Activation surface

[0185] 58c O-ring

[0186] 59 Connecting spring

[0187] 61 Force limiter

[0188] 62 Pressure rod

[0189] 63 Release plate / release part

[0190] 64 Pressure spring / damping spring

[0191] 65 Intercepting plate / blocking unit

[0192] 66 Pressure rod end part / force transmitter

[0193] 67 Internal pressure control sleeve

[0194] 68 External pressure control sleeve

[0195] 69 Flexible finger

[0196] 70 Warning text

[0197] 71 Internal pressure control flange

[0198] 72 External pressure control flange

[0199] 73 Driving tooth

[0200] 74 Driving pawl

[0201] 75 Braking tooth

[0202] 76 Braking pawl

[0203] 78 Pawl turner / release part

[0204] 80 Adjacent flange

Claims

1. A dispenser (100) for dispensing viscous and non-viscous materials, comprising: a frame (5), a material reservoir (10) positioned within said frame (5) and containing at least one material to be dispensed, and a drive mechanism (7) for dispensing said material from said material reservoir (10), wherein said drive mechanism (7) is configured to move a piston (11) to dispense said material from said material reservoir (10), characterized in that said dispenser (100) includes a force limiter (61), said force limiter (61) being configured to limit and / or regulate the force applied by said drive mechanism (7) on said piston (11) by at least partially releasing the force generated by said drive mechanism (7) or by preventing further generation of the force acting on said piston (11) when a threshold of the force acting on said piston (11) is reached or exceeded.

2. The dispenser (100) according to claim 1, wherein said force limiter (61) is configured to limit the force applied by said drive mechanism (7) to said piston (11) by generating a counterforce acting against the force generated by said drive mechanism (7), in particular a counterforce of a frictional type, in particular by generating a deformation and / or movement perpendicular to the force generated by said drive mechanism (7).

3. The dispenser (100) according to claim 2, wherein said force limiter (61) includes a braking unit (58), said braking unit (58) being positioned in the force transmission path between a drive rod (3) and said piston (11) and configured to apply the generated force from said drive mechanism (7) to said piston (11), wherein said braking unit (58) is in particular a part separated from said piston (11) and / or from said drive rod (3).

4. The dispenser (100) according to claim 3, wherein said braking unit (58) is provided in the form of a cap-shaped coupling piston (58) or includes a spherical part (58).

5. The dispenser (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said material reservoir (10) includes a rigid support sleeve (6, 67) surrounding a container filled with said material, wherein the activation of said force limiter (61) is controlled based on the force transmitted from said drive mechanism (7) to any one of said material reservoirs (10) and / or to one of the parts holding said material reservoir (10) via said piston (11), and the part holding said material reservoir (10) such as said support sleeve (6).

6. The dispenser (100) according to claim 5, wherein said support sleeve (6, 67) and said frame (5) or a separate control sleeve (68) are connected to each other via an engagement configuration to form said force limiter (61), wherein the engagement configuration is configured to release when a force applied to the support sleeve (6, 67) reaches a predetermined threshold that causes axial movement of the support sleeve (6, 67) relative to the frame (5), to release the applied force acting between the frame (5) and the support sleeve (6, 67) via the drive mechanism (7), and thus to release the force applied to the piston (11).

7. The dispenser (100) according to claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism (7) includes a locking and releasing mechanism (30) for releasing the force or energy provided or generated by the drive mechanism (7), or a blocking unit (58, 62) that blocks further generation of the force acting on the piston (11), wherein the force limiter (61) is configured to correspondingly activate the locking and releasing mechanism (30) or the blocking unit (58, 62) when a predetermined threshold for the force applied to the piston (11) by the drive mechanism (7) is exceeded and in particular as long as the predetermined threshold for the force applied to the piston (11) by the drive mechanism (7) is exceeded.

8. The dispenser (100) according to claim 7, wherein the force limiter (61) includes a pressure rod (62) having an engagement segment at one end thereof that engages a section of the material reservoir (10), in particular the proximal end of the material reservoir (10), and / or engages one of the parts holding the material reservoir (10), such as the support sleeve (6), wherein the pressure rod (62) is connected to a release part (63, 78) or a blocking part (62), wherein the release part (63, 78) is configured to activate the locking and releasing mechanism (30) when the force received via the pressure rod (62) exceeds a predetermined value corresponding to the predetermined value defined for activating the force limiter (61), or as long as the force received via the pressure rod (62) exceeds a predetermined value corresponding to the predetermined value defined for activating the force limiter (61), and the blocking part (58, 62) is configured to block additional force for generating movement of the drive mechanism (7).

9. The dispenser (100) according to claim 8, wherein the release part (63, 78) or the blocking part (58, 62) is correspondingly integrally provided with the pressure rod (62) or is directly connected to the pressure rod (62) and is configured to directly activate the release or blocking unit (58, 63, 62) when the pressure rod (62) moves axially.

10. The dispenser (100) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the force limiter (61) includes a force reducer (64) which acts against the force transmitted via the pressure rod (62) so as to reduce the amount of the force transmitted via the pressure rod (62), and / or a force transmitter (64, 66) which acts between the pressure rod (62) and the release part (63).

11. The dispenser (100) according to claim 10, wherein the force reducer (64) or the force transmitter (64, 66) correspondingly includes or is formed by a compression spring.

12. The dispenser (100) according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the release part (63, 78) is provided in the form of a release plate (63) or a brake pawl (78), or the blocking part (62) is a distal end of the pressure rod (62) configured to engage a catch plate (65).

13. The dispenser (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the material reservoir (10) includes at least one flexible container or flexible bag for at least one material to be dispensed, wherein the material reservoir (10) particularly includes a rigid support sleeve (6) surrounding the at least one flexible container or flexible bag.

14. The dispenser (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dispenser (100) is a hand-held device, wherein the dispenser (100) particularly has an overall shape of a pistol.

15. The dispenser (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the force limiter (61) includes a spring-loaded frame (5) which connects the material reservoir (10) to the drive mechanism (7) such that the force transmitted by the drive mechanism (7) to the piston (11) is limited by at least partial storage of the force generated in the spring-loaded frame (5), and the spring-loaded frame (5) serves as an energy reservoir and / or a buffer (13).

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