Dispenser

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dispenser (100) for dispensing viscous and non-viscous materials. The dispenser (100) comprises a frame (5), a material storage (10) positioned within said frame (5) and containing at least one material to be dispensed, as well as a driving mechanism (7) for dispensing the material from the material storage (10). The driving mechanism (7) is configured to move a piston (11) for dispensing the material from the material storage (10). The dispenser (100) comprises a force limiter (61) configured to limit and / or regulate the force applied by the driving mechanism (7) on the piston (11) by at least partly releasing the force generated by the driving mechanism (7) or by blocking the further generation of force acting on the piston (11), when reaching or exceeding a threshold value of force acting onto the piston (11).

Description

[0001] Dispenser

[0002] The present invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing viscous and non-vis- cous materials.

[0003] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary dispenser 100 with an in principle known basic functionality. The dispenser 100 comprises a dispenser handle 1 to which a trigger 2 is coupled pivotably. A driving rod 3 is in engagement with a spring-loaded driving mechanism 7 with a catch plate. The dispenser 100 comprises a frame 5 fixed to the dispenser handle 1 and configured to support a support sleeve 6.

[0004] A spray valve 8 with a nozzle 9 forming a manually operable valve assembly is connectable to a proximal end of a flexible pouch 10 within the support sleeve 6. The flexible pouch 10 serves as material storage for at least one material to be dispensed.

[0005] To dispense the material from the flexible pouch 10 a piston 11 is provided on a distal side of the flexible pouch 10 axially movable along the support sleeve 6. The piston 11 is shaped to match the front portion of the flexible pouch 10 to minimize residual material within the flexible pouch 10 after a full dispensing stroke with the piston 11 .

[0006] A plunger 12 is fixed to the driving rod 3 of the dispenser 100 and configured to transfer an axial movement of the driving rod 3 caused by an operation of the trigger 2, onto the piston 11 to squeeze the flexible pouch 10 for dispensing the material from the flexible pouch 10. Furthermore, a lock and release mechanism 30 is provided operatively between the dispenser handle 1 and the driving rod 3 to lock the driving rod 3 axially with respect to the dispenser handle 1 in a releasable manner, when the trigger 2 is released. As the structural and functional configuration of the various above described components is well known to a skilled artisan, a detailed description thereof is omitted for the sake of brevity.

[0007] Such a system could suffer from damages to the flexible pouch 10 caused by abruptly increased forces experienced by the flexible pouch 10 as the piston 11 is moved. This holds in particular for situations, in which the piston 11 is not in direct contact with the flexible pouch 10 at the beginning of such a movement.

[0008] In view of this, a problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a dispenser not suffering from such negative effects.

[0009] This problem is solved by a dispenser in accordance with independent claim 1 . Preferable modifications for such a dispenser can be taken from the thereon dependent claims and from the herein described embodiments.

[0010] According to the present invention a dispenser for dispensing viscous and non-vis- cous materials, comprises a frame, a material storage positioned within said frame and containing at least one material to be dispensed, as well as a driving mechanism for dispensing the material from the material storage. The driving mechanism is configured to move a piston for dispensing the material from the material storage. The dispenser comprises a force limiter configured to limit and / or regulate the force applied by the driving mechanism on the piston by at least partly releasing the force generated by the driving mechanism or by blocking the further generation of force acting on the piston, when reaching or exceeding a threshold value of force acting onto the piston. Thus, high forces acting on the piston transferred onto the material storage possibly resulting in damage to the material storage are prevented reliably.

[0011] Preferably, the force limiter is configured to limit the force applied by the driving mechanism onto the piston by generating a reverse force, in particular of frictional type, acting against the force generated by the driving mechanism, in particular by generating a deformation and / or movement perpendicular to the force generated by the driving mechanism.

[0012] Such a braking configuration depicts a first quite robust exemplary for implementing the prevention of too high forces acting via the piston on the material storage.

[0013] Further preferably, the force limiter comprises a braking unit positioned in the force transmission path between a driving rod and the piston, and configured to apply the generated force from the driving mechanism onto the piston. The braking unit is in particular a component separate from the piston and / or from the driving rod.

[0014] Such an implementation is very compact and reliable.

[0015] Further preferably, the braking unit is provided in the form of a cap-like coupling piston or comprises a ball-shaped component.

[0016] These two options depict quite robust and reliable implementations for the braking unit.

[0017] Preferably, the material storage comprises a rigid support sleeve surrounding a container filled with the material. The activation of the force limiter is controlled based on a force transmitted from the driving mechanism via the piston onto any one of the material storage and / or one of the components holding the material storage, like the support sleeve. Such a configuration is very robust and reliable.

[0018] Preferably, said support sleeve and the frame or a separate control sleeve are connected to each other via an engagement configuration forming the force limiter. Said engagement configuration is configured to be released when force applied onto the support sleeve reaches the predetermined threshold value resulting in an axial movement of the support sleeve with respect to the frame for releasing the applied force acting via the driving mechanism between the frame and the support sleeve and, thus, the force applied onto the piston.

[0019] Such a force releasing configuration is very robust and reliable.

[0020] Preferably, the driving mechanism comprises a lock and release mechanism for releasing the force or energy provided or generated by the driving mechanism, or a blocking unit blocking the further generation of force acting onto the piston. The force limiter is configured to activate the lock and release mechanism or the blocking unit, respectively, when and in particular as long as a predetermined threshold value for the force applied onto the piston by the driving mechanism is exceeded.

[0021] Such a configuration depicts a preferred alternative to the above described braking configuration.

[0022] Further preferably, the force limiter comprises a pressure rod with an engagement segment at one end thereof engaging a section, in particular the proximal end, of the material storage and / or one of the components holding the material storage, like the support sleeve. The pressure rod is connected to a release component or a blocking component. The release component is configured to activate the lock and release mechanism when or as long as the force received via the pressure rod exceeds a predetermined value corresponding to the predetermined value defined for activating the force limiter. The blocking component is configured to block a further force generating movement of the driving mechanism.

[0023] Such release or blocking configurations depict quite reliable alternatives to the above described braking configuration.

[0024] Further preferably, the release component or the blocking component, respectively, is provided integrally with the pressure rod or is connected directly thereto, and configured to directly activate the release or blocking unit upon axial movement of the pressure rod.

[0025] Such implementations are very robust and reliable.

[0026] Preferably, the force limiter comprises a force reducer acting against the force transmitted via the pressure rod to reduce the amount of force transmitted via the pressure rod and / or a force transmitter acting between the pressure rod and the release component.

[0027] Such components allow a setting of the threshold value of force at which the force limiter is activated.

[0028] Further preferably, the force reducer or the force transmitter, respectively, comprises or is formed of a pressure spring.

[0029] Such an implementation is very robust and reliable.

[0030] Preferably, the release component is provided in the form of a release plate or brake pawl, or the blocking component is a distal end of the pressure rod configured to engage a catch plate. Such implementations are structurally quite simple and reliable.

[0031] Preferably, the material storage comprises at least one flexible container or pouch for the at least one material to be dispensed. The material storage comprises in particular a rigid support sleeve surrounding the at least one flexible container or pouch.

[0032] Such a configuration is quite robust and enables a facilitated handling of the material storage as well as efficient dispensing of the material from the material storage.

[0033] Preferably, the dispenser is a handheld device. In particular, the dispenser has a pistol-like overall shape.

[0034] Such implementations are very easy to handle.

[0035] Preferably, the force limiter comprises a sprung frame connecting the material storage to the driving mechanism such that the force transmitted by the driving mechanism onto the piston is limited by an at least partial storage of the generated force in said sprung frame, serving as energy storage and / or buffer.

[0036] With such an energy storage and / or buffer, generated propulsion energy can be buffered for a later output thereof, simultaneously reducing the forces acting on the piston.

[0037] Exemplary embodiments and functions of the present disclosure are described herein in conjunction with the drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary dispenser with an in principle known basic functionality;

[0038] FIG. 2 shows a perspective side view of a force limiter in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view and a perspective side view of a force limiter in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a force limiter in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] FIG. 5 shows two perspective side views of a force limiting configuration in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention in different states thereof;

[0042] FIG. 6 shows cross-sectional views of the fore limiting configuration of FIG. 5 in its two different states;

[0043] FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a dispenser with a force limiter in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of a dispenser with a force limiter in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] FIG. 9 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a dispenser with a force limiter in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10 shows a perspective side view of a dispenser with a force limiter in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] FIG. 11 shows a perspective side view of an alternative implementation of the basic concept of the dispenser of FIG. 10; and

[0047] FIG. 12 shows a perspective side view of an exemplary valve assembly used with the dispenser of FIG. 11 .

[0048] In the present document, the term "distal " refers to the part / end of the device, or the parts / ends of the components or members thereof, which in accordance with the use of the device, is / are located the furthest away from a delivery / injection site. Correspondingly, the term "proximal " refers to the part / end of the device, or the parts / ends of the members thereof, which in accordance with the use of the device is / are located closest to the delivery / injection site.

[0049] At first several exemplary embodiments, in which a force limiter blocking the further generation of force acting on the piston in the sense of the present invention, are described with respect to FIGS. 2 to 4.

[0050] Fig. 2 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a force limiter 61 , provided in the form of an elastically deformable component 58, in particular a ball, provided between the piston 11 and the plunger 12 of the dispenser of FIG. 1 . Said component 58 serves as force transfer unit between the plunger 12 and the piston 11 . It is configured such that upon a mechanical resistance against the movement of the piston 11 , in particular due to an increasing pressure within the material storage 10 within the support sleeve 6, said component 58 is compressed axially between the plunger 12 and the piston 11 . This axial compression results in a radial expansion of the component 58 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the driving rod 3. At a specific amount of deformation corresponding to a specific amount of axial compression force acting on the component 58 a radial outer surface of said component 58 contacts the inner surface of the support sleeve 6. This contact results in a frictional force acting against the driving force applied via the driving rod 3 and the plunger 12 from the driving mechanism 7 onto the piston 11. The amount of generated frictional force is proportional to the driving force generated by the driving mechanism 7 and transferred via the plunger 12 onto the component 58.

[0051] Thus, component 58 blocks the transmission of at least a portion of the force provided by the driving mechanism 7 onto the piston 11 and, thus, the further generation of force acting on the piston 11 . This is the case, when the force acting on the piston 11 as counter force to the mechanical resistance reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold value. As a result of this, the amount of force acting on the piston 11 and, thus, on the material storage 10, is limited and regulated via component 58 acting as force limiter 61 in the sense of the present invention.

[0052] FIG. 3 shows an alternative force limiting configuration in accordance with the present invention. Here, a coupling piston 58 and a coupling spring 59 are provided between the plunger 12 and the piston 11 . The piston 11 comprises a base portion 11 a configured to contact the distal end of the material storage 10 and a distally extending activation sleeve 11 b enclosing a proximal end of the coupling spring 59. The coupling piston 58 comprises a base portion 58a configured to be contacted by the plunger 12 and a proximally extending braking sleeve 58b enclosing a distal end of the coupling spring 59.

[0053] A mechanical resistance against the movement of the piston 11 , in particular due to an increasing pressure within the material storage 10 within the support sleeve 6, results in a 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 a threshold value of force acting on the piston 11 , a distal end portion of the activation sleeve 11 b contacts slanted activation surfaces 58b1 and 58b2 on an inner circumference of the braking sleeve 58b. With further increasing force acting between the coupling piston 58 and piston 11 , the activation sleeve 11 b is pressed into the braking sleeve 58b. This results in a radial deformation of the braking sleeve 58b and an increasing frictional force between the coupling piston 58 and the support sleeve 6 acting against the force from the driving mechanism 7. Thus, the coupling piston 58 blocks the transmission of at least a portion of the force provided by the driving mechanism 7 onto the piston 11 and, thus, the further generation of force acting on the piston 11 .

[0054] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the braking sleeve 58b of said coupling piston 58 is surrounded by an O-Ring 58c serving both as force mediator between the coupling piston 58 and the support sleeve 6, as well as resetting component ensuring the radial recovery of the braking sleeve 58 and, thus, the resetting of the whole force limiter 61 with reduced force acting on the force limiting configuration.

[0055] FIG. 4 shows schematically a further exemplary force blocking configuration for a force limiter in a dispenser 100 in accordance with the present invention. In this configuration, a pressure rod 62 is guided from the proximal end of the support sleeve (not illustrated) to a catch plate 65 of the driving mechanism 7. The proximal end of said pressure rod 62 is in contact with the proximal end of the support sleeve 6 via a transmission spring (not illustrated). The distal end of the pressure rod 62 is configured to serve as distal abutment for the catch plate 65.

[0056] During a dispensing operation of the driving mechanism 7, the piston 11 moves along the support sleeve 6 resulting in a compression of the flexible pouch 10 and, depending on the speed of material being dispensed from the flexible pouch 10, in an increasing pressure within the flexible pouch 10. Said pressure is transferred via the proximal end of the support sleeve 6 and the transmission spring (not illustrated) onto the pressure rod 62, which is moved (depending on the amount of transmitted force) in the proximal direction. Thus, also the distal end of the pressure rod 62 serving as the distal abutment of the catch plate 65 is shifted gradually in the proximal direction. This limits the force which can be generated by the driving mechanism 7 to act onto the piston 11 by blocking the further generation of force acting on the piston 11 .

[0057] In the following, several exemplary embodiments, in which a force limiter 61 releasing the force generated by the driving mechanism 7 in the sense of the present invention, are described with respect to FIGS. 5 to 9.

[0058] As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, a force limiter 61 in the sense of the present invention can be formed by an inner control sleeve 67 enclosing the material storage 10 and an outer control sleeve 68 at least partly enclosing the inner control sleeve 67. The outer control sleeve 68 comprises several, in particular six, proximally extending flexible fingers 69 each 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 FIG. 6.

[0059] In the initial state of the dispenser 100, which is shown on the left in FIG. 5 and in the upper portion of FIG. 6, the inner pressure control sleeve 67 is provided in an initial position with respect to the outer pressure control sleeve 68 at least partly within the outer pressure control sleeve 68. In this state, the pressure control flanges 71 and 72 are engaged with each other preventing a proximal movement of the inner pressure control sleeve 67 with respect to (in particular out of) the outer pressure control sleeve 68. At a specific predetermined amount of force acting proximally via a piston (not illustrated here) onto the material storage 10, 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 with respect to the outer pressure control sleeve 68 resulting in an abrupt release of the force acting on the piston (not illustrated) and, thus, on the material storage 10. The full 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 about a distal end of the inner pressure control sleeve 67. This released state is illustrated on the right in FIG. 5 and in the lower portion of FIG. 6.

[0060] To inform a user of the releasing 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.

[0061] Referring to the known basic configuration described above with reference to FIG. 1 , the outer pressure control sleeve 68 can be formed separate from or integrally with the frame 5. The inner pressure control sleeve 67 can serve as the above described support sleeve 6.

[0062] FIG. 7 shows a further exemplary implementation of a force limiter 61 in the sense of the present invention. In this configuration, the support sleeve 6 is provided axially movable within the frame 5 abutting against a proximal end section of a pressure rod 62 similar to the one described above with reference to FIG. 4. However instead of the above described transmission spring between the support sleeve 6 and the proximal end of the pressure rod 62, a pressure spring 64 is clamped between a pressure rod end component 66 and a release plate 63 of the lock and release mechanism 30 of the dispenser 100. The pressure rod end component 66 can be either fixedly connected to the distal end of the pressure rod 62 or in an axially movable, in particular threaded, manner thereto, to be able to set a pretension of the pressure spring 64.

[0063] As soon as the force acting via the piston 11 onto the material storage 10 and, thus, the force transmitted via the pressure rod 62 and the pressure spring 64 onto the release plate 63 exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the lock and release mechanism 30 is released and the force generated by the driving mechanism 7 acting via the piston 11 on the material storage 10 is released. Afterwards, the lock and release mechanism 30 moves together with the release plate 63 and the pressure rod 62 back into its locking state, until the force generated by the driving mechanism 7 and applied via the piston 11 onto the material storage 10 exceeds the predetermined threshold value again.

[0064] FIG. 8 shows a further exemplary force limiter 61 in accordance with the present invention quite similar to the one illustrated in FIG. 7. The main difference from the configuration described above with reference to FIG. 7 is that the pressure spring 64 is not clamped between the pressure rod end component 66 and the release plate 63 but between a radial protrusion 16 of the support sleeve 6 and a radial protrusion 17 of the frame 5.

[0065] In this configuration, an increasing force acting on the material storage 10 results in a compression of the pressure spring 64 and a proximal movement of the pressure rod 62. At a predetermined amount of proximal movement of the pressure rod 62 together with its pressure rod end component 66 corresponding to a predetermined threshold value of force, said pressure rod end component 66 engages and operates the release plate 63 of the lock and release mechanism 30. Thus, any amount of force exceeding the threshold value of force is released automatically.

[0066] Alternatively, the pressure rod 62 can be coupled via its distal end to the catch plate 65, similar as described above with reference to FIG. 4.

[0067] FIG. 9 shows a further exemplary embodiment quite similar to the one illustrated in FIG. 7 but with a lock and release mechanism 30 differing from the above one with the release plate 63. In this configuration, the pivotably supported trigger 2 is engaged releasably via a pivotably supported drive pawl 74 with drive teeth 73 on the driving rod 3. The driving rod 3 comprises upper brake teeth 75 configured to be engaged by a pivotably supported brake pawl 76. While the drive pawl 74 is moved via an operation of the trigger 2 to push the driving rod 3 in the proximal direction (i.e. to the left), the brake pawl 76 is configured to block a distal movement of the driving rod 3 when in engagement with the brake teeth 75. As the drive and brake teeth 73 and 75 have the same orientation, they can be formed integrally as radial circumferential teeth on the driving rod 3.

[0068] To release the brake pawl 76 from the brake teeth 75 when reaching the threshold value of force acting on the piston 11 , the pressure rod 62 is provided with a pawl tipper 78 configured to act on the brake pawl 76 in the proximal releasing direction with a proximal movement of the pressure rod 62. To be able to define the amount of force necessary to move the pressure rod 62 proximally for an amount resulting a releasing of the brake pawl 76, the pressure spring 64 is clamped between the pressure rod end component 66 and a support component 77 fixedly coupled to the dispenser handle (not illustrated here).

[0069] With respect to the above described configurations with pressure rods 62 and pressure rod end components 66, fixing the provided pressure rod end component 66 in an adjustable axial position to the pressure rod 62 allows a setting of the threshold value of force necessary for activating the respective force limiter 61 . In particular, the distal end of the pressure rod 62 can be provided with a male thread engaged with a female thread in a through-hole within the pressure rod end component 66.

[0070] It is pointed to the fact that in the configurations described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 7 to 9, the function of the described separate pressure rod 62 could be took over by the frame 5 when coupling the frame 5 in an axially movable manner to the dispenser handle 1 . Finally, it is referred to a preferred eighth exemplary embodiment with respect to FIG. 10.

[0071] Here, the dispenser 100 comprises a support sleeve 6 coupled axially fixed but rotatably about corresponding pin members 18 to proximal ends of two arms 5a and 5b of a frame 5. Thus, the dispenser 100 is configured to be “rear loaded”. For loading the dispenser 100 with the material storage 10, the support sleeve 6 is rotated out from the horizontal orientation of FIG. 10 for inserting the material storage 10 into the support sleeve 6. Afterwards, the support sleeve 6 is rotated back into the horizontal orientation of FIG. 10, such that the piston 11 can be moved into the support sleeve 6.

[0072] The arms 5a and 5b of the frame 5 are connected to each other at their distal ends via a bracket 5c. For guiding an axial movement of the frame components 5a to 5c with respect to the dispenser handle 1 , a guiding plate 19 comprising three through holes, one for each of the two arms 5a and 5b and one for the driving rod 3, is fixedly coupled to the dispenser handle 1 either directly or via further intermediate components. Each of the two arms 5a and 5b is provided with a collar 20 between the guiding plate 19 and the bracket 5c. Between each of these two collars 20 and the guiding plate 19, an energy storage and / or buffer 13 in the form of a coil spring is clamped. Thus, a “sprung frame” acting both as force limiter in the sense of the present invention and as energy storage and / or buffer is formed.

[0073] In the following, the function of such a dispenser 100 is described:

[0074] A proximal movement of the driving rod 3 caused by the driving mechanism 7 results in response to a mechanical resistance within the support sleeve 6 partly from frictional forces and partly from an increasing pressure within the material storage 10 in a proximal movement of the support sleeve 6 and, thus, of the two arms 5a and 5b with their collars 20 with respect to the guiding plate 19. This axial movement results in a compression of the coil springs serving as energy storage and / or buffer 13.

[0075] When the axial movement of the arms 5a and 5b with respect to the guiding plate 19 and, thus, with respect to the dispenser handle 1 exceeds a predetermined amount, the bracket 5c operates a lock and release mechanism 30 to the driving rod 3 similar to the lock and release mechanism 30 of FIG. 1 . This releases the energy still present in the dispenser 100.

[0076] With this configuration, the maximum amount of energy stored within the energy storage and / or buffer 13 and the maximum amount of force acting onto the material storage 10 within the support sleeve 6 is limited.

[0077] To control the dispensing process with the dispenser 100 more accurately, a valve assembly with a spray valve 8 having an operation handle 8a for manually closing and opening the spray valve 8, and a nozzle 9 can be coupled to a proximal outlet opening of the material storage 10.

[0078] Said valve assembly 8, 9 can be coupled, in particular in rear-loaded configurations, directly to the material storage 10, for example via a threaded connection (see FIG. 10 in view of FIG. 9). Alternatively, said valve assembly 8, 9 can be coupled, in particular in front-loaded configurations, to the support sleeve 6. FIG. 11 shows a front-loaded implementation of the “sprung-frame” configuration of FIG.

[0079] 10 in the loading state. The arrow indicates the direction in which the material storage 10 is introduced into the support sleeve 6. In such a configuration, the valve assembly 8, 9 can be provided with a cap portion 40 releasably coupled via a bayonet guide 41 and a bayonet pin 42 to the support sleeve 6. Such a configuration for the valve assembly is illustrated in FIG. 12. However, also other types of connections may be implemented. It is pointed to the fact that the finally achieved scope of protection is defined by the appending claims and covers also modifications and / or combinations of the above described exemplary embodiments.

[0080] In this context, it is pointed to the following additional features and modifications:

[0081] The present disclosure refers to a dispenser 100 for dispensing viscous and non- viscous materials. Said dispenser 100 comprises a frame 5, a material storage 10 positioned within said frame 5 and containing at least one material to be dispensed, as well as a driving mechanism 7 for dispensing the material from the material storage 10. The driving mechanism 7 is configured to move a piston 11 for dispensing the material from the material storage 10. The dispenser 100 comprises a force limiter 61 configured to limit and / or regulate the force applied by the driving mechanism 7 on the piston 11 by at least partly releasing the force generated by the driving mechanism 7 or by blocking the further generation of force acting on the piston 11 , when reaching or exceeding a threshold value of force acting onto the piston 11 .

[0082] The force limiter 61 can comprises at least one component 58 which is configured to be deformed in such a manner that the force applied by the driving mechanism 7 onto the piston 11 is limited.

[0083] The force limiter 61 can be configured such that a limiting effect is just generated when reaching a predetermined threshold value of force applied by the driving mechanism 7 onto the piston 11 .

[0084] The force limiter 61 can be configured to limit the force applied by the driving mechanism 7 onto the piston 11 by generating a reverse force acting against the force generated by the driving mechanism 7, in particular by generating a deformation and / or movement perpendicular to the force generated by the driving mechanism 7.

[0085] Said reverse force can be of frictional type. In particular, the friction between the driving mechanism 7 and a part of the material storage 10 can be increased by a deformation and / or movement perpendicular to the force generated by the driving mechanism 7.

[0086] The force limiter 61 can comprise a braking unit 58 positioned in the force transmission path between a driving rod 3 and the piston 11 and configured to apply the generated force from the driving mechanism 7 onto the piston 11 .

[0087] The braking unit 58 can be a component separate from the piston 11 and / or from the driving rod 3.

[0088] The braking unit 58 can be connected to the piston 11 via an energy storage and / or buffer 13 configured to store and transmit the force generated by the driving mechanism 7.

[0089] The energy storage and / or buffer 13 can be of mechanical type.

[0090] The energy storage and / or buffer 13 can be formed of an elastically deformable material.

[0091] The energy storage and / or buffer 13 can be formed of an elastically deformable composite of materials.

[0092] The energy storage and / or buffer 13 can be a spring. The energy storage and / or buffer 13 can be moulded.

[0093] The energy storage and / or buffer 13 can be of hydraulic type.

[0094] The energy storage and / or buffer 13 can be of pneumatic type.

[0095] The braking unit 58 can be a component incorporated into the piston 11 or into the driving rod 3.

[0096] The braking unit 58 can be formed of the same material as the piston 11 or the driving rod 3.

[0097] The braking unit 58 can be formed of a different material than the piston 11 and / or the driving rod 3.

[0098] The force limiter 61 can be configured such that the braking unit 58 is deformed in a radial direction with respect to a moving direction of the piston 11 such that the braking unit 58 comes in contact with the frame 5 or with a support sleeve 6 of the material storage 10 to generate a frictional force acting against the force generated by the driving mechanism 7 to act onto the piston 11 .

[0099] Said deformation can be caused by a squeezing of the braking unit 58 between the piston 11 and a force transmitting component of the driving mechanism 7.

[0100] Said force transmitting component can be a driving rod 3 or a plunger 13 connected to said driving rod 3.

[0101] The braking unit 58 can be provided in the form of a cap-like coupling piston. The braking unit 58 can be configured to receive and to contact at least a section of the piston 11 and to be deformed gradually with increasing force acting via the contact surface 58b1 , 58b2 between the braking unit 58 and the piston 11 .

[0102] The braking unit 58 can comprise a ball-shaped component.

[0103] The braking unit 58 can be at least sectionally provided with a coating for adjusting, in particular increasing, generated frictional forces.

[0104] The braking unit 58 can comprise a main body acting as force transmitter between the driving mechanism 7 and the piston 11 , and a therefrom separate component 58c for adjusting, in particular increasing, generated frictional forces.

[0105] Said component 58c can be provided in the form of a sealing ring, in particular in the form of an O-ring.

[0106] The force limiter 61 can be configured to limit the force applied by the driving mechanism 7 onto the piston 11 by at least partly releasing the force generated by the driving mechanism 7 for limiting the output of the driving mechanism 7 or by blocking the further generation of force when reaching a maximum amount of force acting onto the piston 11 .

[0107] The material storage 10 can comprise a rigid support sleeve 6 surrounding a container filled with the material. The activation of the force limiter 61 can be controlled based on a force transmitted from the driving mechanism 7 via the piston 11 onto any one of the material storage 10 and / or one of the components holding the material storage 10, like the support sleeve 6. The material storage can comprise at least one flexible container or pouch and / or at least one rigid container or cartridge for the at least one material to be dispensed.

[0108] Said support sleeve 6 and the frame 5 or a separate control sleeve can be connected to each other via an engagement configuration forming the force limiter 61 . Said engagement configuration can be configured to be released, when force applied onto the support sleeve 6 reaches the predetermined threshold value resulting in an axial movement of the support sleeve 6 with respect to the frame 5 for releasing the applied force acting via the driving mechanism 7 between the frame 5 and the support sleeve 6 and, thus, the force applied onto the piston 11 .

[0109] The support sleeve 6, 67 and the frame 5 or the control sleeve 6, respectively, can be provided with an abutment configuration 80 configured to limit an axial movement of the support sleeve 6, 67 with respect to the frame 5 after the disengagement of the engagement configuration.

[0110] The frame 5 or control sleeve 6 can comprise at least one flexible finger 69 engaging a pressure control flange 71 on the support sleeve 6, 67 for forming the engagement configuration, and engaging an abutment flange 80 on the support sleeve 6, 67 for forming the abutment configuration.

[0111] The pressure control flange 71 on the support sleeve 6, 67 can comprise an inclined contact surface for contacting said flexible fingers 69, wherein the angle of said inclined surface defines the threshold value for the amount of force applied onto the piston upon which the force limiter 61 is activated.

[0112] The driving mechanism 7 can comprise a release unit 30 for releasing the force or energy provided or generated by the driving mechanism 7, or a blocking unit 58, 65 blocking the further generation of force acting onto the piston 11 . The force limiter 61 can be configured to activate the release unit 30 or the blocking unit 58, 65, respectively, when and in particular as long as a predetermined threshold value for the force applied onto the piston 11 by the driving mechanism 7 is exceeded.

[0113] The force limiter 61 can comprise a pressure rod 62 with an engagement segment at one end thereof engaging a section, in particular the proximal end, of the material storage 10 and / or one of the components holding the material storage 10, like the support sleeve 6. The pressure rod 62 can be connected to a release component 63, 78 or a blocking component 58, 62. The release component 63, 78 can be configured to activate the release unit 30 when 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 component 58, 62 can be configured to block a further force generating movement of the driving mechanism 7.

[0114] The release component 63, 78 or the blocking component 58, 62, respectively, can be provided integrally with the pressure rod 62 or is connected directly thereto, and configured to directly activate the release or blocking unit 58, 63, 65 upon axial movement of the pressure rod 62.

[0115] The pressure rod 62 can be provided integrally with the frame 5.

[0116] The force limiter 61 can comprise a force reducer 64 acting against the force transmitted via the pressure rod 62 to reduce the amount of force transmitted via the pressure rod 62.

[0117] The force limiter 61 can comprise a force transmitter 64, 66 acting between the pressure rod 62 and the release component 63, 78. The force reducer 64 or the force transmitter 64, 66, respectively, can comprise or is formed of a pressure spring.

[0118] The release component 63, 78 can be provided in the form of a release plate 63 or a brake pawl 78.

[0119] The release or blocking unit 58, 63, 65 can comprise a biased but releasable catch plate 65 configured to contact a driving rod 3.

[0120] The driving mechanism 7 can comprise a teethed driving rod 3 interacting with a brake pawl 76 releasably engaging the teeth 75 of the driving rod 3. The release component 78 can be configured to release said brake pawl 76 from the driving rod 3.

[0121] The release component 78 can be provided in the form of a pawl tipper coupled operatively to the brake pawl 76.

[0122] The driving mechanism 7 can be configured to be driven manually.

[0123] The driving mechanism 7 can comprise a motor.

[0124] The driving mechanism 7 can comprise an internal energy source for energizing the motor.

[0125] The motor of the driving mechanism 7 can be configured to be supplied with electrical energy from an external source.

[0126] The motor of the driving mechanism 7 can be configured to be supplied with low voltage or mains voltage. The material storage 10 can be replaceably mounted within the frame 5.

[0127] The at least one material within the material storage 10 can be of low viscosity. In particular the at least one material can be a liquid.

[0128] The material storage 10 can comprise only one container filled with only one material.

[0129] The material storage 10 can comprise at least two separate containers filled with different materials to be dispensed in a specific mixing ratio.

[0130] The material storage 10 can comprise at least one flexible container or pouch for the at least one material to be dispensed.

[0131] The material storage 10 can comprise a rigid support sleeve 6 surrounding the at least one flexible container or pouch.

[0132] The material storage 10 can hold 100ml to 101, in particular 600ml, of the materials to be dispensed.

[0133] The dispenser 100 can be a handheld device.

[0134] The dispenser 100 can have a pistol-like overall shape.

[0135] The dispenser 100 can be a body-mounted device, in particular carried via a belt clip, a should strap or a back pack.

[0136] The dispenser 100 can be an on-floor device, in particular sitting directly on the floor, provided with wheels or provided with legs, in particular configured to span the ridges of corrugated roofs. The dispenser 100 can be a wall-mounted device.

[0137] The dispenser 100 can be configured such that a valve assembly with a spray valve 8 operable via an operation handle 8a, and a nozzle 8 can be coupled, for example via a threaded connection or via a bayonet connection, to the material storage 10 or to the support sleeve 6.

[0138] The force limiter 61 can comprise a sprung frame 5 connecting the material stor- age 10 to the driving mechanism 7 such that the force transmitted by the driving mechanism 7 onto the piston 11 is limited by an at least partial storage of the generated force in said sprung frame 5, serving as energy storage and / or buffer 13.

[0139] Reference numeral list

[0140] 100 dispenser

[0141] 1 dispenser handle

[0142] 2 trigger

[0143] 3 driving rod

[0144] 5 frame

[0145] 5a first arm of frame 5

[0146] 5b second arm of frame 5

[0147] 5c bracket

[0148] 6 support sleeve

[0149] 7 driving mechanism

[0150] 8 spray valve

[0151] 8a operation handle

[0152] 9 nozzle

[0153] 10 flexible pouch / material storage

[0154] 11 piston

[0155] 11a a base portion

[0156] 11 b activation sleeve

[0157] 13 energy storage and / or buffer

[0158] 14 trumpet feature

[0159] 16 radial protrusion of support sleeve 6

[0160] 17 radial protrusion of frame 5

[0161] 18 pin member

[0162] 19 guiding plate

[0163] 20 collar

[0164] 30 lock and release mechanism / release unit

[0165] 40 cap portion

[0166] 41 bayonet guide

[0167] 42 bayonet pin elastically deformable component / coupling piston / braking unit / blocking unit a base portion b braking sleeve b1 activation surface b2 activation surface c O-Ring coupling spring force limiter pressure rod release plate / release component pressure spring / force reducer catch plate / blocking unit pressure rod end component / force transmitter inner pressure control sleeve outer pressure control sleeve flexible finger warning text inner pressure control flange outer pressure control flange drive teeth drive pawl brake teeth brake pawl pawl tipper / release component abutment flange

Claims

Claims Dispenser (100) for dispensing viscous and non-viscous materials, comprising: a frame (5), a material storage (10) positioned within said frame (5) and containing at least one material to be dispensed, and a driving mechanism (7) for dispensing the material from the material storage (10), wherein the driving mechanism (7) is configured to move a piston (11 ) for dispensing the material from the material storage (10), characterized in that the dispenser (100) comprises a force limiter (61 ) configured to limit and / or regulate the force applied by the driving mechanism (7) on the piston (11 ) by at least partly releasing the force generated by the driving mechanism (7) or by blocking the further generation of force acting on the piston (11 ), when reaching or exceeding a threshold value of force acting onto the piston (11 ). Dispenser (100) of claim 1 , wherein the force limiter (61 ) is configured to limit the force applied by the driving mechanism (7) onto the piston (11 ) by generating a reverse force, in particular of frictional type, acting against the force generated by the driving mechanism (7), in particular by generating a deformation and / ormovement perpendicular to the force generated by the driving mechanism (7). Dispenser (100) of claim 2, wherein the force limiter (61 ) comprises a braking unit (58) positioned in the force transmission path between a driving rod (3) and the piston (11 ), and configured to apply the generated force from the driving mechanism (7) onto the piston (11 ), wherein the braking unit (58) is in particular a component separate from the piston (11 ) and / or from the driving rod (3). Dispenser (100) of claim 3, wherein the braking unit (58) is provided in the form of a cap-like coupling piston (58) or comprises a ball-shaped component (58). Dispenser (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the material storage (10) comprises a rigid support sleeve (6, 67) surrounding a container filled with the material, wherein the activation of the force limiter (61 ) is controlled based on a force transmitted from the driving mechanism (7) via the piston (11 ) onto any one of the material storage (10) and / or one of the components holding the material storage (10), like the support sleeve (6). Dispenser (100) of claim 5, wherein said support sleeve (6, 67) and the frame (5) or a separate control sleeve (68) are connected to each other via an engagement configuration forming the force limiter (61 ), wherein said engagement configuration is configured to be released when force applied onto the support sleeve (6, 67) reaches the predetermined threshold value resulting in an axial movement of the support sleeve (6,67) with respect to the frame (5) for releasing the applied force acting via the driving mechanism (7) between the frame (5) and the support sleeve (6, 67) and, thus, the force applied onto the piston (11 ). Dispenser (100) of claim 1 , wherein the driving mechanism (7) comprises a lock and release mechanism (30) for releasing the force or energy provided or generated by the driving mechanism (7), or a blocking unit (58, 62) blocking the further generation of force acting onto the piston (11 ), wherein the force limiter (61 ) is configured to activate the lock and release mechanism (30) or the blocking unit (58, 62), respectively, when and in particular as long as a predetermined threshold value for the force applied onto the piston (11 ) by the driving mechanism (7) is exceeded. Dispenser (100) of claim 7, wherein the force limiter (61 ) comprises a pressure rod (62) with an engagement segment at one end thereof engaging a section, in particular the proximal end, of the material storage (10) and / or one of the components holding the material storage (10), like the support sleeve (6), wherein the pressure rod (62) is connected to a release component (63, 78) or a blocking component (62), wherein the release component (63, 78) is configured to activate the lock and release mechanism (30) when 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 component (58, 62) is configured to block a further force generating movement of the driving mechanism (7).Dispenser (100) of claim 8, wherein the release component (63, 78) or the blocking component (58, 62), respectively, is provided integrally with the pressure rod (62) or is connected directly thereto, and configured to directly activate the release or blocking unit (58, 63, 62) upon axial movement of the pressure rod (62). Dispenser (100) of claim 8 or 9, wherein the force limiter (61 ) comprises a force reducer (64) acting against the force transmitted via the pressure rod (62) to reduce the amount of force transmitted via the pressure rod (62) and / or a force transmitter (64, 66) acting between the pressure rod (62) and the release component (63). Dispenser (100) of claim 10, wherein the force reducer (64) or the force transmitter (64, 66), respectively, comprises or is formed of a pressure spring. Dispenser (100) of any one of claims 8 to 11 , wherein the release component (63, 78) is provided in the form of a release plate (63) or brake pawl (78), or the blocking component (62) is a distal end of the pressure rod (62) configured to engage a catch plate (65). Dispenser (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the material storage (10) comprises at least one flexible container or pouch for the at least one material to be dispensed, wherein the material storage (10) comprises in particular a rigid support sleeve (6) surrounding the at least one flexible container or pouch. Dispenser (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dispenser (100) is a handheld device,wherein the dispenser (100) has in particular a pistol-like overall shape. Dispenser (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the force limiter (61 ) comprises a sprung frame (5) connecting the material storage (10) to the driving mechanism (7) such that the force transmitted by the driving mechanism (7) onto the piston (11 ) is limited by an at least partial storage of the generated force in said sprung frame (5), serving as energy storage and / or buffer (13).

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