Material source and system

Abstract

A material source (10) for a dispensing system (100), comprising a housing (20) and a sleeve-like connector (40), the housing comprises one or more arrangement volumes for storing material, having one

Description

FIELD The present invention relates to a material source for a dispensing system, the material source comprising a housing and a sleeve-like connector. Further, the present invention relates to a system comprising said material source and an additional element, wherein the additional element is configured to be connected to the housing by the connector element. BACKGROUND Dispensing systems, and corresponding dispensing tips for said dispensing systems, exist in different forms and sizes. Especially, said dispensing tips and dispensing systems can be used in many different applications, like medical applications, dental applications, or industrial applications. Accordingly, different materials to be dispensed have to be provided by respective material sources used in said dispensing systems. It is known to provide the material to be dispensed and the respective dispensing tip separated from each other. This especially allows to combine a dispensing tip suited best for the actual dispensing situation at hand. However, this also raises the requirement for an easy, fast, reliable and in particular tight connection of the respective dispensing tip to the material source. The material to be dispensed can be provided in additional external material cartridges which can be arranged in the material source. Additionally, or alternatively, also providing respective storage volumes for directly storing the material to be dispensed within the material source is possible. In both cases, if the material to be dispensed is actually stored in the material source, normally any contact of the material to the ambient atmosphere should be avoided to prevent the material from drying out or undergoing any undesirable changes. Accordingly, there is a need for material sources and systems which provide an easy way to attach and connect elements to protect and / or dispense material stored in the dispensing system before, while, and after usage, respectively. SUMMARY The present disclosure provides a material source and a system according to the independent claims. Embodiments are given in the subclaims, the description and the drawings. In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed at a material source for a dispensing system, the material source comprising a housing and a sleeve-like connector, wherein the housing comprises one or more arrangement volumes for storing material to be dispensed, the one or more arrangement volumes having one or more conveying openings extending through an upper end of the housing and each terminating in a conveying portion therein, wherein the connector is arranged at said upper end of the housing, the connector comprising a continuous cavity starting at a side of the connector facing the upper end of the housing and extending through the connector to a connecting opening of the connector, wherein further the connector and the housing comprise respective bearing means for arranging the connector at said upper end rotatably around a common longitudinal axis of the housing and the connector between an access position and a lock position, wherein with the connector in its access position the one or more conveying portions are axially accessible through the connecting opening, and wherein a guiding means is arranged on an inner side surface of the cavity, the guiding means configured for exerting an axial force in the direction of the conveying openings while the connector is rotated from its access position to its lock position on an element inserted through the connecting opening with the connector in its access position. The material source according to the invention is intended for a usage as part of a dispensing system. In particular, the material source provides the material to be dispensed. For that, the material source comprises a housing with one or more arrangement volumes for storing the material to be dispensed. In particular, in said arrangement volumes the material can be directly contained. However, also a construction of the one or more arrangement volumes such that an additional external material cartridge can be inserted and fixed in the respective arrangement volume is possible. Preferably, the housing comprises an elongated shape, especially pen-like shapes have found to be suitable. On the outer surface of said housings, often handling areas, for instance roughened areas, and / or grips or handles can be provided. At an upper end of the housing, one or more conveying opening allow conveying the material to be dispensed towards a dispensing tip, which can be attached and connected to the housing as described below. Said conveying opening continuously extend through the material at said upper end of the housing, and thereby essentially open the respective arrangement volume to the outside. Preferably, for each of the one or more arrangement volumes, a respective conveying opening is provided. Each of the conveying openings end in a conveying portion, which can be provided for example comprising a sleeve-like shape with an arbitrary cross section, preferably cylindrical cross section. However, also a simple hole in the surface of the housing at its upper end is considered as a conveying portion in the sense of the present invention. At said upper end of the housing, a connector is arranged. The connector provides the principal function of the present invention, namely connecting the housing to additional elements, especially dispensing tips for dispensing the material to be dispensed, but also other elements such as for instance plugs for sealingly closing the one or more conveying openings. Said connector and the housing share a common longitudinal axis. In other words, the connector is shaped and arranged such at the housing that the longitudinal axis of the housing, defined especially by the preferably elongated shape of the housing, continues as likewise longitudinal axis of the connector. In particular, the connector comprises a sleeve-like shape with a central cavity. Sleeve-like in the sense of the present invention means that the cavity is accessible through two opposing openings, said two openings arranged in opposed sides of the connector. Said cavity encloses the afore-mentioned longitudinal axis, whereby the longitudinal axis goes through each of the two openings of the connector. The axis is preferably arranged in a central part of the cavity. In particular, the cavity can be centered around the longitudinal axis. Likewise preferred, an axial extension of the cavity can be aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis. Further, the cavity continuously extends from the side of the connector facing the upper end of the housing, up to a connecting opening. Said connecting opening is arranged in a side of the connector at a maximal distance from the upper end of the housing. In particular, the cavity covers the conveying openings and especially also encloses the conveying portions, especially conveying portions protruding from the upper end of the housing along the longitudinal axis. By that it can be ensured that a sealing between the conveying openings or the conveying portions, respectively, and an additional element such as a dispensing tip or a plug is positioned, and especially also provided, within the cavity and hence within the connector. Further, the connector is also pivoted on the housing around the common longitudinal axis. For that, both the housing and the connector comprise respective bearing means. Said bearing means can be for instance provided as an annular recess provided by the housing and respective protrusions of the connector engaging said annular recess, or vice versa. Preferably, for both the housing and the connector the respective bearing means are integrally provided by an according shape of a section of the respective element. However, also additional elements between housing and connector can act as the bearing means. In this case, the additional element is considered as part of the housing, even if said additional element providing the bearing means is pre-assembled with connector. Provided by the bearing means, the connector can rotate between an access position and a lock position. In the access position, the one or more conveying openings, and hence also the conveying portions, are axially accessible through the connecting opening. Axially accessible in the sense of the present invention at least encompasses that along directions parallel to the longitudinal axis the conveying openings are not obstructed at all by material of the connector. Thereby it can be ensured that an additional element such as a dispensing tip or a plug can be inserted through the connecting opening into the cavity, and by that brought into contact and hence connected to the one or more conveying openings. After the insertion of the additional element into the cavity and preferably to or even into the conveying openings, the connector can be rotated into its lock posi tion. By that, guiding means arranged at an inner surface of the cavity of the connector are brought into contact with said inserted additional element. In particular, said guiding means are constructed such that during the rotation of the connector from its access position into its lock position the guiding means exerts an axial force on the additional element towards the conveying openings. Thereby, the additional element is driven towards the conveying portions, the conveying openings, and the upper end of the housing, respectively, or, if already in physical contact with said elements, pressed against the respective element. A secure fixation of the additional element on the material source can thereby be provided. Additionally, also sealing the conveying openings can thereby be provided or at least significantly enhanced, as the additional element is pressed against the conveying portions and / or the rim surrounding the respective conveying opening. In summary, the material sources according to the invention can provide an easy way to attach and connect an additional element to the material source, especially an additional element such as a plug to protect and / or such as a dispensing tip to dispense material stored in the dispensing system before and while usage. According to an embodiment, the connecting opening is non-circular, and wherein in the lock position the one or more conveying portions are at least partly covered by material of the connector surrounding the connecting opening. An additional element is mostly constructed such that it is connectable to at least one, preferably all, of the two or more conveying openings and conveying portions, respectively. Hence, with the connector in its the lock position an axial movement of said additional element arranged in the cavity is at least partly form-fittingly blocked by material of the connector. A secure fixation of the additional element on the material source can thereby be enhanced further. According to an embodiment the guiding means comprises one or more helical ramps provided as protrusions and / or recesses at the inner side surface. Such ramps are a mechanically easy way of exerting the force onto the additional element. Preferably, the ramps are provided such that they begin at or at least adjacently to the connection opening and end near or at least adjacently at the opposite second opening of the cavity within the connector. Further, a slope of the ramp can be selected constant. Alternatively, said slope can be selected to change over the extension of the ramp, for instance steeper near the connecting opening, and flatter towards the opposing end. By that, the additional element is more strongly moved at the beginning of the rotation of the connector, and towards the end of the rotation near to the lock position the force exerted by the guiding means is more or less only for pressing the additional element onto the conveying portions for establishing and securing a tight sealing. According to an embodiment, the guiding means is configured for exerting an axial force in the direction of the connecting opening while the connector is rotated from its lock position to its access position on the element inserted through the connecting opening. In other words, in this embodiment the guiding means also exert a force on the additional element for losing the sealing and for moving the additional element again away from the conveying portions. Releasing the connection of the additional element to the material source according to the invention can thereby be simplified. According to an embodiment, the connector is at least partially manufactured as an injection moulded part. Injection moulding is a manufacturing process that allows production of high quality products in high quantities at low costs. Additionally, a very high degree of design freedom can be achieved. By using injection moulding for at least partly manufacturing the connector, these advantages can also be provided with the material source according to the invention. According to an enhanced embodiment, the connector is over-moulded over the upper end of the housing. In this embodiment, the connector is preferably provided as a monolithic element. As an example, in this embodiment the housing can be provided with a circumferential annular groove, and during the over-moulding, a likewise annular protrusion can be formed as part of the connector. By this, the bearing means can be provided easily. Forming the guiding means can thereby be provided in an especially easy manner. Additionally, as the protrusion of the connector circumferentially engages the annular groove, the connector is arranged loss-proof on the housing. According to an alternative embodiment the connector is formed of two or more separate parts. Forming the connector from two or more separate parts provides the possibility to form each or at least some of the separate parts with a specific design linked to a specific task as for instance the bearing means for bearing the connector on the housing or the guiding means for exerting the axial force. Additionally, also the especially easy and in addition loss-proof design of the connector design as described in the previous paragraph can also be provided, in particular for housings with a material that is not suitable for over-moulding. In general, providing the connector formed of two or more separate parts allows implementing undercuts, which in turn can be used for providing a loss-proof design of the connector attached to the housing. According to an enhanced embodiment, the connector is formed of two parts split along a plane including the longitudinal axis. In other words, the connector and especially the cavity is divided into two parts, preferably centred through the cavity. Especially preferred, the two parts can essentially be identical. An especially simple design can thereby be provided, and in particular the manufactural costs can be lowered. According to a further enhanced embodiment, the two or more separate parts of the connector are fixed to each other by ultrasonic-welding and / or laser-welding. This list is not complete and can be extended by suitable means for firmly and inseparable fixing the two or more parts of the connector on each other. After fixing on each other, the two or more parts are inseparable. In particular, all of the listed methods can provide an inseparable fixation of the separate parts of the connector on each other by material bonding. According to an embodiment, at least two of the two or more separate parts of the connector are configured to be fixed to each other before coupling the connector to the housing. By such a pre-coupling, the final assembly of the material source can be simplified. According to a possible embodiment, all of the two or more separate parts are coupled with each other before coupling of the connector to the housing. In other words, in this embodiment the completely assembled connector is coupled to the housing. Alternatively, or additionally, at least two of the two or more the separate parts of the connector are configured to be fixed to each other while coupling the connector to the housing. This embodiment especially allows the presence of undercuts in the connection between the housing and the connector, as the respective separated parts of the connector can be mounted sideways, in particular perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, forming undercuts which are effective parallel to the longitudinal axis. According to an embodiment, the connector comprises inner undercuts and / or closure mounts and / or latching elements and / or click detents and / or bayonet-claws and / or threads for coupling the connector to the housing and / or, if applicable, for coupling two of the two or more separate parts of the connector on each other. This list is not complete and can be extended by suitable means for fixing the two or more parts of the connector on each other. In particular, all of the listed means can provide a secure and reliable fixation, in particular of the connector on he housing and / or of the separate parts of the connector on each other. In contrast to the fixations based on material bonding as described above, the connection means listed here can be designed to be separable. However, also inseparable variants of said connection means can also be implemented. According to an embodiment, the connector cannot be removed non-destructively from the housing. First of all, this embodiment automatically includes a loss-proof arrangement of the connector on the housing. In addition, it is also protected against unwanted manipulation. Exchanging the connector is not possible, and hence also an accidental or intentional usage of a dispensing tip incompatible with the present connector can be avoided. The security during use of the material source according to the invention can thereby be enhanced. In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed at a system comprising the material source according to the preceding claims and an additional element, wherein the additional element is configured to be connected to the housing by the connector element. The system according to the invention comprises the material source according to the invention. Hence all features and advantages described above with respect to the material source according to the invention can also be provided by the system according to the invention. The additional element can be provided in different shapes and suitable for different intended usages, essentially defining the purpose and intended field of application of the system according to the invention. According to an embodiment, the additional element is a plug or a dispensing tip. As mentioned above, in addition to the material source the system according to the invention additionally comprises an element configured to be connected to the housing by the connector element. Depending on the function of the additional element, the system according to the invention can be prepared for different purposes. In particular with an additional element designed as a plug, the conveying openings fluidly connected to the arrangement volumes in the housing of the material source, and especially also material to be dispensed present in said arrangement volumes, can be sealed with respect to the environment, for instance for a storage and / or a transport of the system. Alternatively, with an additional element designed as a dispensing tip, dispensing the material stored in the arrangement volumes can be provided. In particular, the dispensing tip can also be equipped with a mixer element for mixing two or more different materials provided by the material source. In other words, with a dispensing tip as additional element, the system according to the invention is a dispensing system. According to an embodiment, the additional element comprises one or more insertion elements configured to be inserted into the one or more conveying portions. As mentioned above, each conveying opening ends in a conveying portion in the upper end of the housing. Said conveying portions preferably can protrude into the cavity of the connector. During the connection process of the additional element, the insertion elements are inserted into said conveying portions, preferably form-fittingly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Sealing the fluidly connection between the housing and the additional element can thereby be enhanced. According to an embodiment, the additional element comprises a base plate, wherein the base plate is shaped accordingly to the cross section of the connection opening of the connector perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Accordingly shaped in the sense of the present invention especially covers base plates with essentially the same cross section as the respective connecting opening, wherein the base plate can be scaled down for an easy insertion through the connecting opening. As mentioned above, with the connector in its access position, the one or more conveying openings are axially accessible, and with the connector in its lock position, said conveying openings are preferably at least partly blocked by material of the connector surrounding the connecting opening. This can be ensured for instance by providing the connecting opening with a non-circular cross section. In most of the designs, the additional element stays rotationally fixed during the rotation of the connector and moves only axially. This holds especially true for embodiments of the system according to the invention with insertion elements as described above. With a base plate shaped accordingly to the, preferably non-circular, connecting opening, the connector also at least partly covers the base plate when rotated into its lock position, as the base plate stays rotationally fixed. According to an embodiment, the additional element comprises one or more guiding elements configured to interact with the guiding means of the connector. If applicable, said guiding elements can preferably be provided as parts of a base plate as described in the last paragraph. By providing said guiding elements, also the additional element comprises dedicated means for the guidance of the additional element during the connection process. Said guiding elements can be for instance be provided as specific guiding surfaces, for instance for an interaction with a guiding means provided as helical ramp. In particular, said guiding surface or guiding element in general can be provided with an especially smooth surface for lowering any friction between the connector and the additional element. DRAWINGS Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein in conjunction with the following drawings, showing schematically: Fig. 1 A first embodiment of the system according to the invention in a pre-assembled state, Fig. 2 The system of Fig. 1 in an assembled state, Fig. 3 A second embodiment of the system according to the invention in a preassembled state, and Fig. 4 The system of Fig. 3 in an assembled state, DETAILED DESCRIPTION Fig. 1 to 4 show two possible embodiments of the system 100 according to the invention, wherein Fig. 1,2 and Fig. 3, 4, respectively, show the same embodiment. Further, Fig. 1,3 both show a pre-assembled state of the respective system 100, Fig. 2, 4 an assembled state. Both systems 100 comprise the same material source 10 and differ only in the respective additional element 60. The system 100 of Fig. 1,2 comprises an additional element 60 designed as plug 62, the system 100 of Fig. 3, 4 comprises an additional element 60 designed as dispensing tip 64. In the following, the different embodiments of the system 100 according to the invention are described together, wherein differences of said embodiments are explicitly mentioned and described. All embodiments of the system 100 according to the invention depicted in Fig. 1 to 4 comprise a material source 10 according to the invention, in the depicted embodiments especially the same material source 10. Said material source 10 comprises a housing 20 and a connector 40 arranged at an upper end 30 of the housing 20. Preferably, the connector 40 cannot be removed non-destructively from the housing 20. Said connector 40 preferably can be an injection moulded part. In particular, the complete connector 40 can be over-moulded over the upper end 30 of the housing 20. Also connectors 40 formed from two or more separate parts are possible. Said two or more parts can be partly or completely pre-assembled, for instance by laser-welding or ultrasonic-welding. For coupling the connector 40 to the housing 20 and / or, if applicable, for coupling two of the two or more separate parts of the connector 40 on each other, inner undercuts and / or closure mounts and / or latching elements and / or click detents and / or bayonet-claws and / or threads can be provided. At an end of the housing 20 opposite to the upper end 30, two arrangement volumes 22 are accessible from the outside, for instance for directly storing material to be dispensed. However, also an arrangement of additional cartridges containing material to be dispensed in the arrangement volumes 22 is possible. In the depicted embodiment, plunger rods 24 are provided for manually conveying material present in the material source 10, especially for dispensing through a dispensing tip 64 connected to the material source 10 as depicted in Fig. 4. The arrangement volumes 22 open through the upper end 30 in continuous conveying openings 32 surrounded by conveying portions 34. In the shown embodiments, especially depicted in Fig. 1,3, said conveying portions 34 are provided as circular and sleeve-like protrusions. As already mentioned, on the upper end 30 of the housing 20 a connector 40 is arranged. Both, the housing 20 and the connector 40, respectively, comprise bearing means 50 for rotatably arranging the connector 40 on the housing 20, especially between an access position A (Fig. 1,3) and a lock position L (Fig. 2, 4). The connector 40 rotates around a common longitudinal axis 90 of the housing 20 and the connector 40. The connector 40 comprises a cavity 42 continuously extending trough the connector 40 and ending in a connecting opening 44. Said cavity 42 especially encloses the conveying portions 34 described above. Further, as depicted the cavity 42 can preferably be centered around the longitudinal axis 90. Said connector 40 is designed for securely and tightly connecting the housing 20, especially the conveying openings 32 and conveying portions 34, respectively, to an additional element 60, for instance to a plug 62 (Fig. 1,2) or a dispensing tip 64 (Fig. 3, 4). Both depicted additional elements 60 comprise insertion elements 70 for an insertion in the respective conveying portions 34 present at the upper end 30 of the housing 20. Further, also a base plate 80 is present in both depicted versions of possible additional elements 60. As depicted, the base plate 80 can be accordingly shaped to the connecting opening 44. Said base plates 80 are provided with guiding elements 82 for interacting with guiding means 46 of the respective connector 40. Said guiding means 46 are arranged at an inner surface 48 of the cavity 42. Preferably, the guiding means 46 are provided as one or more helical ramps. During the rotation of the connector form its access position A (Fig. 1,3) into its lock position L (Fig. 2, 4), the additional element 60 inserted into the cavity 42 is contacted by the guiding means 46, and a force in the direction towards the upper end 30 is exerted on the additional element 60. Said force can provide two advantages. On the one hand, the additional element 60 can be moved axially towards the upper end 30. In the depicted embodiments, this can for instance support the insertion of the insertion elements 70 into the conveying portions 34. Secondly, especially at the end of the rotational movement of the connector 40, said force ensures a tight sealing between the housing 20 and the additional element 60, independent of its actual design, be it a plug 62 (Fig. 1, 2) or a dispensing tip 64 (Fig. 3, 4). Additionally, the guiding means 46 can also be configured for exerting an axial 5 force in the direction of the connecting opening 44 while the connector 40 is rotated from its lock position L to its access position A on the element 60. By that, releasing of said element 60 can be simplified. Reference numeral list 10 material source 20 housing 22 arrangement volume 24 plunger rod 30 upper end 32 conveying opening 34 conveying portion 40 connector 42 cavity 44 connecting opening 46 guiding means 48 inner surface 50 bearing means 60 element 62 plug 64 dispensing tip 70 insertion element 80 base plate 82 guiding element 90 longitudinal axis 100 system L lock position A access position

Claims

1. A material source (10) for a dispensing system (100), the material source (10) comprising a housing (20) and a sleeve-like connector (40), wherein the housing (20) comprises one or more arrangement volumes (22) for storing material to be dispensed, the one or more arrangement volumes (22) having one or more conveying openings (32) extending through an upper end (30) of the housing (20) and each terminating in a conveying portion (34) therein, wherein the connector (40) is arranged at said upper end (30) of the housing (20), the connector (40) comprising a continuous cavity (42) starting at a side of the connector (40) facing the upper end (30) of the housing (20) and extending through the connector (40) to a connecting opening (44) of the connector (40), wherein further the connector (40) and the housing (20) comprise respective bearing means (50) for arranging the connector (40) at said upper end (30) rotatably around a common longitudinal axis (90) of the housing (20) and the connector (40) between an access position (A) and a lock position (L), wherein with the connector (40) in its access position (A) the one or more conveying portions (34) are axially accessible through the connecting opening (44), and wherein a guiding means (46) is arranged on an inner side surface (48) of the cavity (42), the guiding means (46) configured for exerting an axial force in the direction of the conveying openings (32) while the connector (40) is rotated from its access position (A) to its lock position (L) on an element (60) inserted through the connecting opening (44) with the connector (40) in its access position (A).

2. The material source (10) according to claim 1, wherein the connecting opening (44) is non-circular, and wherein in the lock position (L) the one or more conveying portions (34) are at least partly covered by material of the connector (40) surrounding the connecting opening (44).

3. The material source (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the guiding means (46) comprises one or more helical ramps provided as protrusions and / or recesses at the inner side surface.

4. The material source (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the guiding means (46) is configured for exerting an axial force in the direction of the connecting opening (44) while the connector (40) is rotated from its lock position (L) to its access position (A) on the element (60) inserted through the connecting opening (44).

5. The material source (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connector (40) is at least partially manufactured as an injection moulded part.

6. The material source (10) according to claim 5, wherein the connector (40) is over-moulded over the upper end (30) of the housing (20).

7. The material source (10) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, wherein the connector (40) is formed of two or more separate parts.

8. The material source (10) according to claim 7,wherein the connector (40) is formed of two parts split along a plane including the longitudinal axis (90).

9. The material source (10) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the two or more separate parts of the connector (40) are fixed to each other by ultrasonic-welding and / or laser-welding.

10. The material source (10) according to one of the preceding claims 7 to 9, wherein at least two of the two or more separate parts of the connector (40) are configured to be fixed to each other before coupling the connector (40) to the housing (20).

11. The material source (10) according to one of the preceding claims 7 to 10, wherein at least two of the two or more the separate parts of the connector (40) are configured to be fixed to each other while coupling the connector (40) to the housing (20).

12. The material source (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connector (40) comprises inner undercuts and / or closure mounts and / or latching elements and / or click detents and / or bayonetclaws and / or threads for coupling the connector (40) to the housing (20) and / or, if applicable, for coupling two of the two or more separate parts of the connector (40) on each other.

13. The material source (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connector (40) cannot be removed non-destructively from the housing (20).

14. A system (100) comprising the material source (10) according to the preceding claims and an additional element (60), wherein the additional element (60) is configured to be connected to the housing (20) by the connector (40).

15. The system (100) according to claim 14, wherein the additional element (60) is a plug (62) or a dispensing tip (64).

16. The system (100) according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the additional element (60) comprises one or more insertion elements (70) configured to be inserted into the one or more conveying portions (34).

17. The system (100) according to one of the preceding claims 14 to 16,wherein the additional element (60) comprises a base plate (80), wherein the base plate (80) is shaped accordingly to the cross section of the connecting opening (44) of the connector (40) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (90).

18. The system (100) according to one of the preceding claims 14 to 17, wherein the additional element (60) comprises one or more guiding elements (82) configured to interact with the guiding means (46) of the connector (40).

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