Dental capsule container

Abstract

To provide a dental capsule container capable of suppressing the occurrence of backflow even if a pressing force is not always applied to a piston member.SOLUTION: An annular fitting portion D1 extending in the radial direction and the circumferential direction is formed at an end of the piston portion D2 of the piston member D near the operating portion D4. Further, an annular fitted portion C2 to which the annular fitting portion C1 is fitted in a state in which the piston member D is inserted into the second cylindrical portion C2 of the chamber member C and the pressing rod portion D3 opens the second closing portion C6 is formed in an inner peripheral portion adjacent to the third opening portion D4 of the second cylindrical portion C9 of the chamber member C. The shapes and dimensions of the annular fitting portion D4 and the annular fitted portion C9 are determined so that the fitting is not released by an increase in the internal pressure of the mixing portion A5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a dental capsule container that can store two types of components in isolation and mix the two types of components inside before discharging them at the time of use. [Background technology]

[0002] Japanese Patent Publication No. 4956616 (Patent Document 1) discloses a conventional dental capsule container, such as a dental cement capsule, that contains two types of medicine, a powder material and a liquid material, in isolation and then mixes the powder material and the liquid material inside before discharging them. Figures 6 and 7 correspond to Figures 10 and 11 of Patent Document 1. The structure of a conventional dental capsule container will be described below using these figures. The conventional dental capsule container includes a mixing cylinder 8 (container body), a nozzle 16, partition members (12, 18), a discharge auxiliary body 13 (chamber member), and an operating piston (piston member) 19. The mixing cylinder 8 includes an outer cylinder 10 (first cylindrical portion) with a first opening at one end and an end wall 11 (first bottom wall portion) that closes the other end of the outer cylinder 10. The mixing cylinder 8 has a mixing chamber (mixing section) 5 therein, which contains a first component and mixes the first and second components when the second component is injected from one end side, and has an outlet 23 in its end wall 11 (first bottom wall portion) for discharging the mixture from the mixing chamber 5. The nozzle 16 is provided on the end wall 11 (first bottom wall portion) of the mixing cylinder 8.

[0003] A partition member (12, 18) is slidably housed within the mixing cylinder 8. The partition member (12, 18) includes a cylindrical portion 18 (second cylindrical portion) with a second opening at one end, a second bottom wall portion that closes the other end of the cylindrical portion 18 (second cylindrical portion), and an elastic partition wall 12 that is provided on the second bottom wall portion and slides liquid-tightly within the mixing chamber 5. A discharge auxiliary body 13 (chamber member) 13 is fitted into the partition member (12, 18) so as to be rotatable about the axis X. The discharge auxiliary body 13 (chamber member) has a cylindrical portion with an opening at one end and a bottom wall portion that closes the other end of the cylindrical portion, and includes a dispensing chamber 3 (second component storage portion) that stores the second component therein. The elastic partition 12 of the partition member (12, 18) and the bottom wall portion of the discharge auxiliary body 13 (chamber member) are respectively formed with communication holes 20 and 21, which become connected when the discharge auxiliary body 13 (chamber member) rotates a predetermined angle around the axis X, bringing the discharge auxiliary body 13 (chamber member) and the partition member (12, 18) into a predetermined positional relationship, thereby allowing the second component to flow into the mixing chamber 5.

[0004] In a conventional dental capsule container, before starting the operation of mixing the first and second components, the partition members (12, 18) are maintained in a retracted position so as to form a mixing chamber 5 within the mixing cylinder 8. In this state, a predetermined first operation (rotation about the axis X) is performed on the operating rod portion of the operating piston 19 (piston member), thereby aligning and communicating the communication holes 20 and 21 and forming a communication passage (20, 21) between the dispensing chamber 3 and the mixing chamber 5. After the communication passage is formed, the operating piston 19 is moved toward the end wall 11 of the mixing cylinder 8, and the second component in the dispensing chamber 3 is injected into the mixing chamber 5 through the formed communication passage (20, 21). Thereafter, the operating piston 19 is rotated about the axis X (second operation) to release the partition members (12, 18) from their held state. Then, with the nozzle 16 moved from the first position to the second position (a position where the passage of the nozzle 16 and the discharge port 23 are in communication), the operating piston 19 is further moved toward the end wall 11 to discharge the mixture from inside the mixing chamber 5 to the outside through the nozzle 16. The engagement relationship between the mixing cylinder 8 and the partition members (12, 18), the engagement relationship between the partition members (12, 18) and the discharge auxiliary body 13 (chamber member), and the engagement relationship between the discharge auxiliary body 13 (chamber member) and the operating piston 19 (piston member) are achieved by the engagement between the protrusions (24, 26, 28) and the guide grooves (25, 27, 29) shown in Figure 7 (Figure 11 of Patent Document 1).

[0005] Before the operating piston 19 is pushed into the discharge auxiliary body 13 (chamber member), the protrusion 28 is set in a state in which it cannot move in the axial direction relative to the guide groove 29, as shown in Figure 8(c). When the operating piston 19 is pushed into the discharge auxiliary body 13 (chamber member) 13, the protrusion 28 is moved into the elongated groove portion of the guide groove 29 extending in the direction of the axis X, causing the operating piston 19 to move forward in the direction of the axis X, and pushing the second component in the dispensing chamber 3 into the mixing chamber 5. Thereafter, the protrusion 28 is left in a state in which it can retreat rearward in the direction of the axis X.

[0006] Similarly to Patent Document 1, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-542832 (Patent Document 2) also discloses a dental capsule container that is formed by combining multiple components, including a mixing cylinder, a partition member, and a piston member. In Figures 12 and 14 of Patent Document 2, a temporary engagement structure consisting of outer peripheral ribs 56, 56' and inner peripheral grooves 46, 46' is provided between a container 4 serving as a second component-containing member and a plunger 5 (piston member) serving as a piston member that pushes the second component out of the container 4. When the plunger 5 serving as a piston member is pushed all the way into the container 4 serving as the second component-containing member, the outer peripheral rib 56 is engaged with the inner peripheral groove 46'. However, as shown in Figure 12 of Patent Document 2, the inner peripheral groove 46' is shaped to temporarily prevent the plunger 5 from moving forward, but does not prevent the plunger 5 from moving backward. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4956616 (Figs. 10 and 11) [Patent Document 2] JP2022-542832A (Figs. 12 and 14) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] Even with the configuration of Patent Document 1, enhanced airtightness is necessary for storage stability. Therefore, the higher the airtightness of the mixing chamber 5 and dispensing chamber 3, the better. Therefore, designs that enhance the airtightness of the mixing chamber 5 and dispensing chamber 3 are adopted. However, when designs were attempted to improve the airtightness of the mixing chamber 5 and dispensing chamber 3, it was confirmed that when the piston member was pushed in, the internal pressure of the mixing chamber 5 and dispensing chamber 3 increased, causing the piston member to be pushed back. Furthermore, the inventors' research revealed that when this occurs, a portion of the second component may backflow into the dispensing chamber (second component-containing member). Therefore, in conventional dental capsule containers, the backflow cannot be prevented unless a pressing force is constantly applied to the piston member.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a dental capsule container that can suppress the occurrence of backflow even if a pressing force is not constantly applied to the piston member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In the following, for ease of understanding, the means for solving the problems will be explained using the symbols attached to the embodiments shown in the attached drawings, but the symbols are not used as a basis for limiting the present invention to the embodiments.

[0011] The dental capsule container of the present invention comprises a container body A, a nozzle B, a chamber member C, and a piston member D. The container body A has a first opening A1 at one end, a second opening A2 at the other end, and a partition wall A3 adjacent to the second opening A2. The container body A further comprises a first cylindrical portion A4 having a mixing portion A5 in which a first component is accommodated within a region extending from the partition wall A3 toward the first opening A1 and a second component is injected from the first opening A1 to mix the first and second components. The container body A also comprises a first outlet A6 provided in the partition wall A3 for discharging the mixture from the mixing portion A5, and a first closing portion A7 for releasably closing the first outlet A6. The nozzle B is provided in the first cylindrical portion A4 of the container body A and discharges the mixture discharged from the first outlet A6. The first and second components may be any combination of two types of components, including powdery, liquid, or paste-like components that require mixing or kneading. Typically, the first component and the second component often consist of a powder component and a liquid component.

[0012] The nozzle B may be provided separately from the container body A or may be provided integrally with the container body A. The chamber member C includes a second cylindrical portion C2 having a third opening C1 at one end, a bottom wall portion C3 closing the other end of the second cylindrical portion C2, a second component storage portion C4 for storing the second component, a second outlet C5 provided in the bottom wall portion C3 for discharging the second component from the second component storage portion C4 into the mixing portion A5, and a second closing portion C6 releasably closing the second outlet C5. The chamber member C slides within the first cylindrical portion A4 of the container body A. The piston member D is equipped with a piston portion D1 that is inserted into the second cylindrical portion C2 from the third opening and slides within the second cylindrical portion C2, an operating portion D2 that is provided at the rear end of the piston portion D1, and a pressing rod portion D3 that is provided at the front end of the piston portion D1 and that, when the operating portion D2 is pressed toward the nozzle B, presses the second closing portion C6 to penetrate the second discharge port C5 while opening the second discharge port C5, and when the operating portion D2 is further pressed, presses the first closing portion A7 that is provided on the partition portion A3 of the container body A to open the first discharge port A6.

[0013] In the present invention, an annular fitting portion D4 extending in the radial and circumferential directions is formed at the end of the piston portion D1 of the piston member D near the operation portion D2. Furthermore, an annular fitted portion C9 into which the annular fitting portion D4 fits is formed at the inner peripheral portion adjacent to the third opening C1 of the second cylindrical portion C2 of the chamber member C when the piston member D is inserted into the second cylindrical portion C2 of the chamber member C and the pressing rod portion D3 opens the second closing portion C6. The shapes and dimensions of the annular fitting portion D4 and the annular fitted portion C9 are determined so that the fit will not be released by an increase in the internal pressure of the mixing portion A5.

[0014] When the piston member D is pushed into the chamber member C and the pushing rod portion D3 pushes open the second closing portion C6 of the chamber member C, opening the second outlet C5, the second component begins to enter the mixing portion A5. When the operating portion D2 of the piston member D is further pushed, the second component moves from the second component storage portion C4 in the chamber member C into the mixing portion A5. During this movement, the annular fitting portion D4 engages with the annular fitted portion C9. If this engagement is released, the second component will flow back into the second component storage portion C4 that has entered the mixing portion A5. If this backflow occurs, the amount of the second component mixed will be reduced, resulting in poor mixing.

[0015] The dental capsule container is then mounted on a vibrating device, which vibrates or rotates the dental capsule container to mix the first and second components within the mixing section A5. After mixing is complete, the piston member D and chamber member C, now joined together with the annular mating portion D4 mated to the annular mating portion C9, are further pushed in using a jig. The piston member D and chamber member C move through the mixing section A5 toward the nozzle B while compressing the mixture within the mixing section A5, increasing the internal pressure within the mixing section A5. As the piston member D and chamber member C are further pushed in, the internal pressure within the mixing section A5 increases until the pushing rod portion D3 presses against the first closing portion A7 on the partition portion A3 of the container body A and opens the first outlet A6. As the internal pressure within the mixing section A5 increases, a force is applied to the piston portion D1 of the piston member D through the second outlet C5 in a direction that pushes the piston member D back from the chamber member C. If the engagement between the annular engaging portion D4 and the annular engaged portion C9 is weak and disengages, the second component in the mixture in the mixing portion A5 may flow back into the second-component storage portion C4. If such a backflow occurs and the backflowing second component remains in the two-component storage portion C4, the remaining second component may be ejected from the nozzle B separately from the mixture (disintegrated) when the mixture of the second and first components in the mixing portion A5 is discharged. However, in the present invention, the shape and dimensions of the annular engaging portion D4 and the annular engaged portion C9 are determined so that the engagement is not disengaged due to an increase in the internal pressure of the mixing portion A5, so the problem of the second component flowing back does not occur. Therefore, according to the present invention, a dental capsule container can be provided that can mix the first and second components in the appropriate ratio in the mixing portion without constantly applying a pressing force to the piston member.

[0016] The annular fitting portion D4 may be a circular convex portion extending radially outward and circumferentially, and the annular fitted portion C9 may be a circular concave portion extending radially inward and circumferentially. Conversely, the annular fitting portion D4 may be a circular concave portion extending radially inward and circumferentially, and the annular fitted portion C9 may be a circular convex portion extending radially outward and circumferentially.

[0017] One or more additional annular protrusions D5 protruding radially and extending circumferentially may be formed on the end of the piston portion D1 of the piston member D near the pressing rod portion D3. In this case, an annular compression region C12 is formed on the inner periphery of the second cylindrical portion C2 of the chamber member C in a region extending beyond the annular fitted portion C9 toward the bottom wall portion C3, compressing the one or more additional annular protrusions D5. Furthermore, an inversely tapered annular compression release region C13 is formed in the circumferential region extending from the compression region C12 toward the bottom wall portion C3, expanding radially outward to gradually release the compression of the one or more additional annular protrusions D5. Furthermore, a contact surface C15 is formed on the outer periphery of the chamber member C near the bottom wall portion C3, which contacts the inner periphery of the container body A. The compression release region C13 is preferably formed to include the center of the inner periphery region extending from the third opening C1 to the bottom wall portion C3. In this way, by making the compression release area surface C13 inversely tapered, it is possible to prevent the piston member D from moving backward due to an increase in internal pressure when the piston member D is pressed in. Furthermore, by making the annular compression release area surface C13 inversely tapered, even if the annular convex portion D5 enters the front end portion, deformation of the contact surface C15 provided on the outer periphery of the chamber member C (deformation in which the outer diameter of the contact surface C15 increases) is suppressed, and a decrease in the sliding property between the contact surface C15 and the inner surface of the container body A can be suppressed.

[0018] One or more air vent channels A13 may be formed in the inner periphery of container body A to allow air to escape between the inner periphery of container body A and chamber member C when first closing portion A7 is pressed by pressing rod portion D3 of piston member D. In this case, the multiple air vent channels A13 can allow air remaining in mixing portion A5 to escape toward first opening portion A1 of container body A from the time when chamber member C and piston member D start to move together toward partition wall portion A3 of container body A in a state where second closing portion C6 of chamber member C is pushed open by pressing rod portion D3 and end face D6 of piston portion D1 is in contact with bottom wall portion C3 of chamber member C, until just before bottom wall portion C3 of chamber member C comes into contact with partition wall portion A3. Note that "just before" refers to the time when contact surface C15 no longer faces air vent channel A13.

[0019] By providing one or more such air vent passages A13, it is possible to prevent the resistance force from gradually increasing when sliding the chamber member C, thereby improving workability and suppressing damage to the container body A due to an increase in internal pressure.

[0020] One or more air vent channels A13 can be configured as elongated grooves or elongated protrusions. The radial dimension of the elongated grooves or elongated protrusions is preferably 0.05 to 0.25 mm or 0.08 to 0.18 mm. Dimensions within these ranges make it possible to achieve air venting while maintaining a state in which the mixture in the mixing section does not easily pass through the air vent channels A13.

[0021] Furthermore, a flange portion C7 that protrudes radially outward from the second cylindrical portion C2 is preferably provided at the end of the second cylindrical portion C2 of the chamber member C that is closer to the third opening C1. The flange portion C7 may be formed with one or more recesses C8 that open in the extension direction of the second cylindrical portion C2 and radially outward. The one or more recesses C8 allow deformation of the flange portion C7 when the chamber member C slides within the container body A, and also function as a path for air passing between the chamber material C and the container body A to escape from the mixing portion A5.

[0022] Furthermore, the pushing rod portion D3 of the piston member D preferably has a structure in which a plurality of ribs D3a extending in the longitudinal direction are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. The tip ends D3b of the plurality of ribs D3a may converge to a single point, or may not converge but terminate in a flat surface. This structure allows the second closing portion C6 provided in the chamber member C to be smoothly pushed open, and also makes it easy to inject the second component into the mixing portion A5.

[0023] Preferably, the ribs D3a are made up of n or more ribs (n is an integer greater than or equal to 2) arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction, and the second blocking portion C6 is made up of m or more divided blocking pieces C6a-C6d (m is an integer greater than 3 and not an integer multiple of n) connected to liquid-tightly block the second discharge port C5. If the ribs D3a and divided blocking pieces C6a-C6d are the same in number and arranged at equal intervals, depending on the rotational positions of the pressing rod portion D3 and the chamber member C, it is possible that the divided blocking pieces C6a-C6d will fit between the ribs D3a even when the pressing rod portion D3 opens the second blocking portion C6. In this case, the opening area obtained will be extremely narrow. By setting the relationship between the number n of ribs and the number m of divided blocking pieces C6a to C6d as described above, the divided blocking pieces C6a to C6d will not fit exactly between the ribs D3a, thereby preventing the opening area from becoming extremely narrow.

[0024] Preferably, the m or more divided blocking pieces C6a-C6d are connected to the periphery of the second outlet C5 by permanent connecting structures C10 that do not separate from the second outlet C5 even when pushed by the pressing rod D3, and the m or more divided blocking pieces C6a-C6d are further connected to one another by temporary connecting structures C11 that separate when pushed by the pressing rod D3. By employing these structures, the second blocking pieces C6 can be reliably opened, and the second component can be reliably pushed into the mixing section A5 without the opened second blocking pieces C6 becoming an obstacle.

[0025] The second cylindrical portion C2, bottom wall portion C3, and second closing portion C6 of the chamber member C are formed by integral molding, and the thickness of the permanent connecting structure C10 that connects the m divided closing pieces C6a-C6d to the second outlet C5 may be thicker than the thickness of the temporary connecting structure C11 that connects the m divided closing pieces C6a-C6d to each other. This makes it easy to mold the second closing portion C6 of the chamber member C, and prevents the m divided closing pieces C6a-C6d from separating and becoming an obstacle in the mixing section A5 after the second closing portion C6 is opened.

[0026] Alternatively, the first closing portion A7 of the container body A may be formed of a single closing piece A71 that closes the first outlet A6. In this case, a portion of the outer periphery of the closing piece A71 is connected to the periphery of the first outlet A6 by a permanent connecting structure A8 that does not separate from the periphery of the first outlet A6 even when pressed by the pressing rod D3. The remaining portion of the outer periphery of the closing piece A71 is preferably connected to the periphery of the first outlet A6 by a temporary connecting structure A9 that separates when pressed by the pressing rod D3. The container body A may be integrally formed with a connecting portion A10 to which the nozzle B is connected. The connecting portion A10 may have a communication passage A11 that connects the first outlet A6 to the discharge passage B1 of the nozzle B. In this case, one surface of the closing piece A71 located on the mixing section A5 side is preferably formed as a curved surface A7a that curves convexly toward the first opening A1. The shape of the other surface 7Ab of one blocking piece A71 located opposite the curved surface A7a and the shape of the communicating passage A11 formed in the connecting portion A10 are preferably determined so as not to impede the movement of the pushing rod portion D3 which enters the communicating passage A11 while pushing one blocking piece A71. In this way, even if the mixture produced in the mixing portion A5 is viscous, the curved surface A7a of one blocking piece A71 faces the communicating passage A11, so that one blocking piece A71 does not become a major obstacle and the mixture can be discharged smoothly.

[0027] If the other surface of one blocking piece A71 is a flat surface, it is possible to increase the inclination angle of the blocking piece A71 when the blocking piece A71 is displaced into the communication passage A11. In this case, it is preferable that the outline shape of one blocking piece A71 is circular, the shape of the communicating passage A11 is cylindrical, and the diameter dimension of the communicating passage A11 is 1.05 times or more the diameter dimension of the outline of one blocking piece A71, thereby preventing one blocking piece A71 from obstructing the discharge of the mixture. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1]1 is a cross-sectional view of a dental capsule container according to an embodiment of the present invention, taken along a line including the central axis. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a side view of the dental capsule container after the mixture has been extruded. [Figure 3] (A) is a cross-sectional view of the container body cut along the central axis, (B) is a view of the container body from the first opening side, (C) is an enlarged view of region RC in Figure 3(A), (D) is an enlarged view of region RD in Figure 3(A), (E) is a cross-sectional view of the air vent path, and (F) is a cross-sectional view of the air vent path of a modified example. [Figure 4] (A) is a cross-sectional view of the chamber member taken along line AA in Figure 4(C), with the chamber member cut including the central axis, (B) is a half-cross-sectional view of the chamber member cut including the central axis, (C) is a view of the chamber member from the third opening side, and (D) is an enlarged view of region RD in Figure 4(A). [Figure 5] (A) is a side view of the piston member, (B) is a side view of the piston member of FIG. 5(A) seen from the pressing rod portion side, (C) is an enlarged view of region RC of FIG. 5(A), and (D) is an enlarged view of region RD of FIG. 5(A). [Figure 6] 10A to 10E are cross-sectional views for sequentially explaining the movement of the dental capsule container. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing FIG. 10 of Patent Document 1. [Figure 8] This is a diagram showing FIG. 11 of Patent Document 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] An embodiment of a dental capsule container according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the dental capsule container CC according to this embodiment, taken along the central axis X, and Fig. 2 is a side view of the dental capsule container CC after the mixture has been extruded. In these figures, the dental capsule container CC includes a cylindrical container body A, a nozzle B, a chamber member C, and a piston member D, each of which is integrally molded from a resin material.

[0030] 1 and 3(A), the container body A has a first opening A1 at one end, a second opening A2 at the other end, and a first cylindrical portion A4 having a partition A3 adjacent to the second opening A2. The first cylindrical portion A4 has a mixing portion A5 in which a powdered first component is accommodated in a region extending from the partition A3 toward the first opening A1, and into which a second component is injected from the first opening A1 side to mix the first and second components. The first and second components may be in either powder or liquid form.

[0031] The first cylindrical portion A4 also includes a first outlet A6 provided in the partition A3 for discharging the mixture from the mixing portion A5, and a first closing portion A7 for releasably closing the first outlet A6.

[0032] In this embodiment, the first blocking portion A7 is configured by a single blocking piece A71 that blocks the first discharge outlet A6. As shown enlarged in FIG. 3(D), a portion of the outer periphery of the single blocking piece A71 is connected to the peripheral edge of the first discharge outlet A6 by a permanent connecting structure A8 that does not separate from the peripheral edge of the first discharge outlet A6 even when pressed by a pressing rod portion D3 (described later). The thickness of the permanent connecting structure A8 is thicker than the thickness of a temporary connecting structure A9 (described later). Therefore, this portion remains permanently.

[0033] 3(B), the remaining outer periphery of the blocking piece A71 is connected to the periphery of the first discharge port A6 by a temporary connection structure A9 that separates when pressed by a pressing rod. One surface of each blocking piece A71 facing the mixing section A5 is formed by a curved surface A7a that is curved convexly toward the first opening A1, and the other surface of each blocking piece A71 is formed by a flat surface A7b. The functions of the curved surface A7a and the flat surface A7b will be explained later.

[0034] Furthermore, a connecting portion A10 to which the nozzle B is connected is integrally formed on the first cylindrical portion A4 of the container body A. A communication passage A11 is formed in the connecting portion A10, connecting the first discharge port A6 to the discharge passage B1 of the nozzle B. The shape of the other surface (A7b) of one of the blocking pieces A71, located opposite the curved surface A7a, and the shape of the communication passage A11 formed in the connecting portion A10 are determined so as not to impede the movement of the pushing rod D3, which enters the communication passage A11 while pushing the blocking piece A71. In this way, even if the mixture generated in the mixing section A5 is viscous, the curved surface A7a of one of the blocking pieces A71 faces the communication passage A11, so the blocking piece A71 does not significantly obstruct the mixture, allowing for smooth discharge of the mixture. If the other surface of one of the blocking pieces A71 is a flat surface A7b, the inclination angle of the blocking piece A71 when displaced into the communication passage A11 can be increased. In this embodiment, in order to reliably obtain this effect, the outline shape of the blocking piece A71 is circular, the shape of the connecting passage A11 is cylindrical, and the diameter dimension of the connecting passage A11 is 1.05 times or more the diameter dimension of the outline of one blocking piece A71.

[0035] The nozzle B is provided on the outer periphery of the connecting portion A10 of the first cylindrical portion A4 of the container body A and includes a base portion B3 having an annular protrusion B2 that fits into an annular recess A12 that extends along the outer periphery of the connecting portion A10, and a nozzle body B4 that is formed integrally with the base portion B3 and has an outlet passage B1 therein. The base portion B3 includes an annular portion B5 that fits into a communication passage A11 formed in the connecting portion A10. The mixture discharged from the first outlet A6 is dispensed from the nozzle body B4. The nozzle B may be provided separately from the container body A or may be provided integrally with the container body A.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4A to 4D, the chamber member C slides within the first cylindrical portion A4 of the container body A. The chamber member C includes a second cylindrical portion C2 having a third opening C1 at one end, a bottom wall C3 closing the other end of the second cylindrical portion C2, a second component storage portion C4 for storing the second component, a second outlet C5 provided in the bottom wall C3 for discharging the second component from the second component storage portion C4 into the mixing portion A5, and a second closing portion C6 for releasably closing the second outlet C5. A flange C7 protruding radially outward from the second cylindrical portion C2 is provided at the end of the second cylindrical portion C2 of the chamber member C near the third opening C1. The flange C7 has multiple recesses C8 that open radially outward in the extension direction of the second cylindrical portion C2. These multiple recesses C8 allow deformation of the flange portion C7 when the chamber member C slides inside the container body A, and also function as a path to allow air passing between the chamber member C and the container body A to escape from the mixing portion A5.

[0037] As shown in Figures 1 and 5(A) to (D), the piston member D is equipped with a piston portion D1 that is inserted into the second cylindrical portion C2 from the third opening C1 of the chamber member C and slides within the second cylindrical portion C2, an operating portion D2 provided at the rear end of the piston portion D1, and a pressing rod portion D3 that is provided at the front end of the piston portion D1 and that, when the operating portion D2 is pressed toward the nozzle B, presses the second closing portion C6 to open the second outlet C5, and when the operating portion D2 is further pressed, presses the first closing portion A7 provided on the partition portion A3 of the container body A to open the first outlet A6.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 5A, an annular fitting portion D4 extending radially outward and circumferentially is formed at the end of the piston portion D1 of the piston member D near the operating portion D2. The fitting portion D4 has an annular convex shape extending radially outward and circumferentially. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 6A to 6D, the chamber member C has an annular fitted portion C9 formed on its inner circumferential portion adjacent to the third opening C1 of the second cylindrical portion C2 of the chamber member C, which slides within the first cylindrical portion A4 of the container body A, into which the annular fitting portion D4 fits when the piston member D is inserted into the second cylindrical portion C2 of the chamber member C and the pressing rod portion D3 opens the second closing portion C6. The annular fitted portion C9 has a recessed shape opening radially inward and extending circumferentially. The shapes and dimensions of the annular fitting portion D4 and the annular fitted portion C9 are determined so that the fitting will not be released due to an increase in internal pressure in the mixing portion A5. Note that the fitting portion D4 may have an annular concave shape that faces radially inward and extends circumferentially, and the annular fitted portion C9 may have a convex shape that extends radially outward and extends circumferentially.

[0039] 5(A) and 5(B), the pressing rod portion D3 of the piston member D has a structure in which three ribs D3a extending in the longitudinal direction are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. The tip ends D3b of the three ribs D3a are curved convexly in the longitudinal direction so as to converge to a single point. Explaining this concept, when the ribs D3a are made up of n or more (n is an integer of 2 or more) ribs arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction, it is preferable that the second blocking portion C6 is made up of m or more (m is an integer greater than 3 and not an integer multiple of n) divided blocking pieces C6a-C6d connected to liquid-tightly block the second discharge port C5. If the ribs D3a and divided closing pieces C6a to C6d are all the same number and are arranged at equal intervals, even if the pressing rod portion D3 opens the second closing portion C6, the opening area will be extremely narrow if a divided closing piece fits exactly between the ribs D3a, depending on the rotational positions of the pressing rod portion D3 and the chamber member C. If the relationship between the number n of ribs D3a and the number m of divided closing pieces is as described above, the divided closing pieces C6a to C6d will not fit exactly between two ribs D3a, and therefore the opening area can be prevented from being extremely narrow.

[0040] The m or more divided blocking pieces C6a-C6d are each connected to the periphery of the second discharge port C5 by a permanent connecting structure C10 that does not separate from the second discharge port C5 even when pushed by the pressing rod D3, and the m or more divided blocking pieces C6a-C6d are further connected to one another by a temporary connecting structure C11 that separates when pushed by the pressing rod D3. By employing these structures, the second blocking portion C6 can be reliably opened, and the opened second blocking portion C6 does not become an obstacle to the discharge of the second component, so that the second component can be reliably pushed out into the mixing portion A5.

[0041] The piston member D is pushed into the chamber member C, and the pushing rod portion D3 pushes the second closing portion C6 to open the second outlet C5, and the second component begins to enter the mixing portion A5. As the piston member D is further pushed, the second component moves from the second component storage portion C4 in the chamber member C into the mixing portion A5. In this state, the annular fitting portion D4 engages with the annular fitted portion C9. If this engagement is released, the second component that entered the mixing portion A5 will flow back into the second component storage portion C4. If backflow occurs, the amount of the second component mixed will decrease, resulting in poor mixing.

[0042] The dental capsule container is then mounted on a vibrating device, which vibrates or rotates the dental capsule container to mix the first and second components in the mixing section A5. After mixing is complete, the piston member D is further pushed in, causing the piston member D and chamber member C to move together, compressing the mixture inside the mixing section A5 and advancing toward the nozzle B, increasing the internal pressure within the mixing section A5. As the piston member D and chamber member C are further pushed in, the internal pressure within the mixing section A5 increases until the pushing rod member D3 pushes the first closing member A7 on the partition wall A3 of the container body A and opens the first outlet A6. As the internal pressure within the mixing section A5 increases, a force is applied to the piston member D1 of the piston member D through the second outlet C5 in a direction that pushes the piston member D out of the chamber member C. If the engagement between the annular engaging portion D4 and the annular engaged portion C9 is released at this time, the second component in the mixing portion A5 will flow back into the second-component storage portion C4. This backflow causes the problem of not being able to dispense the intended amount of mixture through nozzle B. Furthermore, if the backflowing second component remains in the two-component storage portion C4, the remaining second component will be ejected from nozzle B separately (disjointedly) from the mixture in the mixing portion A6. However, in this embodiment, the shape and dimensions of the annular engaging portion D4 and the annular engaged portion C9 are determined so that the engagement will not be released due to an increase in the internal pressure of the mixing portion A5, so the above-mentioned problem does not occur. Therefore, this embodiment provides a dental capsule container that can mix the first and second components in the appropriate ratio within the mixing portion without constantly applying a pressing force to the piston member.

[0043] 5A and 5C, one or more additional annular convex portions D5 projecting radially and extending circumferentially are formed on the end of the piston portion D1 of the piston member D near the pressing rod portion D3. An annular compression region C12 that compresses the one or more additional annular convex portions D5 is formed on the inner periphery of the second cylindrical portion C2 of the chamber member C in a region extending beyond the annular fitted portion C9 toward the bottom wall portion C3. A reverse-tapered annular compression-relaxation region C13 that expands radially outward to gradually release the compression of the one or more additional annular convex portions D5 is formed in a region continuing from the compression region C12 toward the bottom wall portion C3. An inner periphery region C14 of the chamber member C adjacent to the compression-relaxation region C13 and located near the bottom wall portion C3 does not have a reverse taper. Of course, the inner periphery region C14 may be reverse-tapered like the compression-relaxation region C13.

[0044] A contact surface C15 that comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the container body A is formed on the outer periphery of the chamber member C near the bottom wall portion C3. By making the compression release region C13 inversely tapered in this way, it is possible to prevent the piston member D from moving backward due to an increase in internal pressure when the piston member D is pressed in. Furthermore, by making the annular compression release region C13 inversely tapered, even if the annular convex portion D5 enters the inner peripheral region C14, deformation of the contact surface C15 of the chamber member C (deformation that increases the outer diameter of the contact surface C15) is suppressed, and a decrease in the sliding property between the contact surface C15 and the inner surface of the container body A can be suppressed.

[0045] 1, 3(A), and 6(A) to 6(E), a plurality of air vent passages A13 are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the inner periphery of the container body A. These passages allow air to escape between the first closing portion A7 and the chamber member C when the first closing portion A7 is tilted by being pushed by the pushing rod portion D3 of the piston member D. The air vent passages A13 formed in this embodiment have an arc-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. 3(E). As shown in FIGS. 6(A) to 6(E), the plurality of air vent passages A13 allow air remaining in the mixing portion A5 to escape toward the third opening C1 of the chamber member from the time when the second closing portion C6 of the chamber member C is pushed open by the pushing rod portion D3 and the piston portion D1 is in contact with the bottom wall portion C3 of the chamber member C, until just before the bottom wall portion C3 of the chamber member C comes into contact with the partition portion A3. The term "just before" refers to the time when the contact surface C15 no longer faces the air vent passage A13.

[0046] The air vent path A13 may be one or more, and may be configured as an elongated groove or an elongated protrusion, as shown in Figures 3(E) and 3(F). When the air vent path A13 is a protrusion, air escapes through gaps formed around the protrusion. When the air vent path A13 is a elongated groove or an elongated protrusion, the radial dimension (depth dimension or inward protrusion dimension) of the elongated groove or elongated protrusion is preferably within the range of 0.05 to 0.25 mm. In practice, this dimension range is preferably 0.08 to 0.18 mm. Dimensions within this range allow air to be vented while maintaining a state in which the mixture in the mixing section does not easily pass through the air vent path A13.

[0047] [Operation description] The operation of the dental capsule container of this embodiment will be described below using Figure 6. First, the mixing section A5 of the container body A is filled with the first component, and the second component storage section C4 of the chamber member C is filled with the second component. Then, the piston section D1 of the piston member D is inserted into the second component storage section C4 of the chamber member C, and the resulting assembly is inserted into the first cylindrical section A4 of the container body A [Figure 6(A)]. From this state, the piston member D is further pushed [Figure 6(B)], and the pushing rod section D3 opens the second closing section C6, and the second component begins to enter the mixing section A5. When the piston member D is pushed all the way in [Figure 6(C)], the second component moves from the second component storage section C4 in the chamber member C into the mixing section A5. In this state, the annular fitting section D4 fits into the annular fitted section C9. As explained above, in this embodiment, the shape and dimensions of the annular engaging portion D4 and the annular engaged portion C9 are determined so that the engagement will not be released due to an increase in the internal pressure of the mixing portion A5, and therefore there is no problem of the second component flowing back.

[0048] In this fitted state, the dental capsule container is mounted on a vibrating device and vibrated or rotated to mix the first and second components in the mixing section A5. After mixing is complete, the piston member D and chamber member C are further pushed in. The piston member D and chamber member C move together toward the nozzle B within the mixing section A5, compressing the mixture inside. After the pushing rod member D3 contacts the first closing member A7 [Figure 6(D)], the integrated chamber member C and piston member D are further pushed toward the nozzle B, causing the chamber member C and piston member D to move together toward the partition wall A3 of the container body A. From the start of this movement until just before the bottom wall C3 of the chamber member C contacts the partition wall A3, the multiple air vent channels A13 allow any air remaining in the mixing section A5 to escape toward the third opening C1 of the chamber member C.

[0049] 6(C) to 6(E), the internal pressure within mixing section A5 gradually increases. During this process, in this embodiment, the engagement between the annular fitting portion D4 of piston member D and the annular fitted portion C9 is not released, so the second component in the mixture within mixing section A5 is prevented from flowing back into second-component storage section C4. Therefore, backflow does not occur, and the second component that flows back does not remain in two-component storage section C4, reducing the possibility that the second component will be discharged from nozzle B in a state separate from the mixture.

[0050] (others) The above description of the embodiment is for the purpose of understanding the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. [Industrial Applicability]

[0051] According to the present invention, the shape and dimensions of the annular fitting portion D4 and the annular fitted portion C9 are determined so that the fitting will not be released due to an increase in internal pressure in the mixing portion A5, and therefore the problem of backflow of the second component does not occur. Therefore, according to the present invention, a dental capsule container can be provided that can mix the first component and the second component in an appropriate ratio in the mixing portion even if a pressing force is not constantly applied to the piston member. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] CC Dental Capsule Container A Container body B nozzle C. Chamber material D Piston material A1 1st opening A2 2nd opening A3 Bulkhead A4 First cylindrical part A5 Mixing section A6 1st outlet A7 1st opening / closing part A8 Permanently connected structure A9 Temporary connection structure A13 Multiple air vents B1 Discharge passage B4 nozzle body C1 3rd opening C2 Second cylindrical section C3 bottom wall C4 Second component storage section C5 2nd outlet C6 2nd obstruction C7 flange C9 Annular fitting part D1 Piston part D2 Control section D3 Pressing rod part D4-shaped mating part D5 convex part

Claims

1. a first cylindrical portion having a first opening at one end, a second opening at the other end, and a partition wall portion adjacent to the second opening, and further having a mixing portion in which a first component is accommodated in a region extending from the partition wall toward the first opening side and into which a second component is injected from the first opening side to mix the first component and the second component; a first outlet port provided in the partition wall portion for discharging the mixture from the mixing portion; and a first closing portion for releasably closing the first outlet port; a nozzle provided in the first cylindrical portion of the container body and configured to discharge the mixture discharged from the first outlet; a chamber member that slides within the first cylindrical portion of the container body, the chamber member comprising: a second cylindrical portion having a third opening at one end; a bottom wall portion that closes the other end of the second cylindrical portion; a second component storage portion that stores the second component; a second discharge port that is provided in the bottom wall portion and that discharges the second component from the second component storage portion into the mixing portion; and a second closing portion that releasably closes the second discharge port; a piston member including a piston portion inserted into the second cylindrical portion from the third opening and sliding within the second cylindrical portion; an operating portion provided at a rear end of the piston portion; and a pushing rod portion provided at a front end of the piston portion, the pushing rod portion pushing the second closing portion to open the second discharge outlet while keeping the second discharge outlet open when the operating portion is pressed toward the nozzle, and pushing the first closing portion provided on the partition wall of the container body to open the first discharge outlet when the operating portion is further pressed, an annular fitting portion extending in a radial direction and a circumferential direction is formed at an end portion of the piston portion of the piston member that is closer to the operation portion, an annular fitted portion is formed on an inner peripheral portion of the second cylindrical portion of the chamber member adjacent to the third opening, into which the annular fitting portion is fitted when the piston member is inserted into the second cylindrical portion of the chamber member and the pressing rod portion opens the second closing portion, A dental capsule container in which the shape and dimensions of the annular engaging portion and the annular engaged portion are determined so that the engagement will not be released due to an increase in internal pressure in the mixing portion.

2. the annular fitting portion is an annular protrusion extending radially outward and circumferentially, 2. The dental capsule container according to claim 1, wherein the annular fitted portion is an annular recess extending radially inward and circumferentially.

3. the annular fitting portion is an annular recess extending radially inward and circumferentially, 2. The dental capsule container according to claim 1, wherein the annular fitted portion is an annular convex portion extending radially outward and circumferentially.

4. one or more other annular protrusions that protrude in the radial direction and extend in the circumferential direction are formed at an end of the piston portion of the piston member that is closer to the pressing rod portion, an annular compression area surface that compresses the one or more other annular convex portions is formed on an inner circumferential portion of the second cylindrical portion of the chamber member in a region extending beyond the annular fitted portion toward the bottom wall portion, a reverse-tapered annular compression release area surface is formed in a region of the inner circumferential portion extending from the compression area surface toward the bottom wall portion, the compression release area surface expanding radially outward so as to gradually release the compression of the one or more other annular convex portions, the compression-relaxation region surface is formed to include a central portion of the region of the inner periphery extending from the third opening to the bottom wall portion, 3. The dental capsule container according to claim 2, wherein a contact surface that comes into contact with an inner peripheral surface of the container body is formed on an outer periphery of the chamber member near the bottom wall portion.

5. 2. The dental capsule container according to claim 1, wherein the chamber member and the piston member start to move together toward the partition wall of the container body when the second closing portion of the chamber member is pushed open by the pushing rod portion and the piston portion is in contact with the bottom wall portion of the chamber member, and one or more air vent passages are formed on the inner periphery of the first cylindrical portion of the container body to allow air remaining in the mixing portion to escape toward the first opening side of the container body until just before the bottom wall portion of the chamber member comes into contact with the partition wall.

6. The immediately preceding period is the period until the contact surface no longer faces the air vent passage, 6. The dental capsule container according to claim 5, wherein the one or more air vent passages are formed of elongated grooves or elongated protrusions.

7. 7. The dental capsule container according to claim 6, wherein the radial dimension of the elongated groove or the elongated protrusion is 0.05 to 0.25 mm or 0.08 to 0.18 mm.

8. a flange portion protruding radially outward from the second cylindrical portion is provided at an end portion of the second cylindrical portion of the chamber member that is closer to the third opening, The dental capsule container according to claim 1 , wherein the flange portion has one or more recesses formed therein, the recesses opening outward in the extending direction of the second cylindrical portion and in the radial direction.

9. 2. The dental capsule container according to claim 1, wherein the pressing rod portion of the piston member has a structure in which a plurality of ribs extending in the longitudinal direction are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction.

10. The plurality of ribs are made up of n or more ribs (n is an integer of 2 or more) arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction, The dental capsule container according to claim 9, wherein the second closing portion is composed of m or more (m is an integer greater than 3 and not an integer multiple of n) divided closing pieces connected to liquid-tightly close the second outlet.

11. the m divided blocking pieces are respectively connected to the peripheral edge of the second discharge outlet by permanently connecting structures that do not separate from the second discharge outlet even when pushed by the pressing rod portion, 11. The dental capsule container according to claim 10, wherein the m divided closing pieces are connected to each other by temporary connecting structures that separate when pushed by the pushing rod.

12. the second cylindrical portion, the bottom wall portion, and the second closing portion of the chamber member are integrally formed, 10. The dental capsule container according to claim 9, wherein the thickness dimension of the permanent connection structure portion connecting the m divided closure pieces to the second outlet is thicker than the thickness dimension of the temporary connection structure portion connecting the m divided closure pieces to each other.

13. the first closing portion is configured by one closing piece that closes the first outlet, a part of the outer periphery of the one blocking piece is connected to the peripheral edge of the first discharge outlet by a permanent connection structure that does not separate from the peripheral edge of the first discharge outlet even when pressed by the pressing rod portion, and a remaining part of the outer periphery of the one blocking piece is connected to the peripheral edge of the first discharge outlet by a temporary connection structure that separates when pressed by the pressing rod portion, a connecting portion to which the nozzle is connected is integrally formed on the container body, a communication passage that communicates the first discharge port with the discharge passage of the nozzle is formed in the connecting portion, One surface of the one blocking piece located on the mixing portion side is configured as a curved surface that is curved so as to be convex toward the first opening, The dental capsule container according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the other surface of the one closure piece located opposite the curved surface and the shape of the communicating passage formed in the connecting portion are determined so as not to hinder the movement of the pushing rod portion which enters the communicating passage while pushing the one closure piece.

14. 14. The dental capsule container according to claim 13, wherein the other surface of the one closing piece is a flat surface.

15. 3. The dental capsule container according to claim 2, wherein the contour shape of the one closing piece is circular, the shape of the communication passage is cylindrical, and the diameter dimension of the communication passage is 1.05 times or more the diameter dimension of the contour of the one closing piece.

Images