Abstract:
A dispenser ( 1 ) for filling a to-be-filled part ( 3 ) with a hardenable, viscous, pasty compound ( 6 ), includes a multi-part housing ( 21 ) having telescopingly arranged within each other, telescoping housing parts ( 22, 23 ) and a dispensing opening ( 9 ), a supply chamber ( 16 ) for storing the hardenable, viscous, pasty compound ( 6 ), a variable pump chamber ( 17 ) for delivering the compound through the dispensing opening ( 8 ) and adjoining the supply chamber ( 16 ), a cover ( 18 ) for covering the pump chamber ( 17 ) and displaceable relative to the pump chamber ( 17 ) between a first position, in which the pump chamber ( 17 ) has an initial volume, and a second position in which the pump chamber ( 17 ) has a reduced volume; and a reset spring ( 32 ) arranged outside of the pump chamber ( 17 ) for biasing the pump chamber cover ( 18 ) to the first position.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing a hardenable viscous pasty compound stored in a supply container.  
           [0002]    An object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser for an effective dispensing of a hardenable, preferably, high viscous pasty compound.  
           [0003]    This and other objects of the present invention, which will become apparent hereinafter, are achieved by providing a dispenser for filling a to-be-filled part with a hardenable, viscous, pasty compound and including a multi-part housing having telescopingly arranged within each other, telescoping housing parts and a dispensing opening, a supply chamber for storing the hardenable, viscous, pasty compound, a variable pump chamber for delivering the compound through the dispensing opening and adjoining the supply chamber, a cover for covering the pump chamber and displaceable relative to the pump chamber between a first position, in which the pump chamber has an initial volume, and a second position in which the pump chamber has a reduced volume; and a reset spring arranged outside of the pump chamber for generating a spring force which causes the housing parts to displace away from each other which results in displacement of the pump chamber cover to its first position.  
           [0004]    The delivery of the compound through the dispensing opening is effected by applying a compression force to a rear, with respect to a delivery direction, side of the housing, whereby the dispensing opening is pressed against the to-be-filled part, and the volume of the pump chamber is reduced as a result of the pump chamber cover being displaced to its second position in response to telescopic displacement of the housing parts toward each other under action of the compression force applied to the rear side of the housing. The pump chamber is refilled by the compound upon removal of the compression force and displacement of the pump chamber cover to its first position which is a result of displacement of the telescoping housing parts away from each other under action of the spring force of the reset spring.  
           [0005]    In consequence of such a configuration, a reliably functioning dispenser of enhanced utility is obtained. Delivery and refill occur under a positive control. There is provided a combination of dispenser and tool. The whole combination is comfortably held in hand. Even a highly-viscous compound is smoothly and powerfully applied to the target site, even if obstacles such as mixed materials inhibiting flow intervene. The durable part to-be-filled with a high-strength adhesive can sustain high loads after hardening. The handling in a specific direction by a telescoping displacement of the housing parts effects a desirable concentration at the transition point in the direction of the part to be filled. The telescoping displacement is used also for the pumping action. Forcing out of the quantity of viscous pasty compound present in the pump chamber is effected by displacement of the telescoping housing parts toward each other that results in reduction of the volume of the pump chamber which is caused by a manually pressing force directed towards the dispensing opening and against the part to be filled. When the corresponding manual force is removed, the pump chamber returns to its normal position under a positive control. This is achieved simply by tractive pulling back of the pump chamber cover, again controlled by the telescoping housing parts, with aid of the reset spring. This results in precisely reproducible doses. Accordingly, filling of the dowel-free wall fastening elements is achieved in an operationally reliable manner. A brief attachment of the part to be filled makes it possible to position the next part to be filled. The forced-out air passes through a corresponding balancing opening.  
           [0006]    The telescoping housing parts are connected by a lever transmission system that provides for telescopically displacement of the housing parts, which makes it possible to use a moderate hand force so that the user can better concentrate on the exact targets. Accordingly, a weaker reset spring is used. It is expedient when the housing parts are indirectly connected by the lever transmission system. This type of connection can be provided simply by using a ring member.  
           [0007]    It is further advantageous, when the manual force is applied to the upper housing part, relative to which both telescoping housing parts are movable. When this is done, measures for improved gripping can be applied as well as ergonomic means. One design of even more automatic significance is achieved by forming the dispenser of an operating part and a replaceable supply part, with the telescoping housing parts and the upper housing part being provided on the operating part, and the dispenser opening, the pump chamber and the supply chamber being provided on the supply part. Also conceivable the use of a cartridge. An appropriate cartridge mounting can be best effected when the dispenser, in this case on the operating part, has a receptacle opening transversely to the direction of operation for the supply part. In this case, in the course of pushing in of the supply part into the receptacle, both an axial locking of the pump chamber cover and of the supply chamber in respective telescoping housing parts takes place. In the interest of achieving exactly meterable, varying delivery quantities, it can be advantageous, if the telescoping is selected based on a stroke length. In the case of utilization of a two-component compound, it is expedient to position a mixing segment upstream of the part to be filled and in the dispensing opening. In order that the dispenser even at the time of initial use immediately responds in terms of delivery, it is recommended that a filling column with a stopper for urging the compound level be associated with the supply chamber. The compound filled in up to the edge of the filling column is pressed into the head zone of the dispenser. It is further proposed that the pump chamber be formed by a roll bellows.  
           [0008]    The invention also relates to a supply part, for a dispenser described above and having a supply magazine, a pump chamber, and a dispensing opening configured at a mouthpiece, with the mouthpiece being connected with a pump chamber cover and having a first locking formation, with the supply chamber being provided with a second locking formation. With regard to the two-component supply, the supply part is configured as a two-chamber element (twin cartridge), with each cartridge having an outlet connected to the mouth area. In consideration of a sufficient expulsion pressure required to discharge a highly viscous compounds it is advantageous, that each is taken from a supply chamber containing a dimensionally stable container formed of an invertable bellows, which, upon emptying of the mouthpieces, inverts into the other supply chamber half as the result of a partial vacuum caused by the emptying created by the mouthpiece pump. A stable embodiment of the supply part is attained when a protruding edge of the bellows is gripped flangelike in the zone of the equatorial connection joint of two container shell halves.  
           [0009]    The novel features of the present invention, which are considered as characteristic for the invention, are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional advantages and objects thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiment, when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    The drawings show:  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 a side view of a dispenser according to the present invention, equipped with a replaceable supply part in its initial position;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 a bottom view of the dispenser shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 a side view of the supply part;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 a plan view of the supply part;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 a perspective view of the end section of a telescopic housing part;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 a side, partially cross-section of the dispenser; which is shown in FIG. 1, in the initial position;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 a view similar to that of FIG. 6 but with the dispenser effecting a first delivery stroke and without the supply part being shown;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 a cross-sectional view showing a docking region of the dispenser connected to a to-be-filled part fastenable to a wall;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 a cross-sectional view of a Region IX in FIG. 8 at an increased, in comparison with FIG. 8, scale;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 10 a cross-sectional view along line X-X in FIG. 8;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 11 a view of a supply part somewhat similar to that of FIG. 3 and illustrating an inverted bellows arrangement;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 12 a cross-sectional view showing Region XII in FIG. 11;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 13 a cross-sectional view showing the Region XIII in FIG. 11;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 14 a side view of another embodiment of the supply part;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 15 a cross-sectional view showing a plunger formed as a roll bellows; and  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 16 a cross-sectional view showing the roll bellows of FIG. 15 in an actuated condition. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0027]    A dispenser  1  according to the present invention, which is shown in the drawings, is formed as an elongate, substantially flat, hand-held tool and is used for performing a press-gluing operation. The dispenser  1  fills a to-be-filled part  3  that includes a fastening element  2  formed as a threaded fastening element.  
         [0028]    The to-be-filled part  3 , which is shown in FIG. 8, has a cup-shaped form, with the circumferential cup edge  4  sealingly abutting a substantially flat wall surface  5  or the like of a constructional part. Also, an adhesive ring can be provided. Thereby, a circumferentially closed, to-be-filled region is formed, which is filled with a hardenable, viscous, pasty compound  6  by using the dispenser  1 . The compound  6  is supplied from two sources, being formed thus as a two-component compound. The two components of the compound  6  are intermixed in a mixing path  7  that forms part of either the to-be-filled part  3  or the dispenser  1 .  
         [0029]    The dispenser  1  has a double-channel mouthpiece  8 , with the channels forming dispensing openings  9 .  
         [0030]    The mouthpiece  8  with two dispensing openings  9  is sealingly connected with a union  10  of the to-be-filled part  3 , forming a double channel, tubular inlet opening  11 , with the plug parts being beveled or funneled.  
         [0031]    The air, which is forced out during filling, escapes through an outlet  12 . Thereby a predetermined filling sequence is controlled.  
         [0032]    The dispenser  1  operates based on a pumping principle and is formed of two parts, an operating part I and a supply part II. The operating part I is ergonomically designed, so that it lies comfortably in the hand of the operator. The completely grippable end is formed as a pistol grip  13 . The wide sides of the operating part I are roughened, provided, preferably, with vertical ridges. The ridges are shown with a reference numeral  14 . The overall cross-section of the operating part I is flat, box-shaped with, preferably, convexly rounded longitudinal edges and flattened wide sides.  
         [0033]    The supply part II can be an integral part of the dispenser  1 . Preferably the supply part II is, however, formed as a replaceable part in a form of a cartridge  15 , in particular as a twin cartridge forming a supply chamber  16  of the supply part II.  
         [0034]    The supply chamber  16  communicates with the pump chamber  17 . The pump chamber  17  is closed, at its side adjacent to the mouthpiece  8 , with a cover  18 . With the latter, a volume reduction of the pump chamber  17  is effected, producing a pumping action.  
         [0035]    The pump chamber  17 , can be formed as a dome-shaped bellows. Preferably, the pump chamber  17  is formed as a roll bellows  19 , as represented in FIGS. 15 and 16.  
         [0036]    The pump chamber cover  18  has an outlet valve V 1 , and the pump chamber  17  has an inlet valve V 2  as shown in FIGS. 15-16.  
         [0037]    A wall  64  is formed adjacent to the pump chamber  17 , externally to the roll bellows  19 . The wall extends over the entire height of the pump chamber, with the exception of the downwardly extending extension  65  formed on the pump chamber cover  18 . The roll bellows of this type of a roll pump R does not have a reset force. It is essential that a very high metering precision is attained herein.  
         [0038]    The actuated condition of the bellows  19  is illustrated in FIG. 16. It can be seen that the extension  65  extends almost to the floor of the pump chamber  17 . The roll bellows  19  which forms the pump is folded in, with a downwardly open U-deflection between the extension  65  and the wall  64 .  
         [0039]    The illustrative representation is schematic. In fact, there is a very precise guidance between the extension  64 , which is insured by the roll bellows  19  folded therebetween, as shown in FIG. 16.  
         [0040]    The valve V 2  acts as a non-return valve. With the volume reduction of the pump chamber  17 , it blocks the viscous, pasty compound  6  against flowing back into the supply chamber  16  of the cartridge  15 . With regard to the supply chamber  16 , a closed level column remains, which enables re-aspiration.  
         [0041]    The cartridge  15 , which is realized as a twin-cartridge further operates with a sliding membrane  20 . The lower half the content of the cartridge  15  is collected in a bag, which inverts as a result of the evacuation underpressure produced in the pump chamber  17 . An air balancing opening  28 ′ is situated underneath the bag on the container floor  28 .  
         [0042]    As can be seen in FIGS. 11 and 13, the edge ‘20’ of the bag at the sliding membrane  20  is picked up at half axial length of the supply chamber.  
         [0043]    With regard to the dispenser mechanics, the telescoping means are used for delivery. Accordingly, a multi-part telescoping dispenser housing  21  is provided. Two telescoping housing parts  22 ,  23  are located in the inside region and are overlapped in part by a further telescoping housing part, namely, an upper housing part  24 . (See FIG. 2).  
         [0044]    The telescoping housing part  22  passes into a freely projecting retaining clip  25 . The clip  25  is dimensioned and formed so that it has, together with the telescoping housing part  23  associated with it, a receptacle  26  for the supply part II and which opens transverse to the direction of movement (arrow x) of the operating part I. The cartridge chamber obtained in this fashion is closed off by a support wall  27 . The floor  28  of the supply part II runs up to the support wall. The transversely open receptacle  26  is defined by a stop. In addition, the telescoping housing part  23  runs up, with a pin  29 , against a slot end  30  of a longitudinal slot  31  of the upper housing part  24 . This is a spring-biased initial position.  
         [0045]    A corresponding, pre-stressed reset spring  32  is supported on a rear transverse wall  33  of the upper housing part  24 . The spring  32  is positioned in a spring chamber  34 . In contrast, the end of the reset spring  32  facing the receptacle  26  is set on a longitudinally centrally located guide pin  35 . The guide pin  35  is incorporated in the back of the support wall  27  and has a free end formed as a truncated conical taper.  
         [0046]    With displacement of the upper housing part  24  in the operating direction (arrow x), the reset spring  32 , which is formed as a compression spring, is compressed, whereby the guide pin  35 , which is located within the spring  32 , can extend into the spring chamber  34 .  
         [0047]    The two telescoping housing parts  22 ,  23  are otherwise so formed, that during pushing of the supply part II into the receptacle  26 , both an axial locking relative to the pump chamber cover  18  and relative to the supply chamber  16  is accomplished. The pump chamber cover  18  is locked with the telescoping housing part  22  abutting the retaining clip  25 , and the supply chamber  16  is formed by the cartridge  15  and the telescoping housing part  23 .  
         [0048]    The telescoping housing part  22  forms a transverse groove  36  opening inwardly that is, into the adjusting bracket space. Thereinto projects an outwardly located transverse rib  37  of the pump chamber cover  18 . The transverse rib  37  is realized on a yoke  38  that includes the conduit sections of the pump chamber cover  18  leading to the mouthpiece  8 . The transverse groove  36  and the transverse rib  37  are impressed in the groove/spring manner on both yoke sides.  
         [0049]    The locking of the supply part II on the corresponding telescoping housing part  23  also occurs in the groove/spring manner. The telescoping housing part  23  has oriented inwardly in the direction of the arrow x, projections  23 ′ of which cooperate with inwardly opening, transverse grooves  39 . Corresponding segments of a connection bead  40  of the housing halves of the cartridge  15  project as transverse ribs  41  into the groove  39 . With this formlocking connection, the floor  28  becomes flush with the surface of the support wall  27 . Thus, the cartridge  15  is securely seated on the telescoping housing part  23 .  
         [0050]    The bridging part of the retaining clip  25  leaves a sufficient transverse slot  42  for insertion in of the mouthpiece cross-section, whether it is formed as a twin tube or as a single tube, as can be seen in FIG. 14.  
         [0051]    The telescoping housing parts  22 ,  23  are connected with a lever transmission system allowing telescoping at moderate force. It can be seen that this is an indirect connection. It is effected using a ring member  42 . The ring member  42  extends, facing away from the receptacle  26 , in the back of the support wall  27  of the dispenser  1 . The ring member  42  is axially displaceable. The clip ends of the retaining clip  25  of the telescoping housing part  22  are fixedly secured to the ring member  42 . The fastening point can be identified by a rivet  43 . In order to provide insight into the assembly, the ring member  42  is broken away in the central region.  
         [0052]    The connection of the telescoping housing part  22  with the telescoping housing part  23  is effected by crossing each other, double-arm levers  44 . Their longer arm a running transverse to the direction of operation (arrow x) engages, via an articulation  45 , the rear wall  33  of the upper housing part  24 . From the rear wall  33 , mounting blocks  46  project into the receiving space of the lever  44 . The articulation  45  forms, on the lever side, longitudinal openings  47  as movement compensation.  
         [0053]    The end segments of the lever  44  facing towards the telescoping housing part  23  are seated on articulations  48 , set by mounting blocks  49  imbedded in the back of the support wall  27 . This is the connection with the telescoping housing part  23 .  
         [0054]    The lever  44  extends into a further external articulation  50 . The shorter arm b of the lever  44  runs between the two articulations  48 ,  50 . The ratio is about 4:1. The articulations  45 ,  48  are flush at the same height.  
         [0055]    From the inner side of the ring member  42 , bearing blocks  51  extend for forming the articulation  50 . The shorter arm b assumes a radial course in the initial position (FIG. 6), recognizably parallel to the support wall  27 . The inclination angle of the lever  44  relative to the basic support wall  27  is approximately 30°. It diminishes when operated (FIG. 7).  
         [0056]    In order to prevent radial tension from acting on the ring member  42  upon pivoting operation of the lever  44 , one of the articulations must be relieved by the formation of elongate openings, e.g., designated with a reference numeral  47 .  
         [0057]    Pivoting of the lever  44  occurs, as has already been indicated, by application of manual force to the upper housing part  24 , which results in a relative movement between the two telescoping housing parts  22 ,  23 . By appropriate biasing of the ring member  42  against the direction of operation (arrow x), tension is applied to the retention clip  25  and, thus, to the telescoping housing part  22 . The pump chamber cover  18  moves in order to effect a volume reduction of the pump chamber  17 . This occurs against the force of the expanding reset spring  32 . And also against the press-on direction of the tool relative to the to-be-filed part  3 . The part  3  is stressed in such a fashion at the time of the filling operation and even further by the tool that it is reliably held at the wall surface. The volume-reducing output stroke y is represented in terms of path in FIG. 7 (moving away of the ring member  42  from the part  23 ).  
         [0058]    The hardenable, viscous-pasty compound  6  that is to be applied to the target area, contains a high-quality mixture, when the mixing is done already in a mixing path upstream on the pump chamber side of the dispensing opening  9 . The mixing is effected with coil mixing elements  52  in the tubular mouth piece  8 . The foot of the mouthpiece  8  has a non-round, rotary, wedge-shaped base  53 , which can be conveniently associated with an edge-overlapping mounting  54  of the mouthpiece  8  which tightly seals the base  53 .  
         [0059]    When in storage or not in use, the mouthpiece  8  can be closed using an attached protective cap  55 , which is secured with a band against loss and has a plug projection  56 . The latter can be brought to a non-interfering position when in use, with the plug projection  56  being inserted into a matching receptacle hole  57  of the retention clip  25 . A friction-locking arrangement is fully adequate.  
         [0060]    [0060]FIGS. 6 and 7 make clear that the illustrated telescoping arrangement can be arbitrarily selected. The corresponding selection device is designated with numeral  58 . It has a rotary knob  59  in the upper housing part  24  and a switch finger  60 . The switch finger  60  is subjected to the action of a corresponding, displaceably relative thereto link  61 , which provides a short range and a long range. The link  61  is situated in the telescoping housing part  23 .  
         [0061]    With regard to the supply part II, it should be noted that the cartridge  15  is realized as a refillable cartridge that can be refilled with the two components. For this purpose the supply chamber  16  of the cartridge  15  has union-shaped filling columns  62  at the highest point. They can be filled up to the rim (FIG. 12). The excess compound  6  can be compressed using a lockable, cup-shaped stopper  63 . The excess is compressed in the head of the dispenser  1  relative to the cartridge  15 , so that the first operating stroke is already a working stroke.  
         [0062]    The telescoping housing part  22 ,  23  and the upper housing part  24  are formed on the operating part I; in contrast, the dispensing opening  9 , the pump chamber  17  and the supply chamber  16  are provided in on the supply part II.  
         [0063]    Though the present invention was shown and described with references to the preferred embodiment, such is merely illustrative of the present invention and are not to be construed as a limitation thereof and various modifications of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, not intended that the present invention be limited to the disclosed embodiment or details thereof, and the present invention includes all variations and/or alternative embodiments within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.