Patent Publication Number: US-7717305-B2

Title: Extrusion apparatus for high viscosity liquid

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   The present invention relates to an apparatus for extruding liquid, and more particularly, to an extrusion apparatus for high viscosity liquid. 
   2. Related Art 
   An extrusion apparatus is required to coat the existing high viscosity liquid, such as glass pastes. The conventional extrusion apparatus comprises a gun body, a retainer set at front end of the gun body, a push rod running through the gun body and a wrench hinged to the gun body. The push rod is shaped as a prism, and could slide within the gun body. A push plate is hinged to the upper end of the wrench, on which a through hole is arranged with a shape similar to the cross section of the push rod. The size of the through hole is slightly larger than that of the cross section of the push rod. An anti-back plate with the same shape as the push plate is further provided after the gun body. The push rod is passed through the anti-back plate. During operation, a cylinder storing high viscosity liquid is fixed on the retainer, the wrench is turned to drive the push plate, the push rod is pressed against a piston in the cylinder, and the piston is further pushed to extrude the liquid out of the cylinder, so that the high viscosity liquid is coated. During operation of the extrusion apparatus, the liquid is extruded by turning the wrench, but the amount of the liquid extruded out of the cylinder is difficult to control, and the uniformity of coating of the liquid is impaired and the coating quality can not be guaranteed. Moreover, if the extrusion apparatus has been operated for a long time, abrasion tends to occur between the push plate and the push rod, and the use effect is further impaired. Furthermore, the anti-back plate is used to prevent the push rod moving reversely in real time. The outlet of the cylinder is generally not too large. After the wrench is turned once, the liquid in the cylinder can not flow out of the outlet in time, and the piston in the cylinder applies a reverse acting force to the push rod. The push rod can not be moved reversely under action of the anti-back plate. This way, there is still liquid flowing out of the outlet after a period of coating, which causes a lot of waste. A large amount of high viscosity liquid is adhered around the outlet, causing the outlet unclean. Once the high viscosity liquid is solidified, the liquid can not conveniently flow out of the cylinder through the outlet. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In order to overcome the drawbacks that it is difficult to control the exportation amount by using the conventional extrusion apparatus for high viscosity liquid and the coating quality is impaired, one object of the present invention is to provide a novel extrusion apparatus for high viscosity liquid, in which the exportation amount could be efficiently controlled, the high viscosity liquid could be more uniformly coated, the related parts of the apparatus will hardly be abraded, so that the stability of the extrusion apparatus could be largely improved. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide an extrusion apparatus for high viscosity liquid to reduce waste of the liquid during coating. 
   The extrusion apparatus for high viscosity liquid of the invention comprises a gun body, a retainer fixedly connected to the gun body, a push rod slidably running through the gun body, a wrench hinged to the gun body and a handle connected to the gun body, characterized in that, a push block is hinged to one end of the wrench adjacent to the push rod, the push rod has a rod body provided with several teeth on the side facing the push block, a push tooth is provided on the push block, a permanent magnet is placed on the push block or the push rod, and the push tooth could be snapped to the teeth under action of the magnetic force of the permanent magnet. 
   After the wrench is turned backwards during operation, the push block rotates about the hinge point under action of the magnetic force of the permanent magnet, the free end of the push block is moved to the rod body, the push tooth on the push block is snapped between the teeth set on rod body, and the rod body is driven to move forward, so that the high viscosity liquid is extruded out of the cylinder. Once the wrench is released, the push tooth on the push block applies a very small force to the rod body. Said force could be overcome by matching the rod body with the gun body or providing an anti-back mechanism on the rod body which directly acts on the rod body. This way, the push tooth will flow over the teeth set on the rod body without bringing the rod body to move backwards. The spacing of the teeth set on the rod body could be made even during production, which helps to make the push block drive the rod body to move the same distance every time, so that the exportation amount of the high viscosity liquid could be kept uniform and the coating quality is improved. The tooth-shaped convex body contacts with the push tooth on the push rod in a face-to-face way during operation, resulting that the abrasion therebetween is smaller and the use life is longer. 
   In the extrusion apparatus of the invention, the rod body is made of a magnetic material, the permanent magnet is positioned on the push block, and the permanent magnet is away from the hinge end of the push block. Generally, the permanent magnet is set at the free end of the push block, and the rod body is formed of a magnetic material, such as iron, cobalt and nickel. This way, the push tooth on the push block is easily driven by the permanent magnet to move to the rod body. 
   In the extrusion apparatus of the invention, the push tooth is arranged on the permanent magnet. During operation, the permanent magnet directly contacts with the rod body, and the push block is matched with the rod body quickly. 
   In the extrusion apparatus of the invention, the permanent magnet is mounted at one end of the push block. When the permanent magnet is connected to the push block, a groove is generally set at the end of the push block, and a corresponding convex body is set on the permanent magnet which is closely matched with the groove. Adhesives could be used to accomplish the fixed connection of the permanent magnet and the push block instead of the groove and the convex body as mentioned. 
   In the extrusion apparatus of the invention, an anti-back mechanism is set between the gun body and the rod body for restricting reverse movement of the rod body, which helps to drive the rod body move in a reverse direction when the push block moves backward. 
   In the extrusion apparatus of the invention, the anti-back mechanism is set within the anti-back hole in the gun body which comprises a steel ball, a spring and a plug, the spring is placed between the steel ball and the plug, the steel ball is pressed against the teeth on the rod body, and the plug is threadedly connected to the gun body. The steel ball is pressed against the teeth on the rod body with aid of the spring, and the friction force generated between the steel ball and the teeth restricts movement of the rod body. Said friction force should be overcome before the rod body is driven by the push block to move forward. Once the extrusion operation is accomplished, the piston in the cylinder storing the high viscosity liquid pushes the rod body to move a certain distance reversely, so that no excessive high viscosity liquid flows out of the cylinder through the outlet, which avoids waste and makes the liquid conveniently flow out of the outlet during next operation. The plug could be turned by the friction force between the steel ball and the teeth to vary the retraction of the spring, so that the pressure applied by the steel ball on the teeth could be adjusted, and the friction force therebetween could be adjusted thereby. 
   In the extrusion apparatus of the invention, a stopper is provided at a position of the gun body contacting with the hinge end of the push block. When the push block is reset by the wrench, the hinge end of the push block could be supported in the stopper. The free end of the push block could be prevented departing from the rod body overly after reset by setting the position of the stopper in the gun body, so that the extrusion apparatus could be operated more conveniently in continuous work. Moreover, after the hinge end of the push block is blocked by the stopper, the distance between the push tooth on the push block and the rod body is not too large, so that one end of the push block having the push tooth could move to the rod body during next turn of the wrench. 
   In the extrusion apparatus of the invention, the outer end face of the hinge end of the push block is an arc-shaped face or an inclined face, the outer end face of the hinge end of the push block could contact with the gun body, and the two contact surfaces are matched with each other. When the push block is reset, the push tooth on the push block is disengaged from the teeth on the rod body under action of the arc-shaped face or the inclined face, so that no force is applied to the rod body when the push tooth is moved back and reset. 
   In the extrusion apparatus of the invention, stopper stiffeners are symmetrically set at the edges on both sides of the stopper in the gun body. The stopper stiffeners could enlarge the contact surface area between the stopper in the gun body and the outer end face of the hinge end of the push block, and the stopper and the outer end face of the hinge end of the push block could contact stably. 
   In the extrusion apparatus of the invention, the gun body and the handle are connected together as a unitary piece on which a stiffener extending along the edge is provided. The stiffener could maintain the strength of the gun body, ensure the holder feel comfortable and save the material of the gun body. 
   In the extrusion apparatus of the invention, a stable permanent magnet is placed between the gun body and the rod body. The stable permanent magnet applies a magnetic force to the rod body and the pressure exerted by the rod body on the gun body is increased, so that a larger friction force is generated between the rod body and the gun body when the rod body slides over the gun body. When the anti-back mechanism could not well restrict reverse movement of the rod body due to abrasion, the cylinder could be maintained within the retainer by the rod body with aid of the stable permanent magnet. 
   In the extrusion apparatus of the invention, a cavity is set within the gun body, the stable permanent magnet is arranged within the cavity, the size of the cavity along the length of the rod body is larger than that of the stable permanent magnet along the length of the rod body, and a press cap is fixedly connected to the gun body outside the cavity. In order to facilitate processing, the cavity has an opening facing the rod body, the stable permanent magnet directly contacts with one side of the rod body without teeth, and the stale permanent magnet could slide within the cavity as the rod body slides. 
   In the extrusion apparatus of the invention, a protruded spherical convex body is provided on the face of the gun body contacting with the outer end face of the hinge end of the push block. When the wrench is reset, the hinge end of the push block moves to the convex body. The push block is turned by the lifting force of the convex body, and the push tooth on the push block could be conveniently disengaged from the teeth on the rod body. 
   In the extrusion apparatus of the invention, a cylinder-like reset sleeve is mounted in the handle, a compression spring and a plug rod are set within the reset sleeve, one end of the plug rod extends out of the reset sleeve and is pressed against the inner side of the wrench, and the other end thereof is pressed against one end of the compression spring. The plug rod is pressed against the wrench by the compression spring, and the wrench could be reset in time after being turned to facilitate next turning of the wrench. 
   Therefore, the extrusion apparatus of the present invention has a simple structure which could be used stably. The exportation amount of the high viscosity liquid is more uniform and the coating quality is guaranteed by using the extrusion apparatus. When the wrench is turned, the push block hinged to the wrench could be well snapped to the teeth on the rod body under action of the magnetic force of the permanent magnet, so that driving force is provided for the rod body to slide over the gun body in a forward direction. When the rod body is driven to advance by the push bock, the push block is extended to the rod body, decreasing the force to turn the wrench. A steel ball is provided to be pressed against the rod body in the gun body. The rod body could overcome the friction force applied by the steel ball to slide reversely. In such a case, no excessive high viscosity liquid flows out of the cylinder, which avoids waste and keeps the outlet of the cylinder clean. 
   Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a structural schematic view showing the extrusion apparatus for high viscosity liquid of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a structural schematic view showing a mount seat of the extrusion apparatus for high viscosity liquid of the invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a structural schematic view showing a gun body of the extrusion apparatus for high viscosity liquid of the invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a side view showing the gun body of the extrusion apparatus for high viscosity liquid of the invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a partial sectional view showing an anti-back assembly mounted at the gun body of the extrusion apparatus for high viscosity liquid of the invention; 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged structural schematic view of a first embodiment of the push block of the extrusion apparatus for high viscosity liquid of the invention; 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged structural schematic view of a second embodiment of the push block of the extrusion apparatus for high viscosity liquid of the invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a partial sectional structural schematic view of another embodiment of the gun body of the extrusion apparatus for high viscosity liquid of the invention; and 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic view of the extrusion apparatus for high viscosity liquid of the invention during operation. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the extrusion apparatus for high viscosity liquid of the invention comprises a gun body  2 , a retainer  1  fixedly connected to the gun body  2 , a push rod  3  slidably running through the gun body  2 , a handle  24  integrated with the gun body  2 , a wrench  5  hinged to the gun body  2  and a push block  6  with one end hinged to the distal portion of the wrench  5 . 
   The retainer  1  includes two sheet-shaped connection pieces  11  and a mount seat  12 . The back ends of the connection pieces  11  are respectively fixedly connected to two rear coupling ports  25  through rivets  14 . The mount seat  21  is one punched and formed piece, which is consisted of an annular baffle  123  and an edge  122  integrated as one piece. The edge  122  is vertical to the baffle  123 . Two front coupling ports  121  are symmetrically formed on the edge  122 , to which the front ends of the connection pieces  11  are respectively fixedly connected through rivets  13 . With reference to  FIG. 9 , a cylinder  15  for storing the high viscosity liquid is provided between the connection pieces  11  in the retainer  1 . An outlet pipe  16  at one end of the cylinder  15  is passed through the mount seat  12 . One end of the push rod  3  extends into the other end of the cylinder  15  along the axis of the cylinder  15 . 
   The gun body  2  is provided with a wrench hinge seat  26 , through which a wrench hinge hole  261  is penetrated. The wrench  5  is hinged to the wrench hinge seat  26  via the wrench axle  51  which is interstitially passed through the wrench hinge hole  261 . The wrench axle  51  could be a rivet or a blot. A torsion spring (not shown) is muff-coupled to the wrench hinge seat  26 . One end of the torsion spring is lapped over the inner side of the wrench  5 , and the other end is lapped over the gun body  2 . The wrench  5  is generally integrally formed by iron sheet, with one end extending out of the gun body  2  and the other end extending into a push block mounting area  27  set on the gun body  2 . The length of the wrench  5  extending into the push block mounting area  27  is shorter than the length of the wrench  5  positioned at the other side of the wrench axle  51 . 
   The push block  6  is positioned in the push block mounting area  27 . One end of the push block  6  is hinged to one end of the wrench  5  extending into the push block mounting area  27 . As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a push block hinge hole  611  is set at the hinge end of the push block  6 . The push block  6  is hinged to the wrench  5  via a push block axle  52 . The push block axle  52  is interstitially passed through the push block hinge hole  661 . 
   Referring back to  FIG. 4 , the push rod has a bar-shaped iron rod body  33  and a front push plate  31  and a rear push plate  32  respectively fixed on the front end and the back end of the rod body  33 . A front coupling seat  21  and a rear coupling seat  22  are respectively provided at two sides of the push block mounting area  27  of the gun body  2 . The rod body  33  is passed through penetrating push rod holes  221  set on the front and rear coupling seats respectively. The front push plate  31  extends into the retainer  1 , and the rear push plate  32  extends out of the gun body  2 . The rod body  31  lies across the push block mounting area  27 . Several teeth  331  are uniformly arranged in parallel on one side of the rod body  33  facing the push block  6 . A push tooth is provided on one side of the free end of the push block  6  adjacent to the rod body  33 . A permanent magnet is placed between the rod body  33  and the push block  6 . Generally, the permanent magnet is set on the push block  6  and away from the hinge end of the push block  6 . 
   The outer end face of the hinge end of the push block  6  is an arc-shaped face or an inclined face. The portion of the gun body  2  which could contact with the outer end face of the hinge end of the push block  6  is also an arc-shaped face or an inclined face matched with said outer end face. A stopper  28  is provided on the side of the push block mounting area  27  on the gun body  2  corresponding to the hinge end of the push block  6 . After the push block  6  is entirely reset, the stopper  28  is snapped to the outer upper side of the hinge end of the push block  6 . In such a case, the push block is kept in the inclined direction, that is to say, the free end of the push block  6  is kept in the direction extending to the rod body  33 . The push tooth on the push block  6  is disengaged from the teeth  331  on the rod body  33  under effect of the above two inclined or arc-shaped faces. In order to increase the contact surface area of the above two inclined or arc-shaped faces, stopper stiffeners  29  are symmetrically set at the edges on both sides of the stopper  28  in the gun body  2 . 
   If the outer end of the hinge end of the push block  6  is an arc-shaped or inclined face and the corresponding position of the gun body  2  is also an arc-shaped or inclined face, high process precision is required for during practical production process. Furthermore, the requirement is high during assembly of the push block  6 , and the production process is troublesome, with a result that the push tooth on the push block  6  could not be easily disengaged from the teeth  331  on the rod body  33 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , a protruded spherical convex body  7  is provided on the face of the gun body  2  contacting with the hinge end of the push block  6 . The convex body  7  could be formed by mounting a steel ball in the corresponding position on the gun body  2 . When the push block  6  is reset following the wrench  5 , the outer end face of the hinge end of the push block  6  firstly contacts with the convex body  7 . The push block  6  integrally rotates with aid of the convex body  7 , with the hinge end thereof turning to the direction of the rod body  33 , so that the push tooth on the push block  6  is disengaged from the teeth  331  on the rod body  33 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , in order to ensure the rod body  33  not to be driven to move reversely by reset of the push block  6 , an anti-back hole  44  is provided at a position in the gun body  2  corresponding to the rear coupling seat  22 , in which an anti-back mechanism  4  is set. The anti-back hole  44  is a penetrating hole, with one end leading to the push rod hole  221  set on the rear coupling seat  22  and the other end leading to outside of the gun body  2 . The anti-back mechanism  4  is consisted of a steel ball  43 , a plug  41  and a spring  42  placed between the steel ball  43  and the plug  41 . The steel ball  43  is set within the anti-back hole  44  and pressed against the teeth  331  on the rod body  33  under the force of the spring  42 . The plug  41  is threadedly connected to the inner wall of the anti-back hole  44 . The retraction of the spring  42  could be adjusted by turning the plug  41 , so that the pressure between the steel ball  43  and the teeth  331  could be adjusted. Moreover, the anti-back mechanism could be replaced by the nonmetallic sheaths in the push rod holes  221  set on the front and rear coupling seats, such as rubber sheaths or plastic sheaths. If the nonmetallic sheaths are used, the nonmetallic sheaths are closely matched with the rod body  33 . However, the abrasion-resistance of the nonmetallic sheath is poor, which reduces the use life of the anti-back mechanism. 
   In some cases, the anti-back mechanism fails due to abrasion, and the cylinder storing high viscosity liquid is tended to be dropped out of the retainer  1 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , in order to address the above-mentioned problem, a stable permanent magnet  8  is provided adjacent to the rod body  33  in the gun body  2 , which is set in the cavity  9  of the gun body  2 . The cavity  9  leads into the push rod hole  221 . The size of the cavity  9  along the length of the rod body  33  is slightly larger than that of the stable permanent magnet  8  along the length of the rod body  33 . When the stable permanent magnet  8  is located within the cavity  9 , it could directly contact with one side of the rod body  33  without teeth  331 . A press cap  10  is threadedly connected to the outer side of the stable permanent magnet  8  for restricting the slide of the stable permanent magnet  8  in the cavity  9 . In order to tighten the press cap  10 , tightening holes  101  numbered as four or six are arranged on the press cap  10 . The convex body on the specific tool is snap fitted with the tightening holes  101 , so that the press cap  10  is tightened on the gun body  2 . A coupling bracket  102  is further arranged between the press cap  10  and the gun body  2 . In such a case, an annular coupling ring (not shown) is provided on the end of the retainer connecting with the gun body  2 , which is fixedly connected between the press cap  10  and the coupling bracket  102 . At this time, the anti-back hole  44  and the cavity  9  are symmetrically positioned on both sides of the rod body  33 . The anti-back mechanism  4  in the anti-back hole  44  acts on the rod body  33  together with the stable permanent magnet  8 , so as to restrict the reverse slide of the rod body  33 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 8 , a reset assembly is arranged at the upper portion of the center of the handle  24 , which is used to take the function of the above-mentioned torsion spring to reset the wrench  5 . The reset assembly includes a cylinder-like reset sleeve  53 , a compression spring  54  and a plug rod  55 . The reset sleeve  53  is mounted in the handle  24  in parallel with the rod body  33 . Both the compression spring  54  and the plug rod  55  are set within the reset sleeve  53 . The plug rod  55  extends out of the reset sleeve  53 . The inner end of the plug rod  55  is pressed against one end of the compression spring  54 , and the outer end thereof is pressed against the inner side of the wrench  5 . In order to prevent the plug rod  55  slipping out of the reset sleeve  53 , an annular capped edge  531  is arranged on the inner side of one end the reset sleeve  53  facing the wrench  5 , and an annular convex body  551  is arranged on the outer side of the inner end of the plug rod  55 . The capped edge  531  could block the annular convex body  551 . 
     FIGS. 6 and 7  are structural schematic views of two embodiments of the push block  6  of the extrusion apparatus for high viscosity liquid of the invention. The push block  6  is constructed of a push block body  61  and a permanent magnet thereon. In  FIG. 6 , an angular permanent magnet  62  is mounted at the free end of the push block body  61 . A permanent magnet push tooth  621  is set on one end of the angular permanent magnet  62  adjacent to the push rod  3 . The permanent magnet push tooth  621  could be snapped at the gap between the adjacent teeth  331  on the rod body  33 . In  FIG. 7 , the push block body  61  has a push block push tooth  612  integrated therewith at the free end. A square permanent magnet  63  is further adhered with the push block body  61 . The square permanent magnet  63  is away from the hinge end of the push block  6  and close to the free end of the push block  6 . According to the two structures of the push block  6  as mentioned, both the permanent magnet push tooth  621  and the push block push tooth  612  are asymmetrical. In detail, the outer side of the push tooth is a flat face normal to the push block body  61  and the inner side is an arc-shaped face which could be replaced with an inclined face. The teeth  331  on the rod body  33  have a trapezoid section as shown in  FIG. 5 . The side surface of the push tooth set on the push block  6  could be fully joined with the inclined side face of the teeth  331  on the rod body  33  during contact by setting the length of the push block  6 , the position of the rod body  33  mounting in the gun body  2  and the inclination angle of the inclined side on the teeth  331 . 
   The gun body  2 , the front coupling seat  21 , the rear coupling seat  22 , the wrench hinge seat  26  and the handle  24  are connected together as a unitary piece, which is integrally casted and formed by aluminium alloy. A stiffener  23  is provided on the unitary piece to save the material used by the unitary piece, reduce the weight of the extrusion apparatus for high viscosity liquid, ensure the holder feel comfortable and facilitate the gun body  2  connecting with the retainer  1 . The stiffener  23  extends along the entire outer edge of the handle  24  and the partial outer edge of the gun body  2 . 
   During operation, the extrusion apparatus for high viscosity liquid of the invention firstly pulls the push rod  3  reversely to move the front push plate  31  and the rod body  33  of the push rod  3  backward, so that there is enough space left for mounting the cylinder for storing high viscosity liquid. When assembled in the retainer  1 , the front end of the cylinder is pressed against the inner side of the baffle  123  of the mount seat  12 , and the whole cylinder is placed between two connection pieces  11 . When the cylinder is mounted in position, the push rod  3  is pushed and the front push plate  31  set in front of the rod body  33  is pressed against the outer side of the piston in the cylinder. When the wrench  5  is turned, the push block  6  is driven by the wrench to move forward and gets rid of control of the gun body  2 . This way, the push tooth on the push block  6  moves to the rod body  33  with aid of the magnetic force, and the front end face of the push tooth is pressed against the inclined side of the teeth  331 . When the wrench  5  is continued to be turned, the rod body  33  is driven by the push block  6  to move to the cylinder and pressed against the piston in the cylinder, so that the high viscosity liquid in the cylinder is extruded once. After the above extrusion, the wrench  5  is released and reset with aid of the torsion spring and the reset assembly. Under action of the inclined face or arc-shaped face set between the outer end face of the hinge end of the push block  6  and the gun body  2 , particularly under action of the spherical convex body  7  on the gun body  2 , the push tooth is moved away from the teeth  31  and disengaged from the teeth  331 . When the stopper  28  on the gun body  2  is snapped to the push block  6 , the wrench  5  and the push block  6  stops moving, and the push block  6  is stably maintained within the push block mounting area in an inclined way, so that the high viscosity liquid in the cylinder is extruded again. If the high viscosity liquid is extruded too quickly or the liquid could not completely flow over through the outlet of the cylinder in time after the operation for coating high viscosity liquid is finished, then the rod body  33  will overcome the static friction force between the teeth  331  and the steel ball  43  to slightly move reversely with aid of the high viscosity liquid and the reverse acting force of the piston in the cylinder, so that the remaining high viscosity liquid could be prevented flowing out through the outlet. 
   The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.