Patent Description:
Dispensers for cartridges are well known in the state of the art, see for instance <CIT>. Such dispensers can be used for different cartridges containing a wide variety of materials, for instance adhesives or sealing compounds. A cartridge containing the desired medium is arranged in the cartridge section of the dispenser and in the following, a driving rod is driven into the cartridge. The driving rod can for instance be manually actuated by a respective driving mechanism of the dispenser.

A toggle lever is a mechanical element to mechanically connect different elements of a mechanism. For the toggle lever, a first lever arm and a second lever arm are pivotably connected by a hinge in between. Hence, during actuation, a linear movement of the respective free ends of the lever arms in a first direction results in a movement of the hinge perpendicular to this first direction. At the end of such a movement, when the two lever arms are arranged almost collinearly, a large movement of the hinge results in only tiny movements of the free ends of the lever arms, resulting in a high power gear ratio. On the opposite end of the movement, when the two lever arms are arranged almost parallel, the toggle lever provides the converse behavior, a tiny movement of the hinge results in large movements of the free ends of the lever arms, resulting in a low power gear ratio.

The aforementioned behavior of a toggle lever already illustrates the advantages and drawbacks of an application of such toggle levers in the driving mechanism of a dispenser. On the one hand, for certain parts of the actuation movement, a high pressure can be exerted on the medium stored in the respective cartridge. On the other hand, the power gear ratio changes during the movement of the toggle lever, in particular during the relative movement of the two lever arms, and hence also the pressure exerted on the medium in the cartridge changes. This effect results in a non-constant volume of the medium dispensed over time by the respective dispenser.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved dispenser and an improved method of operating a dispenser, which do not have the aforementioned drawbacks of the state of the art. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dispenser with a toggle lever and a method of operating a dispenser with a toggle lever, wherein the toggle lever provides an at least approximately constant power gear ratio and additionally in which a uniformity of an amount of the provided medium per time unit and hence a flow rate of the medium provided by the dispenser according to the present invention is improved during its operation.

This objective is solved by the patent claims. In particular, this objective is solved by a dispenser according to claim <NUM> and by a method of operating a dispenser according to claim <NUM>. The dependent claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention. Details and advantages described with respect to a dispenser according to the first aspect of the invention also hold true for a method according to the second aspect of the invention and vice versa, if of technical sense.

According to a first aspect of the invention the objective is solved by a dispenser for cartridges, comprising a cartridge section for arranging the cartridge, and a handle section, whereby the handle section comprises a housing and a driving mechanism arranged in the housing to drive a driving rod in a longitudinal direction into a cartridge arranged in the cartridge section to exert pressure on a medium stored in the cartridge, the driving mechanism comprising:.

wherein the transfer mechanism comprises an undulating transfer surface with several prominent catches for contacting the hinge section of the toggle lever to provide an operative connection to the toggle lever, whereby an application of the driving force by the trigger mechanism moves the transfer surface in a driving direction at least partly essentially parallel to the longitudinal direction and the prominent catches of the undulating transfer surface repeatedly move the hinge section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

A dispenser according to the present invention can be used for applying a medium stored in a cartridge onto a surface. Different media, such as adhesives or sealing agents, are possible, as long as they can be contained in a respective cartridge. The dispenser comprises a cartridge section for arranging the cartridge, wherein preferably the cartridge section is adaptably formed to form fit at least a part of the cartridge. Also a fixing of the cartridge within the cartridge section is possible, for instance by clipping the cartridge into the cartridge section. The dispenser further comprises a driving rod to exert pressure on the medium stored in a cartridge arranged in the cartridge section. For this, the driving rod can be driven along a longitudinal direction into the cartridge. The driving rod can preferably be arranged centered with respect to the respective cartridge and hence form a central rod. Preferably, at the end of the driving rod a pressure disc is arranged to distribute the exerted pressure on the complete cross section of the cartridge.

Further, the dispenser according to the present invention comprises a handle section for a preferably manual operation of the dispenser. The handle section comprises a housing and arranged within the housing a driving mechanism. The driving mechanism comprises elements to drive the aforementioned driving rod. In particular, the driving mechanism at least comprises a toggle lever mechanically connected to the driving rod, a trigger mechanism to provide an underlying driving force and a transfer mechanism to transfer the driving force of the trigger mechanism to the toggle lever and in the end to the driving rod.

The toggle lever comprises a first lever part and a second lever part, wherein the two lever parts are pivotably connected via a hinge section. Preferably, the hinge section is connected with an end of the first and second lever part, respectively. Further, the first lever part, in particular an end of the first lever part opposed to the hinge section, is pivotably mounted in the housing of the dispenser. Hence pivoting the first lever part within the housing is possible, however limited. Additionally, the second lever part, in particular an end of the second lever part opposed to the hinge section, is in operative connection with the driving rod. The operative connection in question can comprise additional levers, connecting rods, gears or similar elements. In summary, a movement of the hinge section results in a, preferably perpendicular and/or in the longitudinal direction, movement of this end of the second lever part mechanically connected to the driving rod, as the first lever part is, albeit pivotably, fixed within the housing. In other words, a movement of the hinge section results in an exertion of pressure on the medium stored in the cartridge.

The aforementioned trigger mechanism provides the underlying driving force for the operation of the dispenser according to the present invention. For instance, the trigger mechanism can be manually actuated. In particular, the driving force provided by the trigger mechanism is transferred via the toggle lever described above to result in a movement of the driving rod.

For this task, the transfer mechanism is arranged between the trigger mechanism and the toggle lever. In particular, the transfer mechanism is mechanically connected to both the trigger mechanism and the toggle lever, respectively, and hence provides an operative connection between these elements. Hence, the driving force provided by the trigger mechanism is transferred by the transfer mechanism to the toggle lever and finally causes a movement of the driving rod.

The transfer mechanism is the main inventive element of the dispenser according to the present invention. Especially, the transfer mechanism comprises an undulating transfer surface with several prominent catches. In particular, the prominent catches can form the undulating part of the transfer surface protruding from an otherwise essentially smooth surface. The prominent catches are distinct from each other, wherein along the transfer surface the prominent catches can be arranged distanced or direct next to each other.

The prominent catches provide the operative connection of the transfer section to the toggle lever by contacting the hinge section of the toggle lever. In particular, the transfer mechanism is also mechanically connected to the trigger mechanism such that the driving force provided by the trigger mechanism causes a movement of the transfer surface in a driving direction at least partly essentially parallel to the longitudinal direction. In other words, during a provision of the driving force of the trigger mechanism and the associated movement of the transfer surface, the transfer surface and hence the prominent catches are moved with respect to the hinge section. As the prominent catches protrude from the otherwise smooth transfer surface, the hinge section is forced in a direction perpendicular to the transfer surface while the prominent catches pass by. Due to the fact that the transfer surface comprises several prominent catches and that the transfer surface moves at least at the interaction point with the toggle lever parallel to the longitudinal direction, the hinge section is repeatedly moved perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

In summary, during the application of the driving force, the transfer surface moves with respect to the toggle lever, in particular with respect to the hinge section. Hence several of the prominent catches pass by the hinge section and each of the prominent catches moves the hinge section a small amount perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

After the passing by of the respective prominent catch, the hinge section moves back into its initial position. In other words, during the application of the driving force, the hinge section repeatedly moves back and forth always the same small distance perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The sameness of the distance in turn provides an at least approximately constant power gear ratio. Further, also the power gear ratio can be improved by that as the amplification effect of the toggle lever can be utilized more effectively.

In addition, by adjusting a mean angle between the first lever part and the second lever part, the aforementioned power gear ratio can be adjusted, whereby a small angle leads to a low power gear ratio, a large angle leads to a high power gear ratio. Preferably a mean angle between the first and second lever part close to <NUM>°, in particular a mean angle larger <NUM>°, can be chosen to provide an especially high power gear ratio. Further, the movement of the hinge section causes also the second lever part, provided by the operative connection to the driving rod, to repeatedly push the driving rod in the longitudinal direction.

The duration of the movement of the driving rod can be adjusted by the number of repetitions of the movements of the hinge section. In other words, the higher the number of repetitions of the movements of the hinge section is provided, caused by passing by of prominent catches of the transfer surface at the position of the hinge section, the longer a duration of the essential constant movement of the driving rod can be provided. The aforementioned at least approximately constant power gear ratio results in an at least approximately movement of the driving rod proportional to the driving force, and hence, if an at least approximately constant driving force is provided, an at least approximately constant flow rate of the medium to be dispersed by the dispenser according to the present invention can be achieved.

Further, the dispenser according to the present invention can comprise that the operative connection between the second lever part and the driving rod is provided using a pressure plate in operative connection with both the second lever part and the driving rod, respectively. A pressure plate is a mechanically especially simple element for providing an operative connection between the second lever part and the driving rod. For instance, the second lever part can be directly pivotably mounted on the pressure plate and/or the driving rod can be arranged in an opening of the pressure plate. Thereby, the second lever part induces a rocking movement of the pressure plate which in turn repeatedly pushes the driving rod in the longitudinal direction.

The dispenser according to the present invention can be characterized in that the transfer surface is arranged at a continuous and revolving element, in particular wherein the continuous and revolving element is a belt or a chain. As mentioned above, an at least essentially continuous movement of the driving rod along the longitudinal direction is based on the number of repetitions of the movements of the hinge section. These movements in return are caused by the several prominent catches arranged at the transfer surface.

By using a continuous and revolving element as transfer surface, each of the prominent catches arranged at the transfer surface can be repeatedly used, each time when the continuous and revolving element has completed a full revolution. The duration of the essential constant movement of the driving rod can thereby be extended, essentially up to a full depletion of the cartridge in use. Further, a continuous and revolving element can be easily adjusted to constraints of the dispenser according to the present invention, for instance with respect to an available space within the housing of the dispenser. Belts and chains are preferable examples of continuous and revolving elements.

Alternatively, the dispenser according to the present invention can be characterized in that the transfer surface is arranged at a peripheral surface of a rotatable gear. Also a rotatable gear provides all advantages of a repeated usage of each of the prominent catches as already mentioned above with respect to a continuous and revolving element. In distinction to the continuous and revolving element, a rotatable gear is solid and hence firmer. This can be advantageous especially for dispensers according to the present invention with small internal free space.

As a further alternative, the dispenser according to the present invention can provide that the transfer surface is arranged at an at least essentially even component, in particular wherein the transfer surface is formed as a toothed rack. In difference to the embodiments described above, an at least essentially even component is not revolving. In contrast, the whole component preferably moves back and forth along the longitudinal direction, causing in at least one of the moving directions the aforementioned repeated movements of the hinge section.

For instance, the component can move on a linear path, whereby the back and forth movement of the component preferably coincide. Alternatively, the component can move along an elliptical path. A toothed rack is an essentially simple embodiment of such an at least essentially even component.

Preferably, the dispenser according to the present invention can be characterized in that the prominent catches are formed as triangular teeth. A triangular tooth can provide a prominent catch especially easily as a base of the triangular tooth can be arranged at the smooth part of the transfer surface and the other two sides of the triangular tooth form the prominent catch protruding from this surface.

In addition, by choosing a height of the tooth the distance of the movement of the hinge section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction can be easily adjusted. Further, a steepness of sides of the triangular tooth, especially of the side facing the hinge section during movement of the transfer section, influences and hence can be adaptably chosen to adjust the force needed to move the hinge section, the steeper, the higher is the force needed. Hence an adaption of the dispenser according to the present invention on constraints with respect to these features can be provided easily.

In particular, the dispenser according to the present invention can be improved by that the triangular teeth are asymmetrically formed, wherein a first side of the respective triangular tooth inclined forward with respect to the driving direction is less steep than a second side of the respective triangular tooth inclined backward with respect to the driving direction, in particular wherein the second side is perpendicular to the driving direction.

At a transfer surface moved in driving direction, the first side of the triangular teeth displaces the hinge section in a first movement perpendicular to the driving direction, in particular to the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, the second side provides and/or assists the opposed second movement. A less steep first side with respect to the second side allows providing a dispenser according to the present invention, in which the second movement is performed faster than the first movement. As only the first movement is relevant for the pushing of the driving rod, this provides the advantage that the breaks during the pushing of the driving rod caused by the second movement can be reduced. By a second side perpendicular to the driving direction a duration and hence an influence of these breaks can be minimized.

In addition, the dispenser according to the present invention can be characterized in that the transfer mechanism comprises two or more different undulating transfer surfaces, each comprising several prominent catches, wherein only one of the at least two transfer surfaces is active and hence used to provide the operative connection to the toggle lever, further the driving mechanism, especially the transfer mechanism, comprises a switching mechanism to change the active transfer surface, in particular wherein the at least two transfer surfaces are arranged next to each other perpendicular with respect to the driving direction. In this embodiment, the dispenser according to the present invention comprises at least two undulating transfer surfaces.

In particular, these surfaces are different and hence also the respective operative connections to the hinge section provided by the respective transfer surface are different. For instance, the different transfer surfaces can comprise prominent catches with different shapes and/or sizes.

Alternatively or additionally, a distance between the prominent catches along the driving direction on the respective transfer surface can differ between the at least two transfer surfaces.

Further, a switching mechanism is provided for changing the active transfer surface. In other words, the switching mechanism, which can be provided as part of the driving mechanism, preferably of the transfer mechanism, enables the user of the dispenser according to the present invention to actively choose which transfer surface is to be used and hence which effective operational connection between the trigger mechanism and the driving rod is to be established. An adaptation of the dispenser according to the present invention as a whole on external constraints, for instance the medium to be applicated or the flow rate needed for the present usage of the dispenser according to the present invention can be improved.

Especially, the switching between the different transfer surfaces can be provided more easily, if the at least two transfer surfaces are arranged next to each other perpendicular with respect to the driving direction. In this special embodiment, only the transfer surface has to be moved and all other components, especially the toggle lever and the driving rod, can stay fixed at their mounting position within the dispenser according to the present invention.

Preferably the dispenser according to the present invention can comprise that the trigger mechanism comprises an electric motor element providing the driving force. In particular in embodiments of the dispenser in which the transfer surface is arranged at a continuous and revolving element or at a peripheral surface of a rotatable gear, an uninterrupted movement of the transfer surface and hence of the driving rod can be easily provided by providing the driving force by an electric motor element.

Additionally or alternatively, the dispenser according to the present invention can be characterized in that the trigger mechanism comprises a trigger lever pivotably mounted in the housing between a rest position and an activated position, the trigger lever providing the driving force, wherein in particular a ratchet mechanism provides an operative connection between the trigger lever and the transfer mechanism.

Preferably, a trigger lever can be actuated manually. This provides a more direct influence on the flow rate, as the actuation motion, in particular a velocity of this motion, of the trigger lever out of its rest position onto its activated position directly influences the driving force and hence the movement of the driving rod into the cartridge. By implementing a ratchet mechanism it can be ensured that during the opposed movement of the trigger lever from its activated position in its rest position, the mechanical connection to the transfer mechanism is disconnected. An influence of this motion onto the movement of the driving rod can therefore easily be prohibited.

In addition, the dispenser according to the present invention can be improved in that the transfer mechanism comprises a main body with a first operation section for providing an operative connection to the trigger lever and a second operation section comprising the transfer surface for providing an operative connection to the toggle lever. In other words, the main body comprises two special sections, each of them specialized for providing an operative connection suitable for the trigger level and the toggle lever, respectively.

By providing distinct and separate sections of the main body for these tasks, both the first operation section and the second operation section, respectively, can be adapted to the special needs of the respective operative connection, in particular independent of the respective other operative connection.

Preferably, in a further improved embodiment, the dispenser according to the present invention can comprise that the first operation section comprises a long slot and the trigger lever comprises a pin engaging the long slot of the first operation section, in particular wherein a major extension of the long slot is perpendicular or at least essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and/or the driving direction.

A pin at the end of the trigger lever essentially moves along a circular path during the motion of the trigger lever from its rest position into its activated position. By engaging a long slot as part of the first operation section by this pin, the motion of the trigger lever can essentially be transferred into a longitudinal movement of the main body.

In particular by orientating the major extension of the long slot perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the movement of the main body will follow the longitudinal direction. As the transfer surface is arranged as second operation on the main body, a movement of the transfer section along the longitudinal direction can be easily provided.

In addition, the dispenser according to the present invention can be characterized in that the dispenser comprises a cartridge section designed to receive one of a multi-component cartridge with two or more cartridge chambers or two or more individual cartridges having a respective cartridge chamber and correspondingly two or more driving rods engaging said cartridge chambers, further the driving mechanism comprises a transmission mechanism to provide an operative connection to move the corresponding driving rod.

In other words, in this embodiment of the dispenser according to the present invention more than one medium can be applicated at the same time. In particular, also a mixture of two or more media, mixed after application on the surface to be applicated or pre-mixed within a suitable mixing element of the dispenser, can be provided. Hence an area of application for the dispenser according to the present invention can be enlarged.

In a further improved embodiment of the dispenser according to the present invention, the transmission mechanism comprises two or more corresponding transfer mechanisms, whereby each of the transfer mechanisms is in operation connection with the trigger mechanism, and wherein the respective driving mechanism comprises two or more corresponding toggle levers in operative connection with the corresponding driving rod, in particular via a pressure plate, to move the corresponding driving rod, whereby each of the toggle levers is in operation connection with the transfer surface of one of the transfer mechanisms. In this embodiment, a single trigger mechanism provides the driving force for several transfer mechanisms and via the respective toggle levers for the respective driving rods.

In particular, the transmission mechanism comprises a respective pair of transfer mechanism and toggle lever for each of the driving rods to be driven. The respective resulting operative connection can be chosen identical or different, corresponding to the constraints of the special embodiment of the dispenser according to the present invention. All features and advantages described above with respect to a single combination of a transfer surface and a toggle lever can be provided by each of the respective combinations of this special embodiment of the dispenser according to the present invention with a transmission mechanism comprising two or more combinations of transfer mechanism and toggle lever.

An improved embodiment of the dispenser according to the present invention can be characterized in that at least one of the transfer mechanisms comprises two or more transfer surfaces, whereby each of the transfer surfaces is in operation connection with at least one of the toggle levers, in particular wherein at least two of the transfer surfaces are formed differently to provide different pressures exerted on the media stored in the corresponding cartridges. By providing a transfer mechanism which comprises at least two transfer surfaces in operation connection with at least two toggle levers, the number of fully independent transfer mechanisms can be reduced. This simultaneously helps to reduce the need for available space within the dispenser, the internal complexity of the mechanical components of the dispenser, and also the production cost. In particular, by providing two different transfer surfaces, even an adaptation with respect to the media in the respective cartridges can be provided.

According to a second aspect the present invention relates to a method of operating a dispenser for cartridges in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the dispenser comprising a cartridge section for arranging the cartridge and a driving mechanism to drive a driving rod of the dispenser in a longitudinal direction into a cartridge arranged in the cartridge section to exert pressure on a medium stored in the cartridge, wherein the driving mechanism comprises a toggle lever in operative connection with the driving rod, in particular via a pressure plate, to move the driving rod, a trigger mechanism to provide a driving force for a movement of the driving rod via the toggle lever and a transfer mechanism with an undulating transfer surface with several prominent catches arranged between the trigger mechanism and the toggle lever providing an operative connection between the trigger mechanism and the toggle lever, characterized by the following steps:.

A method according to the second aspect of the invention is intended to be carried out with a dispenser according to the first aspect of the invention. Therefore a method according to the second aspect of the invention can provide all features and advantages already described in detail with respect to a dispenser according to the first aspect of the invention.

Generally, a method according to the present invention is applicable by a dispenser with a toggle lever. The toggle lever contains a first lever part and a second lever part, facing ends of the lever parts pivotably connected at a hinge section of the toggle lever. The respective other end of the first lever part is pivotably mounted in a housing of the dispenser, the respective other end of the second lever part is in operative connection to the driving rod. Hence a movement of the hinge section results in a movement of the respective other end of the second lever part and thereby pushes the driving rod in the longitudinal direction. In particular, the operative connection between the second lever part and the driving rod can be provided via a pressure plate.

In step a) of the method according to the present invention an underlying driving force is provided, for instance by manually actuating a trigger lever and/or by an electric motor element.

According to the present invention, between the trigger mechanism and the toggle lever, a transfer mechanism is arranged. This transfer mechanism comprises an undulating transfer surface with several prominent catches protruding from the transfer surface, wherein the transfer surface is in operative connection to the toggle lever, in particular to its hinge section. In step b) of the method according to the present invention, this undulating transfer surface is moved driven by the driving force at least partly essentially parallel to the longitudinal direction.

In step c) of the method according to the present invention, this movement of the undulating transfer surface leads to repeated displacements of the hinge section. In other words, the prominent catches are passing by the hinge section by the movement of the undulating surface, and each of the prominent catches displaces the hinge section. As the transfer section is preferably moving along the longitudinal direction, this displacement is preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

In step d) of the method according to the present invention each of the repeated displacements of the hinge section results in a movement of the driving rod, provided by the operative connection of the toggle lever to the driving rod, as mentioned above for instance provided via the pressure plate. Despite the small dimension of each of the displacements, the repetition of these displacements results in an arbitrarily large movement of the driving rod.

In addition, the repeated displacements are similar, preferably identical. Hence the displacements always cover the same small distance perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The sameness of the distance in turn provides an at least approximately constant power gear ratio. In addition, also the power gear ratio can be improved by that as the amplification effect of the toggle lever can be utilized more effectively. In summary, an at least approximately constant flow rate of the medium to be dispersed can be achieved by operating a dispenser by a method according to the present invention.

The present invention is further described hereinafter with reference to illustrated embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. Elements of the same function are specified throughout the figures with the same reference signs. In the following, any statement made having regard to the direction of a component are made relative to the position shown in the drawing and can naturally vary in the actual position of application. The description of the accompanying drawings is only by the way of detail. Specific features of each aspect of the present invention and after figures can be combined with each other if of technical sense. The Figures schematically show:.

With respect to all figures, the <FIG> schematically show possible embodiments of a dispenser <NUM> according to the present invention. The dispenser <NUM> comprises a cartridge section <NUM> for arranging a cartridge. If depicted at all, out of the elements of the cartridge section <NUM>, in particular only the driving rod <NUM> and the pressure plate <NUM> are shown. Further, all depicted dispensers <NUM> comprise a handle section <NUM>. A housing <NUM> of the handling section <NUM> acts as casing and counter support for the driving mechanism <NUM> of the dispenser <NUM>.

The driving mechanism <NUM> is mechanically connected to the pressure plate <NUM> to drive the driving rod <NUM> into a cartridge in the cartridge section <NUM> to finally exert pressure on a medium stored in the cartridge. According to the present invention, also driving mechanisms <NUM> without a pressure plate <NUM> for providing an operative connection to the driving rod <NUM> are possible.

The actual design of the driving mechanism <NUM> is the essential difference between different embodiments of the dispenser <NUM> according to the present invention.

All driving mechanisms <NUM> comprise a trigger mechanism <NUM> for providing a driving force <NUM>, a toggle lever <NUM> in operative connection with the pressure plate <NUM> to move the driving rod <NUM> and a transfer mechanism <NUM> arranged between the trigger mechanism <NUM> and the toggle lever <NUM> providing an operative connection between the trigger mechanism <NUM> and the toggle lever <NUM>, wherein the transfer mechanism <NUM> comprises an undulating transfer surface <NUM> with several prominent catches <NUM> for contacting a hinge section <NUM> of the toggle lever <NUM>, the hinge section <NUM> pivotably connecting a first lever part <NUM> and a second lever part <NUM> of the toggle lever <NUM> around a hinge axis <NUM>.

In the following, the basic operational principle of the dispenser <NUM> according to the present invention and the method of its operation according to the present invention are described with respect to the embodiment shown in <FIG>. However, as all embodiments of the dispenser <NUM> according to the present invention share common elements, especially the toggle lever <NUM> and the transfer mechanism <NUM> with an undulating transfer surface <NUM> with several prominent catches <NUM> for contacting a hinge section <NUM> of the toggle lever <NUM>, the description is valid for all embodiments of the dispenser <NUM> and the method, respectively, according to the present invention.

In <FIG>, the undulating transfer surface <NUM> is arranged at a continuous and revolving element <NUM>. Preferably this revolving element <NUM> is a belt or a chain. During the application of the driving force <NUM> in step a) of the method according to the present invention, in <FIG> provided by an electric motor <NUM> as part of the trigger mechanism <NUM>, the transfer surface <NUM> moves with respect to the toggle lever <NUM> in a driving direction <NUM> at least partly essentially parallel to the longitudinal direction <NUM> as described in step b) of the method according to the present invention. Hence according to step c) of the method according to the present invention, several of the prominent catches <NUM> pass by the hinge section <NUM> and each of the prominent catches <NUM> moves the hinge section <NUM> a small amount perpendicular to the longitudinal direction <NUM>.

After the passing by of the respective prominent catch <NUM>, the hinge section <NUM> moves back into its initial position. In summary, the hinge section <NUM> repeatedly moves back and forth perpendicular to the longitudinal direction <NUM>. In step d) of the method according to the present invention, this movement of the hinge section <NUM> causes also the second lever part <NUM>, provided by the operative connection of the second lever part <NUM> to the pressure plate <NUM> and the bearing of the first lever part <NUM> at the housing <NUM>, to repeatedly push the driving rod <NUM> in the longitudinal direction <NUM>.

The duration of the movement of the driving rod <NUM> can be adjusted by the number of repetitions of the movements of the hinge section <NUM>. In particular in the depicted embodiments of the dispenser <NUM> according to the present invention in which the transfer surface <NUM> is arranged at a continuous and revolving element <NUM>, an uninterrupted movement of the transfer surface <NUM> and hence of the driving rod <NUM> can be easily provided by providing the driving force <NUM> by an electric motor element <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a similar embodiment of the dispenser <NUM> according to the present invention as depicted in <FIG> in a more elaborate drawing. Especially, also in the embodiment of <FIG> the transfer surface <NUM> is arranged at a continuous and revolving element <NUM>, in particular a chain. All features and advantages provided by such a continuous and revolving element <NUM> as transfer surface <NUM> described above with respect to <FIG> are also valid for the present embodiment.

In contrast to <FIG>, in the embodiment of the disperser <NUM> according to the present invention depicted in <FIG> the trigger mechanism <NUM> comprises a trigger lever <NUM> as source of the driving force <NUM>.

The trigger lever <NUM> is shown in its rest position <NUM> out of which it can be moved counterclockwise into its activated position <NUM>, see for instance <FIG>. Further, the transfer mechanism <NUM> comprises a main body <NUM>, whereas the main body <NUM> comprises first operation section <NUM> for providing an operative connection to the trigger lever <NUM> and a second operation section <NUM> comprising the transfer surface <NUM>.

In the depicted embodiment, the first operation section <NUM> comprises a ratchet mechanism <NUM>. During a movement of the trigger lever <NUM> from its rest position <NUM> into its activated position <NUM>, the ratchet mechanism <NUM> ensures a rotation of the main body <NUM> and hence a movement of the continuous revolving element <NUM> forming the transfer surface <NUM>. During the opposed movement of the trigger lever <NUM> back into its rest position <NUM>, the ratchet mechanism <NUM> prevents a movement of the main body <NUM>.

A different embodiment of the dispenser <NUM> according to the present invention is shown in <FIG>. First of all, the used embodiment of the toggle lever <NUM> of the driving mechanism <NUM> is similar to the one described with respect to <FIG>. In addition, also in this embodiment the trigger mechanism <NUM> comprises a trigger lever <NUM> as source of the driving force <NUM>.

However, the transfer mechanism <NUM> is completely different to the respective transfer mechanism as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. The transfer mechanism <NUM> comprises a main body <NUM> with a first operation section <NUM> for providing an operative connection to the trigger lever <NUM> and a second operation section <NUM> comprising the transfer surface <NUM> for providing an operative connection to the toggle lever <NUM>.

In the depicted embodiment, the first operation section <NUM> comprises a long slot <NUM> and the trigger lever comprises a pin <NUM> engaging the long slot <NUM>, whereby a major extension of the long slot <NUM> is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction <NUM>. During application of the driving force <NUM>, the pin <NUM> essentially moves along a circular path. By engaging the long slot <NUM>, the motion of the trigger lever <NUM> can essentially be transferred into a longitudinal movement of the main body <NUM> and hence the driving direction <NUM> of the transfer surface <NUM> is parallel to the longitudinal direction <NUM>.

Further the transfer surface <NUM> as part of the second operation section <NUM> comprises prominent catches <NUM> which are formed as triangular teeth <NUM>. In particular, in this embodiment the triangular teeth <NUM> are asymmetrically formed, wherein a first side <NUM> of the respective triangular tooth inclined forward with respect to the driving direction <NUM> is less steep than a second side <NUM> of the respective triangular tooth <NUM> inclined backward with respect to the driving direction <NUM>, in particular even perpendicular to the driving direction <NUM>.

During operation, the transfer surface <NUM> moves in driving direction <NUM> and the first side <NUM> of the triangular teeth <NUM> displaces the hinge section <NUM> of the toggle lever <NUM>. After passing the tip of the respective triangular tooth <NUM> at the end of the first side <NUM>, the hinge section <NUM> immediately drops to the base of the next triangular tooth <NUM> and the next movement of the hinge section <NUM>, caused by the first side <NUM> of the following triangular tooth <NUM>, starts without any delay.

Preferably, the operative connection between the trigger lever <NUM>, in particular the pin <NUM> at the upper end of the trigger lever <NUM>, and the first operation section <NUM> of the main body <NUM>, in particular the long slot <NUM>, can be provided such that during application of the driving force <NUM> the driving direction <NUM> of the main body <NUM> is parallel or at least essentially parallel to the longitudinal direction <NUM>. Thereby a particular smooth and uniform actuation of the trigger lever <NUM> can be provided.

Additionally, the aforementioned operative connection between the trigger lever <NUM> and the first operation section <NUM> of the main body <NUM> can be provided such that during the opposite movement of the trigger lever <NUM> back into its initial position the main body <NUM> is somewhat displaced vertically downwards to lift the operative connection between the second operation section <NUM> and the toggle lever <NUM> is lifted. Thereby the movement of the main body <NUM> opposite to the driving direction <NUM>, which is linked to the movement of the trigger lever <NUM> back into its initial position, can be provided without any influence on the toggle lever <NUM> and hence on driving mechanism <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> show a further possible embodiment of a dispenser <NUM> according to the present invention, similar to the embodiment depicted in <FIG>. In particular, the embodiment of <FIG> and <FIG> differs from the respective embodiment of <FIG> essentially only by the physical form of the transfer surface <NUM> and its prominent catches <NUM>, which is arranged at a peripheral surface of a rotatable gear <NUM>. The rotatable gear <NUM> again is part of the main body <NUM> of the driving mechanism <NUM>.

Similar to the continuous and revolving element <NUM> depicted in <FIG>, the rotatable gear <NUM> rotates along the driving direction <NUM> upon a movement of the trigger level <NUM> out of its rest position <NUM> by the driving force <NUM>, see <FIG>, into its activated position <NUM>, see <FIG>. By comparison of <FIG> and <FIG>, the basic operational principle of the dispenser <NUM> is clearly visible. Due to the driving force <NUM> provided by the trigger lever <NUM>, the rotatable gear <NUM> rotates along the driving direction <NUM>.

The prominent catches <NUM> of the transfer surface <NUM>, arranged at the peripheral surface of the rotatable gear <NUM>, follow this movement and by the physical contact of one of the prominent catches <NUM> the hinge section <NUM> of the toggle lever <NUM> is displaced, in particular perpendicular to the longitudinal direction <NUM> of the dispenser <NUM>. Due to the pivotably fixation of the first lever part <NUM> at the housing <NUM> and the operative connection between the second lever part <NUM> and the pressure plate <NUM>, the driving rod <NUM> is driven in the longitudinal direction <NUM> to exert pressure onto a medium in a cartridge arranged in the cartridge section <NUM>.

A further possible embodiment of the dispenser <NUM> according to the present invention is shown in <FIG>. In this embodiment, the transfer mechanism <NUM> comprises two different undulating transfer surfaces <NUM>, each provided as continuous revolving element <NUM>. The difference of the transfer surfaces <NUM> can be for instance a distance of the respective prominent catches <NUM> along the driving direction <NUM>, indicated by the different hatching of the depicted transfer surfaces <NUM>.

In particular, only one of the transfer surfaces <NUM> is active and hence used to provide the operative connection to the toggle lever <NUM>. The driving force <NUM> is provided by an electric motor element <NUM>. Further, the driving mechanism <NUM>, especially the transfer mechanism <NUM>, comprises a switching mechanism <NUM> to change the active transfer surface <NUM>, depicted by arrows in <FIG>.

To facilitate the switching of the active transfer surface <NUM>, the two transfer surfaces <NUM> are arranged next to each other perpendicular with respect to the driving direction <NUM>. The switching mechanism <NUM> enables the user of the dispenser <NUM> to actively choose which transfer surface <NUM> is to be used and hence which effective operational connection between the trigger mechanism <NUM> and the driving rod <NUM> (not depicted) is to be established. An adaptation of the dispenser <NUM> according to the present invention as a whole on external constraints, for instance the medium to be applicated or the flow rate needed for the present usage of the dispenser <NUM>, can be improved.

In <FIG>, an embodiment of the dispenser <NUM> according to the present invention is shown which comprises a cartridge section <NUM> designed to receive one of a multi-component cartridge with two cartridge chambers and additionally an individual cartridges having a respective cartridge chamber. To exert pressure on the media stored in each of the cartridge chambers, three driving rods <NUM> are provided.

The driving mechanism <NUM> comprises a transmission mechanism <NUM> to provide an operative connection to move each driving rod <NUM>. In particular, in the depicted embodiment the transmission mechanism <NUM> comprises two corresponding transfer mechanisms <NUM>, whereby the transfer mechanisms <NUM> dedicated to the multi-component cartridge comprises two transfer surfaces <NUM>, the other transfer mechanism <NUM> comprises a single transfer surface <NUM>.

Claim 1:
Dispenser (<NUM>) for cartridges, comprising a cartridge section (<NUM>) for arranging the cartridge, and a handle section (<NUM>), whereby the handle section (<NUM>) comprises a housing (<NUM>) and a driving mechanism (<NUM>) arranged in the housing (<NUM>) to drive a driving rod (<NUM>) in a longitudinal direction (<NUM>) into a cartridge arranged in the cartridge section (<NUM>) to exert pressure on a medium stored in the cartridge, the driving mechanism (<NUM>) comprising:
- a toggle lever (<NUM>) with a first lever part (<NUM>), a hinge section (<NUM>) and a second lever part (<NUM>), the first lever part (<NUM>) pivotably mounted in the housing (<NUM>), the second lever part (<NUM>) in operative connection with the driving rod (<NUM>) to move the driving rod (<NUM>), and the hinge section (<NUM>) pivotably connecting the first lever part (<NUM>) and the second lever part (<NUM>) around a hinge axis (<NUM>),
- a trigger mechanism (<NUM>) to provide a driving force (<NUM>) for a movement of the driving rod (<NUM>) via the toggle lever (<NUM>), and
- a transfer mechanism (<NUM>) arranged between the trigger mechanism (<NUM>) and the toggle lever (<NUM>) providing an operative connection between the trigger mechanism (<NUM>) and the toggle lever (<NUM>),
characterized in that
the transfer mechanism (<NUM>) comprises an undulating transfer surface (<NUM>) with several prominent catches (<NUM>) for contacting the hinge section (<NUM>) of the toggle lever (<NUM>) to provide an operative connection to the toggle lever (<NUM>), whereby an application of the driving force (<NUM>) by the trigger mechanism (<NUM>) moves the transfer surface (<NUM>) in a driving direction (<NUM>) at least partly essentially parallel to the longitudinal direction (<NUM>) and the prominent catches (<NUM>) of the undulating transfer surface (<NUM>) repeatedly move the hinge section (<NUM>) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (<NUM>).