A dispensing device for the dispensed application of a highly viscous product onto a substrate , comprising: - a housing having an inner face and an outer face and a first end , which end faces the substrate when the dispensing device is actuated, and a second end opposite the first end , the housing having an opening in the region of the first end , - a cartridge , which is arranged at least substantially within the housing and forms a receiving space for the highly viscous product to be dispensed, the cartridge having a dispensing opening arranged in the region of the first end of the housing , via which dispensing opening the highly viscous product can be dispensed from the dispensing device , - a plunger , which is arranged inside the housing and at least partially inside the cartridge and which forms a boundary of the receiving space opposite the outlet opening , a movement of the housing relative to the cartridge causing a movement of the plunger relative to the cartridge in the direction of the discharge opening when the dispensing device is actuated, as a result of which the highly viscous product can be discharged from the cartridge through the discharge opening , - a spring element which is arranged between the inner face of the housing and the cartridge and which, when the dispensing device is actuated, is pre-loaded by the movement of the housing relative to the cartridge such that after actuation of the dispensing device , due to a restoring force of the spring element , the housing is moved back into its starting position with respect to the cartridge , characterized in that at least one locking element is formed on the inner face of the housing and in that a series of adjacent locking recesses is formed on the plunger , both the locking element and the locking recesses being arranged outside the receiving space , and the locking element engaging in a locking recess on the plunger when the dispensing device is actuated, such that a movement of the plunger relative to the cartridge and thus discharge of the highly viscous product from the dispensing device can be caused by a movement of the housing relative to the cartridge , and, after actuation of the dispensing device , the return movement of the housing into its starting position causing a transition of the locking element from the locking recess into an adjacent locking recess . - a housing having an inner face and an outer face and a first end , which end faces the substrate when the dispensing device is actuated, and a second end opposite the first end , the housing having an opening in the region of the first end , - a cartridge , which is arranged at least substantially within the housing and forms a receiving space for the highly viscous product to be dispensed, the cartridge having a dispensing opening arranged in the region of the first end of the housing , via which dispensing opening the highly viscous product can be dispensed from the dispensing device , - a plunger , which is arranged inside the housing and at least partially inside the cartridge and which forms a boundary of the receiving space opposite the outlet opening , a movement of the housing relative to the cartridge causing a movement of the plunger relative to the cartridge in the direction of the discharge opening when the dispensing device is actuated, as a result of which the highly viscous product can be discharged from the cartridge through the discharge opening , - a spring element which is arranged between the inner face of the housing and the cartridge and which, when the dispensing device is actuated, is pre-loaded by the movement of the housing relative to the cartridge such that after actuation of the dispensing device , due to a restoring force of the spring element , the housing is moved back into its starting position with respect to the cartridge , <EOS>