Dispensing apparatus for operating double cartridges

Abstract

In dispensing apparatus for operating double cartridges with holding flange, a front-face retaining guide with slide-in opening on one side for the holding flange is provided. The problem arises of ensuring effective anchoring between apparatus and cartridge in order to prevent deformations of the holding flange or of the entire cartridge when, for dispensing the cartridge content, the two dispensing plungers of the apparatus are moved out of the apparatus front and push delivery pistons forward which are inserted into the cartridge cylinders. For this purpose, the retaining guide is continuous on both sides of a straight line which connects the centers of both plungers. The slide-in opening extends transversely to the mentioned straight line. Due to this arrangement, the holding flange is rigidly held in the retaining guide, i.e. each of the cartridge cylinders is anchored via the flange at two diametrically opposed locations. Furthermore it becomes possible, in contrast to prior art, to decrease the cartridge flange by lateral sections and to securely anchor even individual cylinders with separate flanges.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a dispensing apparatus adapted for operation double cartridges of the type having an elongated holding flange with two sides longer than the two ends thereof, said apparatus having a front and a retaining guide thereon with a slide-in opening on one side of said guide for receiving the holding flange, said apparatus further having two delivery plungers, which are subject to movement out of said apparatus front along parallel axes, said plungers having respective centers spaced apart in correspondence with the centers of said double cartridges, the improvement comprising that said retaining guide is generally U-shaped and positioned on both sides of a straight line connecting the centers of both plungers and that the opening of said U-shape extends transversely to said straight line, said opening being dimensioned to slidingly receive said holding flange inserted end-first into said guide, said guide being contoured to engage said two sides and one said end of said flange and constrain said sides and one end against forces at least in the direction of said parallel axes. 
     
     
       2. A dispensing apparatus as in claim 1 with delivery plungers arranged side by side in the apparatus, wherein the slide-in opening is at one of a lateral edge and an upper edge of the apparatus front. 
     
     
       3. A dispensing apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the retaining guide at its end opposing the slide-in opening is shaped as a semi-circle centered on said straight line as viewed in a direction parallel to said plunger axes, said semi-circle corresponding to the circumference of a cartridges cylinder, and means for stopping sliding insertion of said cartridge holding flange at the point of intersection of said straight line with said semi-circle, as viewed in said direction. 
     
     
       4. In a dispensing apparatus adapted for operating double cartridges of the type having an elongated holding flange with two sides longer than the two ends thereof, said apparatus having a front and a retaining guide thereon with a slide-in opening on one side of said guide for receiving said holding flange, said apparatus further having two delivery plungers which are subject to movement out of said apparatus along parallel axes, said plungers having respective centers spaced apart in correspondence with the centers of said double cartridges, the improvement comprising that said retaining guide is generally U-shaped, the opening of said U-shape being dimensioned to slidingly receive said holding flange inserted into said guide, said guide being contoured to engage said two longer sides and one said end of said flange and constrain said sides and one end against forces at least in the direction of said parallel axes. .Iadd. 
     
     
       5.  In a dispensing apparatus adapted for operating double cartridges of the type having an elongated holding flange with two sides longer than the two ends thereof, said apparatus having a front and a retaining guide thereon with a slide-in opening on one side of said guide for receiving the holding flange, said apparatus further having two delivery plungers which plungers are subject to movement out of said apparatus front along parallel axes, said plungers having respective centers spaced apart in correspondence with the centers of said double cartridges, the improvement comprising that said retaining guide includes at least two opposing retaining portions and a stop element at one end thereof, the other end being open and dimensioned to slidingly receive said holding flange inserted into said guide, said retaining portions being arranged to engage said two sides of said flange and said stop element being arranged to abut one end of said flange to stop sliding insertion thereof, at least said two retaining portions constraining said flange against forces at least in the direction of said parallel axes. .Iaddend. .Iadd.6. The dispensing apparatus of claim 5 wherein said stop element and said two retaining portions are in a U-shaped form, said two retaining portions forming the sides of said U-shape. .Iaddend. .Iadd.7. In a dispensing apparatus adapted for operating double cartridges of the type having an elongated holding flange with two sides longer than the two ends thereof, said apparatus having a front and a retaining guide thereon with a slide-in opening on one side of said guide for receiving the holding flange, said apparatus further having two delivery plungers which plungers are subject to movement out of said apparatus front along parallel axes, said plungers having respective centers spaced apart in correspondence with the centers of said double cartridges, the improvement comprising that the retaining guide is continuous on both sides of a straight line connecting the centers of two plungers and the slide-in opening extends transversely to this straight line. .Iaddend. .Iadd.8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the retaining guide includes a stop element at its end opposite the slide-in opening to stop sliding insertion of said flange. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said stop element and the continuous parts of the retaining guide are U-shaped in form, the continuous parts forming the sides of the U-shape. .Iaddend.