DK2593240T3

DK2593240T3 - MATERIAL DISPENSING SYSTEM

Info

Publication number: DK2593240T3
Application number: DK11726955.5T
Authority: DK
Inventors: Wadeeh Zahr
Original assignee: Unique Solutions R A I Ltd
Priority date: 2010-04-22
Filing date: 2011-04-26
Publication date: 2019-03-18
Also published as: CN103079713B; CN103079713A; PL2593240T3; WO2011132193A1; EP2593240A1; EP2593240B1

Description

DESCRIPTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for dispensing viscous material out of a container.

[0002] Viscous substances such as silicon glue are often used in construction for sealing crevasses or adhering surfaces to each other. These substances are typically applied through utensils such as a caulk gun, which enable pushing the substance out of the container in which it is stored in order to apply it onto a surface or to fill in crevasses.

[0003] Conventional hand-held material dispensing devices rely on the action of a piston to push paste-like materials out of a tube's nozzle. The movement of the piston may be induced by employing mechanical means such as a trigger or a spring. Typically, a rod is used to push forward the moveable cap of standard containers. The rod needs to be as long as the longest commercially available container, and positioned behind the container's cap.

[0004] Using a rod makes conventional caulk guns long and heavy. Use of such devices is cumbersome, particularly in tight places that can be reached only with compact instruments.

[0005] Several improvements have been made to the operation mechanism of such material dispensing devices. US 5,887,765 A adds a biasing mechanism to relieve the back pressure inside the caulk tube while maintaining the position of the piston during a given trigger stroke even after the trigger has been released. This mechanism, however, does not contribute to the reduction of size or weight of such a caulk gun.

[0006] Similarly, US 4,386,717 A describes a device for measured discharge of viscous substance which appears to be relatively compact. This device, however, requires that the container incorporates an expandable hoselike member configured to couple with a propellant or expanding medium which forces the substance through an outlet, and is not compatible with standard containers.

[0007] One way to reduce the overall length of caulk guns with containers fitted thereto is to cut the containers' walls behind the piston as the piston advances along the interior of the container. The cutting may be accomplished by urging a blade against the container walls during the employment of the caulk gun.

[0008] For example, JP S63-185475 A is directed to a caulk gun with a cutting blade, in the rear of a pressing plate, both of which advance from the back to the front along a cartridge. The gun has a mechanism for holding a cartridge vessel, and a feeding mechanism is provided for moving the pressing plate, the vessel cutting blade advancing in cooperation with the pressing plate. Contents in the vessel are discharged by the advancement of the pressing plate.

[0009] US 6,640,998 A describes a caulking gun having a hand-held trigger operating clamp with a blade mounted on the clamp whereby the clamp and a bar cooperate to cause a cartridge containing caulk to move axially against a fixed plunger mounted on the clamp and the blade servers the cartridge containing caulk to permit the plunger to be advanced the length of the cartridge containing caulk.

[0010] US 3,606,085 A depicts a dispensing gun with a handle mounting a support at its upper end, a thrust member mounted on the support and rising thereabove for engagement and cooperation with a piston member for expressing the contents of a substance container, guide means in the support, a carriage moveable through the guide means and normally arranged to extend forwardly of the handle, a container holder mounted on the forward part of the carriage and arranged so that an outlet nozzle end part of the container may be held and supported between the forward container holder and the thrust member, a moveable trigger associated with the handle, a carriage moving means associated with the carriage and operable by the trigger to move the carriage in the guide means a desired distance, the construction providing that squeezing the trigger into or towards the handle causes the carriage moving means to move the carriage with the container a prescribed distance relative to the thrust member associated with the piston member for the container in delivering and dispensing a desired amount of substance from the container.

[0011] US 2008/0006654 A1 describes a device for dispensing flowable materials such as caulk, including for example a cartridge and a dispenser with: a drive mechanism for advancing a pusher forward, the drive mechanism having at least one fulcrum positioned forward of the pusher during operation of the dispenser; a cutter that cuts a slit in a wall of the cartridge for purposes of dispensing a flowable material, and a winch for driving the dispensing of a flowable material from the cartridge.

[0012] WO 2007/144434 A1 is directed to a sealant gun or like device that includes a hollow cylindrical barrel containing sealant or other viscous material, a plunger located in the barrel, and a drive mechanism for effecting relative axial movement between the plunger and the barrel to eject the material from a nozzle at the front of the barrel. The drive mechanism includes means for engaging the barrel progressively along its length to draw the barrel rearwardly relative to the drive mechanism and plunger. In particular, engaging means described therein are for progressively separating at least one longitudinal strip of the barrel to provide a slot through which a part of the drive mechanism can project and the drive mechanism includes a cutting means for separating the longitudinal strip.

[0013] The drive mechanism is described to be for example include a support, a grip ring loosely surrounding the barrel at the front of the support, means resiliently biasing the grip ring and support apart in the axial direction of the barrel, and an actuator for repeatedly tilting the grip ring to grip the barrel, moving the grip ring rearwardly against the resilient bias while the barrel is gripped, and releasing the grip ring to allow it to be moved forwardly along the barrel by the resilient bias, thereby to draw the barrel incrementally in a rearward direction.

[0014] Means for engaging with the barrel is described to preferably include an endcap for locating at the front of the barrel, and a cable connecting the endcap to the drive mechanism.

[0015] Cutting means is described to preferably include at least one cutting wheel, the cutting wheel acting on the surface of the barrel to cut the surface of the barrel to be received, and preferably, the cutting means include at least one internal cutting wheel and at least one external cutting wheel, the at least one internal cutting wheel mounted within the housing acting on the internal surface of the barrel, the at least one external cutting wheel mounted within the housing acting on the external surface of the barrel.

[0016] Although the device described in WO 2007/144434 A1 may be considerably shorter than the length of the uncut barrel, the force employed to engage and pull the strip, together with additional forces employed to perform the additional operations occurring during the strip pulling (such as extrusion of viscous material), require the device to be unwieldy massive.

[0017] WO 2007/144434 A1 discloses a sealant gun including a hollow cylindrical barrel containing sealant or other viscous material. A plunger is located in the barrel. A drive mechanism is provided for effecting relative axial movement between the plunger and the barrel to eject the material from a nozzle at the front of the barrel.

[0018] Further caulking guns are known from US 5,503,307 A and US 2002/108971 A1.

[0019] None of the references discussed above require nor recognize the advantage of having teeth on a cutting-pushing element to dispensing devices.

[0020] The need remains, therefore, for compact, simple, lightweight, handheld viscous material dispensing devices that can be used in small confined locations and may be coupled with various sizes of viscous material containers. Embodiments described hereinbelow address this need.

[0021] The present invention provides a device for dispensing viscous material out of a container as defined by claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are indicated in further claims.

[0022] For a better understanding of the invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, purely by way of example, to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] With specific reference now to the drawing in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of embodiments only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention; the description taken with the drawing making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.

[0024] In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates a prior art tubular container for viscous materials such as silicone glue;

Figure 2A illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a toothed cutting-pushing element employed within embodiments of compact material dispensing devices;

Figure 2B illustrates a perspective view of a blade in a cutting-pushing element;

Figure 2C shows a side view of a cutting-pushing element coupled with a trigger;

Figure 3A illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a compact material dispensing device comprising a toothed cutting-pushing element;

Figure 3B illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment shown in figure 3A ready for operation with a tubular container such as shown in figure 1;

Figure 3C shows a view of the embodiment shown in figure 3A ready for operation with a tubular container, from another perspective;

Figure 4A illustrates a side view of a very short embodiment of a compact material dispensing device with a cutting-pushing element, and requiring the element to be equipped with teeth;

Figure 4B shows a rear view of the very short manual embodiment shown in Figure 4A;

Figure 4C shows a front view of the very short manual embodiment shown in Figure 4A showing a stopper element contained therein;

Figure 4D illustrates an embodiment of the stopper element employed within the embodiment shown in Figures 4A-C; and

Figure 5A is a perspective view of another embodiment that requires the cutting -pushing element to be toothed to effectively operate;

Figure 5B shows the embodiment in Figure 5A in exploded view;

Figure 5C shows a sectional side-view of the embodiment of Figure 5A;

Figure 6 illustrates in perspective view yet another embodiment with a toothed cutting-pushing element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND DRAWINGS

CONTAINER

[0025] Figure 1 illustrates a standard tubular container 10 which can be mounted onto paste dispensing devices such as glue guns, dispensing guns for sealants or the like. Standard containers typically have a nozzle 11 with an aperture 12 at the front 13 from which the material 16 is dispensed and a rear side 15 having a moveable cap 14. When the container is full, the moveable cap 14 is located at the back end 17 of the container 10. Force exerted upon the container's movable cap 14 causes the cap to move forward within the container 10, compressing and squeezing the material 16 towards the nozzle 11. Material 16 stored within the container 10 is pushed out of the container through the nozzle aperture 12. The rear side of the container emptied of material 16 will be referred to as the empty tail 15 of the container 10. The empty tail 15 can grow in length as more material is dispensed out of the container 10, and can become shorter if cut off.

CUTTING-PUSHING ELEMENT

[0026] A cutting-pushing element may comprise a push plate and a blade where the blade is positioned behind the push plate and is configured to follow the push-plate as the cuttingpushing element is moved. Means for coupling the push plate and the blade together may vary.

[0027] Reference is now made to Figure 2A illustrating a perspective view of an embodiment of a toothed cutting-pushing element 40 comprising a push plate 42, a blade 44 positioned behind the push plate, and a connector element 46 assembled on a cutting-pushing base 48. The push plate 42 may be of various shapes and sizes, enabling it to be inserted into containers whose cross sections are of different shapes. Push plate 42 is coupled to the blade 44, through a connector element 46. The blade is positioned to follow the push plate. As better shown in Figure 2B, blade 44 has a sharp edge 45 for cutting container walls and teeth 47 behind the sharp edge 45, and facing away from the push plate (not shown).

[0028] In various embodiments of a cutting-pushing element, there may be more than one blade.

[0029] Figure 2C illustrates a side view of a toothed cutting-pushing element coupled with a trigger 32.

MAERIAL DISPENSING DEVICES

[0030] Reference is now made to Figure 3A showing a view of a compact viscous material dispensing device 300, in accordance with an embodiment and

Figures 3B, 3C showing a rear view and a front view respectively of the embodiment ready for operation, loaded with a standard container 10. As shown, the device 300 comprises a housing 360, a housing base 320 comprising a groove 322, a force transmitting mechanism 330 with a retracting trigger 332 and a handle 334, and a toothed cutting-pushing element 340.

[0031] The cutting-pushing element configured for the device 300 also includes a cuttingpushing base, not shown in the figure but shown in Figure 2Aas base 48, that can move along the groove 322. The retracting trigger 332 is configured to push cutting-pushing element 340, causing the push plate base to move forward along the groove 322 of the housing base 320. A spring (not shown) in the force transmitting mechanism 330 is compressed when the trigger 332 is squeezed, the squeezing extent determining the extent to which the cutting-pushing element 340 with a push plate 342 can travel within the groove 322 of the housing base 320.

[0032] As the cutting-pushing element 340 moves forward, the push plate 342 pushes the moveable cap of the container towards the container nozzle 11, and the blade 344 cuts a slit 19 in the empty tail 15 of the container 10 where material has been squeezed out.

[0033] The slit 19 created in the container 10 enables further forward insertion of the push plate 342 into the container 10, thus extruding material out of the container 10.

[0034] Stopper 362 is configured to clasp the tube and secure it within the container housing 360 during at least some of the time the trigger 332 is squeezed: for example, the bottom part of the stopper 362 may not be bound to the housing base 320 but rather be connected to the housing 360 such that it is free to move backwards and forwards. The stopper shape and dimensions, together with a lower aperture edge 363 profile, allow to bind the container 10 by the stopper 362 being urged backwards, for example by a spring (not shown) in the groove 332, coupled to the housing base 320 in front of the stopper 362 and to the front (nozzle) side of stopper 362, such that the container is not appreciably moved forwards during the trigger squeezing. However, when the trigger is released, the teeth (not shown) engage the container 10 and the spring coupled to the trigger 332 urges the container 10 backwards, the container not being bound by the stopper 362 from moving backwards.

[0035] Note that release of the container 10 from the device 300 may be performed by simply forcing the stopper 362 forwards (toward the nozzle 11).

[0036] With this design, a rod typically used in prior art dispensing devices for pushing the moveable cap of the container forward is unnecessary, and the dispensing device can be made lighter and more compact. The housing for holding the container does not include a nozzle support and may be shorter than the original length of the container 10. Upon initial use, the container 10 is placed such that the moveable cap is placed proximal to the push plate 342 of the cutting-pushing element 340 and the front of the container may stick out of the container's housing without further support.

[0037] Note that containers of various diameters may be used by the device 300.

[0038] Reference is hereby made to Figure 4A showing a side view of a very short manual embodiment of a viscous material dispensing device 400. The embodiment includes a toothed cutting-pushing element (Figure 4B), housing 460, a neck 464, a release ring 466 and a force transmitting mechanism 430. The housing 460 is configured to accommodate tubular viscous material container of various sizes, as will be explained below. The internal part of the neck 464 comprises a thread for screwing the release ring 466 onto the housing 460. The force transmitting mechanism 430 may be used to manually apply force on the cutting-pushing element 440 within the housing 460. The mechanism 430 may be coupled to the cuttingpushing element 440 similar to the coupling shown in Figure 2C. In this embodiment, the mechanism 430 comprises a static part 432 and a moving part 434 coupled together via a coupling pin 453. A powerful v-shaped spring (not shown) has one arm in the static part 432 and one arm in the moving part, and a coil held by the pin 453. As in the formerly described embodiment, the spring in the mechanism serves to urge the container backwards when the trigger 432 is released.

[0039] Reference is hereby made to Figure 4B showing a rear view of the very short manual embodiment of the viscous material dispensing device 400. The rear view shows the static part 432 and the coupling pin 453 of the mechanism 430. The rear view further shows the back of the cutting-pushing element 440 assembled within the housing 460, comprising a push plate 442, a blade 444, a connector element 446 assembled on a cutting-pushing base 448 and at least one tooth (not shown) pointed towards the rear.

[0040] Reference is now made to Figure 4C showing a front view of the very short manual embodiment of a viscous material dispensing device 400. The front view shows the front side of the push plate 442 (black) and an embodiment of a stopper element 462 (black) connected to the container housing 460. 470 is a space between the push plate 442 and the stopper element 462, where a tubular container (such as10 in Figure 1) can be inserted into the device 400.

[0041] Figure 4D illustrates the embodiment of the stopper element 462 shown in Figure 4C. This embodiment comprises a plurality of teeth 461 (461a and 461b are marked). I n this embodiment, the teeth are flexible, such that they can bend more or less towards the inside in the container housing (460 in Figure 4A, 4B and 4C). However, in general, the teeth 461 are urged by the release ring inwards. In order to secure a tubular container 10 in the device 400, the container 10 is inserted into the container housing 460 from the front of the device 400, and then the release ring 466 is screwed outwards from the housing 460, such that the stopper element 462 straightens outward until teeth 461 entrench in the container 10. Attempting to pull the container out from within the housing 460 will result in the teeth 461 being even more firmly entrenched in the container, thus not enabling the extraction of the container, as well as preventing movement of the container forwards during employment of the force transmitting mechanism 430. However, the teeth due to their facing backwards (away from the nozzle and towards the interior of the housing 460), allow the container to move backwards during release of the mechanism 430.

[0042] The extraction of a tubular container (10 in Figure 1) from this embodiment involves screwing in the release ring (466 in Figure 4A) into the housing 460. The release ring 466 pushes the teeth 461 of the stopper element 462 towards the inside of the housing 460, thus creating sufficient space (470 in Figure 4C) to allow the container to be extracted.

[0043] The device is both very powerful and very lightweight and compact. Its length may be as little as 8cm and its weight as little as 150 grams. Use of strong plastics such as polycarbonate for most of the parts (aside from the teeth and blade) allows to make a very strong and light device.

[0044] The stopper 462 may easily be replaced with a stopper with more blunt or smaller teeth 461, to better suit some containers; for example, containers comprising thin metallic walls are typically more easily accidentally punctured than thermoplastic containers and may require blunt teeth 461.

[0045] Yet another embodiment is shown in Figures 5a-5d.

[0046] A flexible friction element 565 fits inside a flexible stopper 562. The front part 564 of the housing 560 slopes in an angle similar to the angle of the friction element 565, which is placed in the front of the housing 560.

[0047] A big spring 568 is placed behind the stopper 562 and acts against the stopper 562 to push it forward, toward the nozzle (when a container is properly mounted on the housing 560).

[0048] A container (not shown) is mounted in the housing 560, with the nozzle of the container extending out of the housing 560, and is held firmly in place by the stopper 562 - the big spring 568 urges the stopper 562 forwards, thus closing the stopper 562 (the stopper 562 and the friction element 565 have each a slit at the bottom) until the stopper 562 can no longer move forwards (the inner diameter of friction element 565 assuming the outer diameter of the container).

[0049] The friction element 565 is for example a strip of rubber coated with coarse sandpaper coating, to prevent the container from moving during operation of the device 500.

[0050] The trigger 532 has cogs 533 that engage matching cogs 549 on the cutting-pushing element 540.

[0051] When the trigger 532 is squeezed, the cutting-pushing element moves as a result forwards in the housing 560. The element 540 has a push plate 542 at the front that can push the cap of the glue container forward. The element 540 also has a blade 544 behind the push plate 542, that cuts lengthwise the container's wall, in the direction of the nozzle, while the element is pushed forward. The container is held in place during the pushing by the stopper 562 and friction element 565.

[0052] When the handle is released, a little spring 550 coupled to the element 540 and the housing 560 pulls the element 540 back. The blade 544 on the inner body has sharp teeth 547 facing backwards - these teeth 547 engage the walls of the container, helping to pull the container back with the element 540.

[0053] The part of the container extending out of the front of the housing 560 becomes shorter during operation, by the container being pulled back after each release of the trigger 532.

[0054] Note, however, that the device can work without the big spring 568 (device not shown), albeit less effectively. When a container is inserted into the housing, until its tail is flush with the blade edge, and then the trigger is first pressed, the stopper may move forward and assume a position along the front part, such that it both holds the container firmly in place during the squeezing of the trigger, and is essentially held in place during the release of the trigger.

[0055] Figure 6 shows a similar embodiment 600 with a container 10 mounted thereon.

[0056] The stopper has at least one pin 669 extending out from it, that is inserted each into a slot 669 in the front part 664 of the housing 660, the slot 669 allowing movement of the stopper back and forth along the slot 669, but preventing excessive backward movement of the stopper, beyond the front part 664, such that the stopper is not held by the housing 660.

[0057] The embodiment 600 further has a handle 680 similar in role to the release ring 466 in embodiment 400, except that in this embodiment 600 the clasping of the container walls is automatic.

[0058] The handle 680 has a handle 682, a hole 683 accommodating the stopper pin 669, another hole (not visible) accommodating a pin 686 extending out of the housing front 664, and arms 684 capable of clasping a ridge 688 on the housing 660. Pushing the handle 682 away from the nozzle 11 allows the cartridge 10 to be released from the grasp of the stopper.

[0059] It should be noted that a viscous material dispensing device can be used in a variety of fields, not limited to construction. For example, a small embodiment of the viscous material dispensing device may be used in dental procedures when material needs to be dispensed into a patient's mouth. The mouth is a confined space, and reduction of the size of the utensil used to apply viscous material into a patient's mouth may be very useful.

[0060] In embodiments used in medical and dental procedures, the size of the container may be very small. Embodiments of the compact viscous material dispensing device for medical and dental use may be used to replace other viscous material application utensils requiring a push piston such as syringes. In the medical and dental embodiments, the hand-operated trigger may be small and designed to be operable with a finger. Optionally, the force transmission mechanism could be powered and the trigger may be operable by a push of a button.

[0061] Medical and dental applications could also be for home use, for example and without limitation dispensing teeth-bleaching material out of a teeth-bleaching material container and into a teeth mold to be applied upon a subject's teeth overnight. Other applications may be used during medical surgery or cosmetic procedures, such as insertion of silicon or Botulinum toxin A to body cavities.

[0062] Other embodiments of the compact viscous material dispensing device may be used in cooking and baking, for example for insertion of material such as melted chocolate into dessert cups.

[0063] Assembling a cutting pushing element on a viscous material dispensing device relieves the need for using a rod to push the cap of a tubular container towards the container's nozzle, enabling a compact design of the dispensing device. The reduction in the dispensing device's size assists in making it lighter in weight and easier to operate in small, confined spaces. Embodiments may be used in various fields, such as but not limited to construction, manufacturing, cooking, baking, cosmetics, dental procedures and other medical uses.

[0064] The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and includes both combinations and sub combinations of the various features described hereinabove as well as variations and modifications thereof, which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description.

[0065] In the claims, the word "comprise", and variations thereof such as "comprises", "comprising" and the like indicate that the components listed are included, but not generally to the exclusion of other components.

REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description • US5887765A [0605] • US4386717A [0608] • JFS63185475A [0068] • US6640998A [00091 • US3606085A [00101 • US20080008654A1 [00111 • WQ2007144434A1 [0012] [0916] [0917] • US5503307A [00181 • US2002108971A1 [6818]

Claims

A unit (300; 400; 500; 600) for dispensing viscous material from a container (10), the container comprising a nozzle (11) and a movable cap (14), and the viscous material is interposed therebetween, wherein the unit comprises: a housing (360; 460; 560; 660) comprising a base member with grooves (320) and configured to accommodate the container (10); a cutting-pushing member (340; 440) comprising: a cutting / pushing base member (48; 448) slidably held in the groove (322); a push plate (42; 342; 442; 542); at least one blade (44; 344; 444; 544) comprising a sharp edge (45), and at least one tooth (47; 547), said blade (44; 344; 544), push plate (42; 342; 542 ) and teeth (47; 547) mounted on said base member (48) and said teeth (47; 547) located behind the sharp edge (45) facing away from the push plate (42; 342; 442) ; 542), a force transmitting member (330; 430) connected to said cutting and pushing member base member (48; 448), wherein, when said container (10) is housed in said housing (360; 460; 560; 660) : moving said cutting / pushing element (340; 440) forward towards the nozzle (11), by using the force transmitting element (330; 430), inserts the pushing plate (42; 342; 442; 542) into said container (10 ), which pushes said viscous material out of said nozzle and cuts longitudinally of the container, and the movement of said cutting / pushing element (340; 440) backwards away from the nozzle (11) by releasing the force transmitting element (330; 430) , which allows at least one tooth (47; 547) to engage and retract said container (10) rearwardly into said housing (15).

The device of claim 1, wherein said housing (360; 460; 560; 660) comprises a holder configured to enable basic immobilization of said container (10) within said housing (360; 460; 560; 660). )) while moving the cutting / pushing element (340; 440) forward.

The unit of claim 1 or 2, wherein said power transmitting member (330; 430) comprises a hand-operated trigger (332; 432; 532) coupled to the cutting / pushing member (340; 440) and to the housing (360; 460). ; 560; 660), and the primary feed means, whereby pressure on the trigger forces movement of said element forward, and release of said trigger allows the primary means to force movement of the container rearward.

The device of claim 1, 2 or 3, which is configured for one-hand operation.

The unit of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the unit is substantially shorter than the container (10).

The unit of claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the blade edge (45) and the teeth (47; 547) are of metal.

The unit of claim 3, wherein the blade edge (45) and the teeth (47; 547) and first spring are of metal.

The device of claim 3, wherein the housing (360; 460; 560; 660) and the trigger are thermoplastic (332; 432; 532).

The unit of claim 3, wherein the unit further comprises a stopper (462; 562) coupled to the housing (360; 460; 560; 660) configured to grip the container within the housing during at least some of the time. , where the shutter-release button is pressed.

The unit of claim 9, wherein the stopper (362) comprises an opening with an edge, the edge having a profile, the stopper (362) being connected to the housing (360), but still free to move backwards and forwards, shape and dimensions together with a profile of the opening edge (363) of the stopper (362), which allows bonding of the container (10) with the stopper (362), which is pressed backwards by the secondary feed means in the groove (322), the secondary means being coupled to the base (320) of the housing so that the container (10) does not move significantly forward when the release button is pressed.

The assembly of claim 9, wherein the housing further comprises a neck (462) at a front portion of the housing (460), the stopper being held within the neck, and a release ring (466), wherein an inner portion of the neck (462) comprises a thread for screwing the release ring (466) onto the housing (460), the stopper (462) comprising a plurality of teeth (461) which are flexible so that the teeth (461) of the stopper can be accelerated by the release ring (466), whereby, for securing the container (10) in the unit (400), inserting the container into the housing, and then unscrewing the release ring (466) outwardly from the housing so that the stopper member (462) is aligned until the teeth (461) of the stopper engage the container (10) and thus preventing movement of the container (10) forward using the power transmitting member (430), yet allowing the container (10) to move backward during release of the member, pulling out the container (10) from the device, which involves screwing the release ring ( 466) into the house (460).

The unit of claim 11, wherein the stopper (462) has sharp teeth (461), wherein containers (10) comprising thin metal walls are not punctured by the teeth (461) of the stopper.

The assembly of claim 9 further comprising a grooved flexible friction member (565) fitting within a grooved flexible stop (562) in a front portion of the housing (560) configured to allow mounting of a container (565). 10) on the housing (560), and the stopper (562) is then moved towards the nozzle (11) on the container (11) to hold the container (10) in place during activation of the power transmitting element.

The unit of claim 13, wherein the friction member (562) comprises a strip of elastomeric material covered with sandpaper coating.

The unit of claim 13 or 14, further comprising secondary feed means (568) located behind the stopper (562) and acting against the stopper (562) to push it forward toward the nozzle (11).