EP3397566B1 - Tube-emptying device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a tube emptier according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Tube emptiers, also known as tube presses, tube squeezers or tube releasers, make it easier to squeeze out tubes and at the same time reduce waste.

The US 3,586,213 describes, for example, a tube emptier, which essentially consists of two folding brackets and two rollers. The two rollers are arranged one above the other and form a gap between them. The tube emptier has a folding mechanism for easy insertion of the tube between the two rollers. By rotating the upper rollers, the tube is pressed through the gap and the material in the tube is squeezed out of the tube.

In the US publication, the two axes of rotation of the rollers are aligned one above the other during the emptying process, but the axis of rotation of the folding mechanism is horizontally spaced from the two axes of rotation of the rollers.

This has the disadvantage that during the emptying process of the tube, due to the horizontal spacing of the axis of rotation of the folding mechanism and the moment force generated thereby, the two rollers are pressed on again. The user of the tube emptier must therefore, in addition to the rotational movement of the rollers, also exert a holding force on the arms of the rollers so that the rollers do not move apart again.

US 4,030,636 and EP 0.153.906 describe further tube emptiers according to the characterizing part of claim 1.

The object of the present invention is now to provide a tube emptier, with which the user with simple means and less Holding force can empty a tube and at the same time a clean squeezing process of the tube is achieved.

To achieve the object, the invention is characterized by the technical teaching of claim 1.

An essential feature of the invention is that, in the working position of the tube emptier, the axis of rotation and the two axes of the rollers lie approximately flush on a common arrangement axis.

The present invention understands the approximate arrangement that the axes are in the region of the arrangement axis. Deviations are therefore possible.

Due to the almost aligned arrangement on a common axis, the forces in particular are neutralized, since no torque is generated by any of the axes. During the emptying process of the tube, the upper and lower parts no longer have to be pressed together, as was necessary in the prior art. Rather, it creates a self-locking force that presses the upper part onto the lower part.

Furthermore, the embodiment according to the invention avoids additional devices which are necessary during the emptying process in order to press the two trays together. For example, the prior art provides a locking mechanism that holds the two parts (upper and lower part) together. This is avoided in the embodiment according to the invention.

According to the invention, a first roller is rotatable about a first axis on the upper part and a further roller is rotatable about a second axis on the lower part. Both parts (upper and lower part) are connected to each other via a rotatable joint.

The upper roller is connected to a turning handle, which allows the upper roller to be turned slightly relative to the lower roller.

The shape of the upper and lower part is chosen so that it can be easily held by the user's two hands. The two parts can either have a closed surface or can be partially perforated.

The tube emptier according to the invention can be of numerous widths, the insertion opening and the width of the rollers being decisive for the respective tube width.

When the tube emptier is folded, there is an almost closed housing shape, with an insertion opening in the area near the roller and an exit opening in the area of the part ends.

Due to the foldable (upper and lower) parts, the tube emptier according to the invention is designed like a pair of pliers, the tube being passed between the rollers and, due to the reduced distance between the two rollers, the agent located in the interior of the tube being squeezed out of the tube ,

A major advantage of the present embodiment is that the tube emptier is easy to handle, since the user inserts the tube through an insertion opening provided between two rollers and rotates clockwise on a side handle. The tube is inserted in the longitudinal direction in the tube emptier according to the invention.

When the tube emptier is closed, the common axis of rotation of the upper and lower part and the axes of the upper and lower rollers are in alignment.

By inserting the tube into the front insertion opening, the force of the rollers is distributed evenly over the tube. In addition, the user must hold the housing closed without a permanent handshake.

The tube emptier according to the invention has a link guide which consists of at least one guide surface and at least one guide groove. The two axes of the rollers are brought into alignment when the tube emptier is closed by the guide.

With the slide guide, it is also achieved that the gap between the two rollers increases significantly when the tube emptier is open. Furthermore, the guide can be used to apply a pre-tensioning force to the pinched tube via the rollers.

This was not known from the prior art, since here the axis of rotation of the upper and lower parts was always arranged outside the two roller axes. Due to the horizontal distance of the axis of rotation, there was a moment load on the upper and lower parts, which the user had to counteract during the squeezing process of the tube.

In a first preferred embodiment, the entire tube emptier consists of a plastic. However, there are other materials, e.g. fiber-reinforced plastics, steel or aluminum possible.

Individual components of the tube emptier, such as the rollers or the twist grip, can also be made of a different material. For example, the roller can be made of aluminum or steel or a glass fiber reinforced material.

It is crucial in the invention that the upper parts and lower parts are designed in such a way that they already have a function or a function Get an idea of how it works. For example, the consumer immediately recognizes that the tube can only be inserted into the front opening.

In a further preferred embodiment, the tube emptier has a projection, a catch or a similar holding means in addition to the link guide, as a result of which the tube emptier remains open in the open state. This means that the upper part and the lower part are kept spaced apart.

It is crucial that the three axes, i.e. the common axis of rotation of the upper and lower part, and the upper axis of the upper roller, and the lower axis of the lower roller are arranged approximately in alignment. The common axis is also referred to below as the arrangement axis.

In a preferred embodiment, the arrangement axis is slightly inclined with respect to the vertical axis. For example, the arrangement axis is inclined forward in the direction of the insertion opening.

The slightly forward inclined arrangement has the advantage that the upper and lower parts of the tube emptier are deliberately pressed together during the rotary movement on the rotary handle, since the tube emptier is contracted due to the angular position of the axes due to the retraction process of the two rotating rollers. If there is now a rotary movement of the rotary handle counter to the pull-in direction, a force arises which causes the upper part to spring open, since the arrangement axis is arranged off-center.

In addition and in addition, at least one link guide, which is arranged in the area of the inner surfaces between the upper and lower parts, helps. The link guide preferably consists of a guide surface and a guide groove and causes the three axes to move in the closed state are still in the arrangement axis and prevents the upper and / or lower part from jumping open during the emptying process of the tube.

In addition, the semicircular link guide provides protection for the axis of rotation of the upper and lower parts, since the guide guide absorbs the forces generated over the entire surface due to its guide surface. It is decisive here that the guide surface rests on a lower surface of the guide groove and thus a force transmission over the entire surface takes place to the respective upper and lower parts.

In a further preferred embodiment, the upper part and lower part are made of a non-transparent plastic. Of course, the invention claims all surfaces, it being possible, for example, that either the upper part and / or the lower part consists of a transparent plastic, so that the user can always see where the tube is and what is inside the upper part during the tube emptying process - and lower part takes place.

In a further preferred embodiment, in the closed state of the tube emptier, the rollers do not have a distance equal to zero, but a distance of minus 3/10, so that a preload occurs between the rollers. As a result, an effective tube squeezing process is achieved in particular.

The prestressing effect is further enhanced by the use of (elastically designed) plastic rollers, which curve convexly when the tube is passed through, as a result of which the tube material is effectively processed.

The subject matter of the present invention results not only from the subject matter of the individual patent claims, but also from the combination of the individual patent claims with one another.

• Fig. 1 zeigt eine perspektivische Darstellung eines geschlossenen Tubenentleerers
• Fig. 2 zeigt eine Draufsicht des Tubenentleerers
• Fig. 3 zeigt eine Explosionszeichnung des erfindungsgemäßen Tubenentleerers
• Fig. 4 zeigt eine Frontansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Tubenentleerers
• Fig. 5 zeigt eine Rückansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Tubenentleerers
• Fig. 6 zeigt Einzelteile des Tubenentleerers
• Fig. 7 zeigt eine perspektivische Frontansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Tubenentleerers
• Fig. 8 zeigt eine Frontansicht des Tubenentleerers
• Fig. 9 zeigt einen Schnitt AA des Tubenentleerers
• Fig. 10 zeigt eine Seitenansicht des Tubenentleerers mit dem Schnitt BB
• Fig. 11 zeigt den Schnitt BB des Tubenentleerers
• Fig. 12 zeigt einen Schnitt CC durch den erfindungsgemäßen Tubenentleerer

All of the information and features disclosed in the documents, including the summary, in particular the spatial configuration shown in the drawings, are claimed to be essential to the invention insofar as they are new to the prior art, individually or in combination.

• Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a closed tube emptier
• Fig. 2 shows a top view of the tube emptier
• Fig. 3 shows an exploded view of the tube emptier according to the invention
• Fig. 4 shows a front view of the tube emptier according to the invention
• Fig. 5 shows a rear view of the tube emptier according to the invention
• Fig. 6 shows individual parts of the tube emptier
• Fig. 7 shows a perspective front view of the tube emptier according to the invention
• Fig. 8 shows a front view of the tube emptier
• Fig. 9 shows a section AA of the tube emptier
• Fig. 10 shows a side view of the tube emptier with the section BB
• Fig. 11 shows the section BB of the tube emptier
• Fig. 12 shows a section CC through the tube emptier according to the invention

With the Fig. 13 a section of the tube emptier according to the invention is shown, the axes in particular being shown here.

The Figures 14-19 show the tube emptier according to the invention in further sections

With the Fig. 1 a perspective view of the tube emptier 1 according to the invention is shown. The tube emptier 1 essentially consists of an upper part 2 and a lower part 3.

The upper part 2 and the lower part 3 are preferably connected to one another via a rotatable connection. The connection can consist, for example, of a round projection and a round recess. For example, the round projection on the inner surface of the upper part 2 and the round recess on the outer surface of the lower part 3 can be arranged. However, other rotatable connections between the upper part and lower part are also possible.

On a side surface of the tube emptier 1 there is a turning handle 4 which is rotatably mounted in both directions. The rotary handle 4 is preferably connected to the upper roller 6.

According to the Fig. 1 Furthermore, the front insertion opening 8 is shown, which serves to insert a tube to be squeezed. The upper roller 6 and the lower roller 5 are arranged in the region of the insertion opening 8. The tube to be squeezed is inserted in the direction of arrow 7 into the insertion opening 8.

With the Fig. 2 a top view of the tube emptier 1 according to the invention is shown, the rotary handle 4 being located on one side surface. Furthermore, the Figure 2 that the upper part 2 is slightly shorter than the lower part 3, which enables easy engagement and thus easy opening of the upper part 2.

According to the Fig. 3 there is an elongated hole 13 on the lower part 3, in which the axis 21 or the drive axis 11 of the rotary handle 4 moves during the folding process.

It also follows from the Fig. 3 that the lower roller 5 has a recess 16 and the upper roller 6 has a recess 15. The rotary handle 4 can be inserted into the recess 15. The recess 16 is used for rotating mounting relative to two (bearing) pins 9a, 9b in the region of the inside of the lower part 3.

The rotary handle 4 preferably has a drive shaft 11 with a profile 12, which interacts positively with the recess 15 of the upper shaft 6. With the help of the profiling 12 and the profiled recess 15 it is achieved that when the rotary handle 4 rotates, a force transmission to the axis 6 takes place.

Based on Fig. 3 it can also be seen that the upper part 2 has a recess 10 on one side surface. The lateral recess 10 on the upper part 2 serves primarily for the rotary handle to first push its drive shaft 11 through the elongated hole 13 and then through the recess 10. In particular, storage of the upper roller 6 is thereby achieved.

The upper roller 6 is according to the Fig. 3 on the opposite side with a journal 14 in connection. The bearing pin 14 is designed in such a way that rotation relative to the upper part 2 is possible. Thus, the recess 15 of the upper roller 2 preferably has a profiling only in the area near the twist grip, which cooperates with the profiling 12 of the drive axle. No profiling is arranged in the area of the bearing journal 14, so that a free rotation with respect to the upper part 2 can take place here.

With the 4, 5, 6 and 7 the individual components of the tube emptier 1 according to the invention are shown again in an exploded view

With the Fig. 4 it is shown that the lower part 3 has an insertion opening 8 into which the tube to be emptied can be inserted. The insertion opening 8 preferably has an oval shape and is delimited by a peripheral edge. It is crucial that the insertion opening 8 is present as a whole in the area of the lower part 3. Because of the undivided shape, the insertion opening 8 is very stable and offers sufficient support for the tube when it is inserted between the two rollers 5, 6.

In addition, the user can immediately determine from the size of the insertion opening 8 which tube size can be processed with the tube emptier 1 according to the invention.

Based on Fig. 5 it is shown that the lower roller 5 has a recess 16 which cooperates in the lower part with a pin 9a. The lower roller 5 is designed to be rotatable and is connected both to the pin 9a and to the pin 9b on the opposite side.

The lower part 3 has a guide surface 17, which is preferably of semicircular design. The guide surface 17 protrudes beyond the inside of the lower part 3 and preferably interacts with a guide groove 18 of the upper part 2.

The upper part 2 has a projection 22 in the lateral area, which holds the upper part 2 in the open position relative to the lower part 3 in the open state of the tube emptier 1. The projection 22 can have any geometric shape, but it is preferred according to FIG Figure 5 designed as a round knob.

With the Figure 6 the lower part 3 and the lower roller 5 is shown again. The underside of the lower part 3 is shaped so that it is easily grasped by the user's hand.

From the Figure 7 it can be seen that on the opposite side of the pin 9a a further pin 9b for the rotatable mounting of the lower roller 5 with the recess 16 is arranged.

With the Figure 8 a schematic front view and different sections of the tube emptier 1 according to the invention are shown. The different cuts are in the following Figures 9-11 explained in more detail.

Figure 9 shows the section AA in detail. The upper roller 6 is arranged in the region of the upper part 2 and the lower roller 5 in the region of the lower part 3. Both rollers 5, 6 interlock in the closed state of the tube emptier 1. As a result, an effective emptying of the tube is achieved when the tube is passed between the two rollers 5, 6.

When the upper roller 6 rotates, the toothed engagement of the two rollers 5, 6 results in a power transmission to the lower roller 5. Due to the freely rotating mounting of the lower roller 5, the tube is thus passed through the toothed engagement of the two rollers 5, 6.

Due to the large diameter reduction in the area of the rollers 5, 6 and the elastic deformability of the tube body, the tube is squeezed, causing the contents (e.g. toothpaste, mustard, cream, mayo, etc.). is pressed in the direction of the tube opening. This results in an almost empty or almost residue-free tube body.

From the Figure 9 it can also be seen that the lower part 3 also has a rotatable bearing 9 which interacts with the recess 16 of the roller 5.

In the closed state of the tube emptier 1, the upper part 2 lies on the lower part 3, the rollers 5 and 6 being in alignment.

With the Figure 10 the arrangement of the section BB is shown, which with the Figure 11 is explained in more detail. Based on Figure 11 It can be seen that in the closed state the axes of rotation 19 of the upper and lower parts 2, 3, the axis 21 of the upper roller 6, and the axis 20 of the lower roller 5 are arranged parallel to one another.

Furthermore goes from the Figure 11 shows that the guide surface 17 is in the closed state of the tube emptier 1 within the guide groove 18. Good power transmission between the upper and lower part 2, 3 is thereby achieved.

The Figure 12 shows that both the axis 19 and the axes 20 and 21 are in alignment.

Figure 13 shows an enlarged view of the section CC according to the Figure 8 , In the closed state of the tube emptier 1, the axis 20 of the lower roller 5, as well as the axis 21 of the upper roller 6, and the axis of rotation 19 are located on a common axis 23, which is referred to as the arrangement axis 23. The arrangement axis 23 has an angle 25 with respect to the actual vertical axis 24.

The arrangement axis 23 can be arranged parallel to the vertical axis 24 or also at an inclined angle 25 to the vertical axis 24.

In a preferred embodiment, the angle 25 between the axes 24 and 23 is inclined by approximately 10 degrees. This means that the axis 23 has inclined at an angle 25 in the direction of the insertion opening 8.

The aligned alignment of the three axes 19, 21 and 20 results in the advantage that the (moment) forces which occur during the Emptying of the tube arise, be greatly reduced. In addition, the inclined arrangement axis 23 counteracts the forces occurring, so that the upper part 2 remains on the lower part 2. This prevents the upper part 2 from popping open.

Furthermore, the inclination of the arrangement axis 23 at an angle 25 has the advantage that a retraction movement of the tube in the direction of the rollers 5, 6 is achieved when the handle 4 is rotated.

From the Figure 13 it also follows that the arrangement axis 23 is inclined such that the upper roller 6 is arranged horizontally closer to the insertion opening 8 than the lower roller 5. However, the smallest horizontal distance from the insertion opening 8 is at the axis of rotation 19.

Thus, the angle 25, which is preferably inclined forward by 10 degrees, results in an additional contraction of the two rollers 5, 6 when the (rotary) handle 4 is rotated.

If the rotary handle 4 rotates in the opposite direction, that is to say counterclockwise, the upper part 2 jumps open immediately.

According to the Figure 13 the axes 19, 20 and 21 are at a distance 26 and 27. The distance 26 results between the center points of the axis 20 (lower roller 5) and the center of the axis 21 (upper roller 6).

The distance 27 results between the center of the axis 21 (upper roller 6) and the center of the axis 19 (axis of rotation of FIGS. 2 and 3). Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the axis distance 26 has an undersize, ie less than 0, as a result of which the axes 20 and 21 are compressed more than intended.

Furthermore, from the Figure 13 recognize that when the upper part 2 is opened relative to the lower part 3, the pivot point of the axis 19 is guided in the direction of the vertical axis 24.

Figure 14 shows the positions of the sections AA and CC with respect to the tube emptier 1 according to the invention.

With the Figure 15 the tube emptier 1 is shown in section AA in its open position. The upper part 2 is folded up in the direction of arrow 28.

The upper roller 6, which is connected to the upper part 2, is spaced from the lower roller 5. There is an enlarged distance 29 between the rollers 5, 6, so that a tube can be inserted easily. In the open state of the tube emptier 1, the distance 29 is thus greater than the distance 26.

According to the Figure 16 the section CC is shown. The upper part 2 has the guide groove 18, in which the guide surface 17 of the lower part 3 is slidably arranged.

The axis 20 of the lower roller 5 and the axis of rotation 19 of the upper and lower parts 2, 3 are still in alignment with the arrangement axis 23 when the tube emptier 1 is open. The arrangement axis 23 is inclined at an angle 25 with respect to the vertical axis 24.

The Figures 17 to 19 show the tube emptier 1 in the closed state. From the Figure 18 it follows that in the closed state the two rollers 5, 6 are in meshed engagement.

According to the Figure 19 , which shows the section CC, it follows that the guide surface 17 is received almost completely in the guide groove 18.

drawing Legend

1.

Tubenentleerer

Second

top

Third

lower part

4th

rotary handle

5th

Roller (bottom)

6th

Roller (top)

7th

arrow

8th.

insertion

9th

Recording for 5

10th

recess

11th

drive axle

12th

profiling

13th

Long hole

14th

pivot

15th

Recess for 11

16th

Recess for 9a, 9b

17th

guide surface

18th

guide

19th

Axis of rotation of 2, 3

20th

Axis of 5

21st

Axis of 6

22nd

Projection (stop position)

23rd

arrangement axis

24th

vertical axis

25th

angle

26th

Center distance between 20 and 21

27th

Center distance between 21 and 19

28th

arrow

29th

Distance in the open position

Claims (15)

1. Tube-emptying device (1) consisting of an upper part (2) and a lower part (3) which are connected via a rotational axis (19), wherein an upper roller (6) with an axis (21) and a turning handle (4) are arranged to be rotatable on the upper part (2) and a lower roller (5) with an axis (20) is arranged to be rotatable on the lower part (3) and a tube can be led between the rollers (5, 6), wherein in the working position of the tube-emptying device (1), the rotational axis (19) and the two axes (20, 21) of the rollers (5, 6) lie approximately in alignment on a common arrangement axis (23), characterised in that the upper part (2) has a guide groove (18) which cooperates with a guide surface (17) of the lower part (3) and the guide groove (18) and the guide surface (17) together form a connecting link guide.
2. Tube-emptying device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that in the region close to the roller, an end face-side insertion opening (8) is present and the introduction of the tube through the insertion opening (8) is effected in the longitudinal direction of the tube-emptying device (1).
3. Tube-emptying device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the arrangement axis (23) is inclined, wherein the upper roller (6) is arranged closer to the insertion opening (8) than the lower roller (5).
4. Tube-emptying device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the arrangement axis (23) is inclined at an angle (25) in the direction of the introduction opening (8).
5. Tube-emptying device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the guide surface (17) and the guide groove (18) are designed to be semi-circular.
6. Tube-emptying device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the tube-emptying device (1), in addition to the connecting link guide, has a holding means (22), whereby the tube-emptying device (1) remains in the opened state.
7. Tube-emptying device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the lower part (3) has an elongated hole (13) in which the axis (20) is arranged to be movable.
8. Tube-emptying device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that in the working position of the tube-emptying device (1), a distance (26) is present between the axis (20) of the lower roller (5) and the axis (21) of the upper roller (5).
9. Tube-emptying device (1) according to claim 8, characterised in that in the opened state of the tube-emptying device (1), a distance (28) is present which is greater than the distance (26).
10. Tube-emptying device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that in the opened state of the tube-emptying device (1), the axis (20) and the axis (19) lie in alignment on the arrangement axis (23) and the axis (21) of the upper roller (6) is located in the region of the vertical axis (24).
11. Tube-emptying device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the tube-emptying device (1) consists of plastic.
12. Tube-emptying device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the upper part (2) and/or lower part (3) consists of a transparent plastic.
13. Tube-emptying device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the roller (6) and the roller (5) are formed as resilient plastic rollers which are curved convexly when leading through the tube.
14. Tube-emptying device (1) according to one of claims 2 to 13, characterised in that the insertion opening (8) as a whole is present in the region of the lower part (3).
15. Tube-emptying device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that in the closed state of the tube-emptying device (1), the two rollers (5, 6) are in toothed engagement.

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