Apparatus for dispensing paste material from a collapsible tube

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing material from a collapsible tube of the present invention includes a pair of pinch rollers adapted to squeeze the tube from its tile to its nose and clamping means for stabilizing the tile as the rollers are moved away from the tile toward the nose. According to one embodiment, the tile is grasped by a vise which is fastened with a screw. According to another embodiment, the tile is held between a slot and a plank under the action of a cam lever. In both embodiments, the pinch rollers are preferably spring biased and carried on a lead screw driven carriage which is advanced from the tile toward the nose by rotating a knob or turning a crank.

1 . An apparatus for dispensing material from a collapsible tube having a tile at one end and a nose at the other end, said apparatus comprising: 
 a) tile stabilizing means for stabilizing the location of the tile of the tube; and    b) movable squeezing means for squeezing the tube, said movable squeezing means being movable towards and away from said tile stabilizing means.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said tile stabilizing means includes either a vise or a movable clamping bar and a cam lever.    
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 said movable squeezing means includes a pair of rollers mounted on a movable carriage.  
 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 c) a lead screw threadably coupled to said movable carriage; and    d) manual turning means coupled to said lead screw, wherein 
 said movable carriage defines a threaded throughbore which receives said lead screw such that rotation of said manual turning means in one direction causes said movable carriage to move towards said tile stabilizing means, and rotation of said manual turning means in another direction causes said movable carriage to move away from said tile stabilizing means.  
   
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 e) a base defining a channel in which said carriage moves.    
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 e) a base;    f) a front plate coupled to said base; and    g) a rear plate coupled to said base, said front plate defining a first opening and said rear plate defining a second opening, said first and second openings for capturing said lead screw.    
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein: 
 said lead screw includes non-threaded ends extending through said first and second openings, and said lead screw has a threaded middle portion having a diameter greater than a diameter of said second opening.    
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for dispensing material from a collapsible tube having a tile at one end and a nose at the other end, said apparatus comprising: 
 a) a base member having a front plate and a rear plate;    b) tile stabilizing means coupled to said rear plate for stabilizing the location of the tile of the tube relative to the rear plate; and    c) movable squeezing means for squeezing the tube, said movable squeezing means being movable between said front and rear plates.    
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said tile stabilizing means includes a vise or a movable clamping bar and a cam lever.    
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said movable squeezing means includes a pair of rollers mounted on a movable carriage.    
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 c) a lead screw threadably coupled to said movable carriage; and    d) manual turning means coupled to said lead screw, wherein 
 said movable carriage defines a threaded throughbore which receives said lead screw such that rotation of said manual turning means in one direction causes said movable carriage to move towards said tile stabilizing means, and rotation of said manual turning means in another direction causes said movable carriage to move away from said tile stabilizing means.  
   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said front plate defines a first opening and said rear plate defines a second opening, said first and second openings for capturing said lead screw.    
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said lead screw includes non-threaded ends extending through said first and second openings, and said lead screw has a threaded middle portion having a diameter greater than a diameter of said second opening.    
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein: 
 said base defines a channel in which said carriage moves.    
     
     
         15 . A combination, comprising: 
 a) a collapsible tube containing material therein, said collapsible tube having a tile at a first end and a nose at a second end; and    b) a dispensing apparatus including 
 i) tile stabilizing means for stabilizing the location of said tile of said collapsible tube, and  
 ii) movable squeezing means for squeezing said tube, said movable squeezing means being movable towards and away from said tile stabilizing means.  
   
     
     
         16 . A combination according to  claim 15 , wherein: 
 said material comprises a dental creme, gel or paste.    
     
     
         17 . A combination according to  claim 15 , wherein: 
 said tile stabilizing means includes a vise or a movable clamping bar and a cam lever, and said movable squeezing means includes a pair of rollers mounted on a movable carriage.    
     
     
         18 . A combination according to  claim 17 , wherein: 
 said dispensing apparatus further includes a lead screw threadably coupled to said movable carriage, and a manual turning means coupled to said lead screw, wherein said movable carriage defines a threaded throughbore which receives said lead screw such that rotation of said manual turning means in one direction causes said movable carriage to move towards said tile stabilizing means, and rotation of said manual turning means in another direction causes said movable carriage to move away from said tile stabilizing means.    
     
     
         19 . A combination according to  claim 17 , wherein: 
 said dispensing apparatus further includes a base, a front plate coupled to said base, and a rear plate coupled to said base, said front plate defining a first opening and said rear plate defining a second opening, said first and second openings for capturing said lead screw, and said front plate further defining means for holding said nose of said collapsible tube.    
     
     
         20 . A combination according to  claim 19 , wherein: 
 said lead screw includes non-threaded ends extending through said first and second openings, and said lead screw has a threaded middle portion having a diameter greater than a diameter of said second opening.