Cartridge for fluid material and dispensing apparatus for such a cartridge

Abstract

A cartridge for fluid material comprises a tubular receiver and a plunger. The tubular receiver is provided at its front end portion with an outlet opening. The plunger is disposed in the tubular receiver at its rear end portion so as to be slidable therein. The tubular receiver is formed of a thin film.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cartridge for fluid material, which comprises: 
 a tubular receiver provided at its front end portion with an outlet opening; and    a plunger disposed in said tubular receiver at its rear end portion so as to be slidable therein,    wherein:    said tubular receiver is formed of a thin film.    
     
     
         2 . The cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said tubular receiver is provided on its outer peripheral surface at a rear end thereof, in which said plunger is fitted, with a reinforcement member having a ring-shape.    
     
     
         3 . The cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said tubular receiver is provided on its inner peripheral surface between the rear end portion thereof and said plunger with a reinforcement member having a ring-shape.    
     
     
         4 . The cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said tubular receiver is provided on its outer peripheral surface at a rear end thereof with at least one stopper member, said stopper member projecting outwardly in a diametrical direction of said tubular receiver.    
     
     
         5 . The cartridge as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein: 
 said stopper member is formed into a ring-shape.    
     
     
         6 . The cartridge as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 an outer tube having rigidity, into which said tubular receiver is to be detachably inserted from the front end portion thereof, said outer tube having an end, which is to be brought into contact with said stopper member of said tubular receiver so as to prevent said tubular receiver from moving relative to said outer tube in a direction from the rear end portion of said tubular receiver toward the front end portion thereof.    
     
     
         7 . The cartridge as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 an outer tube having rigidity, into which said tubular receiver is to be detachably inserted from the front end portion thereof, said outer tube having an end, which is to be brought into contact with said stopper member of said tubular receiver so as to prevent said tubular receiver from moving relative to said outer tube in a direction from the rear end portion of said tubular receiver toward the front end portion thereof.    
     
     
         8 . The cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said tubular receiver has on its outer peripheral surface a plurality of reinforcing ribs extending in a longitudinal direction of said tubular receiver, each of said plurality of reinforcing ribs having opposite ends, which are connected to the rear end portion and the front end portion of said tubular receiver, respectively, so as to prevent said tubular receiver from being collapsed in the longitudinal direction thereof.    
     
     
         9 . The cartridge as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the opposite ends of each of said plurality of reinforcing ribs are detachably connected to the rear end portion and the front end portion of said tubular receiver, respectively.    
     
     
         10 . The cartridge as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  9 , wherein: 
 said tubular receiver tapers off from the rear end portion thereof to the front end portion thereof.  
 
     
     
         11 . A dispensing apparatus for a cartridge for fluid material, said cartridge comprising a tubular receiver provided at its front end portion with an outlet opening and on its outer peripheral surface at a rear end thereof with at least one stopper member projecting outwardly, and a plunger disposed in said tubular receiver so as to be slidable therein, said dispensing apparatus comprising: 
 a support section for supporting said cartridge; and    a piston for moving said plunger of said cartridge from a rear end side thereof toward a front end side thereof to discharge the fluid material received in said tubular receiver from the outlet opening,    wherein:    said support section has a restricting portion, which is to be brought into contact with said stopper member of said cartridge so as to prevent said cartridge from moving in a direction from the rear end side of said cartridge to the front end side thereof.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said restricting portion of said support section has a tubular shape so that said tubular receiver of said cartridge can be inserted from the front end portion thereof into said restricting portion; and    said restricting portion is swingably supported on said support section around an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of said cartridge.