Method and apparatus for dispensing material from a squeeze tube

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing material from a squeeze tube is disclosed. The tube is attached to a frame and a force moves a push rod away from the frame and presses rollers against the each side of the squeeze tube. The disclosed apparatus is adapted to dispense materials from tubes having a assortment of sizes and holding materials of variety of viscosities.

1 . An apparatus for dispensing material from a squeeze tube where the squeeze tube has a distal end for dispensing the material and has a proximal end, the apparatus comprising: 
 a frame with a retainer for attaching the proximal end of the tube to the frame, the frame further having a push rod extending in the distal direction wherein the push rod moves in the distal direction in response to a force;    a roller holder coupled to the distal end of the push rod; and    at least one pair of rollers mounted to the roller holder wherein the rollers when moved in the distal direction compress the sides of the tube thereby forcing material from the tube.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the force is provided by a squeeze handle.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the force is applied by an energy source.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein there is one roller pair and one roller of the pair is a fixed roller and the other roller is an insertable roller.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer is comprised of two plates that are forced together for gripping the proximal end of the tube.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the push rod is allowed to move in the distal direction by a release tab in the frame.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus for dispensing material from a squeeze tube where the tube has a dispensing end and proximal end, the apparatus comprising: 
 a first roller wherein the first roller is placed on one side of the tube;    a second roller wherein the second roller is placed on the other side of the tube opposite the first roller; and    a push rod coupled to the rollers wherein the rollers force material from the tube when the push rod moves the rollers towards the dispensing end of the tube.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the push rod extends from a frame and is pushed forward by a force provided by an energy source.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the energy source is a squeeze trigger coupled to the frame.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the distal end of the push rod is coupled to a roller frame and the roller frame holds the rollers.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein at least one of the rollers is an insertable roller.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the rollers have a cylindrical shape and turn about an axis.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the proximal end of the tube is coupled to a frame with a retainer and the push rod extends through the frame.  
   
   
       14 . A method for dispensing material from a squeeze tube where the squeeze tube has a distal end for dispensing the material and a proximal end, the method comprising: 
 attaching the proximal end of the tube to a frame;    positioning rollers on opposing sides of the tube; and    pushing the rollers towards the distal end of the tube, thereby dispensing material from the tube.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the attaching step comprises: 
 placing the proximal end of the tube in a retainer; and    pressing the retainer plates together for gripping the tube.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the positioning step comprises; 
 placing a first roller against one side of the tube; and    placing a second roller against the other side of the tube.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the pushing step comprises; 
 providing an energy source for pushing the rollers; and    applying energy from the energy source for furnishing a pushing force to the rollers.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the pushing force is coupled to the rollers by a push rod and roller holder.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the energy source is a user of the method.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the rollers are removed from the sides of tube and the tube is detached from the frame when dispensing is no longer desired.