Method of Mixing and Extruding Viscous Materials and Gearbox for Dispensing the Same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of mixing and dispensing viscous materials, comprising the steps of: inserting a cartridge containing one or more viscous materials in a chamber; activating a first motor ( 1 ) to move a plunger from a first position to a second position within the cartridge and activating a second motor ( 2 ) to move the plunger from the second position further within the cartridge to dispense the material.

1 . A method of mixing and dispensing viscous materials, comprising the steps of:
 a) Inserting a cartridge containing one or more viscous materials in a chamber;   b) Activating a first motor to move a plunger via an output drive shaft from a first position to a second position within the cartridge;   c) Activating a second motor to move the plunger via said output drive shaft from the second position further within the cartridge to dispense the material,   wherein the speed of said output drive shaft is the sum or the difference of the driving speed of the first motor and the second motor.   
   
   
       2 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second motor is activated before or when the plunger reaches the second position. 
   
   
       3 . (canceled) 
   
   
       4 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first motor is deactivated before or when the plunger reaches the second position. 
   
   
       5 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first position is a position in which the cartridge can be inserted in and/or removed from the chamber, and the second position is a position in which the plunger contacts the material. 
   
   
       6 . (canceled) 
   
   
       7 . Method according to  claim 1 , comprising the step of monitoring the load of the first motor to detect whether the plunger has reached the second position. 
   
   
       8 . (canceled) 
   
   
       9 . Method according to  claim 1 , comprising the step of deactivating the second motor to stop the dispensing. 
   
   
       10 . Method according to  claim 1 , comprising the step activating the first motor and/or second motor in opposite directions when the dispensing is completed. 
   
   
       11 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second motor is used for mixing the material. 
   
   
       12 . A gearbox which is adapted to be driven by at least a first motor and a second motor and which comprises at least a first output drive shaft, wherein the gearbox is adapted to drive the first output drive shaft with a higher torque when driven with the second motor than when driven with the first motor and adapted to drive the first output drive shaft with a higher speed or more revolutions per minute when driven with the first motor than when driven with the second motor, wherein the speed of the first output drive shaft is the sum or difference of the first motor and the second motor. 
   
   
       13 . Gearbox according to  claim 12  comprising.
 a superimposing gear drive comprising a carrier, a first gear, a second gear and at least one third gear supported by the carrier;   the second gear being adapted to be driven by a first motor and the first gear or the carrier being adapted to be driven by a second motor.   
   
   
       14 . Gearbox according to  claim 12 , comprising a first output drive shaft, wherein said first output drive shaft is connected either to the carrier when the first gear is adapted to be driven by the second motor, or to the first gear when the carrier is adapted to be driven by the second motor. 
   
   
       15 . Gearbox according to  claim 12 , further comprising a second output drive shaft. 
   
   
       16 . Gearbox according to  claim 12 , wherein the second output drive shaft is adapted to be connected to a mixing tip. 
   
   
       17 . Gearbox according to  claim 12 , wherein the gearbox is adapted such that the first motor and the second motor drive the first output drive shaft. 
   
   
       18 . Gearbox according to  claim 12 , wherein the gearbox is adapted that the first motor and the second motor can drive the first output shaft at the same time, and wherein the speed of the first output drive shaft is the sum of (a) the product of the speed of the first motor and a first transmission ratio; and (b) the product of the speed of the second motor and a second transmission ratio. 
   
   
       19 . (canceled) 
   
   
       20 . Gearbox according to  claim 12 , wherein when the first output drive shaft is driven by the first motor and the second motor at the same time, the speed of the first output drive shaft is provided predominantly by the first motor. 
   
   
       21 . Gearbox according to  claim 12 , wherein when the first output drive shaft is driven by the first motor and the second motor at the same time, the speed of the first output drive shaft is provided predominantly by the second motor. 
   
   
       22 . Gearbox according to  claim 12 , wherein the second output drive shaft has a fixed speed ratio relative to the first output drive shaft. 
   
   
       23 . (canceled) 
   
   
       24 . Gearbox according to  claim 12 , wherein the first output drive shaft is adapted for moving a plunger, and the second output drive shaft has a fixes speed ratio relative to the second motor. 
   
   
       25 . Gearbox according to  claim 12 , wherein the gearbox is adapted for dispensing highly viscous material with higher torque at the first output drive shaft, followed by the fast change of the direction of rotation at the first output drive shaft so that further dispensation of highly viscous material is prevented. 
   
   
       26 . Gearbox according to  claim 12 , wherein the speed ratio at the first output drive shalt between driving said output drive shaft with the first motor only and driving said output drive shaft with the second motor only, is preferably from 30-200, and more preferably 100. 
   
   
       27 . Gearbox according to  claim 12 , wherein the second output drive shaft rotates only when the second motor is rotating. 
   
   
       28 . Gearbox according to  claim 12 , wherein the first output drive shaft is for moving a piston with high speed. 
   
   
       29 . Gearbox according to  claim 12 , wherein the superimposing gear drive is one of the group of a bevel gear drive, a differential gear drive and a planetary gear drive. 
   
   
       30 . (canceled) 
   
   
       31 . A drive unit comprising:
 a gear box according to  claim 12 ; and   a first motor and a second motor.   
   
   
       32 - 33 . (canceled) 
   
   
       34 . System for dispensing and/or mixing highly viscous dental products and/or materials, comprising:
 a drive unit according to  claim 31 , and at least one of the following features:   at least one dispensing cartridge preferably containing a dental material or a component thereof;   at least one plunger adapted to enter an open end of the cartridge and to expel dental material or a component thereof;   a mixing tip for mixing dental material or merging and mixing components when the dental material or components is/are expelled from the cartridge(s);   a first drive train for advancing the plunger by the first output drive shaft;   a second drive train for advancing the plunger by the second output drive shaft; and   an electrical drive unit for driving and controlling the system.   
   
   
       35 . System for dispensing and/or mixing highly viscous dental products and/or materials, comprising:
 a drive unit according to  claim 31 , and at least one of the following features:   at least one dispensing cartridge preferably containing a dental material or a component thereof;   at least one plunger adapted to enter an open end of the cartridge and to expel dental material or a component thereof;   a mixing tip for mixing dental material or merging and mixing components when the dental material or components is/are expelled from the cartridge(s);   a first drive train for advancing the plunger by the first output drive shaft;   a second drive train for driving the mixing tip by the second output drive shaft; and   an electrical drive unit for driving and controlling the system.   
   
   
       36 - 42 . (canceled)