Abstract: A mold unit (30) defines an elongate cavity (70) and has an injection inlet port (90) for a viscous material at one end of the cavity and an injection outlet port (92) at the other end of the cavity. The mold unit includes a gas vent formed by a gap (G2) between two parts of the mold unit. The gap extends continuously or intermittently in the length direction of the the mold unit, while penetrating through the mold unit in the thickness direction such that it provides fluid communication between an interior space and an exterior space of the cavity. The gap is shaped such that, although gasses pass through, the viscous material does not pass due to fluidity resistance of the viscous material resulting from its viscosity. As a result, the gas vent acts to block leakage of the viscous material while permitting degassing of the viscous material.

Abstract: A method for producing a sealant includes a weighing and mixing step, a kneading step, a stirring and defoaming step, and a filling step. In the weighing and mixing step, a main component and a curing agent are weighed and mixed together. In the kneading step, the mixture mixed in the weighing and mixing step is kneaded. In the stirring and defoaming step, the kneaded product kneaded in the kneading step is stirred and defoamed. In the filling step, the kneaded product defoamed in the stirring and defoaming step is filled into a container. In the stirring and defoaming step, the kneaded product is stirred under a condition wherein a stirring rotational speed at which the kneaded product is stirred and a stirring time for which the kneaded product is stirred are within a range from an arithmetic product lower limit value to an arithmetic product upper limit value.

Abstract: A cartridge usable in a viscous-material dispenser includes a cylinder, a plunger in the cylinder, and a plurality of ribs extending radially from an outer surface of the plunger to an inner surface of the cylinder. The ribs are circumferentially separated by a plurality of clearances, and the ribs and the clearances extend in an axial direction. Each of the plurality of clearances is defined by two adjacent ribs. The ribs and clearances are configured to allow the venting of gas through the clearances during a beginning of a cartridge filling operation and to impede the movement of the viscous material through the clearances during a remainder of the cartridge filling operation such that, at an end of the cartridge filling operation, the ribs and bodies of the viscous material in the clearances form an airtight seal between the plunger and the cylinder.

Abstract: A cartridge (12) for a viscous-material dispenser includes a plunger (10) that is slidable within a cylinder (18). A seal body (104) forms between an outer circumferential surface (82) of the plunger and an inner circumferential surface (84) of the cylinder when a viscous material flows into a radial tubular clearance (106) that continuously extends both axially and circumferentially between the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface. Ridges (100) may be formed on the outer circumferential surface of the plunger to guide the inflowing viscous material and facilitate the formation of the seal body.

Abstract: A method for transferring a viscous material from a container into a dispensing syringe having first and second ends, the second end being a discharge port smaller than the inner diameter of the main body portion, includes inserting into the syringe a plug configured to permit gas flow in only one direction to divide a chamber within the syringe into a first sub-chamber in communication with the discharge port and a second sub-chamber in communication with the first open end of the syringe. Then, a rod is inserted into the syringe from the first open end of the syringe to engage the plug, and the viscous material is extruded from the container and through the discharge port into the first sub-chamber of the syringe. While the first sub-chamber is being filled with the viscous material, the plug and the rod are moving away from the discharge port.

Abstract: A cartridge for a viscous-material dispenser includes a cylinder and a plunger axially slidably fitted in the cylinder and dividing the cylinder into a filling chamber and a pressurizing chamber and includes a plurality of solid spacers in an annular gap between the plunger and the cylinder for maintaining a minimum spacing between the plunger and the cylinder. The spacers at least partially define a plurality of passages that fluidically connect the filling and pressurizing chambers and are configured such that a first portion of the viscous material extending from the filling chamber into the plurality of passages forms a seal together with the solid spacers to prevent a second portion of the viscous material located in the filling chamber from entering the plurality of passages.

Abstract: A method for transferring a viscous material from a container into a dispensing syringe having first and second ends, the second end being a discharge port smaller than the inner diameter of the main body portion, includes inserting into the syringe a plug configured to permit gas flow in only one direction to divide a chamber within the syringe into a first sub-chamber in communication with the discharge port and a second sub-chamber in communication with the first open end of the syringe. Then, a rod is inserted into the syringe from the first open end of the syringe to engage the plug, and the viscous material is extruded from the container and through the discharge port into the first sub-chamber of the syringe. While the first sub-chamber is being filled with the viscous material, the plug and the rod are moving away from the discharge port.

Abstract: A cartridge (12) for a viscous-material dispenser includes a plunger (10) that is slidable within a cylinder (18). A seal body (104) forms between an outer circumferential surface (82) of the plunger and an inner circumferential surface (84) of the cylinder when a viscous material flows into a radial tubular clearance (106) that continuously extends both axially and circumferentially between the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface. Ridges (100) may be formed on the outer circumferential surface of the plunger to guide the inflowing viscous material and facilitate the formation of the seal body.

Abstract: A method for transferring a viscous material into a syringe that has a plug dividing a syringe interior into a first sub-chamber and a second sub-chamber, where a radial clearance exists between the plug and the syringe, includes transferring the viscous material from a container into the first sub-chamber to fill the first sub-chamber while allowing air initially present within the first sub-chamber to flow into the second sub-chamber via the radial clearance, and flowing a first volume of the viscous material into but not through the radial clearance such that the viscosity of the first volume of the viscous material and the radial clearance cooperate to block a flow of a second volume of the viscous material into the radial clearance and prevent the second volume of the viscous material from leaking from the first sub-chamber into the second sub-chamber.

Abstract: A plunger is fittable within a cylinder of a pneumatic dispenser that discharges a viscous material. The plunger has a first portion located at the front, and a second portion located at the rear. The second portion is a hollow structure and has a circumferential wall. An inner circumferential surface of this circumferential wall has a tapered surface. The circumferential wall has a thickness dimension that decreases in the axial direction moving away from the first portion. Therefore, the circumferential wall easily displaces in the radial direction, because the bending stiffness decreases in the axial direction moving away from the first portion. The first portion is a solid structure that is more rigid than the second portion. The first portion also has a partition wall surface that separates the inner chamber of the second portion from the solid section of the first portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling a syringe by transferring a viscous material from a container into the syringe includes a container having an interior that holds the viscous material and a plunger that expels the viscous material from the container. A syringe is connected to the container for receiving the viscous material at an entrance opening. The syringe includes a plug that separates the syringe into first and second sub-chambers and a rod contacting the plug and applying a force in the direction of the entrance opening. An assisting device assists in moving the rod away from the entrance opening as the first subchamber fills with the viscous material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for transferring and filling a viscous material from a container into a syringe while preventing the ingress of gas into the viscous material during the process of filling the syringe with the viscous material, but without requiring a housing for holding both the container and the syringe in an air-tight manner. The method includes inserting a plunger into the container that holds the viscous material and inserting a first plug, which permits gas flow in one direction, into the syringe. Then, the container is coupled to the syringe, a rod is inserted into the syringe such that the rod engages with the first plug, and the plunger is pushed within the container, thereby extruding the viscous material from the container. As a result, the extruded viscous material is transferred into the syringe and the syringe is filled with the viscous material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for transferring and filling a viscous material from a container into a syringe while preventing the ingress of gas into the viscous material during the process of filling the syringe with the viscous material, but without requiring a housing for holding both the container and the syringe in an air-tight manner. The method includes inserting a plunger into the container that holds the viscous material and inserting a first plug, which permits gas flow in one direction, into the syringe. Then, the container is coupled to the syringe, a rod is inserted into the syringe such that the rod engages with the first plug, and the plunger is pushed within the container, thereby extruding the viscous material from the container. As a result, the extruded viscous material is transferred into the syringe and the syringe is filled with the viscous material.