Abstract: Metering device (10) for metering liquid media is described comprising a valve element (24) and a valve seat (22) allocated to the valve element (24). The valve element (24) blocks an opening (20) allocated to the valve seat (22) in a closed position of the metering device (10), through said opening (22) the liquid medium flows in an open position of the metering device (10). The metering device (10) includes a membrane (28) serving as an actuator (26) that is designed rigidly flexibly and is coupled to the valve element (24) in order to adjust the valve element (24). The membrane (28) comprises at least partially a structuring (34). The metering device (10) includes a pneumatic actuator unit (14) so that the membrane (28) serving as an actuator (26) is operated pneumatically, wherein the membrane (28) is sealed against the medium to be metered. Moreover, a method for metering liquid media is described.

Abstract: For the pre-activation of cationically polymerizing materials a radiation source is used which has a radiation surface formed by a plurality of LEDs. The radiation surface is spaced a small distance from the material to be irradiated. Irradiation is performed such that the material is heated to less than 50° C. and that a sufficient potlife is achieved which enables the material to be further processed before it cures.

Abstract: An apparatus for photopolymerizing synthetic materials, specifically dental materials containing camphor quinone or phosphine oxide as a photo-initiator, includes a light source constituted by a semiconductor base solid-state radiation emitter 12 which emits in the blue spectral range. Since the radiation emitter emits in a small useful spectral range only, any heat radiation is avoided. The overall device is formed as a small, light-weight and handy device with a built-in battery 15. The solid-state radiation emitter 12, which is preferably operated in the light emitting diode (LED) mode, may be arranged directly on the tip 20 of the apparatus which can be directed toward the treatment site.

Abstract: A device for emptying a film tube 15 containing a pasty substance comprises a cap structure 11 including a transverse wall 12 supporting the front of the tube, a cylindrical flange 13 formed on the wall for receiving the front end of the tube, and a dispensing pipe 17. The pipe 17 extends from a recess 16 formed in the wall 12 and having an at least partially circular-cylindrical shape, with a spike 18 being integrally formed at the center of the recess and extending parallel to the axis of the tube. The tip 19 of the spike is retracted from the plane of the wall 12. When dispensing pressure is exerted on the tube 15, the portion of the tube film overlying the recess 16 will bulge into the recess, until its central part is scratched by the tip 19 of the spike and thus caused to burst. The content of the tube can then flow into the recess 16 surrounding the spike 18 and out through the pipe 17.

Abstract: A container for storing and dispensing a substance, particularly a dental substance, comprises a cylindrical cartridge 20 and a dispensing nozzle 21 communicating therewith. The dispensing nozzle 21 is formed as a rigid curved tube having an inlet opening of the same diameter as the cartridge 20 and being aligned with the cartridge axis 14, whereas the dispensing opening of the nozzle 21 extends at an angle with respect to the cartridge axis 14. The nozzle 21 is circularly curved and tapers in such a way that its inner cross-sectional shape is circular throughout the length of the nozzle. The interior cross-section and the wall thickness of the nozzle 21 decrease toward the dispensing end.

Abstract: For emptying a film tube 15 containing a flowable substance, the front end f the tube is provided with a ring 17 the peripheral portion 19 of which exceeds the inner diameter of a cartridge 1 which receives the tube 15. The ring 17 has a conical sealing surface 20 which cooperates with a sealing edge 12 formed inside the cap 2. In operation, the cylindrical rear portion 7 of the cap 2 is slid onto a front portion 4 of the cartridge 1, whereby the ring 17 provided on the tube 15 has its sealing surface 20 centered and aligned in the radial and axial directions to ensure proper engagement between the sealing edge 12 and the sealing surface 20.

Abstract: For emptying a film tube 15 containing a flowable substance, the front end f the tube is provided with a ring 17 the peripheral portion 19 of which exceeds the inner diameter of a cartridge 1 which receives the tube 15. The ring 17 has a conical sealing surface 20 which cooperates with a sealing edge 12 formed inside the cap 2. In operation, the cylindrical rear portion 7 of the cap 2 is slid onto a front portion 4 of the cartridge 1, whereby the ring 17 provided on the tube 15 has its sealing surface 20 centered and aligned in the radial and axial directions to ensure proper engagement between the sealing edge 12 and the sealing surface 20.

Abstract: The container includes a film tube 11 for flowable substances. The film t is opened and placed in a cylindrical housing 31 between a cap 33 and a movable piston 32. At the end facing the cap 33, the tube 11 is provided with a ring 20 which has a conical sealing surface 21. When the piston 32 is advanced to dispense the content of the tube 11, the sealing surface 21 is forced against a complementary conical counter surface 35 formed in the cap 33 and surrounding an outlet. The content of the tube 11 is thus prevented from reaching the inner wall of the housing.

Abstract: The container includes a film tube 11 for flowable substances. The film t is opened and placed in a cylindrical housing 31 between a cap 33 and a movable piston 32. At the end facing the cap 33, the tube 11 is provided with a ring 20 which has a conical sealing surface 21. When the piston 32 is advanced to dispense the content of the tube 11, the sealing surface 21 is forced against a complementary conical counter surface 35 formed in the cap 33 and surrounding an outlet. The content of the tube 11 is thus prevented from reaching the inner wall of the housing.

Abstract: A pressure vessel includes a body 10 and a cover 12. An O-ring 20 surroung the upper opening 11 of the vessel body 10 cooperates with a diaphragm 21 sealingly inserted in the cover 12. The diaphragm 21 extends beyond the O-ring 20 in the radial direction inside the cover 12. When the vessel is pressurized, a pressure difference acts on the diaphragm 21 to press an annular plate 23 driven by the diaphragm 21 against the O-ring 20, while the cover 12 is secured by a bayonet locking 24, 25 against being lifted off the vessel body. The pressure inside the vessel is thus used to produce the sealing force. In the unpressurized condition, the cover 12 may be easily placed on the vessel body 10 without effort, and rotation about a small angle is sufficient for securing the cover. In case the bayonet locking has not been completely closed, pressure applied to the vessel will lift the cover 12 by a certain amount, thereby automatically releasing the seal.

Abstract: A hand-held sand blasting device, which is particularly useful for treating mall surface areas, such as tooth faces in situ, includes a sand cartridge 20 adapted to be placed in a handle portion 10 of the device and rewardly sealed by a piston 34 which is adapted to be advanced by pressurized air. Part of the pressurized air flows along a longitudinal groove 25 formed in a wall of the handle portion 10 externally of the cartridge 20 and enters the cartridge through an opening 27 provided at a front portion thereof, where the relatively large cross-section of the main portion of the cartridge converges to the substantially smaller cross-section of a feed channel 28. The fine sand 21 is thus fluidized in this area and maintained flowable. Through the feed channel 28, the sand is supplied to a mixing chamber 30 where it is mixed with pressurized air and discharged through a nozzle pipe 33.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus for pastes comprises a mount (18) for a mixing container (19) supported on a rotor (10) for rotation relative to the rotor about an axis (16) which is eccentric with respect to the rotor axis (15). During a mixing phase, a transmission (20 . . . 22) causes the mount (18) to rotate about its eccentric axis (16) so that the mixing container (19) executes an overall circulatory reciprocation and the container contents (29) are subjected to a shaking motion. For a subsequent compression phase, the transmission (20 . . . 22) is switched-over while the rotor (10) continues to rotate, so that the mount (18) is now free to assume an orientation that is fixed with respect to the rotor (10) and in which the mixed paste is forced against a dispensing piston (55) provided in the container (19) and is thereby degassed.

Abstract: A device for mixing and dispensing pasty masses comprises a container 10 ing two parallel compartments 12, 13 for accommodating two components which react with each other and an opening 14 including two concentric spaces 15, 18 each communicating with a respective one of the compartments 12, 13. A static mixer 11 is screwed onto the container opening 14 and includes a sleeve-like separator 24 at its entrance end. In the assembled state, the separator 14 is sealingly contiguous with a cylindrical partition 16 which separates the two spaces 15, 18 of the container opening 14 from each other. The location where the two components are combined is thus axially spaced from the location where the component strings are interrupted upon removal of the mixer 11, so that clogging of the container 10 caused by mutual carry-over of the components is prevented.

Abstract: A container for preparing a substance mixed from components which are inilly separated comprises two chambers (54, 56) separated from each other by a partitioning structure (52). One chamber (54) holds a liquid component and is closed by a sheet (53) of plastics material, and the other chamber (56) holds a powdery component and forms a mixing chamber. An actuating member (58) is movably disposed within the partitioning structure (52). The actuating member (58) includes a seal (64, 66) which is locked in the rest and storage position of the container and is released when the actuating member is moved into its actuated position in which the sheet (53) is perforated. In the actuated position, the seal (64, 66) functions as a valve to permit the liquid component to enter the mixing chamber (56) while preventing parts of the mixture or components thereof from flowing back from the mixing chamber (56) into the first chamber (54).

Abstract: For anchoring a prosthesis within a bone by means of a bone cement (32), prothesis shaft has a surface which is formed by the surfaces of a plurality of spheres (23 . . . 25) partially penetrating each other and having radii which decrease from the proximal towards the distal shaft end. The transitional zones between adjacent spheres (23 . . . 25) are concavely rounded. This shape is especially suited for use with a glass ionomer-type bone cement, because the shaft exerts substantially only compressive forces on the cement, whereas tensile and notch stresses, with respect to which this kind of cement exhibits little resistance, are largely avoided.

Abstract: A device for repairing damages caused by stones on windshields comprises a syringe (10) the discharge opening (14) of which is inserted into an applicator (11) adhesively affixed to the windshield (29) by means of a sealing disk (12). The syringe (10) is pre-filled by the manufacturer with a predetermined amount of a liquid synthetic resin which is curable by light. By retracting the syringe plunger (17), a vacuum is created for removing air and moisture that may have penetrated into the damaged portion (30). In its rearmost position, the plunger (17) exposes a vent hold (23) formed in the wall of the syringe casing (13) so that the resin will then be urged into the damaged portion (30) by the ambient atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A mixer for dental capsules has a fork-type capsule holder which includes a pair of rigid arms (1, 2) one of which is provided with a pin (10) that passes through an opening (11) provided in the other arm (1). A helical spring (13) disposed about the pin (10) creates a tilting moment about the capsule holding location which causes the pin (10) to be caught by edges forming the opening (11), thereby producing a self-locking action which is not released during the mixing movement. For inserting and removing a capsule (5) in the inoperative condition of the mixer, the fork may be readily opened by pulling a handle (16) provided on the one arm (2) against the relatively weak force of the spring (13).

Abstract: An electric lamp for the photopolymerization of dental materials is supplied with constant electric power so that constant light output is obtained. The control circuit used to this end operates with a triac (3) connected between an a.c. voltage supply (2) and the lamp (1), said triac being controlled by signal values stored in a read-only memory of a microprocessor (4). Said stored values are respectively allocated to pairs of instantaneous values of lamp current and lamp voltage, the instantaneous values being detected in each cycle of the a.c. supply voltage and being utilized to address the read-only memory.

Abstract: An irradiation apparatus for curing photopolymerizable dental fillings in situ comprises a lamp 10 for producing a convergent light beam with a convergence angle .alpha.E smaller than about 30.degree. with respect to the optical axis, and an optical wave guide 15 having an entrance surface 14 disposed in the light beam and an exit surface 16. The wave guide 15 is conical with a diameter decreasing from the entrance surface 14 to the exit surface 16 and has a refractive index of approximately .sqroot.2. At the exit surface 16, radiation of constant density and high intensity is produced within a substantially semi-spherical lobe, so that even such dental parts which are difficult to access can be irradiated and penetrated with high intensity radiation.

Abstract: A metering device for dispensing a flowable substance from a container 10, in which a piston 11 with a piston rod 12 having a toothed portion 16 is disposed, includes a socket 17 adapted to be fixed to the container 10, an actuation lever 18 pivotal relative to the socket 17, a return spring 19 biassing the lever 18 to its rest position, an indexing detent 20 for advancing the piston rod 12 upon depression of the lever 18, and a retaining detent 21 for retaining the piston rod 12 in its respective position when the actuation lever 18 is released. The socket 17, actuation lever 18, reset spring 19, indexing detent 20 and retaining detent 21 are formed as one integral part injection-molded from synthetic resin. The socket 17 includes a slide 25 for fixing the part to a flange 14 provided at the rear end of the container 10.