Rotary dental amalgam dispenser
First Claim
1. A dental amalgam dispenser comprising:
- a mercury reservoira material distribution shell having a dispensing well extending from the upper to the lower surface thereof, a channel for conducting mercury from said mercury reservoir to a transfer inlet in an arcuate wall, and a channel for conducting mercury from a transfer outlet to said dispensing well, wherein said transfer outlet is located in said wall and is arcuately displaced from and vertically no higher than the level of said transfer inlet,a transport carriage coupled to said shell for rotation relative thereto about a vertical axis and including a tablet tray for carrying silver tablets to said dispensing well for discharge therein and wherein there is defined a measuring chamber, and said carriage is rotatable in sliding sealed engagement with said wall to a position in which said measuring chamber is in communication with said transfer inlet and alternatively to a position in which said measuring chamber is in communication with said transfer outlet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A trigger actuated rotary dental amalgam dispenser is provided with a material distribution shell within which a transport carriage is rotated in a concave depression under the control of a trigger actuator. The shell is constructed with liquid conduit channels to carry mercury from a reservoir atop the shell to a measuring chamber in the carriage. Upon actuation of the trigger, a measuring chamber, otherwise held in communication with the mercury reservoir by a spring bias on the trigger, is rotated relative to the shell so that the mercury in the measuring chamber flows through an outlet channel in the shell and is discharged through a dispensing well. Concurrently, a slide with a silver receptacle tray is repositioned to receive another tablet of silver, and dispense this tablet into the dispensing well when the trigger is released and the biasing spring returns the slide to registration with the dispensing well. The volume of the measuring chamber is adjustable by means of a metering rod which can be advanced or retracted relative to the measuring chamber. Preferably a micropore filter is located in communication with the measuring chamber by means of a relief vent when the measuring chamber is in communication with the mercury reservoir. This allows air to escape as mercury fills the volume of the measuring chamber, yet the mercury cannot escape. Also, a vacuum break vent is preferably located to communicate with the measuring chamber when that chamber is in communication with the outlet channel.
5 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A dental amalgam dispenser comprising:
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a mercury reservoir a material distribution shell having a dispensing well extending from the upper to the lower surface thereof, a channel for conducting mercury from said mercury reservoir to a transfer inlet in an arcuate wall, and a channel for conducting mercury from a transfer outlet to said dispensing well, wherein said transfer outlet is located in said wall and is arcuately displaced from and vertically no higher than the level of said transfer inlet, a transport carriage coupled to said shell for rotation relative thereto about a vertical axis and including a tablet tray for carrying silver tablets to said dispensing well for discharge therein and wherein there is defined a measuring chamber, and said carriage is rotatable in sliding sealed engagement with said wall to a position in which said measuring chamber is in communication with said transfer inlet and alternatively to a position in which said measuring chamber is in communication with said transfer outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A dental amalgam dispenser comprising:
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a material distribution shell having a flat upper surface and within said shell there are defined (a) a dispensing well extending through said distribution shell from said flat upper surface to an outlet beneath, (b) a concave depression with a wall of circular cross section defined in said flat upper surface. (c) a channel from said flat upper surface to a transfer inlet in said wall, (d) a transfer outlet in said wall circumferentially displaced from said transfer inlet and no higher than the level thereof, (e) a downwardly inclined channel extending from said transfer outlet to said dispensing well, a transport carriage having a portion rotatable within said concave depression and in sliding sealing engagement therewith and containing a measuring chamber at the level of said transfer inlet, and with its lower extremity at the level of said transfer outlet, a mercury reservoir extending above said flat upper surface of said shell and in communication with said channel leading to said transfer inlet, slide means coupled for rotation with said carriage for receiving a measured quantity of silver from above said flat upper surface of said material distribution shell and for carrying it for discharge into said dispensing well. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification