Dental apparatus

Claim 2

A dental instrument for applying a filling material to a tooth cavity, including a housing, a detachable working tip provided at one end of the housing, and having a bore extending therethrough, a container pivotably mounted in the housing for retaining a supply of the filling material, a first spring-loaded plunger for forcing filling material from the container to the bore in the working tip, a second spring-loaded plunger, a push knob having a driving connection with said second plunger for moving such second plunger against the spring pressure and forcing filling material along the bore from the said one end, and locking means coupled to the push knob for preventing the first plunger forcing material into the bore in the working tip when the second plunger is forcing the said material along the bore.

Claim 3

A dental instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking means comprises a pivotable cam adapted to engage with both a projection on the said push knob and a rack gear directly connected to the first plunger.

Claim 4

A dental instrument as claimed in claim 2, including a second push knob, said second push knob being provided on the first plunger for moving the first plunger from the container against the spring pressure.

Claim 5

In a dental instrument for applying a filling material to tooth cavities, a hollow working tip, chargeable with the filling material and through one end of which the filling material is extruded into the cavity to be filled, a vibratory extrusion plunger displaceable axially in said working tip, a power driven vibrator connected operatively to said plunger, and digitally controlled means to apply an extrusion movement of translation to the plunger during vibration of the plunger by the said vibrator.

Claim 6

In a dental instrument for applying a filling material to tooth cavities, a hollow working tip, chargeable with the filling material and through one end of which the filling material is extruded into the cavity to be filled, a vibratory extrusion plunger displaceable axially in said working tip, a power driven vibrator connected operatively to said plunger, and digitally controlled means to apply an extrusion movement of translation to the plunger during vibration of the plunger by the said vibrator.

Claim 7

In a dental instrument for applying a filling material to tooth cavities, a working tip, digitally actuated means to extrude filling material through the tip into the tooth cavity to be filled, and power driven means constantly operating to impact the filling material into the cavity during the extrusion of the material through the tip by the said digitally actuated means.

Claim 8

In a dental instrument for applying a filling material to tooth cavities, a working tip, digitally actuated means to extrude filling material through the tip into the tooth cavity to be filled, and power driven means constantly operating to impact the filling material into the cavity during the extrusion of the material through the tip by the said digitally actuated means.

Claim 9

A dental instrument for applying a filling material to tooth cavities, comprising a housing, a tubular working tip chargeable with the filling material and supported in, and projecting beyond, one end of the housing, a power driven vibrator carried by the housing, an extrusion plunger positioned to apply extrusion pressure to the material in the working tip, digitally controlled means to effect relative displacement of said plunger and working tip for extruding material from the tip into the cavity to be filled, and means maintaining a permanent transmission of vibration to said plunger from said vibrator during the said digitally controlled relative displacement of the plunger and working tip.

Claim 10

A dental instrument for applying a filling material to tooth cavities, comprising a housing, a tubular working tip chargeable with the filling material and supported in, and projecting beyond, one end of the housing, a power driven vibrator carried by the housing, an extrusion plunger positioned to apply extrusion pressure to the material in the working tip, digitally controlled means to effect relative displacement of said plunger and working tip for extruding material from the tip into the cavity to be filled, and means maintaining a permanent transmission of vibration to said plunger from said vibrator during the said digitally controlled relative displacement of the plunger and working tip.

Claim 11

A dental instrument as claimed in claim 6, wherein said digitally controlled means includes a slider adapted to apply a push-feed to said plunger to extrude the material through said tip, and wherein said push-feed is transmitted from said slider to said plunger via said vibrator.

Claim 12

A dental instrument as claimed in claim 7, wherein said vibrator and means transmitting vibration to the plunger are mounted for movement of translation along said housing, and wherein said slider carries an abutment having a push-feed displacement engagement with said vibrator.

Claim 13

In a deNtal instrument for applying a filling material to tooth cavities, a working tip, digitally actuated means to extrude filling material through the tip into the tooth cavity to be filled, power driven means constantly operating to impact the material into the cavity during the extrusion of the material through the tip by the said digitally actuated means, a housing from one end of which projects said tip, a compartment with said housing adapted to be charged with the filling material, an extrusion passage connecting the inner end of the tip of said compartment, extruding means with said compartment to extrude the said material along said passage into said tip, a driver for said latter mentioned extruding means, stop means preventing said driver operating during extrusion of material through said tip, and means controlled by said digitally actuated means to free said driver to actuate said extruding means.

Claim 14

In a deNtal instrument for applying a filling material to tooth cavities, a working tip, digitally actuated means to extrude filling material through the tip into the tooth cavity to be filled, power driven means constantly operating to impact the material into the cavity during the extrusion of the material through the tip by the said digitally actuated means, a housing from one end of which projects said tip, a compartment with said housing adapted to be charged with the filling material, an extrusion passage connecting the inner end of the tip of said compartment, extruding means with said compartment to extrude the said material along said passage into said tip, a driver for said latter mentioned extruding means, stop means preventing said driver operating during extrusion of material through said tip, and means controlled by said digitally actuated means to free said driver to actuate said extruding means.

Claim 15

A dental instrument as claimed in claim 9, wherein said digitally actuated means comprises a slider adapted in one endwise direction of movement relative to the housing, to produce a push-feed of the material through said tip, and wherein said extruding means with said compartment comprises a plunger displaceable axially along said compartment, spring means loading said plunger in the extruding direction, said stop means comprising a trigger device preventing reassertion of said spring means during extrusion of material into a tooth cavity, and actuated by said slider to free said spring means upon endwise movement of said slider in the reverse direction.

Claim 16

A dental instrument as claimed in claim 10, wherein said compartment is formed with a wall part displaceable to an open position for reloading said compartment and wherein said plunger displaceable along said compartment is carried by a spring loaded rod, said rod being provided with means to pull the plunger to a starting position at one end of said compartment against the influence of said spring means.

Claim 17

A dental instrument for applying filling material to a tooth cavity, comprising a housing, a tubular working tip at one end detachably engaged in one end of said housing, the other end of the tip comprising a free end projecting beyond the housing for engagement with the work, said first mentioned end of the tip being formed as a head bored in continuity with said tip, a plunger vibratable in the bore of said head, a vibrator carried by the housing and to which said plunger is connected for receiving vibration, and digitally actuated means to apply a movement of translation of the said plunger towards the free end of said plunger while the plunger is being vibrated by said vibrator.

Claim 18

A dental instrument for applying filling material to a tooth cavity, comprising a housing, a tubular working tip at one end detachably engaged in one end of said housing, the other end of the tip comprising a free end projecting beyond the housing for engagement with the work, said first mentioned end of the tip being formed as a head bored in continuity with said tip, a plunger vibratable in the bore of said head, a vibrator carried by the housing and to which said plunger is connected for receiving vibration, and digitally actuated means to apply a movement of translation of the said plunger towards the free end of said plunger while the plunger is being vibrated by said vibrator.

Claim 19

A dental instrument including housing means, a working tip supported by said housing means, said working tip being tubular and having a bore formed therethrough, a plunger mounted for reciprocatory movement through the bore of said working tip, operating means to advance and retract said plunger means with respect to the working tip, vibrator means for vibrating said plunger, feed means to feed amalgam to said working tip, said feed means including storage means for receiving a reserve supply of amalgam, and separate transfer means to transfer amalgam from said storage means to said working tip.

Claim 20

A dental instrument including housing means, a working tip supported by said housing means, said working tip being tubular and having a bore formed therethrough, a plunger mounted for reciprocatory movement through the bore of said working tip, operating means to advance and retract said plunger means with respect to the working tip, vibrator means for vibrating said plunger, feed means to feed amalgam to said working tip, said feed means including storage means for receiving a reserve supply of amalgam, and separate transfer means to transfer amalgam from said storage means to said working tip.

Claim 21

Apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said plunger has a relatively snug fit within the bore in said working tip, said plunger being resiliently urged to a retracted position away from the outer end of said working tip.

Claim 22

Apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein both said operating means and said vibrator means are power operated.

Claim 23

Apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said feed means includes a body means defining a cavity for receiving dental amalgam material, said cavity being in communication with said working tip, a flexible elongated member disposed within said cavity in surrounding relationship to amalgam material in said cavity, and means for moving said flexible elongated member to displace saId amalgam material so as to be moved through said working tip upon reciprocation of said plunger.

Claim 24

Apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said flexible elongated member is removably mounted with respect to said body means and is anchored at one end thereof to said body means, said body means defining a second cavity and a slot connecting said first and second cavities, said elongated member extending through said slot, said means for moving said elongated member comprising drive means operatively connected with the opposite end of said elongated member.

Claim 25

Apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said drive means for the feed means is adapted to move the flexible elongated member of the feed means in incremental steps in timed relation to the movement of said plunger.

Claim 26

Apparatus as defined in claim 16 including an operating member pivotally connected with said plunger said operating member being mounted for swinging movement with respect to said housing means, a connecting member operatively connected with said operating member, said connecting member in turn being in engagement with cam means adapted to control the movement of said connecting member, and resilient means normally biasing said connecting member toward said cam means.

Claim 27

Apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said cam means includes portions causing advancing and retracting movements of the connecting member and the associated operating member and plunger, said cam means also including an irregular outer surface adapted to cause vibration of said plunger.

Claim 28

Apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said connecting member has a slidable contacting interconnection with said operating member.

Claim 29

Apparatus as defined in claim 13 including an operating member pivotally connected with said plunger, a connecting member slidably interconnected with said operating member for causing movement thereof, said operating means including a power-operated cam means engaging said connecting member, said cam means including portions for advancing and retracting said plunger through the intermediary of said connecting member and said operating member, said cam means also including an irregular outer surface adapted to cause vibration of said plunger, means normally biasing said connecting member into engagement with said cam means, said feed means including a body means defining two adjacent cavities interconnecting with one another by a slot, one of said cavities being adapted to receive a dental amalgam material, a flexible elongated member being anchored at one end thereof and disposed in said first cavity about amalgam material disposed therewithin and extending through said slot into the other cavity, the opposite end of said elongated flexible member being operatively connected with a drive means, said drive means in turn being operatively connected with a power drive means, said drive means being adapted to cause incremental movement of said flexible elongated member in timed relation to the movement of said plunger so as to move the flexible elongated member into the path of said plunger for movement through said hollow tip.

Claim 30

Apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said storage means of the feed means includes cartridge receiving means for receving a cartridge having a dental amalgam material therewithin, a piston slidably supported by said housing and adapted to enter a cartridge supported by said cartridge receiving means, drive means for moving said piston relative to said cartridge receiving means, and auger feed means for receiving material from said piston feed means, said auger feed means feeding material into position for engagement by said plunger.

Claim 31

Apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said drive means for said piston includes an arrangement for incrementally moving said piston in timed relationship to movements of said plunger.

Claim 32

Apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein said incremental drive means includes a ratchet and pawl arrangement for providing a one-Way drive connection to said piston.

Claim 33

Apparatus as defined in claim 25 including an operating member pivotally connected with said plunger, a connecting member slidably interconnected with said operating member, said operating means including cam means in engagement with said connecting member, means normally biasing said connecting member into engagement with said cam means, said cam means being power operated, and a power-operated drive connection being provided for said auger feed means.

Claim 34

Apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said cartridge receiving means includes a pivotally mounted portion, and a recess being provided in said pivotally mounted portion for accurately positioning a cartridge therewithin.

Claim 35

Apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said plunger means is operatively connected with a piston, said piston being mounted for reciprocation within said housing, and means for applying fluid pressure to opposite sides of said piston to cause reciprocation thereof during operation of the apparatus.

Claim 36

Apparatus as defined in claim 28 wherein said means for applying fluid to opposite sides of said piston includes valve means and a plurality of passages providing communication with opposite sides of said piston, said valve means being adapted to control the flow of fluid pressure through said passages.

Claim 37

Apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein the storage means of said feed means includes cartridge receiving means for receiving a cartridge having dental amalgam material therein, means for applying fluid pressure to one end of said storage means for forcing amalgam material from said cartridge, auger feed means for receiving material discharged from said cartridge and for feeding the material into the path of said plunger means for movement through said working tip, valve control means for controlling the flow of fluid pressure, said operating means including operating means for operating both the plunger and said auger feed means, and control means for controlling the operation of said valve means as well as said operating means.

Claim 38

Apparatus as defined in claim 30 wherein said power-operating means is drivingly connected with said auger means for providing substantially continuous operation of said auger means.

Claim 39

Apparatus as defined in claim 30 wherein said power-operating means includes a pair of operating cams, a connecting member normally biased into engagement with one of said cam means, said connecting member being operatively connected with an operating member which in turn is pivotally connected with said plunger means.

Claim 40

Apparatus as defined in claim 32 wherein said cam means is movably mounted upon a shaft, said shaft comprising a portion of said power-operating means, means normally biasing said cam means in one direction with respect to said shaft, said control means including a finger-operated portion, said finger-operated portion being operatively interconnected with said cam means for controlling the position of said cam means with respect to said shaft.

Claim 41

Apparatus as defined in claim 33 wherein one of said cam means has an irregular surface formed completely around the outer surface thereof, while the other of said cam means has an irregular surface formed partly around the outer surface thereof and a relatively smooth surface formed around the remaining outer portion thereof.

Claim 42

Apparatus as defined in claim 30 wherein said cartridge-receiving means includes a pivotally mounted portion having a recess therein for receiving the flange of a cartridge for accurately positioning the cartridge with respect to said pivotally mounted portion.

Claim 43

A combined dispenser and packer for amalgam into a cavity in a tooth comprising, a housing, an amalgam container mounted on the forward end of said housing, a generally cylindrical receiver chamber removably mounted adjacent said container, means for expelling amalgam from said container into said receiver chamber, and means for ejecting amalgam from saId receiver into the cavity, said ejecting means including a packer member removably mounted in said receiver chamber forcing the amalgam into the cavity and packing the amalgam in the cavity.

Claim 44

A combined dispenser and packer for amalgam into a cavity in a tooth comprising, a housing, an amalgam container mounted on the forward end of said housing, a generally cylindrical receiver chamber removably mounted adjacent said container, means for expelling amalgam from said container into said receiver chamber, and means for ejecting amalgam from saId receiver into the cavity, said ejecting means including a packer member removably mounted in said receiver chamber forcing the amalgam into the cavity and packing the amalgam in the cavity.

Claim 45

A dental instrument comprising, a housing, supply means on said housing for holding a supply of amalgam, a receiver chamber on said housing, means for expelling amalgam into said receiver chamber from said supply means, a packer element having a packing tip in said receiver chamber, means for moving said packer means with respect to said receiver chamber to project said packer tip into operative position while ejecting said amalgam, and vibrator means for vibrating said packer element.

Claim 46

A dental instrument comprising, a housing, supply means on said housing for holding a supply of amalgam, a receiver chamber on said housing, means for expelling amalgam into said receiver chamber from said supply means, a packer element having a packing tip in said receiver chamber, means for moving said packer means with respect to said receiver chamber to project said packer tip into operative position while ejecting said amalgam, and vibrator means for vibrating said packer element.

Claim 47

A hand held dental instrument for dispensing an amalgam into a cavity of a tooth and packing the amalgam therein comprising, a storage means on the instrument containing a supply of amalgam, feeding means in association with the storage means feeding the amalgam into a chamber, and means in the chamber discharging the amalgam from the chamber into the cavity and packing the amalgam in the cavity.

Claim 48

A hand held dental instrument for dispensing an amalgam into a cavity of a tooth and packing the amalgam therein comprising, a storage means on the instrument containing a supply of amalgam, feeding means in association with the storage means feeding the amalgam into a chamber, and means in the chamber discharging the amalgam from the chamber into the cavity and packing the amalgam in the cavity.

Claim 49

A hand held dental instrument for dispensing an amalgam into a cavity of a tooth and packing the amalgam therein comprising, a storage means on the instrument containing a supply of amalgam, feeding means in association with the storage means feeding the amalgam into a chamber, means in the chamber discharging the amalgam from the chamber into the cavity and packing the amalgam in the cavity, and vibrating means on the instrument vibrating the last named means during the packing of the amalgam.

Claim 50

A hand held dental instrument for dispensing an amalgam into a cavity of a tooth and packing the amalgam therein comprising, a storage means on the instrument containing a supply of amalgam, feeding means in association with the storage means feeding the amalgam into a chamber, means in the chamber discharging the amalgam from the chamber into the cavity and packing the amalgam in the cavity, and vibrating means on the instrument vibrating the last named means during the packing of the amalgam.