US2534630A - Universal dental capsule filler for use by the dental profession - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 19, 1950 J. M. SHOEMAKER, SR 5 9 UNIVERSAL DENTAL CAPSULE FILLER FOR USE BY THE DENTAL PROFESSION Filed May 20, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l JOHN M. SHOEMAKER SR.

INVENTOR.

BY V

ATTORNEY.

Dec. 19, 1950 J. M. SHOEMAKER, SR 2,534,630

' UNIVERSAL DENTAL CAPSULE FILLER FOR USE BY THE DENTAL PROFESSION Filed May 20, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOHN M. SHOEMAKER,5R.

INVENTOR. BY J G0 ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 19, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UNIVERSAL DENTAL CAPSULE FILLER FOR USE BY THE DENTAL PROFESSION 5 Claims.

My invention relates to an improved device for filling capsules with alloy and mercury used by the dental profession. The device consists of a block for holding or supporting a capsule, a slide block into which the capsule supporting block is inserted, and a housing into which the slide block is passed and through which the materials are delivered to the capsule.

The object of this invention is to provide a device for securely holding a capsule so that it may be filled with the alloy and mercury in an expeditious and sanitary manner. The device simplifies processing and avoids touching by hand.

A further object is to provide a method of filling various kinds of capsules.

A further object is to permit all types of capsules to be removed with a minimum of difficulty.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the assembled device.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the assembled device.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the assembled de-:'

vice along line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing block, slide, and capsule in place.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the slide.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a typical block.

Fig. 6 is a front view of a typical block.

Fig. '7 is a side view of a typical block.

Fig. 8 is a side view of the slide with block and capsule inserted.

The device consists of a rectangular housing I I, surmounted by a circular offset I2 which extends a little above the upper surface. Ofiset I2 is surmounted by ofiset I3, also circular, and somewhat smaller in size than offset I2. Offset I3 extends a little above offset I2. A smoothly tapered hole I4 extends through offsets l2 and I3 and the upper wall of the housing II, terminating in a channel I6 therein. The hole I4 is larger in diameter on the outer surface of the assembly than on the inner surface, being of conical formation and the outer end is faired smoothly into the upper surface of upper ofiset I3. The sides of housing I I curve outward about halfway toward the bottom and become vertical again to broaden the base. A rectangular channel I6 passes completely through housing I I from the forward to the rear sides. The channel is open to the outside of the housing by virtue of tapered hole I4 leading through the upper surface of the housing.

Slide block I5 is roughly rectangular in shape, and is a solid block except for apertures hereinafter described. Slide block I5 .fits within 2 channel It of housing II. To the front end of the slide block is attached plate I] which is also rectangular and slightly larger in area than the channel I 6. Attached to plate I! is handle 24 which is roughly cylindrical in shape and extends a short distance beyond the plate. In the center of the slide block I5 is a hole I9 or pocket which is circular in cross section, sufflciently less in diameter than the width of the slide block to per mit a thin wall at the edge of the slide block adjacent to the major diameter of the hole. At this point, the top of the thin-wall portion of the slide block is cut out in a semi-circle, decreasing the depth of the hole or pocket. Elsewhere, the hole extends about seven-eighths 0f the depth of the slide block. Forward and aft of the hole I!) are two apertures or pockets 23, semi-circular in transverse cross-section and rectangular in plan view, extending with the short dimension in a forward and aft direction. These apertures have a depth of about one-fourth "of the depth of the slide block, a length slightly less than the width of the slide block, and a width about onehalf the length.

A capsule supporting block I8 fits into hole or pocket I9, and is circular in cross-section to fit the hole I9. In the center of the capsule supporting block I8 is hole or recess 2|, circular in types of capsule supporting blocks. The hole or recess 2| has a depth about seven-eighths the depth of capsule supporting block I8. Two diametrically opposite segments of the upper surface of the capsule supporting block t8 are cut away for a depth of about one-fourth that of the block, leaving two exposed fingers with a width approximately equaling the diameter of the hole 2 I.

The operation of the device is as follows: Capsule 20 is placed into hole or recess 2| of the capsule supporting block I8, which is designed to hold the capsule snugly in place, and leave a sufficient portion of the capsule protruding above the surface thereto so that thecapsule may be easily removed by grasping with thumb and forefinger. This is possible becauselof the cutaway portion of the capsule supportingblock as previously described. The capsule jfsupporting block I8 is then placed in hole or pocket I 9 of slide block I5 by grasping it by the fingers 22, or by the sides of the block exposed by the semi-circular cutaway of sides of slide block I 5; thus the position of the capsule is undisturbed. The cap-" sule'supporting block may be any of several types in accordance with the size of capsule to be filled, but all capsule supporting blocks have the same exterior dimensions to permit an interchangeable fit into hole or pocket l9. Substitution of capsule supporting blocks is simplified by the absence of screws or other fastening devices, since gravity is suificient to keep them in place. Slide block I is then inserted into channel l6 of housing H, and is securely held in place by the four walls of the channel. These walls serve to keep the slide block, and accordingly the capsule supporting block and capsule in a definite horizontal and vertical relation to housing ll, while plate I! contacts the front walls of housing H and maintains a fixed relation to housing I I in a fore and aft direction. With the slide block in this position, capsule 20 is directly under tapered or conical filler hole l4, and the alloy and mercury are delivered through hole [4 into capsule l9. When the filling operation is complete, slide block [5 is pulled back out of channel I 6 by means of handle 24, and the capsule is extracted from hole or recess 2! of capsule supporting block 18. The device is then in readiness for additional operations.

I claim:

1 A dental capsule filler comprising a housing having a top wall with an opening therein surrounded by a conical wall, a reciprocating block interfittingly slidable in said housing, said block having an upwardly opening central pocket therein, a capsule supporting block removably mounted in said pocket and having a center recess for the support of a capsule and means at the outer end of the slide block adapted for abuttingly engaging the adjacent end of the housing 4 for aligning the capsule with the opening in the top wall of the housing.

2. A dental capsule filler as in claim 1, wherein said housing is open at opposite ends and the means on the slide block abuttingly engaging the housing includes an outwardly directed flange on the outer end of the slide block.

3. A dental capsule filler as in claim 1, wherein the side walls of the pocket at diametrically opposite sides of the slide block are cut away adjacent the upper end of the block to facilitate removal of the capsule supporting block when the slide block is removed from the housing.

4. A dental capsule filler as in claim 3, wherein diametrically opposite upstanding gripping fingers are carried by the upper end of the capsule supporting block.

5. A dental capsule filler as in claim 4, wherein a pocket for auxiliary capsules is formed in the upper face of the slide block adjacent each end thereof and outwardly of said central pocket. JOHN MARCUS SHOEMAKER, SR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the of this patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 317,482 Albach et al Ma 12, 1885 346,964 Walsh Aug. 10, 1886 479,812 Johnston Aug. 2, 1892 1,743,694 Tierney Jan. 14, 1930

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