The invention relates to means for supplying a determined quantity of a paste, particularly toothpaste.

It is known in practice to use tubes for the purpose of supplying a paste such as toothpaste. Such paste tubes have the drawback that the paste cannot be dosed properly. Excessive paste is therefore quite often supplied, which results in waste.

An object of the invention is to obviate or reduce this problem and to provide an effective and efficient means for supplying a determined quantity of a paste.

This object is achieved with the dispensing device according to the invention, comprising:

- a housing;

- coupling means for coupling releasably in the housing a container containing paste and provided with a first opening;

- a drive which can be coupled to a discharge mechanism for discharging paste from a container coupled in the housing;

- a closing valve which is positioned at the opening and which can be moved from a closing position, in which the closing valve closes the opening, to an opening position in which the closing valve opens the opening, and vice versa; and

- a cutting element operatively connected to the closing valve and positioned close to the opening for severing paste protruding from the opening.

The paste to be supplied can for instance be sauce such as mayonnaise, ointment, cream, paint, ink, glue, dough or cleaning agent. It is preferably toothpaste, which also includes gel toothpastes. A dispensing device according to the present invention is also referred to as a dispenser. The cutting element of the device achieves that the paste protruding from the opening is severed. A relatively high degree of precision is hereby possible during dosing. With known toothpaste tubes it is found that a part of the paste goes back into the tube. The dispensing device according to the invention avoids this drawback.

The paste is moreover supplied in a hygienic manner by means of the cutting element. By severing the paste protruding from the opening no paste residues are left behind at the opening. In known the paste tubes such residues cause an unhygienic accumulation of paste around the tube opening.

A container containing paste can be placed in the housing. This can for instance be a known paste tube or a bag of paste. It is preferably a container according to the invention as will be described below.

The drive can be manual. It is for instance a slidable knob or a rotary knob with which the paste can be pushed or pressed out of the container.

The drive is preferably such that the same quantity of paste is supplied each time. A rotary or sliding knob is for instance applied which respectively rotates or slides in discrete steps.

The cutting element is operatively connected to the closing valve and the cutting element is preferably set into operation substantially simultaneously with the movement of the closing valve from the opening position to the closing position.

Alternatively, according to the invention the closing valve is first moved to the closing position and the cutting element is then set into operation, or the cutting element is first set into operation and the closing valve is then moved to the closing position.

In a further preferred embodiment according to the invention the drive is electrical.

With an electrical drive no force need be exerted by the user. In known tubes a certain force is quite often required to obtain the paste, particularly when the final residues have to be squeezed out of the tube. It is therefore not always possible, for instance for children, to get the paste out of such a tube. This has the result, among other, that the tubes are discarded while they are still not completely empty. Such waste is prevented with the electrical drive in the dispensing device according to the present invention. The electrical drive moreover enhances convenience of use.

The electrical drive preferably comprises a rechargeable element such as an accumulator or battery.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention the cutting element is a wire.

Embodying the cutting element as a wire makes it easy to replace. A wire has the advantage here that relatively little material is required, which is cost-effective.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention the dispensing device comprises a spring mechanism connected to the closing valve for automatically moving the closing valve from the opening position to the closing position.

The spring mechanism achieves that the closing valve automatically closes the opening after the paste has been supplied. This prevents the paste drying out. A hygienic operation is moreover ensured in this way.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention the dispensing device comprises a sensor operatively connected to the closing valve.

The sensor can for instance detect an object such as a toothbrush. When the sensor detects a toothbrush, the closing valve is opened.

This achieves that the device according to the invention can be operated without having to be touched. This is hygienic, and an intuitive and simple operation is moreover realized.

Since the closing valve is operatively connected to the cutting element, the sensor is also operatively connected to the cutting element. When an object such as a toothbrush is detected, the closing valve can hereby be opened and the cutting element activated.

Alternatively, the sensor is operatively connected according to the invention to one of the cutting element and the closing valve.

The sensor is preferably an optical sensor.

In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention the dispensing device comprises a sensor operatively connected to the drive.

By coupling the drive to a sensor the drive can be automatically activated following detection of an object such as a toothbrush. The sensor is preferably operatively connected to both the closing valve and the drive so that, when an object such as a toothbrush is detected, the closing valve leaves the opening clear and the drive carries the paste out of the container through the opening. The paste is hereby supplied in hygienic manner .

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention the coupling means are suitable for coupling more than one container.

Because more than one container can be placed in the dispensing device, this latter can supply more than one paste. A first container for instance contains a children' s toothpaste and a second container normal toothpaste.

The dispensing device for instance comprises a selection mechanism for selecting from which container paste must be obtained. Alternatively, the device is embodied with a plurality of closing valves, drives, openings and/or sensors so that each container has its own discharge opening.

In addition, it is possible for a paste consisting of multiple components to be supplied by means of a device with more than one container. It is for instance possible here to envisage a two-component toothpaste. Storing the components separately of each other in the different containers prevents the components reacting with each other before they are dispensed. In a preferred embodiment according to the invention the dispensing device comprises an inspection window which is positioned such that, when a container is placed during use, the container is at least partially visible through the window.

It is possible to establish by means of the inspection window whether the container is empty. It can hereby be replaced or refilled in good time.

The invention further relates to a discharge mechanism for a container containing paste which can be coupled to the drive of the dispensing device as described above. The discharge mechanism according to the invention comprises:

- a shaft;

- a pressing element which is connected to the shaft and movable relative to the longitudinal direction of the shaft;

- a coupling connected to the shaft for coupling the shaft to a drive such that the pressing element can press paste out of the container during use.

The discharge mechanism can be provided as separate unit. The discharge mechanism can be coupled to a container containing paste. The container with discharge mechanism can be placed in the dispensing device according to the invention, wherein the discharge mechanism is coupled to the drive of the dispensing device. The discharge mechanism can in this way be combined with different containers, whereby the discharge mechanism can be reused when a container is empty.

In addition, it is possible for the discharge mechanism to be arranged fixedly in the dispensing device according to the invention. The dispensing device is hereby formed integrally with the discharge mechanism, thereby minimizing the production costs .

It is moreover possible to mount the discharge mechanism fixedly on the container. The discharge mechanism hereby forms an integral part of the container. This has the advantage that the discharge mechanism can be given a less robust form since, when the container is replaced, the discharge mechanism is also replaced. The discharge mechanism is for instance manufactured from a degradable plastic.

The pressing element is preferably to some extent flexible. This achieves that the pressing element can follow the form of a container to a certain extent, whereby the paste can be urged out of the container.

In an embodiment of the discharge mechanism according to the invention which is preferred at this moment the coupling comprises a toothed wheel, the pressing element an internal screw thread, the shaft an external screw thread and/or the shaft is screwed into the pressing element.

In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention the pressing element has a narrowing outer end.

The pressing element for instance comprises a surface with which paste is pushed out of the container. Instead of being a substantially straight surface, this can be a curved surface or a surface with bent edges. The pressing element narrows in the direction in which the paste is urged. The pressing element is for instance conical or pyramid-shaped.

The invention further relates to a container which can be placed in a dispensing device as described above and to a method for supplying a determined quantity of paste making use of a dispensing device as described above.

The same advantages and effects as described for the dispensing device and the discharge mechanism apply in respect of such a container and method.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention are elucidated on the basis of preferred embodiments thereof, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings.

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing device according to the invention;

- Figure 2 is a partially cross-sectional side view of the dispensing device of figure 1; and - Figure 3 is a partially cross-sectional side view of a second embodiment of a dispensing device according to the invention .

Dispensing device 2 (figure 1, 2) comprises drawer 4 which can be removed using knob 6. Drawer 4 comprises window 8 through which the level of paste 10 in a container 5 placed in drawer 4 can be monitored. The upper side of device 2 comprises a space 12 in which the drive is situated.

The housing of device 2 is provided with recess 14 in which a toothbrush 16 can be placed for supplying thereof with toothpaste 10 from container 5 in drawer 4. Toothbrush holders 18 in which a toothbrush 16 can be placed are arranged on the sides of device 2.

Container 5 comprises a shaft 20 which is coupled to pressing element 22. On one side container 5 has a narrowed portion 24. Situated thereunder is opening 26 for discharge of paste 10. Pressing element 22 moves in the direction of opening 26 when shaft 20 is rotated. In this case pressing element 22 is to some extent flexible so that, when paste 10 is still present only at narrowed portion 24, pressing element 22 shapes itself to the form of narrowed portion 24 and thus presses the final residue of paste 10 through opening 26. Alternatively, pressing element 22 has a shape corresponding to that of narrowed portion 24.

Closing valve 28 is shown in the opening position. Closing valve 28 is connected to wire 30. In order to dose a determined quantity 32 of paste 10 onto toothbrush 16, toothbrush 16 is placed on platform 34. Platform 34 is displaced so that toothbrush 16 comes to lie under opening 26. During this sliding of platform 34 the spring 36 is compressed. Sensor 38 which is connected by means of wires 40 to drive 42 is also activated. Drive 42 rotates shaft 20, whereby pressing element 22 presses paste 10 through opening 26.

After portion 32 has been arranged on toothbrush 16, toothbrush 16 is withdrawn from recess 14. Closing valve 28 is automatically pressed over opening 26 by spring 36. Wire 30 connected to closing valve 28 here cuts away possibly protruding paste 10. Alternatively, the cutting element can be provided such that the paste is severed before the closing valve closes the opening.

In a second embodiment (figure 3) an optical sensor 44 is provided for detecting toothbrush 16. Closing valve 28 is connected to spring mechanism 46, which presses closing valve 28 over the opening. Closing valve 28 can be displaced by an electrical drive (not shown) , counter to the action of spring mechanism 46, to the position in which closing valve 28 leaves opening 26 clear.

Optical sensor 44 is operatively connected to closing valve 28 and cutting wire 30. When sensor 44 detects a toothbrush 16 the closing valve is moved by said electrical drive into the opening position, after which drive 42 is actuated so that it rotates shaft 20, whereby pressing element 22 presses paste 10 through opening 26. Drive 24 is deactivated after a

predetermined, preferably adjustable time. The drive of closing valve 28 is then also deactivated. Spring mechanism 46 hereby moves closing valve 28 into the closing position, wherein cutting wire 30 cuts away possibly protruding paste 10. The portion of paste 32 is in this way arranged without contact with components of device 2.

The invention is by no means limited to the above described preferred embodiments thereof. The rights sought are defined by the following claims, within the scope of which many

modifications can be envisaged. It is for instance possible to form different combinations of said measures according to the invention. It is also possible to provide a plurality of containers in a device. It is further possible according to the invention to provide the device with one or more drawers or holders for dental floss and/or toothpicks. A holder for dental floss for instance comprises a cutting surface for cutting off a length of dental floss.