CA1225972A - Fluid dispensing device - Google Patents
Fluid dispensing deviceInfo
- Publication number
- CA1225972A CA1225972A CA000467401A CA467401A CA1225972A CA 1225972 A CA1225972 A CA 1225972A CA 000467401 A CA000467401 A CA 000467401A CA 467401 A CA467401 A CA 467401A CA 1225972 A CA1225972 A CA 1225972A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- pump
- fluid
- tube
- valve
- solenoid
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
- G01F11/00—Apparatus requiring external operation adapted at each repeated and identical operation to measure and separate a predetermined volume of fluid or fluent solid material from a supply or container, without regard to weight, and to deliver it
- G01F11/10—Apparatus requiring external operation adapted at each repeated and identical operation to measure and separate a predetermined volume of fluid or fluent solid material from a supply or container, without regard to weight, and to deliver it with measuring chambers moved during operation
- G01F11/12—Apparatus requiring external operation adapted at each repeated and identical operation to measure and separate a predetermined volume of fluid or fluent solid material from a supply or container, without regard to weight, and to deliver it with measuring chambers moved during operation of the valve type, i.e. the separating being effected by fluid-tight or powder-tight movements
- G01F11/125—Apparatus requiring external operation adapted at each repeated and identical operation to measure and separate a predetermined volume of fluid or fluent solid material from a supply or container, without regard to weight, and to deliver it with measuring chambers moved during operation of the valve type, i.e. the separating being effected by fluid-tight or powder-tight movements of the peristaltic pump type
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Reciprocating Pumps (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A fluid dispensing device for dispensing measured amounts of fluid from a sealed vessel having a flexible, discharge tube capable of providing a selective choice of at least two measured quantities of fluid that can be dis-pensed at any given time but where it is possible to adjust the device so as to provide different choices of measured quantities of fluid which can be dispensed, but for all possible choices, always ensuring that an unacceptable amount of fluid does not drip from the tube after the desired amount of fluid has been dispensed. The invention also provides a device with an acceptable amount of drip even when there is a single fixed quantity of fluid to be dis-pensed or when the amount of fluid to be dispensed is man-ually controlled by the operator by continuously closing a switch each time the device is used.
A fluid dispensing device for dispensing measured amounts of fluid from a sealed vessel having a flexible, discharge tube capable of providing a selective choice of at least two measured quantities of fluid that can be dis-pensed at any given time but where it is possible to adjust the device so as to provide different choices of measured quantities of fluid which can be dispensed, but for all possible choices, always ensuring that an unacceptable amount of fluid does not drip from the tube after the desired amount of fluid has been dispensed. The invention also provides a device with an acceptable amount of drip even when there is a single fixed quantity of fluid to be dis-pensed or when the amount of fluid to be dispensed is man-ually controlled by the operator by continuously closing a switch each time the device is used.
Description
~5~
1 This invention relates to a fluid dispensing device for dispensing measured amounts of fluld from a sealed vessel having a Elexible discharge tube.
In particular, the lnvention relates to an improved device for dispensing measured amounts of fluids which must be stored and dispensed under sanitary conditions such as cream, ketchup, mustard, mayonaise, wines and spirits.
There are several known fluid dispensing devices which incorporate pumps which are commonly referred to as peristaltic pumps. A peristaltic pump, for present purposes, is a pump which has a plurality of fingers or rollers which usually rotate around a fixed point so as to squeeze a fluid through a flexible tube in successive waves. Un~ortunately, such devices have suffered from the disadvantaqes of being able to provide only one choice of a sin~le fixed amount of fluid to be dispensed and are not adjustable so as to dis-pense different amounts of fluid, or if they were adjustable, they allowed unacceptable amounts of fluid to drip out of the end of the tuhe after the desired amount of fluid had been dispensed.
Therefore, it is at leas-t one object of this invention to overcome the above disadvantages by providing a dispensing device which is capable of providing a selective choice of at least two measured quantities of fluid that can be dispensed at any given time but where it is possible to adjust the device so as to provide different choices oE
measured quantities of fluid which can be dispensed, but for 9~72 1 all possible choicesJ always ensuring that an unacceptableamount of fluid does not drip from the tube after the desired amount of fluid has been dispensed.
It is also an object of this invention to provide a device which overcomes the disadvantage oE an unacceptable amount of drip in devices where a single, fixed quantity of fluid is to be dispensed or where the amount of fluid to be dispensed is manually controlled by the operator by continuously "closing" a switch each time the device is used.
Accordingly, in one of its broad aspects, the invention res des in a fluid dispensing device for dispensing measured amounts of fluid rom a sealed vessel having a flexible, discharge tube, comprising: a support for the vessel; a peristaltic pump mounted on the support wherein the pump is adapted to operate on the tube and is driven by a motor; at least two, one~shot, manually-controlled actuating means wherein each means is individually capable of actuating the motor; an electronic timing means associated with each actuating means for controlling the length of a pre-determined time for which t~e pump remains in operation, wherein each timing means is manually adjustable so as to vary the pre-determined time period for which the pump remains in operation; and an open-sided pinch valve adapted to close the discharge end of thetube to minimize drip of fluid from the tube wherein the valve is adapted to be actuated by a solenoid and the 1 solenoid is adapted to be controlled so as to open the valve when the pump begins to operate and to keep the valve open during operation of the pump and to close the valve when the pump stops opera~ing and to keep the valve closed when the pump is not operating, wherein the valve comprises a substantially "L" shaped member wherein the "L"-shaped member is substantially horizontal and the forward portion of the "L"-shaped member i5 drawn in against a stopping means to close the tube.
-2a-~2;~7~
1 Brief Description of the Dra~wings Fig. 1 is a schematic, cross sectional view of a peristaltic pump;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention;
Fig~ 3 is a schematïc diagram of the operation of the inven-tion; and Fig. 4 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of an aspect of the invent~on.
Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention There are several known fluid dispensing devices which incorporate pumps which are commonly referred to as peristaltic pumps. A peristaltic pump, for present purposes, is generally illustrated in Fig. 1. A peristaltic pump is a pump 20 which has a plurality of rollers or fingers 22, 24, 26 which usually rotate around a fixed point 28 to squeeze fluid 30 through a flexible tube 32 in successive waves 34, 36, 38.
In the prior art devices, -the pump was usually ~0 con-trolled so as to pump for a fixed number of revolutions such that a fixed and measured amount of fluid would always be dispensed by the pump and at the same time it would always be assured that a roller would stop as close as possible to the open, discharge end 40 of the tube 32 such as roller 22 as shown in Fig. 1. Accordingly, a seal would be provided by roller 22 and the amount of fluid 30 that would drip from the tube 32 after the desired amount of ~2~iffl~2 1 fluid 30 had been dispensed could be kept to a minimum by ensuring that roller 22 always stopped as close as possible to the end 40 of -the discharged tube 32.
I-E roller 22 was to always stop as close as poss-ible to the end 40 of -the discharge tube 32, only a limited number of fixed amounts of measured fluid 30 could be dis-pensed. However, it has been found that these limited number of fixed amounts were not always the most desirable or convenient amounts to be dispensed. However, if the revolutions of the pump rollers 22, 24, 26 is changed so that a stopped roller does not pinch the tube 32 close to the discharged end 40 of the tube 32 such as shown by the positions 42, 44, 46 in Fig. 1, there will be an unaccept-able amount of fluid 30 drip from the tube 32 after the desired about of fluid 30 has been dispensed.
It has been found that an acceptable amount of drip can be obtained even when the device provldes a choice of at least two different quantities of fluid which can be dispensed at any given time and when the device is adjust-able so as to provide different choices of quanti-ties of fluid to be dispensed.
Also, the inventors have discovered tha-t the principles and techniq~es which they have discovered are also applicable to situations where there is a single, fixed quantity of fluid to be dispensed or where the amount of fluid to be dispensed is manually controlled by the operator by continuously "closing" a switch each time the device is used.
1 A preEerred embodiment of the invention, with reference to Flg. 2, includes a support 48 for supporting a sealed vesseI ~ having a flexible discharge tube 50. The sealed vessel is preferably a collapsable plastic vessel. It would usually contain cream.
Prefera~ly, the support 48 is one that is best operated from a counter-top.
A peristaltic pump 52 is mounted on the support 48 such that the pump 52 can operate on the tuhe 5~ so as to draw the fluid from the vessel.
The pump is driven by a motor (not shown, but see Fig. 3, numeral 62).
To operate the device, a vessel 54, such as a coffee cup, is placed below the dïscharge end 56 of the tube lS 50. The operator then activates or actuates one of at least two actuating means 58, 60.
It is pos-sible to have an embodiment of the invention where there is only one actua-ting means. In such an embodiment, the device would dispense only a single, fixed amount of fluid or the amount of fluid to be dispensed would be determined by the length of time the operator held the actuating means in the actuating mode.
With reEerence to Fig. 3, a preferred embodiment of the invention and its operation can be seen schematically.
The peristaltic pump 52 is driven by the motor 62. By actuating the first actuating means 58, a first timing means 64 is actuated so as to cause the motor 62 to drive the 1 pump 52 for a pre-deterrllined time as determined by the first timing means 64. Similarly, by actuating a second actuating means 60, a second timing means 66 is actuated so as to cause-the motor 62 to drive the pump 52 for a pre~determined time as de-termined by the second timing means 66.
Each of the actuating means 58, 60 can be any suitable means such as a switch. Preferably, the actuating means is a switch which need only be depressed or thrown once to begin the process and need not be continuously held in the actuating mode by the operator in order to have the process continue. This t~pe of actuating means will be referred to as a one-shot actuating means.
It is also possible to have a touch-sustained actuating means wherein the actuating means is biased in the non-actuating mode and to keep the actuating means in the actuating mode, the operator must continuously hold the switch "closed" or in the actuating mode.
Further embod;ments of the invention may include more than two actuating means if more than two choices o~
quantities of fluid to be dispensed are desired. However, each actuating means must be individually capable of act-uatin~ the motor and pump.
Each of the timing means 64, 66 is preferably an electric timer. Thus, each timing means associated with each actuating means would probably have an electronic clock of some sort. However, it is not necessary that each timing means has a separate clock. It is poss~ble to arrange the ~L2?~
1 electronic circuitry such that a single clock or timing circuit is accessed by the different tim;~ng means.
~ecause there is a timing means associated with each actuatin~ means, if there are more than two actuating means, thRre w~ll be a corresponding number of timing means.
Preferably, each -timing means is adjustable such that a pre-determined length of time during which the pump is in operation can be varied. In a preferred embodiment, each timing means is adjusted by adjusting a single potentio-B
meter~ of the electronic timer. However, it will be ùnder-stood tha-t if more sensitivity or more stable adjustments are desired, additional components could also be adjusted.
As noted above, the învention is also applicable for instances where the amount ~f fluid to be dispensed is controlled manually each time the operator uses the device. In this form of embodiment, the timing means is simply the actuating means which must be continuously, manually "closed" in order to ensure that the pump is in operation.
The motor 62 is preferably an electronic motor which is capable of operating with a voltage of less than about 25 volts.
Because it is unlikely that the rollers 68, 70, 72 of the pump 52, as shown ;n Fig. 2, will stop close to the discharge end 56 of the tube 50, there would normally be unacceptable drip after the desired amount of fluid has been dispensed. In order to overcome this problem, a pinch 1 valve 74 is provided. The pinch valve 74 is adapted to close the discharge end 56 of the tube 50 so as -to elimin-ate or at leas-t reduce the amount oE drip to an acceptable level. The pinch val-~e 74 is actua-ted by solenoid 76.
The solenoid 76 is adapted to be controlled so as to open the pinch valve 74, and thus open the discharge end 56 of the tube 50, when the pump 52 ~egins to operate and to close the pinch valve 74, and thus close the discharge end 56 of the tube 50, when the pump 52 stops operating. Also, ln the solenoid 76 is adap-ted to be controlled so as to keep the pinch valve 74 open when the pump 52 is operating and to keep the pinch valve 74 closed when the pump 52 is no-t operating.
Preferably, the solenoid 76 is adapted to keep the pinch valve 74 in the closed position unless the pump 52 is operating. Preferably, the solenoid 76 is adapted to be controlled by the various timing means 64, 66. In particular, if the pump 52 is operating, the time during which the solenoid 76 will keep the pinch valve 74 open, would be determined by the same timing means 64 or 66 which controls the time period for which the pump 52 will remain in operation.
Thus, if the first actuating means 58 is actuated, the first timing means 64 will control the time period far ~hich the pump 52 will remain ïn operation and, the first timing means 64 will also be connected to the solenoids 76 so as to control the solenoid 76 to open the pinch valve 74 .. . . .
~2~i~72 1 when the pump 52 begins to operate and to keep the pinch valve 74 open while the pump 52 is operating~ but to close the pinch valve 74 ~hen the pump 52 stops opera-ting and to keep the pinch valve 74 closed thereafter until either the same or different actuating means 58, 60 is actua~ed.
Although the pinch valve 74 can be a completely closed valve, it has been found that much better results are o~tained when the pinch valve 74 has an open side 78 as shown in Fig. 4, When the pinch valve 74 is open-sided, it has been found that it ïs much easier to insert ~he tube 50 into the valve 74 by sliding the tube 50 sideways ra-ther than threading the tube 50 through a closed valve.
With reference to Fig. 4, element 80 is a front portion of the support 48 which acts as a stopping means for the forward portion 82 of a substantially "L"-shaped member 84 when the pinch valve 74 is in the closed position.
Element 80 need not be part of the support 48 but it has been found convénient to use the support 48 as such. In Fig. 4, the pinch valve 74 is in the open position so that tube 50 is open and is not compressed so as to form the seal.
When the solenoid 76 is activated so as to cause the pinch valve 74 to close, the solenoid 76 operates on the rearward portion 86 of,the "L"-shaped member 84.
Preferably, the solenoid 76 is connected to the rearward portion,86 through the intermediary of a spring means 88.
The "L"-shaped member 84 ;s drawn in towards the solenoid l 76 so tha-t -the forward porti.on 82 of the !'L'-shaped member 84 is drawn in against the front portion 80 of the support 48 thus causing the tube 5Q to be compres$ed so as to form an anti-drip seala Preferably, the "L"-shaped member is formed of a non-corroding materîal such. as hardened, stainless-steel wire or a suitable plastic material.
As will be appreciated by a skilled worker, it may be necessary to provide some sort of guiding means 90 for the rearward portion 86 of the "I"-shaped member 84 in addition to the guiding effect provided by the front portion 80 of the support 48.
Also, it has been found advantageous if a coal spring 29 surrounds the rearward portion 86 of the "L"-shaped member 84 between the guiding means 90 and the pin 94 passing through the member 84 in the region of the front portion 80 of the support 48. Thus, the spring 92 tends to bias the member 84 away from the solenoid 76 but the pin 94 keeps the member 84 from extending outwardly too far.
I-t has been found that to move the "L"-shaped member 84 through ~ inch of movement, a solenoid 76 having a~out 180 ounces of force and a spring means 88 of abou-t 32 to 48 ounces of force will provide good pinching action.
B Preferably associ.ated with the pump 52 is a brake (not sho~fl~. It has been found that the pinch valve 74 operates much more effecti.vely when an electric brake is used to stop the motion of the pump 52 immediately when 1 the actuation or operation of the pump 52 has stopped~
The brake is any suitable b.raking means, preferably an electrlc brake~
Preferably, the pump 52 is a quick loading peristaltic pump, that is! the-exterior houslng of the pump is in two h.alves which are hinged and $wung into place after loading.
Alth.ough the disclosure descr~.~es and illustrates ~ many embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to these particular embodiments but that it ex~ends to include variations that are within the skill of the sk.illed worker~
.
~5
1 This invention relates to a fluid dispensing device for dispensing measured amounts of fluld from a sealed vessel having a Elexible discharge tube.
In particular, the lnvention relates to an improved device for dispensing measured amounts of fluids which must be stored and dispensed under sanitary conditions such as cream, ketchup, mustard, mayonaise, wines and spirits.
There are several known fluid dispensing devices which incorporate pumps which are commonly referred to as peristaltic pumps. A peristaltic pump, for present purposes, is a pump which has a plurality of fingers or rollers which usually rotate around a fixed point so as to squeeze a fluid through a flexible tube in successive waves. Un~ortunately, such devices have suffered from the disadvantaqes of being able to provide only one choice of a sin~le fixed amount of fluid to be dispensed and are not adjustable so as to dis-pense different amounts of fluid, or if they were adjustable, they allowed unacceptable amounts of fluid to drip out of the end of the tuhe after the desired amount of fluid had been dispensed.
Therefore, it is at leas-t one object of this invention to overcome the above disadvantages by providing a dispensing device which is capable of providing a selective choice of at least two measured quantities of fluid that can be dispensed at any given time but where it is possible to adjust the device so as to provide different choices oE
measured quantities of fluid which can be dispensed, but for 9~72 1 all possible choicesJ always ensuring that an unacceptableamount of fluid does not drip from the tube after the desired amount of fluid has been dispensed.
It is also an object of this invention to provide a device which overcomes the disadvantage oE an unacceptable amount of drip in devices where a single, fixed quantity of fluid is to be dispensed or where the amount of fluid to be dispensed is manually controlled by the operator by continuously "closing" a switch each time the device is used.
Accordingly, in one of its broad aspects, the invention res des in a fluid dispensing device for dispensing measured amounts of fluid rom a sealed vessel having a flexible, discharge tube, comprising: a support for the vessel; a peristaltic pump mounted on the support wherein the pump is adapted to operate on the tube and is driven by a motor; at least two, one~shot, manually-controlled actuating means wherein each means is individually capable of actuating the motor; an electronic timing means associated with each actuating means for controlling the length of a pre-determined time for which t~e pump remains in operation, wherein each timing means is manually adjustable so as to vary the pre-determined time period for which the pump remains in operation; and an open-sided pinch valve adapted to close the discharge end of thetube to minimize drip of fluid from the tube wherein the valve is adapted to be actuated by a solenoid and the 1 solenoid is adapted to be controlled so as to open the valve when the pump begins to operate and to keep the valve open during operation of the pump and to close the valve when the pump stops opera~ing and to keep the valve closed when the pump is not operating, wherein the valve comprises a substantially "L" shaped member wherein the "L"-shaped member is substantially horizontal and the forward portion of the "L"-shaped member i5 drawn in against a stopping means to close the tube.
-2a-~2;~7~
1 Brief Description of the Dra~wings Fig. 1 is a schematic, cross sectional view of a peristaltic pump;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention;
Fig~ 3 is a schematïc diagram of the operation of the inven-tion; and Fig. 4 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of an aspect of the invent~on.
Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention There are several known fluid dispensing devices which incorporate pumps which are commonly referred to as peristaltic pumps. A peristaltic pump, for present purposes, is generally illustrated in Fig. 1. A peristaltic pump is a pump 20 which has a plurality of rollers or fingers 22, 24, 26 which usually rotate around a fixed point 28 to squeeze fluid 30 through a flexible tube 32 in successive waves 34, 36, 38.
In the prior art devices, -the pump was usually ~0 con-trolled so as to pump for a fixed number of revolutions such that a fixed and measured amount of fluid would always be dispensed by the pump and at the same time it would always be assured that a roller would stop as close as possible to the open, discharge end 40 of the tube 32 such as roller 22 as shown in Fig. 1. Accordingly, a seal would be provided by roller 22 and the amount of fluid 30 that would drip from the tube 32 after the desired amount of ~2~iffl~2 1 fluid 30 had been dispensed could be kept to a minimum by ensuring that roller 22 always stopped as close as possible to the end 40 of -the discharged tube 32.
I-E roller 22 was to always stop as close as poss-ible to the end 40 of -the discharge tube 32, only a limited number of fixed amounts of measured fluid 30 could be dis-pensed. However, it has been found that these limited number of fixed amounts were not always the most desirable or convenient amounts to be dispensed. However, if the revolutions of the pump rollers 22, 24, 26 is changed so that a stopped roller does not pinch the tube 32 close to the discharged end 40 of the tube 32 such as shown by the positions 42, 44, 46 in Fig. 1, there will be an unaccept-able amount of fluid 30 drip from the tube 32 after the desired about of fluid 30 has been dispensed.
It has been found that an acceptable amount of drip can be obtained even when the device provldes a choice of at least two different quantities of fluid which can be dispensed at any given time and when the device is adjust-able so as to provide different choices of quanti-ties of fluid to be dispensed.
Also, the inventors have discovered tha-t the principles and techniq~es which they have discovered are also applicable to situations where there is a single, fixed quantity of fluid to be dispensed or where the amount of fluid to be dispensed is manually controlled by the operator by continuously "closing" a switch each time the device is used.
1 A preEerred embodiment of the invention, with reference to Flg. 2, includes a support 48 for supporting a sealed vesseI ~ having a flexible discharge tube 50. The sealed vessel is preferably a collapsable plastic vessel. It would usually contain cream.
Prefera~ly, the support 48 is one that is best operated from a counter-top.
A peristaltic pump 52 is mounted on the support 48 such that the pump 52 can operate on the tuhe 5~ so as to draw the fluid from the vessel.
The pump is driven by a motor (not shown, but see Fig. 3, numeral 62).
To operate the device, a vessel 54, such as a coffee cup, is placed below the dïscharge end 56 of the tube lS 50. The operator then activates or actuates one of at least two actuating means 58, 60.
It is pos-sible to have an embodiment of the invention where there is only one actua-ting means. In such an embodiment, the device would dispense only a single, fixed amount of fluid or the amount of fluid to be dispensed would be determined by the length of time the operator held the actuating means in the actuating mode.
With reEerence to Fig. 3, a preferred embodiment of the invention and its operation can be seen schematically.
The peristaltic pump 52 is driven by the motor 62. By actuating the first actuating means 58, a first timing means 64 is actuated so as to cause the motor 62 to drive the 1 pump 52 for a pre-deterrllined time as determined by the first timing means 64. Similarly, by actuating a second actuating means 60, a second timing means 66 is actuated so as to cause-the motor 62 to drive the pump 52 for a pre~determined time as de-termined by the second timing means 66.
Each of the actuating means 58, 60 can be any suitable means such as a switch. Preferably, the actuating means is a switch which need only be depressed or thrown once to begin the process and need not be continuously held in the actuating mode by the operator in order to have the process continue. This t~pe of actuating means will be referred to as a one-shot actuating means.
It is also possible to have a touch-sustained actuating means wherein the actuating means is biased in the non-actuating mode and to keep the actuating means in the actuating mode, the operator must continuously hold the switch "closed" or in the actuating mode.
Further embod;ments of the invention may include more than two actuating means if more than two choices o~
quantities of fluid to be dispensed are desired. However, each actuating means must be individually capable of act-uatin~ the motor and pump.
Each of the timing means 64, 66 is preferably an electric timer. Thus, each timing means associated with each actuating means would probably have an electronic clock of some sort. However, it is not necessary that each timing means has a separate clock. It is poss~ble to arrange the ~L2?~
1 electronic circuitry such that a single clock or timing circuit is accessed by the different tim;~ng means.
~ecause there is a timing means associated with each actuatin~ means, if there are more than two actuating means, thRre w~ll be a corresponding number of timing means.
Preferably, each -timing means is adjustable such that a pre-determined length of time during which the pump is in operation can be varied. In a preferred embodiment, each timing means is adjusted by adjusting a single potentio-B
meter~ of the electronic timer. However, it will be ùnder-stood tha-t if more sensitivity or more stable adjustments are desired, additional components could also be adjusted.
As noted above, the învention is also applicable for instances where the amount ~f fluid to be dispensed is controlled manually each time the operator uses the device. In this form of embodiment, the timing means is simply the actuating means which must be continuously, manually "closed" in order to ensure that the pump is in operation.
The motor 62 is preferably an electronic motor which is capable of operating with a voltage of less than about 25 volts.
Because it is unlikely that the rollers 68, 70, 72 of the pump 52, as shown ;n Fig. 2, will stop close to the discharge end 56 of the tube 50, there would normally be unacceptable drip after the desired amount of fluid has been dispensed. In order to overcome this problem, a pinch 1 valve 74 is provided. The pinch valve 74 is adapted to close the discharge end 56 of the tube 50 so as -to elimin-ate or at leas-t reduce the amount oE drip to an acceptable level. The pinch val-~e 74 is actua-ted by solenoid 76.
The solenoid 76 is adapted to be controlled so as to open the pinch valve 74, and thus open the discharge end 56 of the tube 50, when the pump 52 ~egins to operate and to close the pinch valve 74, and thus close the discharge end 56 of the tube 50, when the pump 52 stops operating. Also, ln the solenoid 76 is adap-ted to be controlled so as to keep the pinch valve 74 open when the pump 52 is operating and to keep the pinch valve 74 closed when the pump 52 is no-t operating.
Preferably, the solenoid 76 is adapted to keep the pinch valve 74 in the closed position unless the pump 52 is operating. Preferably, the solenoid 76 is adapted to be controlled by the various timing means 64, 66. In particular, if the pump 52 is operating, the time during which the solenoid 76 will keep the pinch valve 74 open, would be determined by the same timing means 64 or 66 which controls the time period for which the pump 52 will remain in operation.
Thus, if the first actuating means 58 is actuated, the first timing means 64 will control the time period far ~hich the pump 52 will remain ïn operation and, the first timing means 64 will also be connected to the solenoids 76 so as to control the solenoid 76 to open the pinch valve 74 .. . . .
~2~i~72 1 when the pump 52 begins to operate and to keep the pinch valve 74 open while the pump 52 is operating~ but to close the pinch valve 74 ~hen the pump 52 stops opera-ting and to keep the pinch valve 74 closed thereafter until either the same or different actuating means 58, 60 is actua~ed.
Although the pinch valve 74 can be a completely closed valve, it has been found that much better results are o~tained when the pinch valve 74 has an open side 78 as shown in Fig. 4, When the pinch valve 74 is open-sided, it has been found that it ïs much easier to insert ~he tube 50 into the valve 74 by sliding the tube 50 sideways ra-ther than threading the tube 50 through a closed valve.
With reference to Fig. 4, element 80 is a front portion of the support 48 which acts as a stopping means for the forward portion 82 of a substantially "L"-shaped member 84 when the pinch valve 74 is in the closed position.
Element 80 need not be part of the support 48 but it has been found convénient to use the support 48 as such. In Fig. 4, the pinch valve 74 is in the open position so that tube 50 is open and is not compressed so as to form the seal.
When the solenoid 76 is activated so as to cause the pinch valve 74 to close, the solenoid 76 operates on the rearward portion 86 of,the "L"-shaped member 84.
Preferably, the solenoid 76 is connected to the rearward portion,86 through the intermediary of a spring means 88.
The "L"-shaped member 84 ;s drawn in towards the solenoid l 76 so tha-t -the forward porti.on 82 of the !'L'-shaped member 84 is drawn in against the front portion 80 of the support 48 thus causing the tube 5Q to be compres$ed so as to form an anti-drip seala Preferably, the "L"-shaped member is formed of a non-corroding materîal such. as hardened, stainless-steel wire or a suitable plastic material.
As will be appreciated by a skilled worker, it may be necessary to provide some sort of guiding means 90 for the rearward portion 86 of the "I"-shaped member 84 in addition to the guiding effect provided by the front portion 80 of the support 48.
Also, it has been found advantageous if a coal spring 29 surrounds the rearward portion 86 of the "L"-shaped member 84 between the guiding means 90 and the pin 94 passing through the member 84 in the region of the front portion 80 of the support 48. Thus, the spring 92 tends to bias the member 84 away from the solenoid 76 but the pin 94 keeps the member 84 from extending outwardly too far.
I-t has been found that to move the "L"-shaped member 84 through ~ inch of movement, a solenoid 76 having a~out 180 ounces of force and a spring means 88 of abou-t 32 to 48 ounces of force will provide good pinching action.
B Preferably associ.ated with the pump 52 is a brake (not sho~fl~. It has been found that the pinch valve 74 operates much more effecti.vely when an electric brake is used to stop the motion of the pump 52 immediately when 1 the actuation or operation of the pump 52 has stopped~
The brake is any suitable b.raking means, preferably an electrlc brake~
Preferably, the pump 52 is a quick loading peristaltic pump, that is! the-exterior houslng of the pump is in two h.alves which are hinged and $wung into place after loading.
Alth.ough the disclosure descr~.~es and illustrates ~ many embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to these particular embodiments but that it ex~ends to include variations that are within the skill of the sk.illed worker~
.
~5
Claims (7)
- Claim 1 cont.
the valve closed when the pump is not operating, wherein the valve comprises a substantially "L"-shaped member wherein the "L"-shaped member is substantially horizontal and the forward portion of the "L"-shaped member is drawn in against a stopping means to close the tube. - 2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the stopping means comprises a part of the support.
- 3. A device as defined in claim 1 further including a brake adapted to stop the motion of the pump when the pump stops operating.
- 4. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein each timing means includes at least one adjustable potentiometer which controls the time period.
- 5. A device as defined in claim 4 further including a brake adapted to stop the motion of the pump when the pump stops operating.
- 6. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein the solenoid is adapted to be controlled during the time when the pump is in operation by at least the timing means which is adapted to control the time period for which the pump remains in operation.
- 7, A device as defined in claim 3, 4 or 5 wherein the solenoid is adapted to be controlled during the time when the pump is in operation by at least the timing means which is adapted to control the time period for which the pump remains in operation.
1. A fluid dispensing device for dispensing measured amounts of fluid from a sealed vessel having a flexible, discharge tube, comprising:
a support for the vessel;
a peristaltic pump mounted on the support wherein the pump is adapted to operate on the tube and is driven by a motor;
at least two, one-shot, manually-controlled actuating means wherein each means is individually capable of actuating the motor;
an electronic timing means associated with each actuating means for controlling the length of a pre-determined time for which the pump remains in operation, wherein each timing means is manually adjustable so as to vary the pre-determined time period for which the pump remains in operation; and an open-sided pinch valve adapted to close the discharge end of the tube to minimize drip of fluid from the tube wherein the valve is adapted to be actuated by a solenoid and the solenoid is adapted to be controlled so as to open the valve when the pump begins to operate and to keep the valve open during operation of the pump and to close the valve when the pump stops operating and to keep
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000467401A CA1225972A (en) | 1984-11-08 | 1984-11-08 | Fluid dispensing device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000467401A CA1225972A (en) | 1984-11-08 | 1984-11-08 | Fluid dispensing device |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1225972A true CA1225972A (en) | 1987-08-25 |
Family
ID=4129109
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000467401A Expired CA1225972A (en) | 1984-11-08 | 1984-11-08 | Fluid dispensing device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1225972A (en) |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1990012530A1 (en) * | 1989-04-17 | 1990-11-01 | Fender Franklin D | Soap dispenser |
| US5105992A (en) * | 1988-07-05 | 1992-04-21 | Fender Franklin D | Soapdispenser having a squeeze pump |
| US5249706A (en) * | 1988-09-22 | 1993-10-05 | John Szabo | Refrigerated liquid dispenser having a shut-off valve |
| US5597094A (en) * | 1992-12-03 | 1997-01-28 | Solignac Industries S.A. | Device with peristaltic pump which makes it possible to draw, weight and mix liquids automatically |
-
1984
- 1984-11-08 CA CA000467401A patent/CA1225972A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5105992A (en) * | 1988-07-05 | 1992-04-21 | Fender Franklin D | Soapdispenser having a squeeze pump |
| US5249706A (en) * | 1988-09-22 | 1993-10-05 | John Szabo | Refrigerated liquid dispenser having a shut-off valve |
| WO1990012530A1 (en) * | 1989-04-17 | 1990-11-01 | Fender Franklin D | Soap dispenser |
| US5597094A (en) * | 1992-12-03 | 1997-01-28 | Solignac Industries S.A. | Device with peristaltic pump which makes it possible to draw, weight and mix liquids automatically |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |