Dispensing apparatus
First Claim
1. An assembly operatively cooperatable with a piston plate of a dispense head apparatus to facilitate dispensing via a set of pins temporarily mounted with respect to the assembly, the assembly comprising:
- a pin engagement actuation member positionable to be selectively movably engaged by the piston plate of the dispense head;
a pin engagement member opposed to the pin engagement actuation member and mounted for movement with respect thereto; and
a linkage coupling the pin engagement actuation member and the pin engagement member to selectively move the pin engagement member away from the pin engagement actuation member as the pin engagement member moves towards an engaged position in which a portion of the pin engagement member contacts each pin in the set of pins to apply a force thereto, and to move the pin engagement member towards the pin engagement actuation member as the pin engagement member moves toward a disengaged position spaced from the engaged position in which the portion of the pin engagement member does not contact the pins in the set of pins.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pin support assembly includes a pin support frame having a plurality of apertures for supporting an array of pins for dispensing fluids. The pins are supported for longitudinal or “floating” movement to prevent damage to the pins. An actuation assembly engages an end of each of the pins to ensure that the pins are properly seated in the support frame in a planar fashion. The actuation assembly engages the pins as the pins move relatively toward a head block and disengages the pins as the pins move relatively away from the head block.
18 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An assembly operatively cooperatable with a piston plate of a dispense head apparatus to facilitate dispensing via a set of pins temporarily mounted with respect to the assembly, the assembly comprising:
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a pin engagement actuation member positionable to be selectively movably engaged by the piston plate of the dispense head;
a pin engagement member opposed to the pin engagement actuation member and mounted for movement with respect thereto; and
a linkage coupling the pin engagement actuation member and the pin engagement member to selectively move the pin engagement member away from the pin engagement actuation member as the pin engagement member moves towards an engaged position in which a portion of the pin engagement member contacts each pin in the set of pins to apply a force thereto, and to move the pin engagement member towards the pin engagement actuation member as the pin engagement member moves toward a disengaged position spaced from the engaged position in which the portion of the pin engagement member does not contact the pins in the set of pins. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15)
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10. An assembly operatively cooperatable with a piston plate of a dispense head apparatus to facilitate dispensing via a set of pins temporarily mounted with respect to the assembly, the assembly comprising:
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a pin engagement actuation member positionable with respect to the piston plate of the dispense head apparatus to be selectively movably engaged thereby;
a pin engagement member opposed to the pin engagement actuation member and mounted for movement with respect thereto; and
a scissors linkage coupling the pin engagement actuation member and the pin engagement member to selectively move the pin engagement member away from the pin engagement actuation member as the pin engagement member moves towards an engaged position in which a portion of the pin engagement member contacts each pin in the set of pins to apply a force thereto, and to move the pin engagement member towards the pin engagement actuation member as the pin engagement member moves toward a disengaged position spaced from the engaged position in which the portion of the pin engagement member does not contact the pins in the set of pins. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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16. A dispensing apparatus to facilitate dispensing via a set of pins temporarily mounted with respect to the dispensing apparatus, comprising:
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a drive assembly frame; and
a drive member mounted to the drive assembly frame for axial movement with respect thereto;
a pin engagement actuation member positionable with respect to the drive assembly frame to be selectively movably engaged in response to the axial movement of the drive member;
a pin engagement member opposed to the pin engagement actuation member and mounted for movement with respect thereto; and
a linkage coupling the pin engagement actuation member and the pin engagement member to selectively move the pin engagement member away from the pin engagement actuation member as the pin engagement member moves towards an engaged position in which a portion of the pin engagement member contacts each pin in the set of pins to apply a force thereto, and to move the pin engagement member towards the pin engagement actuation member as the pin engagement member moves toward a disengaged position spaced from the engaged position in which the portion of the pin engagement member does not contact the pins in the set of pins. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification