Calibratable automatic fluid dispenser

• US 4,331,262 A
• Filed: 09/05/1979
• Issued: 05/25/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: New Brunswick Scientific Co., Inc. (Eppendorf Se)
• Original Assignee: New Brunswick Scientific Co., Inc. (Eppendorf Se)
• Inventors: Freedman, David, Snyder, Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Spar, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wacyra, Edward M.
• Application Number:
  US06/072,859
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 222/14-22, 222/23, 222/25, 222/26-28, 222/36, 222/37, 222/63, 222/70, 141/192, 141/196, 364/478, 364/479, 364/571, 364/509, 364/510, 324/166, 73/3, 73/168
• US Class Current: 222/37
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 43/44 from supply magazines
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/2807 Feeding closures
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/10 Petri dish crystallising dishes B01L3/06
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/00 Means for introduction, extraction or recirculation of materials, e.g. pumps pumps per se F04B
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/125 of the peristaltic pump type peristaltic pumps per se F04B43/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 25/0092 for metering by volume
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0425 Stacks, magazines or elevators for plates

Abstract

A fluid dispenser pumps fluid in increments. The dispenser includes a computer which, on command, determines the volume of fluid dispensed per increment, the determined value constituting a calibration value which is stored in the memory of the computer. A controller which may include the computer as a component provides for dispensing a selected number of doses, each of a selected volume. The controller can also specify a time interval between the delivery of successive doses. The dispenser is particularly useful in combination with apparatus for charging petri dishes with agar.

Claims

1. A fluid dispenser comprising:

pump means arranged and constructed for dispensing a fluid dose in increments of essentially equal size;

calibration collection means for receiving the fluid output of said pump means;

conduit means connected with said pump means for transfer of said fluid to said calibration collection means;

counting means for counting the number of increments of fluid pumped by said pump means;

sensing means for detecting a calibration volume output of said pump means in said calibration collection means;

computer means having a memory and programmable for dividing on command the number of increments of fluid pumped to said calibration collection means by said calibration volume pumped to said calibration collection means for determining the fluid volume per increment, hereinafter termed "calibrated value," and thereby calibrating said pump;

manually operable calibration means for causing said "calibrated value" to be stored in said memory;

means for selecting a volume of fluid to be dispensed to a receiver;

controller means operatively connected with said pump means and said computer means, said controller means being adapted to cause said computer means to divide the numeric value of said selected volume by said stored "calibrated value", said division determining the necessary number of increments to be dispensed, said controller means being further adapted to cause said pump means to operate and deliver said number of increments, whereby the selected volume of fluid is dispensed to said receiver.

2. The fluid dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein said conduit means includes a flexible hose positioned for being flexed by said pump means for causing transfer of fluid therethrough.

3. The fluid dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein said counting means includes optical sensor means for counting the number of increments delivered by said pump means.

4. The fluid dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein said counting means includes magnetic sensor means for counting the number of increments delivered by said pump means.

5. The fluid dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein said counting means includes electrical sensor means for counting the number of increments delivered by said pump means.

6. The fluid dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein said counting means includes mechanical sensor means for counting the number of increments delivered by said pump means.

7. The fluid dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein said pump means includes a single motor means connected for driving both said pump means and said counting means.

8. The fluid dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein said controller means is arranged and constructed for operating selectively in one of the following modes:

(a) delivery of a single dose of the selected volume, and

(b) delivery of a selected number of doses of the selected volume.

9. The fluid dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein said controller means is arranged and constructed for causing said fluid dispenser to deliver selected volumes at selected time intervals.

10. The fluid dispenser as defined in claim 9, wherein said time intervals have a lower limit of zero and setting of said time interval to zero provides for continuous delivery of fluid.

11. The fluid dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein said fluid dispenser comprises additional pump means, each additional pump means associated with a corresponding conduit means and each additional pump means operatively connected with said computer means, said calibration collection means and said controller means.

12. The fluid dispenser as defined in claim 1, and wherein said fluid dispenser is associated with filling means for automatically charging a plurality of petri dishes with agar.

13. The fluid dispenser as defined in claim 12, wherein said controller means is arranged and constructed for shutting off said fluid dispenser after delivery of said selected volume.

14. The fluid dispenser as defined in claim 12, wherein said controller means is arranged and constructed for shutting off said fluid dispenser after delivery of a selected number of doses of said selected volume.