Apparatus reponsive to pressure of a medium which effects fluid discharge for controlling the pressure of the medium and the time the medium acts on the fluid
First Claim
1. In combination, a quantitative fluid discharge device having fluid within a container and means responsive to pressurization of the fluid in the container for discharging the fluid from a discharge side of the container at a predetermined rate, and a dispense control apparatus for controlling a pressure change type fluid discharge rate of the quantitative discharge device, said dispense control apparatus including a keyboard for inputting signals, a microcomputer for receiving said signals from said keyboard, an interface for receiving a digital pressure command signal from said microcomputer, an electropneumatic regulator for receiving an analog pressure command signal from said interface, a solenoid valve disposed in a middle part of an air channel of said electropneumatic regulator, and a pressure sensor for detecting discharge air pressure acting on the fluid, said pressure sensor being disposed at a location which permits detection of said discharge air pressure at the time when the fluid is being discharged from said quantitative discharge device, and said dispense control apparatus including means for simultaneously controlling said electropneumatic regulator and said solenoid valve so as to synchronously control both the pressure and duration of the discharge air pressure acting on the fluid being discharged.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A quantitative fluid discharge device includes an arrangement for pressurizing fluid within a container and discharging the fluid from the container at a predetermined rate. A dispense control apparatus is provided for controlling the rate of fluid discharge from the container. The dispense control apparatus includes a keyboard from which signals for effecting initialization and discharge may be input, and a microcomputer for receiving those signals from the keyboard. An interface receives a digital pressure command signal from the microcomputer, and an electropneumatic regulator receives an analog pressure command signal from this interface. The electropneumatic regulator includes an air channel, and a solenoid valve is disposed in a middle part of this air channel. A pressure sensor for detecting the discharge air pressure acting on the fluid is disposed at a location which permits detection of the discharge air pressure while the fluid is being discharged from the container.
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Citations
11 Claims
- 1. In combination, a quantitative fluid discharge device having fluid within a container and means responsive to pressurization of the fluid in the container for discharging the fluid from a discharge side of the container at a predetermined rate, and a dispense control apparatus for controlling a pressure change type fluid discharge rate of the quantitative discharge device, said dispense control apparatus including a keyboard for inputting signals, a microcomputer for receiving said signals from said keyboard, an interface for receiving a digital pressure command signal from said microcomputer, an electropneumatic regulator for receiving an analog pressure command signal from said interface, a solenoid valve disposed in a middle part of an air channel of said electropneumatic regulator, and a pressure sensor for detecting discharge air pressure acting on the fluid, said pressure sensor being disposed at a location which permits detection of said discharge air pressure at the time when the fluid is being discharged from said quantitative discharge device, and said dispense control apparatus including means for simultaneously controlling said electropneumatic regulator and said solenoid valve so as to synchronously control both the pressure and duration of the discharge air pressure acting on the fluid being discharged.
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5. An apparatus comprising:
- a quantitative fluid discharge device having means defining a container for fluid, a discharge outlet communicating with said container, and a gas inlet communicating with said container;
an electromagnetic regulator having an inlet coupled to a source of pressurized gas and having an outlet; and
ejector having a passageway therethrough which is coupled at one end to said source of pressurized gas, and having an outlet at which said ejector generates a negative gas pressure in response to the flow of gas through said passageway;
a solenoid valve having two inlets which are respectively coupled by first and second gas channels to said outlet of said electromagnetic regulator and said outlet of said ejector, said solenoid valve also having an outlet;
a third gas channel coupling said outlet of said solenoid valve to said gas inlet of said quantitative fluid discharge device;
pressure sensor means for sensing a gas pressure representative of the pressure acting on the fluid in said container while fluid is being discharged through said discharge outlet, and control means responsive to said pressure sensor and coupled to control inputs of said electromagnetic regulator and said solenoid valve for simultaneously controlling said electromagnetic regulator and said solenoid valve in a manner effecting synchronous control of both the pressure and duration of gas pressure supplied through said third gas channel to said quantitative fluid discharge device. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- a quantitative fluid discharge device having means defining a container for fluid, a discharge outlet communicating with said container, and a gas inlet communicating with said container;
Specification