Controlled liquid dispensing apparatus

• US 5,433,351 A
• Filed: 04/16/1993
• Issued: 07/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nitto Kohki Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Misuzuerie Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Okuyama, Hidenori, Tomita, Tomonobu, Satoh, Takeyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P.
• Application Number:
  US08/048,884
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 222/333, 222/207, 222/214, 417/413 A, 417/413 B, 417/413 R, 417/332, 417/478, 417/482
• US Class Current: 222/214
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/10 Pump mechanism in general F04

Abstract

A liquid feeding and dispensing apparatus having a disposable whole liquid container unit that can be immersed in a sterilizing tank for cleaning. The liquid container unit has an elastic liquid container, a pump, and valves integrated therein that is separate from a holder unit for driving a pump. The liquid container unit has an expansible liquid container filled with a liquid, a liquid feeder connected with an outlet from the liquid container at one end, and a pump chamber having one end connected with the other end of the liquid feeder. The pump chamber has a flexible wall plate, and a feeding tube connects with an outlet end of the pump chamber. A pump holder unit has a pump drive body detachably holding the pump chamber for deviating or flexing the flexible wall plate to change the volume of the pump chamber. A pinch valve has a groove for inserting and receiving the feeding tube to pinch the feeding tube closed when not feeding the liquid. In an alternate embodiment the pump chamber is sealed by a projection on the inside of the flexible wall plate.

Claims

1. A liquid feeding apparatus comprising in combination;

(1) a liquid container unit having a liquid container filled with a liquid, a liquid feeder connected with said liquid container at its one end, a pump chamber, one end of said pump chamber being connected with the other end of the liquid feeder, said pump chamber having a flexible wall member, an inlet check valve, an outlet check valve, and projection means on an inside surface of said flexible wall member sealing around at least one periphery of said inlet check valve and said outlet check valve when said flexible wall member is flexed for creating a higher back pressure in the pump chamber, and a feeding tube connected with the other end of the pump chamber; and

(2) a holder unit having a pump drive body for detachably holding said pump chamber, pump drive means for flexing said flexible wall member to change the volume of said pump chamber and a groove for inserting said feeding tube thereinto.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 including pinch means to pinch said feeding tube inserted in said groove closed when said pump drive body is deactivated and release said feeding tube when said pump drive body is activated.

3. The liquid feeding apparatus claimed in claim 2, including surface fastening means provided on at least one surface of an outer surface of said flexible wall member and the outer surface of said pump drive body for detachably fastening said flexible wall member to said pump drive body without penetrating said flexible wall member.

4. A liquid feeding and dispensing apparatus comprising;

a liquid container unit comprised of a liquid container for holding a liquid, liquid feeding means connected to an outlet on said liquid container, pump means having a pumping chamber connected to the other end of said liquid feeding means, said pumping chamber including a flexible wall member, an outlet check valve and an inlet check valve, projecting means on an inside surface of said flexible wall member sealing around at least one periphery of said inlet check valve and outlet check valve when said flexible wall member is flexed for creating a back pressure in said pumping chamber, and a feeding tube connected to an outlet end of said pumping chamber; and

holding unit means comprised of a pump drive body for detachably holding said pump chamber, said pump drive body including means for flexing said flexible wall member to change the volume of said pumping chamber and a groove for receiving and inserting said feeding tube.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 including pinch means to pinch said feeding tube inserted in said groove closed when said pump drive body is deactivated and release said feeding tube when said pump drive body is activated.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 including surface fastening means provided on at least one surface of the outer surface of said flexible wall member and the outer surface of said pump drive body for detachably fastening said flexible wall member to said pump drive body without penetrating said flexible wall plate.