Micro dispensing positive displacement pump

• US 5,593,290 A
• Filed: 12/22/1994
• Issued: 01/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Chemelli, John B., Greisch, Danny L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gluck, Richard E.
• Application Number:
  US08/362,367
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 417/478, 417/479, 417/480, 417/474, 417/510, 417/475, 417/395
• US Class Current: 417/478
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 19/006 Micropumps F04B43/043 and F04B43/095 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/021 the plate-like flexible member is pressed against a wall by a number of elements, each having an alternating movement in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the plate-like flexible member and each having its own driving mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/06 Pumps having fluid drive
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/14 having plate-like flexible members

Abstract

A multiple-chamber pump (10, 52, 78) for dispensing precise volumes of fluids. The pump is especially suited for dispensing volumes in the microliter range. At least three chambers (18, 20, 22) comprising preferably spherical segments are sequentially connected by conduits (24, 26, 28, 30) and are closed by a diaphragm member (14) which is movable into or out of the chambers by application of pressure or vacuum on one side of the diaphragm to draw liquid into the chambers and then to expel the liquid from the chambers, either forward or backward according to an operating sequence. Control means are provided for alternating and sequencing the application of pressure and vacuum such that metered volumes of liquid (50) are pumped from chamber to chamber. Tiny, precisely controlled drops of liquid can be dispensed. A plurality of ganged pumps (94) also can be provided in a single pump body (96) to meter independently a plurality of fluids (100, 102, 104) simultaneously. Advantageously, flows can be joined (98) or split (118) between ganged pumps to provide precise combinations of different fluids. Flows in any of the preferred pump configurations can be dispensed to one or a plurality of dispensing destinations.

Claims

1. Apparatus for intermittently dispensing a plurality of volumes of fluid, comprising;

a) a plurality of sources of fluids to be dispensed;

b) a support member having surfaces and a dispensing orifice in at least one of said surfaces and having a plurality of sets of first and second chambers having first and second volumes, respectively, said first and second volumes being independently and selectively variable, and having a third chamber having a maximum volume larger than the combined volumes of the plurality of second chambers, and having a plurality of first conduits, one to each set of chambers, extending from said sources of fluids to said first chambers, and having a plurality of second conduits, one to each set of chambers, extending from said first chambers to said second chambers, and having a plurality of third conduits, one to each set of chambers, extending from said second chambers to said third chamber to said dispensing orifice;

c) means for selectively increasing said first volumes to draw fluid from respective of said sources through respective of said first conduits into respective of said first chambers;

d) means for selectively increasing said second volumes to draw fluid from respective of said sources through respective of said first conduits and said first chambers and said second conduits into respective of said chambers;

e) means for selectively decreasing said first volumes to return fluid to respective of said sources and to close respective of said second conduits;

f) means for selectively increasing the volume of said third chamber to said maximum volume to withdraw fluid from said fourth conduit;

g) means for selectively decreasing said second volumes to first expel respective of said fluids from said second chambers into said third chamber and thereby combine said second volumes of the respective fluids, and to then close said second and third conduits;

h) means for selectively decreasing said increased third volume to first expel said combined second volumes of fluids from said third chamber through said fourth conduit toward said dispensing orifice and to then close said third conduits.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of fourth conduits extending from said third chamber to a plurality of dispensing orifices.