Dispensing apparatus

• US 6,220,487 B1
• Filed: 10/15/1999
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Micro Robotics Systems, Inc. (MKS Instruments Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Micro Robotics Systems, Inc. (MKS Instruments Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ito, Carl, Srivastava, Nilendu, Devasia, Cyriac
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARTAGENA, MELVIN A
• Application Number:
  US09/419,135
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 222/504, 222/367, 222/380, 222/333, 141/256, 141/259, 141/102, 417/401, 417/403, 417/404, 417/398, 417/461, 417/466
• US Class Current: 222/380
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 13/00 Pumps specially modified to deliver fixed or variable measured quantities
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 7/0007 and having a rotating movement

Abstract

A dispensing pump includes first and second sleeve assemblies. Each sleeve assembly includes a rotary valve having an input and output position and a longitudinally displaceable piston that moves between a first position abutting the valve and a second position displaced from the valve. The sleeve connects to a manifold with input and output passages that align with input and output apertures in the sleeve. Withdrawing the piston with the input port of the valve aligned with the input aperture draws material into the sleeve. Moving the piston toward the valve in the output position with the output port aligned with the output passage displaces material from the manifold.

Claims

1. A dispensing pump comprising:

A. a sleeve having first and second ends and first and second spaced apertures through a side thereof,

B. a valve mounted for rotation internally at a first end of said sleeve with first and second ports for alignment with said first and second apertures in first and second angular positions of said valve, respectively,

C. a piston mounted at the other end of said sleeve for longitudinal motion between a first position abutting said valve and a second position displaced from said valve, and

D. control means for rotating said valve and displacing said piston thereby to dispense a material from one of said spaced apertures.

2. A dispensing pump as recited in claim 1 wherein said sleeve has a sealed passage at said first end through which a portion of said valve extends, said valve portion including means for being engaged by said control means.

3. A dispensing pump as recited in claim 2 wherein said sleeve has a sealed passage at said second end through which a portion of said piston extends, said piston including means for being engaged by said control means.

4. A dispensing pump as recited in claim 3 additionally comprising a manifold including a supply port and a dispensing port, said first and second spaced apertures in said sleeve aligning with said supply and exit ports, respectively.

5. A dispensing pump as recited in claim 4 wherein said valve ports are angularly spaced, said first port being aligned with said supply port in said first position of said valve whereby displacement of said piston from said valve enables a predetermined quantity of material to move into said dispenser.

6. A dispensing pump as recited in claim 4 wherein said valve ports are angularly spaced, said second port being aligned with said dispensing port in said second position of said valve whereby displacement of said piston toward said valve moves a predetermined quantity of material out of said dispenser through said dispensing port.

7. A dispensing pump as recited in claim 1 wherein the volume displaced when said piston moves between its positions determines the volume of material that is dispensed through said dispensing port.

8. A dispensing pump as recited in claim 1 wherein said valve blocks said first and second spaced apertures in said sleeve when said valve is at an intermediate position.

9. A dispensing pump as recited in claim 1 wherein said control means rotates and valve and displaces said piston in a mutually exclusive fashion.

10. A dispensing pump comprising:

A. a manifold having an input port for connection to a material source, an output port and first and second input and output passages wherein said input passages connect to said input port and said output passages connect to said output port,

B. first and second sleeve assemblies, each said sleeve assembly attached to communicate with one pair of said input and output passages and having means for displacing material, and

C. means for operating said displacing means for moving material from the material source through said input passages and input ports into said sleeve assemblies and for moving material from said sleeve assemblies through the output ports and output passages.

11. A dispensing pump as recited in claim 10 wherein each of said first and second sleeve assemblies includes:

i. a sleeve having first and second ends and first and second spaced apertures through a side thereof,

ii. a valve mounted for rotation internally at a first end of said sleeve with first and second ports for alignment with said first and second apertures in first and second angular positions of said valve, respectively,

iii. a piston mounted at the other end of said sleeve for longitudinal motion between a first position abutting said valve and a second position displaced from said valve.

12. A dispensing pump as recited in claim 11 wherein said sleeve has a sealed passage at said first end through which a portion of said valve extends, said valve portion including means for being engaged by said control means.

13. A dispensing pump as recited in claim 12 wherein said sleeve has a sealed passage at said second end through which a portion of said piston extends, said piston including means for being engaged by said control means.

14. A dispensing pump as recited in claim 13 additionally comprising a manifold including a supply port and a dispensing port, said first and second spaced apertures in said sleeve aligning with said supply and exit ports, respectively.

15. A dispensing pump as recited in claim 14 wherein said valve ports are angularly spaced, said first port being aligned with said supply port in said first position of said valve whereby displacement of said piston from said valve enables a predetermined quantity of material to move into said dispenser.

16. A dispensing pump as recited in claim 14 wherein said valve ports are angularly spaced, said second port being aligned with said dispensing port in said second position of said valve whereby displacement of said piston toward said valve moves a predetermined quantity of material out of said dispenser through said dispensing port.

17. A dispensing pump as recited in claim 11 wherein the volume displaced when said piston moves between its positions determines the volume of material that is dispensed through said dispensing port.

18. A dispensing pump as recited in claim 11 wherein said valve blocks said first and second spaced apertures in said sleeve when said valve is at an intermediate position.

19. A dispensing pump as recited in claim 11 wherein said control means rotates and valve and displaces said piston in a mutually exclusive fashion.