Constant pressure fluid-dispensing pumping system and method
First Claim
1. A method of continuously and uniformly dispensing pressurized fluids, such as viscous fluids, from a common dispensing outlet fed from a dispensing system comprising a pair of alternately filling and emptying fluid-dispensing pumps, each connected to the dispensing outlet, that comprises, slowing the dispensing from the emptying pump while accelerating the dispensing from the filled pump to switchover thereto;
- refilling the emptied pump during the switched over dispensing of the other pump; and
maintaining a constant system pressure during the switchover of the dispensing from one pump to the other to insure a predetermined constant dispensing rate at said outlet, wherein the dispensing pumps are positive displacement piston pumps driven by microprocessor-controlled respective step motors, each piston being driven independently by closed-loop step motor control to achieve accurate dispensing and verify performance, wherein said slowing and accelerating of the respective pump dispensing to said common outlet is effected by respective microprocessor-control of respective valves responsive to the continual sensing of pump fluid pressure and of fluid filling therein, and wherein said valves have multiple-way valving operation comprising a Fill position, wherein the refilling of the empty pump is started;
a Dispense position wherein the emptying pump dispensing is decelerated by its step motor, while the filled pumps dispensing starts to accelerate under the action of its step motor; and
a Partial position, wherein the filled pumps is first just exposed to the dispensing pressure and, if the same, then opens to the Dispense position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved microprocessor-controlled dual piston-pump viscous fluid dispensing system as for dispensing uniform sealing beads and the like (as well as other types of uniform deposits), wherein the pressure throughout the fluid path is maintained constant including during the switching alternately between filled and emptying pumps of the pair, assuring a constant dispensing rate, including during the switchover of the pumps.
29 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method of continuously and uniformly dispensing pressurized fluids, such as viscous fluids, from a common dispensing outlet fed from a dispensing system comprising a pair of alternately filling and emptying fluid-dispensing pumps, each connected to the dispensing outlet, that comprises, slowing the dispensing from the emptying pump while accelerating the dispensing from the filled pump to switchover thereto;
- refilling the emptied pump during the switched over dispensing of the other pump; and
maintaining a constant system pressure during the switchover of the dispensing from one pump to the other to insure a predetermined constant dispensing rate at said outlet, wherein the dispensing pumps are positive displacement piston pumps driven by microprocessor-controlled respective step motors, each piston being driven independently by closed-loop step motor control to achieve accurate dispensing and verify performance, wherein said slowing and accelerating of the respective pump dispensing to said common outlet is effected by respective microprocessor-control of respective valves responsive to the continual sensing of pump fluid pressure and of fluid filling therein, and wherein said valves have multiple-way valving operation comprising a Fill position, wherein the refilling of the empty pump is started;
a Dispense position wherein the emptying pump dispensing is decelerated by its step motor, while the filled pumps dispensing starts to accelerate under the action of its step motor; and
a Partial position, wherein the filled pumps is first just exposed to the dispensing pressure and, if the same, then opens to the Dispense position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
- refilling the emptied pump during the switched over dispensing of the other pump; and
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5. Apparatus for continuously and uniformly dispensing pressurized fluids, such as viscous fluids, from a common dispensing outlet in a dispensing system comprising a pair of alternately filling and emptying fluid-dispensing Pumps, each connected to the dispensing outlet, the apparatus having, in combination, means for slowing the fluid dispensing from the emptying pump while accelerating the dispensing from the filled pump to switch over thereto;
- means for refilling the empty pump during the dispensing of the other pump; and
means for maintaining a constant system pressure during the switchover of the dispensing from one pump to the other, to insure a predetermined constant dispensing rate at said outlet, wherein the dispensing pumps are positive displacement piston pumps driven by microprocessor-controlled respective step motors, each piston being driven independently by a closed-loop step motor control to achieve accurate dispensing and to verify performance, wherein the slowing and accelerating of the respective pump dispensing at the said outlet is effected by respective microprocessor-control of respective values responsive to the continual sensing of pump pressure and of fluid filling therein, and wherein said valves have multiple-way valving operation comprising a Fill position, wherein the refilling of the emptied pump is started;
a Dispense position, wherein the emptying pump dispensing is decelerated by its step motor, while the filled pump dispensing starts to accelerate under the action of its step motor; and
a Partial position, wherein the filled pump is first just exposed to the dispensing pressure and, if the same, the valve then opens for the Dispense position. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
- means for refilling the empty pump during the dispensing of the other pump; and
Specification