Apparatus and method for dispensing liquids using a table to determine dispense time
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of dispensing a user-specified volume of liquid, the method comprising:
- providing a dispenser comprising;
a user interface that receives an input of the user-specified volume of liquid;
a container, that stores a liquid to be dispensed;
an electrically actuated pinch valve coupled to the container;
a computer, operatively coupled to the user interface and the pinch valve;
a non-transitory memory device coupled to the computer and storing a table;
a sensor electrically coupled to the computer and mechanically coupled to the container, the sensor generates an output signal to the computer responsive to a weight impressed on the sensor by the container;
wherein the computer receives the output signal from the sensor and locates an entry in the table using the sensor, the located entry in the table specifying an amount of time that the pinch valve is to be opened in order to dispense a user-requested volume of liquid from the container,determining with the computer an amount of time that the pinch valve is to be opened in order to dispense the user-specified volume of liquid from the container by reading a valve open time from an entry in the table, the table entry being determined from the output signal from the sensor;
opening the electrically actuated pinch valve for the valve open time to dispense the user-requested volume of liquid through the electrically actuated pinch valve.
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Abstract
Fixed-volumes of liquid are measured and dispensed from a container by empirically determining the liquid surface height and opening a dispensing valve for a time period that is calculated using a volume of liquid specified to be dispensed and the empirically-determined liquid surface height. The liquid surface height in the container is determined empirically for initial and subsequent volumes of liquid that are dispensed. Dispensing accuracy is maintained whether the container is full or nearly empty.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of dispensing a user-specified volume of liquid, the method comprising:
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providing a dispenser comprising; a user interface that receives an input of the user-specified volume of liquid; a container, that stores a liquid to be dispensed; an electrically actuated pinch valve coupled to the container; a computer, operatively coupled to the user interface and the pinch valve; a non-transitory memory device coupled to the computer and storing a table; a sensor electrically coupled to the computer and mechanically coupled to the container, the sensor generates an output signal to the computer responsive to a weight impressed on the sensor by the container; wherein the computer receives the output signal from the sensor and locates an entry in the table using the sensor, the located entry in the table specifying an amount of time that the pinch valve is to be opened in order to dispense a user-requested volume of liquid from the container, determining with the computer an amount of time that the pinch valve is to be opened in order to dispense the user-specified volume of liquid from the container by reading a valve open time from an entry in the table, the table entry being determined from the output signal from the sensor; opening the electrically actuated pinch valve for the valve open time to dispense the user-requested volume of liquid through the electrically actuated pinch valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of dispensing a user-specified volume of liquid from a container, the method comprising:
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receiving a first signal at a processor from a user interface, the first signal identifying a first user-specified volume of liquid to dispense; receiving a second signal at the processor from a load cell, the second signal indicative of a weight impressed upon the load cell by a container storing a liquid to be dispensed; determining with the processor, a valve open time by locating the valve open time within a table comprising a plurality of valve open times stored in a non-transitory computer memory based upon the first signal and the second signal; and opening an electrically actuated pinch valve coupled to the container for the valve open time to dispense the user-specified volume of liquid. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for dispensing user-specified volumes of a liquid, the apparatus comprising:
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a container that stores a liquid to be dispensed; a load cell that outputs a signal responsive to a weight impressed on the load cell; a processor coupled to the load cell to receive said signal; and a non-transitory memory device coupled to the processor and storing a plurality of pinch valve open times in seconds; wherein the processor locates a valve open time entry in the memory device responsive to a signal output from the load cell and which is provided to the processor.
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17. An apparatus for dispensing user-specified volumes of liquids, the apparatus comprising:
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a user interface that receives an input of the user-specified volume of liquid; a container that stores a liquid to be dispensed; an electrically actuated pinch valve coupled to the container; a computer, operatively coupled to the user interface and the pinch valve; a non-transitory memory device coupled to the computer and storing a table; a sensor electrically coupled to the computer and mechanically coupled to the container, the sensor generates an output signal to the computer responsive to a weight impressed on the sensor by the container, wherein the computer receives the output signal from the sensor and locates an entry in the table using the sensor, the located entry in the table specifying an amount of time that the pinch valve is to be opened in order to dispense a user-requested volume of liquid from the container. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification