# US 2014/0076992 A1 · Precision pumping system for spray treatment cycles

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- Number: US 2014/0076992 A1
- Document ID: US20140076992A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/029,413
- Filed: 2013-09-17
- Published: 2014-03-20
- Earliest claimed: 2012-09-17
- Assignees: Sunless, Inc.
- Applicants: Sunless, Inc.
- Inventors: Steven C. Cooper
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140076992A1

## CPC

- B05B 12/004: {comprising sensors for monitoring the delivery, e.g. by displaying the sensed value or generating an alarm (B05B12/08 takes precedence; registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus in general G07C3/00)}
- A61M 35/25: {specially adapted for the application of sunscreen, tanning or self-tanning lotions}
- B05B 9/0413: {with reciprocating pumps, e.g. membrane pump, piston pump, bellow pump (B05B9/0409 takes precedence)}
- B05B 9/0423: {for supplying liquid or other fluent material to several spraying apparatus}
- B05B 12/08: responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material {to be} discharged, of ambient medium or of target {; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means}
- B05B 12/10: responsive to temperature or viscosity of liquid or other fluent material discharged
- B05B 12/122: {responsive to presence or shape of target (B05B12/124 takes precedence)}
- B05B 15/14: Arrangements for preventing or controlling structural damage to spraying apparatus or its outlets, e.g. for breaking at desired places; Arrangements for handling or replacing damaged parts
- F04B 9/025: {Driving of pistons coacting within one cylinder}
- F04B 13/00: Pumps specially modified to deliver fixed or variable measured quantities
- F04B 17/03: driven by electric motors
- B05B 13/0405: {with reciprocating or oscillating spray heads (B05B13/0436, B05B13/0442, B05B13/0447, B05B13/0468 take precedence)}
- B05B 16/00: Spray booths (arrangements for collecting, re-using or eliminating excess spraying material in spray booths B05B14/40)
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F)

## Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein propose a precision spray pumping system including a positive displacement pump in fluid communication with at least one spray nozzle. The positive displacement pump includes a displaceable member, and displacement of the displaceable member corresponds to a pumping cycle of the positive displacement pump. A controller is in communication with the positive displacement pump. The controller is operable to apply an actuation parameter to direct a displacement of the displaceable member and is also operable to receive an indication of an actual position of the displaceable member. The controller is further operable to compare a predetermined actuation parameter associated with an expected displacement of the displaceable member to a measured actuation parameter associated with the actual position of the displaceable member.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A precision pumping system for delivering a spray of skin treatment solution, comprising:
at least one nozzle configured to emit a spray of a skin treatment solution;
a positive displacement pump in fluid communication with the at least one spray nozzle, the positive displacement pump comprising a displaceable member, displacement of the displaceable member corresponding to a pumping cycle of the positive displacement pump;
a controller in communication with the positive displacement pump, the controller being operable to apply a predetermined actuation parameter to direct an expected displacement of the displaceable member and being further operable to receive an indication of an actual position of the displaceable member; and
wherein the controller is further operable to compare the predetermined actuation parameter associated with the expected displacement of the displaceable member to a measured actuation parameter associated with the actual displacement of the displaceable member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined actuation parameter is associated with steps of a stepper motor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined actuation parameter is associated with electrical power applied for a period of time to a linear actuator.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the linear actuator comprises a motor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the positive displacement pump comprises a piston pump and the displaceable member comprises a piston.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, further comprising a linear actuator operable to displace the piston.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the linear actuator comprises a motor.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the motor comprises a stepper motor.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a linear actuator operable to direct motion of a lead screw, the lead screw having a piston coupled to a first end and a flag coupled to an opposite end, the detection of the flag corresponding to the actual position of the displaceable member.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, further comprising a mounting bracket defining a guide slot constraining a linear motion of the flag.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a flag coupled to the displaceable member; and
a position sensor operable to detect the flag.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the position sensor comprises an arm and displacement of the arm by the flag generates an electrical signal associated with the actual position of the displaceable member.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the positive displacement pump delivers the skin treatment solution to the at least one spray nozzle.

### Claim 14

A system for spraying a skin treatment solution, comprising:
a controller operable to control a plurality of precision pumping systems;
at least one spray nozzle fluidly coupled to the plurality of precision pumping systems, a precision pumping system comprising:
a positive displacement pump in fluid communication with the at least one spray nozzle, the positive displacement pump comprising a displaceable member, displacement of the displaceable member corresponding to a pumping cycle of the positive displacement pump;
the positive displacement pump in communication with the controller, the controller being operable to apply a predetermined actuation parameter to direct an expected displacement of the displaceable member and being further operable to receive an indication of an actual position of the displaceable member; and
wherein the controller is further operable to compare the predetermined actuation parameter associated with the expected displacement of the displaceable member to a measured actuation parameter associated with the actual displacement of the displaceable member.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the predetermined actuation parameter is associated with steps of a stepper motor.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the predetermined actuation parameter is associated with electrical power applied for a period of time to a linear actuator.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein the linear actuator comprises a motor.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the positive displacement pump comprises a piston pump and the displaceable member comprises a piston.

### Claim 19

A precision sprayer system for spraying a skin treatment solution, comprising:
a piston pump comprising a piston and a linear actuator, the linear actuator operable to displace the piston during a pumping cycle of the piston pump;
a position sensor operable to detect a flag coupled to the piston, detection of the flag corresponding to a known position of the piston;
a controller in communication with the linear actuator, the controller being operable to apply an actuation parameter to direct a displacement of the piston and being further operable to receive a signal from the position sensor upon detection of the flag;
at least one sprayer nozzle receiving a skin treatment solution from the piston pump; and
wherein the controller is further operable to compare a predetermined actuation parameter associated with an expected displacement of the piston to a measured actuation parameter associated with an actual position of the piston.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the linear actuator comprises a stepper motor and the actuation parameter is associated with steps of the stepper motor.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The system of claim 20, wherein the linear actuator comprises a motor and the actuation parameter is associated with a current for a period of time received by motor.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, further comprising a mounting bracket defining a guide slot constraining a linear motion of the flag.

### Claim 23 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the position sensor comprises an arm and displacement of the arm by the flag generates an electrical signal associated with the actual position of the piston.

### Claim 24 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the skin treatment solution is spray tanning solution.