Inline fluid dispense pump assembly

An inline pump assembly for dispensing fluids, the pump assembly comprising:

• a pump head, having a piston rod wherein movement of the piston rod causes the pump head to dispense a fluid;
• a linear actuator having a lead screw wherein actuation of the linear actuator causes the lead screw to move along a linear path;
• and
• a linear slide disposed between the linear actuator and the pump head, the linear slide including a rail having a slide block thereon, the linear slide and rail are engaged to prevent rotation of the slide about a longitudinal axis of the rail, the lead screw being operably nonrotatably connected to the linear slide, and the piston being operably connected to the linear slide.

A method of dispensing fluids comprising:

• providing an inline pump assembly comprising:
• a pump head, having a piston wherein movement of the piston causes the pump head to dispense a fluid;
• a linear actuator having a lead screw wherein actuation of the linear actuator causes the lead screw to move along a linear path;
• a first anti-backlash device disposed between the linear actuator and the pump head, the anti-backlash device including a rail having a slide block thereon, the slide block and rail cooperating to prevent movement of the slide block about a longitudinal axis of the rail;
• and
• a coupler fixedly secured to the linear slide and having a first end connected to the lead screw and a second end connected to the piston rod;
• generating a signal from a controller;
• responsive to the signal, operating the linear actuator to translate the coupler a predetermined amount, the coupler advancing the pump head to dispense the fluid.