Actuator for operating circularly arranged valves of a fluidic device

An actuating mechanism cooperatively arranged with respect to a plurality of fluid flow control valves within a fluidic device, wherein the plurality of flow control valves are arranged in a circular configuration and the actuating mechanism is configured to selectively actuate each of the plurality of valves into a closed configuration preventing fluid flow or into an open configuration permitting fluid flow, and wherein the actuating mechanism comprises:

• a valve actuator piston operably engageable with each of the plurality of valves, wherein each valve actuator piston is axially movable between a first position corresponding to one of the closed configuration of the engaged valve and the open position of the engaged valve and a second position corresponding to the other of the open position of the engaged valve and the closed position of the engaged valve;
• a spring coupled to each valve actuator piston for biasing the valve actuator piston into the first position;
• a cam follower surface associated with each valve actuator piston;
• and
• a rotary cam that is rotatable about an axis of rotation corresponding to a center of the circular configuration of the plurality of flow control valves, wherein the rotary cam comprises a cam rod extending radially with respect to the axis of rotation and rotatable about the axis of rotation, and a cam disposed on a radial outer end of the cam rod, wherein rotation of the cam rod about the axis of rotation to a rotational position of a selected one of the valve actuator pistons causes the cam to engage the cam follower surface associated with the selected valve actuator piston and move the selected valve actuator piston associated with the cam follower surface engaged by the cam from the first position to the second position.