Liquid dispensing system with sealing augering screw and method for dispensing
AssigneeCamelot Sysems, Inc.
InventorsThomas J. White, William A. Cavallaro
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A liquid dispenser has an augering screw that serves both a metering function and a valving function. The augering screw is axially movable between a position in which fluid can flow and a sealing position in which liquid flow through the nozzle is substantially prevented. The screw is preferably designed with a curved contour between the threads and with a plurality of thread-defining channels to allow liquid to fill more completely around the screw and to dispense more liquid with fewer screw turns than prior screw designs.
Claims29
A method for dispensing small metered amounts of liquid with an augering screw from an augering chamber to a nozzle, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) moving the augering screw from a sealing position in which the augering screw is in a valve seat to create a seal to a dispensing position;
- (b) rotating the augering screw to cause liquid to be dispensed from the augering screw to the nozzle;
- and
- (c) moving the augering screw from the dispensing position to the sealing position to seal the augering chamber from the nozzle.
An apparatus for dispensing small metered amounts of liquid onto a medium, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
- an augering screw having a lower end and mounted in the housing, the augering screw and housing defining an augering chamber for receiving liquid;
- a nozzle fluidly coupled to said augering chamber for receiving liquid from said augering chamber and having an outlet for dispensing the received liquid onto the medium;
- a valve seat between said augering chamber and said outlet of said nozzle;
- and
- means for axially moving said augering screw between a sealing position in which said lower end of said augering screw is in said valve seat to substantially seal said augering chamber from said outlet of said nozzle, and a dispensing position in which a fluid passage is open between said augering screw and said outlet of said nozzle.
An apparatus for dispensing small amounts of liquid onto a medium, the apparatus comprising:
- an augering chamber for receiving liquid;
- a nozzle fluidly coupled to said augering chamber for receiving liquid from said augering chamber and having an outlet for dispensing the received liquid onto the medium, said augering chamber and said nozzle at least partly defining a passageway for the liquid to flow;
- an augering screw housed in said augering chamber for augering liquid from said augering chamber through said passageway;
- and
- a valve in said passageway and controllable between a closed position in which said valve seals said passage sufficiently to substantially prevent liquid from flowing between said augering chamber and said outlet of said nozzle and an open position in which liquid can flow through said passage, the valve being held closed to seal the passage except when the apparatus is dispensing.
An apparatus for dispensing small amounts of liquid onto a medium, the apparatus comprising:
- an augering chamber for receiving liquid;
- a nozzle fluidly coupled to said augering chamber for receiving liquid from said augering chamber and having an outlet for dispensing the received liquid onto the medium, said augering chamber and said nozzle at least partly defining a passageway for the liquid to flow;
- an augering screw housed in said augering chamber for augering liquid from said augering chamber through said passageway;
- a valve in said passageway and controllable between a closed position in which said valve seals said passage sufficiently to substantially prevent liquid from flowing between said augering chamber and said outlet of said nozzle and an open position in which liquid can flow through said passage;
- and
- a controller for controllably causing said augering screw to rotate and for controllably moving said valve, said valve including a valve seat in said passageway, and said controller controlling a position of said valve by causing said augering screw to move axially into and out of said valve seat.
An apparatus, for dispensing small amounts of liquid onto a medium, the apparatus comprising:
- an augering chamber for receiving liquid;
- a nozzle fluidly coupled to said augering chamber for receiving liquid from said augering chamber and having an outlet for dispensing the received liquid onto the medium, said augering chamber and said nozzle at least partly defining a passageway for the liquid to flow;
- an augering screw housed in said augering chamber for augering liquid from said augering chamber through said passageway;
- and
- a valve in said passageway and controllable between a closed position in which said valve seals said passage sufficiently to substantially prevent liquid from flowing between said augering chamber and said outlet of said nozzle and an open position in which liquid can flow through said passage, wherein said valve includes an annular ring about said screw.
An apparatus for dispensing small metered amounts of liquid onto a medium, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
- an augering chamber mounted in the housing for receiving liquid;
- a nozzle fluidly coupled to the augering chamber for receiving liquid from the augering chamber and having an outlet for dispensing the received liquid onto the medium;
- and
- an augering screw mounted in the chamber and axially movable relative to the chamber between a sealing position, in which the lower end of the augering screw is in the valve seat to substantially seal the augering chamber from the outlet of the nozzle, and a dispensing position, in which a fluid passage is open between the augering screw and the outlet of the nozzle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.