Fluid dispensing valve

A fluid dispensing valve used for printing and marking, comprising:

• a valve body having an end wall which defines an aperture, and a tubular member extending from a first surface of said end wall;
• a spring biased valve element disposed within said tubular member, said spring biased valve element having a portion which extends through said aperture to provide a liquid tight seal thereat in a closed position;
• a spring element coupled to said valve body adjacent a second surface of said end wall, said spring element and said second surface of said end wall defining a chamber for receiving a fluid metered through said aperture of said valve body when said portion of said valve element is moved partially back through said aperture in an opened position, said spring element having at least one aperture communicating with said chamber;
• and
• porous means having a predetermined geometric shape affixed to said spring element such that said porous means covers said at least one aperture in said spring element, said porous means for transferring the fluid received in the chamber to a surface in the form of a printed geometric image;
• wherein a printing force applied to said porous means causes said spring element to compress and engage said portion of said valve element thereby pushing said portion partially back through said aperture in said open position to allow the passage of a marking fluid therethrough to said chamber to wet said porous means, said porous means having a predetermined rigidity which substantially prevents said porous means from distorting from said predetermined geometric shape under the printing force.

A device for applying a fluid to a surface, comprising:

• a container for holding a fluid, said container having an open end;
• a valve body disposed in said open end of said container, said valve body including an end wall which defines an aperture and a flange extending from a first surface of said end wall, said flange having an inner groove;
• check-valve means for metering said fluid, said check-valve means disposed in said valve body, said check-valve means including a portion which extends through said aperture to provide a liquid tight seal in a closed position;
• a spring element coupled to said valve body adjacent a second surface of said end wall, said spring element and said second surface defining a chamber therebetween for receiving the fluid metered by the check-valve means;
• and
• porous means of a predetermined geometric shape affixed to said spring element for transferring the fluid received in said chamber to said surface, said spring element including means for allowing fluid communication between said chamber and said porous means;
• wherein a force applied to said porous means causes said spring element to compress, thereby engaging and pushing said portion of said check-valve means partially through said aperture in an open position to allow the passage of the fluid therethrough to said chamber to wet said porous means, said porous means having a predetermined rigidity which substantially prevents said porous means from distorting from said predetermined geometric shape under the applied force.