Fluid dispensing system

A sealant dispensing system for applying sealant to container closure members comprising:

• a sealant dispensing apparatus including a sealant dispensing opening therein;
• a sealant supply source located externally of said sealant dispensing apparatus;
• a sealant supply path connecting said sealant supply source and said sealant dispensing opening;
• a valve seat located within said sealant supply path;
• a valve member located within said sealant supply path, said valve member being selectively movable between an open sealant applying position and a closed non-flow position relative to said valve seat;
• a flow gap defined between said valve seat and said valve member when said valve member is in said open sealant applying position;
• a valve actuator operatively connected to said valve member;
• a flow gap size adjustment solenoid operatively connected to said valve actuator solenoid;
• a flow sensor operatively associated with said sealant supply path, said flow sensor adapted to sense the rate of sealant flow along said path;
• a signal processing assembly having a signal input portion operatively connected to said flow sensor and a signal output portion operatively connected to said flow gap size adjustment solenoid.

A method of applying sealant to container closure members with at least one sealant applying mechanism, comprising:

• providing a sealant supply source located externally of said sealant applying mechanism;
• connecting said sealant supply source and said sealant applying mechanism with a sealant flow path;
• providing a valve seat associated with said sealant applying mechanism and located within said sealant flow path;
• providing a valve member associated with said sealant applying mechanism and located within said sealant flow path, said valve member being selectively moveable between a closed non-flow position, in which said valve member is in contact with said valve seat, and an open sealant applying position, in which a flow gap is formed between said valve member and said valve seat;
• monitoring flow of sealant through said sealant flow path while sealant is applied to each of a plurality of said container closure members by said sealant applying mechanism;
• adjusting said flow gap based upon said monitoring of said flow of sealant through said sealant flow path.

A method of applying sealant to container closure members with at least one sealant applying mechanism and at least one rotatable member for supporting a container closure member, comprising:

• (a) providing a valve located within said at least one sealant applying mechanism, wherein said valve is movable between an open sealant dispensing position and a closed position;
• (b) providing a first sensor adapted to sense when said valve is in said open, sealant dispensing position;
• (c) moving said valve toward its open sealant dispensing position;
• (d) sensing when said valve has reached said open, sealant dispensing position with said first sensor;
• (e) maintaining said valve in said open sealant dispensing position for a predetermined duration beginning substantially when said first sensor senses that said valve is in said open sealant dispensing position.

A sealant dispensing system, including at least one sealant applying mechanism, for applying sealant to container closure members comprising:

• a sealant supply;
• a fluid path providing fluid communication between said sealant supply and said sealant dispensing mechanism;
• a valve seat located within said sealant applying mechanism and within said fluid path;
• a valve member located within said sealant applying mechanism and within said fluid path, said valve member being selectively movable relative to said valve seat between an open sealant applying position in which a flow gap is defined between said valve member and said valve seat and a closed non-flow position in which said valve member is in contact with said valve seat;
• a valve actuator operatively connected to said valve member;
• a first sensor located within said fluid path, said first sensor adapted to sense the rate of sealant flow along said fluid path;
• a signal processing assembly having a signal input portion operatively connected to said first sensor and a signal output portion operatively connected to said valve actuator.