US 6,126,039 A · Method and apparatus for accurately dispensing liquids and solids

Abstract

A system for metering and dispensing single and plural component liquids and solids as described herein. The dispensing system has a microprocessor-based control system and volumetrically efficient non-reciprocating pumps which provide a very accurate control of component ratios, shot sizes, flow rates and dispense durations. The dispensing system maintains constant pressure between the output of the pump and the dispense head. The progressive cavity pump is formed from individual, interlocking pressure sections, each of which has a double helix bore. A dispense head for a plural pump dispensing system using sealed bellows with rods extending therethrough associated with an actuator. The sealed bellows attach at one end to the body of the dispense head and at the other to the rods. The rods extend into a chamber and have a sealing end selectively engaging the exits from the chamber. The dispense head may further incorporate an actuator controlling the rods, a controller controlling the pumps and the actuator to close down the system simultaneously and the pumps themselves. A static mixer may be used with the exits. The system also has numerous feedback components for accurately controlling the pressure, flow rates, fluid levels and amounts of fluids dispensed.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A dispense head for a plural pump dispensing system, comprising:

a body including chambers, exit passages from the chambers, respectively, and inlets to the chambers, respectively;
pumps coupled with the inlets, for communication with the inlets, respectively;
cylindrical bellows within the chambers, respectively, each including a first end and a second end, the first end being sealed to the body;
rods, each including a sealing end, the rods extending slidably into the chamber through the first end of the bellows and being sealed to the second end of the bellows;
an actuator coupled to the rods, the actuator having a first extreme position with the sealing ends of the rods extending to the body at the exit passages to close the exit passages and a second extreme position with the sealing ends of the rods displaced from the body at the exit passages to open the exit passages;
a controller coupled with the pumps and with the actuator, the controller selectively simultaneously stopping the pumps and driving the actuator to the first extreme position and selectively simultaneously starting the pumps and driving the actuator to the second extreme position.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for accurately dispensing liquids and solids

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for accurately dispensing liquids and solids

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8