US 6,713,021 B1 · Dispensing method and assembly for liquid droplets

Abstract

A dispensing assembly for liquid droplets that includes a dispenser connected to a liquid carrying pipe which in turn is connected to a source of pressurized liquid. The dispenser has an elongated body member having a main bore connected to the liquid carrying pipe. At the other end, the main bore has a valve seat that is connected to a nozzle having a nozzle bore terminating in a dispensing tip. A valve boss of ferromagnetic material covered with a soft polymer is mounted in the main bore and has a cross-sectional area less than that of the main bore. A separate valve boss actuating coil assembly has upper and lower coils that are separate from the main body that can be unplugged from both coils and from the liquid carrying pipe. As such, the main body can be a disposable member.

Claims126

Dependent claims

A dispenser for discrete droplets of less than ten microliters (10 μl) in volume of a liquid comprising:

(A) a main assembly;
(B) a liquid container comprising:
an elongated body member having a straight main bore;
an inlet to the main bore;
a valve seat in the body member forming a main bore outlet remote from and substantially in line with the inlet;
a nozzle mounted on the body member and having a nozzle bore communicating with the valve seat;
a droplet dispensing tip on the nozzle remote from the valve seat;
a separate floating valve boss of magnetic material loosely mounted in the main bore, its cross-sectional area relative to that of the main bore being such as to permit the free flow of liquid between the main bore inlet and outlet by passing the valve boss, said valve boss not being mechanically connected to the body member;
(C) means for releasably securing the liquid container to the main assembly;
(D) means for exerting a pressure differential on the liquid in the dispenser;
and
(E) a separate valve boss actuating assembly adjacent the body member for applying an electromagnetic force to the valve boss to engage and disengage the valve boss from the valve seat.

9 more elements

A dispenser for discrete droplets of less than ten microliters (10 μl) in volume of a liquid comprising:

(A) a main assembly;
(B) a liquid container comprising:
an elongated body member having a straight main bore;
an inlet to the main bore;
a valve seat in the body member forming a main bore outlet remote from and substantially in line with the inlet;
a nozzle mounted on the body member and having a nozzle bore communicating with the valve seat;
a droplet dispensing tip on the nozzle remote from the valve seat;
a separate floating valve boss of magnetic material loosely mounted in the main bore, its cross-sectional area relative to that of the main bore being such as to permit the free flow of liquid between the main bore inlet and outlet by passing the valve boss, said valve boss not being mechanically connected to the body member;
(C) means for releasably securing the liquid container to the main assembly;
(D) means for exerting a pressure differential on the liquid in the dispenser;
(E) a separate valve boss actuating assembly adjacent the body member for applying an electromagnetic force to the valve boss to engage and disengage the valve boss from the valve seat;
(F) an electrode incorporated in the dispensing tip;
(G) a separate receiving electrode below from the tip;
(H) a high voltage generating means connected to one of the electrodes with the other electrodes maintained at a different voltage to provide an electrostatic field therebetween;
and
(I) means are provided for measuring the charge of the droplet.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Dispensing method and assembly for liquid droplets

Life of this patent

Dispensing method and assembly for liquid droplets

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims126