# US 8,783,516 B2 · Liquid dispenser and method for preventing liquid segregation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,516 B2 - Document ID: US8783516B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/073,252 - Filed: 2011-03-28 - Published: 2012-10-04 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-03-28 - Assignees: Fluid Management Operations, LLC - Applicants: Mark Baak; Bas Peeters; Marcus Johannes Voskuil; Marcel Engels - Inventors: Mark Baak; Bas Peeters; Marcus Johannes Voskuil; Marcel Engels - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783516B2 ## CPC - B01F 33/84: Mixing plants with mixing receptacles receiving material dispensed from several component receptacles, e.g. paint tins - B01F 35/7176: {using pumps} - F16K 11/074: with flat sealing faces - B01F 23/023: {Preventing sedimentation, conglomeration or agglomeration of solid ingredients during or after mixing by maintaining mixed ingredients in movement} - B01F 25/50: Circulation mixers, e.g. wherein at least part of the mixture is discharged from and reintroduced into a receptacle - B01F 2101/30: Mixing paints or paint ingredients, e.g. pigments, dyes, colours, lacquers or enamel - B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06) - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} ## Abstract An apparatus for selectively dispensing liquids, such as paint colorants. The apparatus comprises container assemblies with a container and a pump. A pump conduit connects the pump to a valve assembly. A recirculation conduit connects the container to the valve assembly bypassing the pump. The valve assembly is configured to be switched between a dispensing position and a recirculation position closing off the dispense conduit. Method of preventing segregation of a multiphase liquid in a pump conduit between a container and a dispense conduit. A valve assembly between the pump conduit and the dispense conduit closes off the dispense conduit while it opens a recirculation conduit between the container and the valve assembly. The liquid is circulated via a circuit formed by the container, the pump conduit, the valve assembly and the recirculation unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for selectively dispensing one or more of a plurality of liquids, the apparatus comprising a plurality of container assemblies, wherein each of the container assemblies comprises: a container; a pump operatively connected to the container; a valve assembly; a pump conduit connecting the pump to the valve assembly; a recirculation conduit connecting the container to the valve assembly bypassing the pump; and a dispense conduit connected to the valve assembly; wherein each of the valve assemblies of each of the container assemblies is configured to be switched between a dispensing position and a recirculation position by a common actuator thereby closing off the respective dispense conduits; wherein the common actuator is a driving axle extending through the valve assemblies. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the pumps is a bidirectional pump. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in at least one of the container assemblies the pump is a positive displacement pump. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least some of the valve assemblies comprise a three-way valve. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the three way valves are disc valves. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least some of the three way valves are arranged in stacked valve housings. ### Claim 7 An apparatus for selectively dispensing one or more of a plurality of liquids, the apparatus comprising a plurality of container assemblies, wherein each of the container assemblies comprises: a container; a pump operatively connected to the container; a valve assembly; a pump conduit connecting the pump to the valve assembly; a recirculation conduit connecting the container to the valve assembly bypassing the bump; and a dispense conduit connected to the valve assembly; wherein each of the valve assemblies of each of the container assemblies is configured to be switched between a dispensing position and a recirculation position by a common actuator thereby closing off the respective dispense conduits; and wherein at least some of the valve assemblies are configured to actuate an adjacent valve assembly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in at least some of the valve assemblies are provided with a position indicator visually indicating whether the valve assembly is in the dispensing position or in the recirculation position. ### Claim 9 An apparatus for selectively dispensing one or more of a plurality of liquids, the apparatus comprising a plurality of container assemblies, wherein each of the container assemblies comprises: a container; a pump operatively connected to the container; a valve assembly; a pump conduit connecting the pump to the valve assembly; a recirculation conduit connecting the container to the valve assembly bypassing the bump; and a dispense conduit connected to the valve assembly; wherein each of the valve assemblies of each of the container assemblies is configured to be switched between a dispensing position and a recirculation position by a common actuator thereby closing off the respective dispense conduits; and wherein the dispense conduits are connected to a common manifold for simultaneously dispensing a plurality of liquids. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a controller for operating the pumps and valve assemblies, the controller being arranged to register the time that has lapsed after a dispensing cycle and to initiate recirculation when said time exceeds a pre-selected threshold. ### Claim 11 A method of preventing segregation of multiphase liquids in pump conduits, each of which are disposed between a separate container and a separate dispense conduit, the method comprising: providing a valve assembly between each pump conduit and each dispense conduit; providing a recirculation conduit between each valve assembly and each container; coupling a common actuator to each valve assembly, wherein the common actuator is a driving axle extending through the valve assemblies; isolating each dispense conduit and providing communication between each pump conduit and each recirculation conduit by shifting each valve assembly to a recirculation position with the common actuator; pumping the liquids to recirculate the liquids via circuits formed by each container, pump conduit, valve assembly and recirculation conduit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the pumping of the liquids to recirculate the liquids is repeated intermittently. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the liquids are recirculated in a direction opposite to a flow direction during dispensing.