The present invention relates to a printing device (1), preferably a 3D printer (1), comprising at least one printing nozzle (3) which is designed to eject a flowable material through at least one ejection opening (32) in the direction of a work surface (11) which is preferably horizontal. The printing device (1) is characterized in that the printing nozzle (3) has a stationary printing nozzle frame (30) and a printing nozzle head (31) with the ejection opening (32), which printing nozzle head (31) can be moved, preferably in the vertical direction (Z), relative to the printing nozzle frame (30), wherein the printing nozzle (3) is designed to move the printing nozzle head (31) relative to the printing nozzle frame (30), preferably in the vertical direction (Z), between an open position, in which a flow of the flowable material through the ejection opening (32) is permitted, and a closed position, in which a flow of the flowable material through the ejection opening (32) is not permitted, by means of a drive, preferably by means of a piezoelectric or pneumatic drive, wherein the ejection opening (32) of the printing nozzle head (31) is spaced apart further from the work surface (11) in the closed position than in the open position.

Provided is an apparatus for supplying a chemical liquid, the apparatus including: a storage tank in which a chemical liquid is stored; a discharge line through which the chemical liquid stored in the storage tank is discharged; a level tube connected to the storage tank so as to check a water level of the chemical liquid in the storage tank and receiving the chemical liquid at the same water level as the water level of the chemical liquid in the storage tank; and a controller for controlling a first valve installed in the discharge line, in which the level tube has one end connected to an upper space of the storage tank and the other end connected to the discharge line.

Methods and systems of accurately dispensing a viscous fluid onto a substrate. In an embodiment, a method includes using an electronic flow meter device to produce electrical flow meter output signals and performing a responsive control function in a closed loop manner by adjusting at least one dispensing parameter to correct for a difference between an output data set and a reference data set. In another embodiment, a system includes a control operatively coupled to a gas flow meter device and to a weigh scale allowing for a density of an amount of viscous material to be determined. In another embodiment, a method includes using a control coupled to both a gas flow meter device and a weigh scale and performing a responsive control function in a closed loop manner by adjusting at least one dispensing parameter using gas flow meter output signals and weigh scale output signals.

A method of depositing reagent on an electrochemical test sensor adapted to determine information relating to an analyte includes providing a base and forming an electrode pattern on the base. The method further includes depositing the reagent on at least the electrode pattern using a reagent-dispensing system. The reagent-dispensing system applies mechanical force to the reagent in the reagent-dispensing system to assist in providing a wet reagent droplet on at least the electrode pattern.

A dispensing system for jetting a material onto a substrate is disclosed. The dispensing system includes a plate defining a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface in a first direction, and at least one slot that extends through the plate from the first surface to the second surface, and an actuator assembly that contains a piezoelectric element and is operatively coupled to the needle. The dispensing system also includes at least one fastener that extends through the actuator assembly and the at least one slot, where the at least one fastener is configured to selectively engage the plate such that 1) in a disengaged configuration, the at least one fastener is movable within the slot and the actuator assembly is movable relative to the plate, and 2) in an engaged configuration, the at least one fastener is not movable within the slot and the actuator assembly is not movable relative to the plate such that a stroke length of the needle is adjusted.

A bellow seal of a fluid dispensing system is disclosed. The bellow seal having a generally circular cross section includes a first end having a first diameter. The bellow seal further includes a second end having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter of the first end. The bellow seal further includes a contoured external surface extending between the first end and the second end. The external surface includes a cylindrical portion extending from the first end, an undulating portion, (which includes a convex portion extending from the cylindrical portion and a concave portion extending from the convex portion), and a tapered portion extending from the concave portion to the second end. The bellow seal further includes a flexible region defined between a first point located on the cylindrical portion and a second point located on the concave portion.

A system for dispensing material on a substrate includes a dispensing unit having a dispensing piston. The dispensing piston is pneumatically driven from a first lower position to a second upper position. The system further includes a solenoid valve coupled to the dispensing unit, with the solenoid valve being configured to control air flow to and from the dispensing piston. The solenoid valve includes a solenoid coil and an amplifier connected to the solenoid coil. The system further includes a controller coupled to the amplifier, with the controller being configured to generate a command signal to the amplifier to control current in the solenoid coil.

A method of controlling a dispensing unit is used to dispense material on a substrate. The method includes connecting a solenoid coil of a pneumatically-driven pump to an amplifier output of a dispensing system, and driving the solenoid coil with the amplifier to a cause the pneumatically-driven pump to dispense material on a substrate. The method further may include commanding an idle current to flow in the solenoid coil during periods of inactivity. The idle current may be sufficient to cause warming of the solenoid coil, yet not sufficient to activate the solenoid to an engaged position. The method further may include commanding a first current level to flow in the solenoid coil to rapidly activate the solenoid, and commanding a second current level to flow in the solenoid coil after the solenoid is activated.

A method and a device for compensating leakage losses in a line system, in which at least one positive displacement pump and at least one shut-off member are provided, wherein the method and device can be used for the isobaric metering of liquid plastic components and wherein the actual liquid pressure in the system is determined by way of a pressure measuring device and, when the shut-off member is closed is regulated to a pressure target value by actuation of the positive displacement pump, wherein the conveying loss rate of the positive displacement pump, which ensues to maintain the pressure target value when the shut-off member is closed is added to a target delivery rate in order to compensate for the leakage loss occurring at the corresponding pressure target value.

A dispenser for dispensing a liquid onto a substrate is disclosed. The dispenser includes a liquid supply and a dispenser module. The dispenser module includes a nozzle body having an inlet, an outlet, and a chamber for receiving the liquid. The dispenser module also includes a central valve body attached to the nozzle body that defines a piston chamber and a valve member having a piston portion disposed within the piston chamber of the central valve body and a needle portion extending form the piston portion into the chamber of the nozzle body. The dispenser further includes a heater block for heating the nozzle body. The heater block defines a liquid passage for transporting liquid from the liquid supply to the dispenser, a first surface of the heater block directly contacts the nozzle body, and the entirety of the central valve body is spaced from the heater block.