Linear pump apparatus for dispensing liquids

Abstract

A liquid dispensing apparatus has a frame, a plurality of tubes supported by the frame, and a roller assembly supported by the frame. The roller assembly is movable between an upper position and a lower position. The roller assembly is cooperative with the plurality of tubes so as to apply compressive force to the plurality of tubes in the upper position and to release the compressive force in the lower position. The roller assembly is movable for a desired distance along the length of the plurality of tubes. The roller assembly is adapted to urge a liquid out of a lower end of the plurality of tubes by applying the compressive force to the plurality of tubes and moving the roller assembly downwardly along the plurality of tubes while the compressive force is applied to the plurality of tubes.

Claims

1. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising: a frame; a plurality of tubes supported by said frame, each of said plurality of tubes being flexible; a roller assembly supported by said frame, said roller assembly movable between an upper position and a lower position, said roller assembly cooperative with said plurality of tubes so as to apply compressive force to said plurality of tubes in the upper position and to release the compressive force in the lower position, said roller assembly being movable for a desired distance along a length of said plurality of tubes, said roller assembly adapted to urge a liquid out of a lower end of said plurality of tubes by applying the compressive force to the plurality of tubes at the upper position and moving the roller assembly downwardly along said plurality of tubes while the compressive force is applied to said plurality of tubes; and a manifold connected to an upper end of said plurality of tubes, said manifold adapted to supply the liquid to said plurality of tubes.

2. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising: a frame; a plurality of tubes supported by said frame, each of said plurality of tubes being flexible; a roller assembly supported by said frame, said roller assembly movable between an upper position and a lower position, said roller assembly cooperative with said plurality of tubes so as to apply compressive force to said plurality of tubes in the upper position and to release the compressive force in the lower position, said roller assembly being movable for a desired distance along a length of said plurality of tubes, said roller assembly adapted to urge a liquid out of a lower end of said plurality of tubes by applying the compressive force to the plurality of tubes at the upper position and moving the roller assembly downwardly along said plurality of tubes while the compressive force is applied to said plurality of tubes, said valve assembly being in the first position after said roller assembly has moved downwardly for the desired distance and while said roller assembly moves to an upper position, said valve assembly being in the second position while said roller assembly moves for the desired distance downwardly along the length of said plurality of tubes, said valve assembly comprising a plurality of pinch valves respectively affixed to said plurality of tubes; a valve assembly cooperative with said plurality of tubes adjacent to the lower end of said plurality of tubes, said valve assembly having a first position closing said plurality of tubes and a second position opening said plurality of tubes, said valve assembly being in the first position after said roller assembly has moved downwardly for the desired distance and while said roller assembly moves to an upper position, said valve assembly being in the second position while said roller assembly moves for the desired distance downwardly along the length of said plurality of tubes, said valve assembly comprising a plurality of pinch valves respectively affixed to said plurality of tubes.

3. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising: a frame; a plurality of tubes supported by said frame, each of said plurality of tubes being flexible; a roller assembly supported by said frame, said roller assembly movable between an upper position and a lower position, said roller assembly cooperative with said plurality of tubes so as to apply compressive force to said plurality of tubes in the upper position and to release the compressive force in the lower position, said roller assembly being movable fora desired distance along a length of said plurality of tubes, said roller assembly adapted to urge a liquid out of a lower end of said plurality of tubes by applying the compressive force to the plurality of tubes at the upper position and moving the roller assembly downwardly along said plurality of tubes while the compressive force is applied to said plurality of tubes, said roller assembly comprising a plurality of roller assemblies respectively cooperative with said plurality of tubes, each of said plurality of roller assemblies comprising: a housing; a first roller on one side of a tube of said plurality of tubes; a second roller on an opposite side of the tube of said plurality of tubes; and an actuator cooperative with at least one of said first and second rollers, said actuator moving said first and second rollers relative to each other so as to move toward each other so as to apply the compressive force to the tube and to move away from each other so as to release the compressive force from the tube.

4. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 3, further comprising: a panel supporting said plurality of roller assemblies in an identical relative position with respect to said plurality of tubes such that each of said plurality of roller assemblies is in in identical relative position as said roller assembly moves along said plurality of tubes.

5. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 3, further comprising: a linear bearing connected to said roller assembly, said linear bearing being connected to said roller assembly so as to move said roller assembly upwardly and downwardly for the desired distance.

6. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 5, said linear bearing comprising a double-acting pneumatic actuator affixed to said frame, said double-acting pneumatic actuator extending in generally parallel relation to said plurality of tubes.

7. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 1, said plurality of tubes each comprising a flexible plastic tube having an upper end and a lower end supported by said frame, said plurality of tubes having the lower end extending outwardly of a bottom of said frame.

8. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: a plurality of nipples respectively affixed to the lower end of said plurality of tubes, said plurality of nipples adapted to allow the liquid to be released therefrom and to be directed downwardly.

9. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a supply of the liquid; a conduit extending from the supply of the liquid to said manifold; and a pump cooperative with said supply of liquid so as to urge the liquid through said conduit and into said manifold.

10. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 9, the liquid being a multi-part fluid, the supply of the liquid comprising: a first container containing one part of the multi-part fluid; and a second container containing another part of the multi-part fluid.

11. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: a static mixer connected to said conduit so as to receive the parts of the multi-part fluid from said first and second containers and to mix the parts together, said conduit extending from said static mixer to said manifold.

12. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 9, said supply of the liquid being a supply of an epoxy or a polyurethane.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the dispenser apparatus in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the dispenser apparatus of the present invention with the roller assembly in an upper position.

(3) FIG. 3 is a frontal view of the dispenser apparatus of the present invention with the roller assembly in a lower position.

(4) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the dispenser apparatus the present invention with the roller assembly in a lower position.

(5) FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of an initial step of the dispensing process of the present invention.

(6) FIG. 6 is a side elevational view showing an intermediate step of the dispensing process of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 7 is a side elevational view showing a further study the further step in the dispensing process of the present invention.

(8) FIG. 8 is a side elevational view showing the manner in which the roller assembly moves downwardly along the tube in order to dispense the liquid therefrom.

(9) FIG. 9 is a side elevational view showing the steps with which the roller assembly is moved from the lower position upwardly to an upper position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown the liquid dispenser apparatus 10 in accordance with the present invention. The liquid dispenser apparatus 10 has a frame 12, a plurality of tubes 14, 16 and 18, and a roller assembly 20. The plurality of tubes 14, 16 and 18 are supported by the upper portion 22 and the lower portion 24 of frame 12. The roller assembly 20 is shown in an upper position.

(11) Each of the plurality of tubes 14, 16 and 18 is formed of a flexible and compressible plastic material. As such, each of the plurality of tubes 14, 16 and 18 is replaceable. This is important since the liquid accumulates and solidifies on the inner walls of each of the plurality tubes 14, 16 and 18. The inexpensive plastic tubes can easily be replaced. Cleaning is not required. The replacement of each of the tubes 14, 16 and 18 can be carried out in a relatively easy manner by threading the upper portion of each of the tubes 14, 16 and 18 through an opening in the upper portion 22 of frame 12 and threading the lower end of each of the plurality of tubes 14, 16 and 18 through respective holes in the bottom portion 24 of frame 12. Nipples 26 can be applied to the lower end of each of the plurality of tubes 14, 16 and 18. Nipples 26 assure that the liquid dispensed from each of the tubes 14, 16 and 18 is directly delivered into the interior of objects 28 that are intended to receive the liquid. In the preferred embodiment the present invention, each of the objects 28 can be an ignition coil housing. As such, the liquid that is dispensed would be a potting material, such as an epoxy. However, it should be noted that the present invention can be used for a wide variety of other objects which are intended to receive the liquid therein.

(12) It is important to note that only three tubes 14, 16 and 18 are shown in FIG. 1. The present invention is adaptable to allow a large number of tubes to be employed. Depending on the requirements of the mass production process, the number of tubes can be adapted to the number of objects 28 to which the material is to be supplied. As such, if there are twenty objects that require the liquid dispensed from the dispenser apparatus 10, then twenty tubes can be employed in an extended array. When the roller assembly 20 is moved downwardly along each of the plurality of tubes 14, 16 and 18, an identical and simultaneous delivery of the liquid to the objects 28 occurs. The amount of liquid to be delivered will be dependent upon the interior diameter and volume of each of the tubes 14, 16 and 18 and the distance of the stroke of the roller assembly 20 along each of the tubes. Since the inner diameter of the of each of the tubes is readily ascertained, simple calculations will determine the amount of liquid that is dispensed from a single stroke of the roller assembly 20. As such, the present invention delivers an equal amount of liquid to each of the objects 28 simultaneously.

(13) FIG. 1 shows that there is an actuating cylinder 30 that is affixed to the frame 12. Actuating cylinder 30, as will be described hereinafter, is connected to the roller assembly 20 so as to move the roller assembly 20 upwardly and downwardly for a desired stroke. Pinch valves 32 are affixed adjacent to the lower end of each of the tubes 14, 16 and 18. These pinch valves 32, as will be described hereinafter, operate to open or close the lower end of each of the tubes 14, 16 and 18.

(14) The upper end of each of the tubes 14, 16 and 18 is connected to a manifold 34. Manifold 34 is connected by conduit 36 to a static mixer 38. The static mixer 38 is employed so as to mix the components of a multi-part fluid. One part of the multi-part liquid is contained in fluid supply 40. Another part of the multi-part liquid is supplied from the fluid to the liquid supply 42. Each of the liquid supplies 40 and 42 is in a container or drum. A conduit 44 supplies the liquid from the container 40 to the static mixer 38. Conduit 46 delivers the liquid from the container 42 to the mixer 38. Suitable pumps can be connected to the containers 40 and 42 or along the conduits 44 and 46 so as to deliver the components of the liquid to the mixer in the desired ratios. Ultimately, after mixing, the liquid is delivered along conduit 36 under pressure into the manifold 34. Since the parts of a multi-part liquid are mixed in their proper ratios and that delivered to the manifold 34, the liquid will be in a desired proportion for delivery into each of the tubes 14, 16 and 18. As such, the liquid in each of the tubes 14, 16 and 18 will be of identical proportions.

(15) FIG. 2 shows the liquid dispenser apparatus 10 with the roller assembly 20 in an upper position along the tube 16. Each of the tubes 16 will have an identical configuration. FIG. 2 shows that the roller assembly 20 has a first roller 50 and a second roller 52 within a housing 54. An actuator 56 is configured so as to urge one of the rollers 50 and 52 toward or away from each other. In particular, the actuator 56 is illustrated as acting on the second roller 52. However, other configurations can be envisioned, such as the actuator 56 acting on the first roller 50 or acting on both of the rollers. The actuator 56 can be in the nature of a double-acting pneumatic cylinder. When the rollers 50 and 52 are moved relatively toward each other, they will act so as to compress the tube 16 and to squeeze the tube. The pinch valve 32 is illustrated as supported a distance above the bottom portion 24 of the frame 12. The pinch valve 32 will act on the tube 16 so as to open or close the tube. FIG. 2 shows that the pinch valve 32 has acted so as to close the lower end of the tube 16.

(16) In FIG. 2, the liquid will be supplied from the manifold 34 into the upper end 58 of tube 16. This flow will continue downwardly through the tube 58 until the tube is filled. This flow will continue into upper end 58 and ultimately stop at the pinch valve 32. The actuator 56 is then in a position to move the rollers 50 and 52 relative to each other so as to squeeze the tube 16. The linear bearing 30 (or actuator) is illustrated in FIG. 2 as supporting the roller assembly 20 in its upper position. The linear bearing 30 is also mounted on the frame 12 and supported by the bottom portion 24 of the frame 12. The linear bearing 32 is a double-acting pneumatic actuator. As such, as air is introduced into the inlet 60, the housing 56 will be moved downwardly by the linear bearing 30.

(17) FIG. 3 shows the dispenser apparatus 10 of the present invention with the roller assembly 20 in a lower position. In this position, liquid will be dispensed outwardly from the outlets 62 of each of the tubes 14, 16 and 18. During the dispensing of the liquids, the pinch valves 32 will be open.

(18) FIG. 3 shows the roller assembly 20 as having the first roller 50 exposed on the outer side of the panel 64. Panel 64 supports each of the roller assemblies in a desired position with respect to the tubes 14, 16 and 18. As such, panel 64 assures that each of the roller assemblies therein will move simultaneously in an identical relative position relative to the tubes 14, 16 and 18.

(19) FIG. 4 shows a side view of the liquid dispenser apparatus 10 with the roller assembly 20 in a lower position. The pinch valve 32 is open so as to allow for the liquid within the interior of the tube 16 to be dispensed therefrom. The linear bearing 30 is shown at the desired lowest portion of its stroke. As such, the housing 54 of the roller assembly 20 will be at its desired lower position. The linear bearing 30 is a double-acting pneumatic actuator in which the stroke thereof can be easily set by adjusting the amount of air introduced into the interior of the linear bearing 30. During the course of the stroke of the linear bearing 30, the rollers 50 and 52 compress the tube 16 so as to urge the liquid in the tube downwardly through the pinch valve 32 and outwardly of the lower outlet 62 of the nipple 26 at the end of the tube 16. The actuator 56 (acting on one of the rollers 50 and 52) will cause the rollers 50 and 52 to separate from each other and to leave the tube 16 in an uncompressed condition. As such, the linear bearing 36 is now in a proper configuration so as to move the housing 54 back upwardly along the length of the tube 16.

(20) FIG. 5 shows the liquid dispensing apparatus 10 of the present invention with the roller assembly 20 in its uppermost position. The pinch valve 32 is in an open configuration. The linear bearing 30 supports the housing 54 of the roller assembly 20 and its upper position along the length of the tube 16. The rollers 50 and 52 are illustrated as compressing the tube 16.

(21) FIG. 6 shows that the linear bearing 30 has moved the roller assembly 20 downwardly along the tube 16 so as to compress the tube. As such, FIG. 6 shows the liquid dispenser apparatus 10 in an intermediate position. The pinch valve 32 is opened. As such, liquid will be dispensed from the tube 16 through the outlet 62. The amount of liquid that is dispensed at this point in time will be the amount of liquid in the tube 16 between the position of the roller assembly 20 (is shown in FIG. 5) and the intermediate position (as shown in FIG. 6). It is important to note that the movement of the roller assembly 20 in this compressed configuration will create a vacuum which serves to draw liquid from the manifold 34 back into each of the tubes in generally a trailing relationship to the movement of the roller assembly 20.

(22) FIG. 7 shows the liquid dispenser apparatus 10 with the roller assembly 20 in its desired and fixed lower position. In this lower position, the liquid in tube 16 has been fully dispensed outwardly of the outlet 62. After the dispensing has occurred, the pinch valve 32 is suitably closed, and the rollers 52 and 50 are moved away from each other so that the tube 16 is no longer compressed. The linear bearing 30 can then move back to the upper position (as shown in FIG. 5). Since the vacuum created by the movement of the roller assembly 20 has drawn fluid from the manifold into the tube 16, the return of the roller assembly 20 back to the upper position (such as shown in FIG. 5) will assure that the tube 16 is properly loaded with a new supply of fluid. The pinch valve 32, in its closed position, will prevent any leaking or oozing of the fluid column between the pinch valve 32 and the outlet 62.

(23) FIG. 8 is a further illustration showing the movement of the roller assembly 20 along the tube 16. FIG. 8 shows that the roller assembly 20 has an upper position and a lower position for the dispensing of liquid. During the movement shown in FIG. 8, the rollers from the roller assembly 20 squeeze on the tube 16 so as to urge the liquid in the tube 16 to be dispensed outwardly of the outlet 62. The pinch valve 32 is illustrated as open so as to allow the liquid to flow therethrough.

(24) FIG. 9 shows the upward movement of the roller assembly 20 in the process of the present invention. During this upward movement, the pinch valve 32 is suitably closed and the rollers in each of the roller assemblies 20 are separated from each other so as to not compress the tube 16.

(25) The present invention is particularly related to the dispensing of liquid in a mass production process. In many components and industrial processes, a liquid in measured in equal amounts needs to be dispense simultaneously in a particular step of the production process. The present invention assures that this equal amount of liquid is dispensed simultaneously. In particular, under those circumstances where a multi-part liquid is to be dispensed, the present invention allows the multiple parts of the multi-part liquid to be mixed and then delivered into a manifold. The present invention thereby delivers this mixed multi-part liquid outwardly in a suitably measured equal amount simultaneously into the particular components. After the liquid is dispensed from the liquid dispenser apparatus 10, the filled components can then be moved to another step of the production process. The present invention causes the roller assembly to be returned up to the upper position so that a new set of parts can be positioned for the purpose of being filled with the liquid. The tubes 14, 16 and 18 are made of a relatively inexpensive flexible plastic material. As such, these tubes can be replaced easily on an as-needed basis. In the preferred embodiment the present invention, the tubes are replaced after each day of production. For the purposes of replacing the tubes, it is only necessary to thread the tubes through the suitable openings in the upper and lower portions of the frame and then the thread the tube through the roller assembly and through the pinch valve. The upper end of the tube can then be connected to the suitable outlet of the manifold. The tubes will need to be primed by the proper movement of the roller assembly. After priming, the present invention is ready for production.

(26) The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof. Various changes in the details of the illustrated construction can be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the true spirit of the invention. The present invention should only be limited by the following claims and their legal equivalents.