Hand held, volumetric multi material dispenser

Abstract

A fluid dispenser which enables one or two liquid mixture components to be selectively or simultaneously dispensed via a manually operable selection and actuation means. The said dispenser incorporates a body, one or more fluid storage and delivery channels, a selection and actuation disc operable to cause the release of a quantity of a stored fluid, as well as articulation and clamping means which support the said disc. One or more of the said fluid channels may be urged by said disc via cams to eject a fluid or fluids from corresponding cartridges. The present device provides a scale and pointer system which permits selection of a particular volume of a fluid for ejection in a first mode of operation, or selection of a specified mutual proportion of two fluids for ejection in a second mode of operation.

Claims

1. A fluid dispensing device for delivering one or more fluids, comprising a main body adapted for mounting or incorporating one or more fluid delivery channels; a fluid volume selection and actuation means mounted to said main body and operable to cause the release of a desired quantity of a fluid or fluids from the said one or more fluid delivery channels; wherein the said selection and actuation means is rotatable in relation to the said main body on one axis in order to specify a fluid volume or volumes to eject, and tiltable relative to the said body on another axis in order to effect the ejection of fluid from the one or more of the fluid channels; and wherein the said volume selection and actuation means can be fixed in place by the provided clamp bolt or clamping means; at least one fluid delivery channel having a fluid storage or cartridge equipped with at least a fluid ejection port and a control port or orifice; a normally expanded, collapsible piston which exposes a control cam surface and is in fluid communication with said cartridge; wherein the said cam surface is at rest situated in close proximity to the selection and actuation means, so that upon displacement of the selection and actuation means, said piston may be collapsed via said cam surface.

2. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selection and actuation means is symmetrically bisected into a first and a second section by a tilt axis, and the first section bears a cutaway which prevents its available contact area from contacting plural control cams, thereby guaranteeing that only one fluid may be dispensed should the said section be depressed to effect the ejection of fluid.

3. A selection and actuation disc as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second section is a non-cutaway section, which bears a ratio-metric proportion scale denoting a range of the possible mutual proportions of two fluids, and wherein the said scale cooperates with at least one proportion selection indicator marking located on the main body.

4. A fluid dispensing device, comprising: a main body mounted to or comprising at least one fluid delivery channel, a volumetric selection mechanism, and an actuation mechanism configured to release an amount of liquid selected by the volumetric selection mechanism; said volumetric selection mechanism and said actuation mechanism each being rotatable with respect to said main body on a first axis and tiltable relative to the said body on a second axis; a clamping mechanism selectively fixedly holding said volume selection mechanism and said actuation mechanism in place relative to said main body; said fluid delivery channel further comprising: a fluid storage region further comprising at least a fluid ejection port and a control port; a collapsible region which is in fluid communication with said fluid storage region and comprises a variable volume and a control cam surface; wherein tilting about the said second axis of the said volumetric selection mechanism and said actuation mechanism causes ejection of at least one fluid from the said fluid storage region, due to interaction between said control cam surface and the said actuation mechanism.

5. The fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said volumetric selection mechanism and said actuation mechanism are bisected into a first and a second section by a tilt axis, and said first section further comprises a cut-away region which prevents contact with a control cam which comprises said control cam surface.

6. The fluid dispensing device of claim 5, wherein said second section of said volumetric selection mechanism and said actuation mechanism comprise a ratio-metric proportion scale denoting a range of the possible proportions of two fluids using upper, lower and median ratio markings, and where said proportion scale is further placed on an exterior side of said second section with at least one proportion indicator marker located on the main body.

7. A selection and actuation disc as claimed in claim 5, wherein the said cut-away section bears a volumetric scale denoting progressively increasing shot volumes of a fluid, and where the said scale cooperates with at least one volume indicator marker located on the main body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the detailed description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is a general three quarters view of the fluid delivery device 100;

(3) FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway of the fluid delivery device 100;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a view of the fluid delivery device 100 mid-cycle during simultaneous fluid dispensing;

(5) FIG. 4 is a top view of fluid delivery device 100 showing scale and pointer markings;

(6) FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the fluid delivery device 100;

(7) FIG. 6 is a general three quarters view of an alternative embodiment of device 100;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(8) With reference to the drawings, a dispenser 100 is shown in accordance with an example embodiment and includes a number of components and assemblies that together provide various operational modes for selecting and dispensing a pair of liquids proportionally, or dispensing a single liquid individually, and include but are not limited to, a gimballed selection disc assembly 31, a main body 2101, one or more fluid storage and delivery channels 32, and a set of scale and indicator systems 4010 and 4020.

(9) Referring to FIG. 5, a gimbal center block 1103 is mounted atop main body 2101 via a screw 1105 integral to clamping handle 1102, which passes through bore 1108 of said center block 1103 and engages a threaded central bore 2006 of the said main body 2101. The selector actuator disc 1101 mounts to gimbal center block 1103 via pins 1104 passing through bores 1107 and 1106 and may tilt on axis 1200 formed by said pins. The bolt 1105 provides a rotary axis 1300 about which the center block 1103 and disc 1101 mounted thereon may pivot.

(10) In the current embodiment of dispenser 100, selection and actuation disc 1101 is bisected by tilt axis 1200, thereby forming a first section 1221 and a second section 1222. The said first section 1221 of said disc 1101 bears a cutaway 1220 which prevents overlap of more than one piston cam 2001 by said section's available net contact area. Thus the said cutaway 1220 permits selection of and dispensing of at most one mixture component c, m, or y from device 100 when an actuating force acts upon the the said first section 1221. Section 1222 of disc 1101 is capable of actuating two pistons simultaneously when it covers or overlaps two cam poles 2400 of the said pistons. Disc section 1221 carries upon it a single component scale 4010, and disc section 1222 carries upon it a dual component scale 4020.

(11) Turning to FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, we find a fluid storage and delivery channel comprising of a fluid storage cartridge 3107, a quick release fitting 2102, a spring 2108, an end stop means 2104, and a piston 2103 slidably mounted in a cylindrical bore 2003. The said bore 2003 is preferably formed in main body 2101, and is in fluid communication with an interchangeable cartridge 3107 via fluid pathways 2111 and 2113 of fitting 2102. Each piston's bearing 2002 and piston head 2112 are in frictional contact with bore 2003. The piston seal 2107 is installed in groove 2008 on piston head 2112. Piston 2103, piston bore 2003, piston seal 2107, fluid passages 2111 and 2113, and cartridge 3107 define a variable volume 2600 which may be reduced when movement is imposed upon piston 2103 by actuation and selection means 31.

(12) Each fluid channel assembly 32 is arranged along the periphery 1210 of the selection and actuation disc 1101 at equal intervals in order to maximize any motion imparted to pistons during a stroke of said disc 1101. The said fluid channel means 32 are arranged symmetrically about axis 1300. One or more of the piston cams 2001, disposed at a substantially tangential orientation to said disc 1101, may maintain positive contact with disc 1101 througout a dispense cycle.

(13) Diaphragms, bellows, and rubber bulbs are widely used for pippetting or transferring fluids. The said rubber bulbs generally interoperate with pipette bodies, and disposable pipettes often feature an integrated bellows or bulb. These devices functionally provide similar utility to the presently taught fluid channel 32, and can similarly eject fluid from a storage means volumetrically, in a controlled manner.

(14) As illustrated in FIG. 6, a bellows pipette may comprise one alternative to the presently taught piston, cylinder and cartridge arrangement and can provide a compliant variable volume 2601 analogous to volume 2600, as well as an integrated fluid store c, and present a simplified fluid delivery channel 32. Bellows pipettes may provide an integral cam surface 2001 for interacting with selection and actuation disc 1101, and a fluid storage volume 3101 equipped with an ejection orifice or tip 3105.

(15) Those skilled in the art shall know how to incorporate the said various alternative fluid delivery and storage devices into the present invention 100. Drawing 6 shows an example of an alternate embodiment which uses a disposable pipette as a fluid storage and delivery means.

(16) The current device offers some design freedom in the packaging of the collapsible volume such as a bellows or diaphragm with the implementer's preferred fluid store or cartridge. A pneumatic conduit must link the two said volumes. Thus, should the implementer choose a discrete bellows as a collapsible element, it is highly advantageous to install an internal spring within the said element in order to speed expansion of its form after dispensing and to prevent unwanted or sporadic collapse of the said element's volume due to the weight of the stored fluid and the associated negative pressure exerted internally on the said collapsible volume. Preferably, a helical compression spring is installed along the axis of compression of the designer's preferred collapsible element.

(17) In FIG. 2, drawing a, the selection and actuation disc 1101, piston 2103 and spring 2108 are shown in their initial as well as final positions in a dispense cycle. In FIG. 2, drawing b, the same elements are shown at the mid-point in the dispense cycle, when the selected fluids have been ejected. In operation, at least one piston 2103 is caused to travel in a piston bore 2003 towards a fitting element 2102 terminating said bore, to an extent determined by the rotary position of the gimbal hub and an inclination of the said disc 1101. The user may manually depress said disc 1101 in the vicinity of and in the direction indicated by arrow 10 to affect dispensing of one or more stored fluid 3103. The tilting of selection disc 1101 on axis 1200 may then proceed until the top surface 2110 of body shell 2101 is contacted by said disc. During such a stroke, air pressure increases in constrained volume 2600 as piston 2103 is displaced by disc 1101 towards cartridge 3107, causing the said cartridge to eject fluid. In its travel, piston 2103 compresses spring 2108, which serves to return the said piston to its initial or resting position at the end of an actuation stroke. Upon retraction of said piston, air may be aspirated into syringe main body 3103 via tapered tip 3104, in order to replace the ejected fluid. Once said ejected fluid is replaced with air, a dispense cycle is understood to be complete.

(18) In reference to FIGS. 2 and 5, springs 2108 are received by a spring seat 2007 of each fitting 2102. If piston 2103 is caused to travel towards fitting 2102, spring 2108 will be compressed, and able to exert sufficient force to return piston 2103 to an initial position determined by end-stop pin 2104. Pins 2104 in concert with springs 2108 establish initial or at-rest positions of pistons 2103.

(19) Functionally the bearing 2002 stabilizes the piston and resists lateral forces imparted on it by selection and actuation means 31, which may cause binding of bearing 2002 to its bore 2004 during operation of device 100. Those skilled in the art will know how to implement bearing 2002. The fitting 2102 mates to the main body 2101 via a relief groove 2400 and spring seat rim 2007. Spring seat rim 2007 is accepted by piston bore 2003 for alignment. Preferably the elements 2101 and 2102 are bonded with glue.

(20) Seal 2107 aids in defining variable volume 2600. The seal is preferably produced from a PTFE enhanced elastomer. Substantial chemical resistance of seal 2107 to lubricants is important to the current embodiment. It is advised to maintain lubrication of the said sliding seal 2107

(21) The current embodiment favors a disposable syringe casing 3107 with an integral tapered tip 3104 as a fluid store. Tapered tip 3104 allows for smooth aspiration of air back into the syringe after a volume of fluid is ejected. To facilitate unimpeded transit of air into the main casing upon piston 2103 retraction, a syringe casing with a smooth and contiguous interior surface is preferable.

(22) The tips 3104 of the fluid stores 3101 are preferably arranged in substantially close proximity to each other, in order to dispense the stored fluids into a relatively small receptacle or container. It is preferred that the piston cams 2001 are situated as close to the periphery 2300 of device 100 as possible, in order to increase the distance over which any tilting of the selection and actuation disc 1101 may interact with the said cams.