DISPOSABLE DIAPHRAGM VALVE

Abstract

A valve for dispensing fluid as a bead or a dot having a housing with an internal cavity and a disposable insert positioned within the cavity of the housing having a fluid inlet, a fluid chamber, a fluid outlet and a diaphragm adjacent the fluid chamber between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The replaceable insert further has a latching mechanism adjacent the diaphragm for receipt of a reciprocating actuator to actuate the diaphragm to dispense fluid from the fluid chamber.

Claims

1. A method of using a fluid dispensing valve assembly, comprising: based on user input, a disposable diaphragm valve insert being inserted into an internal cavity of a housing of a fluid dispensing valve assembly, the disposable diaphragm valve insert having interior surfaces which come into contact with a dispensing fluid; receiving fluid into a fluid chamber in the disposable diaphragm valve insert, a diaphragm within the disposable diaphragm valve insert being engaged and disengaged by a reciprocating actuator to move the diaphragm through the fluid chamber; dispensing the fluid when the actuator is disengaged with the diaphragm; based on user input, the disposable diaphragm valve insert being replaced, as an assembled unit, with a different disposable diaphragm valve insert, as an assembled unit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving fluid into the disposable diaphragm valve insert includes receiving fluid under pressure through a valve inlet into the fluid chamber in the disposable diaphragm valve insert.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of dispensing the fluid is through a fluid outlet connected to the fluid chamber.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid dispensed is an adhesive, epoxy, potting compound or solder paste.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the disposable diaphragm valve insert further includes a latching mechanism adjacent the diaphragm opposite the fluid chamber.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the reciprocating actuator extends through the latching mechanism to actuate the diaphragm to dispense fluid from the fluid chamber.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the latching mechanism has a reinforcing member positioned therein.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is made of a plastic having strength and compliance additives.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid chamber and the diaphragm are sealed together by welding.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid chamber and the diaphragm are joined and sealed by spin welding, laser welding, ultra-sonic welding, thermal compression, snap-fitting or by glue.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising a pneumatic device attached to the housing to drive the reciprocating actuator.

12. The method of claim 1, further including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet connected to the fluid chamber, and the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet extend beyond the housing and further comprise a removable dispensing tip attached to the fluid outlet.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a main housing body and a front plate removably connected together to form the internal cavity.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the microvalve dispenser of the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the dispenser of FIG. 1;

[0014] FIG. 3 is a side view of the disposable valve insert of FIG. 1; and

[0015] FIG. 4 is a side view of the dispenser of FIG. 1 illustrated in partial section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, a microvalve dispenser assembly 10 is illustrated. The assembly includes an actuator 12 having a housing 14 mounted thereon. A mounting bracket 16 is supported by the actuator for mounting various dispensed material sources. The actuator may be any one of either a pneumatic or hydraulic driven type or direct current servo or stepper motor type. The actuator may be controlled by a controller mechanism (not shown).

[0017] The housing 14, which may be of metal such as aluminum, or a corrosion resistant plastic such as acetal, for example, may be made up of a main body housing 14a and a body front plate 14b held together by captive screws 18. The main body housing 14a and the front body plate 14b cooperate to form an internal cavity 20 for receipt of a disposable diaphragm valve insert 22. The insert 22 includes a fluid chamber component 24 and a diaphragm component 26. The fluid chamber and the diaphragm components include a joint 28 for joining and sealing the components together by either an ultra-sonic, laser or spin welding process or are snap-fitted or glued together. The valve insert is preferably made out of a moldable or machinable plastic compound. The insert includes a fluid inlet passage 30 and a fluid outlet passage 32. The outlet passage 32 has a removable and replaceable dispensing tip 34. The diaphragm component 26 includes a latching feature 36 having an enlarged head portion 31.

[0018] The fluid inlet passage 30 includes an outer circumferential shoulder 40 which extends beyond the housing and body front plate 14b thus preventing rotational movement of the insert relative to the housing. The outer surface is threaded 42 so that a fluid supply source may be easily attached and removed. Similarly the fluid outlet passage 32 has a shoulder portion 44 which extends beyond a lower surface of the body front plate 14b. Shoulder 44 assists in attaching the dispensing tip securely.

[0019] As seen best in FIG. 4, when the disposable diaphragm valve insert 22 is positioned within the cavity 20 of the housing 14 the head portion 38 of the latching feature 36 is engaged with a chuck 48 which is driven by the actuator 12. The latching feature 36 can include an additional strength feature such as a screw 46 which could also be a rod or other material insert. The sealing feature 56 of the diaphragm component 26 is positioned between the latching mechanism and the fluid chamber component 24 such that when the chuck 48 is reciprocating the diaphragm moves in the same motion to dispense a fluid. The fluid is dispensed by the diaphragm opening and closing the fluid path 54 as fluid is being pumped in the inlet under pressure. The diaphragm can be made with or without additives in the base moldable or machinable plastic material to change the strength and compliance of the diaphragm as needed based upon the fluid being dispensed. The diaphragm 26 and the feed chamber 24 can be made of various materials such that the feed chamber and the diaphragm can be joined and sealed together. Additives to either the base moldable plastic material or the diaphragm can be fiberglass, glass beads, carbon fiber or elasticizers

[0020] Although the present invention has been described and illustrated with respect to various embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that changes and modifications can be made herein which are within the full intended scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.