Precision fluid dispenser

Claim 2

A precision fluid dispenser, comprising: A. an actuator mechanism including: a. a cylinder part mounted for reciprocal longitudinal movements, b. a piston operably disposed in said cylinder, said cylinder having means for connection at opposite sides of the piston with a source of pressure fluid, c. a piston rod part to which said piston is secured, d. a pair of magnetic detent means mounted in spaced relation to each other, e. a traveling member secured to one of said actuator mechanism part, said traveling member being disposed and movable between said detent means and engageable therewith respectively, said detent means each restraining said traveling member with a limited force when said traveling member is engaged therewith; f. and means for limiting reciprocating movements of one of said parts in both directions, the other part moving from one detent to the other when movement of said one part is stopped by said means for limiting reciprocal movement at a respective end of movement of said one part.

Claim 3

A precision fluid dispenser, comprising: A. an actuator mechanism including: a. a cylinder part mOunted for reciprocal longitudinal movements, b. a piston operably disposed in said cylinder, said cylinder having means for connection at opposite sides of the piston with a source of pressure fluid, c. a piston rod part to which said piston is secured, d. a pair of detent means mounted in spaced relation to each other, e. a traveling member secured to one of said actuator mechanism parts, said traveling member being disposed and movable between said detent means and engageable therewith respectively, said detent means each restraining said traveling member with a limited force when said traveling member is engaged therewith; f. and means for limiting reciprocating movements of one of said parts in both directions, the other part moving from one detent to the other when movement of said one part is stopped by said means for limiting reciprocal movement at a respective end of movement of said one part; and B. a syringe operably connected to said other of actuator parts, movement of said one of said parts effecting filling and discharging of said syringe according to the direction of reciprocal movement of said one part; a valve; fluid connecting means for connecting the valve to said syringe, said valve having syringe filling and syringe discharging positions, said valve being operably connected to said other part and actuated thereby from one of said positions to the other when the respective detent means releases said other part and the latter moves the traveling member to the other detent means.

Claim 4

A precision fluid dispenser, comprising: A. an actuator mechanism including: a. a cylinder part mOunted for reciprocal longitudinal movements, b. a piston operably disposed in said cylinder, said cylinder having means for connection at opposite sides of the piston with a source of pressure fluid, c. a piston rod part to which said piston is secured, d. a pair of detent means mounted in spaced relation to each other, e. a traveling member secured to one of said actuator mechanism parts, said traveling member being disposed and movable between said detent means and engageable therewith respectively, said detent means each restraining said traveling member with a limited force when said traveling member is engaged therewith; f. and means for limiting reciprocating movements of one of said parts in both directions, the other part moving from one detent to the other when movement of said one part is stopped by said means for limiting reciprocal movement at a respective end of movement of said one part; and B. a syringe operably connected to said other of actuator parts, movement of said one of said parts effecting filling and discharging of said syringe according to the direction of reciprocal movement of said one part; a valve; fluid connecting means for connecting the valve to said syringe, said valve having syringe filling and syringe discharging positions, said valve being operably connected to said other part and actuated thereby from one of said positions to the other when the respective detent means releases said other part and the latter moves the traveling member to the other detent means.

Claim 5

The invention defined by claim 2, wherein the cylinder is the one part and the piston rod comprises the other part; the detent means each comprises a magnet, said magnets being spaced apart; and the traveling member comprises a traveling armature block of material attracted by magnetic force, the armature block being of less thickness than the space between the magnets and being adapted to be magnetically held by either of said magnets depending upon the position of the traveling armature block, operative movements of the piston rod moving said armature block from one magnet to the other when cylinder movement is stopped by the means for limiting reciprocating movements of said cylinder and moving said valve from one position to the other.

Claim 6

The invention defined by claim 3, wherein the syringe comprises a barrel, a piston in said barrel, and a plunger to which said piston is attached, and wherein the valve is fixedly mounted, means for connecting the valve to the forward end of the syringe barrel for holding said forward end in position; and a cylinder bracket to which the cylinder is secured for effecting movements of said cylinder bracket with respective movements of said cylinder, the free end of the syringe plunger being secured to said cylinder bracket for effecting longitudinal movements of the syringe plunger with respective movements of the cylinder bracket.

Claim 7

The invention defined by claim 4, wherein the means for connecting together the valve and the forward end of the syringe barrel comprises a pair of luer parts attached respectively to the valve and the syringe barrel, said parts being removably connected together.

Claim 8

The invention defined by claim 3, wherein the valve has a valve actuator and the connection between the traveling armature block and the valve includes a gear connected to said valve actuator and a rack connected to said traveling armature block, said rack having teeth engaging the teeth of the gear for effecting rotative movement of the gear with movements of the traveling armature block from one magnet to the other.

Claim 9

The invention defined by claim 4, including means for adjusting the cylinder relative to the cylinder bracket.

Claim 10

The invention defined by claim 3, wherein at least one of the means for limiting reciprocal movements of the cylinder is adjustable.

Claim 11

The invention defined by claim 1, including means for controlling the supply of pressure fluid to the respective ends of the Cylinder and relieving pressure at the respective ends of the cylinder opposite the end to which pressure fluid is supplied.

Claim 12

The invention defined by claim 9, wherein the means for controlling the supply of pressurized fluid to the cylinder comprises a valve.