Fluid dispensing system

Claim 2

In s fluid dispensing system for discharging a predetermined measured quantity of fluid from a reservoir thereof to an object receiving said fluid comprising a head assembly including a dispensing nozzle for discharging said fluid material to the object, means for imparting advancing and retracting movement to said head assembly for dispensing said material, a feed line extending from said reservoir to said nozzle, positive displacement pump means and valve means disposed in said feed line, said valve means being operable in a first condition to couple said pump means to withdraw a predetermined volume of said fluid from said reservoir during part of said movement of said head assembly and operable in a second condition to discharge said volume to said nozzle during another part of said movement of said head assembly.

Claim 3

In a fluid dispensing system according to claim 1 wherein advancing movement of said head assembly while said valve means is in its said first condition serves to withdraw said predetermined volume and wherein said retracting movement of said head assembly while said valve means is in its said second condition serves to discharge said volume to said nozzle.

Claim 4

In a fluid dispensing system according to claim 1 in which said positive displacement pump means comprises a cylinder member and piston member, said members being movable relative to each other, one of said members being coupled to move with the advancing and retracting movements of said head assembly to define intake and exhaust strokes relative to said cylinder member.

Claim 5

In a fluid dispensing system according to claim 1 further comprising means for operating said head assembly between raised and lowered positions relative to said object, a portion of said valve means being coupled to said head assembly to operate said valve means between said first and second conditions, said first condition being effected in response to raising said head assembly and said second condition being effected in response to lowering said head assembly.

Claim 6

In a fluid dispensing system for discharging a predetermined quantity of fluid from a reservoir thereof to an object receiving said fluid comprising a head assembly including a nozzle for discharging said fluid to said object, said head assembly being movable between advanced and retracted positions, positive displacement pumping means including cylinder means of predetermined displacement, a movable cylinder block containing said cylinder means and movable with said head assembly, piston means within said cylinder means and secured in a stationary position, means for moving said piston and cylinder means relative to each other between advanced and retracted positions for respectively forming a suction and compression within the cylinder means, the last named means serving to move said head assembly and cylinder block, feed line means extending from said reservoir to said nozzle and including therein said pumping means, valve means coupled to move with head assembly and disposed in said feed line means, said valve means being operable in one condition to couple said pumping means to draw a predetermined volume of said fluid from said reservoir and in another condition to couple said pumping means to said nozzle for discharge of said volume of fluid, and means for advancing said head assembly across and spaced from the object while said valve means remains in said one condition and for retracting said head assembly across the object while said valve means remains in said second condition to dispense said volume of fluid material to said object.

Claim 7

In a fluid dispensing system for discharging a predetermined quantity of fluid from a reservoir thereof to an object receiving said fluid comprising a head assembly including a nozzle for discharging said fluid to said object, said head assembly being movable between advanced and retracted positions, positive displacement pumping means including cylinder means of predetermined displacement, a movable cylinder block containing said cylinder means and movable with said head assembly, piston means within said cylinder means and secured in a stationary position, means for moving said piston and cylinder means relative to each other between advanced and retracted positions for respectively forming a suction and compression within the cylinder means, the last named means serving to move said head assembly and cylinder block, feed line means extending from said reservoir to said nozzle and including therein said pumping means, valve means coupled to move with head assembly and disposed in said feed line means, said valve means being operable in one condition to couple said pumping means to draw a predetermined volume of said fluid from said reservoir and in another condition to couple said pumping means to said nozzle for discharge of said volume of fluid, and means for advancing said head assembly across and spaced from the object while said valve means remains in said one condition and for retracting said head assembly across the object while said valve means remains in said second condition to dispense said volume of fluid material to said object.

Claim 8

In a fluid dispensing system according to claim 1 further in which said system comprises a plurality of feed lines and dispensing nozzles, discrete pumping means associated with each said nozzle, and individual valve means associated with each said pumping means, and wherein said plurality of nozzles is formed in a single unit, said unit comprising a plurality of laterally distributed discharge openings coupled to said pumping means, each said opening being defined by side, top and bottom bounding surfaces of a compliant material and supplied with said fluid from said pumping means via a flow passage formed through one end wall thereof, the compliance of said unit serving to permit all of said discharge openings to lie uniformly contiguous to the surface of said object notwithstanding surface or dimensional irregularities thereof.