US4342407A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid dispensing apparatus
Assignee: Dynatech Laboratories Inc
•
Filing: 1980-07-30
•
Granted: 1982-08-03
•
Expires: 2000-07-30
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for control of multiple liquid dispensing providing accurate metering, close spacing of the fluids dispensed and rapid cycling. One embodiment contemplates transferring liquids from a multiplicity of containers to a corresponding multiplicity of wells in a microtitration test tray, and includes a multiplicity of resilient conduits extending from the containers into a common pinch type valve that clamps the ends of the conduits closed or permits them to open for liquid discharge.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul S. Citrin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:15
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00; G01N35/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
241 words
Apparatus for the rapid accurately metered dispensing of separate small amounts of liquid comprising a pinch valve having two relatively movable members, a plurality of individual liquid conducting conduits having resilient discharge terminals extending in closely spaced relation between said members, and actuating means for relatively moving said members between a valve closed position wherein all of said terminals are pinched shut between said members and a separated valve open position wherein said terminals are all free to spring to open condition, one of said pinch valve members being a reciprocable member and said actuating means comprising a piston connected to said reciprocable member and slidable in a cylinder, the interior of the cylinder being separated by said piston into two chambers, resilient means in one of said chambers biasing said piston in the direction to displace said reciprocable member to said valve open position, means for introducing air under pressure into the other chamber through a check valve, said air pressure exerting a force on said piston greater than said resilient means whereby said piston may be moved in the direction to displace said reciprocable member to pinch said terminals shut, and means for periodically introducing fluid pressure into said one chamber whereby the combined forces of fluid pressure and resilient means in said one chamber may periodically move said piston to displace said reciprocable member sufficiently to release all of said terminals for discharge of liquid during each period.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
241 words
Apparatus for the rapid accurately metered dispensing of separate small amounts of liquid comprising a pinch valve having two relatively movable members, a plurality of individual liquid conducting conduits having resilient discharge terminals extending in closely spaced relation between said members, and actuating means for relatively moving said members between a valve closed position wherein all of said terminals are pinched shut between said members and a separated valve open position wherein said terminals are all free to spring to open condition, one of said pinch valve members being a reciprocable member and said actuating means comprising a piston connected to said reciprocable member and slidable in a cylinder, the interior of the cylinder being separated by said piston into two chambers, resilient means in one of said chambers biasing said piston in the direction to displace said reciprocable member to said valve open position, means for introducing air under pressure into the other chamber through a check valve, said air pressure exerting a force on said piston greater than said resilient means whereby said piston may be moved in the direction to displace said reciprocable member to pinch said terminals shut, and means for periodically introducing fluid pressure into said one chamber whereby the combined forces of fluid pressure and resilient means in said one chamber may periodically move said piston to displace said reciprocable member sufficiently to release all of said terminals for discharge of liquid during each period.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein adjustable stop means is provided in the path of said piston when it is moved in the direction to pinch said terminals shut whereby to control the degree of compression of said terminals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
183 words
Valve means for simultaneously dispensing a multiplicity of charges of liquid comprising a relatively fixed member having a plurality of spaced apertures arranged in a plurality of linear rows, means on one surface of said member providing fixed depending ribs each extending along a side of a row of said apertures, a corresponding multiplicity of resilient liquid conducting tubing end sections extending downwardly through said apertures so that the terminal of each tubing end section lies adjacent a rib with one side adapted to engage the rib, a valve member having apertures located correspondingly to the apertures in said fixed member mounted below said fixed member to reciprocate in a plane transversely of said fixed member, said valve member having surfaces at its apertures disposed to engage said tubing terminals at the sides opposite the ribs, means for holding said valve member in the position where it tightly presses the tubing terminals against the ribs to effect valve closing, and means for periodically reciprocating said valve member to release and open said tubing to discharge liquid from each tubing at the same time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
183 words
Valve means for simultaneously dispensing a multiplicity of charges of liquid comprising a relatively fixed member having a plurality of spaced apertures arranged in a plurality of linear rows, means on one surface of said member providing fixed depending ribs each extending along a side of a row of said apertures, a corresponding multiplicity of resilient liquid conducting tubing end sections extending downwardly through said apertures so that the terminal of each tubing end section lies adjacent a rib with one side adapted to engage the rib, a valve member having apertures located correspondingly to the apertures in said fixed member mounted below said fixed member to reciprocate in a plane transversely of said fixed member, said valve member having surfaces at its apertures disposed to engage said tubing terminals at the sides opposite the ribs, means for holding said valve member in the position where it tightly presses the tubing terminals against the ribs to effect valve closing, and means for periodically reciprocating said valve member to release and open said tubing to discharge liquid from each tubing at the same time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
97 words
The valve means defined in claim 3, wherein said valve member comprises a rigid support plate formed with a series of linear apertures and said surfaces are on the side edges of substantially linear apertures formed in a relatively thin plate fixed upon the lower face of said support plate, said thin plate being so disposed upon the rigid support plate that the apertures overlap with said surfaces lying within the downwardly projecting areas of said support plate apertures, whereby the effective tubing gripping area is minimized and located as near as possible to the tubing ends.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
In the valve means defined in claim 3, said ribs having parallel smooth tubing engaging surfaces that are perpendicular to the direction of reciprocation of the valve member with adjacent surfaces spaced accurately the same distance apart.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
86 words
In the valve means defined in claim 3, said means for periodically reciprocating said valve member comprising a fluid pressure responsive element connected to said valve member spring biased in the direction to open said tubing ends and in combination with means whereby selectively applied fluid pressure initially displaces said valve member to close said tubing ends and time controlled means is connected for periodically applying fluid pressure to said element to displace said valve member to tubing open position for a limited liquid discharge period.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
182 words
Valve means for simultaneously dispensing a multiplicity of charges of liquid comprising a relatively fixed member having a plurality of apertures arranged in a plurality of linear rows, means on said member providing fixed parallel tube pinching surfaces each extending along a side of a row of said apertures, a corresponding multiplicity of resilient liquid conducting tubing end sections extending downwardly through said apertures so that the one side of the terminal of each tubing end section lies closely adjacent a pinching surface, a valve member having linear apertures located correspondingly to the apertures in said fixed member mounted below said fixed member to reciprocate in a plane transversely of said pinching surfaces, said valve member having parallel tube pinching surfaces along its apertures disposed to engage the opposite sides of said tubing terminals, means for holding said valve member in the position where it tightly clamps the tubing terminals to effect valve closing, and means for periodically reciprocating said valve member to release and open said tubing to discharge liquid from each tubing for a predetermined period at the same time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
182 words
Valve means for simultaneously dispensing a multiplicity of charges of liquid comprising a relatively fixed member having a plurality of apertures arranged in a plurality of linear rows, means on said member providing fixed parallel tube pinching surfaces each extending along a side of a row of said apertures, a corresponding multiplicity of resilient liquid conducting tubing end sections extending downwardly through said apertures so that the one side of the terminal of each tubing end section lies closely adjacent a pinching surface, a valve member having linear apertures located correspondingly to the apertures in said fixed member mounted below said fixed member to reciprocate in a plane transversely of said pinching surfaces, said valve member having parallel tube pinching surfaces along its apertures disposed to engage the opposite sides of said tubing terminals, means for holding said valve member in the position where it tightly clamps the tubing terminals to effect valve closing, and means for periodically reciprocating said valve member to release and open said tubing to discharge liquid from each tubing for a predetermined period at the same time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
86 words
In the valve means defined in claim 7, said means for periodically reciprocating said valve member comprising a fluid pressure responsive element connected to said valve member spring biased in the direction to open said tubing ends and in combination with means whereby selectively applied fluid pressure initially displaces said valve member to close said tubing ends and time controlled means is connected for periodically applying fluid pressure to said element to displace said valve member to tubing open position for a limited liquid discharge period.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US11300A
Cited
US686087A
Cited
US1652537A
Cited
US2291267A
Cited
US2985341A
Cited
US3264067A
Cited
US3248011A
Cited
GB1350576A
Cited
US3982724A
Cited
US4030640A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-08-02 | 1986-02-01 | 1986-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-08-02 | 1990-02-01 | 1990-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-08-02 | 1994-02-01 | 1994-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |