US4820497A — Movable cleaning assembly for an aspirating needle

Claim 1

Independent Claim 62 words

A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising: a support member; a dispensing needle translatable with respect to the support member from a first to a second position; and a cleaning assembly mounted to the dispensing needle for movement therewith with respect to the support member, the cleaning assembly having an enclosed, well-like needle receiving chamber having a closed bottom for receiving the needle therein.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 62 words

A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising: a support member; a dispensing needle translatable with respect to the support member from a first to a second position; and a cleaning assembly mounted to the dispensing needle for movement therewith with respect to the support member, the cleaning assembly having an enclosed, well-like needle receiving chamber having a closed bottom for receiving the needle therein.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 133 words

A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising: a support member; a dispensing needle vertically translatable with respect to the support member from a first to a second position; a cleaning assembly mounted for movement with respect to the support member, the cleaning assembly having a pair of arms each being movable from a first to a second disposition, in the first position the the arms of cleaning assembly being cooperable to define an enclosed, well-like needle receiving chamber having a closed bottom, the chamber receiving the needle therein, while in the second disposition the cleaning assembly being spaced from the needle to permit the needle to vertically displace with respect to the support; and an actuator responsive to the movement of the needle to displace the cleaning assembly from the first to the second position.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 133 words

A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising: a support member; a dispensing needle vertically translatable with respect to the support member from a first to a second position; a cleaning assembly mounted for movement with respect to the support member, the cleaning assembly having a pair of arms each being movable from a first to a second disposition, in the first position the the arms of cleaning assembly being cooperable to define an enclosed, well-like needle receiving chamber having a closed bottom, the chamber receiving the needle therein, while in the second disposition the cleaning assembly being spaced from the needle to permit the needle to vertically displace with respect to the support; and an actuator responsive to the movement of the needle to displace the cleaning assembly from the first to the second position.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 123 words

A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising: a support member; a dispensing needle translatable with respect to the support member from a first to a second position, the needle being operative at the second position to dispense a predetermined measure of liquid into a receptacle; a cleaning assembly mounted for movement with respect to the support member, the cleaning assembly having a pair of arms each being movable from an open to a closed disposition, in the closed disposition the arms being cooperable to define an enclosed, well-like needle receiving chamber having a closed bottom, the chamber being adapted to receive the needle therein; and an actuator responsive to the movement of the needle to displace the arms from the open to the clsoed disposition.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 123 words

A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising: a support member; a dispensing needle translatable with respect to the support member from a first to a second position, the needle being operative at the second position to dispense a predetermined measure of liquid into a receptacle; a cleaning assembly mounted for movement with respect to the support member, the cleaning assembly having a pair of arms each being movable from an open to a closed disposition, in the closed disposition the arms being cooperable to define an enclosed, well-like needle receiving chamber having a closed bottom, the chamber being adapted to receive the needle therein; and an actuator responsive to the movement of the needle to displace the arms from the open to the clsoed disposition.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 85 words

The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 3 wherein each arm has a wellhead thereon, each of the wellheads having a groove therein, one of the wellheads having a flange and the other of the wellheads having a corresponding cutout formed therein, when the arms are in the closed disposition the flange in the one wellhead is received in the cutout in the other wellhead and the grooves in the wellheads register with each other to form the well-like needle receiving chamber having the closed bottom.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 28 words

The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 4 wherein at least one of the wellheads is connected to the arm with which it is associated by an articulating joint.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 195 words

A liquid dispensing apparatus for transferring a liquid stored at a first location to a receptacle disposed at a second spaced location, comprising: a support member; a dispensing needle rectilinearly translatable in a first direction with respect to the support member from the first to the second location, the needle being operative at the first location to draw thereinto a predetermined volume of liquid and at the second location to dispense a predetermined portion of the liquid into the receptacle, the needle also being movable with respect to the support member in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction from an initial, retracted, position to a final, extended, position; a cleaning assembly having a pair of arms each being movable from an open to a closed disposition, in the closed disposition the arms being cooperable to define an enclosed, well-like needle receiving chamber having a closed bottom, the chamber receiving the needle therein when the needle occupies the retracted position; and an actuator mounted to the needle and engageable with the arms for displacing the same from the open to the closed disposition as the needle moves from the retracted to the extended position.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 195 words

A liquid dispensing apparatus for transferring a liquid stored at a first location to a receptacle disposed at a second spaced location, comprising: a support member; a dispensing needle rectilinearly translatable in a first direction with respect to the support member from the first to the second location, the needle being operative at the first location to draw thereinto a predetermined volume of liquid and at the second location to dispense a predetermined portion of the liquid into the receptacle, the needle also being movable with respect to the support member in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction from an initial, retracted, position to a final, extended, position; a cleaning assembly having a pair of arms each being movable from an open to a closed disposition, in the closed disposition the arms being cooperable to define an enclosed, well-like needle receiving chamber having a closed bottom, the chamber receiving the needle therein when the needle occupies the retracted position; and an actuator mounted to the needle and engageable with the arms for displacing the same from the open to the closed disposition as the needle moves from the retracted to the extended position.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 91 words

The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 6 wherein each arm has a wellhead at an outer end thereof, each wellhead having a junction surface with a groove therein, one of the wellheads having a flange and the other of the wellheads having a corresponding cutout formed therein, when the arms are in the close disposition the flange in the one wellhead is received into the cutout in the other wellhead and the grooves in the wellheads register with each other to form the well-like needle receiving chamber having the closed bottom.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 29 words

The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 7 wherein one of the wellheads has an opening therein whereby the chamber may be exposed to a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 45 words

The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 8 wherein at least one channel extends through one of the wellheads and into fluid communication with the chamber whereby air may be drawn into the chamber when the chamber is exposed to a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 45 words

The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 8 wherein each of the wellheads has at least one channel extending therethrough into fluid communication with the chamber whereby air may be drawn into the chamber when the chamber is exposed to a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 26 words

The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 10 further comprising an articulating joint for connecting one of the wellheads to the arm with which it is associated.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 26 words

The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 8 further comprising an articulating joint for connecting one of the wellheads to the arm with which it is associated.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 26 words

The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 7 further comprising an articulating joint for connecting one of the wellheads to the arm with which it is associated.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 27 words

The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 10 wherein the flange has a planar surface thereon, the planar surface being perpendicular to the junction surface of the wellhead.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 27 words

The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 8 wherein the flange has a planar surface thereon, the planar surface being perpendicular to the junction surface of the wellhead.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 27 words

The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 7 wherein the flange has a planar surface thereon, the planar surface being perpendicular to the junction surface of the wellhead.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 69 words

The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 15 wherein the needle is mounted on a plate having a cam surface thereon and the arms are each provided with a corresponding cam surface, the actuator being operative upon displacement of the needle plate to dispose the cam surface on the plate into cooperative engagement with the cams on the arms to displace the arms from the closed to the open disposition.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 69 words

The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 14 wherein the needle is mounted on a plate having a cam surface thereon and the arms are each provided with a corresponding cam surface, the actuator being operative upon displacement of the needle plate to dispose the cam surface on the plate into cooperative engagement with the cams on the arms to displace the arms from the closed to the open disposition.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 69 words

The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 11 wherein the needle is mounted on a plate having a cam surface thereon and the arms are each provided with a corresponding cam surface, the actuator being operative upon displacement of the needle plate to dispose the cam surface on the plate into cooperative engagement with the cams on the arms to displace the arms from the closed to the open disposition.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 69 words

The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 7 wherein the needle is mounted on a plate having a cam surface thereon and the arms are each provided with a corresponding cam surface, the actuator being operative upon displacement of the needle plate to dispose the cam surface on the plate into cooperative engagement with the cams on the arms to displace the arms from the closed to the open disposition.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 69 words

The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 8 wherein the needle is mounted on a plate having a cam surface thereon and the arms are each provided with a corresponding cam surface, the actuator being operative upon displacement of the needle plate to dispose the cam surface on the plate into cooperative engagement with the cams on the arms to displace the arms from the closed to the open disposition.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 27 words

The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 21 wherein the sides of the plate are configured to define holding surfaces for holding the arms in the open disposition.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 26 words

The dispensing apparatus of claim 20 wherein the sides of the plate are configured to define holding surfaces for holding the arms in the open disposition.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 26 words

The dispensing apparatus of claim 19 wherein the sides of the plate are configured to define holding surfaces for holding the arms in the open disposition.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 26 words

The dispensing apparatus of claim 18 wherein the sides of the plate are configured to define holding surfaces for holding the arms in the open disposition.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 26 words

The dispensing apparatus of claim 17 wherein the sides of the plate are configured to define holding surfaces for holding the arms in the open disposition.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 29 words

The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a motion limiting stop surface on the arm having the articulating joint for limiting the articulating motion of that wellhead.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 29 words

The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a motion limiting stop surface on the arm having the articulating joint for limiting the articulating motion of that wellhead.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 29 words

The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a motion limiting stop surface on the arm having the articulating joint for limiting the articulating motion of that wellhead.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-04-10	1992-10-10	1993-04-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-04-10	1996-10-10	1997-04-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-04-10	2000-10-10	2001-04-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Movable cleaning assembly for an aspirating needle

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