Liquid dispenser

Claim 2

A liquid dispenser comprising: a plurality of reservoirs for containing different liquids to be dispensed; a plurality of nozzles for dispensing the liquids from the reservoirs; a plurality of dispensing cylinders each having a liquid inlet/outlet connected to a separate reservoir and a separate nozzle, and a hydraulic fluid inlet/outlet; a piston in each of said dispensing cylinders separating the liquid inlet/outlet from the hydraulic fluid inlet/outlet; hydraulic operating means connected to the hydraulic fluid inlet/outlet of each of the dispensing cylinders for selectively operating the dispensing cylinders, said hydraulic operating means including a cylinder having a hydraulic fluid inlet/outlet at one end, a piston in said cylinder, and a piston rod connected to said piston and extending from the other end of the cylinder, the inlet/outlet of the operating cylinder being connected to the hydraulic fluid inlet/outlet of each of the dispensing cylinders; and means for operating the hydraulic operating means.

Claim 3

A liquid dispenser in accordance with claim 1 in which the means for operating the hydraulic operating means includes an electric motor having a threaded shaft, a nut threaded on said shaft, and a drive arm extending from said nut and adapted to engage the piston rod of the operating cylinder to move the piston toward the inlet/outlet of the operating cylinder.

Claim 4

A liquid dispenser in accordance with claim 2 including a valve between each reservoir and its respective dispensing cylinder, and a valve between each nozzle and its respective dispensing cylinder.

Claim 5

A liquid dispenser in accordance with claim 3 including a computer connected to the motor and the valves for selectively operating the motor and valve s to dispense a liquid from a selected reservoir.

Claim 6

A liquid dispenser comprising: a reservoir for containing the liquid to be dispensed; a nozzle for dispensing the liquid connected to said reservoir; first hydraulic means for removing liquid from the reservoir and feeding the liquid to the nozzle including a first cylinder, a piston in said first cylinder, a liquid inlet/outlet pipe at one end of the first cylinder connected to said reservoir and said nozzle; a first electrically operated valve between the reservoir and the first cylinder, a second electrically operated valve between the nozzle and the first cylinder and a third electrically operated valve in the hydraulic fluid inlet/outlet pipe of the first cylinder; means for operating the first hydraulic means to feed a controlled amount of liquid to the nozzle; second hydraulic means between the first hydraulic means and the means for operating the first hydraulic means including a second cylinder; a piston in said second cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston and extending from one end of the second cylinder, and a hydraulic fluid inlet/outlet pipe extending from the other end of the second cylinder and connected to the hydraulic fluid inlet/outlet pipe of the first cylinder; and means for operating the second hydraulic means including an electric motor having a threaded shaft, a nut threaded on said shaft, and a drive arm mounted on said nut and extending across said piston rod of said second cylinder so as to be capable of moving the piston within said second cylinder.

Claim 7

A liquid dispenser comprising: a reservoir for containing the liquid to be dispensed; a nozzle for dispensing the liquid connected to said reservoir; first hydraulic means for removing liquid from the reservoir and feeding the liquid to the nozzle including a first cylinder, a piston in said first cylinder, a liquid inlet/outlet pipe at one end of the first cylinder connected to said reservoir and said nozzle; a first electrically operated valve between the reservoir and the first cylinder, a second electrically operated valve between the nozzle and the first cylinder and a third electrically operated valve in the hydraulic fluid inlet/outlet pipe of the first cylinder; means for operating the first hydraulic means to feed a controlled amount of liquid to the nozzle; second hydraulic means between the first hydraulic means and the means for operating the first hydraulic means including a second cylinder; a piston in said second cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston and extending from one end of the second cylinder, and a hydraulic fluid inlet/outlet pipe extending from the other end of the second cylinder and connected to the hydraulic fluid inlet/outlet pipe of the first cylinder; and means for operating the second hydraulic means including an electric motor having a threaded shaft, a nut threaded on said shaft, and a drive arm mounted on said nut and extending across said piston rod of said second cylinder so as to be capable of moving the piston within said second cylinder.

Claim 8

A liquid dispenser in accordance with claim 5 including a stop member on the side of the drive arm opposite the second cylinder.

Claim 9

A liquid dispenser comprising: a reservoir for containing the liquid to be dispensed; a nozzle for dispensing the liquid connected to said reservoir; first hydraulic means for removing liquid from the reservoir and feeding the liquid to the nozzle, said means including a first cylinder, a piston in said first cylinder, a liquid inlet/outlet pipe at one end of the first cylinder connected to said reservoir and said nozzle; spring means connected to the piston in the first cylinder for moving said piston away from the liquid inlet/outlet pipe and wherein the piston in the first cylinder has a piston rod attached thereto and extending from the other end of the first cylinder, and the spring means and a first plate is attached to the piston rod, the first plate extending from the first cylinder perpendicular to the piston rod, and a pair of springs which are compressed between the first plate and a second plate fixedly mounted adjacent to one end of the first cylinder; means for operating the first hydraulic means to feed a controlled amount of the liquid to the nozzle; a first electrically operated valve between the reservoir and the first cylinder, and a second electrically operated valve between the nozzle and the first cylinder; a second hydraulic means between the first hydraulic means and the means for operating said first hydraulic means.

Claim 10

A liquid dispenser comprising: a reservoir for containing the liquid to be dispensed; a nozzle for dispensing the liquid connected to said reservoir; first hydraulic means for removing liquid from the reservoir and feeding the liquid to the nozzle, said means including a first cylinder, a piston in said first cylinder, a liquid inlet/outlet pipe at one end of the first cylinder connected to said reservoir and said nozzle; spring means connected to the piston in the first cylinder for moving said piston away from the liquid inlet/outlet pipe and wherein the piston in the first cylinder has a piston rod attached thereto and extending from the other end of the first cylinder, and the spring means and a first plate is attached to the piston rod, the first plate extending from the first cylinder perpendicular to the piston rod, and a pair of springs which are compressed between the first plate and a second plate fixedly mounted adjacent to one end of the first cylinder; means for operating the first hydraulic means to feed a controlled amount of the liquid to the nozzle; a first electrically operated valve between the reservoir and the first cylinder, and a second electrically operated valve between the nozzle and the first cylinder; a second hydraulic means between the first hydraulic means and the means for operating said first hydraulic means.

Claim 11

A liquid dispenser in accordance with claim 7 including a stop plate fixedly mounted across the first plate on the side of the first plate opposite the first cylinder.

Claim 12

A liquid dispenser in accordance with claim 8 in which the stop plate is supported on said second plate by rods extending through the springs.