Dispensing assembly with interchangeable cartridge pumps

Claim 2

A dispensing assembly comprising: A) a plurality of pump cartridges, each pump cartridge comprising: i) a reservoir for containing a liquid, said reservoir having a liquid flow outlet, ii) a metering chamber extending below the reservoir, said metering chamber directly connected to said liquid flow outlet, said metering chamber comprising a compressible housing having an noncompressed shape, and iii) a one-way inlet valve and a one-way outlet valve at each end of said compressible housing, said valves aligned in the same direction so as to allow unidirectional fluid flow from the reservoir; B) an electrically driven reciprocating hammer actuator capable of compressing said compressible housing of each pump cartridge to eject a volume of liquid from the metering chamber thorough the outlet valve, and then release the housing to return the housing to the non-compressed shape to draw a volume of liquid with the metering chamber through the inlet valve; C) a pump cartridge frame with a plurality of receptacles into which said plurality of pump cartridges are fit for holding each pump cartridge in a fixed position with respect to said actuator; and D) a second frame supporting the actuator and removably receiving the pump cartridge frame with the plurality of receptacles as a unit to position each pump cartridge adjacent to the actuator, the first frame being removable from the second frame by lifting the first frame to lift all of the plurality of pump cartridges away from the second frame and the actuator.

Claim 3

A dispensing assembly according to claim 1 wherein said reservoir contains a plunger above said liquid in said reagent reservoir, said plunger being capable of moving within said reservoir as liquid is drawn out of said reservoir through said liquid flow outlet.

Claim 4

A dispensing assembly according to claim 2 wherein said plunger has a frictional force against the inner wall of said reservoir greater than said gravity pressure of said liquid in said reservoir.

Claim 5

A dispensing assembly according to claim 1 wherein said reservoir has a one-way valve at the top of said reservoir.

Claim 6

A dispensing assembly according to claim 1 wherein said reservoir has a rolling diaphragm at the top of said reservoir.

Claim 7

A dispensing assembly according to claim 1 wherein said reservoir has a small aperture at the top of said reservoir.

Claim 8

A dispensing assembly according to claim 1 wherein each pump cartridge has on its external surface one or more ridges projecting outward from the external surface of said cartridge serving as keys.

Claim 9

A dispensing assembly according to claim 1 with a means for reducing the flow velocity of said liquid during said ejection comprising a nozzle with an inner diameter which is greater than the opening of said outlet valve.

Claim 10

A dispensing assembly according to claim 1 wherein said outlet valve is normally closed and has an opening pressure greater than the gravity pressure applied by said liquid in said reservoir.

Claim 11

A dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein said cartridge has on its external surface one or more ridges projecting outward from the external surface of said cartridge serving as keys and said frame has a means for accommodating said ridges of said pump cartridge.

Claim 12

A dispensing assembly according to claim 1 which further includes: a plurality of electromechanical actuators.

Claim 13

A dispensing assembly according to claim 1 which further includes a compressible piston hammer mounted on a piston arm of said actuator.

Claim 14

A dispensing assembly according to claim 1 wherein the reservoir contains biological reagent.

Claim 15

A dispensing assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second frame is a moveable platform.

Claim 16

A pump cartridge assembly for dispensing liquid from a plurality of pump cartridges comprising: A) a pump cartridge frame with a plurality of receptacles into which a plurality of pump cartridges are fit, each pump cartridge comprising: i) a reagent reservoir for containing liquid, said reservoir having a liquid flow outlet, ii) a metering chamber extending below the reservoir, said metering chamber being directly connected to said liquid flow outlet, said metering chamber comprising a compressible housing having a non-compressed shape, and iii) a one-way inlet valve and a one-way outlet valve at each end of said compressible housing, said valves aligned in the same direction so as to allow unidirectional fluid flow from the reservoir; and B) the pump cartridge frame and the plurality of pump cartridges being removable as a unit from an actuator assembly, the actuator assembly having an electrically driven reciprocating hammer for compressing each compressible housing for the unidirectional ejection of a volume of liquid from said metering chamber and the pump cartridge, said compressible housing returning to said noncompressible shape after cessation of compression by the hammer to draw an additional volume of liquid into said metering chamber, the pump cartridge frame being removable from the actuator assembly by lifting the pump cartridge frame to lift all of the plurality of pump cartridges away from the actuator assembly, removal of the pump cartridges removing all dispensing surfaces wetted by fluid from said reagent reservoir.

Claim 17

A pump cartridge assembly for dispensing liquid from a plurality of pump cartridges comprising: A) a pump cartridge frame with a plurality of receptacles into which a plurality of pump cartridges are fit, each pump cartridge comprising: i) a reagent reservoir for containing liquid, said reservoir having a liquid flow outlet, ii) a metering chamber extending below the reservoir, said metering chamber being directly connected to said liquid flow outlet, said metering chamber comprising a compressible housing having a non-compressed shape, and iii) a one-way inlet valve and a one-way outlet valve at each end of said compressible housing, said valves aligned in the same direction so as to allow unidirectional fluid flow from the reservoir; and B) the pump cartridge frame and the plurality of pump cartridges being removable as a unit from an actuator assembly, the actuator assembly having an electrically driven reciprocating hammer for compressing each compressible housing for the unidirectional ejection of a volume of liquid from said metering chamber and the pump cartridge, said compressible housing returning to said noncompressible shape after cessation of compression by the hammer to draw an additional volume of liquid into said metering chamber, the pump cartridge frame being removable from the actuator assembly by lifting the pump cartridge frame to lift all of the plurality of pump cartridges away from the actuator assembly, removal of the pump cartridges removing all dispensing surfaces wetted by fluid from said reagent reservoir.