Methodology and apparatus for storing and dispensing liquid components to create custom formulations

Abstract

The invention is directed to methodologies and apparatuses in which materials are dispensed in order to create a desired finished product. The present invention improves upon the container in which the material is stored, shipped and used and does so by incorporating a pressure responsive silicone dispense valve configured to allow the dispensing of a specific amount of material through it in a controllable, metered fashion.

1 . A formulation dispenser comprising: 
 at least one material reservoir cylinder containing material, the cylinder mountable to a rotary table, the cylinder including a pressure responsive valve that will open rollingly to control the flow of material from the cylinder, the cylinder further including a puck;    a pressure actuator for exerting force on the puck;    a sensor for detecting the material discharged through the pressure responsive valve, and    a scale for detecting the amount of material discharged from the cylinder, whereby the sensor and scale provide feedback to a computer to control the force exerted by the pressure actuator on the puck.    
   
   
       2 . The formulation dispenser as in  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of material reservoir cylinders each containing material, each cylinder including a pressure responsive valve that will open rollingly to control the flow of material from the cylinder.  
   
   
       3 . The formulation dispenser as in  claim 1  further comprising a material reservoir for receiving the material discharged from the at least one cylinder; the material reservoir positioned on the scale.  
   
   
       4 . The formulation dispenser as in  claim 1  further comprising a human/machine interface.  
   
   
       5 . The formulation dispenser as in  claim 1  wherein the puck is positioned within the cylinder to form a compression seal between the puck and the cylinder.  
   
   
       6 . The formulation dispenser as in  claim 1  further comprising a rotary table motor operatively connected to the rotary table for rotating the table.  
   
   
       7 . A method of dispensing to create a formulation, comprising the steps of: 
 providing at least one material reservoir container that incorporates a pressure responsive valve that opens rollingly to discharge material contained within the container and closes rollingly after the material has been discharged,    sensing the discharge of material from the pressure responsive valve,    weighing the discharged material, and in response to the sensing and weighing of material,    providing feedback to a computer, and    signaling an actuator to pulse additional material from the container and through the pressure responsive valve, whereby the pressure responsive valve opens rollingly to discharge the pulsed material and closes rollingly after the pulsed material has been discharged.    
   
   
       8 . The method of dispensing of  claim 7  further comprising processing the sensed and weighed material by the computer to determine the amount of force to be exerted by the actuator.  
   
   
       9 . The method of dispensing of  claim 8  further comprising sensing the discharge of a small amount of material after the pressure responsive valve opens rollingly and immediately providing feedback to the computer that the small amount of material has been sensed.  
   
   
       10 . The method of dispensing of  claim 9  further comprising signaling the actuator to stop pulsing additional material.  
   
   
       11 . A material container assembly for storing and dispensing a material comprising: 
 a cylindrical tube containing the material to be dispensed, the tube defining a first and second end;    a movable member mounted to the first end for sealing the first end of the tube, the movable member being movable within the tube,    a pressure responsive valve mounted to the second end of the tube, the pressure responsive valve defining a valve head that includes at least one slit, the valve head opens in response to pressure exerted by the puck on the material in the tube, and valve head closes upon the release of the pressure exerted by the puck.    
   
   
       12 . The material container assembly of  claim 11  wherein the movable member and pressure responsive valve control the amount of material dispensed.  
   
   
       13 . The material container assembly of  claim 12  wherein the valve head defines a cross-slit and at least one flap, wherein the flap opens and closes rollingly.  
   
   
       14 . The material container assembly of  claim 13  further comprising a valve housing mounted to the second end of the tube, the pressure responsive valve mounted to the valve housing.  
   
   
       15 . The material container assembly of  claim 11  wherein the movable member is a puck.  
   
   
       16 . The material container assembly of  claim 11  wherein the movable member is a press plate.  
   
   
       17 . The material container assembly of  claim 15  wherein the puck defines an outer edge and wherein at least one seal extends outwardly from the outer edge.  
   
   
       18 . The material container assembly of  claim 17  wherein the puck define an angled bottom surface and a recessed center portion.  
   
   
       19 . The material container assembly of  claim 18  wherein the recessed center portion is configured to permit the pressure responsive valve to fully close during use of the container.  
   
   
       20 . The material container assembly of  claim 18  wherein the second end of cylinder tube defines an interior surface that is configured to substantially match the configuration of the bottom surface of the movable member.