Disposable diaphragm valve

Abstract

A valve for dispensing fluid as a bead or a dot having a housing with an internal cavity and a disposable insert positioned within the cavity of the housing having a fluid inlet, a fluid chamber, a fluid outlet and a diaphragm adjacent the fluid chamber between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The replaceable insert further has a latching mechanism adjacent the diaphragm for receipt of a reciprocating actuator to actuate the diaphragm to dispense fluid from the fluid chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of using a fluid dispensing valve assembly, comprising:
 based on user input, a disposable diaphragm valve insert being inserted into an internal cavity of a housing of a fluid dispensing valve assembly, the disposable diaphragm valve insert having interior surfaces which come into contact with a dispensing fluid;   receiving fluid into a fluid chamber in the disposable diaphragm valve insert,   a diaphragm within the disposable diaphragm valve insert being engaged and disengaged by a reciprocating actuator to move the diaphragm through the fluid chamber;   dispensing the fluid when the actuator is disengaged with the diaphragm;   based on user input, the disposable diaphragm valve insert being replaced, as an assembled unit, with a different disposable diaphragm valve insert, as an assembled unit.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving fluid into the disposable diaphragm valve insert includes receiving fluid under pressure through a valve inlet into the fluid chamber in the disposable diaphragm valve insert. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of dispensing the fluid is through a fluid outlet connected to the fluid chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid dispensed is an adhesive, epoxy, potting compound or solder paste. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disposable diaphragm valve insert further includes a latching mechanism adjacent the diaphragm opposite the fluid chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the reciprocating actuator extends through the latching mechanism to actuate the diaphragm to dispense fluid from the fluid chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the latching mechanism has a reinforcing member positioned therein. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm is made of a plastic having strength and compliance additives. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid chamber and the diaphragm are sealed together by welding. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid chamber and the diaphragm are joined and sealed by spin welding, laser welding, ultra-sonic welding, thermal compression, snap-fitting or by glue. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a pneumatic device attached to the housing to drive the reciprocating actuator. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet connected to the fluid chamber, and the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet extend beyond the housing and further comprise a removable dispensing tip attached to the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a main housing body and a front plate removably connected together to form the internal cavity.