Cartridge type fluid dispensing apparatus and methods

Abstract

A dispensing apparatus having various features is described. The dispensing apparatus can receive a cartridge having a movable plunger configured to direct the fluid through a dispensing valve. The plunger can be movable under a force applied by air pressure. The cartridge can be inserted in the dispensing apparatus using a clamping and sealing mechanism and can be released using a cartridge ejector. The dispensing apparatus can include a ball valve having a ball defining an internal passageway that selectively aligns with a second internal passageway outside of the ball, a brush mounted via an elongating mechanism, and/or a gear train transmitting power from the elongating mechanism.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A dispensing apparatus, comprising:
 a housing defining a void configured to receive a cartridge containing a substance to be dispensed;   a plunger configured to move into the cartridge to push the substance out of the cartridge into a dispensing flow path; and   a cable cylinder having a cable attached to the plunger, wherein the cable cylinder is configured to retract the cable into the cable cylinder to move the plunger out of the cartridge.   
     
     
         3 . The dispensing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the cable cylinder is pneumatically operated, hydraulically operated, or electrically operated. 
     
     
         4 . The dispensing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the cable cylinder is attached to the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The dispensing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the cable winds around a first pulley that is attached to the cable cylinder and around a second pulley that is attached to the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The dispensing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the apparatus includes a proportional regulator that is configured to provide a higher amount of force to break the plunger free and then provide a reduced force to have the cable move the plunger once the plunger has started moving. 
     
     
         7 . The dispensing apparatus of  claim 2 , comprising seals disposed against the cable. 
     
     
         8 . The dispensing apparatus of  claim 2 , comprising a funnel having an axial hole, wherein the cable extends through axial hole to the plunger. 
     
     
         9 . The dispensing apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein a quad seal is located around the cable. 
     
     
         10 . The dispensing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the housing comprises first and second clamshell members that define the void, at least one of the first and second clamshell members being configured to move towards and away from the other one of the first and second clamshell members to receive or remove the cartridge from the void. 
     
     
         11 . The dispensing apparatus of  claim 10 , comprising a powered clamshell actuator coupled to the at least one of the first and second clamshell members and configured to automatically move the at least one of the first and second clamshell members between an open position for loading and unloading the cartridge and a closed, sealed position for dispensing fluid from the cartridge. 
     
     
         12 . A dispensing apparatus, comprising:
 a housing defining a void for receiving a cartridge containing a substance to be dispensed;   a plunger moving into the cartridge to push the substance out of the cartridge into a dispensing flow path; and   a plunger operating mechanism, comprising:
 a rack attached to the plunger; 
 a pinion operatively connected to the rack; and 
 a motor operatively connected to the pinion to rotate the pinion to move the rack to selectively move the plunger in and out of the cartridge. 
   
     
     
         13 . The dispensing apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the rack includes teeth that are configured to interact with teeth on the pinion. 
     
     
         14 . The dispensing apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the pinion is mounted on a powered shaft. 
     
     
         15 . The dispensing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the powered shaft is connected to a servo-motor that is configured to monitor a location of the plunger by counting rotations of the powered shaft, the pinion, and/or the location of the rack. 
     
     
         16 . The dispensing apparatus of  claim 12 , comprising sensors configured to detect positions of the plunger as the plunger moves within the cartridge. 
     
     
         17 . The dispensing apparatus of  claim 12 , comprising an idler located under the rack that provides an opposing force to the rack that opposes a force of the pinion. 
     
     
         18 . The dispensing apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the housing comprises first and second clamshell members that define the void, at least one of the first and second clamshell members being configured to move towards and away from the other one of the first and second clamshell members to receive or remove the cartridge from the void. 
     
     
         19 . The dispensing apparatus of  claim 12 , comprising a powered clamshell actuator coupled to the at least one of the first and second clamshell members and configured to automatically move the at least one of the first and second clamshell members between an open position for loading and unloading the cartridge and a closed, sealed position for dispensing fluid from the cartridge.