Fluid pump and cartridge

Abstract

In a fluid pump and cartridge assembly, a cartridge includes a material inlet port, a material outlet port, and a feed screw. The feed screw delivers fluid to be dispensed from the fluid inlet to the outlet port. The fluid inlet is preferably elongated in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the feed screw to enhance consistency in material flow through the cartridge. The feed screw is preferably driven by a closed-loop servo motor to achieve high-performance dispensing resolution. The assembly is preferably compatible with fixed-z and floating-z cartridges.

1. A fluid dispensing pump comprising:
 a feed screw having a helical cavity defined between a major diameter and a minor diameter of a thread of the feed screw;  
 a cartridge body, the cartridge body and the feed screw comprising a detachable cartridge unit, the cartridge unit having a feed port in communication with the feed screw for introduction of dispensing fluids into the helical cavity; and  
 a pump housing including a cartridge cavity, the cartridge cavity having a mounting location at which the cartridge unit including both the cartridge body and the feed screw is inserted into and removed from the cartridge cavity, the pump housing releasibly securing the cartridge unit in the cartridge cavity, the cartridge unit having a motor interface at a first end of the cartridge unit and a fluid outlet and a second end of the cartridge unit opposite the first end, the cartridge unit including a fluid path between the feed port and the fluid outlet;  
 a closed-loop servo-motor, the servo- motor  having indexed rotational positions for controlling rotational position of the feed screw during a dispensing operation , the servo- motor including a rotary encoder that generates a data signal related to the rotational position of the feed screw, and the motor interface of the cartridge unit being releasably coupled to the servo - motor when the cartridge unit is inserted into the cartridge cavity; and    
   a motor controller that receives the rotational position data signal from the encoder, and, in response, transmits a control signal to the servo - motor for controlling the rotary position and rotational velocity of the feed screw during a dispensing operation, to control a flow of dispensing fluid in the fluid path through the feed port to the fluid outlet during the dispensing operation.    
 
     
     
       2. The pump of  claim 1  wherein the cartridge body comprises a first outer body, and a second inner body, the feed port further comprising a feed cavity that is formed in the inner body. 
     
     
       3. The pump of  claim 1  wherein the closed-loop servo motor further comprises a positional encoder. 
     
     
       4. The pump of  claim 1  further comprising a transmission coupled between the motor and feed screw for gearing the feed screw relative to the motor. 
     
     
       5. The pump of  claim 1  further comprising a notch on an outer surface of the cartridge body adapted to mate with a pin mounted to a  the pump body  housing for securing the cartridge body to the pump body  housing. 
     
     
       6. The pump of  claim 5  wherein the notch comprises a groove for allowing translation of the cartridge body relative to the pump body  housing over the length of the groove. 
     
     
       7. The pump of  claim 5  wherein the notch comprises a hole for fixing the longitudinal position of the cartridge body relative to the pump body  housing. 
     
     
       8. The pump of  claim 5  further comprising a cartridge release lever for releasibly engaging the pin such that the cartridge body can be released from the pump body  housing. 
     
     
       9. The pump of  claim 5  further comprising a fluid container retention arm on the pump body  housing for releasibly securing a fluid container to the pump body  housing. 
     
     
       10. The pump of  claim 9  wherein the retention arm is adapted to clasp a neck of a syringe. 
     
     
       11. The pump of  claim 5  further comprising a pump release bracket for releasibly mounting the pump body  housing to a pump dispensing frame. 
     
     
       12. The pump of  claim 1  wherein the feed port comprises a feed cavity that is positioned along a side portion of the feed screw. 
     
     
       13. The pump of  claim 12  wherein the feed port comprises a cavity that is elongated in a direction substantially along a longitudinal axis of the feed screw. 
     
     
       14. The pump of  claim 12  wherein the feed port comprises a cavity that is elongated in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the feed screw. 
     
     
       15. The pump of claim  13    2  wherein the inner body comprises carbide. 
     
     
       16. The pump of  claim 1  wherein the feed port comprises a feed cavity that is positioned at a top portion of the feed screw. 
     
     
       17. A fluid dispensing pump comprising:
 a feed screw having a helical cavity defined between a major diameter and a minor diameter of a thread of the feed screw;  
 a cartridge body having a feed cavity in communication with the feed screw for introduction of dispensing fluids into the helical cavity, the cartridge body having a notch on an outer surface adapted to mate with a pin mounted to a pump body for securing  to releasibly secure the cartridge body and the feed screw to the pump body; and  
 a motor  closed- loop servo - motor  having indexed rotational positions for controlling rotational position of the feed screw during a dispensing operation, the servo- motor including a rotary encoder that generates a feedback signal related to the rotational position of the feed screw.    
 
     
     
       18. The pump of  claim 17  wherein the notch comprises a groove for allowing translation of the cartridge body relative to the pump body over the length of the groove. 
     
     
       19. The pump of  claim 17  wherein the notch comprises a hole for fixing the longitudinal position of the cartridge body relative to the pump body. 
     
     
       20. The pump of  claim 17  further comprising a cartridge release lever for releasibly engaging the pin such that the cartridge body can be released from the pump body. 
     
     
       21. The pump of  claim 17  further comprising a fluid container retention arm on the pump body for releasibly securing a fluid container to the pump body. 
     
     
       22. The pump of  claim 21  wherein the retention arm is adapted to clasp a neck of a syringe. 
     
     
       23. The pump of  claim 17  further comprising a pump release bracket for releasibly mounting the pump body to a pump dispensing frame. 
     
     
       24. The pump of  claim 17  wherein the feed cavity is positioned along a side portion of the feed screw. 
     
     
       25. The pump of  claim 17  wherein the feed cavity is positioned at a top portion of the feed screw. 
     
     
       26. The pump of  claim 24  wherein the feed cavity is elongated in a direction substantially along a longitudinal axis of the feed screw. 
     
     
       27. The pump of  claim 24  wherein the feed cavity is elongated in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the feed screw. 
     
     
       28. The pump of  claim 17  wherein the cartridge body comprises a first outer body, and a second inner body, the feed cavity being formed in the inner body. 
     
     
       29. The pump of  claim 28  wherein the inner body comprises carbide. 
     
     
       30. The pump of  claim 17  wherein the motor comprises a closed-loop servo-motor having a positional encoder. 
     
     
       31. The pump of  claim 17  further comprising a transmission coupled between the motor and feed screw for gearing the feed screw relative to the motor. 
     
     
       32. A fluid dispensing pump comprising:
 a feed screw having a helical cavity defined between a major diameter and a minor diameter of a thread of the feed screw;  
 a cartridge body, the cartridge body and the feed screw comprising a detachable cartridge unit, the cartridge unit having a feed cavity in communication with the feed screw and positioned at a top portion of the feed screw  for introduction of dispensing fluids into the helical cavity; and  
 a pump housing including a cartridge cavity, the cartridge cavity having a mounting location at which the cartridge unit including both the cartridge body and the feed screw is inserted into and removed from the cartridge cavity, the pump housing releasibly securing the cartridge unit in the cartridge cavity, the cartridge unit having a motor interface at a first end of the cartridge unit and a fluid outlet at a second end of the cartridge unit opposite the first end, the cartridge unit including a fluid path between the feed cavity and the fluid outlet;  
 a motor  closed- loop servo - motor  having indexed rotational positions for controlling rotational position of the feed screw during a dispensing operation, the servo- motor including a rotary encoder that generates a feedback signal related to the rotational position of the feed screw, and the motor interface of the cartridge unit being releasibly coupled to the servo - motor when the cartridge unit is inserted into the cartridge cavity; and    
   a programmable motor controller that transmits control signals to the servo - motor to control the rotational position of the feed screw in response to the feedback signal, to control a flow of dispensing fluid in the fluid path through the feed cavity to the fluid outlet during the dispensing operation.    
 
     
     
       33. The pump of  claim 32  wherein the cartridge body comprises a first outer body, and a second inner body, the feed cavity being formed in the inner body. 
     
     
       34. The pump of  claim 33  wherein the inner body comprises carbide. 
     
     
       35. The pump of  claim 32  wherein the motor comprises a  closed-loop servo-motor having  comprises a positional encoder. 
     
     
       36. The pump of  claim 32  further comprising a transmission coupled between the motor and feed screw for gearing the feed screw relative to the servo-motor. 
     
     
       37. The pump of  claim 32  further comprising a notch on an outer surface of the cartridge body adapted to mate with a pin mounted to a  the pump body  housing for securing the cartridge body to the pump body  housing. 
     
     
       38. The pump of  claim 37  wherein the notch comprises a groove for allowing translation of the cartridge body relative to the pump body  housing over the length of the groove. 
     
     
       39. The pump of  claim 37  wherein the notch comprises a hole for fixing the longitudinal position of the cartridge body relative to the pump body  housing. 
     
     
       40. The pump of  claim 37  further comprising a cartridge release lever for releasibly engaging the pin such that the cartridge body can be released from the pump body  housing. 
     
     
       41. The pump of  claim 37  further comprising a fluid container retention arm on the pump body  housing for releasibly securing a fluid container to the pump body  housing. 
     
     
       42. The pump of  claim 41  wherein the retention arm is adapted to clasp a neck of a syringe. 
     
     
       43. The pump of  claim 37  further comprising a pump release bracket for releasibly mounting the pump body  housing to a pump dispensing frame. 
     
     
       44. A fluid dispensing pump comprising:
 a feed screw having a helical cavity defined between a major diameter and a minor diameter of a thread of the feed screw;  
 a cartridge body, the cartridge body and the feed screw comprising a detachable cartridge unit, the cartridge unit having a feed port in communication with the feed screw for introduction of dispensing fluids into the helical cavity; and  
 a pump housing including a cartridge cavity, the cartridge cavity having a mounting location at which the cartridge unit including both the cartridge body and the feed screw is inserted into and removed from the cartridge cavity, the pump housing releasibly securing the cartridge unit in the cartridge cavity, the cartridge unit having a motor interface at a first end of the cartridge unit and a fluid outlet at a second end of the cartridge unit opposite the first end, the cartridge unit including a fluid path between the feed port and the fluid outlet;  
 a closed- loop servo -motor having indexed rotational positions for controlling rotational position of the feed screw during a dispensing operation, the motor being  the motor interface of the cartridge unit being releasably coupled to the servo- motor when the cartridge unit is inserted into the cartridge cavity; and    
   a programmable motor controller  in communication with a controllerthe closed- loop servo - motor  that receives a feedback signal from the servo-motor related to the rotational position of the feed screw, and, in response, generates control signals that are transmitted to the servo- motor for controlling the rotary position and rotational velocity of the feed screw during a dispensing operation, to control a flow of dispensing fluid in the fluid path through the feed port to the fluid outlet during the dispensing operation.    
 
     
     
       45. The pump of  claim 44  wherein the feed port comprises a feed cavity that is elongated in a direction substantially along a longitudinal axis of the feed screw. 
     
     
       46. The pump of  claim 44  wherein the feed port comprises a feed cavity that is elongated in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the feed screw. 
     
     
       47. The pump of  claim 44  wherein the cartridge body comprises a first outer body, and a second inner body, the feed port comprising a feed cavity that is formed in the inner body. 
     
     
       48. The pump of  claim 47  wherein the inner body comprises carbide. 
     
     
       49. The pump of  claim 44  wherein the motor comprises a  closed-loop servo-motor having  comprises a positional encoder. 
     
     
       50. The pump of  claim 44  further comprising a transmission coupled between the motor and feed screw for gearing the feed screw relative to the servo-motor. 
     
     
       51. The pump of  claim 44  wherein the feed port comprises a feed cavity that is positioned along a side portion of the feed screw. 
     
     
       52. The pump of  claim 44  wherein the feed port comprises a feed cavity that is positioned at a top portion of the feed screw. 
     
     
       53. A fluid dispensing pump comprising:
   a cartridge body having a feed screw cavity and a feed screw mounted in the feed screw cavity, the cartridge body and the feed screw comprising a detachable cartridge unit, the feed screw having a helical cavity defined between a major diameter and a minor diameter of a thread of the feed screw in which the feed screw is mounted, the cartridge unit having a feed port in communication with the feed screw for introduction of dispensing fluids into the helical cavity, the feed screw including a neck that extends through a portion of the cartridge body;        a pump housing including a motor mount and a cartridge cavity, the cartridge cavity having a cartridge mounting location at which the cartridge unit including both the cartridge body and the feed screw is inserted into and removed from the cartridge cavity, the pump housing releasibly securing the cartridge unit in the cartridge cavity, the cartridge unit including the neck of the feed screw at a first end of the cartridge unit and a fluid outlet at a second end of the cartridge unit opposite the first end, the cartridge unit including a fluid path between the feed port and the fluid outlet; and        a closed - loop servo - motor mounted at the motor mount of the pump housing, the servo - motor having indexed rotational positions for controlling rotational position of the feed screw during a dispensing operation to control a flow of dispensing fluid in the fluid path through the feed port to the fluid outlet during the dispensing operation, the servo - motor including a drive axle that is aligned with the neck of the feed screw, and the neck of the feed screw of the cartridge unit being releasably coupled to the servo - motor when the cartridge unit is inserted into the cartridge cavity.     
     
     
       54. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 53  wherein the drive axle is coupled to the neck of the feed screw. 
     
     
       55. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 53  further comprising a transmission coupled between, and aligned with, the drive axle of the servo- motor and the neck of the feed screw for gearing the feed screw relative to the servo - motor.   
     
     
       56. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 53  further comprising a notch on an outer surface of the cartridge body adapted to mate with a pin mounted to a pump housing for securing the cartridge unit to the pump housing. 
     
     
       57. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 56  wherein the notch comprises a groove for allowing translation of the cartridge body relative to the pump housing over the length of the groove. 
     
     
       58. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 56  wherein the notch comprises a hole for fixing the longitudinal position of the cartridge body relative to the pump housing. 
     
     
       59. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 56  further comprising a cartridge release lever on the pump housing for releasibly engaging the pin such that the cartridge unit can be released from the pump housing. 
     
     
       60. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 53  wherein the motor mount is at first end of the pump housing and wherein the cartridge cavity includes an opening at which the cartridge body is inserted into the pump housing at a second end of the pump housing opposite the first end. 
     
     
       61. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 53  further comprising a motor controller that transmits control signals to the servo- motor to control the rotational position of the feed screw.   
     
     
       62. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 53  wherein the servo- motor includes a rotary encoder that generates a feedback signal related to the rotational position of the feed screw.   
     
     
       63. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 62  further comprising a motor controller that transmits control signals to the servo- motor to control the rotational position of the feed screw in response to the feedback signal.   
     
     
       64. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 63  wherein the motor controller transmits control signals to the servo- motor to further control the rotational velocity of the feed screw.   
     
     
       65. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 63  wherein the motor controller transmits control signals to the servo- motor to further control the rotational acceleration of the feed screw.   
     
     
       66. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 53  further comprising a pump release bracket for releasibly mounting the pump housing to a pump dispensing frame. 
     
     
       67. A fluid dispensing pump comprising:
   a cartridge body having a feed screw cavity and a feed screw mounted in the feed screw cavity, the cartridge body and the feed screw comprising a detachable cartridge unit, the feed screw having a helical cavity defined between a major diameter and a minor diameter of a thread of the feed screw in which the feed screw is mounted, the cartridge unit having a feed port in communication with the feed screw for introduction of dispensing fluids into the helical cavity;        a pump housing including a motor mount and a cartridge cavity, the motor mount positioned at a first end of the pump housing and the cartridge cavity including an opening at a second end of the pump housing opposite the first end at which opening the cartridge unit including both the cartridge body and the feed screw is inserted into and removed from the cartridge cavity, the pump housing releasibly securing the cartridge unit in the cartridge cavity, the cartridge unit having a motor interface at a first end of the cartridge unit and a fluid outlet at a second end of the cartridge unit opposite the first end, the cartridge unit including a fluid path between the feed port and the fluid outlet;        a closed - loop servo - motor mounted at the motor mount of the pump housing, the servo - motor having indexed rotational positions for controlling rotational position of the feed screw during a dispensing operation to control a flow of dispensing fluid in the fluid path through the feed port to the fluid outlet during the dispensing operation, the servo - motor including a drive axle that is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the feed screw, the motor interface of the cartridge unit being releasably coupled to the drive axle when the cartridge unit is inserted into the cartridge cavity.     
     
     
       68. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 67  wherein the feed screw includes a neck. 
     
     
       69. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 68  wherein the neck extends through a portion of the cartridge body. 
     
     
       70. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 68  wherein the drive axle is coupled to the neck of the feed screw. 
     
     
       71. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 68  further comprising a transmission coupled between, and aligned with, the drive axle of the servo- motor and the neck of the feed screw for gearing the feed screw relative to the servo - motor.   
     
     
       72. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 67  further comprising a notch on an outer surface of the cartridge body adapted to mate with a pin mounted to a pump housing for securing the cartridge unit to the pump housing. 
     
     
       73. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 72  wherein the notch comprises a groove for allowing translation of the cartridge body relative to the pump housing over the length of the groove. 
     
     
       74. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 72  wherein the notch comprises a hole for fixing the longitudinal position of the cartridge body relative to the pump housing. 
     
     
       75. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 72  further comprising a cartridge release lever on the pump housing for releasibly engaging the pin such that the cartridge unit can be released from the pump housing. 
     
     
       76. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 67  further comprising a motor controller that transmits control signals to the servo- motor to control the rotational position of the feed screw.   
     
     
       77. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 67  wherein the servo- motor includes a rotary encoder that generates a feedback signal related to the rotational position of the feed screw.   
     
     
       78. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 77  further comprising a motor controller that transmits control signals to the servo- motor to control the rotational position of the feed screw in response to the feedback signal.   
     
     
       79. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 78  wherein the motor controller transmits control signals to the servo- motor to further control the rotational velocity of the feed screw.   
     
     
       80. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 78  wherein the motor controller transmits control signals to the servo- motor to further control the rotational acceleration of the feed screw.   
     
     
       81. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 67  further comprising a pump release bracket for releasibly mounting the pump housing to a pump dispensing frame. 
     
     
       82. A fluid dispensing pump comprising:
   a cartridge body having a feed screw cavity and a feed screw mounted in the feed screw cavity, the cartridge body and the feed screw comprising a detachable cartridge unit, the feed screw having a helical cavity defined between a major diameter and a minor diameter of a thread of the feed screw in which the feed screw is mounted, the cartridge unit having a feed port in communication with the feed screw for introduction of dispensing fluids into the helical cavity;        a pump housing including a motor mount and a cartridge cavity, the cartridge cavity having a mounting location at which the cartridge unit including both the cartridge body and the feed screw is inserted into and removed from the cartridge cavity, the pump housing releasibly securing the cartridge unit in the cartridge cavity, the cartridge unit having a motor interface at a first end of the cartridge unit and a fluid outlet at a second end of the cartridge unit opposite the first end, the cartridge unit including fluid path between the feed port and the fluid outlet;        a closed - loop servo - motor mounted at the motor mount of the pump housing, the servo - motor having indexed rotational positions for controlling rotational position of the feed screw during a dispensing operation, the servo - motor including a rotary encoder that generates a feedback signal related to the rotational position of the feed screw, the motor interface of the cartridge unit being releasably coupled to the servo - motor when the cartridge unit is inserted into the cartridge cavity; and        a motor controller that transmits control signals to the servo - motor to control the rotational position, rotational velocity and rotational acceleration of the feed screw in response to the feedback signal, to control a flow of dispensing fluid in the fluid path through the feed port to the fluid outlet during the dispensing operation.     
     
     
       83. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 82  wherein the servo- motor includes a drive axle that is aligned with a neck of the feed screw.   
     
     
       84. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 82  wherein the motor mount is positioned at a first end of the pump housing and wherein the cartridge cavity includes an opening at which the cartridge unit is inserted into the pump housing at a second end of the pump housing opposite the first end. 
     
     
       85. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 82  wherein the feed screw includes a neck. 
     
     
       86. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 82  wherein the neck extends through a portion of the cartridge body. 
     
     
       87. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 82  wherein the drive axle is coupled to the feed screw. 
     
     
       88. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 82  further comprising a transmission coupled between, and aligned with, the drive axle of the servo- motor and a longitudinal axis of the feed screw for gearing the feed screw relative to the servo - motor.   
     
     
       89. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 82  further comprising a notch on an outer surface of the cartridge body adapted to mate with a pin mounted to the pump housing for securing the cartridge unit to the pump housing. 
     
     
       90. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 89  wherein the notch comprises a groove for allowing translation of the cartridge body relative to the pump housing over the length of the groove. 
     
     
       91. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 89  wherein the notch comprises a hole for fixing the longitudinal position of the cartridge body relative to the pump housing. 
     
     
       92. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 89  further comprising a cartridge release lever on the pump housing for releasibly engaging the pin such that the cartridge unit can be released from the pump housing. 
     
     
       93. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 82  further comprising a pump release bracket for releasibly mounting the pump housing to a pump dispensing frame. 
     
     
       94. A fluid dispensing pump comprising: a cartridge body having a feed screw cavity and a feed screw mounted in the feed screw cavity, the feed screw having a helical cavity defined between a major diameter and a minor diameter of a thread of the feed screw in which the feed screw is mounted, the cartridge body having a feed port in communication with the feed screw for introduction of dispensing fluids into the helical cavity and having an output port at which the dispensing fluids are dispensed from the helical cavity, the cartridge body including an elongated notch on an outer surface thereof;
   a pump housing including a motor mount and a cartridge cavity, the pump housing releasibly securing the cartridge body in the cartridge cavity, a cartridge pin coupled to the pump housing that engages the elongated notch of the cartridge body, such that when the cartridge is secured in the pump housing, the elongated notch provides for translation of the cartridge relative to the pump housing along its length during a dispensing operation;        a closed - loop servo - motor mounted at the motor mount of the pump housing, the servo - motor having indexed rotational positions for controlling rotational position of the feed screw during a dispensing operation, the servo - motor including a rotary encoder that generates a feedback signal related to the rotational position of the feed screw; and        a motor controller that transmits control signals to the servo - motor to control the rotational position, rotational velocity, and rotational acceleration of the feed screw in response to the feedback signal.     
     
     
       95. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 94  wherein the cartridge pin secures the cartridge in the pump housing and seats in the elongated notch to restrict an extent of translation of the cartridge in the pump housing. 
     
     
       96. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 94  wherein the cartridge pin is activated by a cartridge release lever. 
     
     
       97. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 96  wherein the cartridge release lever pivots relative to the cartridge housing. 
     
     
       98. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 94  wherein the servo- motor includes a drive axle that is aligned with a neck of the feed screw.   
     
     
       99. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 94  wherein the motor mount is positioned at a first end of the pump housing and wherein the cartridge cavity includes an opening at which the cartridge is inserted into the pump housing at a second end of the pump housing opposite the first end. 
     
     
       100. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 94  wherein the feed screw includes a neck. 
     
     
       101. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 100  wherein the neck extends through a portion of the cartridge body. 
     
     
       102. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 94  wherein the drive axle is coupled to the feed screw. 
     
     
       103. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 94  further comprising a transmission coupled between, and aligned with, the drive axle of the servo- motor and a longitudinal axis of the feed screw for gearing the feed screw relative to the servo - motor.   
     
     
       104. The fluid dispensing pump of  claim 94  further comprising a pump release bracket for releasibly mounting the pump housing to a pump dispensing frame. 
     
     
       105. A fluid dispensing pump comprising:
   a feed screw having a helical cavity defined between a major diameter and a minor diameter of a thread of the feed screw;        a cartridge body having a feed cavity in communication with the feed screw for introduction of dispensing fluids into the helical cavity, the cartridge body having a notch on an outer surface adapted to mate with a pin mounted to a pump body for securing the cartridge body to the pump body, wherein the notch comprises a groove for allowing translation of the cartridge body relative to the pump body over the length of the groove; and        a closed - loop servo - motor having indexed rotational positions for controlling rotational position of the feed screw during a dispensing operation, the servo - motor including a rotary encoder that generates a feedback signal related to the rotational position of the feed screw.     
     
     
       106. A fluid dispensing pump comprising:
   a feed screw having a helical cavity defined between a major diameter and a minor diameter of a thread of the feed screw;        a cartridge body having a feed cavity in communication with the feed screw for introduction of dispensing fluids into the helical cavity, the cartridge body having a notch on an outer surface adapted to mate with a pin mounted to a pump body for securing the cartridge body to the pump body;        a cartridge release lever for releasibly engaging the pin such that the cartridge body can be released from the pump body; and        a closed - loop servo - motor having indexed rotational positions for controlling rotational position of the feed screw during a dispensing operation, the servo - motor including a rotary encoder that generates a feedback signal related to the rotational position of the feed screw.     
     
     
       107. A fluid dispensing pump comprising:
   a cartridge body having a feed screw cavity and a feed screw mounted in the feed screw cavity, the feed screw having a helical cavity defined between a major diameter and a minor diameter of a thread of the feed screw in which the feed screw is mounted, the cartridge body having a feed port in communication with the feed screw for introduction of dispensing fluids into the helical cavity;        a pump housing including a motor mount and a cartridge cavity, the pump housing releasibly securing the cartridge body in the cartridge cavity;        a pump release bracket for releasibly mounting the pump housing to a pump dispensing frame;        a closed - loop servo - motor mounted at the motor mount of the pump housing, the servo - motor having indexed rotational positions for controlling rotational position of the feed screw during a dispensing operation, the servo - motor including a rotary encoder that generates a feedback signal related to the rotational position of the feed screw; and        a motor controller that transmits control signals to the servo - motor to control the rotational position, rotational velocity and rotational acceleration of the feed screw in response to the feedback signal.