Patent Application
20240248108
The present disclosure relates to dispensing liquids. Particular embodiments relate to apparatus, methods and systems for safely and precisely dispensing controlled amounts of liquids.
There are a number of situations where liquids need to be dispensed into containers repeatedly and in controlled amounts. For example, many laboratory tests involve adding reagents to samples held in a plurality of test tubes in racks. Some reagents, such as strong industrial acids, can be highly corrosive, hazardous and produce toxic fumes, and subject to stringent safety regulations.
Prior art examples of liquid dispensing systems include:
The inventors have determined a need for improved apparatus, methods and systems for safely and precisely dispensing controlled amounts of liquids.
One aspect provides an apparatus for dispensing fluid from a reagent container having a pump comprising a control and an outlet whereby moving the control causes fluid to flow from the outlet. The apparatus comprises a pump actuator assembly comprising a first bracket configured to be mounted on the reagent container, a second bracket configured to engage the control, and a pump actuator connected to move the second bracket relative to the first bracket; a dispenser assembly comprising a dispensing nozzle, a nozzle positioning mechanism configured to move the dispensing nozzle through a plurality of positions, and a flexible tube having a first end connected to the dispensing nozzle and a second end connectible to the outlet of the pump; and a controller in communication with the dispenser assembly and the pump actuator assembly for controlling the pump actuator and the nozzle positioning mechanism.
Another aspect provides an apparatus for dispensing fluid from a reagent container, the apparatus comprising, a pump actuator assembly configured to actuate a pump to cause fluid from the reagent container to flow from an outlet, a dispenser assembly comprising a dispensing nozzle, a nozzle positioning mechanism configured to move the dispensing nozzle through a plurality of positions, and a flexible tube having a first end connected to the dispensing nozzle and a second end connectible to the outlet of the pump, and a controller in communication with the dispenser assembly and the pump actuator assembly for controlling the pump actuator assembly and the nozzle positioning mechanism.
Another aspect provides a method for dispensing fluid from a reagent container having a pump comprising a control and an outlet whereby moving the control causes fluid to flow from the outlet. The method comprises: mounting a pump actuator assembly on the pump of the reagent container, the pump actuator assembly comprising a first bracket configured to be mounted on the reagent container, a second bracket configured to engage the control, and a pump actuator connected to move the second bracket relative to the first bracket; connecting a first end of a flexible tube to the outlet of the pump and a second end of the flexible tube to a dispensing nozzle of a dispenser assembly comprising a nozzle positioning mechanism; and controlling the nozzle positioning mechanism to move the dispensing nozzle through a plurality of predetermined positions, and pause at each predetermined position while actuating the pump actuator assembly to dispense a predetermined amount of fluid from the reagent container.
Further aspects of the present disclosure and details of example embodiments are set forth below.
The following figures set forth embodiments in which like reference numerals denote like parts. Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the accompanying figures.
The following describes apparatus, methods and systems for safely, and precisely, dispensing controlled amounts of liquids or other fluids. In preferred embodiments, the present disclosure provides apparatus configured to be used with existing containers and pump dispensers commonly used in laboratory settings.
For simplicity and clarity of illustration, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the examples described herein. The examples may be practiced without these details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the examples described. The description is not to be considered as limited to the scope of the examples described herein.
In the example illustrated in
The pump actuator assembly 200 may be differently configured than the example shown in
In some embodiments, the pump actuator assembly 200 comprises a motor-controlled pump which directly pumps liquid from a variety of types of reservoirs from an outlet to which a flexible tube may be attached. When dispensing hazardous liquids such as acids, there may be safety benefits in using a mechanical pumping mechanism of the type shown in
In the illustrated example, the nozzle positioning mechanism of the dispenser assembly 100 comprises a rotatable turret 102 mounted on a base 104. In the illustrated example, the base 104 is mounted on a tray 106 with a raised edge 107 to contain any spills. The tray 106 also has a recess 108 for holding a rack of test tubes and a recess 109 for holding a drip container.
The turret 102 has an extendible arm 110 extending therefrom, at the end of which is a dispensing nozzle 112. In the example illustrated in
In some embodiments the internal diameter of the flexible tube 120 and dispensing nozzle 112 is selected based on the characteristics of the liquid being dispensed. In some embodiments the diameter is sufficiently large, given the viscosity of the liquid being dispensed, to allow pump P to dispense the liquid from the dispensing nozzle 112, and sufficiently narrow, given the surface tension of the liquid being dispensed, such that when pump P ceases its pumping action, entry of gas into, or further flow of liquid from, the dispensing nozzle 112 is prevented due to the formation of a static meniscus at the dispensing nozzle 112.
As shown in
In some embodiments, the arm 110 may be configured to have more than one dispensing nozzle. For example,
In some embodiments, the arm 110 is also moveable to adjust the height of the nozzle 112. For example, in some embodiments the arm 110 is connected to pivot about a horizontal axis through its interior end, such that the height of the nozzle 112 can be adjusted by pivoting the arm 110.
In some embodiments, the dispenser assembly 100 is adaptable for use with differing test tube heights by other means. For example, in some embodiments, fixed-height spacer rings are provided, having the same outer diameter as base 104, and configured to be inserted between the base 104 and the tray 106 to raise the dispenser assembly 100. In some embodiments a variable-height spacer ring (either motor-actuated or manually-adjustable) is provided between the base 104 and the tray 106 to raise the dispenser assembly 100. In some embodiments, the tray 106 has a variable depth recess (for example by having a moveable bottom, or providing spacers).
In some embodiments, all of the exposed portions of the dispenser assembly 100 and pump actuator assembly 200 are constructed from corrosion resistant materials (such as, for example PVC or other plastics). For example, in some embodiments, the components are 3D printed using acid resistant plastic, and are connected using fasteners constructed from polyether ether ketone (PEEK).
The controller 300 comprises a housing 302 containing drivers for the motors of the dispenser assembly 100 and pump actuator assembly 200. The controller also comprises a microcontroller or other processor connected to the motor drivers.
In the illustrated example, the controller 300 comprises a user interface consisting of a display 304, an on/off switch 306, and an emergency stop 308. In other embodiments, the controller 300 may have different user interfaces. For example, in some embodiments, the controller 300 may have inputs allowing a user to select from one of a plurality of predetermined dispensing sequences. In some embodiments, the controller 300 is configured to provide pulse width modulation (PWM) signals to the drivers for the pump actuator and the motors of the nozzle positioning mechanism.
In some embodiments, the system 10 comprises a pressure sensor embedded in or mounted on tray 106, an optical sensor near tray 106, or other sensor configured to detect the presence of a rack of test tubes T. In such embodiments, the controller 300 receives signals from such sensors and is configured to prevent dispensing of liquids if the signals indicate that there are no test tubes present.
In some embodiments, the controller 300 is programmed to cause the dispenser assembly 100 and pump actuator assembly 200 to execute a predetermined sequence of actions. For example, with reference to the
In some embodiments, the amount of liquid dispensed from the pump P can be affected by not only the length of travel but also the speed and acceleration of the plunger of the pump, and the controller 300 is configured to precisely control the motion of the plunger and thus the amount of liquid dispensed into each test tube. For example,
The embodiments of the systems and methods described herein may be implemented in a combination of both hardware and software. These embodiments may be implemented on programmable computers, each computer including at least one processor, a data storage system (including volatile memory or non-volatile memory or other data storage elements or a combination thereof), and at least one communication interface. For example, the programmable computers may be a server, network appliance, set-top box, embedded device, computer expansion module, personal computer, laptop, personal data assistant, connected or autonomous vehicle, cloud computing system or mobile device. A cloud computing system is operable to deliver computing service through shared resources, software and data over a network.
Program code is applied to input data to perform the functions described herein and to generate output information. The output information is applied to one or more output devices to generate a discernable effect. In some embodiments, the communication interface may be a network communication interface. In embodiments in which elements may be combined, the communication interface may be a software communication interface, such as those for inter-process communication. In still other embodiments, there may be a combination of communication interfaces implemented as hardware, software, and combination thereof.
Each program may be implemented in a high level procedural or object oriented programming or scripting language, or both, to communicate with a computer system. However, alternatively the programs may be implemented in assembly or machine language, if desired. In any case, the language may be a compiled or interpreted language. Each such computer program may be stored on a storage media or a device (e.g. ROM or magnetic diskette), readable by a general or special purpose programmable computer, for configuring and operating the computer when the storage media or device is read by the computer to perform the procedures described herein. Embodiments of the system may also be considered to be implemented as a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, configured with a computer program, where the storage medium so configured causes a computer to operate in a specific and predefined manner to perform the functions described herein.
Furthermore, the system, processes and methods of the described embodiments are capable of being distributed in a computer program product including a physical non-transitory computer readable medium that bears computer usable instructions for one or more processors. The medium may be provided in various forms, including one or more diskettes, compact disks, tapes, chips, magnetic and electronic storage media, and the like. The computer useable instructions may also be in various forms, including compiled and non-compiled code.
Embodiments described herein may relate to various types of computing applications, such as image processing and generation applications, computing resource related applications, speech recognition applications, video processing applications, semiconductor fabrication, and so on. By way of illustrative example embodiments may be described herein in relation to image-related applications.
Throughout the foregoing discussion, numerous references may be made regarding servers, services, interfaces, portals, platforms, or other systems formed from computing devices. It should be appreciated that the use of such terms is deemed to represent one or more computing devices having at least one processor configured to execute software instructions stored on a computer readable tangible, non-transitory medium. For example, a server can include one or more computers operating as a web server, database server, or other type of computer server in a manner to fulfill described roles, responsibilities, or functions.
The technical solution of embodiments of the present disclosure may be in the form of a software product. The software product may be stored in a non-volatile or non-transitory storage medium, which can be a compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), a USB flash disk, or a removable hard disk. The software product includes a number of instructions that enable a computer device (personal computer, server, or network device) to execute the methods provided by the embodiments.
The embodiments described herein are implemented by physical computer hardware, including computing devices, servers, receivers, transmitters, processors, memory, displays, and networks. The embodiments described herein provide useful physical machines and particularly configured computer hardware arrangements.
It will be appreciated that numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the exemplary embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described herein. Furthermore, this description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein in any way, but rather as merely describing implementation of the various example embodiments described herein.
The description provides many example embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Although each embodiment represents a single combination of inventive elements, the inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible combinations of the disclosed elements. Thus if one embodiment comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment comprises elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D, even if not explicitly disclosed.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible to the methods and systems described herein. While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as may reasonably be inferred by one skilled in the art. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the foregoing disclosure.
The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive.
This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/034,773 filed Jun. 4, 2020, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CA2021/050744 | 6/1/2021 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63034773 | Jun 2020 | US |
