Patent ID: 11866312
Assignee: CREDENCE ENGINEERING, INC
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 10:
11. A method for raising and lowering a needle used to dispense a fluid into a plurality of containers, the method comprising the steps of:
a) providing a motor having a driveshaft;
b) securing an eccentric cam to the driveshaft;
c) supporting a pivot arm for rotational movement about a pivot axis, the pivot arm having first and second opposing ends;
d) engaging a first end of the pivot arm with the eccentric cam;
e) securing the needle to a needle support bracket;
f) supporting the needle support bracket for sliding movement along a substantially vertical axis;
g) engaging a second end of the pivot arm with the needle support bracket; and
h) operating the motor to rotate the eccentric cam between a first rotational position and a second rotational position, movement of the eccentric cam from the first rotational position to the second rotational position causing the pivot arm to rotate in a first direction for lowering the second end of the pivot arm to lower the needle, and movement of the eccentric cam from the second rotational position to the first rotational position causing the pivot arm to rotate in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, for raising the second end of the pivot arm to raise the needle;
wherein said method further includes the step of engaging the eccentric cam within a yoke formed within the first end of the pivot arm.