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

Claim 7:
8. 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, the pivot axis being located between the first and second opposing ends of the pivot arm for allowing the pivot arm to rock back and forth about the pivot axis, wherein upward movement of the first end of the pivot arm is accompanied by downward movement of the second end of the pivot arm;
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 upward and downward sliding movement along a substantially vertical axis;
g) engaging the second end of the pivot arm with the needle support bracket for moving the needle support bracket upwardly and downwardly therewith as the pivot arm rocks back and forth; 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 about its pivot axis 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 about its pivot axis in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, for raising the second end of the pivot arm to raise the needle.