Patent ID: 8733592
Filing Date: 2014-05-27
Classification: B08B,B67D

Abstract:
1. A liquid-delivery switching device for switching among a plurality of liquid-storage vessels storing a liquid, and delivering the liquid to a liquid external-delivery device delivering the liquid externally, the liquid-delivery switching device comprising: a pair of liquid-delivery network sections, each for liquid-supply connection with at least one of the plurality of liquid-storage vessels, each liquid-delivery network section including drive means for driving each said loop-shifting part to shift toward the opposite said loop-support part such as to bend said loop into two opposing kinks thereby cutting off fluid flow through the loop, and for driving each said loop-shifting part to shift away from the opposite said loop-support part such as to undo the opposing kinks thereby allowing fluid flow through the loop; a delivery conduit comprising the delivery tube of each of said pair of liquid-delivery network sections, an external-device connection tube, and a delivery-end joint through which the delivery ends of said delivery tubes of said pair of liquid-delivery network sections are connected with each other and said external-device connection tube, the supply ends of said delivery conduit each being configured for detachable connection with a replaceable liquid-storage vessel; a discharge conduit comprising the discharge tube of each of said pair of liquid-delivery network sections, a waste-receptacle connection tube, and a discharge-end joint through which the discharge ends of said discharge tubes of said pair of liquid-delivery network sections are connected with each other and said waste-receptacle connection tube; fluid sensing means in said delivery conduit and in either the waste-receptacle connection tube or the discharge ends of said discharge conduit, for sensing fluid-flow status in said delivery conduit and in said discharge conduit, as flow therein of liquid, of air, or of a liquid/air mixture; control means associated with said fluid sensing means for controlling, in response to flow-status information from said fluid sensing means, said drive means and said delivery and discharge cutoff devices in said liquid-delivery network sections such as to