Patent ID: 8444015
Filing Date: 2013-05-21
Classification: B65B,G01F,G01G

Abstract:
1. A fluid dispensing apparatus to dispense a predetermined volume of fluid comprising: a fluid reservoir connected to a fluid supply; a dispense tube connected to an outlet port on the fluid reservoir, the dispense tube comprising a measurement portion to measure a predetermined volume of fluid to be dispensed, and a dispense portion including a dispense outlet to dispense the predetermined volume of fluid; an elevator mechanism comprising a vertical shaft operatively connected to the dispense tube, and configured to change a relative vertical displacement between the dispense outlet and the outlet port on the fluid reservoir; a dispensing sensor that is raised or lowered along the vertical shaft with the dispense tube; an upper sensor configured to generate one or more signals to selectively lower the dispense tube responsive to detecting a rising volume of fluid in the measurement portion of the dispense tube; a lower sensor configured to generate one or more signals to selectively raise the dispense tube responsive to detecting a falling volume of fluid in the measurement portion of the dispensing tube; and a processor programmed to: