Patent ID: 8074467

Claim:
An apparatus for dispensing a fluid in a noncontact manner from a supply of the fluid, the apparatus comprising: a needle; a needle actuator for reciprocating said needle between a downward movement and an upward movement; a main body extending through said main body; a fluid chamber housing including a fluid chamber and a valve seat disposed in said fluid chamber, and said fluid chamber housing being in fluid communication with the supply of fluid; a nozzle including a discharge passageway, said discharge passageway being in fluid communication with said valve seat; a valve element disposed within said fluid chamber, said valve element being moved by said downward movement of said needle to eject fluid from said nozzle and contact said valve seat to prevent the flow of fluid through said valve seat into said discharge passageway, said upward movement of said needle allowing said valve element to move out of contact with said valve seat and permit the flow of fluid through said valve seat into said discharge passageway; a heat transfer member disposed around at least part of said fluid chamber housing, said heat transfer member including at least one heating element; and a retainer being movable to a first position and to a second position, wherein, when retainer is moved to the first position, retainer is in contact with said heat transfer member to couple said heat transfer member and said fluid chamber housing to said main body such that said fluid chamber housing is in fluid communication with the supply of fluid, and wherein, when retainer is moved to the second position, said heat transfer member and said fluid chamber housing can be decoupled and removed from said main body.