Patent ID: 8690009

Claim:
An automated system for priming a fluid chamber of a fluid dispensing valve with fluid from a source of fluid material supplied to the fluid chamber through a feed path between the fluid source and the fluid chamber, the fluid dispensing valve mounted on a robot, and the system comprising: a vacuum source; a valve priming station including a boot, a vacuum chamber, and a vacuum channel in the boot, the vacuum channel connected with the vacuum source via the vacuum chamber, and the boot configured to sealingly engage a valve nozzle of the fluid dispensing valve so that the vacuum channel and vacuum chamber connect the vacuum source in fluid communication with the fluid chamber of the fluid dispensing valve when the dispensing valve is open; a vacuum switch coupled in fluid communication with the vacuum chamber, the vacuum switch having an opened position and a closed position based upon a vacuum level in the vacuum chamber; and a controller electrically connected with the vacuum source and configured to power the vacuum source on and off, and wherein the controller is electrically connected with the vacuum switch and configured to control priming of the fluid dispensing valve based upon whether the vacuum switch is in the opened or closed position, wherein the controller is configured to power off the vacuum source, to cause the robot to move the fluid dispensing valve over a scale, to cause the fluid dispensing valve to dispense fluid onto the scale, and to compare the weight of the fluid dispensed onto the scale to a reference value to verify that the fluid dispensing valve has been properly primed.