Patent ID: 8746514

Claim:
A dispensing device, comprising: a housing having an inlet port in fluid communication with an outlet nozzle; a valve that selectively permits and prevents flow of material through said outer nozzle in response to an automated actuator, said valve comprising: a valve stem including a distal end portion defining a cylindrical shape and having a bore; a valve tip having a head portion and a neck portion, said head portion consisting of a partially-spherical body terminating in a flat underside from which said neck portion extends, said neck portion being inserted into said bore in said valve stem so as to fixedly couple said valve tip to said valve stem; and wherein said head portion has a maximum diameter at said flat underside that matches a diameter of said cylindrically-shaped distal end portion of said valve stem that abuts said flat underside of said head portion so as to create a continuously smooth transition between said head portion of said valve tip and said valve stem, wherein said valve tip is secured to said valve stem by press fitting said neck portion of said valve tip into said bore and enhancing a bond between said neck portion and said bore by applying solder or adhesive at a first joint area that is press fit together to define an interference or frictional fit, and wherein the securing of said valve tip to said valve stem is further enhanced by applying solder or adhesive at a second joint area defined by an abutting contact formed between said flat underside of said head portion and said distal end portion of said valve stem.