초록 ▼

A modular fluid-dispensing system includes a master control dispenser and/or one or more satellite dispensers that communicate bi-directionally with the master control dispenser. The master control dispenser is programmable and may dispense one or more solutions. Each satellite may dispense fluid in

A modular fluid-dispensing system includes a master control dispenser and/or one or more satellite dispensers that communicate bi-directionally with the master control dispenser. The master control dispenser is programmable and may dispense one or more solutions. Each satellite may dispense fluid in either a stand-alone mode or under control of another fluid-dispensing-system component, such as a master control dispenser, or a grinder/polisher. A master control dispenser may store various multi-step dispensing methods and may advance a dispensing method to a next step automatically or based on a control signal received from a grinder/polisher. A master control dispenser may perform a fluid-dispensing method that is synchronized with a corresponding grinder/polisher method performed by a grinder/polisher that is coupled to the master control dispenser.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A fluid-dispensing system comprising:a master control dispenser that dispenses fluid from at least one master-control-dispenser fluid container;wherein the master control dispenser includes:a master-control-dispenser processor that is separate from a grinder/polisher, at least one pump coupled to

1. A fluid-dispensing system comprising:a master control dispenser that dispenses fluid from at least one master-control-dispenser fluid container;wherein the master control dispenser includes:a master-control-dispenser processor that is separate from a grinder/polisher, at least one pump coupled to the at least one master-control-dispenser fluid container;a first coupling port that accepts a coupling to one or more other fluid-dispensing-system components; andwherein the master control dispenser can send and receive fluid-dispensing control information to and from at least one satellite dispenser that is separate from the master control dispenser.2. The fluid-dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the fluid-dispensing control information is selected from the group consisting of: a cycle on/off signal, satellite dispenser identification information; and a progress-to-next-step signal for a multi-step fluid-dispensing method.3. The fluid-dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising: an external power supply that supplies electrical power to the master control dispenser.4. The fluid-dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the master control dispenser has dimensions of approximately 9.5 inches wide by less than approximately 10 inches deep. 5. The fluid-dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the master control dispenser can detect when a satellite dispenser becomes operatively coupled to the master control dispenser.6. The fluid-dispensing system of claim 5, wherein, when the master control dispenser detects that a satellite dispenser has become operatively coupled to the master control dispenser, the master control dispenser prompts a system user to enter identification information for the satellite dispenser that has become operatively coupled to the master control dispenser.7. The fluid-dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the master control dispenser can detect when a satellite dispenser becomes operatively decoupled from the master control dispenser.8. The fluid-dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the master control dispenser provides electrical power to at least one satellite dispenser.9. The fluid-dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the master control dispenser stores at least one multi-step dispensing method.10. The fluid-dispensing system of claim 9, wherein the master control dispenser displays an error message upon determining that a fluid container to be used in performing a selected dispensing method is not entered into the system.11. The fluid-dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the master control dispenser can individually start or stop fluid dispensing by a plurality of satellites coupled to the master control dispenser.12. The fluid-dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the master control dispenser can accept inputs from multiple grinder/polishers. 13. The fluid-dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the master control dispenser automatically advances a multi-step fluid-dispensing method from a currently executing step to a next step.14. The fluid-dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the master control dispenser advances a multi-step fluid-dispensing method from a currently executing step to a next step based on a grinder/polisher-to-master control dispenser progress-to-next-step signal received by the master control dispenser from a grinder/polisher.15. The fluid-dispensing system of claim 14, wherein the master control dispenser sends to at least one satellite a master control dispenser-to-satellite progress-to-next-step signal based on having received the grinder/polisher-to-master control dispenser progress-to-next-step signal.16. The fluid-dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the master control dispenser activates or deactivates a fluid dispensing cycle based on a grinder/polisher-to-master control dispenser cycle-on/off signal received by the master control dispenser from a grinder/polisher.17. The fluid-dispensing system of claim 16, wherein the master control dispenser sends to at least one satellite a master control dispenser-to-satellite cycle-on/off signal based on having received the grinder/polisher-to-master control dispenser cycle-on/off signal.18. The fluid-dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the master control dispenser sends a cycle-start signal to a first satellite dispenser and to a second satellite dispenser thereby causing the first satellite to start a first fluid-dispensing cycle and causing the second satellite to start a second fluid-dispensing cycle, wherein the first fluid-dispensing cycle and the second fluid-dispensing cycle start at substantially the same time. 19. The fluid-dispensing system of claim 17, wherein a duration of the first fluid-dispensing cycle is different than a duration of the second fluid-dispensing cycle.20. The fluid-dispensing system of claim 17, wherein a dispensing rate of the first fluid-dispensing cycle is different than a dispensing rate of the second fluid-dispensing cycle.21. The fluid-dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the master control dispenser executes a default fluid-dispensing method, the execution of which is synchronized with execution by a grinder/polisher of a default grinder/polisher method that corresponds to the default fluid-dispensing method.22. The fluid-dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the master control dispenser monitors a fluid level of at least one bottle of fluid and provides an indication when the monitored fluid level goes below a threshold.23. A fluid-dispensing method performed by a master control dispenser, the method comprising:using a master-control-dispenser processor, which is separate from a grinder polisher, to cause the master control dispenser to:dispense fluid from at least one master-control-dispenser fluid containers,end fluid-dispensing control information to at least one satellite dispenser, andreceive fluid-dispensing control information from the at least one satellite dispenser; andwherein the fluid-dispensing control information is selected from the group consisting of:?a cycle on/off signal, satellite dispenser identification information; and a progress-to-next-step signal for a multi-step fluid-dispensing method. 24. The fluid-dispensing method of claim 23, further comprising: receiving electrical power from a power supply that is external to the master control dispenser.25. The fluid-dispensing method of claim 23, further comprising: detecting when a satellite dispenser becomes operatively coupled to the master control dispenser.26. The fluid-dispensing method of claim 25, further comprising: upon detecting that a satellite dispenser has become operatively coupled to the master control dispenser, prompting a system user to enter identification information for the satellite dispenser that has become operatively coupled to the master control dispenser.27. The fluid-dispensing method of claim 23, further comprising: detecting when a satellite dispenser becomes operatively decoupled from the master control dispenser.28. The fluid-dispensing method of claim 23, further comprising: providing electrical power to at least one satellite dispenser.29. The fluid-dispensing method of claim 23, further comprising: displaying an error message upon determining that a fluid container to be used in performing a selected dispensing method is not programmed into the system.30. The fluid-dispensing method of claim 23, further comprising: individually starting fluid dispensing by a plurality of satellites coupled to the master control dispenser.31. The fluid-dispensing method of claim 23, further comprising: individually stopping fluid dispensing by a plurality of satellites coupled to the master control dispenser.32. The fluid-dispensing method of claim 23, further comprising: automatically advancing a multi-step fluid-dispensing method from a currently executing step to a next step. 33. The fluid-dispensing method of claim 23, further comprising: advancing a multi-step fluid-dispensing method from a currently executing step to a next step based on a grinder/polisher-to-master control dispenser progress-to-next-step signal received by the master control dispenser from a grinder/polisher.34. The fluid-dispensing method of claim 23, further comprising: sending to at least one satellite a master control dispenser-to-satellite progress-to-next-step signal based on having received the grinder/polisher-to-master control dispenser progress-to-next-step signal.35. The fluid-dispensing method of claim 23, further comprising: activating or deactivating a fluid dispensing cycle based on a grinder/polisher-to-master control dispenser cycle-on/off signal received by the master control dispenser from a grinder/polisher.36. The fluid-dispensing method of claim 23, further comprising sending to at least one satellite a master control dispenser-to-satellite cycle-on/off signal based on having received the grinder/polisher-to-master control dispenser cycle-on/off signal.37. The fluid-dispensing method of claim 23, further comprising: sending a cycle-start signal to a first satellite dispenser and to a second satellite dispenser thereby causing the first satellite to start a first fluid-dispensing cycle and causing the second satellite to start a second fluid-dispensing cycle, wherein the first fluid-dispensing cycle and the second fluid-dispensing cycle start at substantially the same time.38. The fluid-dispensing method of claim 23, wherein a duration of the first fluid-dispensing cycle is different than a duration of the second fluid-dispensing cycle.39. The fluid-dispensing method of claim 23, wherein a dispensing rate of the first fluid-dispensing cycle is different than a dispensing rate of the second fluid-dispensing cycle. 40. The fluid-dispensing method of claim 23, further comprising: executing a default fluid-dispensing method, the execution of which is synchronized with execution by a grinder/polisher of a default grinder/polisher method that corresponds to the default fluid-dispensing method.41. The fluid-dispensing method of claim 23, further comprising: monitoring a fluid level of at least one bottle of fluid and indicating when the monitored fluid level goes below a threshold.