초록 ▼

The invention is directed to methodologies and apparatuses in which materials are dispensed in order to create a desired finished product. The invention includes a material dispenser that further includes a container containing material, a press plate or puck for exerting pressure on the material, a

The invention is directed to methodologies and apparatuses in which materials are dispensed in order to create a desired finished product. The invention includes a material dispenser that further includes a container containing material, a press plate or puck for exerting pressure on the material, a sensor for detecting the material discharged from the container, and a scale for detecting the amount of material discharged from the container. The sensor and scale provide feedback to a computer which controls the amount of pressure exerted on the material. The computer controls the pulsing of additional material from the container until a targeted amount of material has been discharged from the container. The invention permits the dispensing of a specific amount of material in a controllable, metered fashion.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A material dispenser comprising: at least one material container containing material, the container including a dispense valve for permitting the discharge of material from the container; means for exerting pressure on the material; a sensor positioned external to the contain

What is claimed is: 1. A material dispenser comprising: at least one material container containing material, the container including a dispense valve for permitting the discharge of material from the container; means for exerting pressure on the material; a sensor positioned external to the container and external to the discharged material for detecting the material exiting the dispense valve of the container, the sensor providing feedback regarding the presence of the discharged material to a computer which controls the amount of time and pressure the pressure exerting means exerts on the material, and a scale for detecting the amount of material discharged from the container, the scale providing feedback regarding the amount of material discharged to the computer, wherein the computer controls the pulsing of additional material based on the feedback from both the sensor and the scale and until a targeted amount of material has been discharged from the container to improve dispensing accuracy. 2. The material dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of material containers each containing material, each container including an opening that permits the discharge of material from the container. 3. The material dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a material reservoir for receiving the material discharged from the at least one container; the material reservoir positioned on the scale. 4. The material dispenser of claim 3 further comprising a human/machine interface. 5. The material dispenser of claim 4 wherein the sensor detects the discharge of material from the container and signals the computer to control the pressure exerting means to exert a pressure on the material for a predetermined amount of time. 6. The material dispenser of claim 5 wherein the container is a bag. 7. The material dispenser of claim 6 wherein the bag may include a valve and wherein the bag is made from a flexible material selected from the group consisting of urethane, vinyl laminated fabric, chloroprene, viscoelastic fabric, buna-N, cloth inserted rubber, polytetraflouroethane, elastomeric rubber, polypropylene, flouroelastomers, rubber, hyplon, polyethylene, neoprene, polyvinylchloride, nitrile, polyolefin films, nylon, prismatic films, lycra, and polyurethane. 8. The material dispenser of claim 5 wherein the container is a tube. 9. The material dispenser of claim 5 wherein the feedback provided by the sensor and scale allow the computer to calculate the amount of additional material to be dispensed from the container, and to recalculate the amount of pressure and time exerted by the pressure exerting means until the targeted amount of material has been obtained. 10. The material dispenser of claim 9 wherein the sensor is either a video or beam-type sensor. 11. The material dispenser of claim 1 wherein the pressure exerting means is selected from the group consisting of an actuator, puck, plate or air. 12. The material dispenser of claim 1 wherein the valve is located at an end of the container and is in operative communication with the container. 13. The material dispenser of claim 12 wherein the material is ink. 14. The material dispenser of claim 12 wherein the material is a component in a formulation. 15. A method of dispensing material, comprising the steps of: providing at least one material container, the container including a dispense valve that permits the discharge of material from the container, providing an apparatus to start and stop the discharge of material from the container, providing a computer to control the amount of discharged material, signaling a means for exerting pressure on the material to discharge the material from the container, sensing the material exiting the dispense valve of the container, the sensing being performed external to the discharged material, weighing the discharged material, and in response to the sensing and weighing of material, providing feedback regarding the sensing and weighing of material to the computer, wherein the computer determines whether a targeted weight has been reached, and if the targeted weight has not been reached, signaling the pressure exerting means to increase or decrease the pressure applied on the material to pulse additional material from the container based on the feedback provided to the computer, or if the targeted weight has been reached, signaling the pressure exerting means to discontinue the pressure being applied to the material. 16. The method of dispensing of claim 15 further comprising the step of processing the sensed and weighed material by the computer to determine the amount of pressure and time exerted by the pressure exerting means, wherein the amount of pressure and time is calculated in part by the viscosity of the material being dispensed. 17. The method of dispensing of claim 15 further comprising the step of sensing the discharge of a small amount of material discharged from the container and providing feedback to the computer that the small amount of material has been sensed. 18. The method of dispensing of claim 17 further comprising weighing the small amount of material discharged and providing feedback to the computer. 19. The method of dispensing of claim 18 wherein the computer recalculates the amount of material required to reach the targeted amount, and recalculates the amount of pressure and time required by the pressure exerting means to attain the recalculated amount. 20. The method of dispensing of claim 19 further comprising the step of signaling the pressure exerting means to expel the recalculated amount of material from the container. 21. The method of dispensing of claim 20 further comprising the step of providing a program logic controller to control the electrical, pneumatic and mechanical movements of the apparatus. 22. The method of claim 21 wherein the pressure exerting means is a movable member or air. 23. The method of claim 22 wherein the movable member is either a plate, puck or actuator.