Method and apparatus for quasi-continuous and quasi-simultaneous dispensing
US6742549B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 21, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jun 1, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 21, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2035/1088
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system and for creating multiple mixtures is disclosed. The illustrative system described herein includes dispensing elements that are moved into alignment with various receivers (or vice versa) to deliver ingredients. In some embodiments, the system requires only one dispensing element (e.g., valve, nozzle, orifice, etc.) per ingredient dispensed, irrespective of the number of receivers in the system. In accordance with the principles of this invention, the system is operated such that a plurality of ingredients are incrementally added to the receivers. Incremental addition is performed in such a way that, from the “perspective” of the mixture being formed, the ingredients are added quasi-continuously (i.e., a near-continuous flow of an ingredient) or quasi-simultaneously (i.e., all ingredients are added at nearly the same time), or both.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.