Modular jetting devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9808826-B2
Application number	US-201615095872-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 11, 2016
Priority date	Aug 26, 2011
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

A jetting device and/or fluid module includes a nozzle with a fluid outlet, a body including a fluid chamber and a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the fluid chamber, and a valve seat disposed in the fluid chamber, where the valve seat includes an opening in fluid communication with the fluid outlet. The jetting device also includes a movable element having a top portion and a bottom portion, where the top portion is disposed external to the fluid chamber and arranged to be contacted by a reciprocating drive pin, and where the bottom portion is disposed within the fluid chamber. Finally, the jetting device also includes a sealing member contacting the movable element between the top portion and the bottom portion, where the sealing member also contacts the body, and defines a portion of a boundary of the fluid chamber to seal the fluid chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular jetting device, comprising:
an actuator body;
a drive module attached to the body;
a fluid module including a fluid chamber, a fluid inlet to the fluid chamber, a valve element, a nozzle with a fluid outlet from the fluid chamber, and a valve seat positioned between the valve element and the nozzle, and the valve element being separate from the drive module and configured to be vertically moved by the drive module to contact the valve seat; and
a coupling mechanism having at least one arm coupling the fluid module to the actuator body, the at least one arm being vertically moveable parallel to movement of the valve element by the coupling mechanism to move the fluid module from a position operatively coupled with the actuator body and the drive module to a position spaced from the actuator body and the drive module so that the fluid module is removable from the actuator body, the drive module and the coupling mechanism.

2. The modular jetting device of claim 1 , further comprising a heat transfer member coupled to the fluid module, wherein:
the at least one arm comprises first and second arms,
the coupling mechanism further includes a lever coupled to the fluid module by the first arm,
the heat transfer member is coupled to the fluid module by the second arm, and
the lever is configured to pivot to vertically move the first and second arms to lower the fluid module and the heat transfer member to a position spaced from the actuator body.

3. The modular jetting device of claim 1 , wherein said fluid chamber comprises a wall which is configured to be moved by the drive module, and wherein movement of said wall causes the valve element to move relative to the valve seat.

4. The modular jetting device of claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanism further includes a lever that is movable to an unclamped position to vertically move said at least one arm to move the fluid module to said position spaced from said actuator body and the drive module, and that is movable to a clamped position to vertically move said at least one arm to clamp said fluid module against said actuator body.

5. The modular jetting device of claim 4 , further comprising a support structure, wherein, in said clamped position, a part of said lever contacts at least part of the support structure to lock said lever in said clamped position.

6. The modular jetting device of claim 2 , wherein the heat transfer member is a heater.

7. The modular jetting device of claim 2 , wherein the heat transfer member is coupled to a bottom of the fluid module.

8. The modular jetting device of claim 2 , wherein:
the second arm comprises two second arms, and
the heat transfer member is coupled to the fluid module by the two second arms.

9. The modular jetting device of claim 2 , further comprising a support structure and a draw bar rotatably coupled to the support structure, wherein the lever is coupled to the second arm via the draw bar.

10. The modular jetting device of claim 9 , wherein the first arm is coupled to the draw bar, such that the lever is coupled to the second arm via the first arm and the draw bar.

11. The modular jetting device of claim 2 , wherein the first arm comprises a threaded end that is coupled to the lever.

12. The modular jetting device of claim 5 , wherein the lever rotates about a pivot pin in an upper surface of the support structure.

13. The modular jetting device of claim 2 , further comprising a supply module configured to supply fluid to the fluid inlet of the fluid chamber.

14. The modular jetting device of claim 13 , wherein the supply module further comprises a positive displacement pump configured to pump the fluid to the fluid inlet of the fluid chamber.

15. The modular jetting device of claim 1 , wherein the valve element is configured to be moved by the drive module to contact the valve seat to cause fluid to jet from the fluid outlet.

16. A modular jetting device, comprising:
an actuator body;
a drive module attached to the body;
a fluid module including a fluid chamber, a fluid inlet to the fluid chamber, a valve element, a nozzle with a fluid outlet from the fluid chamber, and a valve seat positioned between the valve element and the nozzle, and the valve element being separate from the drive module and configured to be vertically moved by the drive module to contact the valve seat; and
a coupling mechanism coupling the fluid module to the actuator body, the coupling mechanism including a rotating lever, the lever moving the fluid module vertically between a first position in which the fluid module is operatively coupled with the actuator body and the drive module, and a second position having a gap formed between the actuator body and the fluid module in which the fluid module is removable from the actuator body, the drive module and the coupling mechanism.

17. The modular jetting device of claim 16 , wherein:
the coupling mechanism comprises at least one arm coupling the fluid module to the actuator body, and
the at least one arm being is vertically moveable to move the fluid module between the first position and the second position.

18. The modular jetting device of claim 17 , further comprising a heat transfer member coupled to the fluid module, wherein:
the at least one arm comprises first and second arms,
the lever is coupled to the fluid module by the first arm,
the heat transfer member is coupled to the fluid module by the second arm, and
the lever is configured to pivot to vertically move the first and second arms to move the fluid module between the first position and the second position.

19. The modular jetting device of claim 18 , wherein the heat transfer member is a heater.

20. The modular jetting device of claim 17 , wherein said fluid chamber comprises a wall which is configured to be moved by the drive module, and wherein movement of said wall causes the valve element to move relative to the valve seat.

21. The modular jetting device of claim 17 , wherein the lever is movable to an unclamped position to vertically move said fluid module to said second position in which the fluid module is removable from the actuator body, the drive module and the coupling mechanism, and is movable to a clamped position to vertically move fluid module to said first position in which the fluid module is operatively coupled with the actuator body.

22. The modular jetting device of claim 21 , further comprising a support structure, wherein the lever rotates about a pivot pin in an upper surface of the support structure.

Assignees

• Nordson Corp

Inventors

• Aguilar Stanley Cruz
• Ahmadi Mani
• Des Jardins Stephen Russell
• Fiske Erik
• Meier Mark
• Quinones Horatio
• Ratledge Thomas L
• Wright Robert James

Classifications

• B05B1/304

  the controlling element being a lift valve · CPC title

• B05C5/0291

  the material being discharged on the work through discrete orifices as discrete droplets, beads or strips that coalesce on the work or are spread on the work so as to form a continuous coating · CPC title

• B05C5/0225 Primary

  characterised by flow controlling means, e.g. valves, located proximate the outlet (B05C5/0258, B05C5/0275 take precedence; supply valves upstream the coating head B05C11/1036) · CPC title

• B05D1/26

  performed by applying the liquid or other fluent material from an outlet device in contact with, or almost in contact with, the surface · CPC title

• B05C11/1002

  Means for controlling supply, i.e. flow or pressure, of liquid or other fluent material to the applying apparatus, e.g. valves · CPC title