Abstract: An injection molded assembly forming a sealing device for a threaded or non-threaded container using a double cap concept with pressure responsive convex sealing; also disclosed is a wiping mechanism, a one piece construction, a tamper resistant construction, a limited air exchange construction while allowing easy access to fluid contents, a sterile air venting and filter construction, a one piece tamper evident closure with a tethered container, and a frangible thether means molded with the formation of the sealing device.

Abstract: An apparatus for a pipette tip having a membrane filter includes a pipette tip having an interior annulus for receiving an exterior perimeter of the membrane filter. A shear plate overlying the pipette tip defines an aperture having a dimension equal to the exterior perimeter of the membrane filter. A cylindrical punch has a path of motion for passing through the aperture in the shear plate to the interior annulus of the pipette tip. Membrane filter material is placed over the shear plate in the path of motion of the cylindrical punch. By the expedient of moving the cylindrical punch through the membrane filter material, the aperture in the shear plate, to the interior annulus of the pipette tip to place sheared filter material over the annulus of the pipette tip. Specific embodiments of pipette tips are illustrated including tips having a first filter for filtering material drawn into the pipette tip and second filters from preventing contamination of the pipette.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for identifying a media type to be printed upon and communicating the identification to a printer. The method includes the steps of: reading data printed on a leading edge of the media to at least identify the media type; storing the data and employing information from the data to establish printer control parameters; removing the leading portion of the media which contains the data and thereafter printing on the media, as required. Upon occurrence of a later event, data identifying the media is reprinted on a leading edge of the media, which data is derived from data that was stored when the data from the media was initially read. The data printed on the leading edge, in addition to identifying the media type, preferably indicates a remaining length of media available for printing.

Abstract: A positive displacement liquid drawing and dispensing apparatus (21) having a tubular member (22) with an axially extending lumen (24) and a plunger (31) mounted for axial displacement in the lumen (24). The plunger (31) has a first seal (33) positioned proximate an end (34) of the plunger and a second seal (37) axially spaced from the first seal (33). The first and second seal each slidably and sealingly engage an interior surface (23) defining the lumen (24) as the plunger (31) is displaced in the lumen. The plunger further includes a recess (38) intermediate the first and second seals for receipt of trapped gas (40,41) which can be drawn in through an intake end (27) of the lumen during drawing of the liquid (36) into the tubular member (22). The plunger is formed for positioning of the first seal (33) beyond the intake opening (27) so that air will automatically be isolated between the first and second seals (33,37) as the plunger is withdrawn into a lumen.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for dispensing droplets of liquid or viscous material are disclosed. A valve is opened to dispense a stream of the heated liquid or viscous material through an elongated orifice of a nozzle. The stream of material being dispensed from the elongated orifice is broken into droplets by rapidly closing the valve. Furthermore, a method for varying the height of a droplet of liquid or viscous material is disclosed by which two or more droplets combine to form a droplet of a desired height. A method for applying a plurality of droplets of material onto a substrate so that the droplets flow together to form a uniform film of desired thickness and shape is also disclosed. A second embodiment of the invention relates to dispensing apparatus with a heater assembly removably attached to the dispenser housing.

Abstract: A computer controlled method for high speed viscous fluid dispensing includes the steps of providing a dot generator and moving the dot generator along at least X and Y axes. The dot generator is controlled to repeatedly eject jets of viscous fluid that break away from the dot generator as a result of their forward momentum and fly to the surface of an adjacent substrate to create dots. The method may further comprise the step of monitoring the size and location of the dots through a vision system. The method may further comprise the steps of assigning dot sizes to specific components based on user specifications or a component library. The method may further comprise the step of optimizing the dot placement paths by aligning the in-line points of dot formation.

Abstract: A wastegate valve for use with turbocharged engines. The wastegate valve vents exhaust gasses upstream of the turbocharger high pressure turbine to reduce turbocharger speed and associated boost pressure. The wastegate valve includes a piston attached to a poppet valve and movable within a housing. The housing receives pressurized intake gasses at a side of the piston to actuate the popper valve between open and closed positions. A diaphragm is sealingly disposed between the piston and housing. The housing includes mechanical stop means to limit the piston travel, thereby reducing flexure of the diaphragm. Additionally, the diaphragm is disposed in the housing in such a way that the diaphragm flexes between reduced peak compressive and tensile stresses.

Abstract: A baffle assembly (23) positioned between a pipetter assembly (10) and a disposable pipette tip (16) for substantially reducing transfer of aerosol and/or fluid specimens to the pipetter. The baffle assembly (23) includes a barrier structure (25) extending transversely across a receiving chamber (17) of the pipette tip (16) and defines at least one narrow passageway (26) extending generally in the direction of the longitudinal axis (27) through the barrier member (25) between an entrance (30) and an exit (31) thereof. The passageway (26) includes a first wall (32) extending generally transverse, and preferably perpendicular to, the longitudinal axis (27) of the pipette tip to define at least one elbow portion positioned between the entrance (30) and the exit (31) of the passageway. A filter membrane (55) preferably is secured across the passageway (26) to reduce aerosol transport through the passageway (26).

Abstract: A sealing device for a container is provided with a sealing member that varies the sealing capacity of the device in response to pressure changes within the container.

Abstract: A computer controlled system for high speed surface mount adhesive placement in circuit board production includes a dot generator supported for motion along the X, Y and Z axes. The dot generator ejects a jet of viscous adhesive that breaks away from the nozzle of the dot generator as a result of its own forward momentum. The system includes an automatic circuit board conveyor with adjustable width and pneumatically operated lift and lock mechanisms. The system runs through a self-diagnostic set-up procedure and dot calibration routine. Dot size and location are monitored through a video camera and vision circuit. A computer interfaces with the vision circuit and with motion, dot generator and conveyor controllers so that the system can operate in a high volume production assembly line. Application programs are executed by the system computer typically utilizing CAD data from a disk or a computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) controller.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine fuel injector pulsewidth is calculated as a function of desired fuel mass and injector pressure. Accounting for variations in injection pressures provides improved accuracy of fuel mass injection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming and dispensing a liquid coating material formulation or solution containing a nitrocellulose liquid coating composition and a supercritical fluid as a fluid diluent includes structure for combining the two components within a circuitous flow path or loop to form the coating material solution or formulation, while ensuring that the dissolved solids within the liquid coating composition do not precipitate and clog the supply of fluid diluent into the loop.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for spraying adhesive compositions having a high solids content comprises a source of supercritical fluid diluent such as supercritical carbon dioxide, a source of virgin adhesive, an adhesive dispenser and a mixer communicating with each source of material and with the dispenser. The mixer includes a dynamic mixing element which agitates the viscous adhesive material allowing the supercritical carbon dioxide to be effectively dispersed into the adhesive, thus forming an adhesive composition with a high solids content having a relatively low viscosity suitable for spray application of the adhesive.

Abstract: A feedforward control system for an electrically operated fuel injection pump for an internal combustion engine includes a controller for determining required fuel pressure and flow rate to be delivered by the pump and for using the determined fuel pressure and flow rate to determine a variable operating voltage for the pump. The variable operating voltage may be delivered as a pulsewidth modulated voltage, with the system being used to operate the pump in an open loop fashion.

Abstract: A flame arrestor is disclosed for use with an intake of an internal combustion engine, comprising a cylindrical housing defining an inlet and an outlet and a plurality of honeycombed passageways extending between the inlet and the outlet, wherein each of the plurality of honeycombed passageways has a predetermined length and a predetermined small cross-section substantially smaller than the predetermined length. The cylindrical housing is welded within a mounting bracket adapted for receipt in the intake of the internal combustion engine. The flame arrestor is particularly beneficial for use in a boosted engine in that cooling effectiveness and manufacturability are enhanced by the use of the honeycombed structure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming and dispensing a coating material formulation or solution containing a liquid coating composition and a fluid diluent such as a supercritical fluid comprises a supply for the liquid coating composition, a supply for the fluid diluent, a mixer for combining the two components to form the coating material solution or formulation, and a control system for monitoring a parameter of the formulation which can be correlated to the fluid diluent content and/or liquid coating composition content of the formulation, and for monitoring the pressure of the formulation at selected locations within the system.

Abstract: A multiple cap arrangement is provided to seal the open end of a container. The multiple cap seal includes a sealing cap and locking cap which are hingedly coupled to the open end of a container such as a disposable centrifuge container. The sealing cap is lodged in the open end of the container and the locking cap coupled to the sealing cap by a mechanism that retains the caps essentially fixed relative to one another. With the caps coupled in this way, stress, resulting from pressure in the container, is transferred through the caps to the hinges. The hinges are sized to prevent axial movement of the interlocked sealing and locking cap structure away from the container. Since the hinges resist stretching even under substantial tension, the container remains reliably sealed even when the pressures in the container are very high.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming and dispensing a coating material formulation or solution containing a liquid coating composition and a fluid diluent such as a supercritical fluid comprises a supply for the liquid coating composition, a supply for the fluid diluent, a mixer for combining the two components to form the coating material solution or formulation, and a control system for monitoring a parameter of the formulation which can be correlated to the fluid diluent content and/or liquid coating composition content of the formulation, and for monitoring the pressure of the formulation at selected locations within the system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming and dispensing a coating material formulation containing a liquid coating composition and a supercritical fluid as a diluent comprises a closed vessel having a hollow interior; a system for supplying fluid diluent into the vessel interior and for transforming the fluid diluent into supercritical fluid within the vessel; and, a system for introducing liquid coating composition into the vessel interior in such a way that it is sufficiently exposed to the supercritical fluid to form a fluid diluent rich phase and a liquid coating composition or resin rich phase which is saturated with supercritical fluid up to or near its saturation point for the temperature and pressure conditions within the vessel. The resin rich phase has a higher density than the fluid diluent rich phase and therefore collects on the bottom of the vessel from where it is withdrawn and supplied to coating dispensers for deposition on a substrate.

Abstract: A apparatus of atomizing a high solids viscous composition onto a substrate and foaming the composition comprising mixing a coating composition with a gas forming agent under elevated pressure and temperature. The coating composition is airlessly atomized and projected onto a substrate. The gas remains dissolved in the coating after depositing on the substrate which causes the coating to foam after striking the substrate. The apparatus provides a permanent foam coating composition with uniform cell distribution. The apparatus is particularly suitable for foaming polymeric coatings such as plastisols and foods such as peanut butter or chocolate.