APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING A FLUID

摘要

A fluid transfer assembly comprises a housing for accommodating a fluid. A bellows member disposed in the housing defines an opening therethrough adapted to be in fluid communication with an applicator assembly. The bellows member is adapted to operatively engage the applicator assembly for extension in a first direction and contraction in a second direction. The bellows member seals against the inner surface of the housing during extension and contraction for defining a variable volume chamber with the housing. Expansion of the bellows member in the first direction reduces the chamber volume for generating positive pressure in the housing and forcing fluid through a valve to the applicator assembly. Contraction of the bellows member in the second direction increases the chamber volume for generating negative pressure within the housing for drawing fluid into the chamber.

主权项

1. An apparatus for dispensing a fluid, the fluid dispensing apparatus comprising:
a housing defining an interior; a resilient liner adapted to hold the fluid, the liner configured to be at least partially disposed in the interior of the housing; an applicator assembly for dispensing the fluid on a surface, the applicator assembly mounted on the housing, the applicator assembly including:
an actuator movable relative to the housing in a first direction and a second direction, anda fluid delivery element which is held in contact against the surface for applying the fluid onto the surface, the fluid delivery element supported on the actuator to be movable together with the actuator by varying contact pressure with the surface; and a pump assembly at least partially disposed in the housing, the pump assembly comprising:
a pump chamber having an inner surface defining an interior cavity for accommodating fluid, the pump chamber configured to be in fluid communication with the liner and having at least one inlet opening for receiving the fluid, anda bellows member defining an opening therethrough in fluid communication with the applicator assembly, the bellows member operatively engaging the actuator of the applicator assembly and disposed in the pump chamber for extension in the first direction and contraction in the second direction, the bellows member sealing against the inner surface of the pump chamber during extension and contraction and defining a variable volume chamber with the pump chamber, anda valve at an outlet end of the opening through the bellows member,wherein each movement of the actuator in the first direction reduces the volume of the variable volume chamber for generating positive pressure in the pump chamber and forcing fluid through the valve and to the applicator assembly for dispensing the fluid, and each movement of the actuator in the second direction increases the volume of the variable volume chamber and generates negative pressure within the pump chamber for drawing fluid through the at least one inlet opening in the pump chamber.