US 12,275,630 B2
Fluid material dispensing apparatus capable of conducting automatic self-cleaning operation
Yu-Min Lee, New Taipei (TW); and Wu-Chou Kuo, Taipei (TW)
Assigned to Botrista, Inc., Dover, DE (US)
Filed by Botrista, Inc., Kent County, DE (US)
Filed on Apr. 16, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/636,761.
Application 18/636,761 is a division of application No. 17/589,253, filed on Jan. 31, 2022, granted, now 12,037,235.
Application 17/589,253 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/467,960, filed on Sep. 7, 2021, granted, now 11,814,280, issued on Nov. 14, 2023.
Application 17/467,960 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/218,314, filed on Mar. 31, 2021, granted, now 11,597,642, issued on Mar. 7, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/143,217, filed on Jan. 29, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/110,621, filed on Nov. 6, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0279044 A1, Aug. 22, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B67D 1/08 (2006.01)
CPC B67D 1/0837 (2013.01) 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fluid material dispensing apparatus (100) for outputting fluid material stored in multiple material containers (130) and capable of conducting an automatic self-cleaning operation, the fluid material dispensing apparatus (100) comprising:
an outlet connector (110);
a fluid connector (150), connected to a target material container (130) of the multiple material containers (130), and comprising a material tube (322) and a cleaning tube (324);
a material transmission pipe (152), coupled between the material tube (322) and the outlet connector (110);
a detergent transmission pipe (154), coupled with the cleaning tube (324);
a pump (160), coupled between the material transmission pipe (152) and the outlet connector (110); and
a fluid diverter (190), comprising a liquid input terminal and multiple liquid output terminals, wherein a target output terminal of the multiple liquid output terminals is coupled with the detergent transmission pipe (154);
wherein the automatic self-cleaning operation comprises:
guiding a cleaning solution to flow into the fluid diverter (190);
activating the pump (160) to push residual fluid material in the material transmission pipe (152) forward, so that the residual fluid material is discharged through the outlet connector (110); and
utilizing operation of the pump (160) to form a negative pressure in the detergent transmission pipe (152), so that the cleaning solution in the fluid diverter (190) is sucked into the fluid connector (150) through the detergent transmission pipe (154) and the cleaning tube (324), and then flows into the material transmission pipe (152) through the material tube (322) of the fluid connector (150).