Fluid Management, Inc.

Fluid Management Operations LLC

Fluid Management Limited Partnership

Other

Harbill Manufacturing Company

Micropump, Inc.

William A Miller

Christopher K Khoo

James L Martin

Tim Patrick Hogan

James R Cleveland

Thomas J Amsler

Robert D Blakeman, Ii

Margaret M Lowan

Charles F Carr

Jeffrey G Barton

Anton Obrecht

Ryan Hanawalt

Theodore R Arneson

Mike Reedy

Jeffrey Mumford

Sam J Ford

Susan G McDermott

Marty Leider

Michael Prince

John J Hsing

Michael Douglas Prince

Kenneth R Kaufhold

Leen Hellenberg

Brian R Hill

Donald A Rummelhart

Chris Davis

Edward George Thomas

Gary L Takata

Jeffrey D Krull

Andrew V Platacis

Timothy P Hogan

Kenneth R Kaufnold

Dan Gremonprez

Scott J Bratthauer

Tim J DeGroot

John Martin Kossel

Christopher E Peters

Daniel E Molter

James A Martin

Tim Hogan

James Martin

Susan G Mcdermott

Charles Carr

An apparatus for making and dispensing frozen aerated products includes a rotating horizontal freeze plate with an upper surface for receiving a chilled aerated mix. The chilled aerated mix includes, in one embodiment, a base that has been sufficiently aerated, and at least one flavor. The horizontal freeze plate rotates about its central axis. The apparatus also includes a spreader body for distributing the chilled aerated mix on the rotating freeze plate. The spreader body extends radially across at least a portion of the upper surface of the freeze plate. The apparatus further includes a scraper for scraping frozen aerated mix off of the rotating freeze plate. The scraper includes a scraper blade with a leading edge that extends radially across the portion of the freeze plate and that engages the upper surface of the freeze plate. The scraper blade is directed opposite the direction of rotation of the freeze plate. The scraper further includes a body that forms an elongated semi-cylindrical channel above the scraper blade that extends radially above the freeze plate for the collection of scraped, frozen and aerated mix. The apparatus also includes a plow for pushing the scraped, frozen and aerated mix through the channel towards a cup held by a cup-lifter mechanism disposed at an end of the channel. The action of the plow pushes the scraped frozen aerated mix through the channel and into the cup resulting in a generally round scoop of scraped frozen aerated mix in the cup that resembles a serving scoop experienced at a traditional ice cream shop.

Point of sale method and apparatus for making and dispensing aerated frozen food products

A manually operated seal/closure system for a fluid dispenser manifold is disclosed. The manifold includes at least one nozzle and, more typically, a plurality of nozzles ranging from more than one to twelve or more. The manifold housing includes a sidewall or other stationary structure. The stationary sidewall is pivotally connected to an arm. The sidewall further includes a lateral slot and a curved slot. The arm includes a proximal end pivotally coupled to the sidewall and a distal end coupled to a push plate. The closure system also includes a bracket for supporting a cup and a spring-biased seal. The bracket is coupled to the arm and slidably coupled the sidewall by a pin that extends from the bracket through the lateral slot in the sidewall.

Manually operable manifold/nozzle closure for fluid dispensers

A combination dispense and recirculation valve assembly is disclosed for viscous fluids. The assembly easily moves between a dispense and a recirculation position. Therefore, a pump linked to the canister of fluid being dispensed can be run continuously, intermittently or on demand. After the dispense, the actuator moves the valve stem downward to block any further dispense and the pump recirculates fluid upward past an upper valve element and upper valve seat into a recirculation outlet and back into the canister. In the closed position, the valve chamber is sealed to prevent air from causing any remaining colorant to dry. When a dispense is desired, the actuator simply raises the valve stem upward so the upper valve element engages the upper valve seat thereby preventing fluid from being recycled and directing all fluid downward past the lower valve element and out through the nozzle. The combination dispense and recycle valve assembly is particularly useful for multiple fluid dispensers including, but not limited to paint dispensers.

Colorant recirculation and dispense valve

A fluid dispenser is disclosed for dispensing multiple fluids and that includes valve assemblies with rotary recirculation and dispense valves. A table controlled by a motor and a controller moves all of the valve assemblies to either a dispense position or a recirculation position together. The controller selectively operates the pump motors associated with individual canisters of fluid so that the system can dispense a single fluid or multiple fluids at a time. When in the recirculation position, the fluids can be continuously, intermittently or periodically recirculated to maintain the fluids in a homogenous state.

Rotary nozzle recirculation systems

A paint dispenser for dispensing paint components such as colorants and possibly base into 5 gallon and 1 gallon containers is disclosed. The paint dispenser includes a cabinet for accommodating a plurality of colorant and optionally base canisters in communication with a common dispense outlet. The canisters may be connected to individual pumps which, in turn, are connected to a dispense outlet. A container shelf unit is disposed in front of the cabinet and below the dispense outlet. The shelf unit includes a base including a plurality of rollers particularly suitable for supporting and moving 5 gallon pails of paint. The base is disposed below the dispense outlet a first vertical distance sufficient to permit the 5 gallon cylindrical containers to be disposed on top of the rollers and below the dispense outlet without engaging the dispense outlet. The shelf unit further a pivoting shelf being pivotally connected to the cabinet above the base. The pivoting shelf pivots between a first vertical position where the shelf is flat against the vertical cabinet thereby enabling a 1 gallon pail to be disposed on top of the rollers and below the dispense outlet.

Fluid dispenser with improved shelving system for accommodating containers of various sizes

An apparatus for making and dispensing frozen aerated products includes a rotating horizontal freeze plate with an upper surface for receiving a chilled aerated mix. The chilled aerated mix includes, in one embodiment, ice cream base that has been sufficiently aerated, and flavor. The apparatus further includes a scraper for scraping frozen aerated mix off of the rotating freeze plate. The scraper includes a body that forms an elongated semi-cylindrical channel. The apparatus also includes a plow for pushing the scraped, frozen and aerated mix through the channel towards a cup held by a cup lifter disposed at an end of the channel. The action of the plow pushes the scraped frozen aerated mix through the channel and into the cup resulting in a generally round scoop of scraped frozen aerated mix in the cup that resembles a serving scoop experienced at a traditional ice cream shop.

A clamping mechanism and method are disclosed for a mixing machine that detects when the upper clamping member engages the tops or lids of the containers loaded into the mixing machine. The disclosed clamping mechanism includes a lower base and an upper plate defining an adjustable clamping distance disposed therebetween. At least one of the lower base and upper plate is moveable to increase or decrease the clamping distance. The upper plate is pivotally connected to a cross member so the upper plate is at least partially pivoted away from the cross member when nothing is clamped between the upper plate and lower base. At least one of the cross member and upper plate is associated with a sensor. The sensor is linked to a controller, which controls the movement of the upper plate or the lower base (or both) for clamping and unclamping articles disposed on the lower base. The sensor is activated and sends a signal to the controller when the upper plate has been pressed against the cross member by a top surface of an article clamped between the upper plate and lower cross member under movement controlled by the controller.

Clamp system for fluid mixer with pivoting upper plate for detecting container top

An improved multi fluid dispenser for simultaneous dispensing of a plurality of fluids shown and described. The dispenser includes a controller that is linked to a coordinator board. The controller has a memory with a plurality of recipes stored in the memory. A coordinator board is linked to a first module. The first module may include one or two pumps, each connected to a fluid reservoir. The module is then linked in series to a plurality of other modules as well as a manifold module. Each module includes a module board for controlling the pump or pumps of that module. The controller, coordinator board and module boards are all programmed for the simultaneous or sequential pumping of multiple fluids from the reservoirs through outlet nozzles of the manifold in accordance with a recipe selected by the user and retrieved from the memory of the controller.

Multiple fluid dispenser

An improved holder for pivotally supporting a flexible bag containing a liquid component is disclosed for use in a multiple fluid dispensing system. The holder supports the bag in an upright position for space efficiency as well as for dispensing efficiency. An improved shelving system for pivotally supporting a plurality of holders in a compact row and in an upright dispensing position is also disclosed. An improved dispensing system incorporating the disclosed shelving system and flexible bag holder is also disclosed.

Shelving systems and holders for flexible bags for containing fluid for use in fluid dispensing systems

A fluid mixer is disclosed which alters or changes the operation of the automatic clamping mechanism for different sizes, shapes and styles of containers. Removable and replaceable bottom plates are used on the lower base. These bottom plates have indicia on the resting surfaces thereof which provides the user with a clear indication as to which type of container is used with each plate surface. Typically, both surfaces of the replaceable/reversible bottom plates are used for different styles of containers. The bottom plate provides an identification to a sensor associated with a lower base for communicating a signal to the controller. By selecting the appropriate bottom plate and installing it on the lower base, a signal is generated and sent to the controller indicative of the type of container loaded into the mixing apparatus. The controller retrieves an appropriate algorithm or routine from its memory and imposes the appropriate clamping force by way of an upper plate that is lowered down into clamping engagement with a container or containers. Thus, one mixer can be used for a variety of different types, styles and sizes of containers.

Intelligent reversible/replaceable bottom plates for fluid mixers

An improved fluid dispenser specially adapted to provide sample-size amounts of a fluid mixture is shown and described. An automated closure and seal system is provided for the manifold that moves, on command from a controller, from a closed or sealed position thereby limiting exposure of the manifold and fluid outlet nozzles from the ambient atmosphere, to a dispense system where a sample-size container is held up against and engaging a lower end of the manifold for a sealing element disposed on a lower portion of the manifold. When the dispense is complete, the system automatically moves back toward a closed position where the filled container is held open and ready to be removed by a technician before it is capped and labeled.

Apparatus for dispensing paint and stain samples and methods of dispensing paint and stain samples

A method of mixing customized cosmetic products at a point of sale is disclosed. The method includes a suspension free of colorant to a container, adding one or more suspensions containing one or more colorants on top of the non-colorant containing suspension and adding one or more suspensions containing additional non-colorant ingredients on top of the one or more suspensions including the colorants, closing the container and mixing the suspension using a gyroscopic-type or rotary-type mixing apparatus. The container sidewall and bottom surface are coated with suspensions not containing colorant which prevents colorant materials from adhering to the sidewall and bottom portion of the container thereby providing for a more effective mixing of a customized cosmetic product at the point of purchase.

Methods and apparatuses for mixing cosmetic preparations at a point of sale

A sanitizable piston pump for dispensing ingredients of cosmetic preparations and other sanitary mixtures is shown and described. The pump includes a valve block including an inlet port threadably connected to a nipple which is detachably connected to an outlet port of a flexible package. The valve block further includes a piston port threadably connected to cylinder and an outlet port that sealably receives a valve stem. The inlet port, the outlet port and the piston port are in fluid communication with one another upon removal of the valve stem from the valve block. The valve stem includes an intake passage and an output passage. The cylinder slidably receives a piston. Both the piston and valve stem are connected to separate actuators. The actuator connected to the valve stem moves the valve stem into one of either an intake position for withdrawing fluid into the cylinder or a dispense position for pumping fluid out of the cylinder and out the outlet of the valve stem. A disposable plastic piston pump is also disclosed. Further, a lever mechanism for quickly and easily releasing a flexible package from the nipple connected to the valve block of the disclosed piston pumps is also shown and described.

Sanitizable piston pumps and dispensing systems incorporating the same

An improved cosmetics dispensing system that includes a controller, a plurality of mutating pumps, a plurality of reservoirs of cosmetics ingredients, a plurality of nozzles, a manifold for concentrically supporting the nozzles, a turntable rotatably connected beneath the manifold wherein the turntable includes a through opening for permitting the passage of fluid from one of the nozzles through the turntable, a motor for rotating the turntable, and wherein the controller is linked to each of the mutating pumps and the motor and each pump is in fluid communication with one of the reservoirs and vice versa and each pump is connected to one of the nozzles and vice versa. The system is computer operated whereby the turntable can rotate in either of the clockwise or counterclockwise directions and the turntable is equipped with a container holder that can accommodate containers of varying sizes. An improved method of dispensing ingredients for a cosmetic application at a point of sale is also disclosed which avoids coating an interior wall of the container with tints or colorants which are difficult to mix into the final solution once they engage the container wall or next surface.

Automated cosmetics dispenser for point of sale cosmetics products

Growing community of inventors

Buffalo Grove, IL, United States of America

William A Miller