Inventors:
Rhett Affleck - Poway CA
Thuc Nguyen - San Diego CA
Rob Neeper - Lakeside CA
Assignee:
Discovery Partners International, Inc. - San Diego CA
International Classification:
B65B 100
US Classification:
141181, 141 1, 141 46, 141 12, 141 59, 141 62, 141 65, 141 67, 141 87, 141152, 141173
Abstract:
The resin dispenser comprises a support frame, a probe with an adjustable loading volume mounted on the support frame and connected to a vacuum source, a hopper for containing a resin slurry, a holder for retaining one or more containers to be loaded at a loading position, a translation means for moving the probe from the hopper to the container, a fluid circulation pump and an air pump for circulating fluid in the hopper, and at least one control device. The hopper includes a means for continuous circulation and replenishment of solvent with a large reserve of resin, and has a small volume from which the resin is extracted. The method for dispensing comprises drawing resin from a dispenser trough in the hopper into the loading volume using a vacuum, moving the probe to the loading position, then activating an air actuator which expels a resin pellet from the probe into the container by initiating movement of the inner and outer tubes that define the loading volume.
