Dinh Myrta Nguyen

US Patent:

56410069, Jun 24, 1997

Filed:

Jul 13, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/502192

Inventors:

Robert C. Autrey - N. Ridgeville OH
Steven E. Wilder - Ashland OH
Richard L. Bathurst - Elyria OH
Dinh Nguyen - Hickory NC

Assignee:

Chiron Diagnostics Corporation - Walpole MA

International Classification:

B65B 104
B65B 304

US Classification:

141 94

Abstract:

A liquid supply module includes one or more sets of bulk liquid containers each supplying a respective reservoir via a liquid supply line. The bulk liquid containers and reservoirs are vented above the highest liquid level in the system. A pump periodically removes a known volume of liquid from a reservoir which is replenished from a bulk liquid container. A sensor detects a liquid/air transition in the liquid supply line to the reservoir indicative of the exhaustion of liquid resupply from the bulk liquid container. Art air vent solenoid valve in communication with the reservoir is closed when an empty bulk liquid container is replaced. Normal pump operation siphons liquid out of the bulk container after container replacement. A control system tracks pump iterations and calculates a number of executable iterations remaining before the reservoir runs dry. With a fresh bulk container in place, the air vent solenoid opens the reservoir air vent upon detection of an air/liquid transition allowing liquid to flow by gravity from the bulk container into the reservoir.