Dispensing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11433418-B2
Application number	US-201816604897-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2018
Priority date	Apr 21, 2017
Publication date	Sep 6, 2022
Grant date	Sep 6, 2022

Abstract

A dispensing system for jetting a material onto a substrate is disclosed. The dispensing system includes a plate defining a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface in a first direction, and at least one slot that extends through the plate from the first surface to the second surface, and an actuator assembly that contains a piezoelectric element and is operatively coupled to the needle. The dispensing system also includes at least one fastener that extends through the actuator assembly and the at least one slot, where the at least one fastener is configured to selectively engage the plate such that 1) in a disengaged configuration, the at least one fastener is movable within the slot and the actuator assembly is movable relative to the plate, and 2) in an engaged configuration, the at least one fastener is not movable within the slot and the actuator assembly is not movable relative to the plate such that a stroke length of the needle is adjusted.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing system for jetting a material onto a substrate, the dispensing system comprising:
a plate defining a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface in a first direction, and at least one slot that extends through the plate from the first surface to the second surface;
an actuator assembly that contains a piezoelectric element, wherein the actuator assembly is operatively coupled to a needle; and
at least one fastener that extends through the actuator assembly and the at least one slot, wherein the at least one fastener is configured to selectively engage the plate such that 1) in a disengaged configuration, the at least one fastener is movable within the at least one slot and the actuator assembly is movable relative to the plate, and 2) in an engaged configuration, the at least one fastener is not movable within the at least one slot and the actuator assembly is not movable relative to the plate,
wherein the piezoelectric element, upon receiving a charge, is configured to move the actuator assembly relative to the needle when the fastener is in the disengaged configuration such that a stroke length of the needle is adjusted.

2. The dispensing system of claim 1 , further comprising a spring that is configured to bias the needle, such that the needle remains stationary when the piezoelectric element receives the charge and the fastener is in the disengaged configuration.

3. The dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric element is configured to move the actuator assembly away from the needle upon receiving a negative charge and move the actuator assembly towards the needle upon receiving a positive charge when the fastener is in the disengaged configuration.

4. The dispensing system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first block positioned above and connected to the actuator assembly;
a second block positioned above and connected to the first block; and
an air gap defined between the first and second blocks.

5. The dispensing system of claim 4 , further comprising a tube for directing pressurized air to the air gap, wherein the first block defines at least one escape passage for directing the pressurized air out of the air gap.

6. The dispensing system of claim 1 , further comprising a heater for heating the material, the heater comprising:
a housing that defines a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a cavity that extends from the first end to the second end, wherein the cavity is configured to receive a supply of material, the housing further defining an outer surface that includes a first helical groove and a second helical groove, wherein the first and second helical grooves extend from the first end to the second end;
a temperature sensor disposed in the first helical groove
a heater wire disposed in the second helical groove an
insulating layer disposed around the housing; and
a sleeve disposed around the insulating layer.

7. The dispensing system of claim 6 , wherein the first helical groove defines a first diameter and the second helical groove defines a second diameter, wherein the first and second diameters are different.

8. The dispensing system of claim 6 , wherein the cavity of the housing is configured to receive a syringe that contains the supply of material.

9. The dispensing system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a heater configured to receive a syringe containing the material;
a cap seat attached to the heater, the cap seat defining a top surface and a cap fastener extending from the top surface of the cap seat, wherein the cap fastener defines a head and a central portion extending from the head to the top surface of the cap seat, the central portion of the cap fastener defining a first maximum diameter, and the head of the cap fastener defining a second maximum diameter, wherein the second maximum diameter is greater than the first maximum diameter; and
a cap configured to be releasably coupled to the cap seat, the cap defining a body, a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a channel configured to receive the head of the cap fastener,
wherein the cap is configured to seal the syringe within the heater when the channel receives the head of the cap fastener.

10. The dispensing system of claim 9 , wherein the channel of the cap defines,
a first portion that extends from the bottom surface of the cap towards top surface in a first direction;
a second portion that extends from the first portion in a circumferential direction such that the second portion is substantially curved; and
a third portion that extends from the second portion towards the top surface in a second direction that is substantially opposite the first direction,
wherein each of the first, second, and third portions of the channel is configured to receive the head of the cap fastener.

11. The dispensing system of claim 9 , wherein:
the cap fastener is a first cap fastener and the channel is a first channel,
the cap seat includes second, third, and fourth cap fasteners extending from the top surface of the cap seat, and
the cap comprises second, third, and fourth channels each configured to receive a head of the respective second, third, and fourth cap fasteners.

12. The dispensing system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a heater configured to receive a syringe that contains the material;
a jetting dispenser configured to jet the material onto the substrate, wherein the jetting dispenser includes the needle; and
a plate assembly that defines a channel that extends from an output of the heater to an input of the jetting dispenser, wherein the plate assembly includes a first plate and a second plate releasably coupled to the first plate, such that each of the first and second plates partially define the channel.

13. The dispensing system of claim 12 , wherein:
the second plate defines a bottom surface, a top surface opposite the bottom surface along a first direction, and a recess that extends into the top surface along the first direction, the recess partially defining the channel, and
the first plate defines a bottom surface and a top surface opposite the bottom surface along the first direction, a portion of the bottom surface of the first plate partially defining the channel when the first plate is coupled to the second plate.

14. The dispensing system of claim 13 , further comprising a seal disposed between the first and second plates, wherein the seal is configured to extend around the channel.

15. A method of adjusting a stroke length of a needle connected to an actuator assembly, wherein the actuator assembly is coupled to at least one plate, the method comprising:
disengaging the actuator assembly from the at least one plate, such that the actuator assembly is capable of moving relative to the at least one plate;
providing a charge to a piezoelectric element of the actuator assembly;
moving the actuator assembly relative to the needle and the at least one plate in response to providing the charge to the piezoelectric element; and
engaging the actuator assembly with the at least one plate.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the disengaging step includes loosening a nut from a fastener that extends through the actuator assembly and a slot defined by the at least one plate such that the fastener is movable within the slot, and the engaging step includes tightening the nut to the fastener, such that the fastener engages the at least one plate and is not movable within the slot.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the at least one plate includes a fir

Assignees

• Nordson Corp

Inventors

• Gould Mark A

Classifications

• B05C5/0225 Primary

  characterised by flow controlling means, e.g. valves, located proximate the outlet (B05C5/0258, B05C5/0275 take precedence; supply valves upstream the coating head B05C11/1036) · CPC title

• B05C5/001 Primary

  incorporating means for heating or cooling the liquid or other fluent material (B05C11/1042 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F24H1/10

  Continuous-flow heaters, i.e. heaters in which heat is generated only while the water is flowing, e.g. with direct contact of the water with the heating medium · CPC title