Systems and methods for inspecting and cleaning a nozzle of a dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11660629-B2
Application number	US-202017124251-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2020
Priority date	Jan 27, 2017
Publication date	May 30, 2023
Grant date	May 30, 2023

Abstract

Systems and methods for inspecting and cleaning a nozzle of a dispenser are disclosed. The systems may include a platform supporting a cleaning substrate. The cleaning substrate may have a plurality of hook structures configured to remove a material from the nozzle. The systems may also include a camera configured to capture an image of the nozzle and a controller configured to control the system. The methods may include providing a cleaning substrate having a plurality of hook structures, and moving at least one of the nozzle and the cleaning substrate relative to the other to remove a material from the nozzle. The methods may also include capturing an image of the nozzle after dispensing with a camera, processing the image to generate a value, utilizing the value to determine if the nozzle should be cleaned, and if the determination is that the nozzle should be cleaned, cleaning the nozzle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for cleaning a nozzle of a dispenser, the system comprising:
a platform;
a camera positioned underneath the platform; and
a controller configured to generate one or more signals to:
dispense a material from the nozzle,
actuate the camera to capture an image of the nozzle,
process the image to generate a value,
utilize the value to determine if the nozzle should be cleaned, and
if determined that the nozzle should be cleaned, removing a material from the nozzle with a cleaning member supported by the platform.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the camera is configured to capture the image of an opening in the nozzle.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to generate the value based on an accumulation of the material on an exterior surface of the nozzle.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to generate the value based on a comparison of the image of the nozzle to an image of a clean nozzle.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the camera is configured to capture the image in color, and the controller is configured to process the image in greyscale.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the camera is configured to capture the image in greyscale.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to generate the value based on a pixel intensity of the image.

8. The system of claim 1 ,
wherein the camera is configured to capture the image of an opening in the nozzle; and
wherein the controller is configured to generate the value based on an accumulation of the material on an exterior surface of the nozzle.

9. The system of claim 1 ,
wherein the controller is configured to generate the value based on a comparison of an image of a clean nozzle, and
wherein the controller is configured to process the image in greyscale.

10. A system for cleaning a nozzle of a dispenser, the system comprising:
a platform;
a camera associated with the platform;
a mirror configured to reflect an image of the nozzle to the camera; and
a controller configured to generate one or more signals to:
dispense a material from the nozzle,
actuate the camera to capture an image of the nozzle,
process the image to generate a value,
utilize the value to determine if the nozzle should be cleaned, and
if determined that the nozzle should be cleaned, removing a material from the nozzle with a cleaning member.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the camera is positioned substantially horizontally underneath of the platform.

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a transparent cover, wherein the camera captures the image through the transparent cover.

13. A method of cleaning a nozzle with the system of claim 1 , the method comprising:
actuating the camera to capture an image of the nozzle after dispensing a material from a nozzle;
processing the image with the controller to generate a value;
utilizing the value with the controller to determine if the nozzle should be cleaned; and
if determined that the nozzle should be cleaned, removing a material from the nozzle with the cleaning member.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the image is of an opening in the nozzle.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the value is based on an accumulation of the material on an exterior surface of the nozzle.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the value is based on a comparison of the image of the nozzle to an image of a clean nozzle.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the image is captured in color, and the processing of the image is in greyscale.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the image is captured in greyscale.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the value is based on a pixel intensity of the image.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the camera is positioned underneath of a platform.

21. The method of claim 13 ,
wherein the value is based on a comparison of an image of a clean nozzle, and
wherein the processing of the image is in greyscale.

22. The system of claim 10 , wherein the camera is positioned underneath of the platform.

23. The system of claim 10 , wherein the camera is positioned substantially horizontally underneath of the platform.

24. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a transparent cover, wherein the camera captures the image through the transparent cover.

Assignees

• Nordson Corp

Inventors

• Nelson Ralph C
• Wilburn Jared
• Lewis Alan R

Classifications

• B05B15/5225 Primary

  the cleaning element being located upstream of the discharge opening or being actuated upstream therefrom · CPC title

• B08B13/00

  Accessories or details of general applicability for machines or apparatus for cleaning · CPC title

• B05B13/0278

  Arrangement or mounting of spray heads (B05B13/0207 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B05B15/52

  for removal of clogging particles · CPC title

• B05B15/55

  using cleaning fluids · CPC title