Dispenser and method of dispensing and controlling with a flow meter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016288156-A1
Application number	US-201615187793-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 21, 2016
Priority date	Nov 21, 2012
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A non-contact jetting dispenser, viscous fluid dispensing system and method. The system includes a viscous fluid dispenser for dispensing the viscous fluid. The system further includes a viscous fluid supply container adapted to hold the viscous fluid. A flow path is provided for the viscous fluid between the viscous fluid supply container and an outlet of the viscous fluid dispenser. An electronic flow meter device is used to produce electrical output signals proportional to the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the flow path. A control is operatively coupled to the electronic flow meter for continuously receiving and processing the electrical output signals and performing a responsive control function in a closed loop manner.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A non-contact jetting dispenser system including a jetting dispenser having a viscous material inlet and a viscous material outlet, the jetting dispenser being operable to start and stop the flow of viscous fluid from the viscous material outlet onto a substrate, the non-contact jetting dispenser system further comprising:
a viscous fluid supply container adapted to hold the viscous fluid, and coupled in fluid communication with the viscous material inlet of the jetting dispenser to establish a flow path for the viscous fluid between the viscous fluid supply container and the viscous material outlet of the jetting dispenser; and an electronic flow meter operatively coupled in the flow path to produce electrical output signals proportional to the flow rate of the viscous fluid flowing through the flow path when the viscous fluid is jetted from the viscous material outlet.

2 . The non-contact jetting dispenser system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller operatively coupled to the electronic flow meter for continuously receiving and processing the electrical output signals and performing a responsive control function in a closed loop manner.

3 . The non-contact jetting dispenser system of claim 2 , wherein the electrical output signals are in the form of an output data set, a reference data set is stored in the controller, and the processing includes comparing the output data set to the reference data set.

4 . The non-contact jetting dispenser system of claim 2 , wherein processing the electrical output signals further comprises detecting an discrepancy in the flow rate of the viscous fluid flowing through and being dispensed from the viscous material outlet of the jetting dispenser, and the responsive control function further comprises making an adjustment to change the flow rate of the viscous fluid flowing through and being dispensed from the viscous material outlet of the jetting dispenser.

5 . The non-contact jetting dispenser system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to process the electrical output signals and to perform the responsive control function while the jetting dispenser is dispensing the viscous fluid onto the substrate.

6 . The non-contact jetting dispenser system of claim 1 , wherein processing the electrical output signals further comprises detecting an air bubble in the viscous fluid flowing through the jetting dispenser.

7 . The non-contact jetting dispenser system of claim 6 , wherein performing a response control function further comprises providing an indication to an operator that an air bubble has been detected.

8 . The non-contact jetting dispenser system of claim 1 , wherein processing the electrical output signals further comprises detecting a clogged or semi-clogged condition of the jetting dispenser.

9 . The non-contact jetting dispenser system of claim 8 , wherein performing a responsive control function further comprises providing an indication to an operator that the clogged or semi-clogged condition has been detected.

10 . The non-contact jetting dispenser system of claim 1 , further comprising a supply conduit coupled between the viscous fluid supply container and the viscous material inlet of the jetting dispenser, and wherein the electronic flow meter is coupled to the supply conduit.

Assignees

• Nordson Corp

Inventors

• Donner Joseph E
• Gorman Michael
• Giusti Christopher L
• Quinones Horatio
• Ratledge Thomas L
• Suhinin Yuriy

Classifications

• B05C5/0225

  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

• B05C5/0291

  the material being discharged on the work through discrete orifices as discrete droplets, beads or strips that coalesce on the work or are spread on the work so as to form a continuous coating · CPC title

• B05C11/1013 Primary

  responsive to flow or pressure of liquid or other fluent material (B05C11/101 takes precedence; control of flow in general G05D7/00; control of fluid pressure in general G05D16/00) · CPC title

• B05C5/0283

  Flat jet coaters, i.e. apparatus in which the liquid or other fluent material is projected from the outlet as a cohesive flat jet in direction of the work · CPC title

• B05B12/085

  responsive to flow or pressure of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged (B05B1/3006, B05B1/323 take precedence; spray pistols designed to control volume of flow with the controlling means being fluid actuated B05B7/1254) · CPC title