DISPENSER AND METHOD OF DISPENSING AND CONTROLLING WITH A FLOW METER

• US 20160193619A1
• Filed: 01/07/2015
• Published: 07/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nordson Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nordson Corporation
• Inventors: des Jardins, Stephen R., Lewis, Alan R., Suhinin, Yuriy
• Granted Patent: US 9,579,678 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/006 Pressure or flow rate sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/087 Flow or presssure regulators, i.e. non-electric unitary devices comprising a sensing element, e.g. a piston or a membrane, and a controlling element, e.g. a valve
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 11/02 Apparatus for spreading or distributing liquids or other fluent materials already applied to a surface ; Controlling means thereforB05C7/00 takes precedence; Hand tools for such purposes B05C17/10; Control of the thickness of a coating by spreading or distributing liquids or other fluent materials already applied to the coated surfacecontrolling supply of liquid or other fluent material B05C11/10
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 11/1002 Means for controlling supply, i.e. flow or pressure, of liquid or other fluent material to the applying apparatus, e.g. valves
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 11/101 responsive to weight of a container for liquid or other fluent material; responsive to level of liquid or other fluent material in a container
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 11/1013 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 Class Codes: B05C 11/1034 specially designed for conducting intermittent application of small quantities, e.g. drops, of coating material B05C5/0225, B05C11/1026 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 5/02 the liquid or other fluent material being discharged through an outlet orifice by pressure, e.g. from an outlet device in contact or almost in contact, with the work
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 5/0225 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 Class Codes: B05C 9/08 for applying liquid or other fluent material and performing an auxiliary operation
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/76 Devices for measuring mass flow of a fluid or a fluent solid material
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/14 by measurement of pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/02 for measuring temperature of moving fluids or granular materials capable of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/024 of moving gases
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0676 by action on flow sources G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence

Abstract

Systems and methods related to dispensing fluid and controlling a dispensing operation. The system includes a fluid dispenser including an inlet and an outlet, the dispenser being operable to start and stop the flow of the fluid from the outlet onto a substrate. A fluid supply reservoir adapted to hold the fluid, and having an outlet coupled in fluid communication with the inlet of the fluid dispenser to establish a flow path for the fluid between the fluid supply reservoir and the outlet of the fluid dispenser. The fluid supply reservoir further includes a pneumatic input coupled to an air flow path adapted to receive pressurized air for forcing the fluid from the outlet of the reservoir. An electronic air mass flow meter device is operatively coupled to the air flow path to produce electrical output signals proportional to the mass flow rate of the air flowing through the pneumatic input. Components and methods are provided to accurately determine the volume of the fluid in the reservoir, and to set the stroke length of a valve used in the system.

Claims

1. A fluid dispensing system for accurately dispensing fluid and controlling a dispensing operation, the system comprising:

a fluid dispenser including an inlet and an outlet, the dispenser being operable to start and stop the flow of the fluid from the outlet onto a substrate;

a fluid supply reservoir adapted to hold the fluid, and having an outlet coupled in fluid communication with the inlet of the fluid dispenser to establish a flow path for the fluid between the fluid supply reservoir and the outlet of the fluid dispenser, the fluid supply reservoir further including a pneumatic input coupled to an air flow path adapted to receive pressurized air for forcing the fluid from the outlet of the reservoir;

an electronic air mass flow meter device operatively coupled to the air flow path to produce electrical output signals proportional to the mass flow rate of the air flowing through the pneumatic input;

a pressure regulator operatively coupled to the air flow path;

a pressure low pass filter coupled downstream of the pressure regulator and upstream of the pneumatic input in the air flow path; and

a control operatively coupled to the electronic flow meter, the control receiving and processing the electrical output signals, and using the electrical output signals to calculate a volume value associated with the fluid.

2. The fluid dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the pressure low pass filter further comprises at least one of an air expansion tank or an air flow restrictor device.

3. The fluid dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising:

an electronic temperature detector operatively coupled to the air flow path to produce electrical output signals proportional to the temperature of the air flowing through the pneumatic input, the temperature detector operatively coupled to the control for providing a compensation factor used during processing of the electrical output signals from the electronic air mass flow meter device.

4. The fluid dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising:

an electronic pressure detector operatively coupled to the air flow path to produce electrical output signals proportional to the pressure of the air flowing through the pneumatic input, the pressure detector operatively coupled to the control for providing a compensation factor used during processing of the electrical output signals from the electronic air mass flow meter device.

5. The fluid dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising:

an electronic humidity detector operatively coupled to the air flow path to produce electrical output signals proportional to the humidity of the air flowing through the pneumatic input, the humidity detector operatively coupled to the control for providing a compensation factor used during processing of the electrical output signals from the electronic air mass flow meter device.

6. The fluid dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the control calculates an actual volume of the fluid in the fluid supply reservoir using the electrical output signals from the electronic air mass flow meter.

7. The fluid dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the pressure regulator is adjustable and used to set an adjustable pressure in the air flow path.

8. The fluid dispensing system of claim 7, wherein the control uses the electrical output signals to calculate the volume value defined by the actual volume of fluid in the fluid supply reservoir.

9. The fluid dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the control uses the electrical output signals to calculate the volume value defined by the volume of fluid dispensed by the fluid dispenser.

10. A fluid dispensing system for accurately dispensing fluid and controlling a dispensing operation, the system comprising:

a fluid dispenser including an inlet and an outlet, the dispenser being operable to start and stop the flow of the fluid from the outlet onto a substrate;

a fluid supply reservoir adapted to hold the fluid, and having an outlet coupled in fluid communication with the inlet of the fluid dispenser to establish a flow path for the fluid between the fluid supply reservoir and the outlet of the fluid dispenser, the fluid supply reservoir further including an pneumatic input coupled to an air flow path adapted to receive pressurized air for forcing the fluid from the outlet of the reservoir;

an electronic air mass flow meter device operatively coupled to the air flow path to produce electrical output signals proportional to the mass flow rate of the air flowing through the pneumatic input;

an electronic temperature detector operatively coupled to the air flow path to produce electrical output signals proportional to the temperature of the air flowing through the pneumatic input, the temperature detector operatively coupled to the control for providing a compensation factor used during processing of the electrical output signals from the electronic air mass flow meter device;

an electronic pressure detector operatively coupled to the air flow path to produce electrical output signals proportional to the pressure of the air flowing through the pneumatic input, the pressure detector operatively coupled to the control for providing a compensation factor used during processing of the electrical output signals from the electronic air mass flow meter device;

an electronic humidity detector operatively coupled to the air flow path to produce electrical output signals proportional to the humidity of the air flowing through the pneumatic input, the humidity detector operatively coupled to the control for providing a compensation factor used during processing of the electrical output signals from the electronic air mass flow meter device; and

a control operatively coupled to the electronic flow meter, the electronic temperature detector, the electronic pressure detector, and the electronic humidity detector, the control receiving and processing the electrical output signals from the electronic flow meter, the electronic temperature detector, the electronic pressure detector, and the electronic humidity detector, and using the electrical output signals to calculate a volume value associated with the fluid.

11. The fluid dispensing system of claim 10, further comprising a pressure low pass filter coupled upstream of the pneumatic input in the air flow path.

12. The fluid dispensing system of claim 11, wherein the pressure low pass filter further comprises at least one of an air expansion tank or an air flow restrictor device.

13. The fluid dispensing system of claim 10, wherein the control is configured to calculate an actual volume of the fluid in the fluid supply reservoir using the electrical output signals from the electronic air mass flow meter.

14. The fluid dispensing system of claim 10, wherein the pressure regulator is adjustable and used to set an adjustable pressure in the air flow path.

15. The fluid dispensing system of claim 14, wherein the control uses the electrical output signals to calculate the volume value defined by the actual volume of fluid in the fluid supply reservoir.

16. The fluid dispensing system of claim 10, wherein the control uses the electrical output signals to calculate the volume value defined by the volume of fluid dispensed by the fluid dispenser.

17. A fluid dispensing system for accurately dispensing fluid and controlling a dispensing operation, the system comprising:

a fluid dispenser including an inlet and an outlet, the dispenser being operable to start and stop the flow of the fluid from the outlet onto a substrate;

a fluid supply reservoir adapted to hold the fluid, and having an outlet coupled in fluid communication with the inlet of the fluid dispenser to establish a flow path for the fluid between the fluid supply reservoir and the outlet of the fluid dispenser, the fluid supply reservoir further including a pneumatic input coupled to an air flow path adapted to receive pressurized air for forcing the fluid from the outlet of the reservoir;

an electronic air mass flow meter device operatively coupled to the air flow path to produce electrical output signals proportional to the mass flow rate of the air flowing through the pneumatic input;

an electronic temperature detector coupled proximate to the pneumatic input to produce electrical output signals proportional to the temperature of the air in the fluid supply reservoir; and

a control operatively coupled to the electronic flow meter, the control receiving and processing the electrical output signals from the electronic air mass flow meter device and a first compensation factor derived from at least one temperature measurement taken by the electronic temperature detector, and using the electrical output signals and the first compensation factor to calculate a volume value associated with the fluid.

18. The fluid dispensing system of claim 17, further comprising:

an electronic pressure detector operatively coupled to the air flow path to produce electrical output signals proportional to the pressure of the air flowing through the pneumatic input, the pressure detector operatively coupled to the control and providing a second compensation factor used to calculate the volume value associated with the fluid.

19. The fluid dispensing system of claim 18, further comprising:

an electronic humidity detector operatively coupled to the air flow path to produce electrical output signals proportional to the humidity of the air flowing through the pneumatic input, the humidity detector operatively coupled to the control and providing a third compensation factor used to calculate the volume value associated with the fluid.

20. The fluid dispensing system of claim 17, wherein the control calculates an actual volume of the fluid in the fluid supply reservoir using the electrical output signals from the electronic air mass flow meter and the first compensation factor.

21. The fluid dispensing system of claim 17, further comprising:

an adjustable pressure regulator operatively coupled to the air flow path configured to set an air pressure in the air flow path.

22. A fluid dispensing system for accurately dispensing fluid and controlling a dispensing operation, the system comprising:

a fluid dispenser including an inlet and an outlet, the dispenser being operable to start and stop the flow of the fluid from the outlet onto a substrate;

a fluid supply reservoir adapted to hold the fluid, and having an outlet coupled in fluid communication with the inlet of the fluid dispenser to establish a flow path for the fluid between the fluid supply reservoir and the outlet of the fluid dispenser, the fluid supply reservoir further including an pneumatic input coupled to an air flow path adapted to receive pressurized air for forcing the fluid from the outlet of the reservoir, said fluid reservoir being thermally insulated to maintain the temperature of air within the fluid reservoir constant;

an electronic air mass flow meter device operatively coupled to the air flow path to produce electrical output signals proportional to the mass flow rate of the air flowing through the pneumatic input; and

a control operatively coupled to the electronic flow meter, the control receiving and processing the electrical output signals, and using the electrical output signals to calculate a volume value associated with the fluid.

23. The fluid dispensing system of claim 22, further comprising a thermally insulated air supply line coupled between the electronic mass flow meter device and the pneumatic input.

24. A fluid dispensing system for accurately dispensing fluid and controlling a dispensing operation, the system comprising:

a fluid dispenser including an inlet and an outlet, the dispenser being operable to start and stop the flow of the fluid from the outlet onto a substrate;

a fluid supply reservoir adapted to hold the fluid, and having an outlet coupled in fluid communication with the inlet of the fluid dispenser to establish a flow path for the fluid between the fluid supply reservoir and the outlet of the fluid dispenser, the fluid supply reservoir further including a pneumatic input coupled to an air flow path adapted to receive pressurized air for forcing the fluid from the outlet of the reservoir;

an electronic air mass flow meter device operatively coupled to the air flow path to produce electrical output signals proportional to the mass flow rate of the air flowing through the pneumatic input;

an adjustable pressure regulator operatively coupled to the air flow path configured to set an air pressure in the air flow path; and

a control operatively coupled to the electronic flow meter, the control receiving and processing the electrical output signals, and using the electrical output signals to calculate the actual volume of fluid in the fluid supply reservoir.

25. A method of controlling a fluid dispensing system to accurately dispensing fluid, comprising:

directing pressurized air in a flow path;

regulating the pressure of the air with a pressure regulator in the air flow path;

directing the air through a pressure low pass filter coupled to the air path at a location downstream of the pressure regulator;

directing a fluid from a fluid supply into a dispenser using pneumatic pressure in the flow path on an input side of the dispenser;

discharging the fluid from an outlet of the dispenser;

using an electronic air mass flow meter device operatively coupled to the air flow path to produce electrical output signals proportional to the flow rate of the air flowing through the flow path; and

processing the electrical output signals from the electronic flow meter device to calculate a volume value associated with the fluid.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein directing the air through the pressure low pass filter further comprises directing the air through at least one of an air expansion tank or an air flow restrictor device.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

detecting the temperature of the air flowing through the air flow path;

producing electrical output signals proportional to the detected temperature; and

using the electrical output signals proportional to the detected temperature as a compensation factor during processing of the electrical output signals from the electronic air mass flow meter device.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

detecting the pressure of the air flowing through the air flow path;

producing electrical output signals proportional to the detected pressure; and

using the electrical output signals proportional to the detected pressure as a compensation factor during processing of the electrical output signals from the electronic air mass flow meter device.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

detecting the humidity of the air flowing through the air flow path;

producing electrical output signals proportional to the detected humidity; and

using the electrical output signals proportional to the detected humidity as a compensation factor during processing of the electrical output signals from the electronic air mass flow meter device.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein processing the electrical output signals from the electronic flow meter device further comprises calculating an actual volume of the fluid in the fluid supply reservoir using at least the electrical output signals from the electronic air mass flow meter.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

in response to calculating the actual volume, activating an electrical alarm indicating a low fluid level in the fluid supply reservoir.

32. The method of claim 25 wherein processing the electrical output signals from the electronic flow meter device to calculate a volume value associated with the fluid further comprises:

calculating at least one dispensed volume of fluid dispensed by the fluid dispenser.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

comparing the at least one dispensed volume of fluid to a target volume; and

changing a least one of;

the pressure of the air in the flow path, a relative speed of movement between the fluid dispenser and a substrate being dispensed on, or a fluid pattern being dispensed by the fluid dispenser.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

comparing the at least one dispensed volume of fluid to a target volume; and

activating an electrical alarm indicating a discrepancy between the at least one dispensed volume and the target volume.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

using a known density of the fluid to calculate the mass of the calculated dispensed volume.

36. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

determining the mass of the at least one dispensed volume of fluid; and

using the calculated dispensed volume and the determined mass to calculate the density of the dispensed volume.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

comparing the calculated density of the dispensed volume to a target density; and

activating an electrical alarm in response to a discrepancy between the calculated density and the target density.

38. The method of claim 25, wherein processing the electrical output signals from the electronic flow meter device to calculate a volume value associated with the fluid further comprises:

calculating a plurality of successively dispensed volumes of fluid dispensed by the fluid dispenser.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

calculating an actual volume of the fluid in the fluid supply reservoir using at least the electrical output signals from the electronic air mass flow meter to eliminate accumulated error in the calculating of the plurality of successively dispensed volumes.

40. A method of controlling a fluid dispensing system to accurately dispensing fluid, comprising:

directing pressurized air in a flow path;

regulating the pressure of the air with a pressure regulator in the air flow path;

directing a fluid from a fluid supply into a dispenser using pneumatic pressure in the flow path on an input side of the dispenser;

discharging the fluid from an outlet of the dispenser;

using an electronic air mass flow meter device operatively coupled to the air flow path to produce electrical output signals proportional to the flow rate of the air flowing through the flow path;

processing the electrical output signals from the electronic flow meter device to calculate a volume value associated with the fluid; and

using at least one of an electronic temperature detector operatively coupled to the air flow path, an electronic pressure detector operatively coupled to the air flow path, or an electronic humidity detector operatively coupled to the air flow path for providing a compensation factor used during processing of the electrical output signals from the electronic air mass flow meter device.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein processing the electrical output signals from the electronic flow meter device further comprises calculating an actual volume of the fluid in the fluid supply reservoir using the electrical output signals from the electronic air mass flow meter.

42. A method of determining a volume of fluid in a fluid supply reservoir of a fluid dispensing system, comprising:

directing pressurized air in a closed air flow path leading to the fluid supply reservoir;

regulating the pressure of the air with a pressure regulator in the closed air flow path to a first pressure;

changing the pressure of the air with the pressure regulator to a second pressure different from the first pressure;

using an electronic air mass flow meter device operatively coupled to the air flow path to produce electrical output signals proportional to the flow rate of the air flowing through the flow path during the change between the first and second pressures; and

processing the electrical output signals from the electronic flow meter device to determine the actual volume of fluid in the fluid supply reservoir using the electrical output signals.

43. A method of setting a stroke length of a valve having a fluid inlet, comprising:

directing pressurized air to the fluid inlet of the valve;

adjusting the valve to a closed position;

detecting the closed position using an electronic air flow meter to indicate when air flow through the fluid inlet has reached a set point; and

adjusting the valve from the set point to a desired open position defined by the stroke length.