Method and apparatus for detecting a liquid spray pattern
First Claim
1. A method of detecting a pattern of dispensed liquid material comprising the steps of:
- dispensing the liquid material in a pattern from a liquid dispenser at a first position located to a side of a sensor;
detecting the presence or absence of the pattern with the sensor;
moving the dispenser relative to the sensor to a second position, the second position being to the same side of the sensor as the first position;
detecting the presence or absence of the pattern with the sensor;
and in response to detection at the first and second positions determining the status of the pattern of dispensed liquid material.
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Accused Products
Abstract
During a liquid spray pattern detection procedure, the sensor (50, 52) is operable to detect the presence or absence of an edge of the dispensed liquid spray pattern. The nozzle (18) of the liquid dispensing system is moved to a predetermined position (A) relative to the sensor (50, 52) to determine the presence or absence of the spray pattern and is then moved to a second predetermined position (B) relative to the sensor (50, 52) to again determine the presence or absence of the spray pattern. Based on these determinations, the width of the spray pattern can be verified. This provides a quick means to verify that the width of the dispensed pattern is within certain tolerances.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of detecting a pattern of dispensed liquid material comprising the steps of:
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dispensing the liquid material in a pattern from a liquid dispenser at a first position located to a side of a sensor; detecting the presence or absence of the pattern with the sensor; moving the dispenser relative to the sensor to a second position, the second position being to the same side of the sensor as the first position; detecting the presence or absence of the pattern with the sensor; and in response to detection at the first and second positions determining the status of the pattern of dispensed liquid material.
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2. A method of detecting a pattern of a dispensed liquid material comprising the steps of:
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a) transmitting a beam of light; b) moving a dispenser relative to the beam of light to a first position located to a side of the beam of light and dispensing the liquid material in a pattern; c) generating a signal in response to the presence or absence of the pattern in the beam of light; d) moving the dispenser relative to the beam of light to a second position located to the same side of the beam of light as the first position, to dispense the liquid material in the pattern; and e) generating a signal in response to the presence or absence of the pattern in the beam of light. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. The apparatus for detecting a pattern of dispensed liquid material comprising:
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a sensor including a transmitter and a receiver mounted in confronting spaced apart relationship to one another, the transmitter transmitting a beam of light and the receiver receiving the beam of light and generating signals in response to the presence or absence of the beam of light, wherein under normal operating conditions, the pattern of dispensed liquid material will pass through the beam of light; and a baffle assembly including two spaced apart baffles attached to a base having a “
W”
shaped profile, the baffle assembly disposed between the transmitter and the receiver, and each baffle includes an aperture for allowing the beam of light to pass therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification