Powered dispensing tool and method for controlling same
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring and controlling motor current during a dispensing of material from a dispensing tool having a microcontroller that controls operation of said dispensing tool comprising:
- measuring the motor current of a motor coupled to a motor controller during dispensing of material by the dispensing tool;
sending a feedback signal from the motor controller relating to the measured motor current to an input of the microcontroller;
storing a prescribed threshold related to motor current in the microcontroller;
comparing the feedback signal to said prescribed threshold;
reversing the motor direction if said comparing indicates a feedback signal greater than the prescribed threshold; and
evaluating the feedback signal'"'"'s rate of change in motor current over a prescribed period of time, comparing the rate of change in motor current to a prescribed rate of change threshold, and reversing the motor direction if the rate of change in motor current exceeds the prescribed rate of change.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for monitoring and controlling motor current during a dispensing of material from a dispensing tool (10) is provided, including a method for measuring the motor current of the dispensing tool during operation through a motor controller (U2). The method further includes sending a feedback signal from the motor controller (U2) relating to the measured motor current to an input of a microcontroller (U1) that is adapted to a dispensing tool (10). The feedback signal is compared to a prescribed threshold and the motor current is conditioned based on the comparing of the feedback signal to the prescribed threshold.
76 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring and controlling motor current during a dispensing of material from a dispensing tool having a microcontroller that controls operation of said dispensing tool comprising:
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measuring the motor current of a motor coupled to a motor controller during dispensing of material by the dispensing tool; sending a feedback signal from the motor controller relating to the measured motor current to an input of the microcontroller; storing a prescribed threshold related to motor current in the microcontroller; comparing the feedback signal to said prescribed threshold; reversing the motor direction if said comparing indicates a feedback signal greater than the prescribed threshold; and evaluating the feedback signal'"'"'s rate of change in motor current over a prescribed period of time, comparing the rate of change in motor current to a prescribed rate of change threshold, and reversing the motor direction if the rate of change in motor current exceeds the prescribed rate of change. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for adjusting a motor operation to control dispensing of material from a dispensing tool comprising:
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determining a selected motor demand value manually chosen by an operator of the dispensing tool; comparing the selected motor demand value to a first motor demand value; determining an updated demand value based on the comparison between the selected motor demand and said first motor demand value; and if the updated demand value is greater than a threshold , controlling an increase in motor current to the motor of the dispensing tool by delaying an increase in motor current by a delay period to achieve a controlled rise in motor current; and if the updated demand value is less than the first demand value, applying a motor current to the motor to achieve the updated demand value. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A method for monitoring and controlling current through a motor for dispensing of material from a dispensing tool comprising:
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providing a microcontroller that executes a control program for monitoring operation of the dispensing tool and coupling a control output from the microcontroller to a motor controller for energizing the motor with a controlled energization signal; sensing the motor current of the dispensing tool during the operation through the motor controller; sending a feedback signal from the motor controller relating to the sensed motor current to an input of the microcontroller so the control program of said microcontroller can compare the feedback signal to a prescribed threshold; conditioning the motor current based on said comparing of the feedback signal to the prescribed threshold; and regulating the dispensing tool'"'"'s motor current for a controlled flow of dispensed material by regulating an energization voltage coupled to a motor input. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for monitoring and controlling motor current during a dispensing of material from a dispensing tool having a microcontroller that controls operation of said dispensing tool comprising:
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measuring the motor current of a motor coupled to a motor controller during dispensing of material by the dispensing tool; sending a feedback signal from the motor controller relating to the measured motor current to an input of the microcontroller; evaluating the feedback signal'"'"'s rate of change in motor current over a prescribed period of time and comparing the rate of change in motor current to a rate of change threshold; and adjusting the motor current based on the comparison between the feedback signals rate of change and said rate of change threshold. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method for monitoring and controlling current through a motor for dispensing of material from a dispensing tool comprising:
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providing a microcontroller that executes a control program for monitoring operation of the dispensing tool and sending a control output from the microcontroller to a motor controller coupled to the motor for energizing the motor with a pulse width modulated signal; sensing the motor current of the dispensing tool during the operation through said motor controller; sending a feedback signal from the motor controller relating to the sensed motor current to an input of the microcontroller so that the control program can compare the feedback signal to a prescribed threshold related to a desired flow of dispensed material; conditioning the motor current based on said comparing of the feedback signal to the prescribed threshold; and regulating the dispensing tool'"'"'s motor current by regulating the pulse width modulated voltage input to a motor input. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification