Abstract A coating system for automatically discharging a coating material from a nozzle onto objects moving relative to the nozzle in a path past the nozzle. Each object receives two separately located quantities of the coating material from the single nozzle. A first sensor detects the presence of an object at a first point upstream of the nozzle, and a second sensor detects the presence of the object at a second point downstream of the first point and yet upstream of the nozzle. A delay timer is responsive to either of the sensors to produce a delay signal after a delay time corresponding to a predetermined distance of travel by the sensed object. A duration timer is responsive to the delay signal to produce a duration signal for a duration time corresponding to a predetermined distance of travel by the sensed object. The duration signal is used to create a control signal for effecting discharge of the coating material from the nozzle onto each object.
A system for automatically coating objects with a plurality of quantities of a coating material comprising: a discharge device coupled to a source of coating material; means for discharging the coating material from the discharge device in response to a control signal; means for moving the objects relative to the discharge device in a path past the discharge device; a first sensor positioned along said path and operative to generate a first sensor signal in response to the presence of an object at a first point on said path upstream of said discharge device; a second sensor positioned along said path and operative to generate a second sensor signal in response to the presence of an object at a second point on said path downstream of the first point and upstream of said discharge device; a delay timer responsive to either of the sensor signals to produce a delay signal after a delay time corresponding to a predetermined distance of travel by a sensed object on the path; a duration timer responsive to the delay signal to produce a duration signal for a duration time corresponding to a predetermined distance of travel by a sensed object on the path, the delay timer and the duration timer being operable to function simultaneously; and driver means for coupling a control signal to the coating material discharging means in response to the duration signal from the duration timer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
235 words
A system for automatically coating objects with a plurality of quantities of a coating material comprising: a discharge device coupled to a source of coating material; means for discharging the coating material from the discharge device in response to a control signal; means for moving the objects relative to the discharge device in a path past the discharge device; a first sensor positioned along said path and operative to generate a first sensor signal in response to the presence of an object at a first point on said path upstream of said discharge device; a second sensor positioned along said path and operative to generate a second sensor signal in response to the presence of an object at a second point on said path downstream of the first point and upstream of said discharge device; a delay timer responsive to either of the sensor signals to produce a delay signal after a delay time corresponding to a predetermined distance of travel by a sensed object on the path; a duration timer responsive to the delay signal to produce a duration signal for a duration time corresponding to a predetermined distance of travel by a sensed object on the path, the delay timer and the duration timer being operable to function simultaneously; and driver means for coupling a control signal to the coating material discharging means in response to the duration signal from the duration timer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
The system of claim 1 in which the sensors are positioned along the path such that said first point and said second point are spaced apart a distance further than the distance of travel corresponding to said delay time, reduced by a turn-on lag time of the discharging means, whereby a sensor signal from one of the sensors is not generated during the delay time corresponding to the sensor signal of the other of said sensors.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
42 words
The system of either of claims 1 or 2 in which the first sensor is a photosensor operable to detect the leading edge of an object and the second sensor is a photosensor operable to detect the trailing edge of an object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 3 in which the first and second photosensors are spaced apart by a distance equal to the predetermined distance of travel to which the duration time, reduced by a turn-off lag time of the discharging means, corresponds.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
248 words
A system for automatically applying adhesive to the leading and trailing flaps of cartons comprising: an adhesive dispensing device coupled to a source of adhesive; means for dispensing the adhesive from the dispensing device in response to a control signal; means for moving the cartons relative to the dispensing device in a path past the dispensing device; a first photosensor positioned along said path and operative to generate a first sensor signal in response to the presence of the leading edge of the leading flap when the carton is at a first point on said path upstream of said dispensing device; a second sensor positioned along said path and operative to generate a second sensor signal in response to the trailing edge of the trailing flap of a carton when the carton is at a second point on said path downstream of the first point and upstream of the dispensing device; a delay timer responsive to either of the sensor signals to produce a delay signal after a delay time corresponding to a predetermined distance of travel by a carton on the path; a duration timer responsive to the delay signal to produce a duration signal for a duration time corresponding to a predetermined distance of travel by a carton on the path, the delay timer and the duration timer being operable to function simultaneously; and driver means for coupling a control signal to the adhesive dispensing means in response to the duration signal from the duration timer.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
248 words
A system for automatically applying adhesive to the leading and trailing flaps of cartons comprising: an adhesive dispensing device coupled to a source of adhesive; means for dispensing the adhesive from the dispensing device in response to a control signal; means for moving the cartons relative to the dispensing device in a path past the dispensing device; a first photosensor positioned along said path and operative to generate a first sensor signal in response to the presence of the leading edge of the leading flap when the carton is at a first point on said path upstream of said dispensing device; a second sensor positioned along said path and operative to generate a second sensor signal in response to the trailing edge of the trailing flap of a carton when the carton is at a second point on said path downstream of the first point and upstream of the dispensing device; a delay timer responsive to either of the sensor signals to produce a delay signal after a delay time corresponding to a predetermined distance of travel by a carton on the path; a duration timer responsive to the delay signal to produce a duration signal for a duration time corresponding to a predetermined distance of travel by a carton on the path, the delay timer and the duration timer being operable to function simultaneously; and driver means for coupling a control signal to the adhesive dispensing means in response to the duration signal from the duration timer.