US4661368A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surface locating and dispensed dosage sensing method and apparatus
Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation Inc
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Filing: 1985-09-18
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Granted: 1987-04-28
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Expires: 2005-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A dispensing nozzle tip is advanced into engagement with the particular position of the circuit board to which material is to be applied, and a reactive force on the nozzle tip from the circuit board is sensed by variation in the output from a load cell such that an exact spacing may be provided between the nozzle tip and that portion of the surface to which material is to be dispensed. Having provided such spacing between the tip and surface, the flowable material is dispensed and a reactive force from the surface, via the flowable material, is sensed by the load cell arrangement to provide for metering of a dose of the flowable material. Such surface location and dispensed dosage sensing is performed for every dose of material to be applied.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert R. Rohde
- 👤 Joseph J. Bedard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:49
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F13/00; G01F13/006; B; B05; B05C; B05C11/00; B05C11/10; B05C11/1002; B05C11/1007; B05C11/1013; B05C11/1015; B05C11/1018; B05C11/1021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of depositing a dose of flowable material from a tip onto a surface, and comprising the steps of: advancing said tip toward and into engagement with a portion of said surface and sensing a reactive force on said tip from said surface; recording a position, on a path of said advancing, when a particular value of said reactive force is attained; halting said advancing according to attaining said position; retracting said tip away from said surface portion and back past said position by a preferred distance; and depositing a dose of said flowable material onto said surface portion from said tip.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of depositing a dose of flowable material from a tip onto a surface, and comprising the steps of: advancing said tip toward and into engagement with a portion of said surface and sensing a reactive force on said tip from said surface; recording a position, on a path of said advancing, when a particular value of said reactive force is attained; halting said advancing according to attaining said position; retracting said tip away from said surface portion and back past said position by a preferred distance; and depositing a dose of said flowable material onto said surface portion from said tip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as in claim 1, and further comprising the steps of: providing a thixotropic material as said flowable material and dispensing said material from a nozzle having said tip; applying positive pressure to said material in order to effect said dispensing; and halting said positive pressure to halt said dispensing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 2, and further comprising the step of: removing said positive pressure and applying a negative pressure to said flowable material selectively in order to prevent inadvertent dispensing thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as in claim 1, and further comprising the steps of: providing a pressure transducer; and transmitting at least a portion of said reactive force to said pressure transducer to effect said sensing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 4, and further comprising the step of: providing a load cell as said pressure transducer.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of depositing a dose of flowable material from a tip onto a surface, and comprising the steps of: advancing said tip toward and into engagement with a portion of said surface and sensing a reactive force on said tip from said surface; recording a position, on a path of said advancing, when a particular value of said reactive force is attained; halting said advancing according to attaining said position; retracting said tip away from said surface portion and back past said position by a distance sufficient that another force, from said surface via said flowable material, is impressable on said tip during said depositing; depositing some of said flowable material onto said surface and sensing said other force on said tip during said depositing; and controlling said dose in response to said sensing of said other force.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of depositing a dose of flowable material from a tip onto a surface, and comprising the steps of: advancing said tip toward and into engagement with a portion of said surface and sensing a reactive force on said tip from said surface; recording a position, on a path of said advancing, when a particular value of said reactive force is attained; halting said advancing according to attaining said position; retracting said tip away from said surface portion and back past said position by a distance sufficient that another force, from said surface via said flowable material, is impressable on said tip during said depositing; depositing some of said flowable material onto said surface and sensing said other force on said tip during said depositing; and controlling said dose in response to said sensing of said other force.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of positioning a dispensing nozzle tip in spaced relation to a portion of a surface and dispensing a particular dose of flowable material from said tip onto said surface portion, and comprising the steps of: advancing said tip toward and into engagement with said surface portion and sensing a reactive force on said tip from said surface; recording a position, on a path of said advancing, when a particular value of said reactive force is attained; halting said advancing according to attaining said position; retracting said tip away from said surface portion and back past said position by a preferred distance; applying positive pressure to said flowable material in order to effect said dispensing; sensing a back pressure on said flowable material from said surface during said dispensing; and metering said dose of material in response to said back pressure and according to a controller.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of positioning a dispensing nozzle tip in spaced relation to a portion of a surface and dispensing a particular dose of flowable material from said tip onto said surface portion, and comprising the steps of: advancing said tip toward and into engagement with said surface portion and sensing a reactive force on said tip from said surface; recording a position, on a path of said advancing, when a particular value of said reactive force is attained; halting said advancing according to attaining said position; retracting said tip away from said surface portion and back past said position by a preferred distance; applying positive pressure to said flowable material in order to effect said dispensing; sensing a back pressure on said flowable material from said surface during said dispensing; and metering said dose of material in response to said back pressure and according to a controller.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 7, and further comprising the step of: removing said positive pressure and applying a negative pressure to said flowable material selectively in order to prevent inadvertant dispensing thereof.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of applying flowable adhesive from a nozzle tip to selected portions of a substrate in order to attach electrical components to said substrate by said adhesive, each application of said adhesive generally being in the form of a dot, and comprising the steps for each application of: advancing said tip toward and into engagement with one of said portions of said surface and sensing a reactive force on said tip from said surface; recording a position, on a path of said advancing, when a particular value of said reactive force is attained; halting said advancing according to attaining said position; retracting said tip away from said surface portion and back past said position by a preferred distance; applying positive pressure to said flowable adhesive in order to effect said adhesive application; sensing a back pressure on said flowable adhesive from said surface during said dispensing; and metering said dot of material in response to said back pressure and according to a controller.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of applying flowable adhesive from a nozzle tip to selected portions of a substrate in order to attach electrical components to said substrate by said adhesive, each application of said adhesive generally being in the form of a dot, and comprising the steps for each application of: advancing said tip toward and into engagement with one of said portions of said surface and sensing a reactive force on said tip from said surface; recording a position, on a path of said advancing, when a particular value of said reactive force is attained; halting said advancing according to attaining said position; retracting said tip away from said surface portion and back past said position by a preferred distance; applying positive pressure to said flowable adhesive in order to effect said adhesive application; sensing a back pressure on said flowable adhesive from said surface during said dispensing; and metering said dot of material in response to said back pressure and according to a controller.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus for depositing a dose of flowable material from a tip onto a surface, and comprising: means for advancing said tip toward and into engagement with a portion of said surface; means for sensing a reactive force on said tip from said surface; means for recording a position, on a path of said advancing, when a particular value of said reactive force is attained; means for halting said advancing according to attaining said position; means for retracting said tip away from said surface portion and back past said position by a preferred distance; and means for depositing a dose of said flowable material onto said surface portion from said tip.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus for depositing a dose of flowable material from a tip onto a surface, and comprising: means for advancing said tip toward and into engagement with a portion of said surface; means for sensing a reactive force on said tip from said surface; means for recording a position, on a path of said advancing, when a particular value of said reactive force is attained; means for halting said advancing according to attaining said position; means for retracting said tip away from said surface portion and back past said position by a preferred distance; and means for depositing a dose of said flowable material onto said surface portion from said tip.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus as in claim 10, and further comprising: means for dispensing said flowable material to effect said depositing; means for applying positive pressure to said material in order to effect said dispensing; and means for halting said positive pressure to halt said dispensing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as in claim 11, and further comprising: means for removing said positive pressure and applying a negative pressure to said flowable material selectively in order to prevent inadvertent dispensing thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as in claim 10, and further comprising: a pressure transducer; and means for transmitting at least a portion of said reactive force to said pressure transducer to effect said sensing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus as in claim 13, wherein said transducer comprises: a load cell.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for depositing a dose of flowable material from a tip onto a surface, and comprising: means for advancing said tip toward and into engagement with a portion of said surface; means for sensing a reactive engagement force on said tip from said surface; means for recording a position, on a path of said advancing, when a particular value of said reactive force is attained; means for halting said advancing according to attaining said position; means for retracting said tip away from said surface portion and back past said position by a distance sufficient that another engagement force, from said surface via said flowable material, is impressable on said tip during said depositing; means for depositing some of said flowable material onto said surface; means for sensing said other engagement force on said tip during said depositing; and means for controlling said dose in response to said sensing of said other engagement force.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for depositing a dose of flowable material from a tip onto a surface, and comprising: means for advancing said tip toward and into engagement with a portion of said surface; means for sensing a reactive engagement force on said tip from said surface; means for recording a position, on a path of said advancing, when a particular value of said reactive force is attained; means for halting said advancing according to attaining said position; means for retracting said tip away from said surface portion and back past said position by a distance sufficient that another engagement force, from said surface via said flowable material, is impressable on said tip during said depositing; means for depositing some of said flowable material onto said surface; means for sensing said other engagement force on said tip during said depositing; and means for controlling said dose in response to said sensing of said other engagement force.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
159 words
An apparatus for positioning a dispensing nozzle tip in spaced relation to a portion of a surface and dispensing a particular dose of flowable material from said tip onto said surface portion, and comprising: means for advancing said tip toward and into engagement with said surface portion; means for sensing a reactive force on said tip from said surface; means for recording a position, on a path of said advancing, when a particular value of said reactive force is attained; means for halting said advancing according to attaining said position; means for retracting said tip away from said surface portion and back past said position by a preferred distance; means for applying positive pressure to said flowable material in order to effect said dispensing; means for sensing a back pressure on said flowable material from said surface during said dispensing; and means for metering said dose of material in response to said back pressure and according to a controller.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
159 words
An apparatus for positioning a dispensing nozzle tip in spaced relation to a portion of a surface and dispensing a particular dose of flowable material from said tip onto said surface portion, and comprising: means for advancing said tip toward and into engagement with said surface portion; means for sensing a reactive force on said tip from said surface; means for recording a position, on a path of said advancing, when a particular value of said reactive force is attained; means for halting said advancing according to attaining said position; means for retracting said tip away from said surface portion and back past said position by a preferred distance; means for applying positive pressure to said flowable material in order to effect said dispensing; means for sensing a back pressure on said flowable material from said surface during said dispensing; and means for metering said dose of material in response to said back pressure and according to a controller.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as in claim 16, and further comprising: means for removing said positive pressure and applying a negative pressure to said flowable material selectively in order to prevent inadvertant dispensing thereof.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
178 words
An apparatus for applying flowable adhesive from a nozzle tip to selected portions of a substrate in order to attach electrical components to said substrate by said adhesive, each application of said adhesive generally being in the form of a dot, and said apparatus comprising for each application: means for advancing said tip toward and into engagement with one of said portions of said surface; means for sensing a reactive force on said tip from said surface; means for recording a position, on a path of said advancing, when a particular value of said reactive force is attained; means for halting said advancing according to attaining said position; means for retracting said tip away from said surface portion and back past said position by a preferred distance; means for applying positive pressure to said flowable adhesive in order to effect said adhesive application; means for sensing a back pressure on said flowable adhesive from said surface during said dispensing; and means for metering said dot of material in response to said back pressure and according to a controller.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
178 words
An apparatus for applying flowable adhesive from a nozzle tip to selected portions of a substrate in order to attach electrical components to said substrate by said adhesive, each application of said adhesive generally being in the form of a dot, and said apparatus comprising for each application: means for advancing said tip toward and into engagement with one of said portions of said surface; means for sensing a reactive force on said tip from said surface; means for recording a position, on a path of said advancing, when a particular value of said reactive force is attained; means for halting said advancing according to attaining said position; means for retracting said tip away from said surface portion and back past said position by a preferred distance; means for applying positive pressure to said flowable adhesive in order to effect said adhesive application; means for sensing a back pressure on said flowable adhesive from said surface during said dispensing; and means for metering said dot of material in response to said back pressure and according to a controller.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-04-27 | 1990-10-27 | 1991-04-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-04-27 | 1994-10-27 | 1995-04-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-04-27 | 1998-10-27 | 1999-04-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |