Abstract A sensor for sensing the level of adhesive medium in a dispensing device, which sensor comprises; (a) a coil which is adapted to surround a dispensing device for dispensing adhesive medium at an adhesive dispensing station; (b) means for connecting the coil to the input of an oscillator; (c) detector means for detecting the frequency of the output of the coil; (d) conversion means to perform a frequency to voltage conversion on the varying frequency detected at the detector means (c); (e) analogue to digital conversion means to convert the signal from the frequency to voltage conversion means (d) into a form which can be compared with a calibration scale obtained by measuring the signals generated at the output of the coil, when the coil is surrounding a dispensing device containing at least two different known quantities of adhesive medium; and (f) display means for displaying the result of this comparison. The sensor can give information to the machine operator as to when the adhesive is about to run out, or to indicate how many more bonding cycles can be performed before the dispensing device has to be replaced or refilled.
Inventors
👤 Graham D. Lock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-11-01 20:49
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/22; G01F23/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A sensor for sensing the level of adhesive in an adhesive dispensing tube comprising a vertically oriented support tube for receiving the adhesive dispensing tube, coil oscillator means including a coil located within said support tube and extending from the top to the bottom thereof for generating a signal having a frequency representative of the amount of adhesive in the adhesive dispensing tube, means for converting said generated frequency signal to an analog voltage signal, means for converting said analog voltage signal to a digital signal and means for converting said digital signal to operator useful information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
A sensor for sensing the level of adhesive in an adhesive dispensing tube comprising a vertically oriented support tube for receiving the adhesive dispensing tube, coil oscillator means including a coil located within said support tube and extending from the top to the bottom thereof for generating a signal having a frequency representative of the amount of adhesive in the adhesive dispensing tube, means for converting said generated frequency signal to an analog voltage signal, means for converting said analog voltage signal to a digital signal and means for converting said digital signal to operator useful information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
A sensor according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive is an epoxy adhesive.