Patents by Inventor Thomas C. Prentice
Thomas C. Prentice has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11947094Abstract: A vision system is used in a stencil printer configured to print an assembly material on an electronic substrate. The vision system includes a housing, a dual camera assembly supported by the housing and a prism assembly supported by the housing and configured with the dual camera assembly to provide a first optical path that looks vertically up at a bottom of a stencil and a second optical path that looks vertically down on an electronic substrate.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2023Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventor: Thomas C. Prentice
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Patent number: 11858070Abstract: A dispensing system includes an optional pre-heat station configured to receive an electronic substrate, a dispense station configured to dispense material on the electronic substrate received from the optional pre-heat station, an optional post-heat station configured to receive the electronic substrate from the dispense station, and a non-contact sensor positioned above the electronic substrate on at least one of the optional pre-heat station, the dispense station, and the optional post-heat station.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2022Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Scott A. Reid, Patsy A. Mattero, Fernando J. Aguiar
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Patent number: 11827044Abstract: A stencil printer includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, and a support assembly coupled to the frame, with the support assembly including tooling configured to support the electronic substrate in a print position beneath the stencil. The stencil printer further includes a print head assembly coupled to the frame in such a manner that the print head assembly is configured to traverse the stencil during print strokes. The print head assembly includes a squeegee blade assembly and at least one paste cartridge to deposit solder paste on the stencil. The stencil printer further includes an end effector configured to pick up and release items from a tooling tray. The stencil printer further includes a movable cart configured to interface with the stencil printer to deliver changeover and/or replacement items within a stencil printer.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2022Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: William A. Losiewicz, Bruce C. Seaton, James Lynch, Patsy A. Mattero, Joan N. Schopf, Thomas C. Prentice, Scott A. Reid
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Patent number: 11818846Abstract: A dispensing system includes a dispensing unit assembly configured to dispense viscous material and a gantry coupled to the frame. The gantry is configured to support the dispensing unit assembly and to move the dispensing unit assembly in x-axis and y-axis directions. The dispensing unit assembly includes a support bracket secured to the gantry and a movable bracket rotatably coupled to the support bracket by a first strain wave gear system configured to enable the rotation of the movable bracket with respect to the support bracket about a first axis. The dispensing unit assembly further includes a dispensing unit rotatably coupled to the movable bracket by a second strain wave gear system configured to enable the rotation of the dispensing unit with respect to the movable bracket about a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2022Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Fernando J. Aguiar, Scott A. Reid
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Publication number: 20230111349Abstract: A dispensing system includes an optional pre-heat station configured to receive an electronic substrate, a dispense station configured to dispense material on the electronic substrate received from the optional pre-heat station, an optional post-heat station configured to receive the electronic substrate from the dispense station, and a non-contact sensor positioned above the electronic substrate on at least one of the optional pre-heat station, the dispense station, and the optional post-heat station.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2022Publication date: April 13, 2023Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Scott A. Reid, Patsy A. Mattero, Fernando J. Aguiar
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Patent number: 11554436Abstract: A dispensing system includes an optional pre-heat station configured to receive an electronic substrate, a dispense station configured to dispense material on the electronic substrate received from the optional pre-heat station, an optional post-heat station configured to receive the electronic substrate from the dispense station, and a non-contact sensor positioned above the electronic substrate on at least one of the optional pre-heat station, the dispense station, and the optional post-heat station.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2021Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Scott A. Reid, Patsy A. Mattero, Fernando J. Aguiar
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Patent number: 11529696Abstract: A dispensing system includes an optional pre-heat station configured to receive an electronic substrate, a dispense station configured to dispense material on the electronic substrate received from the optional pre-heat station, an optional post-heat station configured to receive the electronic substrate from the dispense station, and a non-contact sensor positioned above the electronic substrate on at least one of the optional pre-heat station, the dispense station, and the optional post-heat station.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2021Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Scott A. Reid, Patsy A. Mattero, Fernando J. Aguiar
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Publication number: 20220258512Abstract: A stencil printer includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, and a support assembly coupled to the frame, with the support assembly including tooling configured to support the electronic substrate in a print position beneath the stencil. The stencil printer further includes a print head assembly coupled to the frame in such a manner that the print head assembly is configured to traverse the stencil during print strokes. The print head assembly includes a squeegee blade assembly and at least one paste cartridge to deposit solder paste on the stencil. The stencil printer further includes an end effector configured to pick up and release items from a tooling tray. The stencil printer further includes a movable cart configured to interface with the stencil printer to deliver changeover and/or replacement items within a stencil printer.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2022Publication date: August 18, 2022Inventors: William A. Losiewicz, Bruce C. Seaton, James Lynch, Patsy A. Mattero, Joan N. Schopf, Thomas C. Prentice, Scott A. Reid
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Patent number: 11395410Abstract: A dispensing apparatus includes a frame having a gantry configured to provide movement in the X axis and Y axis directions, and first and second dispensing units coupled to the gantry and configured to dispense material onto a substrate. The second dispensing unit is coupled to the gantry by an automatic adjustment mechanism. The dispensing apparatus further includes a controller configured to control the operation of the gantry, the first dispenser, the second dispenser, and the automatic adjustment mechanism. The automatic adjustment mechanism is configured to move the second dispenser in the X axis and Y axis directions to manipulate a spacing between the first dispensing unit and the second dispensing. Methods of dispensing material on the substrate are further disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2021Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Scott A. Reid, Hugh R. Read, Thomas C. Prentice
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Patent number: 11351804Abstract: A stencil printer includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, and a support assembly coupled to the frame, with the support assembly including tooling configured to support the electronic substrate in a print position beneath the stencil. The stencil printer further includes a print head assembly coupled to the frame in such a manner that the print head assembly is configured to traverse the stencil during print strokes. The print head assembly includes a squeegee blade assembly and at least one paste cartridge to deposit solder paste on the stencil. The stencil printer further includes an end effector configured to pick up and release items from a tooling tray. The stencil printer further includes a movable cart configured to interface with the stencil printer to deliver changeover and/or replacement items within a stencil printer.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2020Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: William A. Losiewicz, Bruce C. Seaton, James Lynch, Patsy A. Mattero, Joan N. Schopf, Thomas C. Prentice, Scott A. Reid
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Publication number: 20220142024Abstract: A dispensing system includes a dispensing unit assembly configured to dispense viscous material and a gantry coupled to the frame. The gantry is configured to support the dispensing unit assembly and to move the dispensing unit assembly in x-axis and y-axis directions. The dispensing unit assembly includes a support bracket secured to the gantry and a movable bracket rotatably coupled to the support bracket by a first strain wave gear system configured to enable the rotation of the movable bracket with respect to the support bracket about a first axis. The dispensing unit assembly further includes a dispensing unit rotatably coupled to the movable bracket by a second strain wave gear system configured to enable the rotation of the dispensing unit with respect to the movable bracket about a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2022Publication date: May 5, 2022Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Fernando J. Aguiar, Scott A. Reid
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Patent number: 11246249Abstract: A dispensing system includes a dispensing unit assembly configured to dispense viscous material and a gantry coupled to the frame. The gantry is configured to support the dispensing unit assembly and to move the dispensing unit assembly in x-axis and y-axis directions. The dispensing unit assembly includes a support bracket secured to the gantry and a movable bracket rotatably coupled to the support bracket by a first strain wave gear system configured to enable the rotation of the movable bracket with respect to the support bracket about a first axis. The dispensing unit assembly further includes a dispensing unit rotatably coupled to the movable bracket by a second strain wave gear system configured to enable the rotation of the dispensing unit with respect to the movable bracket about a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2020Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Fernando J. Aguiar, Scott A. Reid
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Publication number: 20210329820Abstract: A dispensing system includes a dispensing unit assembly configured to dispense viscous material and a gantry coupled to the frame. The gantry is configured to support the dispensing unit assembly and to move the dispensing unit assembly in x-axis and y-axis directions. The dispensing unit assembly includes a support bracket secured to the gantry and a movable bracket rotatably coupled to the support bracket by a first strain wave gear system configured to enable the rotation of the movable bracket with respect to the support bracket about a first axis. The dispensing unit assembly further includes a dispensing unit rotatably coupled to the movable bracket by a second strain wave gear system configured to enable the rotation of the dispensing unit with respect to the movable bracket about a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2020Publication date: October 21, 2021Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Fernando J. Aguiar, Scott A. Reid
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Publication number: 20210185825Abstract: A dispensing apparatus includes a frame having a gantry configured to provide movement in the X axis and Y axis directions, and first and second dispensing units coupled to the gantry and configured to dispense material onto a substrate. The second dispensing unit is coupled to the gantry by an automatic adjustment mechanism. The dispensing apparatus further includes a controller configured to control the operation of the gantry, the first dispenser, the second dispenser, and the automatic adjustment mechanism. The automatic adjustment mechanism is configured to move the second dispenser in the X axis and Y axis directions to manipulate a spacing between the first dispensing unit and the second dispensing. Methods of dispensing material on the substrate are further disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2021Publication date: June 17, 2021Inventors: Scott A. Reid, Hugh R. Read, Thomas C. Prentice
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Publication number: 20210185824Abstract: A dispensing apparatus includes a frame having a gantry configured to provide movement in the X axis and Y axis directions, and first and second dispensing units coupled to the gantry and configured to dispense material onto a substrate. The second dispensing unit is coupled to the gantry by an automatic adjustment mechanism. The dispensing apparatus further includes a controller configured to control the operation of the gantry, the first dispenser, the second dispenser, and the automatic adjustment mechanism. The automatic adjustment mechanism is configured to move the second dispenser in the X axis and Y axis directions to manipulate a spacing between the first dispensing unit and the second dispensing. Methods of dispensing material on the substrate are further disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2021Publication date: June 17, 2021Inventors: Scott A. Reid, Hugh R. Read, Thomas C. Prentice
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Publication number: 20210162528Abstract: A dispensing system includes an optional pre-heat station configured to receive an electronic substrate, a dispense station configured to dispense material on the electronic substrate received from the optional pre-heat station, an optional post-heat station configured to receive the electronic substrate from the dispense station, and a non-contact sensor positioned above the electronic substrate on at least one of the optional pre-heat station, the dispense station, and the optional post-heat station.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2021Publication date: June 3, 2021Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Scott A. Reid, Patsy A. Mattero, Fernando J. Aguiar
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Patent number: 10966323Abstract: A dispensing apparatus includes a frame having a gantry configured to provide movement in the X axis and Y axis directions, and first and second dispensing units coupled to the gantry and configured to dispense material onto a substrate. The second dispensing unit is coupled to the gantry by an automatic adjustment mechanism. The dispensing apparatus further includes a controller configured to control the operation of the gantry, the first dispenser, the second dispenser, and the automatic adjustment mechanism. The automatic adjustment mechanism is configured to move the second dispenser in the X axis and Y axis directions to manipulate a spacing between the first dispensing unit and the second dispensing. Methods of dispensing material on the substrate are further disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2019Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Scott A. Reid, Hugh R. Read, Thomas C. Prentice
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Patent number: 10933483Abstract: A dispensing system includes an optional pre-heat station configured to receive an electronic substrate, a dispense station configured to dispense material on the electronic substrate received from the optional pre-heat station, an optional post-heat station configured to receive the electronic substrate from the dispense station, and a non-contact sensor positioned above the electronic substrate on at least one of the optional pre-heat station, the dispense station, and the optional post-heat station.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2019Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Scott A. Reid, Patsy A. Mattero, Fernando J. Aguiar
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Patent number: 10926287Abstract: A method is used to identify and compensate for errors created by changes in the relative positions of a deposition unit and a vision system of a dispenser. The method includes calibrating the vision system, dispensing a pattern of features over a working area, moving the vision system over a deposition location to locate a deposition, obtaining an image of the deposition, tagging data associated with the image, calculating a relative distance between the deposition unit and the vision system, storing correction data with spatial location in a file for later use, and using the stored data to make small corrections prior to dispensing additional material.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2018Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Scott A. Reid, Thomas J. Karlinski, Jonathan Joel Bloom, Thomas C. Prentice
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Publication number: 20200391531Abstract: A stencil printer includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, and a support assembly coupled to the frame, with the support assembly including tooling configured to support the electronic substrate in a print position beneath the stencil. The stencil printer further includes a print head assembly coupled to the frame in such a manner that the print head assembly is configured to traverse the stencil during print strokes. The print head assembly includes a squeegee blade assembly and at least one paste cartridge to deposit solder paste on the stencil. The stencil printer further includes an end effector configured to pick up and release items from a tooling tray. The stencil printer further includes a movable cart configured to interface with the stencil printer to deliver changeover and/or replacement items within a stencil printer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2020Publication date: December 17, 2020Inventors: William A. Losiewicz, Bruce C. Seaton, James Lynch, Patsy A. Mattero, Joan N. Schopf, Thomas C. Prentice, Scott A. Reid