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: 9815081Abstract: 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: February 24, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Scott A. Reid, Thomas J. Karlinski, Jonathan Joel Bloom, Thomas C. Prentice
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Publication number: 20170290168Abstract: 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: June 21, 2017Publication date: October 5, 2017Inventors: Scott A. Reid, Hugh R. Read, Thomas C. Prentice
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Patent number: 9775250Abstract: 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: May 26, 2016Date of Patent: September 26, 2017Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Scott A. Reid, Hugh R. Read, Thomas C. Prentice
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Patent number: 9636699Abstract: A dispenser, configured to dispense material on a substrate, includes a dispensing unit having a housing with a chamber, a piston disposed in the chamber and axially movable within the chamber, and a nozzle coupled to the housing. The nozzle has an orifice co-axial with the chamber of the housing. The dispenser further includes an actuator coupled to the dispensing unit and configured to drive the up- and down movement of the piston, and a compliant assembly coupled to the actuator and the piston. The compliant assembly is configured to permit limited relative travel between the actuator and the piston. A method of dispensing is further disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2015Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Dennis G. Doyle, Ronald J. Forget, Thomas C. Prentice, Patsy A. Mattero
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Publication number: 20160270235Abstract: 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: May 26, 2016Publication date: September 15, 2016Inventors: Scott A. Reid, Hugh R. Read, Thomas C. Prentice
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Publication number: 20160243582Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2015Publication date: August 25, 2016Inventors: Scott A. Reid, Thomas J. Karlinski, Jonathan Joel Bloom, Thomas C. Prentice
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Patent number: 9374905Abstract: 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: September 30, 2013Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Scott A. Reid, Hugh R. Read, Thomas C. Prentice
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Publication number: 20160038957Abstract: A dispenser includes a frame, a substrate support assembly, and a gantry system to move a dispensing pump in x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis directions. The dispensing pump includes a local supply reservoir, a dispensing nozzle, a first line to provide fluid communication between the local supply reservoir and the dispensing nozzle. The dispenser further includes a remote bulk feed system coupled to the local supply reservoir of the dispensing pump. The bulk feed system includes a first remote supply container configured to contain viscous material, a second line to provide fluid communication between the remote bulk feed system and the local supply reservoir, and a first valve disposed in the second line and operable to deliver viscous material to and to cut off viscous material from the remote supply container.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2014Publication date: February 11, 2016Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Patsy A. Mattero, Thomas E. Robinson, Dennis G. Doyle
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Publication number: 20150367376Abstract: A dispenser, configured to dispense material on a substrate, includes a dispensing unit having a housing with a chamber, a piston disposed in the chamber and axially movable within the chamber, and a nozzle coupled to the housing. The nozzle has an orifice co-axial with the chamber of the housing. The dispenser further includes an actuator coupled to the dispensing unit and configured to drive the up- and down movement of the piston, and a compliant assembly coupled to the actuator and the piston. The compliant assembly is configured to permit limited relative travel between the actuator and the piston. A method of dispensing is further disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2015Publication date: December 24, 2015Inventors: Dennis G. Doyle, Ronald J. Forget, Thomas C. Prentice, Patsy A. Mattero
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Patent number: 9144818Abstract: A dispenser, configured to dispense material on a substrate, includes a dispensing unit having a housing with a chamber, a piston disposed in the chamber and axially movable within the chamber, and a nozzle coupled to the housing. The nozzle has an orifice co-axial with the chamber of the housing. The dispenser further includes an actuator coupled to the dispensing unit and configured to drive the up- and down movement of the piston, and a compliant assembly coupled to the actuator and the piston. The compliant assembly is configured to permit limited relative travel between the actuator and the piston. A method of dispensing is further disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Dennis G. Doyle, Ronald J. Forget, Thomas C. Prentice, Patsy A. Mattero
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Publication number: 20150093498Abstract: 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: September 30, 2013Publication date: April 2, 2015Inventors: Scott A. Reid, Hugh R. Read, Thomas C. Prentice
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Publication number: 20140263688Abstract: A dispenser, configured to dispense material on a substrate, includes a dispensing unit having a housing with a chamber, a piston disposed in the chamber and axially movable within the chamber, and a nozzle coupled to the housing. The nozzle has an orifice co-axial with the chamber of the housing. The dispenser further includes an actuator coupled to the dispensing unit and configured to drive the up- and down movement of the piston, and a compliant assembly coupled to the actuator and the piston. The compliant assembly is configured to permit limited relative travel between the actuator and the piston. A method of dispensing is further disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Inventors: Dennis G. Doyle, Ronald J. Forget, Thomas C. Prentice, Patsy A. Mattero
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Publication number: 20130133574Abstract: A material deposition system for depositing materials on an electronic substrate with a material deposition system is disclosed. The deposition system includes a frame, a gantry system coupled to the frame, a deposition head coupled to the gantry system and configured to deposit dots of low viscous and semi-viscous material on the electronic substrate, and a controller configured to control the operation of the material deposition system, including the operation of the gantry system and the deposition head. The system is capable of depositing a line or a pattern of material on the electronic substrate by moving the deposition head along an axis of motion that is substantially non-parallel to a direction of the line or pattern. Other deposition systems and methods are further disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2011Publication date: May 30, 2013Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Dennis G. Doyle, Thomas C. Prentice, Patsy A. Mattero, David P. Prince
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Publication number: 20130136850Abstract: A method of depositing materials on an electronic substrate with a material deposition system is disclosed. The deposition system includes a frame, a gantry system coupled to the frame, a deposition head coupled to the gantry system and configured to deposit dots of low viscous and semi-viscous material on the electronic substrate, and a controller configured to control the operation of the material deposition system, including the operation of the gantry system and the deposition head. The method includes depositing a line or a pattern of material on the electronic substrate by moving the deposition head along an axis of motion that is substantially non-parallel to a direction of the line or pattern. Other methods and deposition systems are further disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2011Publication date: May 30, 2013Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Dennis G. Doyle, Thomas C. Prentice, Patsy A. Mattero, David P. Prince
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Publication number: 20110253741Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a volume of viscous material on a substrate includes a frame, a gantry system coupled to the frame, and a dispenser unit coupled to the gantry system. The dispenser unit includes a housing having a chamber and a piston disposed in the chamber. The piston is configured to move between a pre-dispense position and a dispense position within the chamber. The dispenser unit further includes a dispensing bore configured to receive the piston therein and a nozzle coupled to the housing. A controller is coupled to the piston to control the operation of the piston. The dispenser is constructed such that a volume of viscous material dispensed from the dispensing bore is substantially equal to the volume of the piston entering the dispensing bore when moving the piston to the dispense position. Other embodiments and methods of dispensing viscous material are further disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2011Publication date: October 20, 2011Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Kenneth C. Crouch
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Patent number: 7980197Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a volume of viscous material on a substrate includes a frame, a gantry system coupled to the frame, and a dispenser unit coupled to the gantry system. The dispenser unit includes a housing having a chamber and a piston disposed in the chamber. The piston is configured to move between a pre-dispense position and a dispense position within the chamber. The dispenser unit further includes a dispensing bore configured to receive the piston therein and a nozzle coupled to the housing. A controller is coupled to the piston to control the operation of the piston. The dispenser is constructed such that a volume of viscous material dispensed from the dispensing bore is substantially equal to the volume of the piston entering the dispensing bore when moving the piston to the dispense position. Other embodiments and methods of dispensing viscous material are further disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2007Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Kenneth C. Crouch
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Patent number: 7404861Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to systems and methods for dispensing materials onto a substrate. In one aspect, a dispensing system includes a dispenser having a dispensing outlet positionable over a top surface of the substrate, the dispenser having a substantially vertical dispensing axis along which material from the dispenser is dispensed, and a vision system, coupled to the dispenser, the vision system being positionable to obtain images of the top surface of the substrate along an optical axis, wherein the vision system is constructed and arranged such that the optical axis intersects the dispensing axis.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2004Date of Patent: July 29, 2008Assignee: Speedline Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, David P. Prince
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Publication number: 20080105703Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a volume of viscous material on a substrate includes a frame, a gantry system coupled to the frame, and a dispenser unit coupled to the gantry system. The dispenser unit includes a housing having a chamber and a piston disposed in the chamber. The piston is configured to move between a pre-dispense position and a dispense position within the chamber. The dispenser unit further includes a dispensing bore configured to receive the piston therein and a nozzle coupled to the housing. A controller is coupled to the piston to control the operation of the piston. The dispenser is constructed such that a volume of viscous material dispensed from the dispensing bore is substantially equal to the volume of the piston entering the dispensing bore when moving the piston to the dispense position. Other embodiments and methods of dispensing viscous material are further disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2007Publication date: May 8, 2008Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Kenneth C. Crouch
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Patent number: 6902052Abstract: A rail position control system is provided that controls a conveyor system configuration to accommodate a plurality of differently sized substrates in an apparatus. The rail position control system includes at least one camera, which is mounted on a mounting surface located in close proximity to the conveyor system. The rail position control system further includes a computer system that is operatively coupled to the camera and to a motor. The motor is further coupled to at least one rail of the conveyor system. The camera is operative to view and provide a plurality of images of a conveyor lane width value to the computer system. The conveyor lane width value represents a space located between at least one pair of rails of the conveyor system.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2003Date of Patent: June 7, 2005Assignee: Speedline Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Brian P. Prescott, Greg Bouvier
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Patent number: 6866881Abstract: A dispensing system and method for dispensing material onto a substrate. The dispensing system includes a frame, a support, coupled to the frame, that supports the substrate at a dispensing position in the dispensing system, and a dispensing head, coupled to the frame, that dispenses the material onto the substrate. The dispensing head includes a motor unit having a first motor coupled to an output drive mechanism, and a dispensing unit, removably coupled to the motor unit, having a material outlet from which the dispensing material is dispensed, the dispensing unit having a dispensing mechanism coupled to the material outlet and coupled to the output drive mechanism of the motor unit such that operation of the first motor causes the dispensing mechanism to dispense material through the outlet. The dispensing head may be controlled for deposition of dots of material having diameters smaller than a dispensing needle of the dispensing unit.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2002Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: Speedline Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Brian P. Prescott, Kenneth C. Crouch, Murray D. Scott, Earl Sweet, Jr., Yingfei Ke