Patents by Inventor Brian P. Prescott
Brian P. Prescott 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: 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
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Patent number: 6814810Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for accurately controlling the quantity of material dispensed from dispensing systems. In one aspect of the present invention, a dispensing system includes a calibration system, which collects and measures an amount of material dispensed during a calibration routine. The calibration dispensing pattern and the amount of material dispensed from the dispensing system during the calibration routine are representative of an actual dispensing pattern. The measured amount of material collected during the calibration routine is compared with a target quantity. The dispensing system is adjusted if the difference between the quantity of collected material and the target quantity is greater that a predetermined tolerance.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2001Date of Patent: November 9, 2004Assignee: Speedline Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Brian P. Prescott, Charles J. Zaverson
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Publication number: 20040148763Abstract: A system and method for performing operations on a plurality of workpieces comprises an operations portion and a load/unload portion, a plurality of independently operable work heads located in the operations portion, the work heads each being operable to perform work on the plurality of workpieces, a transfer system, the transfer system including a plurality of mounting devices, the transfer system being operable to deliver the mounting devices into and out of the operations portion of the system, the plurality of workpieces being contained in workpiece-holding structures, the workpiece-holding structures being mountable on the plurality of mounting devices, wherein one of the plurality of mounting devices is positioned in the operations portion of the system and work is performed on the plurality of workpieces by at least one of the plurality of independently operable work heads while another one of the plurality of mounting devices is positioned in the load/unload portion of the system and workpiece-holdinType: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2003Publication date: August 5, 2004Inventors: David S. Peacock, Thomas C. Prentice, Brian P. Prescott, Thomas Purcell, Gary T. Freeman, Kevin J. Courtemanche, Scott A. Reid, Earl Sweet, Murray D. Scott, Robert W. Tracy, Paul L. Hemond
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Publication number: 20040129534Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2003Publication date: July 8, 2004Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Brian P. Prescott, Greg Bouvier
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Publication number: 20040089228Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2003Publication date: May 13, 2004Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Brian P. Prescott, Kenneth C. Crouch, Murray D. Scott
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Patent number: 6688458Abstract: 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: October 9, 2001Date of Patent: February 10, 2004Assignee: Speedline Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Brian P. Prescott, Greg Bouvier
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Patent number: 6572702Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are directed to methods and apparatus for producing substrates, including printed circuit boards, in production lines. In one aspect, the present invention provides a production system, a plurality of production lines, wherein machines from one of the lines may be used to replace machines in one of the other lines. In another aspect, the present invention provides a printing system for use in circuit board production lines. The printing system includes a first printer, a second printer and a transfer station. In another aspect, the present invention provides a dispensing system for use is production lines. The dispensing system includes a shuttle conveyor system that allows parallel processing on multiple circuit boards.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2000Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Speedline Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Gary T. Freeman, Ronald C. Lasky, Robert J. Balog, Joseph Belmonte, Thomas C. Prentice, Brian P. Prescott
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Publication number: 20030091727Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2002Publication date: May 15, 2003Applicant: Speedline Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Brian P. Prescott, Kenneth C. Crouch, Murray D. Scott
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Publication number: 20030084845Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2002Publication date: May 8, 2003Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Brian P. Prescott, Kenneth C. Crouch, Murray D. Scott, Earl Sweet, Yingfei Ke
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Publication number: 20030066734Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2001Publication date: April 10, 2003Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Brian P. Prescott, Greg Bouvier
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Patent number: 6541063Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for controlling the quanatity of material dispensed from dispensing systems. In one aspect of the present invention, a dispensing system includes a weight scale upon which material is dispensed from a dispensing system during a calibration routine. The weight of the dispensed material is determined and compared with a target weight. If the weight of the dispensed material varies from the target weight by more than a predetermined amount, then characteristics of the dispensing system are adjusted, and the calibration routine is repeated.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2000Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Speedline Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Brian P. Prescott
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Publication number: 20030000462Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2002Publication date: January 2, 2003Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Brian P. Prescott, Kenneth C. Crouch, Murray D. Scott
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Patent number: 6395334Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2000Date of Patent: May 28, 2002Assignee: Speedline Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Brian P. Prescott, Kenneth C. Crouch, Murray D. Scott
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Publication number: 20020020350Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for accurately controlling the quantity of material dispensed from dispensing systems. In one aspect of the present invention, a dispensing system includes a calibration system, which collects and measures an amount of material dispensed during a calibration routine. The calibration dispensing pattern and the amount of material dispensed from the dispensing system during the calibration routine are representative of an actual dispensing pattern. The measured amount of material collected during the calibration routine is compared with a target quantity. The dispensing system is adjusted if the difference between the quantity of collected material and the target quantity is greater that a predetermined tolerance.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2001Publication date: February 21, 2002Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Brian P. Prescott, Charles J. Zaverson
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Publication number: 20020007227Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a multiple head dispensing system having independently controlled dispensing heads. Each of the dispensing heads may be independently controlled to provide simultaneous, asynchronous operation and to allow dispensing of different materials onto substrates. Independent control of the dispensing heads is accomplished under the control of a controller in conjunction with a plurality of gantry systems, each of which positions one of the multiple dispensing heads over a substrate that is to receive dispensing material. In some embodiments, each gantry system utilizes two drive mechanisms, arranged in parallel, that provide movement of the dispensing head over an x-y plane. Multiple conveyor systems are utilized that allow parallel processing of work products in the dispensing system.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2001Publication date: January 17, 2002Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Brian P. Prescott, Thomas Purcell, Stephen S. Helm, Donald J. Martin, Kevin Brown
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Patent number: 6322854Abstract: A multiple head dispensing system and method is provided. In one embodiment, a dispensing system for dispensing material onto a substrate includes a plurality of independently operable dispensing heads, and a conveyor system, disposed beneath the plurality of dispensing heads, having a first track and a second track, each of which is constructed and arranged to convey substrates to working positions beneath the dispensing heads. The dispensing system may include a plurality of gantry systems, each of which is coupled to one of the plurality of independently operable dispensing heads.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2000Date of Patent: November 27, 2001Assignee: Speedline Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Purcell, Thomas C. Prentice, Brian P. Prescott
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Patent number: 6224675Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a multiple head dispensing system having independently controlled dispensing heads. Each of the dispensing heads may be independently controlled to provide simultaneous, asynchronous operation and to allow dispensing of different materials onto substrates. Independent control of the dispensing heads is accomplished under the control of a controller in conjunction with a plurality of gantry systems, each of which positions one of the multiple dispensing heads over a substrate that is to receive dispensing material. In some embodiments, each gantry system utilizes two drive mechanisms, arranged in parallel, that provide movement of the dispensing head over an x-y plane. Multiple conveyor systems are utilized that allow parallel processing of work products in the dispensing system.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 1999Date of Patent: May 1, 2001Assignee: Speedline Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Brian P. Prescott, Thomas Purcell, Stephen S. Helm, Donald J. Martin, Kevin Brown
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Patent number: 6214117Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 1999Date of Patent: April 10, 2001Assignee: Speedline Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Brian P. Prescott, Kenneth C. Crouch, Murray D. Scott
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Patent number: 6206964Abstract: A multiple head dispensing system and method is provided. In one embodiment, a dispensing system for dispensing material onto a substrate includes a plurality of independently operable dispensing heads, and a conveyor system, disposed beneath the plurality of dispensing heads, having a first track and a second track, each of which is constructed and arranged to convey substrates to working positions beneath the dispensing heads. The dispensing system may include a plurality of gantry systems, each of which is coupled to one of the plurality of independently operable dispensing heads.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1998Date of Patent: March 27, 2001Assignee: Speedline Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Purcell, Thomas C. Prentice, Brian P. Prescott