Abstract: A system for dispensing a viscous material onto a substrate which includes a dispensing element, a viscous material reservoir and a metering device coupled between the reservoir and the dispensing element for metering a variable amount of a viscous material through the dispensing element. The dispensing element and metering device can be moved by a positioner along a predetermined pattern adjacent a surface of a substrate. A weigh scale located adjacent the substrate receives a metered amount of the viscous material and produces signals representative of a variable weight of the material dispensed during a predetermined time interval. A controller adjusts a speed of movement of the positioner along the predetermined pattern to cause the dispensing element to dispense a desired amount of material based on a calculated flow rate.

Abstract: A system for dispensing a viscous material onto a substrate which includes a dispensing element, a viscous material reservoir and a metering device coupled between the reservoir and the dispensing element for metering a variable amount of a viscous material through the dispensing element. The dispensing element and metering device can be moved by a positioner along a predetermined pattern adjacent a surface of a substrate. A weigh scale located adjacent the substrate receives a metered amount of the viscous material and produces signals representative of a variable weight of the material dispensed during a predetermined time interval. A controller adjusts a speed of movement of the positioner along the predetermined pattern to cause the dispensing element to dispense a desired amount of material based on a calculated flow rate.

Abstract: A system for dispensing a viscous material onto a substrate which includes a dispensing element, a viscous material reservoir and a metering device coupled between the reservoir and the dispensing element for metering a variable amount of a viscous material through the dispensing element. The dispensing element and metering device can be moved by a positioner along a predetermined pattern adjacent a surface of a substrate. A weigh scale located adjacent the substrate receives a metered amount of the viscous material and produces signals representative of a variable weight of the material dispensed during a predetermined time interval. A controller adjusts a speed of movement of the positioner along the predetermined pattern to cause the dispensing element to dispense a desired amount of material based on a calculated flow rate.

Abstract: A system for dispensing a viscous material onto a substrate which includes a dispensing element, a viscous material reservoir and a metering device coupled between the reservoir and the dispensing element for metering a variable amount of a viscous material through the dispensing element. The dispensing element and metering device can be moved by a positioner along a predetermined pattern adjacent a surface of a substrate. A weigh scale located adjacent the substrate receives a metered amount of the viscous material and produces signals representative of a variable weight of the material dispensed during a predetermined time interval. A controller adjusts a speed of movement of the positioner along the predetermined pattern to cause the dispensing element to dispense a desired amount of material based on a calculated flow rate.

Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating a spray device having a spray nozzle relative to a target substrate, which apparatus includes drive mechanisms for moving the spray device in the X, Y and Z directions, and separate mechanisms for rotating the spray nozzle relative to the spray device and for tilting the spray nozzle relative to the spray device.

Abstract: A disposable thin film resistor type thermal ink jet pen including a housing having a support surface at one end thereof with openings for passing ink to an adjacent thin film resistor type thermal ink jet printhead. The printhead is mounted on the support surface and has ink ejection orifii therein communicating with openings in the support surface. A porous foam material is mounted within the housing and is operative to receive and retain a supply of ink for feeding the ink by capillary action through the openings in the support surface and to the ink jet printhead. The foam ink storage material is compressed in one or more compartments of the housing to reduce the pore size therein and reduce the foam thickness while increasing its density. By this process, the capillary force of the foam is increased and thereby renders this ink storage medium especially well-suited for feeding ink on demand to a thin film resistor type of thermal ink jet printhead.

Abstract: A syringe or any other dispensing device is coupled to a conventional dispensing control unit for dispensing viscous material such as adhesives and solder paste through a hollow needle thereof as metered amounts of pressurized gas are supplied to the syringe in response to a valve control signal applied to the dispensing control unit. The syringe is mounted on an automated frame for independent movement along the X, Y and Z axes in response to drive signals. Predetermined pattern and fluid flow functions are selected for each of a plurality of consecutive movement elements by operator actuation of corresponding discrete manually actuable switches to thereby create a workpiece program which can be automatically executed on command to dispense the viscous material over the upper surface of a workpiece such as a PC board in the prescribed manner.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for interconnecting a flexible (flex) circuit, printed circuit or the like to an ink jet printhead or other similar electronic device. This approach includes providing a flexible lead frame member between the flex circuit and printhead, with the lead frame member having a plurality of conductive leads or fingers extending at a predetermined angle with respect to the final plane of interconnection. During the interconnection process, these leads or fingers are spring biased through this predetermined angle to provide good compressive electrical contact between the two members interconnected by the lead frame in a single plane of interconnection.

Abstract: The novel pen body construction described herein includes multiple ink storage compartments communicating with a multi-orifice printhead, and these compartments are adapted to receive sections of ink-storage foam. Preferably, this foam is a reticulated polyurethane foam of controlled porosity and capalarity and is especially well suited for storing different ink colors, such as cyan, magenta and yellow. However, single compartment black ink storage is also within the scope of this invention.