Patents by Inventor Kenneth C. Crouch
Kenneth C. Crouch 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: 9089863Abstract: A method for cleaning a nozzle of a material deposition system configured to deposit material on an electronic substrate includes: performing a deposition operation with a material deposition system configured to position an electronic substrate under a deposition head movable by a gantry, to supply material to a chamber of the deposition head, to extend a piston of the deposition head from the chamber, the needle terminating in a needle orifice, and to push a volume of material out of the chamber by an actuator of the deposition head to form a desired volume of material at the needle orifice that is deposited on the electronic substrate; and cleaning the needle orifice with air directed to the needle orifice.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2012Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Kenneth C. Crouch, Robert W. Tracy, Thomas J. Karlinski, Scott A. Reid
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Patent number: 9039146Abstract: A material deposition system includes a frame, a support coupled to the frame to support an electronic substrate during a deposit operation, a gantry coupled to the frame, and a deposition head coupled to the gantry. The deposition head is movable over the support by movement of the gantry. The deposition head includes a chamber to hold material, an actuator to push a volume of material out of the chamber, a needle extending from the chamber and terminating in a needle orifice, and at least two air jets located on opposite sides of the needle orifice. A desired volume of material is formed at the needle orifice in response to the actuator, and each of the at least two air jets produce a timed pulse of air to create a micro-droplet from the desired volume and to accelerate the micro-droplet to high velocity.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2012Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Kenneth C. Crouch, Kui-Chiu Kwok, Robert W. Tracy, Rita Mohanty, Thomas J. Karlinski, Scott A. Reid
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Patent number: 9010910Abstract: A material deposition system includes a frame, a support coupled to the frame to support an electronic substrate during a deposit operation, a gantry coupled to the frame, and a deposition head coupled to the gantry. The deposition head is movable over the support by movement of the gantry. The deposition head includes a chamber to hold material, an actuator to push a volume of material out of the chamber, a needle extending from the chamber and terminating in a needle orifice, and at least two air jets located on opposite sides of the needle orifice. A desired volume of material is formed at the needle orifice in response to the actuator, and each of the at least two air jets produce a timed pulse of air to create a micro-droplet from the desired volume and to accelerate the micro-droplet to high velocity.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2014Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Kenneth C. Crouch, Kui-Chiu Kwok, Robert W. Tracy, Rita Mohanty, Thomas J. Karlinski, Scott A. Reid
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Publication number: 20150064345Abstract: A material deposition system includes a frame, a support coupled to the frame to support an electronic substrate during a deposit operation, a gantry coupled to the frame, and a deposition head coupled to the gantry. The deposition head is movable over the support by movement of the gantry. The deposition head includes a chamber to hold material, an actuator to push a volume of material out of the chamber, a needle extending from the chamber and terminating in a needle orifice, and at least two air jets located on opposite sides of the needle orifice. A desired volume of material is formed at the needle orifice in response to the actuator, and each of the at least two air jets produce a timed pulse of air to create a micro-droplet from the desired volume and to accelerate the micro-droplet to high velocity.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Inventors: Kenneth C. Crouch, Kui-Chiu Kwok, Robert W. Tracy, Rita Mohanty, Thomas J. Karlinski, Scott A. Reid
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Publication number: 20130269731Abstract: A method for cleaning a nozzle of a material deposition system configured to deposit material on an electronic substrate includes: performing a deposition operation with a material deposition system configured to position an electronic substrate under a deposition head movable by a gantry, to supply material to a chamber of the deposition head, to extend a piston of the deposition head from the chamber, the needle terminating in a needle orifice, and to push a volume of material out of the chamber by an actuator of the deposition head to form a desired volume of material at the needle orifice that is deposited on the electronic substrate; and cleaning the needle orifice with air directed to the needle orifice.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2012Publication date: October 17, 2013Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Kenneth C. Crouch, Robert W. Tracy, Thomas J. Karlinski, Scott A. Reid
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Publication number: 20130177702Abstract: A material deposition system includes a frame, a support coupled to the frame to support an electronic substrate during a deposit operation, a gantry coupled to the frame, and a deposition head coupled to the gantry. The deposition head is movable over the support by movement of the gantry. The deposition head includes a chamber to hold material, an actuator to push a volume of material out of the chamber, a needle extending from the chamber and terminating in a needle orifice, and at least two air jets located on opposite sides of the needle orifice. A desired volume of material is formed at the needle orifice in response to the actuator, and each of the at least two air jets produce a timed pulse of air to create a micro-droplet from the desired volume and to accelerate the micro-droplet to high velocity.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2012Publication date: July 11, 2013Inventors: Kenneth C. Crouch, Kui-Chiu Kwok, Robert W. Tracy, Rita Mohanty, Thomas J. Karlinski, Scott A. Reid
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Patent number: 8424720Abstract: 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 has an elongate body and is configured to move between a pre-dispense position and a dispense position within the chamber. The dispenser unit further includes a motor to drive the movement of the piston within the chamber. The motor includes a rotating shaft, a wheel coupled to the rotating shaft, the wheel having at least one drive magnet, and a driven magnet disposed between wheel and the piston. The dispenser further includes a nozzle coupled to the housing. The nozzle has an orifice to dispense viscous material. Other embodiments of the dispenser and methods of dispensing are further disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2012Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Robert W. Tracy, Kenneth C. Crouch
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Publication number: 20120175386Abstract: 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 has an elongate body and is configured to move between a pre-dispense position and a dispense position within the chamber. The dispenser unit further includes a motor to drive the movement of the piston within the chamber. The motor includes a rotating shaft, a wheel coupled to the rotating shaft, the wheel having at least one drive magnet, and a driven magnet disposed between wheel and the piston. The dispenser further includes a nozzle coupled to the housing. The nozzle has an orifice to dispense viscous material. Other embodiments of the dispenser and methods of dispensing are further disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2012Publication date: July 12, 2012Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Robert W. Tracy, Kenneth C. Crouch
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Patent number: 8136705Abstract: 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 has an elongate body and is configured to move between a pre-dispense position and a dispense position within the chamber. The dispenser unit further includes a motor to drive the movement of the piston within the chamber. The motor includes a rotating shaft, a wheel coupled to the rotating shaft, the wheel having at least one drive magnet, and a driven magnet disposed between wheel and the piston. The dispenser further includes a nozzle coupled to the housing. The nozzle has an orifice to dispense viscous material. Other embodiments of the dispenser and methods of dispensing are further disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2009Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Robert W. Tracy, Kenneth C. Crouch
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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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Publication number: 20100258592Abstract: 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 has an elongate body and is configured to move between a pre-dispense position and a dispense position within the chamber. The dispenser unit further includes a motor to drive the movement of the piston within the chamber. The motor includes a rotating shaft, a wheel coupled to the rotating shaft, the wheel having at least one drive magnet, and a driven magnet disposed between wheel and the piston. The dispenser further includes a nozzle coupled to the housing. The nozzle has an orifice to dispense viscous material. Other embodiments of the dispenser and methods of dispensing are further disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2009Publication date: October 14, 2010Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS, INC.Inventors: Robert W. Tracy, Kenneth C. Crouch
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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: 6932280Abstract: A needle foot assembly for a dispensing system includes a needle nut, a rotatable bearing, a friction brake, and an end piece holding the needle foot. The needle foot assembly attaches the needle to a dispensing head of the dispensing system. Rotation of the bearing alters the orientation of the needle foot and needle. The needle foot is removeably attached to the end piece and can be adjusted with respect to height.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2003Date of Patent: August 23, 2005Assignee: Speedline Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Kenneth C. Crouch
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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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Publication number: 20040227010Abstract: A needle foot assembly for a dispensing system includes a needle nut, a rotatable bearing, a friction brake, and an end piece holding the needle foot. The needle foot assembly attaches the needle to a dispensing head of the dispensing system. Rotation of the bearing alters the orientation of the needle foot and needle. The needle foot is removeably attached to the end piece and can be adjusted with respect to height.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2003Publication date: November 18, 2004Inventor: Kenneth C. Crouch
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Patent number: 6775879Abstract: A needle cleaning system, for use with a liquid dispensing system that dispenses a quantity of material through a dispensing needle or transfer pin, includes a vacuuming device coupled with a residual material collection device, wherein the collection device includes at least one appropriately shaped orifice for receiving an end of the dispensing needle or pin. The liquid dispensing system further includes a control system for periodically positioning the dispensing needle or pin relative the orifice in the collection device. The vacuuming device creates an airflow, which passes around the exterior of the needle or pin and into the collection device, thereby removing residual material from the exterior of the dispensing needle or pin without contact.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2001Date of Patent: August 17, 2004Assignee: Speedline Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Steven P. Bibeault, Kenneth C. Crouch
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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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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