Of A Pump Patents (Class 118/683)
  • Patent number: 6630028
    Abstract: A system for controlled dispensing of a material onto an elongated window component. A nozzle dispenses the material into contact with a surface of the elongated window component at a delivery site located along a path of travel of the elongated window component. A conveyer moves the elongated window component along the path of travel relative to the nozzle at a controlled speed. A metering pump delivers controlled amounts of the material to the nozzle. A pressurized bulk supply delivers the material to an inlet to the metering pump. A controller regulates the speed of the metering pump to control the flow rate of the material dispensed by the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Glass Equipment Development, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Briese, Timothy Bryan McGlinchy
  • Patent number: 6626996
    Abstract: A pizza sauce dispenser simultaneously dispenses and spreads a precisely controlled amount of sauce onto a pizza dough base without manually handling the sauce or the dough during operation. The dispenser includes a selectively rotatable disc and an arm that selectively extends over the disc. At lease one nozzle is supported by the arm and selectively dispenses the sauce onto the dough. A control mechanism controls: (1) a selected rate and direction of disc rotation; (2) a selected pivot rate and direction of the arm; and/or (3) a selected rate of dispensing sauce through the nozzle. In use, with pizza dough placed on the disc, the disc is rotated and the arm pivoted over the dough so that the nozzle traverses a path from the outside edge of the dough to the center of the dough or vice versa. Sauce thus is deposited in a spiral or other desirable pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Pizza Hut, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Amigh, Homero Ortegon
  • Publication number: 20030180444
    Abstract: A coating process method in which a coating liquid is discharged onto the surface of a target substrate to be processed while rotating the target substrate so as to expand the coating liquid radially outward on the target substrate and, thus, to form a coated film comprises the step of detecting that the actual discharging of a coating liquid from a coating liquid discharging nozzle is started, and the step of controlling based on a signal of the detection at least one of the driving timing of a pump for allowing the coating liquid to be discharged from the coating liquid discharging nozzle, the operation timing of a valve mounted to a pipe for supplying the coating liquid into the coating liquid discharging nozzle, and the rotation starting or stopping timing of the target substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Takashi Takekuma, Yasuyuki Kometani, Yoshiteru Fukuda, Junya Minamida
  • Patent number: 6623562
    Abstract: A slurry loading apparatus for automatically loading a slurry into a substrate. The apparatus includes a pasting head. The pasting head includes a cavity that fills with slurry creating a pressure that forces the slurry onto the surface of the substrate and into the voids of the substrate. The slurry loading apparatus may include a feedback control loop that controls the rate in which slurry is delivered to the pasting head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward F. Wood, Eric Willison, Jeffrey Key
  • Patent number: 6576059
    Abstract: A chambered doctor blade apparatus provides an automatic system for cleanup and replacement of coating substance, as well as operating a hydraulic head loading system that includes hydrostatic compensation, and integrates the head loading mechanism into the automated cleaning, flushing and replacement cycle. A programmable logic controller (PLC) is connected to a touch screen display that presents an interactive graphical user interface for control purposes. The PLC is programmed to carry out sequentially the required steps for cleaning, refilling, and running the chambered doctor blade assembly, and to alternate water-based and non-water-based coatings without necessitating removal of the doctor blade head from the transfer roller. Each coating run begins with a purge step in which a new coating material is pumped through the system to waste to remove any residual material from the previous coating run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Harris & Bruno Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Burgard
  • Patent number: 6527864
    Abstract: A device for the automatic regulation of the quantity of adhesive deposited in flexible film rolling machines (20). These machines (20) include a coating column (21) and a bonding column (22), joined to each other by an upper frame (23); the premixed adhesive is loaded in a container (32), which is provided in a space formed between two adjacent cylinders (13, 14) and carried by the motion of two intermediate cylinders (13, 12) to a cylinder (15) designed to drag along the film (31). In this device, the adhesive is fed in a continuous manner from an automatic mixer (40), so as to vary the quantity dispensed per unit time depending on the basic pre-established weight and on the instantaneous speed of the rolling machine, the speed of the intermediate cylinders (12, 13) is varied automatically to increase or decrease the volume of adhesive laid down on the film (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Novachem Industriale S.r.l.
    Inventor: Gianpiero Quetti
  • Publication number: 20020192357
    Abstract: A method of painting a product in a production painting facility includes the steps of selecting a hue and a chroma corresponding to the hue. The production painting facility utilizes a plurality of base paints that are mixable to constitute the hue and chroma selected. The base paints are pumped to a blending device in a ratio determined to be necessary to formulate the hue and chroma selected. The base paints are blended in the blending device according to the predetermined ratio forming a secondary paint having the hue and chroma previously selected. The secondary paint is delivered to a paint applicator such as an atomizer bell or an equivalent and is applied to the product being painted. The base paints are mixed at the production facility to create a virtually limitless number of secondary paint colors with only a limited number of base paints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventor: Mark E. Dion
  • Patent number: 6423366
    Abstract: A method of applying a coating material to a moving strip of substrate comprising the steps of: (a) providing a supply signal from a controller to a coating supply unit to control the supply of coating material from the coating supply unit through a liquid usage detector and a liquid meter unit and to a coater for application to the moving strip; (b) providing a measure signal from the liquid usage detector to the controller to measure the flow rate of coating material through the liquid usage detector; (c) providing a delivery control signal from the controller to the liquid meter unit to control the amount of coating material delivered from the coater to the moving strip; (d) providing a heating signal from the controller to the inline heater to control the heating of coating material within the inline heater; and (e) providing a dispense signal from the controller to the coater to dispense coating material from the coater for application to the moving strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Roll Coater, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Falck, Norbert Satkoski
  • Patent number: 6395091
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to various systems and processes for applying feed additives to a solid feed composition. In one embodiment, a solid feed additive is combined with a liquid carrier to form a feed additive suspension. The feed additive suspension is fed to a dispensing device that sprays the suspension onto a solid feed composition stream. In an alternative embodiment, a system is disclosed that combines and/or dilutes various liquid feed additives that are then similarly sprayed on a solid feed composition stream. In various embodiments of the present invention, the system includes a plurality of submixing systems that not only maintain a homogeneous suspension or solution but are also capable of continuously applying the solution or suspension to the feed composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Liquid Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne A. Jefferson, Alan M. Kapp
  • Patent number: 6383296
    Abstract: A chambered doctor blade apparatus provides an automatic system for cleanup and replacement of ink or coating substance, as well as operating a hydraulic head loading system that includes hydrostatic compensation, and integrates the head loading mechanism into the automated cleaning, flushing and replacement cycle. A supply pump, a return pump, and a plurality of lines are connected by electrically operated valves. A programmable logic controller (PLC) is connected through a display driver to a touch screen display that presents an interactive graphical user interface for control purposes. The PLC is programmed to carry out sequentially the required steps for cleaning, refilling, and running the chambered doctor blade assembly. The PLC is connected to each of the pumps and valves, and to the head loading valve of a hydrostatically compensated hydraulic head loading system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Harris & Bruno Machine Co.
    Inventor: Robert L. Burgard
  • Publication number: 20020023587
    Abstract: A chambered doctor blade apparatus provides an automatic system for cleanup and replacement of coating substance, as well as operating a hydraulic head loading system that includes hydrostatic compensation, and integrates the head loading mechanism into the automated cleaning, flushing and replacement cycle. A programmable logic controller (PLC) is connected to a touch screen display that presents an interactive graphical user interface for control purposes. The PLC is programmed to carry out sequentially the required steps for cleaning, refilling, and running the chambered doctor blade assembly, and to alternate water-based and non-water-based coatings without necessitating removal of the doctor blade head from the transfer roller. Each coating run begins with a purge step in which a new coating material is pumped through the system to waste to remove any residual material from the previous coating run.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventor: Robert L. Burgard
  • Publication number: 20020020351
    Abstract: A tire, and an apparatus and method for forming a tire. The tire may either be a tubed or tubeless tire, and is filled with a mixture of virgin rubber and small rubber pieces. Preferably, a machine grinds the core of used flatproofed tires, or pieces thereof, into a finely communicated pulverulent. The pulverent is mixed with liquid virgin flatproofing material, such as a polyurethane. An injector introduces this mixture, into the core of a tire, typically through a valve. The core of the tire is preferably substantially filled with this mixture. The injector may take the form of one or more elongated screws and the mixing may occur as the ground rubber is being conveyed by the screw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventor: Charles A. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 6336973
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for achieving a level exposed surface of an adhesive material pool for applying the adhesive material to lead fingers of a lead frame by contacting the lead fingers with the adhesive material pool within an adhesive reservoir. The level adhesive material exposed surface is achieved by attaching a coating stencil having small apertures, such as a screen or a plate with slots, to the adhesive reservoir, such that the only upward outlet for the adhesive material is through the apertures in the coating stencil. The surface tension between walls of the small apertures and the adhesive material flattens out the exposed surface of the adhesive material. This allows a larger area to be printed with a more uniform thickness layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter L. Moden, Syed S. Ahmad, Gregory M. Chapman, Tongbi Jiang
  • Patent number: 6336974
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for achieving a consistent depth of immersion of a semiconductor element into an exposed surface of an adhesive material pool when applying the adhesive material, conductive or non-conductive, to the semiconductor element or portion thereof. The consistent depth of immersion is defined by a stop which is attached to a reservoir used to form the adhesive material pool, attached to a stencil which is used in conjunction with the reservoir to form a level upper surface on the adhesive material, or operates independently from the reservoir and/or stencil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Syed Sajid Ahmad
  • Patent number: 6334900
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying a gel onto a sheet of material for production of disposable undergarments, the sheet moving in a predetermined direction of manufacture at a predetermined rate of travel, the apparatus comprising: a container positioned to contain a supply of the gel; a shoe comprising a body having a lower surface, a proximal end positioned to receive the sheet of material as the sheet travels in the predetermined direction of manufacture, and a distal end, an inlet conduit positioned within the body to receive the gel therein, a chamber connected to the inlet conduit and positioned within the body, a groove extending along the lower surface of the proximal end of the body and a plurality of spaced-apart outlet conduits each extending from the chamber to the groove so that the gel is delivered onto the sheet of material in a pattern of substantially parallel lines; and a gel delivery controller positioned in fluid communication with the container and with the shoe, for providing a variably controlle
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Inventors: John M. Tharpe, Jr., William L. Meadow
  • Patent number: 6328799
    Abstract: A coating apparatus includes (1) a robot including at least one movable portion, at least one motor for driving the movable portion, and at least one pressurized chamber in which the motor for driving the movable portion is disposed; and (2) a coating device including a coating gun, a paint feed pump and a motor for driving the paint feed pump, the coating device being mounted to the robot. The motor for driving the paint feed pump is disposed in the pressurized chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Inoue, Masashi Murate, Masahito Sakakibara, Junji Ito, Masaki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 6312523
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for the controlled placement of a shear-thinnable polymer composition into a moving web. The controlled placement is preferably performed by applying the polymer composition onto a surface of a moving web, shear thinning the composition and placing it into the web, and curing the polymer composition. A preferred apparatus includes one or more process heads that has mounted thereto a rigid knife blade for engagement with the moving web. The knife blade is movable vertically and rotationally. The process head is also movable horizontally along the path of the moving web. A plurality of macro and micro tension zones are established and are monitored for controlling the apparatus and process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Nextec Applications, Inc.
    Inventors: James Michael Caldwell, George Schmermund
  • Patent number: 6299938
    Abstract: A resist solution applying apparatus and a method of using the resist solution applying apparatus. The apparatus comprises a hold and rotate member that holds and rotates a member to be processed, a resist solution discharge nozzle that discharges a resist solution almost at a center of rotation of the member to be processed, a resist solution supply mechanism that supplies the resist solution to the resist solution discharge nozzle, and a discharge controller connected to the rest solution supply mechanism that controls a predetermined amount of the resist solution discharged from the resist solution discharge nozzle to be reduced gradually or in stages after discharge is started, and increased again before the discharge is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Kiyohisa Tateyama
  • Patent number: 6296708
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling triggering of spray guns in an automatic spray coating system, includes a hand-held pendant having input controls for entering spray gun “on” and spray gun “off” control parameters based upon observation of parts as they are conveyed past the spray guns by a conveyor. Gun triggering controls for optimized spray patterns, including extended and restricted spray patterns and combinations thereof, are entered and saved in a gun triggering controller according to an operator's inputs which include START SPRAY, STOP SPRAY, SAVE and SET PICKOFF controls. Multiple gun control parameters are stored as unique part coating recipes in the controller and are executable in look-ahead sequence based upon part identification as parts are conveyed toward the spray guns. The multiple gun control parameters are calculated by the controller from a fixed Pickoff distance from a part identification sensor to the spray guns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Coulibaly, Gene L. Todd
  • Patent number: 6258167
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a film of a process liquid, comprising a mounting table for supporting the substrate to be processed substantially horizontally, a process liquid supply device for supplying a process liquid for processing the substrate, a linear nozzle having a header space which has a length substantially corresponding to a diameter of the substrate and a liquid discharge portion, the header space mutually communicating with the liquid discharge portion, a liquid inlet port which communicates with the process liquid supply device and whose opening is formed above the header space, a moving device for relatively moving the linear nozzle and the mounting table while the liquid discharge portion faces the substrate on the mounting table, and a control device for controlling a viscosity of the photoresist solution within the header space or controlling a temperature of the developing liquid in the header space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Yukihiro Kawano, Takashi Takekuma
  • Patent number: 6245148
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a SOG (Spin-On-Glass) dispensing system and its controlling sequences and, more particularly, to a SOG dispensing system allowing for continuous production and its controlling sequences According to the present invention, a buffer tank, whose wall is set a plurality of level sensors at different level heights, is connected between a source tank with a SOG bottle inside and a coating unit of prior art and then SOG is supplied for a time interval from the source tank into the buffer tank by control signals from these level sensors. Besides, the buffer tank is surrounded with a cooling unit to provide a low temperature enviroment allowing for prolonging life time of SOG and preventing organic solvent inside SOG from evaporating and then crystallizing to form contamination particles at wall of the SOG dispensing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Mosel Vitelic Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Liang, Peter Baw, John Chiu, Bryan Chang
  • Patent number: 6206968
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for coating a food, confectionery or pharmaceutical product wherein the product is prepared in rotary pans and wherein separate adjustable double piston metering pumps are used to automatically supply a coating substance to each pan on a predetermined schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: LIF Hospitality Mints LLC
    Inventor: Charles Mitchell Minges
  • Patent number: 6071347
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for manufacturing a heater roller which includes a cylindrical electrically insulating substrate having an outer circumferential surface, and an electrically resistive heat generating layer formed on the substrate for heating a desired member in evenly pressing contact with that member, wherein an electrically resistive paste for forming the electrically resistive layer is delivered from a paste delivery tube of a paste delivery device onto the outer circumferential surface of the substrate, while the cylindrical substrate is rotated about its axis and while the paste delivery device and the electrically insulating substrate are fed relative to each other in the axial direction of the cylindrical substrate, such that the relative feeding speed is controlled in relation to the relative position of the paste delivery device and the substrate in the axial direction of the substrate, within a range that permits formation of a film of the electrically resistive paste on the substrate, which fi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Noritake Co., Limited
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Ogawa, Kazuo Kobayashi, Ken Takeoka, Kazunori Hosomi
  • Patent number: 6056822
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to various systems and processes for applying feed additives to a solid feed composition. In one embodiment, a solid feed additive is combined with a liquid carrier to form a feed additive suspension. The feed additive suspension is fed to a dispensing device that sprays the suspension onto a solid feed composition stream. In an alternative embodiment, a system is disclosed that combines and/or dilutes various liquid feed additives that are then similarly sprayed on a solid feed composition stream. In various embodiments of the present invention, the system includes a plurality of submixing systems that not only maintain a homogeneous suspension or solution but are also capable of continuously applying the solution or suspension to the feed composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Liquid Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne A. Jefferson, Alan M. Kapp
  • Patent number: 6056998
    Abstract: A coating apparatus of the present invention comprises coating solution supply sources for supplying a coating solution, a mounting table for holding a substrate to allow a surface to be coated to face upward, nozzles for pouring the coating solution toward the surface of the substrate to be coated, mounted on the mounting table, a pump chamber capable of swinging its volume and having a sucking port for introducing the coating solution from the coating solution supply source and a spurting port for spurting the coating solution and to be supplied toward the nozzle, pump driving mechanisms for increasing and decreasing an inner pressure of the pump chamber to introduce and spurt the coating solution into/from the pump chamber, a filter provided inside or at the upstream side of the pump chamber for filtrating the coating solution before the coating solution is spurted out from the pump chamber through the spurting outlet, a valve provided between the pump chamber and the nozzle for regulating a flow amount of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Akihiro Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 6010570
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for forming a coating film for semiconductor processing, including a holder for holding a substrate, a coating solution supply device arranged to face one main surface of the substrate held by the holder and provided with a discharge port for supplying a coating solution onto the one main surface of the substrate, the coating solution forming a band-like stream having a width smaller than that of the substrate, a moving device for moving the coating solution supply device in parallel and relative to the substrate held by the holder to form a coating region and a non-coating region on the one main surface of the substrate, and a clearance retaining device for maintaining constant the distance between the discharge port of the coating solution supply device and the one main surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Kimio Motoda, Tetsu Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 5976611
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical fiber coating method and an apparatus therefor which can form high quality coating layer on an optical fiber (12) by preventing non-concentricity of a coating resin (14) applied on the optical fiber (12) and admixing of bubble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaoru Okuno, Akira Inoue, Kazumasa Oishi, Kohei Kobayashi, Ichiro Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 5970644
    Abstract: A portable self-contained fish attractant applicator for dispersing fish attractant to a fishing lure consisting of a container having a removable cover, a pump housing containing a pump mounted on a back side, a mounting plate mounted on the removable cover and extending over the container, a lure guide hinged to the end of the mounting plate, and a rotary switch mounted on the mounting plate with an arm extending over the lure guide and activated by the lure guide when pulled upwardly by a lure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Inventor: Thomas R. Breeze
  • Patent number: 5916524
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing precise quantities of reagents is disclosed including a positive displacement syringe pump in series with a dispenser, such as an aerosol dispenser or solenoid valve dispenser. The pump is controlled by a stepper motor or the like to provide an incremental quantity or continuous flow of reagent to the dispenser. The pump and dispenser are operated in cooperation with one another such that the quantity and/or flow rate of liquid dispensed by the dispenser can be precisely metered substantially independently of the particular operating parameters of said dispenser to attain a desired flow rate, droplet size or mist quality, droplet frequency and/or droplet velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Bio-Dot, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas C. Tisone
  • Patent number: 5849086
    Abstract: Apparatus for applying liquid to a workpiece surface by contact, including at least one freely rotatable roller having a cylindrical outer wall whose surface is arranged to contact workpieces or workstock, including elongated sheet stock, and to be rotatably moved thereby while transferring liquid to the surface of the workstock or workpiece by contact. The apparatus includes a source or supply of the liquid to be applied and a controllable liquid-dispensing device connected between the source and the roller for conveying desired quantities of liquid from the source to the roller, and also includes means for controlling the liquid-dispensing apparatus in response to roller rotation such that predetermined quantities of liquid are provided from the source in direct relation to the roller movement caused by the advancing workpieces or workstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Inventor: Charles W. Boelkins
  • Patent number: 5797983
    Abstract: A liquid-dispenser and surface applicator for sheet stock or other such workpieces, including an applicator member which preferably comprises at least one generally hollow elongated roller which contacts advancing workpieces and applies liquid to surfaces thereof as they pass. A cyclically repeatable liquid-dispensing apparatus meters predetermined pulsed quantities of the liquid from a source and these are coupled to a dispensing tube disposed within and extending axially along the inside of the applicator roller. The dispensing tube has a closed end which causes the pulses of liquid coupled to it to be pressurized and thus expelled as a spray in metered quantities through a series of spaced apertures in the dispensing tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Inventor: Charles W. Boelkins
  • Patent number: 5776251
    Abstract: In a duplex type coating apparatus, a left-right pair of dies and are disposed on opposite sides of a carrying path of a web, the dies and are each made up of an upper member and a lower member, a tip part of the lower member projects further toward the carrying path than a tip part of the upper member, and coating liquid discharge passages are inclined in the direction of the carrying path of the web. As a result, because the same amount of coating liquid is discharged from each of the dies and coated onto each side of the web, it is possible to carry out coating at the same coating thickness and in the same position on both sides of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Hirano Tecseed Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuaki Irie, Takao Ishida, Akiyoshi Hashimoto, Yasutomi Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 5766357
    Abstract: An apparatus for fiber impregnation for use in a fiber placement system is disclosed. Resin is impregnated in the fiber rovings as they pass through a manifold. The manifold includes grooves for the fibers to travel, a reservoir to receive the resin and channels for the resin to flow to the individual fibers for impregnation. A control system measures and monitors the fiber speed and then mixes, pumps and delivers the desired quantity of resin to the tows for impregnation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.
    Inventors: Bradford P. Packer, Michael L. Rhodes, Russell H. Montgomery, Roger D. Holstein
  • Patent number: 5759277
    Abstract: An apparatus for supplying electrically conductive coating material, such as water-based paint, includes a manifold connected to a high voltage electrostatic power supply and to one or more coating dispensers, and, a number of coating transfer units which are movable between a discharge position or station at the manifold and a filling station physically spaced from the manifold. Each of the transfer units includes a combined shuttle and pumping device which initially receives coating material at the filling station, and is then movable to the discharge station where the coating material is transferred from the pumping device, through the manifold, and then to one or more coating dispensers for deposition onto a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Milovich, Ronald R. Schroeder, William F. Parmentar, Julius J. Molnar, Jack Penick
  • Patent number: 5743960
    Abstract: A reagent dispensing apparatus is provided including a positive displacement syringe pump in series with a solenoid valve dispenser. The pump is controlled by a stepper motor or the like to provide an incremental quantity or continuous flow of reagent to the solenoid valve dispenser. The solenoid valve is opened and closed in at a predetermined frequency and duty cycle to dispense droplets of reagent onto a target substrate at the metered flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Bio-Dot, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas C. Tisone
  • Patent number: 5741558
    Abstract: A method and apparatus (10) for powder coating three dimensional articles (12) carried on a conveyor (14) includes a controller (36) for controlling the rate at which coating material is discharged from a gun (16), so that the rate is proportional to the surface area of the surface portions of the article (12) as they pass the gun (16). Some surface portions topographically have a greater surface area which must be covered, while others are flat or have cut-out regions, requiring less coverage or no coverage at all. In powder coating operations, the discharge rate is controlled via automatic or programmed control of an electro-pneumatic air regulator (42) which regulates the supply of pressurized air to a powder pump (24) connected to the spray gun (16). The apparatus (10) assures uniformity in coating for a three dimensional article (12) with multiple surface portions of varying topography such as curves, angles, cut outs, etc., while minimizing the amount of wasted coating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuo Otani, Hidetaka Tsukamoto, Makoto Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 5735959
    Abstract: An apparatus of spreading a fluid on the floor includes four rectangular application rotating bodies partially overlapping each other, and four nozzles supplying the fluid provided in rotation areas of the respective application rotating bodies. The rotation position of the application rotating body is detected by a light shielding plate and a photosensor. A control portion controls each component so that the fluid is applied onto the floor from a tank through the nozzle by a pump when the application rotating body is not directly under the nozzle. As a result, the apparatus of spreading a fluid on the floor capable of optimally controlling the quantity of the fluid to be applied according to the application condition can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Minolta Co, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Kubo, Shigeru Oyokota, Nobukazu Kawagoe, Masashi Nishikado
  • Patent number: 5685910
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for coating an electromagnetic coil, particularly stator coils for an electric motor, with an insulating catalyzed resin material. The catalyzed resin material is a two component material comprising an epoxy resin and a catalyst. The catalyzed resin material is a free flowing liquid at a first temperature and begins to cure rapidly at a second elevated temperature. The stator coils are first heated by supplying current to the stator coils to raise the temperature of the stator coils to the first temperature. The free flowing liquid catalyzed resin material is dispensed through nozzles onto the stator coils as the stator coils and the nozzles move relative to each other. After the liquid catalyzed resin material has been dispensed in a predetermined amount, at predetermined locations, for predetermined times, the catalyzed resin material is allowed to penetrate the stator coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Reliance Electric Industrial Company
    Inventors: James L. Thigpen, Walter G. Stiffler, James B. Keys, David T. McKinney, Sidney Bell
  • Patent number: 5687092
    Abstract: A fluid dispensing control for controlling the dispensing of a fluid by a metering valve through a nozzle onto a workpiece. An initial value of a flow characteristic of the fluid is determined that is correlated to the relationship between the flow rate of the fluid and nozzle pressure. Desired nozzle pressure values are periodically determined by evaluating a model of flow rate of the fluid through nozzle in response to the initial value of the flow characteristic and a desired flow rate value. Thereafter, the control provides command signals to the metering valve as a function of the desired nozzle pressures. A new value of the flow characteristic is determined as a function of the measured volume of fluid dispensed during the dispensing cycle to the measured nozzle pressure. During a subsequent dispensing cycle, the control determines the desired nozzle pressures by evaluating the model of flow rate of the fluid through the nozzle as a function of the new value of the flow characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Carl A. Bretmersky, Robert C. Hall, Richard G. Klein
  • Patent number: 5658387
    Abstract: A semiconductor processor for spray coating wafers or other semiconductor articles. The processor has a compartment in which are mounted a wafer transfer, coating station and thermal treatment station. The coating station has a spray processing vessel in which a movable spray-head and rotatable wafer holder. The spray station has coating viscosity control features. An ultrasonic resonating spray-head is precisely supplied with coating from a metering pump. The heat treatment station heat cures the coating and then cools the wafer. The system allows coatings to be applied in relatively uniform conformational layers upon irregular surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Semitool, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Reardon, Craig P. Meuchel, Thomas H. Oberlitner
  • Patent number: 5650011
    Abstract: A duplex type coating apparatus capable of applying a coating material to the opposite sides of a moving web while causing the applied coating film to remain identical in thickness on each side has a pair of spaced apart die units disposed at the opposite sides of the web. The web is driven to vertically travel under tension between the dies along a predefined path of travel with a gap defined between each web side and an associated one of the dies. Each die has a liquid reservoir and a transversely elongated slot orifice, or discharge port, at the distal end thereof opposing a corresponding side of the moving web. The dies are operatively coupled to constant fluid feed pumps which supply the reservoirs with a specified amount of coating fluid, enabling the discharge ports to apply an identical amount of coating fluid onto each web surface. The fluid feed amount is chosen such that it is kept equivalent to the product of a preset coat thickness and width as well as the web's traveling speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Hirano Tecseed Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Yoshinaga
  • Patent number: 5641356
    Abstract: A web coating apparatus includes a supply roll of web and a wind-up spindle for receiving a discrete length of the web. Fluid is discharged from a coating die in a direction toward the wind-up spindle to coat the web as the web is wound about the wind-up spindle. A variable speed pump directs fluid through the coating die at flow rate that is proportional to the speed of advancement of the web. The apparatus is particularly useful for coating discrete lengths of orthopedic splinting and casting tape that is packaged for single patient use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Delmore, Gary W. Maier, Paul G. Kowski, Rodney W. Hauschulz
  • Patent number: 5632818
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid injection apparatus for use in a method of lining the internal surface of a pipe. The apparatus comprises a push car having a frame structure, a liquid tank for storing a necessary amount of liquid to be injected into the pipe, a liquid pump for pumping the necessary amount of liquid so as to inject the liquid into the pipe, and a liquid injection controlling device for controlling the pressure of the liquid being supplied through the liquid pump, for stopping the liquid injection after a predetermined amount of liquid has been injected into the pipe, and for stopping the liquid injection if the liquid pressure in the pipe changes beyond a predetermined range. The liquid tank, the liquid pump and the liquid injection controlling device are installed together in the push car so as to be easily movable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Toyoda, Shuichi Yagi, Masaaki Itagaki
  • Patent number: 5560537
    Abstract: The automatic soldering of printed circuit boards wherein different boards can be simultaneously processed at different stations, e.g. a fluxing station, a preheating station and a soldering station. An identification station in advance of the fluxing station controls various parameters at the processing stations in response to board type as the boards are indexed through the various stations. Parameters such as location of application, time of application, pump speed etc. may be controlled in response to board type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: VLT Corporation
    Inventors: Steven P. Sadler, Patrizio Vinciarelli
  • Patent number: 5558716
    Abstract: A coating machine comprising a backing roll and a lip-type nozzle with a doctor edge. The nozzle comprises a first chamber connected to the inlet, a passage, and an outlet for discharging the liquid coating material under pressure toward a web on the backing roll. The outlet comprises a recess in the upper wall of the nozzle body extending toward the doctor edge to form a second chamber at the outlet. A pressure sensor is arranged in the second chamber. A thickness sensor is arranged to detect the thickness of the coated layer. The nozzle is adjustably supported to the machine frame by the left-end, central, and right-end support means, which are controlled in accordance with outputs of the pressure sensor and the thickness sensor so as to obtain a uniform coating layer. Also, the speed of the pump for delivering a coating material is suitably controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Hirano Tecseed Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigetoshi Mitani, Takeshi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 5549755
    Abstract: An apparatus for supplying electrically conductive coating material, such as water-based paint, includes a manifold connected to a high voltage electrostatic power supply and to one or more coating dispensers, and, a number of coating transfer units which are movable between a discharge position or station at the manifold and a filling station physically spaced from the manifold. Each of the transfer units includes a combined shuttle and pumping device which initially receives coating material at the filling station, and is then movable to the discharge station where the coating material is transferred from the pumping device, through the manifold, and then to one or more coating dispensers for deposition onto a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Milovich, Ronald R. Schroeder, William F. Parmentar, Julius J. Molnar, Jack Penick
  • Patent number: 5510149
    Abstract: In the method described, a compound substantially in the form of a paste is fed by means of a pump from a storage container (1) to a metering device (3) which determines the amount of paste to be applied to a workpiece (B). From the metering device, the paste is fed to a spray head (S) where it is mixed with compressed air from a cylinder (4) or other suitable supply and sprayed on to the workpiece (B). The amount of compressed air supplied to the paste for spraying purposes is controlled by means of a control unit (6) in such a way that a strip of substantially constant width is applied to the workpiece (B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: SCA Schucker GmbH
    Inventor: Josef Schucker
  • Patent number: 5501734
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying coatings to yarns, particularly yarns to be utilized as dental floss. In a preferred arrangement, an array of parallel spaced yarns are continuously fed while being intermittently deflected by a cam or deflector. As the yarns are deflected, they enter a grooved liquid applicator, with the grooves maintaining a predetermined amount of liquid therein by capillary action. A predetermined amount of liquid is thus applied at intermittent or spaced locations along the length of the yarn. The method and apparatus is particularly suitable for providing dye at spaced locations along a continuous length of floss, thereby demarcating lengths suitable for individual use. Various aspects are also applicable to a variety of yarn coating and/or dyeing applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Gillette Canada, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry J. Oliphant
  • Patent number: RE38281
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing precise quantities of reagents is disclosed including a positive displacement syringe pump in series with a dispenser, such as an aerosol dispenser or solenoid valve dispenser. The pump is controlled by a stepper motor or the like to provide an incremental quantity or continuous flow of reagent to the dispenser. The pump and dispenser are operated in cooperation with one another such that the quantity and/or flow rate of liquid dispensed by the dispenser can be precisely metered substantially independently of the particular operating parameters of said dispenser to attain a desired flow rate, droplet size or mist quality, droplet frequency and/or droplet velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Biodot, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas C. Tisone
  • Patent number: RE36534
    Abstract: In the method described, a compound substantially in the form of a paste is fed by means of a pump from a storage container (1) to a metering device (3) which determines the amount of paste to be applied to a workpiece (B). From the metering device, the paste is fed to a spray head (S) where it is .[.mixed with.]. .Iadd.swirled by .Iaddend.compressed air from a cylinder (4) or other suitable supply and sprayed on to the workpiece (B). The amount of compressed air supplied to the paste for spraying purposes is controlled by means of a control unit (6) in such a way that a strip of substantially constant width is applied to the workpiece (B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: SCA Schucker GmbH
    Inventor: Josef Schucker