Method and apparatus for detecting a liquid spray pattern

• Main Authors: REIGHARD MICHAEL A, MYCKE JACQUES, DONGES WILLIAM E, ESPENSCHIED KENNETH
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 03.02.2005
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: APPARATUS FOR APPLYING LIQUIDS OR OTHER FLUENT MATERIALS TOSURFACES, IN GENERAL; APPLYING LIQUIDS OR OTHER FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL; ATOMISING APPARATUS; BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISEPROVIDED FOR; ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; LIQUID HANDLING; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS; MEASURING; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS; MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEARDIMENSIONS; NOZZLES; OPENING, CLOSING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; PRINTED CIRCUITS; SPRAYING APPARATUS; SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; TESTING; TRANSPORTING

During a liquid spray pattern detection procedure, the sensor (50, 52) is operable to detect the presence or absence of an edge of the dispensed liquid spray pattern. The nozzle (18) of the liquid dispensing system is moved to a predetermined position (A) relative to the sensor (50, 52) to determine the presence or absence of the spray pattern and is then moved to a second predetermined position (B) relative to the sensor (50, 52) to again determine the presence or absence of the spray pattern. Based on these determinations, the width of the spray pattern can be verified. This provides a quick means to verify that the width of the dispensed pattern is within certain tolerances.