Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A sensor for sensing the level of adhesive medium in a dispensing device, characterised in that the sensor comprises; (a) a coil which is adapted to surround a dispensing device for dispensing adhesive medium at an adhesive dispensing station; (b) means for connecting the coil to the input of an oscillator; (c) detector means for detecting the frequency of the output of the coil; (d) conversion means to perform a frequency to voltage conversion on the varying frequency detected at the detector means (c); (e) analogue to digital conversion means to convert the signal from the frequency to voltage conversion means (d) into a form which can be compared with a calibration scale obtained by measuring the signals generated at the output of the coil, when the coil is surrounding a dispensing device containing at least two different known quantities of adhesive medium; and (f) display means for displaying the result of this comparison.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
A sensor for sensing the level of adhesive medium in a dispensing device, characterised in that the sensor comprises; (a) a coil which is adapted to surround a dispensing device for dispensing adhesive medium at an adhesive dispensing station; (b) means for connecting the coil to the input of an oscillator; (c) detector means for detecting the frequency of the output of the coil; (d) conversion means to perform a frequency to voltage conversion on the varying frequency detected at the detector means (c); (e) analogue to digital conversion means to convert the signal from the frequency to voltage conversion means (d) into a form which can be compared with a calibration scale obtained by measuring the signals generated at the output of the coil, when the coil is surrounding a dispensing device containing at least two different known quantities of adhesive medium; and (f) display means for displaying the result of this comparison.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sensor according to claim 1 characterised in that the conversion means (d) comprises a phase locked loop circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A sensor according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that it further comprises an amplifier which amplifies the output signal from the frequency to voltage converter (d) before it is fed to the analogue to digital converter (e).
Claim 5
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for sensing the level of an adhesive medium in a dispensing device, characterised in that the method comprises the steps of; (i) surrounding the dispensing device with a coil; (ii) using the coil as the frequency determining component of an oscillator; (iii) detecting the frequency of the output of the coil at at least two different known levels of adhesive, in order to calibrate the coil; (iv) detecting the frequency of the output of the coil at the level of adhesive which is required to be sensed; (v) comparing the frequency detected in step (iv) with the calibration of step (iii); and (vi) calculating the level of adhesive in the dispensing device.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for sensing the level of an adhesive medium in a dispensing device, characterised in that the method comprises the steps of; (i) surrounding the dispensing device with a coil; (ii) using the coil as the frequency determining component of an oscillator; (iii) detecting the frequency of the output of the coil at at least two different known levels of adhesive, in order to calibrate the coil; (iv) detecting the frequency of the output of the coil at the level of adhesive which is required to be sensed; (v) comparing the frequency detected in step (iv) with the calibration of step (iii); and (vi) calculating the level of adhesive in the dispensing device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 4, characterised in that the frequency detected at (iii) and (iv) is put through a frequency to voltage converter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 5, characterised in that the frequency to voltage converter is a phase locked loop (PLL) circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 5 or claim 6 characterised in that the output from the frequency to voltage converter is amplified in a difference amplifier.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 7, characterised in that the amplified voltage signal is fed to an analogue to digital converter.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
19 words
A method according to any of claims 4 to 8, characterised in that the adhesive is an epoxy adhesive.