US5208064A
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US
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Method and apparatus for optically monitoring and controlling a moving fiber of material
Assignee: Nordson Corp
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Filing: 1991-11-04
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Granted: 1993-05-04
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Expires: 2011-11-04
Abstract
Abstract A beam of light is transmitted from a transmitter (30) which is broken as the moving fiber (22) passes through the beam. A receiver (32) receives the light and generates a signal in response thereto. The signal is processed to determine the status of the pattern generated by the moving fiber (22) of material. In response to changes in the status of the pattern, the rate at which the fiber is dispensed and/or the movement of the pattern can be adjusted as well as alarm conditions noted.
Inventors
- 👤 Kevin C. Becker
- 👤 Patrick J. O'Keefe, Jr.
- 👤 Eddie W. Dixson, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:40
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05C; B05C5/00; B05C5/02; D; D06; D06B; D06B23/00; B05B; B05B12/00; B05B12/08; B05B12/082; B05B7/00; B05B7/02; B05B7/08; B05B7/0807; B05B7/0861; B05B7/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of monitoring a fiber of material comprising: a) transmitting a beam of light; b) causing the fiber to repeatedly pass through the beam of light; c) generating a signal in response to the presence or absence of the fiber within the beam of light; d) determining an interval between the presence of the fiber in the beam of light and a subsequent presence of the fiber in the beam of light; and e) comparing the interval to a reference.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of monitoring a fiber of material comprising: a) transmitting a beam of light; b) causing the fiber to repeatedly pass through the beam of light; c) generating a signal in response to the presence or absence of the fiber within the beam of light; d) determining an interval between the presence of the fiber in the beam of light and a subsequent presence of the fiber in the beam of light; and e) comparing the interval to a reference.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the interval of step d) is the interval between two consecutive breakages of the beam of light by the fiber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the breakage of the beam of light includes generating an edge signal when an edge of the fiber bears a relationship to the beam of light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising determining an interval between a breakage of the beam of light and a third consecutive breakage of the beam of light by the fiber; and comparing the interval between the breakage of the beam of light and the third consecutive breakage of the beam of light to a reference.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the breakage of the beam of light includes generating an edge signal when the edge of the fiber bears a relationship to the beam of light.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the interval of step d) is the interval between a breakage of the beam of light and a third consecutive breakage of the beam of light by the fiber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step d) includes generating an edge signal in response to the generated signal of step c) when the edge of the fiber bears a relationship to the beam, and determining the interval between edge signals.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of monitoring or controlling a fiber moving generally from a discharge opening to a substrate in a repeating pattern, comprising the steps of: a) determining a period of the pattern; b) determining a symmetry of the pattern; c) comparing the period and the symmetry of the pattern to a respective reference; d) in response to said comparison, performing at least one of the following steps: i) changing the rate at which the fiber is dispensed from the discharged opening, ii) varying the period of the pattern, iii) indicating the status of the pattern, and iv) repeating steps a) through d).
Claim 10
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of monitoring or controlling a fiber moving generally from a discharge opening to a substrate in a repeating pattern, comprising the steps of: a) determining a period of the pattern; b) determining a symmetry of the pattern; c) comparing the period and the symmetry of the pattern to a respective reference; d) in response to said comparison, performing at least one of the following steps: i) changing the rate at which the fiber is dispensed from the discharged opening, ii) varying the period of the pattern, iii) indicating the status of the pattern, and iv) repeating steps a) through d).
Claim 11
Independent Claim
204 words
A method of dispensing a fiber of material comprising the steps of: dispensing the fiber of material from a discharge opening of a dispensing means; causing the dispensed fiber of material to propagate in a moving pattern through a space between the discharge opening and a substrate; transmitting a beam of light such that, under normal operating conditions, the fiber of material will pass through the beam of light at least twice as it propagates in the moving pattern; detecting said beam of light and generating in response to the absence or presence of said beam of light a signal; generating an edge signal in response to said signal when an edge of the fiber of material bears a relationship to the beam of light; generating a symmetry signal indicative of, or proportional to, either a time interval between a first said edge signal and a second edge signal or a time interval between the second said edge signal and a third edge signal; generating a period signal indicative of, of proportional to, the time interval between said first edge signal and said third edge signal; and determining the status of the motion of the pattern in response to said period and symmetry signals.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
204 words
A method of dispensing a fiber of material comprising the steps of: dispensing the fiber of material from a discharge opening of a dispensing means; causing the dispensed fiber of material to propagate in a moving pattern through a space between the discharge opening and a substrate; transmitting a beam of light such that, under normal operating conditions, the fiber of material will pass through the beam of light at least twice as it propagates in the moving pattern; detecting said beam of light and generating in response to the absence or presence of said beam of light a signal; generating an edge signal in response to said signal when an edge of the fiber of material bears a relationship to the beam of light; generating a symmetry signal indicative of, or proportional to, either a time interval between a first said edge signal and a second edge signal or a time interval between the second said edge signal and a third edge signal; generating a period signal indicative of, of proportional to, the time interval between said first edge signal and said third edge signal; and determining the status of the motion of the pattern in response to said period and symmetry signals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of controlling the dispensing means in response to changes in the status of the motion of the pattern.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of indicating an alarm in response to the status of the pattern being in excess of a reference.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said step of determining the status of the motion of the pattern includes determining an average period for a plurality of period signals and comparing the average period to a reference and indicating the status of the pattern in response to said comparison.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said step of determining the status of the motion of the pattern includes: determining an average symmetry for a plurality of symmetry signals; determining an average symmetry ratio wherein the symmetry ratio is the ratio of the average symmetry divided by the average period; and comparing the average symmetry ratio to a reference and indicating the status of the motion of the pattern in response to said comparison.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of: controlling or adjusting the dispensing means in response to an external control signal for performing at least one of the following: a) varying the discharge of the fiber of material from the discharge opening of the dispensing means, and b) varying the pattern of the fiber.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
160 words
A method comprising the steps of: a) dispensing a bead of adhesive from a discharge opening of a dispensing means at a flow rate; b) causing the dispensed bead of adhesive to propagate in a rotating pattern through a space between the discharge opening and a substrate; c) transmitting a beam of light such that, under normal operating conditions, the bead of adhesive will pass through the beam of light at least twice as it moves in said pattern; d) detecting said beam of light and generating in response to the presence or absence of said beam of light a signal; e) comparing said signal to a reference; and in response to said comparison performing at least one of the following steps: i) varying the rate at which the bead of material is dispensed from the discharged opening; ii) varying the rate at which the bead of material rotates in said pattern, and iii) indicating the status of the pattern.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
160 words
A method comprising the steps of: a) dispensing a bead of adhesive from a discharge opening of a dispensing means at a flow rate; b) causing the dispensed bead of adhesive to propagate in a rotating pattern through a space between the discharge opening and a substrate; c) transmitting a beam of light such that, under normal operating conditions, the bead of adhesive will pass through the beam of light at least twice as it moves in said pattern; d) detecting said beam of light and generating in response to the presence or absence of said beam of light a signal; e) comparing said signal to a reference; and in response to said comparison performing at least one of the following steps: i) varying the rate at which the bead of material is dispensed from the discharged opening; ii) varying the rate at which the bead of material rotates in said pattern, and iii) indicating the status of the pattern.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said comparison comprises: comparing an interval between the presence of the bead in the beam of light to a subsequent presence of the bead in the beam of light.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said comparing step comprises the steps of determining a period of the pattern; determining symmetry of the pattern; and comparing the period and the symmetry of the pattern to a respective reference.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
117 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said comparing step comprises the steps of: generating an edge signal in response to said signal when an edge of the bead of material bears a relationship to the beam of light; generating a symmetry signal indicative of, or proportional to, either a time interval between a first said edge signal and a second edge signal or a time interval between the second said edge signal and a third edge signal; generating a period signal indicative of, or proportional to, the time interval between said first edge signal and said third edge signal; and determining the status of the motion of the pattern in response to said period and symmetry signals.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said step of determining the status of the motion of the pattern includes determining an average period for a plurality of period signals and comparing the status of the pattern in response to said comparison.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said step of determining the status of the motion of the pattern includes; determining an average symmetry for a plurality of symmetry signals; determining an average symmetry ratio wherein the symmetry ratio is the ratio of the average symmetry divided by the average period; and comparing the average symmetry ratio to a reference and indicating the status of the motion of the pattern in response to said comparison.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-05-03 | 1996-11-02 | 1997-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-03 | 2000-11-02 | 2001-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-03 | 2004-11-02 | 2005-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |