Apparatus and method for dispensing a multi-component material

An apparatus for dispensing a multi-component material, the apparatus comprising:

• a dispensing unit comprising:
• a first pump-metering unit configured for fluidly communicating a first material component having a first permittivity when polarized under an electric field at a predetermined voltage frequency;
• a second pump-metering unit configured for fluidly communicating a second material component having a second permittivity when polarized under the electric field at the predetermined voltage frequency, wherein the second permittivity is different than the first permittivity;
• a mixing unit in fluid communication with the first and second pump-metering units for receiving the first and second material components, and wherein the first pump-metering unit, the second pump-metering unit, and the mixing unit are cooperatively configured to advance the first and second material components through the mixing unit at a mixing ratio to form a material component mixture that is dispensed from the mixing unit;
• and
• a dielectric sensor configured to measure one or more dielectric and/or permittivity properties of the material component mixture for determining a third permittivity of the material component mixture when polarized under the electric field at the predetermined voltage frequency, wherein the third permittivity is related to the first permittivity, the second permittivity, and the mixing ratio, wherein the apparatus is configured to compare the third permittivity to a predetermined permittivity, wherein the predetermined permittivity is related to the first permittivity, the second permittivity, and a predetermined mixing ratio, and wherein if the third permittivity differs from the predetermined permittivity by a threshold limit or more than the threshold limit, a corrective response is generated.

A vehicle comprising:

• a workpiece;
• and
• a material component mixture or a derivative thereof disposed thereon, wherein the material component mixture has been dispensed onto the workpiece by a method comprising:
• introducing a first material component to a mixing unit, wherein the first material component has a first permittivity when polarized under an electric field at a predetermined voltage frequency;
• introducing a second material component to the mixing unit, wherein the second material component has a second permittivity when polarized under the electric field at the predetermined voltage frequency, and wherein the second permittivity is different than the first permittivity;
• advancing the first and second material components through the mixing unit at a mixing ratio to form a material component mixture that is dispensed from the mixing unit;
• determining a third permittivity of the material component mixture when polarized under the electric field at the predetermined voltage frequency, wherein the third permittivity is related to the first permittivity, the second permittivity, and the mixing ratio;
• and
• comparing the third permittivity to a predetermined permittivity, wherein the predetermined permittivity is related to the first permittivity, the second permittivity, and a predetermined mixing ratio, and wherein if the third permittivity differs from the predetermined permittivity by a threshold limit or more than the threshold limit, a corrective response is generated.