Adjustable die for a fluid dispenser and method
AssigneeNordson Corporation
InventorsJohn Jackson, Laurence B. Saidman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A die for dispensing a fluid onto a substrate, wherein the die has an movable lip adjacent a fixed lip to form a die opening therebetween. An actuator is mechanically connected to the movable lip and is operable to automatically move the movable lip with respect to the fixed lip in association with a fluid dispensing process, thereby changing a volume of the die opening. The adjustable die is often a slot die and is used with a fluid dispensing valve having an upstream valve ball. The actuator can be an electromechanical actuator such as a piezoelectric actuator or a fluid operated actuator.
Claims18
A die for dispensing a fluid onto a substrate comprising:
- a first lip;
- a second lip positioned adjacent said first lip to form a fluid cavity therebetween;
- and
- an actuator connected to said first lip and operable to move said first lip relative to said second lip to change a size of said fluid cavity between said first lip and said second lip.
A slot die for dispensing a fluid onto a substrate comprising:
- a first lip;
- a second lip positioned adjacent said first lip, said first lip and said second lip defining a die slot therebetween having a volume;
- and
- an actuator connected to said first lip and operable to move said first lip relative to said second lip to change said volume of said die slot.
A fluid dispensing apparatus for dispensing fluid from a fluid source onto a substrate comprising:
- a fluid dispensing valve adapted to be fluidly connected to the fluid source;
- a die fluidly connected to said fluid dispensing valve, said die comprising
- a first lip,
- a second lip positioned adjacent said first lip, said first lip and said second lip forming a fluid cavity therebetween, and
- a lip actuator connected to said first lip and operable to move said first lip with respect to said second lip, thereby changing a size of said fluid cavity between said first lip and said second lip.
A method of changing a size of a die cavity of a die on a fluid dispensing apparatus, the fluid dispensing apparatus operable to dispense fluid through the die cavity and onto a substrate, the method comprising:
- providing a first die lip positioned adjacent a second die lip, the first die lip and the second die lip defining the die cavity therebetween;
- and
- automatically moving the first die lip relative to the second die lip with an actuator in association with a fluid dispensing cycle to change the size of the die cavity.
A method of providing a fluid snuff-back in a fluid dispensing system having a fluid dispensing valve operable to initiate and terminate a flow of fluid therethrough, the method comprising:
- providing a die in fluid communication with the fluid dispensing valve, the die having a first die lip positioned adjacent a second die lip to form a die opening between the first die lip and the second die lip;
- closing the fluid dispensing valve to terminate a flow of fluid therethrough;
- and
- increasing a size of the die opening to contain in the die opening extra fluid dispensed by the fluid dispensing valve in the process of closing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.