Variable fluid dispenser
AssigneeComputrol, Inc.
InventorsIan Buckley, William Weil, Scott Woolley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dispenser that dispenses fluid is controlled using a feedback control system. The control system uses a positional encoder to determine the precise position of a valve contained in an actuator in order to control the dispensing of the fluid. Various motion profiles may be used to control the position of the valve. The motion profiles of the valve enable controlled variation of the amount of fluid dispensed over time and enable several specific improvements to the dispensing of sealant in the manufacture of metal and composite cans.
Claims30
A method of applying a sealant to a can end in a controlled manner in accordance with a profile comprising:
- generating a profile signal that is representative of said profile;
- providing a dispenser that dispenses said sealant to said can end, said dispenser having a fixed portion and a moving portion that define a variable size opening through which said sealant flows through said dispenser;
- detecting a position of said moving portion of said dispenser with respect to said fixed portion;
- generating an encoder signal that is indicative said position of said moving portion;
- applying said profile signal and said encoder signal to a controller;
- generating a control signal representative of the difference between said profile signal and said encoder signal;
- applying said control signal to an actuator that is coupled to said moving portion that moves said moving portion in response to said control signal so that said moving portion is moved to a position that matches said profile.
A device for applying sealant to a can end comprising:
- a valve having a fixed portion and a moving portion, said fixed portion and said moving portion defining a variable size opening that regulates the amount of said sealant that is dispensed from said valve as said moving portion is moved relative to said fixed portion;
- a profile signal that defines a desired movement of said moving portion of said valve;
- an encoder that detects a position of said moving portion and generates an encoder signal representative of said position of said moving portion;
- a controller that compares said encoder signal and said profile signal and generates a control signal;
- an actuator that moves said moving portion of said valve in response to said control signal.
A method of dispensing a viscous liquid in a controlled manner in accordance with a profile comprising:
- generating a profile signal that is representative of said profile;
- providing a dispenser that dispenses said sealant to said can end, said dispenser having a fixed portion and a moving portion that define a variable size opening through which said sealant flows through said dispenser;
- detecting a position of said moving portion of said dispenser with respect to said fixed portion;
- generating an encoder signal that is indicative of said position of said moving portion;
- applying said profile signal and said encoder signal to a controller;
- generating a control signal representative of the difference between said profile signal and said encoder signal;
- applying said control signal to an actuator that is coupled to said moving portion that moves said moving portion in response to said control signal so that said moving portion is moved to a position that matches said profile.
A device for dispensing a viscous liquid comprising:
- a valve having a fixed portion and a moving portion, said fixed portion and said moving portion defining a variable size opening that regulates the amount of said viscous liquid that is dispensed from said valve as said moving portion is moved relative to said fixed portion;
- a profile signal that defines a desired movement of said moving portion of said valve;
- an encoder that detects a position of said moving portion and generates an encoder signal representative of said position of said moving portion;
- a controller that compares said encoder signal and said profile signal and generates a control signal;
- an actuator that moves said moving portion of said valve in response to said control signal.
A method of applying a sealant to a can end in a controlled manner in accordance with a profile comprising:
- generating a profile signal that is representative of said profile;
- providing a dispenser that dispenses said sealant to said can end, said dispenser having a fixed portion and a moving portion that define a variable size opening through which said sealant flows through said dispenser;
- applying said profile signal to a controller that controls said moving portion of said dispenser so that the amount of said sealant that is applied to said can end corresponds to said profile.
A device for applying sealant to a can end comprising:
- a valve having a fixed portion and a moving portion, said fixed portion and said moving portion defining a variable size opening that regulates the amount of said sealant that is dispensed from said valve as said moving portion is moved relative to said fixed portion;
- a profile signal that defines a desired movement of said moving portion of said valve;
- a controller that generates a control signal in response to said profile signal;
- an actuator that moves said moving portion of said valve in response to said control signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.