Radiation supply and adhesive dispensing system

A control unit for use in a system for dispensing a radiation-curable liquid substance, comprising:

• (a) a housing having an opening therefrom;
• (b) radiation source means in said housing in effective registry with said opening;
• (c) shutter means including a shutter means adapted and disposed for blocking the passage of radiation from said source means through said opening, said shutter means being selectively operable to cause said shutter member to either prevent or permit such passage of radiation;
• (d) air valve means selectively operable to either prevent or permit the passage of air supplied thereto;
• (e) coupling means for operatively connected radiation-transmitting means and pneumatically operated substance-dispensing means to said housing opening and said valve means, respectively, and for connecting said valve means to a pressurized air supply, whereby said unit can be used to control both the dispensation and also the irradiation of liquid substance at a location remote therefrom;
• (f) a first variable timer operatively connected to said valve means for controlling the period during which such passage of air is permitted;
• and
• (g) a second variable timer operatively connected to said shutter means for controlling the period during which such passage of radiation is permitted, whereby said unit can be used to dispense substance during an initial period of time, controlled by said first time, and to effect the passage of radiation for a second period of time following said initial period, controlled by said second timer.

A system for dispensing a radiation-curable liquid substance comprising, in combination:

• (a) a control unit having radiation source means therein and an opening therefrom in effective registry with said source means;
• shutter means including a shutter member adapted to block the passage of radiation from said source means through said opening, said shutter means being selectively operable to cause said shutter member to either prevent or permit such passage of radiation;
• air valve means selectively operable to either prevent or permit the passage of pressurized air supplied thereto;
• and means for connecting a source of pressurized air to said air valve means;
• (b) manual switch means remote from said control unit for the selective, mutually exclusive operation of either said shutter means or said valve means;
• (c) a hand-held dispenser comprising a body with means providing a chamber for the containment of liquid substance and for dispensing the substance therefrom at a certain point, and with means for mounting one end portion of a light guide member with a point of emission of radiation therefrom disposed proximate said point of dispensing of substance from said chamber;
• (d) a conduit having two opposite ends, one of said ends of said conduit being in pneumatic communication with said chamber of said dispenser;
• and
• (e) a flexible light guide member having two opposite ends, a first end portion at one of said guide member ends being so mounted by said mounting means of said dispenser;
• said control unit additionally having means for connecting the other end of said conduit in pneumatic communication with said air valve means, and having means for connecting the opposite end portion of said light guide member adjacent said opening of said unit with the end of said guide member thereat in registry with said radiation source means whereby, by operation of said switch means, said system can be used to dispense liquid substance at a location remote from said control unit during an initial period of time, and to effect the passage of radiation to said location for a second period of time following said initial period, to effect curing of the liquid substance.