Method for correlating processor and part temperatures using an air temperature sensor for a conveyorized thermal processor
AssigneeKIC Thermal Profiling
InventorsPhilip C. Kazmierowicz, Steven Arthur Schultz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for aligning a boundary condition temperature in a thermal processor utilizes an air temperature measurement. During the thermal process, air temperature measured along an interval series forms an air profile and provides a reference to which the boundary condition temperature may be aligned. A method for aligning a part temperature profile to the processor temperature profile uses the measured air temperature to adjust the part temperature profile, so as to be synchronized with the air temperature profile. These procedures may be used in conjunction with setpoint parameter prediction for attaining a target part temperature response.
Claims27
A method for aligning a boundary condition temperature to a zone boundary in a multi-zone conveyorized thermal processor, said method comprising:
- running a thermal process with a setpoint temperature in a zone and a conveyor speed for a conveyor;
- measuring an air temperature in the thermal processor along a series of intervals, wherein an interval within said series of intervals corresponds to the zone boundary;
- determining an offset for a minimum difference between the boundary condition temperature and said air temperature;
- and
- shifting and distorting the boundary condition temperature along said series of intervals until said air temperature differs from the boundary condition temperature by said offset.
A method for synchronizing a part temperature to a zone boundary in a multi-zone conveyorized thermal processor, said method comprising:
- running a thermal process with a setpoint temperature in a zone and a conveyor speed for a conveyor;
- measuring an air temperature in the thermal processor along a series of intervals, wherein an interval within said series of intervals corresponds to the zone boundary;
- measuring a part temperature in the thermal processor along said series of intervals;
- finding a peak part temperature along said series of intervals;
- finding an equivalent air temperature equal to said peak part temperature at a cross-over interval;
- and
- shifting said part temperature along said series of intervals until said peak part temperature corresponds to said cross-over interval.
A method for correlating a part temperature to a boundary condition temperature in a multi-zone conveyorized thermal processor, said method comprising:
- running a thermal process with a setpoint temperature in a zone and a conveyor speed for a conveyor;
- measuring an air temperature in the thermal processor along a series of intervals;
- measuring a part temperature in the thermal processor along said series of intervals;
- determining an offset for a minimum difference between the boundary condition temperature and said air temperature;
- shifting and distorting the boundary condition temperature along said series of intervals until said air temperature differs from the boundary condition temperature by said offset;
- finding a peak part temperature within said response profile;
- finding an equivalent air temperature equal to said peak part temperature at a cross-over interval;
- and
- shifting said response profile along said abscissa until said peak part temperature corresponds to said cross-over interval.
A method for locating zone locations in a conveyorized thermal processor having a plurality of zones, said method comprising:
- running a thermal process with a setpoint temperature in a zone and a conveyor speed for a conveyor;
- measuring an air temperature in the thermal processor along a series of intervals to produce an air profile;
- calculating a second derivative profile from said air profile;
- identifying an end of a last zone in the plurality of zones;
- and
- identifying a start of each zone in the plurality of zones.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.