Hot melt adhesive detection methods and systems
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsDieter B. Heerdt, Paul M. Jenkins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Hot melt adhesive sensing systems and methods including detecting (410) multiple areas of a target, for example, a hot adhesive material, by sensing changes in temperature with a corresponding number of thermal sensors, summing (420) an output of the thermal sensors, and evaluating (430) the summed output by comparing the summed output with a reference, the results of which may be assessed relative to a specified tolerance.
Claims14
An apparatus for sensing material deposited by a material deposition system, the apparatus comprising:
- at least two sensors, the sensors in spaced apart relation;
- a signal summer coupled to the at least two sensors;
- a controller coupled to the output of the signal summer,
- the controller for determining a number of sampled outputs of the summer less than a reference and for evaluating the number of outputs of the summer relative to a predefined tolerance.
An apparatus for sensing material deposited by a material deposition system, comprising:
- two sensors mounted in spaced apart relation, each of the two sensors having a signal output,
- each of the two sensors mounted on corresponding pivot axes, the pivot axes of the two sensors are arranged substantially parallel to each other, a spacing between target areas detectable by the two sensors adjustable by pivoting the two sensors about the corresponding pivot axes,
- a signal summer, the signal summer having inputs coupled to corresponding outputs of the two sensors, the signal summer having an output.
A hot melt adhesive sensing system, comprising:
- at least two thermal sensors mounted in spaced apart relation, each of the at least two sensors having an output the at least two thermal sensors oriented to detect thermal radiation emanating along diverging paths,
- at least one of die at least two thermal sensors adjustably mounted on a pivot axis, a threaded sensor adjustment shaft oriented non-parallel to the pivot axis, the threaded sensor adjustment shaft coupled to the at least one thermal sensor, the at least one thermal sensor adjustable about the pivot axis by the threaded sensor adjustment shaft to adjust a spacing between target areas detectable by the at least two thermal sensors;
- a signal summer, the signal summer having inputs coupled to the outputs of the at least two thermal sensors, the signal summer having an output;
- a controller having an input coupled to the output of the signal summer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.