Imaging and inspection system for a dispenser and method for same

A dispensing system for dispensing materials onto a substrate, the dispensing system comprising:

• a dispenser having a dispensing outlet positionable over a top surface of the substrate, the dispenser having a substantially vertical dispensing axis along which material from the dispenser is dispensed;
• a vision system mechanically coupled to the dispenser, the vision system being positionable to obtain images of the top surface of the substrate along an optical axis, wherein the vision system is constructed and arranged such that the optical axis intersects the dispensing axis, wherein the vision system includes a telecentric lens configuration, the vision system being configured to obtain two dimensional images of the top surface of the substrate, wherein the vision system includes a detector having a detector plane that forms a first acute angle with the optical axis, and wherein the first acute angle is substantially equal to a second acute angle between the optical axis and the top surface of the substrate;
• a light source coupled to the dispenser and constructed and arranged to direct light along an illumination axis that intersects the dispensing axis and the optical axis;
• a gantry system coupled to the dispenser and the vision system to position the dispenser and vision system over the top surface of the substrate;
• and
• a controller coupled to the dispenser and the vision system, wherein the controller and the vision system are configured to capture an image of a drop of material dispensed onto the substrate and to determine at least one parameter of the drop of material.