Patent ID: 9243626
Filing Date: 2016-01-26
CPC Classification: B05B,B05C,F04B

Claim Text:
1. A method of operating an adhesive dispensing system including a dispenser device and a pump having a pump rod, the method comprising: arranging a control section of the pump to extend between and be coupled to each of a hydraulic section and an actuator section, wherein the hydraulic section receives a liquid adhesive and selectively supplies the liquid adhesive to the dispenser device based on operations of the pump rod, wherein the actuator section includes an actuator operatively coupled to the pump rod and configured to move the pump rod between first and second end conditions, and such that the pump rod extends through the control section from the actuator section to the hydraulic section; operating the pump by moving the pump rod to move liquid adhesive from a source of liquid adhesive through the hydraulic section to a pump outlet communicating with the dispenser device; monitoring movements of the pump rod with a shifter located at the control section and including at least one sensor positioned to sense movements of the pump rod to each of the first and second end conditions; producing signals with the at least one sensor based on the monitored movements of the pump rod; collecting information with a controller located at the control section regarding operational cycles of the pump based on the produced signals; sending signals to the actuator with a processor of the controller located at the control section, to switch movement direction of the pump rod when the shifter detects pump rod movement to one of the first and second end conditions based on the collected information; and performing at least one diagnostic process with the processor, the at least one diagnostic process pertaining to the pump or to the adhesive dispensing system based on the collected information, thereby providing actuator control and diagnostic functionality directly at the location of the pump.