Patent ID: 6770142
Filing Date: 2004-08-03
Classification: B05B,B05C

Abstract:
An apparatus for monitoring an operation of a fluid dispensing gun dispensing a pattern of fluid onto a substrate moving with respect to the dispensing gun, the dispensing gun changing operating states in response to reference signals, and a sensor disposed adjacent the substrate for providing feedback signals in response to detecting edges of fluid on the substrate, the apparatus comprising:a trigger sensor providing a transition signal representing a detected characteristic of the substrate moving with respect to the dispensing gun; an input signal configure to be processor responsive to the transition signal, the reference signals and the feedback signals, said input signal processor periodically sampling a reference signal and providing a first representation of an edge of the reference signal, sampling a feedback signal and providing a second representation of a corresponding edge of fluid dispensed on the substrate resulting from an edge of the reference signal, and storing the first and the second representations; signal correlator means configure to be responsive to the first and the second representations for correlating the second representation to the first representation; and an output processor configure to be responsive to said signal correlator means for extracting a delay between the edge of the reference signal and the corresponding edge of the fluid dispensed on the substrate resulting from an edge of the reference signal.