Patent ID: 6868861
Filing Date: 2005-03-22
Classification: B22D,G01F,G05D,H05K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A level control system for controlling the thickness of a work material in a slurry form, said level control system comprising in combination: a. a moving belt; b. a fluid reservoir for dispensing slurry onto the moving belt, the moving belt forming at least a portion of the floor of the fluid reservoir; c. a control valve for filling the fluid reservoir with slurry at a controlled rate; d. a blade positioned above the moving belt for regulating the thickness of the slurry that passes beyond said blade; e. a lens disposed near the moving belt above said fluid reservoir for receiving light reflected from the upper surface of the slurry within the fluid reservoir before the slurry passes beyond said blade, and for detecting the height of the slurry within the fluid reservoir; f. a light sensor disposed relatively remote from the slurry, said light sensor generating electrical signals in response to light received thereby; g. a fiber optic cable extending between the lens and the light sensor for coupling light received by said lens to said light sensor; and h. a control circuit coupled to said light sensor and responsive to said electrical signals for generating a control signal, said control circuit being coupled to said control valve for providing said control signal to regulate the flow of slurry through said control valve.