Patent ID: 8840953

Claim:
A method of adjusting a clearance between a nozzle mounted on a head and a work to a desired value in a liquid application apparatus wherein a liquid discharged from the nozzle is applied to the work, comprising: measuring a first distance, by using a non-contact distance sensor mounted on the head and positioned in parallel with the nozzle, from the non-contact distance sensor to a reference surface of a contact detection sensor detecting a contact of the nozzle front end with the reference surface opposite to the nozzle front end, contacting a nozzle by making contact with the nozzle front end and the reference surface of the contact detection sensor to obtain a positional information of the nozzle, relatively moving the head with respect to the contact detection sensor in a direction parallel to the reference surface between a relative position where the non-contact distance sensor is opposite to the reference surface and a relative position where the nozzle front end is opposite to the reference surface, the relative movement of the head being performed intermediate the measuring of the first distance and the contacting the nozzle, and wherein a point on the reference surface at which the non-contact distance sensor is opposite the reference surface and a point on the reference surface at which the nozzle front end is opposite the reference surface approximately coincide with each other, measuring a second distance, by the non-contact distance sensor, from the non-contact distance sensor to the work before applying the liquid to the work, and adjusting a nozzle clearance to a desired value based on the relative positional information between the nozzle and the non-contact distance sensor determined by the first distance measurement and the contacting the nozzle, and the distance determined by the second distance measurement.