Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Jim Derry

David John Hill

Ahmad Rezaei Mojdehi

A system for applying material to a substrate includes a nozzle, robot, actuator, sensor, and controller. The robot provides primary movement such that the nozzle traverses a predefined global bead path across and spaced apart from the substrate. The actuator provides secondary relative movement between the nozzle and substrate. The sensor senses a first location on the substrate that is spaced apart from a location where the nozzle deposits material by a distance based on a sensor response time and relative speed of the nozzle and substrate. The controller detects a feature of the substrate based on the data received from the sensor. The controller directs the actuator to provide the secondary relative movement such that a bead of material is applied to the substrate along a feature-relative bead path. The controller controls the actuator to provide the secondary relative movement based on the response time and the relative speed.

Method and apparatus for adaptive control and real-time edge tracking of adhesive and sealer dispensing

A system for applying material to a part includes an application nozzle attached to a distal end of a robotic arm, a sensor coupled to the distal end of the robotic arm, an actuator mechanically coupled to the application nozzle, and a controller in communication with the actuator and configured to receive data from the sensor and detect a feature of the substrate. The robotic arm is configured to hold the application nozzle in a fixed position and/or traverse a predefined path such that the application nozzle traverses a predefined global bead path across and spaced apart from a substrate. The controller is configured to direct the actuator to move the application nozzle independent of the distal end of the robotic arm such that a bead of material flowing out of the application nozzle is applied to the substrate along a feature-relative bead path.

A method of detecting a defect in an applied volume of material includes detecting a pressure discontinuity during dispensing the volume of material along a predetermined path on a substrate. The pressure discontinuity is indicative of the defect in the applied volume of material. The location of the defect along the predetermined path is function of a start time of the pressure discontinuity and the size of the defect is a function of a time duration of the pressure discontinuity. The method can further include determining whether or not to repair the defect as a function of the location and the size of the defect in the applied volume of material. The method includes repairing the defect by re-directing the material applicator to the location of the defect and dispensing additional material at the location of the defect.

Growing community of inventors

Clinton Township, MI, United States of America

Jim Derry