Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Ronald J Forget

Dennis G Doyle

Patsy Anthony Mattero

Thomas C Prentice

Scott A Reid

Thomas J Karlinski

John George Klauser

Fernando J Aguiar

Sunny Agarwal

A method of depositing material on an electronic substrate with a dispensing system includes acquiring an image of a first feature of a first component and an adjacent second feature of a second component, performing a measure command to measure an actual distance of a gap between the first feature of the first component and the second feature of the second component, dividing the length of the gap into segments to determine a gap width for each segment, based on the gap width, determining a number of dots to be dispensed by the dispensing unit for each segment, and performing the dispense operation for each segment.

Dispense volume adjustment based on gap width of located features

A dispensing system includes a frame, a support coupled to the frame, a dispensing unit configured to dispense viscous material, and a gantry assembly coupled to the frame. The gantry assembly includes a gantry configured to support the dispensing unit and to move the dispensing unit in x-axis, y-axis and z-axis directions and a tilt and rotate subassembly configured to tilt and rotate the dispensing unit. The dispensing system further includes a controller configured to control dispensing unit and the gantry assembly to perform a dispense operation on the electronic substrate. The controller is configured to control the dispensing unit to dispense material from the nozzle of the dispensing unit at a flow rate configured to deposit a desired amount or density of material on the electronic substrate along a three-dimensional path.

Tilt and rotate dispenser having material flow rate control

A dispensing system includes a frame, a support coupled to the frame, a dispensing unit configured to dispense viscous material, and a gantry assembly coupled to the frame. The gantry assembly includes a gantry configured to support the dispensing unit and to move the dispensing unit in x-axis, y-axis and z-axis directions and a tilt and rotate subassembly configured to tilt and rotate the dispensing unit. The dispensing system further includes a controller configured to control dispensing unit and the gantry assembly to perform a dispense operation on the electronic substrate. The controller is configured to simultaneously coordinate the movement of the gantry assembly and the tilt and rotate subassembly to position and orient the nozzle of the dispensing unit a predetermined distance and orientation from the electronic substrate while dispensing material along a three-dimensional path.

Tilt and rotate dispenser having motion control

A dispensing system includes a frame, a support, a dispensing unit assembly, and a gantry. The gantry is configured to support the dispensing unit assembly and to move the dispensing unit assembly in x-axis and y-axis directions. The dispensing unit assembly includes a support bracket secured to the gantry and a movable bracket rotatably coupled to the support bracket configured to enable the rotation of the movable bracket with respect to the support bracket about a first axis, with a dispensing unit rotatably coupled to the movable bracket configured to enable the rotation of the dispensing unit with respect to the movable bracket about a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis. A mass dampener assembly is coupled to the movable bracket, with the mass dampener assembly being configured to reduce vibration of the dispensing unit during operation.

Dispensing unit mass dampener

A dispenser, configured to dispense material on a substrate, includes a dispensing unit having a housing with a chamber, a piston disposed in the chamber and axially movable within the chamber, and a nozzle coupled to the housing. The nozzle has an orifice co-axial with the chamber of the housing. The dispenser further includes an actuator coupled to the dispensing unit and configured to drive the up- and down movement of the piston, and a compliant assembly coupled to the actuator and the piston. The compliant assembly is configured to permit limited relative travel between the actuator and the piston. A method of dispensing is further disclosed.

Method and apparatus for dispensing a viscous material on a substrate

A stencil printer for printing viscous material on a substrate includes a frame, a stencil, and a print head to deposit and print viscous material over the stencil. A substrate support supports a substrate in a print position. A substrate support movement assembly includes a first movement mechanism configured to move the substrate support in a first direction, a second movement mechanism configured to move the substrate support in a second direction, the second direction being generally perpendicular to the first direction, and a third movement mechanism, spaced from a first movement mechanism, configured to move the substrate in the first direction. The stencil printer further includes a controller coupled to the substrate support movement assembly to move the substrate support by the first, second and third movement mechanisms in an x-direction, a y-direction and a rotational direction to align the substrate.

Method and apparatus for adjusting a substrate support

A stencil printer includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, a substrate support coupled to the frame to support a substrate in a print position, and a print head, coupled to the frame, to deposit and print viscous material over the stencil. The print head may include a squeegee blade configured to engage the stencil, a squeegee blade mount configured to house the squeegee blade, a squeegee blade movement mechanism configured to move the squeegee blade mount in a z-axis direction from a raised position in which the squeegee blade is spaced from stencil and a lowered position in which the squeegee blade engages and applies a force on the stencil, and a connector configured to pivotally connect the squeegee blade mount to the squeegee blade movement mechanism. The connector may include a load cell configured to measure force of the squeegee blade against the stencil. Other embodiments and related methods are further disclosed.

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Douglas, MA, United States of America

Ronald J Forget