Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Scott A Reid

Thomas C Prentice

Thomas J Karlinski

Hugh R Read

Patsy Anthony Mattero

Fernando J Aguiar

Robert W Tracy

Rita Mohanty

Kenneth C Crouch

Jonathan Joel Bloom

Kui-Chiu Kwok

William A Losiewicz

James J Lynch

Ronald J Forget

Bruce C Seaton

Joan N Schopf

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 an optional pre-heat station configured to receive an electronic substrate, a dispense station configured to dispense material on the electronic substrate received from the optional pre-heat station, an optional post-heat station configured to receive the electronic substrate from the dispense station, and a non-contact sensor positioned above the electronic substrate on at least one of the optional pre-heat station, the dispense station, and the optional post-heat station.

IR non-contact temperature sensing in a dispenser

A stencil printer includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, and a support assembly coupled to the frame, with the support assembly including tooling configured to support the electronic substrate in a print position beneath the stencil. The stencil printer further includes a print head assembly coupled to the frame in such a manner that the print head assembly is configured to traverse the stencil during print strokes. The print head assembly includes a squeegee blade assembly and at least one paste cartridge to deposit solder paste on the stencil. The stencil printer further includes an end effector configured to pick up and release items from a tooling tray. The stencil printer further includes a movable cart configured to interface with the stencil printer to deliver changeover and/or replacement items within a stencil printer.

Multi-functional print head for a stencil printer

A dispensing system includes a dispensing unit assembly configured to dispense viscous material and a gantry coupled to the frame. 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 by a first strain wave gear system configured to enable the rotation of the movable bracket with respect to the support bracket about a first axis. The dispensing unit assembly further includes a dispensing unit rotatably coupled to the movable bracket by a second strain wave gear system 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.

Tilt and rotate dispenser having strain wave gear system

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 apparatus includes a frame having a gantry configured to provide movement in the X axis and Y axis directions, and first and second dispensing units coupled to the gantry and configured to dispense material onto a substrate. The second dispensing unit is coupled to the gantry by an automatic adjustment mechanism. The dispensing apparatus further includes a controller configured to control the operation of the gantry, the first dispenser, the second dispenser, and the automatic adjustment mechanism. The automatic adjustment mechanism is configured to move the second dispenser in the X axis and Y axis directions to manipulate a spacing between the first dispensing unit and the second dispensing. Methods of dispensing material on the substrate are further disclosed.

Method and apparatus for automatically adjusting dispensing units of a dispenser

A method is used to identify and compensate for errors created by changes in the relative positions of a deposition unit and a vision system of a dispenser. The method includes calibrating the vision system, dispensing a pattern of features over a working area, moving the vision system over a deposition location to locate a deposition, obtaining an image of the deposition, tagging data associated with the image, calculating a relative distance between the deposition unit and the vision system, storing correction data with spatial location in a file for later use, and using the stored data to make small corrections prior to dispensing additional material.

Method of calibrating a dispenser

A method of dispensing material includes delivering an electronic substrate to a dispense position. The electronic substrate has at least two identical patterns and at least two fiducial marks. The method further includes capturing at least one image of the at least two fiducial marks provided on the electronic substrate, analyzing the at least one image to determine a position of the electronic substrate in X axis, Y axis and theta directions, calculating a rotational angle of the electronic substrate, and rotating a dispensing pump array to match an angle of the electronic substrate. Alternatively, the electronic substrate can be rotated to match an angle of the dispensing pump array.

Rotation of an array of dispensing pumps to enable simultaneous dispensing with multiple dispensing pumps on multiple electronic substrates

A system for dispensing material on a substrate includes a dispensing unit having a dispensing piston. The dispensing piston is pneumatically driven from a first lower position to a second upper position. The system further includes a solenoid valve coupled to the dispensing unit, with the solenoid valve being configured to control air flow to and from the dispensing piston. The solenoid valve includes a solenoid coil and an amplifier connected to the solenoid coil. The system further includes a controller coupled to the amplifier, with the controller being configured to generate a command signal to the amplifier to control current in the solenoid coil.

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Bradford, MA, United States of America

Scott A Reid