The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 29, 1998
Filed:
Feb. 05, 1997
Kevin L Alexander, Brownsburg, IN (US);
Illinois Tool Works, Inc., Glenview, IL (US);
Abstract
A coating dispensing head includes a rotary dispensing device, a rotator for rotating the rotary dispensing device and a tachometer for generating a light signal in response to rotation of the rotator. The head includes a first connection for supplying the coating to the dispensing device, a second connection for supplying motive power to the rotator and a first optical fiber having a first end for receiving the light signal and a second end. At least one of the first and second connections includes first and second passageways terminating at respective first and second generally flat surfaces and connectors for holding the first and second surfaces against each other with the first and second passageways aligned so that the one of coating and motive power supplied to one of the first and second passageways flows into the other of the first and second passageways and thence to the one of the dispensing device and rotator. The second end of the first optical fiber conducts the light signal to one of the first and second surfaces. Third and fourth passageways are provided in the first and second surfaces. The connectors hold the first and second surfaces against each other with the third and fourth passageways aligned. A first retainer is provided for retaining the second end of the optical fiber in a fixed location adjacent the one of the first and second surfaces. A light receiver is provided for receiving the light signal from the second end of the optical fiber. A second retainer is provided for retaining the light receiver in a fixed location adjacent the other of the first and second surfaces.