Techniques herein include systems and methods for dispensing liquids on a substrate with real-time coverage control and removal control. Techniques also encompass quality control of dispense systems. Systems and methods enable visual examination of liquids progressing on a surface of a substrate. This includes capturing and/or examining stroboscopic images of movement of a given liquid on a working surface of a substrate, and then generating feedback data for modifying a corresponding dispense. Dispenses can be modified by increasing/decreasing a dispense rate and increasing/decreasing a rotational velocity of a substrate. Feedback can be generated by automated and/or manual analysis of real time progression as well as post-process analysis of collections of images.

Techniques herein include systems and methods for dispensing liquids on a substrate with real-time coverage control and removal control. Techniques also encompass quality control of dispense systems. Systems and methods enable visual examination of liquids progressing on a surface of a substrate. This includes capturing and/or examining stroboscopic images of movement of a given liquid on a working surface of a substrate, and then generating feedback data for modifying a corresponding dispense. Dispenses can be modified by increasing/decreasing a dispense rate and increasing/decreasing a rotational velocity of a substrate. Feedback can be generated by automated and/or manual analysis of real time progression as well as post-process analysis of collections of images.

Techniques herein include systems and methods for dispensing liquids on a substrate with real-time coverage control and removal control. Techniques also encompass quality control of dispense systems. Systems and methods enable visual examination of liquids progressing on a surface of a substrate. This includes capturing and/or examining stroboscopic images of movement of a given liquid on a working surface of a substrate, and then generating feedback data for modifying a corresponding dispense. Dispenses can be modified by increasing/decreasing a dispense rate and increasing/decreasing a rotational velocity of a substrate. Feedback can be generated by automated and/or manual analysis of real time progression as well as post-process analysis of collections of images.

Techniques herein include a bladder-based dispense system using an elongate bladder configured to selectively expand and contract to assist with dispense actions. This dispense system compensates for filter-lag, which often accompanies fluid filtering for microfabrication. This dispense system also provides a high-purity and high precision dispense unit. A meniscus sensor monitors a position of a meniscus of process fluid at a nozzle. The elongate bladder unit is used to maintain a position of the meniscus at a particular location by selectively expanding or contracting the bladder, thereby moving or holding a meniscus position. Expansion of the elongate bladder is also used for a suck-back action after completing a dispense action.

A dispensing unit (100) for controlling flow of a substance (101) comprises a nozzle (102) and a plug (110). The nozzle comprises an outlet (122) and a channel (104) that comprises a longitudinal symmetry axis (130), a sealing surface (106), and an alcove surface (108), contiguous with the sealing surface (106) and outwardly recessed relative to the sealing surface (106); and a plug (110). The plug (110) comprises a wall (112) that comprises an outer surface (114) and that also comprises a first aperture (116), fully penetrating the wall (112) through the outer surface (114) of the wall (112) of the plug (110). The outer surface (114) of the wall (112), comprising the first aperture (116), is complementary with the sealing surface (106) of the channel (104). The plug (110) is movable in the channel (104).

A sensor unit for measuring a mass flow rate of a liquid hot-melt adhesive is disclosed. The sensor unit includes a flow channel for the hot-melt adhesive, a first temperature measurement device positioned at a first position in the flow channel, a second temperature measurement device positioned at a second position in the flow channel and a heating device assigned to the second temperature measurement device, and a control unit for controlling the heating device and for measuring the mass flow rate. The controller is configured to adjust the temperature of the heating device assigned to the second temperature measurement device to a value, to determine the heating power for heating the heating device assigned to the second temperature measurement device, and to calculate the mass flow rate in the flow channel. The first and second temperature measurement devices are arranged substantially parallel to each other in the flow channel.

A method is provided for decision support in regulating an adhesive coating applied to Yankee dryers. Online sensors are configured to continuously measure stock characteristics, and additional sensors provide actual stock flow rate and machine speed. A controller predicts potential natural coating application from a fibrous sheet generated from the stock to the Yankee dryer surface, substantially in real time, based on the measured characteristics and sensed actual machine values. An output signal may be provided to a display unit, wherein an optimal adhesive coating feed rate may be determined and displayed for operator decision support. The controller may in an automatic mode be configured to regulate the adhesive coating feed rate based on a comparison of one or more determined optimal values associated with respective actual values. The method may include identifying fiber source changes in real time, and predicting a natural coating potential based partly on predetermined correlations.

A conveying device for conveying a viscous material from a container includes a follower plate that can be inserted into the container, and a pump by means of which the viscous material can be conveyed through the follower plate. Moreover, a measuring chamber for accommodation of a measuring sample of the viscous material is provided. The measuring chamber includes a closable material inlet opening for this purpose. A closable disposal line leads away from the measuring chamber. Moreover, a closable material return line extends from the measuring chamber via the follower plate into the container. The conveying device also includes a controller that is designed and can be operated appropriately such that it determines the compressibility of each of multiple measuring samples. The controller opens the disposal line or the material return line to the measuring sample present in the measuring chamber as a function of the compressibility thus determined.

In a microvolume-liquid dispenser, there is performed an application operation for dispensing a microvolume liquid present in an amount measured in nanoliters or picoliters from a nozzle tip-end opening and applying the microvolume liquid to an application surface. When the application operation has not been performed over a time interval longer than a set time interval ta, a tip-end liquid surface of an application liquid in the nozzle tip-end opening is caused to vibrate at a high amplitude that includes the position of a liquid surface height from immediately before application in the case of application at equal time intervals. The subsequently performed application operation is performed at a point in time when the liquid surface height has returned to the liquid surface height. The operation for applying the microvolume application liquid can be precisely performed in the same manner as when application is performed at equal time intervals.

One example of the present disclosure relates to a system for dispensing a substance in a form of a bead on a surface in a progression direction along a path. The system includes a dispenser having: a leading edge, a contact portion comprising two contact points with the surface, and a trailing edge that extends between the two contact points and terminates therein. The system also includes first means for moving the dispenser along a virtual travel plane, which is parallel to the path and passes through the two contact points, while maintaining the contact portion in communication with the surface as the substance is being dispensed. The system also includes second means for monitoring a leading portion of the bead and for generating a signal responsive to at least one characteristic of the leading portion, wherein the leading portion is located ahead of a portion of the leading edge in the progression direction along the path. The system further includes third means for controlling, responsive to the signal generated by the second means, at least one of a speed of the dispenser along the path or a flow rate of the substance to the dispenser to provide a substantially uniform cross-sectional shape of the bead along the path.