Systems useful for reinforcing a support mat over at least one seam formed between upper and lower panels of the mat include at least one extruder configured to apply weld-forming material over the seam(s) to form at least one weld atop the seam(s) and at least one electronic controller associated with the extruder.

A method of reinforcing a support mat includes at least one extruder applying at least a first stream of weld-forming material over at least one seam formed between upper and lower, interconnected, at least partially overlapping, panels on the top of the mat and at least one automated extruder applying at least a second stream of weld-forming material over at least one seam formed between the panels on the bottom of the mat.

Provided is an apparatus for applying a liquid material to a plurality of parts, wherein the apparatus comprises at least a first gun through which the material can be applied to the parts; a reservoir for holding the material, the reservoir being fluidically connected to the first gun; a pressure system for providing a gas pressure acting on the material located in the reservoir, the pressure system having a pressure regulator, by which the gas pressure acting on the material can be adjusted, and a pressure sensor for detecting the gas pressure acting on the material; a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the material; and a control unit in which a material-specific function is stored which specifies a setpoint value for the gas pressure which depends on the detected temperature of the material. The invention also provides a method to determine the material-specific function.

A dispensing system for dispensing a material to a deposition point, the dispensing system including: a nozzle configured to dispense the material; a doser in fluid communication with the nozzle, the doser configured to control flow of the material to the nozzle; and a material conditioning assembly in fluid communication with the nozzle and configured to decrease viscosity of the material. The material conditioning assembly including: a conditioning chamber configured to receive the material therein; a drive member movable within the conditioning chamber to apply shear stress to the material within the conditioning chamber; and an actuator configured to move the drive member.

There is provided a technique that includes: a reaction container configured to accommodate a substrate; an exhaust pipe configured to exhaust an atmosphere inside the reaction container; a gas supplier configured to supply a process gas to the substrate; a gas supply system including at least one gas supply pipe kept in fluid communication with the gas supplier and configured to supply the process gas, a plurality of valves provided on the at least one gas supply pipe, and a plurality of pressure detectors provided between the plurality of valves; and a controller configured to be capable of determining a blockage level of the at least one gas supply pipe based on at least one pressure among measurement results of the plurality of pressure detectors.

An application method for applying an adhesive to an object includes applying, prior to applying the adhesive to a specified part of the object, the adhesive to a part different from the specified part, calculating an application quantity of the adhesive applied to the part different from the specified part, making a first correction configured to correct an application condition of the adhesive based on basis of a result of the calculation, and applying the adhesive to the specified part using the application condition corrected in the first correction.

Methods and systems of accurately dispensing a viscous fluid onto a substrate. In an embodiment, a method includes using an electronic flow meter device to produce electrical flow meter output signals and performing a responsive control function in a closed loop manner by adjusting at least one dispensing parameter to correct for a difference between an output data set and a reference data set. In another embodiment, a system includes a control operatively coupled to a gas flow meter device and to a weigh scale allowing for a density of an amount of viscous material to be determined. In another embodiment, a method includes using a control coupled to both a gas flow meter device and a weigh scale and performing a responsive control function in a closed loop manner by adjusting at least one dispensing parameter using gas flow meter output signals and weigh scale output signals.

A jetting device and/or fluid module includes a nozzle with a fluid outlet, a body including a fluid chamber and a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the fluid chamber, and a valve seat disposed in the fluid chamber, where the valve seat includes an opening in fluid communication with the fluid outlet. The jetting device also includes a movable element having a top portion and a bottom portion, where the top portion is disposed external to the fluid chamber and arranged to be contacted by a reciprocating drive pin, and where the bottom portion is disposed within the fluid chamber. Finally, the jetting device also includes a sealing member contacting the movable element between the top portion and the bottom portion, where the sealing member also contacts the body, and defines a portion of a boundary of the fluid chamber to seal the fluid chamber.

A jetting device and/or fluid module includes a nozzle with a fluid outlet, a body including a fluid chamber and a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the fluid chamber, and a valve seat disposed in the fluid chamber, where the valve seat includes an opening in fluid communication with the fluid outlet. The jetting device also includes a movable element having a top portion and a bottom portion, where the top portion is disposed external to the fluid chamber and arranged to be contacted by a reciprocating drive pin, and where the bottom portion is disposed within the fluid chamber. Finally, the jetting device also includes a sealing member contacting the movable element between the top portion and the bottom portion, where the sealing member also contacts the body, and defines a portion of a boundary of the fluid chamber to seal the fluid chamber.

Disclosed is a coating apparatus configured to properly detect a liquid surface of a coating liquid stored within a slit nozzle. The disclosed coating apparatus includes a slit nozzle, a moving mechanism, a storage portion illumination unit, and an imaging unit. The slit nozzle includes an elongated main body, a storage portion configured to store a coating liquid within the main body, and a slit-shaped ejecting port configured to eject the coating liquid fed from the storage portion through a slit-shaped flow path, wherein at least a part of each of a first wall and a second wall which face each other in the main body is formed of a transparent member. The moving mechanism is configured to move the slit nozzle with respect to a substrate. The storage portion illumination unit is configured to illuminate an inside of the storage portion through the transparent member of the first wall. The imaging unit is configured to image the inside of the storage portion through the transparent member of the second wall.