Air pressure control in a hot melt liquid dispensing system
Systems and methods for air pressure control in a hot melt liquid dispensing system are described. An example hot melt liquid dispensing system includes a pump that pumps hot melt liquid to an applicator. The hot melt liquid dispensing system also includes an air flow path that supplies pressurized air to the pump and an electronic pressure sensor associated with the air flow path. The hot melt liquid dispensing system also includes a controller that receives an electronic signal from the electronic pressure sensor indicative of an air pressure in the air flow path and causes adjustment to the air pressure in the air flow path based on the electronic signal from the electronic pressure sensor.
1 . A hot melt liquid dispensing system, comprising:
a pump configured to pump hot melt liquid to an applicator;
an air flow path configured to supply pressurized air to the pump;
an electronic pressure sensor associated with the air flow path;
a pressure control assembly that includes a transducer and is configured to control an air pressure in the air flow path supplied to the pump wherein the transducer is configured to cause adjustment to an air pressure of the air flow path, wherein the transducer is configured to provide a pneumatic output to the air flow path that is proportional to an electronic signal that is transmitted to the transducer, whereby the transducer is configured to output adjusted air to the pump via the air flow path, and wherein the transducer comprises at least one of a current-to-pressure transducer or a voltage-to-pressure transducer;
a pressure discharge valve; and
a controller configured to:
receive an electronic signal from the electronic pressure sensor indicative of the air pressure in the air flow path,
cause adjustment to the air pressure in the air flow path based on the electronic signal from the electronic pressure sensor by transmitting an electronic signal to the pressure control assembly, wherein the controller causes adjustment to the air pressure in the air flow path by transmitting an electronic signal to the transducer,
wherein the electronic pressure sensor is positioned in the air flow path downstream from the transducer, wherein a regulator of the pressure control assembly is configured to adjust pressure of an unregulated input air supply and output a regulated air supply to the pump via a first air line and a second air line,
wherein the regulator and the transducer are each spaced from the pump,
wherein the first air line is configured to fluidly connect the regulator to the pressure discharge valve, and
wherein the second air line is configured to fluidly connect the regulator to the pump.
2 . The hot melt liquid dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the pneumatic output to the air flow path is linearly proportional to the electronic signal that is transmitted to the transducer.
3 . The hot melt liquid dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein a regulator of the pressure control assembly is configured to output the regulated air supply to a pump air valve via the first air line and the second air line,
wherein the first air line fluidly connects the regulator to the pressure discharge valve, and
wherein the second air line fluidly connects the regulator to the pump air valve, such that the second air line is configured to fluidly connect the regulator to the pump via the pump air valve.
4 . The hot melt liquid dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to store at least one of the air pressure in the air flow path or the adjustment to the air pressure.
5 . The hot melt liquid dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic pressure sensor comprises at least one of a pressure-to-current transducer or a pressure-to-voltage transducer.
6 . The hot melt liquid dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive an air pressure setpoint and the adjustment to the air pressure in the air flow path is further based on the air pressure setpoint.
7 . The hot melt liquid dispensing system of claim 6 , wherein the air pressure setpoint is received via a user interface associated with the hot melt liquid dispensing system, and wherein the controller is configured to create and store correlated records of air pressure adjustments by the transducer and air pressure measurements from the electronic pressure sensor.
8 . The hot melt liquid dispensing system of claim 7 , wherein the user interface comprises a user interface of a remote control device.
9 . The hot melt liquid dispensing system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to cause display of the air pressure in the air flow path via the user interface.
10 . The hot melt liquid dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the first air line comprises a first tube or hose that fluidly connects the regulator to the pressure discharge valve, and wherein the second air line comprises second a tube or hose that fluidly connects the regulator to a pump air valve.
11 . A method for air pressure control in a hot melt liquid dispensing system, the method comprising:
receiving an electronic signal from an electronic pressure sensor indicative of an air pressure in an air flow path configured to supply pressurized air to a pump of the hot melt liquid dispensing system; and
causing adjustment to the air pressure in the air flow path based on the electronic signal from the electronic pressure sensor by transmitting an electronic signal to a pressure control assembly that includes a transducer and that is configured to control the air pressure of the air flow path supplied to the pump, wherein causing adjustment to the air pressure in the air flow path comprises transmitting an electronic signal to the transducer, which is configured to cause adjustment to the air pressure of the air flow path, wherein the transducer provides a pneumatic output to the air flow path that is proportional to the electronic signal that is transmitted to the transducer, whereby the transducer outputs adjusted air to the pump via the air flow path, and wherein the transducer comprises at least one of a current-to-pressure transducer or a voltage-to-pressure wherein the electronic pressure sensor is positioned in the air flow path downstream from the transducer,
wherein the electronic pressure sensor is positioned in the air flow path downstream from the transducer, wherein a regulator of the pressure control assembly is configured to adjust pressure of an unregulated input air supply and output a regulated air supply to the pump via a first air line and a second air line,
wherein the regulator and the transducer are each spaced from the pump,
wherein the first air line fluidly connects the regulator to a pressure discharge valve, and
wherein the second air line fluidly connects the regulator to the pump.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the pneumatic output to the air flow path is linearly proportional to the electronic signal that is transmitted to the transducer.
13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising storing at least one of the air pressure in the air flow path or the adjustment to the air pressure.
14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
receiving an air pressure setpoint, wherein the adjustment to the air pressure in the air flow path is further based on the air pressure setpoint; and
identifying correlating relationships by analyzing quality control metrics with a corresponding pressure setpoint record, a corresponding pressure adjustment record, and/or a corresponding pressure measurement record.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the air pressure setpoint is received via a user interface associated with the hot melt liquid dispensing system.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising causing display of the air pressure in the air flow path via the user interface.