UV adhesive viscosity adjustment apparatus and method
View Patent ↗Examples of an apparatus and method for adjusting a viscosity of an adhesive are disclosed. An apparatus may comprise a motor including a spindle. A tooling bit may be disposed spaced from and axially aligned with the spindle extending into a first end of a syringe to contact an adhesive in the syringe while the syringe is detachably mounted for rotation to the spindle. A lamp may selectively shine a curing light on the adhesive. A meter may be coupled to the motor to measure a torque on the motor. The method may include detachably mounting the syringe containing the adhesive to the motor. The motor may be operated to stir the adhesive at a first voltage for a predetermined time. A torque on the motor may be measured and compared to a reference range of values.
1. A viscosity adjustment apparatus, comprising:
a motor including a spindle projecting distally from the motor;
a tooling bit disposed spaced from and axially aligned with the spindle, the tooling bit configured to extend into a first end of a syringe and contact an adhesive present in the syringe while a second end of the syringe is detachably mounted for rotation to the spindle;
a lamp configured to selectively shine a curing light on the adhesive; and
a meter coupled to the motor, the meter configured to measure a torque on the motor generated by stirring the adhesive with the elongated bit during operation of the motor.
2. The viscosity adjustment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the curing light is ultraviolet light.
3. The viscosity adjustment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lamp is controllable to shine the curing light at predetermined intervals.
4. The viscosity adjustment apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a resistor coupled between the motor and a power supply driving the motor, wherein the meter is configured to measure the torque based on a voltage across the resistor.
5. The viscosity adjustment apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a moveable shutter displaceably disposed between the lamp and the syringe.
6. The viscosity adjustment apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the shutter is controllable to expose the syringe to the lamp at predetermined intervals.
7. A method of adjusting a viscosity in an adhesive, comprising:
detachably mounting a syringe containing an adhesive to a motor, wherein an elongated bit extends into the syringe in contact with the adhesive;
operating the motor at a first voltage for a predetermined time to adjust the viscosity of the adhesive by stirring the adhesive with the elongated bit during operation of the motor;
measuring a torque on the motor generated by stirring the adhesive with the elongated bit during operation of the motor; and
comparing the measured torque to a reference range of values.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising repeating the operating, measuring and comparing steps if the measured torque is not within the range of reference values.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein measuring the torque on the motor comprises:
operating the motor at a second voltage; and
measuring a voltage across a resistor coupled between the motor and a power supply driving the motor.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second voltage is greater than the first voltage.
11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising exposing the adhesive in the syringe to a curing light.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising allowing the adhesive in the syringe to cool prior to measuring the torque.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the curing light is ultraviolet light.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the adhesive in the syringe is exposed to the curing light intermittently during the predetermined time.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the adhesive in the syringe is exposed to the curing light at intervals of approximately 0.4 seconds.