Sealant dispenser and control method thereof

Abstract

A dispenser includes a light emitter to emit a light beam toward a surface of a substrate, a light receiver to receive the light beam reflected from the substrate, and a coupling hole, between the emitter and receiver, to receive a lower section of a syringe. The emitter, receiver, and coupling hole may be provided in a single support structure, and the coupling hole is located between a light emitting plane of the emitter and a light receiving plane of the receiver.

1 . A dispenser, comprising:
 a light emitter to emit a light beam toward a surface of a substrate;   a light receiver to receive the light beam reflected from the substrate; and   a coupling hole, between the emitter and receiver, to receive a lower section of a syringe, wherein the emitter, receiver, and coupling hole are provided in a single support structure, wherein a light emitting plane of the emitter and a light receiving plane of the receiver face each other in a slanted fashion, and wherein the coupling hole is located between the light emitting plane and the light receiving plane.   
   
   
       2 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a syringe coupler located above the coupling hole and between the emitter and receiver, wherein the syringe coupler has a hole through which the syringe passes that is wider than the coupling hole, so as to receive a tapered surface of the lower section of the syringe.   
   
   
       3 . The dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the syringe, syringe coupler, coupling hole, and a focal point of reflection of the light beam are located along substantially a same vertical axis. 
   
   
       4 . The dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein the coupling hole passes through said single support from a first location proximate the tapered surface of the lower section of the syringe to a second location proximate an upper portion of at least one of the light emitting plane or the light receiving plane. 
   
   
       5 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a nozzle coupled to a distal end of the syringe,   wherein a distance between the nozzle and substrate is determined based on the reflected light beam received by the light receiver.   
   
   
       6 . The dispenser of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a controller to adjust a position of the nozzle based on the distance measured between the nozzle and substrate.   
   
   
       7 . The dispenser of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a sensor located under the substrate,   wherein the substrate is at least partially transparent to allow the sensor to detect a distance between a focal point of reflection of the light beam on the substrate and a nozzle dispensing a material onto the substrate.   
   
   
       8 . The dispenser of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a controller to adjust a position of the nozzle or syringe based on the distance measured between the focal point of reflection of the light beam and the nozzle.   
   
   
       9 . The dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the nozzle dispenses a sealant while moving relative to the substrate,   the syringe stores the sealant therein,   the syringe and an outlet of the nozzle are aligned along substantially a same central axis, and   the emitter and receiver are installed on different sides of the lower section of the syringe.