Patent Application
20220152646
The present invention is directed to sealant dispensers for dispensing a sealant such as a caulk or adhesive. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a sealant dispenser that monitors an area where sealant is to be dispensed and automatically adjusts its position to ensure that the sealant is dispensed where desired.
It is well known to use a sealant or caulk to adhere similar or dissimilar materials to one another, and more specifically to ensure that the two adjacent connected pieces of material provide a secure, water-tight or air-tight seal at their connection point. More importantly, the sealant ensures that the entire periphery or boundary between the two connected materials is sealed so as to prevent contaminants from entering through the connection point.
Sealant may be applied by hand or by using a hand-held caulking gun for the short lengths that materials need to be sealed with respect to one another. However, such hand-held devices are not suitable for longer connection lengths. This is because the operator gets tired and does not always make a secure seal or bond between the two materials to be connected. It is also known to use automated caulk guns but these processes still rely on the user to maintain a steady hand so as to ensure a uniform seal between the two pieces of material being connected. Moreover, use of an automated caulk gun may still not be suitable for use in longer length connections, i.e., those over ten feet long, due to misalignment or other variables.
To address such shortcomings, it is known to use a wheeled cart so as to allow for controlled dispensing of sealant. These are known for their stated purpose, which is to secure one item to another, but they are not necessarily utilized to ensure a seal between two parts. Moreover, current systems are problematic in ensuring that the right amount of sealant is used and the seal is placed where most effective. If not enough sealant is dispensed or improperly placed a poor seal results. Dispensing too much sealant is wasteful and can interfere by adhering to other areas of the connecting pieces where it is not desired. And such systems are still prone to many types of human error. Indeed, skilled artisans will appreciate the difficulty of applying a sealant bead to an edge of a membrane disposed on another membrane, as commonly found in roofing applications.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a sealant dispenser that is at least partially autonomous to deliver a sealant between two membranes or other pieces of material that are to be connected to one another. There is also a need for a sealant dispenser that can automatically adjust its position to accommodate deviations in where the sealant is to be placed. There is also a need for a dispenser to apply sealant in lengths of up to one hundred feet or longer. And there is a need for such sealant dispensers to control the rate the sealant is applied to the materials to be connected to one another.
One or more embodiments of the present invention provide a sealant dispenser comprising a chassis adapted to carry a supply of sealant dispensable through a nozzle; at least one drive wheel to directionally propel said chassis; and a detection system carried by said chassis to determine a location to dispense sealant through said nozzle and controlling direction of said at least one drive wheel to position said nozzle.
Yet other embodiments of the present invention provide a method for dispensing sealant, comprising observing with a detection system a phenomenon in an area that receives a sealant; automatically moving a chassis that carries the sealant; and dispensing the sealant in the area by automatically moving said chassis relative to the observed phenomenon.
Still other embodiments of the present invention provide a method for dispensing a sealant, comprising observing with a detection system a phenomenon in an area that receives a sealant; automatically moving a chassis that carries the sealant based on a signal generated by said detection system; and automatically moving a nozzle that dispenses the sealant based on the signal generated by said detection system.
For a complete understanding of the objects, techniques and structure of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein:
Referring now to the drawings and in particular to
The sealant dispenser 10 provides for a chassis 12 which provides for spaced apart side rails 14 which may be of substantially the same length. Connecting the side rails 14 to one another may be a mount plate 16 which is utilized to support and carry various components of the dispenser as will be described. In a similar manner, a mount bracket 18 may also be utilized to connect the spaced apart side rails 14 to one another. The mount bracket 18 may provide for upwardly extending sides 20 which further serve to allow for attachment of components associated with the dispenser 10. The side rails 14, the mount plate 16, and the mount bracket 18 may be spaced apart from one another in such a manner so as to form a mount opening 22 therebetween.
Secured and extending from an underside of the chassis 12, and in particular the side rails 14, may be respective drive wheels 26A and 26B. The drive wheels are coupled to corresponding drive motors 28A and 28B wherein each drive motor independently operates its respective drive wheel. The drive wheels extend underneath the frame and support the side rails. In some embodiments the drive wheels 26 may extend laterally away from the side rails or they may be positioned underneath the chassis. Laterally extending wheels may allow the dispenser 10 to better accommodate movement along sloped surfaces. In some embodiments the drive wheels may be mounted at about a mid-point of the chassis 12, but other embodiments may position the drive wheels at the front end or rear end of the chassis. In the present embodiment the drive wheels are driven only in a single direction, but in some embodiments they may be driven in both directions. And in other embodiments, the drive wheels may be driven in opposite directions. For example, drive wheel 26A may be rotated in a forward direction, and the other drive 26B wheel may be rotated in a rearward direction, or vice versa. Such a feature will allow the dispenser to make sharper turns. Skilled artisans will further appreciate that the drive wheels that operate in only a single direction are clutched so as to ensure rotation in only a single direction. Other embodiments may not employ clutched drive wheels. Each drive motor 28A and 28B receives a corresponding input drive signal 30A and 30B wherein the input drive signals, designated by the capital letters A and B respectively, are generated by a controller as will be discussed in detail as the description proceeds. In some embodiments, only a single drive wheel and motor may be employed and in other embodiments three or more drive wheels with corresponding motors may be employed. In any of the embodiments disclosed, each of the wheels may be driven at different speeds in the same or different directions to enhance operational control of the dispenser. Of course, other propulsion mechanisms could be utilized.
In some embodiments, as noted above, a two-wheel differential speed steering system may be employed, wherein the drive and steering are directly coupled. Each drive wheel 26 may have an independent DC gear motor 28 with an integral encoder. A system controller (to be discussed) provides independent pulse width modulation (PWM) inputs to the motors to control their speed. To steer the chassis, one motor may be spun faster than the other. Since the chassis is moving during operation, steering involves speeding up one wheel while maintaining the nominal travel speed of the other. Neither motor is ever controlled to spin slower than nominal speed. In some embodiments, each drive wheel may have an independent feedback controller (provided by an encoder mounted on the back side of the motor) to regulate its velocity. Accordingly, each motor may have a gearbox to improve the torque produced by the motor on the opposite side, which also reduces the speed of the output shaft. Skilled artisans will also appreciate that each drive wheel may be mounted to its respective drive motor via an overrunning or freewheel clutch. Such a clutch allows freewheeling in one direction only. As a result, clutches allow an operator to freely pull or push the dispenser in the drive direction without putting any strain on the motors or their integral gear boxes. This feature allows the operator to manually transport and position the dispenser between dispensing operations. However, in some embodiments, the ability to manually push/pull and position the dispenser 10 may be a desired feature; therefore, some embodiments may employ active clutches (or brakes) that can be engaged or disengaged manually or automatically during driving/dispensing. In other embodiments, a single drive wheel with a drive motor may be used, wherein the single drive wheel may include a steering mechanism.
One or more wheels 34 may be used to support each end corner of the chassis. Skilled artisans will appreciate that the wheels 34 may be widely spaced to avoid incidental contact with the dispensed sealant that passes between them during operation. The wheels 34 may be a swivel caster which incorporates a spring-type suspension to allow for vertical travel to accommodate small obstructions and/or sloped surfaces. In embodiments where caster wheels 34 extend from each corner of the chassis, the drive wheels do not include a clutch. Accordingly, if the user desires to move the dispenser, the dispenser is tilted or leaned so that only two of the caster wheels are supported by a surface, to allow for pushing or pulling of the dispenser in the desired direction. In some embodiments, the wheels 34 may be something other than caster wheels—driven or undriven—and may be used to support the chassis and enhance operation of the dispenser. Other types of suspension configurations may be employed. In some embodiments, a more elaborate suspension system may interact with the drive wheels and also with the detection and nozzle position systems as needed. In other embodiments, the drive wheels may provide the needed support for the chassis, thus eliminating the need for the trailer wheels 34.
Supported by the mount bracket sides 20 and the mount bracket 18 may be a dispenser mount 36 which angularly extends from the mount bracket 18 at an angle anywhere from between 30° to 90° with respect to the side rails 14. In the present embodiment, the dispenser mount 36 is oriented at an angle of about 60°. In the present configuration the direction of operation of the sealant dispenser 10 is in the same angular direction of the dispenser mount. However, skilled artisans will appreciate that the direction of operation may be in the opposite direction depending on a particular end use and the rotational direction of the drive wheels.
Extending from the dispenser mount 36 is an upright handle 40 which may be angularly configured in about the same direction as the dispenser mount. However, other embodiments may employ a slightly different angular orientation of the handle 40. The handle 40 may have perpendicularly extending hand grips 42 or they may be oriented in another angle as appropriate. In other embodiments, the handle 40 may not be provided or could be replaced with a carrying handle or handles extending from the chassis.
In some embodiments a side shroud 44 may extend downwardly from one or more respective side rails 14 so as to protect and facilitate detection of the area where sealant is dispensed and for other purposes as will be discussed as the description proceeds. Skilled artisans will appreciate that the side shrouds prevent debris from coming in contact with sealant as it is dispensed. The shrouds 44 will be sized so as to not interfere with the travel of the chassis.
Extending from at least one end of the chassis 12 may be at least one bumper/cliff sensor 46 which may be employed to detect the presence of an object in the direction of the dispenser's travel. If an object is present in the direction of operation and engages the bumper/cliff sensors 46 so as to detect an interfering force, a bump signal 47 is generated for receipt by the controller as will be discussed. The bump signal 47 may also be designated as capital letter C. Extending downwardly from one or both ends of the chassis 12 may be one or more cliff/bumper sensors 48 which may be employed to detect any unexpected or sharp drops. In other words, the sensors 48 may detect a sudden drop of the chassis and generate a drop signal 49 (designated as signal C′). Receipt of such a signal by the controller from either the bump or cliff sensors will result in stoppage of the drive wheels and cessation of all dispensing operations. Skilled artisans will appreciate that the sensors 46 and 48 may perform one or both object detection and drop detection functions depending on the direction of travel of the dispenser. The embodiment of the dispenser shown in
Referring now to
A plunger assembly 80 may be associated with the dispensing system 50 and may be coupled to the chamber plunger end 72. The plunger assembly 80 may provide for a rack 82 which at one end extends through the plunger opening 74. The rack 82 may provide for a plurality of rack teeth 84 along one edge of the rack or may provide other structural features that allow for axial movement of the rack 82 with respect to the sealant chamber 54. A plunger disc 86 may be secured to one end of the rack 82 and is positioned within the sealant chamber 54. The disc 86 may have a flexible scraper feature to ensure that all the available material is dispensed from the chamber 54. At an opposite end of the plunger disc 86 the rack 82 may provide a rack handle 88 which allows for manual retraction of the rack 82 in a manner similar to hand-held caulk guns.
Associated with the plunger assembly 80 and the sealant chamber 54 may be a plunger housing 90 wherein in the embodiment shown the plunger housing 90 is positioned at the chamber plunger end 72. The plunger housing 90 may contain a plunger motor 92 which may be in the form of a linear actuator or other motorized component which is operated by a plunger motor signal 94, also designated by the capital letter D in the drawings. Associated with the plunger motor 92 is a plunger transmission 96 wherein the transmission may be driven by the plunger motor and engages the rack teeth 84. Accordingly, when an appropriate signal is received, the plunger motor 92 engages the transmission 92 so as to linearly move the plunger assembly 80. A dispensing rate of the sealant may be controlled by adjusting the amount of voltage applied to the plunger motor. The amount of voltage applied may also be adjusted according to travel speed generated by the drive wheels. In any event, when the plunger assembly moves, the rack 82 moves the plunger disc 86 so as to engage the chub 62 and expel the caulk or sealant material out the chamber nozzle mount 68. In some embodiments a linear encoder 98 may be employed and associated with the plunger transmission 96 and/or the rack 82 so as to track the position of the rack to confirm movement of the plunger disc 86 and gauge its travel and, accordingly, the amount of material that is being dispensed at any given time. The linear encoder generates a linear encoder signal 100, also designated as signal E in the drawings, for receipt by the controller. When the encoder reaches a predetermined position near the bottom of the tube, which is indicative of an empty tube, the signal 100 is sent to the controller to stop operation of the dispenser. In some embodiments, the user may be able to adjust an input that allows for calibration and/or adjustment of the sealant bead size dispensed based on physical and/or environmental factors. Skilled artisans will appreciate that the dispensing system 50 may be adapted to dispense sealant from any type of appropriate container. At a minimum, the system 50 will carry sufficient quantities of material to dispense material over extended lengths of membranes and in a controlled manner according to other inputs received from other components of the dispenser.
Referring now to
The position system 110 may also provide for a rotary position motor 116 which in the present embodiment is shown to be connected to the underside of the mount bracket 18, but which may be carried in any fashion deemed appropriate. In any event, the position motor 116 drives a nozzle linkage 118, wherein an opposite end of the linkage 118 provides a collar 120 that fits around the tip 114 so as to adjust its position in relation to the chassis. The nozzle tip 114 may clip into a fixture attached to the arm or “horn” of the motor 116. The collar 120 is designed to hold the nozzle tip so that dispensed sealant exits the nozzle substantially vertically in relation to the membrane. The linkage 118 swings about a vertical axis to precisely position the nozzle tip based on the serial data feed from the detection system 130 as will be discussed. The response of the motor 116 is relatively faster and more precise compared to the control of the drive wheels. However, the range of the linkage is limited to about ½ inch in each direction. This range may be increased with a longer linkage. In some embodiments a servo-based linear motor may be employed instead of a rotary position motor which will allow for increased range and improved precision of the nozzle tip positioning. As a result, the nozzle will no longer “swing” in an arced path but rather “sweep” side to side. The position motor 116 receives a nozzle position motor signal 126 which is received from the controller and is designated by signal F in the drawings.
The sealant dispenser 10 may also provide for a membrane seam detection system 130 as shown in
As noted above, illumination of the light 132 is directed so that the light is shown across the top of the lap joint edge in a small area beneath the chassis. This light washes out all shadows created by any ambient light and creates a sharp shadow at the base of the lap joint edge where the sealant material is to be dispensed. As will be described in further detail below, the user may selectively designate which light is to be illuminated so as to facilitate generation of the shadow.
Also associated with the membrane seam detection system 130 is a camera 140 which may be mounted to the underside of the mount plate 16 and which has a field of view directed toward the two component parts or membranes which are to be joined to one another. As a result, the camera is able to generate a vision signal 142, designated by capital letter H, so as to observe the phenomenon, which in the present embodiment is a shadow generated by a difference in the height of the membranes to be connected to one another. Skilled artisans will thus appreciate that the lights will be directed toward the members to be connected to one another so as to facilitate or enhance the formation of the shadow or other phenomenon which indicates where the membranes are to be connected to one another and also to indicate where the sealant material is to be dispensed. In some embodiments the camera 140 may be a digital camera which identifies an edge of the shadow and characterizes the position and angle of the edge within the camera's view frame. In the present embodiment the lights are positioned near the front of the frame (in the direction of travel) and pointing toward the back and center of the frame. The camera is positioned near the center followed by the dispensing mechanism. It has been found that as the dispenser is moving along the edge of the membrane to be sealed, a patch or some other discontinuity in the edge may be encountered. Placing the lights and the camera ahead of the dispensing mechanism allows the controller (to be discussed) to recognize there is no longer an edge and to stop the dispensing of the material on to the membranes. It will further be appreciated that the lights 132 and the camera 140 may be positionally adjusted with respect to one another on the chassis, mount plate 16, and/or the mount bracket 18 so as to optimize generation of the shadow generated by the different heights of the membranes to be sealed to one another.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that the travel direction of the dispenser 10 as controlled by the drive wheels may change a position of the nozzle position system 110 with respect to a position of the membrane seam detection system 130. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the position system 110 may be mounted in a leading position in the direction of the dispenser's travel and the detection system 130 in a trailing position. In other embodiments, the systems 110 and 130 may be reversed.
A power supply 144 may be mounted on the chassis 12 and is positioned in such a manner so as to balance the weight of the other components carried by the chassis. In the present embodiment the power supply is an 18 v 300 mAh lithium ion battery. Of course, other size or types of batteries may be employed to power all the components associated with the dispenser. In some embodiments, the battery provides enough charge to allow for depositing sealant up to 3000′ in length. In any event, the power supply 144 generates a power supply signal 146 which is delivered and routed to the component parts of the dispenser which require electrical power. The power supply signal 146 may also be designated by the letter I.
Referring now to
In
As best seen in
The system 110′ may include a position motor 220, which may be supported by the dispenser mount 36. In the present embodiment the motor 220 may be in the form of a linear actuator which is controlled by a motor signal 222 and which is designated as signal F′. Receipt of such a signal by the controller from the position motor 220 allows for control of when a selected tube is to be associated with the plunger assembly 80. Accordingly, when one tube is exhausted, the plunger assembly 80 is actuated so as to retract the plunger disc 86 from within the caulk tube so that the tube may be moved aside for receipt of the next caulk tube to be used. In any event, the position motor 220 is operatively connected to a tray 224 which supports the carriage 200. Accordingly, at the appropriate time, the controller 152 may be actuated so as to move one tube out of position so that the next tube may be moved into position for dispensing. It will be appreciated that the non-dispensing caulk tube or tubes may be positioned so as to not interfere with operation of the dispenser. In the embodiment shown, the caulk tubes are positioned side-by-side. Skilled artisans will appreciate that in another embodiment the tubes may be positioned in a fore-aft relationship. That is, one tube may be stacked on top of the other. Regardless of the configuration of the tubes, each tube may be associated with a corresponding plunger assembly 80 with a separate operating motor 92 and associated plunger disc 86. In operation the tubes stay in place and the controller stops running one motor and starts running the other when material is exhausted, or near exhaustion, from the first tube. In such situations, there may be a slight stoppage of dispensing, but such stoppage may be coordinated by the controller. If dispensing is continuous between the two tubes, there may be overlap of the sealant material. The configuration of the tubes may allow for sufficient time to start up the second motor to prime the sealant in the second tube for dispensing. Operation of the nozzle position system 110′ in conjunction with the other components of the dispenser 10′ is discussed below.
Referring now to
Referring now to
In operation, the dispenser 10, 10′ is positioned so as to generally straddle the two membranes to be connected to one another. However, it will be appreciated that the chassis may be supported on a surface which is not one of the surfaces to be connected or sealed. Concurrently therewith, the user or technician will input various parameters prior to initiating operation of the dispenser. These parameters may include, but are not limited to: the distance of the seam to be used to join the membranes to one another, the speed of the dispenser (fast, medium, slow), the rate at which the sealant is to be dispensed, and the like. Next, the light 132L (left) and the light 132R (right) are directed at the edge 170 and in particular a viewing area 174. Illumination of the viewing area 174 and the membranes 160 and 164 is generated in such a manner that the edge 170 generates a shadow 176 which may also be referred to as a phenomenon. The shadow 176 is detected by the membrane seam detection system 130 and in particular the camera 140. In one embodiment, the user is able to designate through the user input 154 which side of the chassis is on the “high” side of the lap joint—where the sealant 180 connects the edge 170 to the top surface 162 of the base membrane 160. Accordingly, as seen in
The camera 140 generates the vision signal 142 that is received by the controller 152 so as to determine the area where sealant is to be dispensed. The controller 152 may employ a machine-vision program compatible with the camera 140. The program expects a generally straight line that is within a certain range of orientation angles (plus or minus 20 degrees) relative to the direction of travel. All other features may be ignored by the vision program. Even if there is a small amount of large-radius curvature in the lap joint edge, in the small view frame of the camera, the edge will be detected as a straight line. In some embodiments, the machine vision system runs at twenty frames per second. With each frame, it sends the position (relative to the view-frame center) and angle (relative to the direction of travel) of the detected edge to the controller via a serial buffer system.
Upon receipt of the vision signal 142 the controller 152 generates corresponding input so as to move the drive wheels 26 in the desired direction at the desired speed. As a result, the dispenser 10 may be configured to dispense material in advance of the drive wheel rotation direction (to the left in
Accordingly, input from the vision system allows for the entire chassis to be “coarsely” moved in relation to where the seam is positioned. Together the position system 110 and the drive wheels 26A,B use the angle and location of the lap joint edge measured by the detection system 130, and these measurements are the inputs for the controller 152 which employs a multi-input single-output (MISO) system to minimize error in the two measurements. The correction from the controller is added to the wheel opposite the offset or angle that needs correction. If the overrunning clutches were to be eliminated from the design, the correct signal would also be subtracted from the opposite wheel, enabling higher-precision control. In the present embodiment, the controller 152 updates the wheel motor(s) at a slower rate than the nozzle motor.
In the embodiment shown in
To complement the “coarse” positioning obtained through adjusting the speed of the drive wheels, the controller 152 generates a nozzle position motor signal 126 so as to control operation of the position motor 116. Based upon the input received from the vision signal 142, the position motor moves the nozzle linkage 118 and in turn the collar 120 so as to control the position of the tip 114 with respect to the shadow 176 so as to finely adjust the position of the tip with respect to the edge 170 so as to further position the placement of the sealing material with respect to the edge 170. As a result of the coarse and fine control of the position of the nozzle 112, a bead of sealant material may be precisely placed along the edge 170 in such a manner that it contacts both membranes and ensures a high quality seal therebetween.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that the sealant dispenser can operate virtually autonomously by operating the drive wheels and the nozzle position motor in conjunction with the dispensing of the sealant material by control of the plunger assembly 80 and, in particular, by operation of the plunger motor 92. Operation of the plunger motor 92 is confirmed by the linear encoder 98 and its corresponding encoder signal 100. This is done to ensure that a proper amount of sealant is being dispensed at the desired rate. The controller is able to adjust the dispense rate based on the speed of the chassis. Skilled artisans will further appreciate that the vision system may monitor the amount or quality or size of the bead being dispensed and adjust operational parameters accordingly.
In the embodiment shown in
To compliment the “coarse” positioning obtained through adjusting the speed of the drive wheels, the controller 152 generates a nozzle position motor signal 222 so as to control operation of the position motor 220. The caulk tubes, which may be carried side-by-side in the tray, are placed so that one of the tube's nozzles is placed in a position adjacent to or in almost touching contact with the membrane surface. The other nozzles may be positioned away from the membrane surface. The caulk tubes may be positioned in close proximity to or in almost touching contact with the membrane surface and are viewable by the camera 140. In either configuration of the caulk tube placement and based upon the input received from the vision signal 142, the position motor moves the tray 224 side to side (perpendicular to the travel of the dispenser) so as to control the position of the tip 214 with respect to the shadow 176 so as to finely adjust the position of the tip with respect to the edge 170 so as to further position the placement of the sealing material with respect to the edge. This fine positioning helps to accommodate the fine oscillations of where the caulk should be placed. The motor 220 allows up to 1½″ inches of lateral movement in either direction, but in most embodiments, it is believed that only about ½″ of lateral movement in either direction will be needed. As a result of the coarse and fine control of the position of the nozzle 212, a bead of sealant material may be precisely placed along the edge 170 in such a manner that the material contacts both membranes and ensures a high-quality seal therebetween.
As with the dispenser 10, the dispenser 10′ with the nozzle position system 110′ may operate virtually autonomously by operating the drive wheels and the position motor in conjunction with the dispensing of the sealant material by control of the plunger assembly 80 and in particular by operation of the plunger motor 92. As in the other embodiment, operation of the plunger motor 92 is confirmed by the linear encoder 98 and its corresponding encoder signal 100. This is done to ensure that a proper amount of sealant is being dispensed from the caulk tubes at the desired rate. The controller is able to adjust the dispense rate based on the speed of chassis. Skilled artisans will further appreciate that the vision system may monitor the amount, quality, or size of the bead being dispensed and adjust operational parameters accordingly.
The advantages of the present invention are readily apparent. First, the dispenser 10 automatically dispenses a uniform amount of sealant in a designated area. The dispenser is capable of automatically adjusting the nozzle position so that is dispenses material based upon an observed phenomenon. This automatic adjustment comprises a coarse adjustment and a fine adjustment. The coarse adjustment is attained by controlling drive wheels that propel the dispenser and the fine adjustment is attained by controlling a position of the nozzle as it dispenses the sealant. The dispenser is further advantageous in that a predetermined distance can be input into the dispensing system along with a rate of travel and a rate at which the sealant is dispensed. This allows for a substantially autonomous method of sealing two pieces of material to one another. This allows for minimal waste and time-saving operation.
Further advantages of the present invention include the ability of the dispensing system to lay down a uniformly sized bead which may be anywhere from ⅛″ to ½″ wherein the bead is laid down independent of the dispenser's travel speed, with no gap between the bead and the joint and no forced spreading of the bead. The dispenser may be self-propelled at the speed of at least 120 inches per minute and wherein the speed may be as much or more than 240 inches per minute. The system provides for a guide or tracking system which senses departures from a seam and moves the applicator nozzle accordingly. The dispenser may be configured to work on flat or sloped roofs without tipping or veering significantly. And the dispenser may be configured to accommodate sealant contained in chubs or pails so as to seal at least at 100 foot seam or more. The dispenser system may be configured for easy and quick replacement of the dispensing material from the chassis with no tools other than to cut open the packaging. Embodiments of the dispenser may provide for a manual dispense feature to force dried sealant out of the nozzle and also for a quick-nozzle replacement feature.
Various modifications and alterations that do not depart from the scope and spirit of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art. This invention is not to be duly limited to the illustrative embodiments set forth herein.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2020/022282 | 3/12/2020 | WO | 00 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62884445 | Aug 2019 | US | |
| 62845605 | May 2019 | US | |
| 62817745 | Mar 2019 | US |
