System using on-line liquid characterization apparatus

US6195443A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Xerox Corporation · US

Inventors

• John M. Hammond · Ontario, US
• Jian Cai · Bellerose Terrace, US
• Kent J. Evans · Lima, US
• John G. Matta · Rochester, US
• Robert F. Dunham · Walworth, US
• Mario Errico · Fairport, US
• Julie A. Cady · Rochester, US
• Mark C. Petropoulos · Ontario, US
• Stanley J. Pietrzykowski, Jr. · Rochester, US
• Mark S. Thomas · Williamson, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 15, 1998
• Grant date: Feb 27, 2001
• Expiry date: May 15, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N21/85
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A manufacturing system including: (a) a vessel for holding a liquid; (b) a first member and a second member, each having a flat surface, wherein the flat surface of the first member faces and is spaced from the flat surface of the second member, thereby defining a gap region between the two flat surfaces, wherein a section of the first member is transparent through the thickness of the first member; (c) a liquid delivery system connected to the vessel and the gap region which delivers the liquid to the gap region and the liquid flows in the gap region in view of the transparent section of the first member; (d) a camera positioned to view through the transparent section of the first member; (e) image processing means coupled to the camera for determining the homogeneity of the liquid in the gap region; and (f) liquid dispensing equipment connected to the liquid delivery system.