Method and apparatus for mixing and applying material

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for mixing and applying a bead of material. For example, the bead of material can be used to seal gaps cracks and seams of a building. The apparatus includes a supply machine and an applicator. The supply machine provides each of the parts of the material to the applicator at a controlled rate. The applicator mixes the parts of the material at a nozzle. The applicator provides a bead (rather than spraying) of the mixed material through the nozzle. The bead of material may be applied in a precise manner to seal gaps, cracks and seams of an existing building and/or the bead may be provided during new construction of a building between components of the building.

1 . A supply machine for supplying a first material and a second material to a dispenser comprising:
 a housing;   a container sensor disposed in the housing;   a first container disposed in the housing, wherein the first container contains a supply of the first material;   a second container disposed in the housing, wherein the second container contains a supply of the second material;   a sensed device connected to at least one of the first container and the second container;   a first pump coupled to the first container for metering the first material from the first container;   a second pump coupled to the second container for metering a second material from the second container to the second line;   wherein the container sensor is configured to sense the sensed device when the first container and the second container are correctly positioned in the housing; and   wherein the first and second pumps are prevented from operating when an output from the container sensor indicates that at least one of the first container and the second container are incorrectly positioned in the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The supply machine of  claim 1  wherein the first and second pumps are prevented from operating when the sensed device is not sensed by the container sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The supply machine of  claim 1  wherein the first and second pumps are allowed to operate when the sensed device is aligned with the container sensor and the first and second pumps are prevented from operating when the sensed device is not aligned with the container sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The supply machine of  claim 1  wherein the sensed device stores a speed ratio value that controls a ratio of the speed of the first pump to the speed of the second pump. 
     
     
         5 . The supply machine of  claim 1  wherein sensed device is a radio frequency identification tag. 
     
     
         6 . A supply machine for supplying a first material and a second material to a dispenser comprising:
 a housing;   a first container disposed in the housing, wherein the first container contains a supply of the first material;   a second container disposed in the housing, wherein the second container contains a supply of the second material;   a first pump coupled to the first container for metering the first material from the first container;   a first pump inlet pressure sensor that measures a pressure at an inlet of the first pump;   a first pump outlet pressure sensor that measures a pressure at an outlet of the first pump;   a second pump coupled to the second container for metering a second material from the second container to the second line;   a second pump inlet pressure sensor that measures a pressure at an inlet of the second pump;   a second pump outlet pressure sensor that measures a pressure at an outlet of the second pump;   wherein operation of both the first pump and the second pump is prevented when a high vacuum is sensed by either or both of the inlet pressure sensors; and   wherein operation of both the first pump and the second pump is prevented when a high pressure is sensed by either or both of the outlet pressure sensors.   
     
     
         7 . The supply machine of  claim 6  wherein the supply machine provides an indication that at least one of the first and second containers is empty when a high vacuum is sensed by either or both of the inlet pressure sensors. 
     
     
         8 . The supply machine of  claim 6  wherein the supply machine provides an indication that a dispenser that is supplied by the supply machine is clogged when a high pressure is sensed by either or both of the outlet pressure sensors. 
     
     
         9 . The supply machine of  claim 8  wherein the supply machine provides an indication that a nozzle of the dispenser is clogged when a high pressure is sensed by both of the outlet pressure sensors.