{
  "patent_number": "US 12734750",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "Checking UV Glue Curing While It Happens in Robotic Assembly",
  "original_title": "UV curing apparatus with light guide and in-process radiometry",
  "summary": "This patent describes a system that uses a light guide to shine UV light on glue, then immediately checks how well the glue is curing by measuring reflected light, all within a robot assembly line.",
  "what_it_does": "This patent describes an apparatus for curing adhesives in an automated assembly process while simultaneously checking the curing quality. It uses a radiation source, like a UV lamp, to emit light that hardens the adhesive in a specific curing area. A 'radiation guide' then transmits this light from the source directly to the adhesive. Crucially, a sensor positioned near the radiation guide measures the light reflected off the adhesive *during* the curing process. A controller then analyzes this reflected light to see if it meets a certain quality level, or 'threshold'. If the curing isn't going as planned, the controller can signal a 'remedial action', such as re-applying adhesive or marking the part for inspection. For example, in assembling a smartphone, a robot applies a tiny drop of UV-curable glue, the system cures it, and simultaneously verifies the glue's hardness. If the reflection indicates the glue is still soft, the robot might automatically re-do the step.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Curing processes that do not use radiation, such as those relying on heat, moisture, or chemical reactions.",
    "Radiation curing systems that do not include a dedicated light guide to direct the radiation to the curing area.",
    "Systems that perform quality checks on cured adhesives only *after* the curing process is complete, rather than during.",
    "Methods of evaluating adhesive curing that do not involve measuring reflected radiation, such as temperature or acoustic measurements.",
    "Curing apparatuses that do not include a controller configured to signal a 'remedial action' based on the measurement.",
    "Systems that cure materials other than adhesives, like paints or coatings, without the specific in-process reflection measurement for quality control."
  ],
  "filed": "2024-06-21",
  "granted": "2026-09-15",
  "expires": null,
  "status": "active",
  "holder": null,
  "holder_url": null,
  "inventors": [],
  "times_cited": 0,
  "tags": [
    "consumer_electronics",
    "automotive",
    "telecommunications",
    "semiconductors",
    "mechanical",
    "software"
  ],
  "abstract": "Apparatus and methods for curing adhesives in a robotic assembly cell and evaluating the curing at a same time or in parallel are disclosed. An apparatus in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure comprises a radiation source configured to emit radiation to cure an adhesive in a curing area during an assembly process, a radiation guide configured to transmit the radiation emitted from the radiation source to the curing area, and a sensor configured to measure a reflection of the transmitted radiation reflected off the curing area during the curing of the adhesive, wherein the sensor is positioned proximate to the radiation guide; and a controller configured to determine whether the measured reflection satisfies a threshold and, based on a determination that the measured reflection does not satisfy the threshold, to signal a remedial action of the assembly process.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734750/uv-curing-apparatus-with-light-guide-and-in-process-radiometry",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734750/uv-curing-apparatus-with-light-guide-and-in-process-radiometry/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US12734750",
  "relatedPatents": []
}