Abstract: A nozzle, which is for in at least one embodiment a hot glue gun, has a resilient cap that is positioned within the nozzle's conduit. The resilient cap has at least one slit that serves as a check valve. The invention solves the problem of resilient caps in hot glue guns becoming unseated and wedging in the tapering section of the glue gun nozzle conduit by adding a collar inside the conduit that prevents the base section of the resilient cap from wedging in deeper into the nozzle's conduit, which would otherwise make the valve fail.

Abstract: A nozzle with a resilient cap disposed within a conduit in the nozzle. The resilient cap has at least one slit therein. Adhesive dispensers including the nozzle and methods of dispensing adhesive are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for adhesively bonding an at least partially hollow first member to a second member received interiorly of the first member. Adhesive is applied to the second member and allowed to attain a substantially nonflowable condition. The first and second members are positioned such that the first member at least partially overlies the nonflowable adhesive on the second member. The adhesive is reactivated and then cooled to adhesively bond the first and second members together. An adhesive dispenser for applying the adhesive to the second member is also disclosed.

Abstract: An applicator for dispensing hot melt adhesives has a receptacle for storing solid blocks of adhesive, along with a feeding mechanism having a movable arm for advancing a single block of adhesive toward a melting chamber. A coil spring element is connected to the arm and unwraps as the arm is advanced in order to retain any remaining blocks of adhesive in the receptacle. At the end of a dispensing operation, the spring exerts just enough force on the arm in a direction away from the melting chamber to relieve pressure against the advanced block, so that the tendency for unwanted molten material to drip from the applicator nozzle is reduced.

Abstract: A hot melt applicator has a feeding mechanism for advancing a block of solid material toward a melting chamber, and the feeding mechanism includes a retraction device for shifting the block a slight distance in a rearward direction to a retracted position subsequent to the dispensing operation. The feeding mechanism has a release device for enabling the block to float freely after moving to the retracted position in order to provide additional room for molten material in the melting chamber upon thermal expansion of the material.