Abstract: A method of supplying adhesive particulates from a supply container to an adhesive melter includes fluidly coupling an adhesive transfer structure between the adhesive melter and the supply container, lowering an internal surface temperature of the adhesive transfer structure by directing cooling air through the adhesive transfer structure, and moving the adhesive particulates from the supply container into the adhesive melter for melting the adhesive particulates into a fluid adhesive after lowering the internal surface temperature of the adhesive transfer structure. A hot melt adhesive system includes a supply container for storing adhesive particulate, an adhesive melter, an adhesive transfer structure coupled to the supply container and the adhesive melter for transferring cooling air and adhesive particulate toward the adhesive melter, and a control configured to transfer the cooling air through the adhesive transfer structure before the adhesive particulate is transferred toward the adhesive melter.

Abstract: A method of supplying adhesive particulates from a supply container to an adhesive melter includes fluidly coupling an adhesive transfer structure between the adhesive melter and the supply container, lowering an internal surface temperature of the adhesive transfer structure by directing cooling air through the adhesive transfer structure, and moving the adhesive particulates from the supply container into the adhesive melter for melting the adhesive particulates into a fluid adhesive after lowering the internal surface temperature of the adhesive transfer structure. A hot melt adhesive system includes a supply container for storing adhesive particulate, an adhesive melter, an adhesive transfer structure coupled to the supply container and the adhesive melter for transferring cooling air and adhesive particulate toward the adhesive melter, and a control configured to transfer the cooling air through the adhesive transfer structure before the adhesive particulate is transferred toward the adhesive melter.

Abstract: Systems, feeder devices and methods are disclosed for moving particulate hot melt adhesive from an adhesive supply to an adhesive melter. A hot melt adhesive system includes a melter configured to heat and melt particulate hot melt adhesive into liquid hot melt adhesive, an adhesive supply containing a bulk quantity of particulate hot melt adhesive, and a feeder device configured to intermittently transfer some of the bulk quantity of particulate hot melt adhesive from the adhesive supply to the melter. An adhesive supply includes a body containing a bulk quantity of particulate hot melt adhesive, and a feeder device integrated into the body and including a mechanical agitator configured to encourage movement of the particulate hot melt adhesive through the feeder device.

Abstract: Systems, feeder devices and methods for moving particulate hot melt adhesive from an adhesive supply to an adhesive melter. A feeder device includes a body having an inlet and an outlet, and an interior communicating with the inlet and the outlet. The inlet is configured to receive particulate hot melt adhesive from an outlet of the adhesive supply, and the outlet is configured to provide particulate hot melt adhesive to an inlet of the adhesive melter. The feeder device further includes a mechanical agitator positioned in the interior for urging the particulate hot melt adhesive in a flow direction toward the outlet.

Abstract: An adhesive dispensing device includes a heater unit for melting adhesive material, a receiving space for feeding the heater unit, and a cyclonic separator unit for delivering adhesive pellets to the receiving space. The cyclonic separator unit includes a tangential inlet pipe proximate to a top end of a generally cylindrical pipe, which is connected to the receiving space at an open bottom end. The tangential or spiral flow of air and adhesive pellets generated through the cyclonic separator unit reduces the speed of the air and adhesive pellets to avoid splashing of molten adhesive material while maintaining enough speed to avoid adhesive build up on the generally cylindrical pipe.

Abstract: A melter component includes a first portion configured as a cover to block an inlet opening of the melter chamber and prevent transfer of heat from the chamber into a filling passage configured to allow ingress of particulate hot melt adhesive from an adhesive supply into the chamber, and a second portion including the filling passage. The component is movable between a first position in which the first portion of the component covers the inlet opening of the chamber and the second portion including the filling passage is out of alignment with the inlet opening of the chamber, and a second position in which the first portion of the component is out of alignment with the inlet opening of the chamber and the second portion including the filling passage is aligned with the inlet opening of the chamber.

Abstract: Systems, feeder devices and methods for moving particulate hot melt adhesive from an adhesive supply to an adhesive melter. A feeder device includes a body having an inlet and an outlet, and an interior communicating with the inlet and the outlet. The inlet is configured to receive particulate hot melt adhesive from an outlet of the adhesive supply, and the outlet is configured to provide particulate hot melt adhesive to an inlet of the adhesive melter. The feeder device further includes a mechanical agitator positioned in the interior for urging the particulate hot melt adhesive in a flow direction toward the outlet.

Abstract: A hot melt adhesive system includes a supply container for storing adhesive particulate, a transfer pump operatively connected to the supply container, a transfer hose operatively coupled to the transfer pump, and a blocking member. The blocking member is movable between a first position in which stored adhesive particulate and air are permitted to be withdrawn from the supply container into the transfer hose, and a second position in which the stored adhesive particulate is blocked from passing through the transfer hose while air is permitted to pass therethrough to flush the transfer hose of residual adhesive particulate.

Abstract: Systems, feeder devices and methods for moving particulate hot melt adhesive from an adhesive supply to an adhesive melter. A feeder device includes a body having an inlet and an outlet, and an interior communicating with the inlet and the outlet. The inlet is configured to receive particulate hot melt adhesive from an outlet of the adhesive supply, and the outlet is configured to provide particulate hot melt adhesive to an inlet of the adhesive melter. The feeder device further includes a mechanical agitator positioned in the interior for urging the particulate hot melt adhesive in a flow direction toward the outlet.

Abstract: An adhesive dispensing device includes a heater unit for melting adhesive material, a receiving space for feeding the heater unit, and a cyclonic separator unit for delivering adhesive pellets to the receiving space. The cyclonic separator unit includes a tangential inlet pipe proximate to a top end of a generally cylindrical pipe, which is connected to the receiving space at an open bottom end. The tangential or spiral flow of air and adhesive pellets generated through the cyclonic separator unit reduces the speed of the air and adhesive pellets to avoid splashing of molten adhesive material while maintaining enough speed to avoid adhesive build up on the generally cylindrical pipe.

Abstract: An adhesive dispensing device includes a heater unit for melting adhesive material, a receiving space for feeding the heater unit, and a cyclonic separator unit for delivering adhesive pellets to the receiving space. The cyclonic separator unit includes a tangential inlet pipe proximate to a top end of a generally cylindrical pipe, which is connected to the receiving space at an open bottom end. The tangential or spiral flow of air and adhesive pellets generated through the cyclonic separator unit reduces the speed of the air and adhesive pellets to avoid splashing of molten adhesive material while maintaining enough speed to avoid adhesive build up on the generally cylindrical pipe.

Abstract: A hot melt adhesive system includes a supply container for storing adhesive particulate, a transfer pump operatively connected to the supply container, a transfer hose operatively coupled to the transfer pump, and a blocking member. The blocking member is movable between a first position in which stored adhesive particulate and air are permitted to be withdrawn from the supply container into the transfer hose, and a second position in which the stored adhesive particulate is blocked from passing through the transfer hose while air is permitted to pass therethrough to flush the transfer hose of residual adhesive particulate.

Abstract: Jetting dispensers and methods of non-contact dispensing a hot melt adhesive onto a substrate. The method may include jetting a plurality of droplets of the hot melt adhesive from a nozzle outlet toward the substrate in a direction of travel. Each droplet has a droplet length approximately aligned with the direction of travel and a droplet width shorter than the droplet length. The jetting is controlled such that each of the droplets does not collapse into a spherical-shaped droplet during flight from the nozzle outlet to the substrate. The nozzle outlet may be heated to a first temperature, and the method may further include rapidly heating each droplet of the hot melt adhesive to a second temperature higher than the first temperature upon release from the nozzle outlet.

Abstract: Systems, feeder devices and methods for moving particulate hot melt adhesive from an adhesive supply to an adhesive melter. A feeder device includes a body having an inlet and an outlet, and an interior communicating with the inlet and the outlet. The inlet is configured to receive particulate hot melt adhesive from an outlet of the adhesive supply, and the outlet is configured to provide particulate hot melt adhesive to an inlet of the adhesive melter. The feeder device further includes a mechanical agitator positioned in the interior for urging the particulate hot melt adhesive in a flow direction toward the outlet.

Abstract: An adhesive dispensing device includes a heater unit for melting adhesive material, a receiving space for feeding the heater unit, and a cyclonic separator unit for delivering adhesive pellets to the receiving space. The cyclonic separator unit includes a tangential inlet pipe proximate to a top end of a generally cylindrical pipe, which is connected to the receiving space at an open bottom end. The tangential or spiral flow of air and adhesive pellets generated through the cyclonic separator unit reduces the speed of the air and adhesive pellets to avoid splashing of molten adhesive material while maintaining enough speed to avoid adhesive build up on the generally cylindrical pipe.

Abstract: Jetting dispensers and methods of non-contact dispensing a hot melt adhesive onto a substrate. The method may include jetting a plurality of droplets of the hot melt adhesive from a nozzle outlet toward the substrate in a direction of travel. Each droplet has a droplet length approximately aligned with the direction of travel and a droplet width shorter than the droplet length. The jetting is controlled such that each of the droplets does not collapse into a spherical-shaped droplet during flight from the nozzle outlet to the substrate. The nozzle outlet may be heated to a first temperature, and the method may further include rapidly heating each droplet of the hot melt adhesive to a second temperature higher than the first temperature upon release from the nozzle outlet.