Abstract: Thermoplastic pellitized materials are melted in gravity flow through coaxially oriented perforated cylindrical metal susceptors. The susceptors are equally energized by the interception of a common magnetic field formed by a high frequency powered inductor coil.

Abstract: An induction heating inductor and perforated susceptor are formed as an integral unit to provide a low cost, physically stable, efficient, and easily cleaned unit.

Abstract: An apparatus such as a glue gun system that utilizes either a stick or solid beads of meltable material such as glue. A motor in the interior of a body of the glue gun drives a drive member. The drive member forces the meltable material towards a nose assembly on the forward end of the body. An inductor and susceptor are provided in the nose assembly to transfer heat to the meltable material. The susceptor has multiple folds to increase the surface area of the susceptor and the rate of heat transfer to the meltable material. Electronics control the drive member and control the power to the inductor.

Abstract: An apparatus such as a glue gun system that utilizes solid beads of meltable material such as glue. The glue gun has a housing that contains a pervious barrier. The pervious diaphragm separates the beads from an airstream that is used to deliver the beads from a hopper to the housing. A load level control detects varying levels of the beads in the housing. A motor in the interior of the housing drives a feed screw. The feed screw forces the beads towards a nose assembly on the forward end of the housing. A heating element is provided in the nose assembly. A co-axial hose delivers the beads from a hopper to the housing through an interior passage. An exterior annulus of the hose delivers the separated airstream away from the housing. Electronics control the rotation of the feed screw and controls the power to the heating element. A hopper contains beads of the meltable material.

Abstract: A dispenser heats and dispenses a melted material through an orifice. A pusher is slidably received within an interior of a cylindrical body of the dispenser and is movable relative to the forward end of the cylindrical body. The pusher is made up of an internally threaded cylinder that receives a driver screw and engages a stick of meltable material. The pusher is used to advance the meltable material toward the forward end of the body. The pusher retracts when the meltable material is exhausted. An induction heated system has a susceptor plate with apertures that lead to the nozzle. In use, the motor automatically retracts the pusher a slight increment when the motor is turned off, which relieves static pressure on the elastic zone of the stick. A PC board has a control circuit to control the advancing and retracting of the pusher and for controlling the temperature of the inductor by regulating the flow of power to the inductor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for heating a solid material and dispensing the material as a liquid. A central housing has an inlet, a dispensing orifice and a flow passage extending through the central housing for passing the material from the inlet to the dispensing orifice. A susceptor and induction coil are disposed within the flow passage for immersion within the material after it is liquified. The susceptor includes a conically shaped flow section which extends across the flow passage, and a plurality of flow ports for passing the material. The susceptor further includes a cylindrical section which extends downstream from the flow section for receiving the material from the flow section and passing material to the dispensing orifice. The induction coil is aligned with and spaced downstream from the flow section of the susceptor, surrounding part of the susceptor for electromagnetically inducing electric currents to flow within the flow section.