Abstract: Apparatus and methods for spray coating selected areas of a circuit board with a liquid coating material without coating regions of the circuit board to be left uncoated. In one mode of operation, a bead of liquid coating material dispensed from an elongated nozzle tip is atomized by directing jets of air pressurized against the bead to form a conical, swirling spray pattern which is sprayed on selected areas of a circuit board. In a second mode of operation, the non-atomized bead of liquid coating material dispensed through the elongated nozzle tip is applied on selected areas of the circuit board. In a third mode of operation, jets of pressurized air are directed against the bead of liquid coating material to create a soft swirl pattern, without atomizing the bead of coating material. In a second embodiment of the invention, the bead of liquid coating material is dispensed from a nozzle without the elongated nozzle tip.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for spray coating selected areas of a circuit board with a liquid coating material without coating regions of the circuit board to be left uncoated. In one mode of operation, a bead of liquid coating material dispensed from an elongated nozzle tip is atomized by directing jets of air pressurized against the bead to form a conical, swirling spray pattern which is sprayed on selected areas of a circuit board. In a second mode of operation, the non-atomized bead of liquid coating material dispensed through the elongated nozzle tip is applied on selected areas of the circuit board. In a third mode of operation, jets of pressurized air are directed against the bead of liquid coating material to create a soft swirl pattern, without atomizing the bead of coating materia. In a second embodiment of the invention, the bead of liquid coating material is dispensed from a nozzle without the elongated nozzle tip.

Abstract: A dispensing head for air assisted and airless application of a material to a surface includes a cylindrical barrel having a supply passage therein for the material to flow from a source to a nozzle. The barrel includes at one end a nozzle seat that slideably receives a nozzle body. The nozzle body has a bore that opens at one end to the barrel passageway, and at another end has a nozzle tip with an orifice through which material is dispensed. The nozzle body has a groove formed therein that receives a seal. When the nozzle body is inserted into the nozzle seat, the seal is compressed between the nozzle groove wall and a wall of the nozzle seat to hold the nozzle within the nozzle seat during further assembly of the dispensing head. The seal is preferably captured and isolated from a set of air jets that are formed in the nozzle body, thereby preventing the seal for blocking the air jets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a non-woven pad of fibrous material is provided in which highly moisture-absorbent particles and fibers of thermoplastic material are intermixed with the fibrous material throughout one or more predetermined portions of the thickness of the non-woven pad while maintaining other portions of the thickness of the pad substantially free of highly moisture-absorbent particles and/or thermoplastic fiber material. The non-woven pad is formed on one side of a conveyor moving through a forming chamber which has a duct connected to a source of vacuum operable to draw fibrous material injected into the chamber onto the conveyor.