Abstract: A new and improved hot melt adhesive dispensing system comprises a new and improved solenoid control valve assembly and a new and improved adhesive control module assembly. The solenoid control valve assembly is mounted directly upon the adhesive control module assembly by quick-connect fittings, and control air flow paths are defined within the solenoid control valve assembly and within the adhesive control module assembly so as to effectively comprise substantially short, linear fluid flow paths which will thereby minimize the lengths of the control air flow paths and therefore, in turn, minimize the cycling response time of the nozzle dispensing valve member of the adhesive control module assembly.

Abstract: A spool valve and valve seat assembly disposed in the control module of a hot melt adhesive dispensing system is uniquely structured so as to effectively prevent fluid communication or “cross-talk” between a first dispensing outlet port and a second recirculation port, during those periods when the control module is effectively reciprocally cycling the spool valve between its oppositely disposed extreme conditions for alternatively permitting the hot melt adhesive material to be dispensed from the first outlet port or for re-routing the hot melt adhesive material through the recirculation passage so as to prevent the hot melt adhesive from being improperly dispensed as a result of being undesirably routed to the recirculation passage.

Abstract: A hot melt adhesive material application system is disclosed wherein both the control module and the dispensing nozzle are effectively provided with internal alternative flow paths. A fixed orifice is internally incorporated within the dispensing nozzle such that when the hot melt adhesive material is not being supplied to the dispensing nozzle and its discharge orifice, the hot melt adhesive material can be recirculated through the dispensing nozzle and the control module in accordance with controlled backpressure parameters which correspond to the supply pressure which is characteristic of the hot melt adhesive material being supplied to the dispensing nozzle and its discharge orifice.

Abstract: Strand positional guide implements, for use in connection with hot melt adhesive strand coating applicator assemblies, comprise a plurality of V-shaped strand guide slots wherein the apex portions are oriented outwardly away from the hot melt adhesive material dispensing nozzles. Accordingly, an enlarged air space is effectively defined between the plurality of elongated strands and its respective hot melt adhesive material dispensing nozzle such that the plurality of elongated strands are not adversely affected by the heat or thermal radiation generated by or emanating from the hot melt adhesive material dispensing nozzles thereof.

Abstract: A new and improved strand coating system comprises a strand guide block which serves to properly position and orient a plurality of elongated, parallel strands, which are being respectively conveyed in front of a plurality of the material dispensing nozzles, in such a manner that the plurality of elongated, parallel strands can assuredly be respectively disposed within common planes which are effectively formed between the strand guide slots defined within the strand guide block and the plurality of material dispensing nozzles whereby the dispensed hot melt adhesive materials can be properly applied to and coated upon the elongated strands prior to the adherence of the elongated strands upon suitable substrates so as to, in turn, ensure the desirably secured adherence of the plurality of elongated strands upon the particular substrates when the elongated strands and the substrates are mated together.

Abstract: Strand coating methods having an applicator head pivotally mounted adjacent a substrate, a coating material dispenser mounted on the applicator head, a strand guide mounted on the applicator head, wherein the strand guide and the coating material dispenser are adjustably positionable in unison relative to the substrate by pivoting the applicator head to vary the spacing of the strands relative to the substrate.

Abstract: A meltblowing method and system for dispensing first and second fluids from corresponding first and second orifices of a die assembly to form a meltblown first fluid filament. The die assembly directs the first and second fluid flows parallelly, or divergently, or directs two second fluid flows convergently toward a common first fluid flow, whereby the first and second fluids are dispensed from orifices at equal first fluid flow rates and equal second fluid flow rates. The die assembly is compressably retained between opposing end plates coupled to an adapter for further coupling to a main manifold having a fluid metering device for supplying first fluid to the die assembly. The meltblown filaments are depositing onto a moving substrate by vacillating the filament non-parallel to a direction of substrate movement, whereby vacillation a first fluid flow is controllable by an angle between the first fluid flow and one or more flanking second fluid flows, among other variables.

Abstract: A strand coating apparatus having an applicator head with a coating material dispenser coupled thereto, a strand guide roller coupled to the applicator head adjacent a coating material orifice of the dispenser, the strand guide roller having one or more strand guides each having a corresponding annular groove disposed about a hub, the one or more strand guides disposed and retained between a shoulder flange and removable locking collar of the hub, and in some embodiments one or more spacers are disposed between adjacent strand guides of the strand guide roller.

Abstract: Strand coating methods and systems having an applicator head pivotally mounted adjacent a substrate, a coating material dispenser mounted on the applicator head, a strand guide mounted on the applicator head, wherein the strand guide and the coating material dispenser are adjustably positionable in unison relative to the substrate by pivoting the applicator head to vary the spacing of the strands relative to the substrate.

Abstract: A snuffback valve assembly comprising a snuffback valve element having a tapered frusto-conically disposed downstream end portion for moving aerodynamically with respect to highly-viscous materials so as to effectively eliminate the phenomenon of bursting upon movement of the snuffback valve element from the closed to opened positions, and an upstream end portion which comprises an annular portion disposed perpendicular to the axis of the valve element, and a sharp-cornered region, for disrupting the flow parameters of the viscous material and for maintaining vacuum conditions within a valve chamber so as to prevent stringing of the viscous material when the valve element is moved from the opened to closed positions.

Abstract: A hot melt adhesive dispensing valve assembly comprises a removable inline nozzle filter which is mounted within the hot melt adhesive dispensing valve assembly at a position or location which is immediately upstream of the hot melt adhesive dispensing valve assembly nozzle. The filter member or component is interposed between the valve seat for the hot melt adhesive dispensing valve which is formed within the hot melt adhesive dispensing valve assembly adapter and the hot melt adhesive dispensing valve assembly nozzle which is threadedly mounted within the adapter.

Abstract: An air preheater system, and a method of operating the same, for use in connection with the requisite supply of heated air streams to the dispensing modules of apparatus for dispensing hot melt adhesives comprises the initial separation of the incoming ambient relatively cool air into separate air streams. The separate air streams are then individually and separately heated, and the exiting or discharged heated air streams are then recombined into a single heated air stream. In this manner, any variations in the temperature levels, density, and flow rate parameters within the individual or separate heated air streams are therefore averaged out and effectively eliminated. The single heated air stream is then conducted to a distribution manifold wherein unique structure of the distribution manifold renders uniform distribution of the separate air streams to the hot melt adhesive dispensing modules possible.

Abstract: A hot melt adhesive applicator assembly comprises a hot melt adhesive applicator head which is provided with an upper or top surface portion, and a back or rear surface portion, upon which connectors are respectively provided so as to selectively alternatively connect an adhesive supply hose thereto. Provisions are likewise made for selectively alternatively mounting support brackets upon such upper or rear surface portions of the applicator head, and a filter assembly is adapted to be removably mounted upon an angled or inclined surface portion of the applicator head such that the filter assembly is disposed at a position intermediate the two alternative adhesive hose connectors.

Abstract: A meltblowing method and system for dispensing first and second fluids from corresponding first and second orifices of a die assembly to form a meltblown first fluid filament. The die assembly directs the first and second fluid flows parallelly, or divergently, or directs two second fluid flows convergently toward a common first fluid flow, whereby the first and second fluids are dispensed from orifices at equal first fluid flow rates and equal second fluid flow rates. The die assembly is compressably retained between opposing end plates coupled to an adapter for further coupling to a main manifold having a fluid metering device for supplying first fluid to the die assembly. The meltblown filaments are depositing onto a moving substrate by vacillating the filament non-parallel to a direction of substrate movement, whereby vacillation a first fluid flow is controllable by an angle between the first fluid flow and one or more flanking second fluid flows, among other variables.

Abstract: A system usable for dispensing fluids including hot melt adhesives, supplied from a reservoir, onto a substrate. The system includes a plurality of fluid dispensing nozzles coupled to a fluid supply conduits disposed in a main manifold wherein fluid is supplied from a fluid metering device. An air preheater module is mountable to the nozzles and provides heated air for controlling the fluid dispensed by the nozzles. The main manifold includes a plurality of recirculation conduits each disposed between a fluid supply conduit and the fluid reservoir. A one-way valve disposed along each recirculation conduit conditionally recirculates fluid toward the fluid reservoir. A variety of recirculation manifold configurations are interchangeably mounted to the main manifold for recirculating fluid toward the fluid reservoir. Fluid pressure gauges monitor pressure in individual fluid supply conduits, or alternatively an average fluid pressure.

Abstract: A system usable for dispensing fluids including hot melt adhesives supplied from a reservoir onto a substrate. The system includes a fluid metering device having a plurality of metered fluid outlets for supplying fluid from the reservoir, a main manifold having an end portion with plurality of fluid outlet ports coupled to corresponding metered fluid outlets of the fluid metering device, and a corresponding plurality of fluid return ports coupled to the reservoir. At least one individual fluid flow control plate having a plate fluid inlet port on a plate fluid interface is mountable on the end portion of the main manifold to couple the plate fluid inlet port of the individual fluid flow control plate to a corresponding one of the plurality of fluid outlet ports of the main manifold.