Abstract: In a liquid dispensing system having a dispensing module and a gun manifold, the gun manifold includes a shelf portion that extends outwardly from its front face and the dispensing module includes a correspondingly shaped aperture configured to engage the shelf portion so that the dispensing module rests, or hangs, on the gun manifold without being held into place. From this position, the module can be easily and readily attached to the manifold. The shelf and aperture have complementary shapes and can be keyed so as to require the mating of the manifold and module in only one orientation. Additionally, an adaptor can be provided between the module and manifold so that smooth face manifolds and modules can still be coupled to corresponding manifolds and modules having shelves or apertures.

Abstract: A liquid dispensing system and methods including color-coded visual indicia to assist an operator in the proper selection of the components and in the configuration of those components in the system during setup, maintenance and diagnostics. Color-coded indicia is also provided to assist an operator in the proper selection of a solenoid for use in a particular application. Various components of the liquid dispensing system, such as the melter unit, controller, hoses, electrical cordsets and solenoid, include visually identifiable color-coded indicia on the surfaces of the components, such as color-coded rings, bands and characters, to assist the operator in the component selection and configuration processes.

Abstract: A method uses energy reactive adhesive to temporarily unitize packages. Particular placement of the reactive adhesive allows the packages to be bonded until exposure to ultraviolet light or other radiated energy having a wavelength of less than about 700 nanometers causes a photoinitiator or other catalyst in the reactive adhesive to reduce the temporary bond. Once the bond has reduced, the packages may be easily separated for stocking with minimal adhesive residue.

Abstract: A system manages the temperature of thermoplastic material by initiating a default heating cycle in response to a sensor failure. The system may thus continue to heat the thermoplastic material according to the default heating cycle until the sensor can be repaired or replaced. A system controller implements the default heating cycle using a stored profile. That is, the controller causes a heating element to generate heat according to a default heating profile retrieved from a memory. The profile may be determined using historical heating data, user input and/or a factory setting.

Abstract: A trash bag capable of being secured to a receptacle includes a trash bag body having a bag mouth, a hem formed proximate the mouth and a drawtape contained within the hem to close the bag. At least one elastic member, such as one or more elastic strands or bands, is adhesively attached to the drawtape and elastically secures the mouth to the receptacle. A method of making a trash bag includes adhesively attaching an elastic member to the trash bag body or drawtape proximate the bag mouth while the elastic member is in a stretched state. When released, the elastic member returns to an unstretched state and the bag gathers along the elastic member thereby providing a stretchable region adjacent the mouth.

Abstract: In a liquid dispensing system having a dispensing module and a gun manifold, the gun manifold includes a shelf portion that extends outwardly from its front face and the dispensing module includes a correspondingly shaped aperture configured to engage the shelf portion so that the dispensing module rests, or hangs, on the gun manifold without being held into place. From this position, the module can be easily and readily attached to the manifold. The shelf and aperture have complementary shapes and can be keyed so as to require the mating of the manifold and module in only one orientation. Additionally, an adaptor can be provided between the module and manifold so that smooth face manifolds and modules can still be coupled to corresponding manifolds and modules having shelves or apertures.

Abstract: A device for carrying a heated liquid, and controlling the temperature of the heated liquid includes a liquid conveying element including a passage for carrying the heated liquid. First and second temperature sensing devices are operatively associated with the liquid conveying element to sense the temperature of the heated liquid. A controller is actively connected to the first temperature sensing device. The first temperature sensing device thereby senses the temperature of the heated liquid in the passage and conveys the temperature information or readings to the controller for use in the heater control. The second temperature sensing device is capable of being actively connected to the controller upon failure or malfunction of the first temperature sensing device.

Abstract: A support for an adhesive dispenser includes a base configured to receive the dispenser. A bay formed through a sidewall of the base is sized to receive reference materials, such as user manuals or notebooks, for convenient access by operators of the dispenser. The support further includes a drawer, a slide-out shelf, and a swing-out plate. The drawer, shelf, and plate are coupled to the base for movement between open and closed positions. A coupling member facilitates releasably securing the dispenser to a top surface of the base.

Abstract: A hot melt adhesive system includes a melting unit configured to liquify a bulk form of hot melt adhesive and deliver the liquified hot melt adhesive to an application location. The melting unit includes a controller for establishing and/or verifying at least one system condition, such as temperatures associated with system operation. A machine reading unit is coupled with the controller and is capable of receiving information from a machine readable element and communicating the information to the controller for use in establishing and/or verifying the system condition. A method of operating the system includes scanning information on at least one system condition into the controller from a machine readable element, and using the scanned information during operation of the melting unit.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing intermittent, discrete patterns of coating material, such as hot melt adhesive, onto discrete substrates or substrate areas, such as book spines, sift-proof carton flaps and pinch-bottom bags. The adhesive patterns have sharp, square leading and trailing edges, as well as side edges. A slot nozzle die has elongated air slots along the slot extrusion opening. In the operation of the apparatus, the air flow is initiated from both air slots prior to the initiation of the hot melt flow. Also, the air flow is continued beyond that point in time, when the hot melt flow ceases. The delays between the operations of the air flow and the hot melt flow are on the order of micro seconds. Coating weights down to 1 gram per square meter at about 350 meters per minute substrate speed are provided.

Abstract: A laminate is made by applying a plurality of parallel fine lines of adhesive to a first web, intermittently agitating the adhesive prior to deposition to intermingle the adhesive to form spaced apart bands extending across the fine lines, and then applying a second web over the adhesive to join the webs together. The intermittent cross bands prevent migration of particles and leakage along said fine lines. When diapers are made from the laminate, waistbands are formed in the areas of the cross bands. Apparatus is disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing intermittent, discrete patterns of foam coating material, onto discrete substrates or substrate areas, where the patterns have sharp, square leading and trailing edges, as well as side edges. A slot nozzle die has elongated air slots along the slot extrusion opening. Air flow is initiated from both air slots prior to the initiation of the foam flow. Also, the air flow is continued beyond that point in time when the foam flow ceases. The delays between the operations of the air flow and the foam coating flow are on the order of micro seconds. Alternatively, the lead and lag air start and stop times on each side of the foam coating material are different to control the exact disposition of the square cut-on and square cut-off coating edge on the substrate.

Abstract: A laminate is made by applying a plurality of parallel fine lines of adhesive to a first web, intermittently agitating the adhesive prior to deposition to intermingle the adhesive to form spaced apart bands extending across the fine lines, and then applying a second web over the adhesive to join the webs together. The intermittent cross bands prevent migration of particles and leakage along said fine lines. When diapers are made from the laminate, waistbands are formed in the areas of the cross bands. Apparatus is disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for producing intermittent, discrete patterns of foam coating material, onto discrete substrates or substrate areas, where the patterns have sharp, square leading and trailing edges, as well as side edges. A slot nozzle die has elongated air slots along the slot extrusion opening. Air flow is initiated from both air slots prior to the initiation of the foam flow. Also, the air flow is continued beyond that point in time when the foam flow ceases. The delays between the operations of the air flow and the foam coating flow are on the order of micro seconds. Alternatively, the lead and lag air start and stop times on each side of the foam coating material are different to control the exact disposition of the square cut-on and square cut-off coating edge on the substrate.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for producing intermittent, discrete patterns of coating material, such as hot melt adhesive, onto discrete substrates or substrate areas, such as book spines, sift-proof carton flaps and pinch-bottom bags. The adhesive patterns have sharp, square leading and trailing edges, as well as side edges. A slot nozzle die has elongated air slots along the slot extrusion opening. In the operation of the apparatus, the air flow is initiated from both air slots prior to the initiation of the hot melt flow. Also, the air flow is continued beyond that point in time, when the hot melt flow ceases. The delays between the operations of the air flow and the hot melt flow are on the order of micro seconds. Coating weights down to 1 gram per square meter at about 350 meters per minute substrate speed are provided.

Abstract: A laminate is made by applying a plurality of parallel fine lines of adhesive to a first web, intermittently agitating the adhesive prior to deposition to intermingle the adhesive to form spaced apart bands extending across the fine lines, and then applying a second web over the adhesive to join the webs together. The intermittent cross bands prevent migration of particles and leakage along said fine lines. When diapers are made from the laminate, waistbands are formed in the areas of the cross bands. Apparatus is disclosed.