Abstract: An apparatus for use in converting solid thermoplastic material to molten thermoplastic material includes a tank which receives the solid thermoplastic material and holds a body of molten thermoplastic material. A housing encloses the tank. The tank and housing have openings through which solid thermoplastic material enters the tank. A rim extends along the periphery of an upper wall of the housing. The rim has an upper edge portion which is disposed above the upper wall of the housing to enable the rim to block wash water and/or other liquids from flowing along the upper wall of the housing into the tank. A cover assembly is connected with the housing and is movable between an open condition and a closed condition blocking the open upper end portion of the tank. The cover assembly includes an inner cover which sealingly engages the upper edge portion of the rim and an outer cover which cooperates with the housing to enclose the inner cover.

Abstract: A hot melt dispensing apparatus for converting solid thermoplastic material to molten thermoplastic material and for dispensing the molten thermoplastic material comprises a solid thermoplastic material receiving hopper, a vibrated feed chute mounted beneath a bottom opening in said hopper, which vibrated feed chute has a discharge opening laterally offset from the vertical plane of the hopper, and a heated reservoir mounted beneath the discharge end of the feed chute. The reservoir is laterally offset from the hopper so that heat rising from the reservoir does not melt solid thermoplastic material contained within the hopper or within the feed chute. The hopper is rectangular in configuration and comprises three vertical walls and one sloping wall angled relative to a bottom discharge opening of the hopper.