Abstract: A multi-layered hot melt adhesive transfer hose is provided. The transfer hose has a barrier layer that prevents or minimizes the ingress of oxygen and other gases into a conduit of the hose. The transfer hose has at least one structural layer overlaying an exterior surface of the barrier layer to help the hose withstand a high fluid pressure. The barrier layer prevents the hot melt adhesive being transported in the hose from discoloring and charring when the adhesive is heated from about 250° F. up to and including 450° F. for an extended period of time.

Abstract: An apparatus for melting thermoplastic material is disclosed. The apparatus includes a heated manifold and at least one heating element disposed within the heated manifold. The heated manifold defines a plurality of cavities, a pump supply passage, and a discharge passage. The plurality of cavities are spaced apart from one another, and each receives particles of thermoplastic material from a hopper. The particles of thermoplastic material are melted within the plurality of cavities. The pump supply passage receives molten thermoplastic material from the plurality of cavities and supplies the molten thermoplastic material to a pump. The discharge passage receives pressurized molten thermoplastic material from the pump and is in fluid communication with a dispenser. The heating element transfers heat substantially throughout the heated manifold.

Abstract: Systems, feeder devices and methods are disclosed for moving particulate hot melt adhesive from an adhesive supply to an adhesive melter. A hot melt adhesive system includes a melter configured to heat and melt particulate hot melt adhesive into liquid hot melt adhesive, an adhesive supply containing a bulk quantity of particulate hot melt adhesive, and a feeder device configured to intermittently transfer some of the bulk quantity of particulate hot melt adhesive from the adhesive supply to the melter. An adhesive supply includes a body containing a bulk quantity of particulate hot melt adhesive, and a feeder device integrated into the body and including a mechanical agitator configured to encourage movement of the particulate hot melt adhesive through the feeder device.

Abstract: A bulk adhesive transfer system for transferring adhesive particulate to a melter includes a bulk supply and a transfer device, which may define a hopper of the melter, a mobile bin, and/or a buffer unit. The transfer device is configured to receive unmelted adhesive particulate from the bulk supply and then be selectively docked with the melter to transfer the adhesive particulate to the melter. The bulk adhesive transfer system may also include a knife gate valve device, which includes a plurality of ports that sequentially open and close to control flow of the adhesive particulate towards the melter. The bulk adhesive transfer system simplifies refilling operations for a melter while enabling continuous operation of the melter, even when the transfer device is undocked for removal from the melter.

Abstract: An apparatus for melting and dispensing thermoplastic material is provided that includes an un-heated hopper having an inlet for receiving particles of a thermoplastic material and an outlet for discharging the particles and a heated manifold including at least one cavity formed therein and having an inlet and an outlet the inlet communicating with the outlet of the hopper for receipt of the particles from the hopper. The hopper is disposed external of the heated manifold. The heated manifold is effective for melting the particles into molten thermoplastic material therein. The apparatus further includes a pump having an inlet in fluid communication with the cavity. An outlet of the pump is in fluid communication with an inlet of a dispenser and an outlet of the dispenser is effective for dispensing the molten thermoplastic material therethrough.

Abstract: An apparatus for melting and dispensing thermoplastic material is provided that includes an un-heated hopper having an inlet for receiving particles of a thermoplastic material and an outlet for discharging the particles and a heated manifold including at least one cavity formed therein and having an inlet and an outlet the inlet communicating with the outlet of the hopper for receipt of the particles from the hopper. The hopper is disposed external of the heated manifold. The heated manifold is effective for melting the particles into molten thermoplastic material therein. The apparatus further includes a pump having an inlet in fluid communication with the cavity. An outlet of the pump is in fluid communication with an inlet of a dispenser and an outlet of the dispenser is effective for dispensing the molten thermoplastic material therethrough.

Abstract: Systems, feeder devices and methods for moving particulate hot melt adhesive from an adhesive supply to an adhesive melter. A feeder device includes a body having an inlet and an outlet, and an interior communicating with the inlet and the outlet. The inlet is configured to receive particulate hot melt adhesive from an outlet of the adhesive supply, and the outlet is configured to provide particulate hot melt adhesive to an inlet of the adhesive melter. The feeder device further includes a mechanical agitator positioned in the interior for urging the particulate hot melt adhesive in a flow direction toward the outlet.

Abstract: A cooled hot melt adhesive material storage system includes a bin and a cooling unit. The bin receives and holds a supply of hot melt adhesive pieces, and includes an outlet for communicating hot melt adhesive pieces to a melter device. The cooling unit is operatively coupled with the bin, and is configured for cooling hot melt adhesive pieces contained in the bin.

Abstract: A hot melt adhesive supply system includes a container configured to receive a supply of unmelted hot melt adhesive pieces, and an agitation device configured to agitate the supply of hot melt adhesive pieces situated in the container. The hot melt adhesive supply system further includes a transfer conduit configured to communicate hot melt adhesive pieces from the container to a hot melt adhesive melter.

Abstract: An apparatus for melting and dispensing thermoplastic material is provided that includes an un-heated hopper having an inlet for receiving particles of a thermoplastic material and an outlet for discharging the particles and a heated manifold including at least one cavity formed therein and having an inlet and an outlet the inlet communicating with the outlet of the hopper for receipt of the particles from the hopper. The hopper is disposed external of the heated manifold. The heated manifold is effective for melting the particles into molten thermoplastic material therein. The apparatus further includes a pump having an inlet in fluid communication with the cavity. An outlet of the pump is in fluid communication with an inlet of a dispenser and an outlet of the dispenser is effective for dispensing the molten thermoplastic material therethrough.

Abstract: An adhesive dispensing system and method are configured to melt adhesive on demand and maintain the adhesive in a liquid state between dispensing cycles. The dispensing system includes a dispensing applicator with a manifold passage, a receiving device including a receiving chamber for holding a small amount of solid adhesive at the dispensing applicator and a first heating device for melting the adhesive on demand, and a second heating device at the manifold to maintain the temperature of the melted adhesive before dispensing. The receiving device is positioned adjacent to or partially nested within a manifold of the dispensing applicator such that the melted adhesive is delivered directly into the dispensing applicator. The second heating device applies heat energy to maintain the adhesive in the manifold passage as a liquid.

Abstract: An adhesive dispensing system and method are configured to melt adhesive on demand and maintain the adhesive in a liquid state between dispensing cycles. The dispensing system includes a dispensing applicator with a manifold passage, a receiving device including a receiving chamber for holding a small amount of solid adhesive at the dispensing applicator and a first heating device for melting the adhesive on demand, and a second heating device at the manifold to maintain the temperature of the melted adhesive before dispensing. The receiving device is positioned adjacent to or partially nested within a manifold of the dispensing applicator such that the melted adhesive is delivered directly into the dispensing applicator. The second heating device applies heat energy to maintain the adhesive in the manifold passage as a liquid.

Abstract: An apparatus for melting and dispensing thermoplastic material is provided that includes an un-heated hopper having an inlet for receiving particles of a thermoplastic material and an outlet for discharging the particles and a heated manifold including at least one cavity formed therein and having an inlet and an outlet the inlet communicating with the outlet of the hopper for receipt of the particles from the hopper. The hopper is disposed external of the heated manifold. The heated manifold is effective for melting the particles into molten thermoplastic material therein. The apparatus further includes a pump having an inlet in fluid communication with the cavity. An outlet of the pump is in fluid communication with an inlet of a dispenser and an outlet of the dispenser is effective for dispensing the molten thermoplastic material therethrough.

Abstract: A melter for heating and melting particulate hot melt adhesive into a liquefied form is disclosed. The melter includes a heated receiving device having an interior with an inlet configured to receive the particulate hot melt adhesive and an outlet. A flexible hopper holds a supply of the particulate hot melt adhesive and a particulate hot melt adhesive feed device allows the particulate hot melt adhesive to be directed from the flexible hopper to the inlet of the heated receiving device.

Abstract: A flexible bag system can dispense particulate hot melt adhesive. The flexible bag system includes an articulation device in contact with the flexible bag body and manipulates the flexible bag body to maintain fluidity of the particulate hot melt adhesive out of the outlet. A system for supplying particulate hot melt adhesive is also disclosed. The system includes an outer housing, a flexible inner housing disposed inside the outer housing that receives the particulate hot melt adhesive, a transfer opening disposed inside the flexible inner housing and through which the particulate hot melt adhesive is transferred, and an agitator in contact with the flexible inner housing, where the agitator applies a lateral force to a surface of the flexible inner housing.

Abstract: Foam dispensing systems and methods are disclosed. Such systems and methods may include a foamed material dispenser, a dynamic mixer having a gas input, a process material input, and a foamed material output. The foamed material output may be in fluid communication with the foamed material dispenser. A pump having an output may be in fluid communication with the process material input of the dynamic mixer, and a gas injection valve may be in fluid communication with the gas input of the dynamic mixer. A gas pressure regulator may be coupled between the pressurized gas supply and the gas injection valve, and a gas injection cycle timer may be operatively connected to the gas injection valve, the gas injection cycle timer causing the gas injection valve to pulse open and closed to send pulses of pressurized gas into the dynamic mixer through the gas input.

Abstract: A melter component includes a first portion configured as a cover to block an inlet opening of the melter chamber and prevent transfer of heat from the chamber into a filling passage configured to allow ingress of particulate hot melt adhesive from an adhesive supply into the chamber, and a second portion including the filling passage. The component is movable between a first position in which the first portion of the component covers the inlet opening of the chamber and the second portion including the filling passage is out of alignment with the inlet opening of the chamber, and a second position in which the first portion of the component is out of alignment with the inlet opening of the chamber and the second portion including the filling passage is aligned with the inlet opening of the chamber.

Abstract: Systems, feeder devices and methods for moving particulate hot melt adhesive from an adhesive supply to an adhesive melter. A feeder device includes a body having an inlet and an outlet, and an interior communicating with the inlet and the outlet. The inlet is configured to receive particulate hot melt adhesive from an outlet of the adhesive supply, and the outlet is configured to provide particulate hot melt adhesive to an inlet of the adhesive melter. The feeder device further includes a mechanical agitator positioned in the interior for urging the particulate hot melt adhesive in a flow direction toward the outlet.

Abstract: Systems, feeder devices and methods for moving particulate hot melt adhesive from an adhesive supply to an adhesive melter. A feeder device includes a body having an inlet and an outlet, and an interior communicating with the inlet and the outlet. The inlet is configured to receive particulate hot melt adhesive from an outlet of the adhesive supply, and the outlet is configured to provide particulate hot melt adhesive to an inlet of the adhesive melter. The feeder device further includes a mechanical agitator positioned in the interior for urging the particulate hot melt adhesive in a flow direction toward the outlet.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser gun (14) for mixing first and second liquid components of a two-component mixture (11) and dispensing the two-component mixture (11) includes a gun body (78), a mixing manifold (82), and a nozzle plate (84). The gun body (78) includes a gun body fluid passage (94) in fluid communication with gun body inlets (38, 50, 56) and the mixing manifold (82). The gun body fluid passage (94) is a groove in a bottom surface (79) of the gun body (78) having a generally non-linear shape such that the second component has a generally laminar flow through the gun body fluid passage (94) while a flushing component may be introduced in the gun body fluid passage (94) in a manner to produce turbulence in the flushing component.