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 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: 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: Jetting dispensers and methods of non-contact dispensing a hot melt adhesive onto a substrate. The method may include jetting a plurality of droplets of the hot melt adhesive from a nozzle outlet toward the substrate in a direction of travel. Each droplet has a droplet length approximately aligned with the direction of travel and a droplet width shorter than the droplet length. The jetting is controlled such that each of the droplets does not collapse into a spherical-shaped droplet during flight from the nozzle outlet to the substrate. The nozzle outlet may be heated to a first temperature, and the method may further include rapidly heating each droplet of the hot melt adhesive to a second temperature higher than the first temperature upon release from the nozzle outlet.

Abstract: A mixing nozzle assembly for mixing and dispensing fluids includes a nozzle body having an inlet for receiving fluids and an outlet for dispensing fluids. A mixing element is positioned in the nozzle body and is configured for mixing the fluids. A valve member extends through the mixing element. The valve member is configured to selectively open and close the outlet.

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: 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: 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 gear pump includes a driven gear and an idler gear each mounted for rotation in a housing. The driven gear and the idler gear include respective gear teeth in a meshing relationship and forming an inlet space and an outlet space in the housing and adjacent to the meshing gear teeth. The inlet space is in fluid communication with the inlet port and the outlet space is in fluid communication with the outlet port. A flow indicating element is located in the housing and is mounted for rotation independent of the driven gear and the idler gear. The flow indicating element is configured to be rotated by the viscous fluid to indicate when the fluid is moving from the inlet port and inlet space to the outlet space and outlet port.

Abstract: A gear pump includes a driven gear and an idler gear each mounted for rotation in a housing. The driven gear and the idler gear include respective gear teeth in a meshing relationship and forming an inlet space and an outlet space in the housing and adjacent to the meshing gear teeth. The inlet space is in fluid communication with the inlet port and the outlet space is in fluid communication with the outlet port. A flow indicating element is located in the housing and is mounted for rotation independent of the driven gear and the idler gear. The flow indicating element is configured to be rotated by the viscous fluid to indicate when the fluid is moving from the inlet port and inlet space to the outlet space and outlet port.

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 includes a valveless cartridge assembly that has a housing with an opening at a proximal end and an outlet port for dispensing the liquid at a distal end, with the opening being configured to accept a cartridge of the liquid therethrough and communicating with an interior space of the housing. A metered dispensing device is coupled to the valveless cartridge assembly and includes a positive displacement pump in fluid communication with the interior space and the outlet port for selectively dispensing the liquid through the outlet port. The apparatus may be such that at least a portion of the metered dispensing device is disposed within the housing or it may alternatively be coupled to an exterior of the housing. The positive displacement pump may be a gear pump.

Abstract: A method is provided for dispensing materials (20) with fluctuating viscosity over time, such as liquid adhesives. Using a control algorithm derived from viscosity data or lab testing results, a first pressure or mechanical drive speed is used to force viscous material (20) from a supply syringe (14) during a first dispensing cycle. After a certain amount of time, a correction model is applied to the control algorithm to increase the pressure or drive speed as viscosity of the material (20) increases. A second higher pressure or drive speed is then used to force viscous material (20) from the supply syringe (14) during a second dispensing cycle. The correction model can be based on empirical data about the viscous material (20), or a camera system (30) can be used to periodically adjust the pressure or drive speed as required to maintain a substantially uniform dispensing rate.

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.

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 nozzle for dispensing molten thermoplastic material includes non-circular outlets spaced apart from one another in a predetermined pattern. The nozzle may be used to dispense patterns of adhesive that form closed geometric shapes, such as for use in making hermetic seals.

Abstract: Jetting dispensers and methods of non-contact dispensing a hot melt adhesive onto a substrate. The method may include jetting a plurality of droplets of the hot melt adhesive from a nozzle outlet toward the substrate in a direction of travel. Each droplet has a droplet length approximately aligned with the direction of travel and a droplet width shorter than the droplet length. The jetting is controlled such that each of the droplets does not collapse into a spherical-shaped droplet during flight from the nozzle outlet to the substrate. The nozzle outlet may be heated to a first temperature, and the method may further include rapidly heating each droplet of the hot melt adhesive to a second temperature higher than the first temperature upon release from the nozzle outlet.

Abstract: A labeling apparatus and method for applying individual labels onto individual objects moving along a conveyor includes a label delivery mechanism configured to hold a plurality of the labels and operable to deliver individual ones of the labels adjacent to the conveyor. A non-contact adhesive spray applicator including at least one nozzle having a plurality of individual adhesive discharge orifices may be positioned and arranged to discharge adhesive from the orifices onto either the labels or the objects such that the labels may be respectively adhered to the objects.

Abstract: A method is provided for dispensing materials (20) with fluctuating viscosity over time, such as liquid adhesives. Using a control algorithm derived from viscosity data or lab testing results, a first pressure or mechanical drive speed is used to force viscous material (20) from a supply syringe (14) during a first dispensing cycle. After a certain amount of time, a correction model is applied to the control algorithm to increase the pressure or drive speed as viscosity of the material (20) increases. A second higher pressure or drive speed is then used to force viscous material (20) from the supply syringe (14) during a second dispensing cycle. The correction model can be based on empirical data about the viscous material (20), or a camera system (30) can be used to periodically adjust the pressure or drive speed as required to maintain a substantially uniform dispensing rate.

Abstract: A labeling apparatus and method for applying individual labels onto individual objects moving along a conveyor includes a label delivery mechanism configured to hold a plurality of the labels and operable to deliver individual ones of the labels adjacent to the conveyor. A non-contact adhesive spray applicator including at least one nozzle having a plurality of individual adhesive discharge orifices may be positioned and arranged to discharge adhesive from the orifices onto either the labels or the objects such that the labels may be respectively adhered to the objects.