Abstract: A fluid application device having a flow diverter is provided. The fluid application device includes an applicator head having an internally formed manifold having a fluid input conduit, two or more fluid output conduits and a chamber disposed between the input conduit and the two or more output conduits. An external attachment surface is formed on the applicator head and is configured to have two or more nozzles selectively and removably secured thereto. A flow diverter is removably disposed in the chamber and includes a plug having two or more channels, each channel in fluid communication with the fluid input conduit and a respective fluid output conduit of the two or more output conduits. The fluid input conduit is configured to receive a fluid from a supply source and the two or more fluid output conduits are configured to discharge the fluid from the applicator head to respective nozzles.

Abstract: A laminated nozzle assembly is provided. The laminated nozzle includes a first end plate having a first fluid inlet and a second fluid inlet, a second end plate, a plurality of nozzle plates positioned and clamped between the first end plate and the second end plate, a first fluid conduit in fluid communication with the first fluid inlet formed in one or more of the nozzle plates, a second fluid conduit in fluid communication with the second fluid inlet formed in one or more of the nozzle plates, a first orifice in fluid communication with the first fluid conduit formed in one of the nozzle plates, and a second orifice in fluid communication with the second fluid conduit formed in the same nozzle plate as the first orifice. The laminated nozzle assembly minimizes the number of nozzle plates and includes no more than eight, and preferably no more than five nozzle plates.

Abstract: A fluid application device having an applicator head, a slot die assembly and a securing mechanism for securing the slot die assembly to the applicator head is provided. The slot die assembly includes a die extruder comprising one or more fluid input ports configured to receive a fluid from the applicator head, a shim positioned adjacent to the die extruder, and a plate positioned adjacent to the shim on a side of the shim opposite from the die extruder. The securing mechanism includes a securing component at one of the applicator head and the slot die assembly and a corresponding securing component at the other of the applicator head and slot die assembly.

Abstract: A fluid application device and method of controlling the dispensing of the from the fluid delivery device are provided. The fluid application device includes a metering device configured to receive the fluid and has one or more metering pumps configured to meter the fluid flowing through each pump, a discrete fluid delivery conduit extending from each metering pump, the fluid delivery conduit configured to receive the metered fluid, and a nozzle assembly fluidically connected to the metering device. The nozzle assembly includes one or more orifices. Each metering pump is fluidically connected to at least one orifice, respectively, of the one or more orifices via a respective delivery conduit. The method includes positioning the metering device upstream from the one or more orifices and controlling a flow rate of the fluid delivered from each metering pump to at least one orifice associated with the metering pump.

Abstract: A fluid application device, strand engagement device, and method of controlling the same are provided. The fluid application device includes an applicator head and a nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly includes a guide slot configured to receive a strand of material and an orifice configured to discharge a first fluid on to the strand. The strand engagement device is secured to the applicator head and includes an actuating assembly and an engagement arm connected to the actuating assembly. The engagement arm is configured to engage the strand and move between a first position and a second position in response to actuation of the actuating assembly. The method of controlling the strand engagement device includes receiving an input signal including content, determining the content of the input signal and operating the strand engagement device in response to, and based on the content of, the input signal.

Abstract: A fluid application device, a nozzle assembly and a method of applying a fluid onto a strand of material provided. The fluid application device includes an applicator head and a nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly includes a guide slot for receiving a strand of material. The nozzle assembly further includes an orifice, spaced from the guide slot, configured to discharge a first fluid to onto the strand, and at least one outlet, adjacent to the orifice, for discharging a second fluid to act on the first fluid. The method includes positioning the strand at the closed end of the guide slot so that the strand is spaced a predetermined distance from the orifice, feeding the strand through the guide slot at a predetermined speed, applying the first fluid onto the strand from the orifice and discharging the second fluid from the at least one outlet.

Abstract: A fluid application device having a modular nozzle assembly is provided. The fluid application device includes an applicator head and a modular nozzle assembly fluidly coupled thereto. The modular nozzle assembly includes at least one guide slot configured to receive a strand of material, at least one orifice configured to discharge a first fluid onto a respective strand of material, and at least one securing opening extending through the modular nozzle assembly. Each securing opening is configured to receive a releasable securing element. The modular nozzle assembly may be a contact nozzle assembly or a non-contact nozzle assembly, and include fluid or air assist for altering a flow of the first fluid. The modular nozzle assembly may be selectively removed from and secured to the fluid application device so that the modular nozzle assembly may be selectively switched between the contact nozzle assembly and the non-contact nozzle assembly.

Abstract: A fluid delivery device is provided. The fluid delivery device includes a melter having a loading chamber and a hopper disposed in communication with the loading chamber, the loading chamber having one or more heating elements. The hopper includes a second heating element. The melter also includes a container handling system for lifting a container a predetermined height and moving the container from a position remote of the melter to a position within the loading chamber. The container includes contents stored within. The heating elements heat the contents so that the contents may be received in the hopper. The hopper may continue to heat the contents to provide a fluid. The fluid may be discharged from the hopper by way of a pump assembly. A pressure of fluid may be regulated at the pump assembly.

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 hybrid hot melt adhesive or other thermoplastic material dispensing system wherein two or more different hot melt adhesive or other thermoplastic material depositions, comprising, for example, two or more different types of patterns, two or more different types of application techniques or processes, or two or more different types of cyclical operations, can effectively be simultaneously achieved at substantially two or more different locations relative to an underlying substrate. The hybrid system comprises a metering station upon which is mounted a metering head comprising a plurality of metering head dispensing modules, and a pair or remote applicator heads comprising a pair of applicator head dispensing modules.

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 hybrid hot melt adhesive or other thermoplastic material dispensing system wherein two or more different hot melt adhesive or other thermoplastic material depositions, comprising, for example, two or more different types of patterns, two or more different types of application techniques or processes, or two or more different types of cyclical operations, can effectively be simultaneously achieved at substantially two or more different locations relative to an underlying substrate. The hybrid system comprises a metering station upon which is mounted a metering head comprising a plurality of metering head dispensing modules, and a pair or remote applicator heads comprising a pair of applicator head dispensing modules.

Abstract: A hot melt adhesive dispensing system comprises a remote metering station for receiving a supply of hot melt adhesive material from an adhesive supply unit (ASU), a plurality of applicator heads for depositing hot melt adhesive material onto different substrates, and a plurality of relatively short hose structures respectively fluidically inter-connecting the remote metering station to the plurality of applicator heads. Oppositely disposed terminal end portions of each one of the relatively short hose structures are respectively provided with universal connectors so as to effectively overcome or counteract the inherent inflexibility characteristic of the relatively short hose structures per se and thereby in fact permit the plurality of applicator heads to be moved to different locations, depending upon the various different requirements attendant particular hot melt adhesive deposition requirements, in order to perform a particular hot melt adhesive deposition operation.