# US 10,864,544 B2 · Applicator with at least one pump having an integrated drive > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,544 B2 - Document ID: US10864544B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/697,981 - Filed: 2017-09-07 - Published: 2018-03-08 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-08 - Assignees: Nordson Corporation - Applicants: Nordson Corporation - Inventors: Joel E. Saine - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864544B2 ## CPC - B05C 11/1007: {responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material (B05C11/1005 takes precedence)} - B05B 7/025: {Nozzles having elongated outlets, e.g. slots, for the material to be sprayed} - B05B 11/1049: {Attachment arrangements comprising a deformable or resilient ferrule clamped or locked onto the neck of the container by displacing, e.g. sliding, a sleeve surrounding the ferrule} - B05B 13/0278: {Arrangement or mounting of spray heads (B05B13/0207 takes precedence)} - B05B 15/65: Mounting arrangements for fluid connection of the spraying apparatus or its outlets to flow conduits - B05C 5/02: {the liquid or other fluent material being discharged through an outlet orifice by pressure, e.g.} from an outlet device in contact or almost in contact, with the work - B05C 5/0225: {characterised by flow controlling means, e.g. valves, located proximate the outlet (B05C5/0258, B05C5/0275 take precedence; supply valves upstream the coating head B05C11/1036)} - B05C 5/0279: {independently, e.g. individually, flow controlled} - B05C 11/025: {with an essentially cylindrical body, e.g. roll or rod} - B05C 11/1026: {Valves (in general F16K; B05C5/0225 takes precedence)} - B05C 11/1042: {provided with means for heating or cooling the liquid or other fluent material in the supplying means upstream of the applying apparatus} - B05C 11/1044: {Apparatus or installations for supplying liquid or other fluent material to several applying apparatus or several dispensing outlets, e.g. to several extrusion nozzles} - B05C 19/008: {Accessories or implements for use in connection with applying particulate materials to surfaces; not provided elsewhere in B05C19/00} - B01F 25/54: provided with a pump inside the receptacle to recirculate the material within the receptacle - B01F 25/62: of the gear type - B05B 9/0403: {with pumps for liquids or other fluent material (B05B9/043 takes precedence)} - B05C 5/001: {incorporating means for heating or cooling the liquid or other fluent material (B05C11/1042 takes precedence)} - B05C 5/0258: {flow controlled, e.g. by a valve (B05C5/0262, B05C5/0266 take precedence)} - B05C 5/027: {Coating heads with several outlets, e.g. aligned transversally to the moving direction of a web to be coated (B05C5/0254 takes precedence)} - B05C 11/1002: {Means for controlling supply, i.e. flow or pressure, of liquid or other fluent material to the applying apparatus, e.g. valves} - B05C 11/1039: {Recovery of excess liquid or other fluent material; Controlling means therefor} - B32B 37/1284: {Application of adhesive} - F04B 49/20: by changing the driving speed - F04C 2/18: with similar tooth forms (F04C2/16 takes precedence) - F04C 11/001: {of similar working principle} - F04C 14/08: characterised by varying the rotational speed - F04D 15/0066: {by changing the speed, e.g. of the driving engine} - B05C: APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (spraying apparatus, atomising apparatus, nozzles B05B; plant for applying liquids or other fluent materials to objects by electrostatic spraying B05B5/08) - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06) - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F) - F04C: ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS (engines F03C); ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) ## Abstract An applicator for dispensing adhesive onto a substrate is described. The applicator includes a manifold and at least one dispensing module coupled to the manifold. The applicator may include a least one pump assembly removably mounted to the manifold. Each pump assembly can have an outlet in flow communication with the manifold, and an inlet in flow communication with the adhesive. The use of a removable, independently controllable pump assembly can provide an operator of the applicator greater flexibility during adhesive dispensing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An applicator for dispensing adhesive onto a substrate, the applicator comprising: a manifold having a front, a back opposite to the front, a first side, and a second side that is opposite the first side; at least one dispensing module coupled to said manifold; and at least one modular pump assembly configured to be removably mounted to said manifold, each of said at least one modular pump assembly comprising: an inlet for receiving the adhesive and an outlet in fluid communication with said manifold; a gear assembly disposed within a housing assembly; and a drive motor unit coupled to said gear assembly and operable for pumping adhesive from said inlet to said outlet, said drive motor unit having: a housing that defines a first end, and a second end that is opposite said first end and that faces said gear assembly; a drive shaft that extends through said second end and is connected to said gear assembly; a drive motor disposed within said housing and that is configured to rotate said drive shaft about an axis that does not intersect both of said first side and said second side of said manifold, wherein said axis extends through said drive motor and said housing assembly such that said drive motor and said housing assembly are aligned with one another along said axis; and a thermal isolation region between said drive motor and said gear assembly, said thermal isolation region including a thermal isolation member that spaces said housing and said housing assembly from one another so as to define a gap therebetween. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein said axis is aligned within a plane that is substantially parallel to said first side and said second side. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein said gear assembly comprises at least one gear having an outer diameter and a length, wherein the length is greater than or equal to said outer diameter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein said manifold comprises a plurality of manifold segments. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, further comprising at least one pressure feed block coupled to said manifold. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, further comprising a control unit and a rotational sensor coupled to the said control unit and said drive motor, said rotational sensor configured to provide data indicative an actual rotation speed of the drive motor to said control unit, said control unit configured to receive data indicative of a target rotational speed of said drive motor, said control unit configured to a) determine an extent of a variance between said target rotational speed of the drive motor and said actual rotational speed of the drive motor, and b) adjust the rotational speed of said drive motor to reduce the variance. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein each said modular pump assembly further comprises a front surface, and wherein said outlet is on said front surface and said axis intersects said front surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein said inlet and said outlet are oriented in a direction that is perpendicular to said axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein the at least one modular pump assembly includes a plurality of modular pump assemblies that are independently controlled, such that said drive motor of one of said plurality of modular pump assemblies is configured to pump the adhesive through said outlet thereof at a first targeted volumetric flow rate and said drive motor of another one of said plurality of modular pump assemblies is configured to pump the adhesive through said outlet thereof at a second targeted volumetric flow rate different from said first targeted volumetric flow rate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein said thermal isolation member couples said housing and said housing assembly. ### Claim 11 A pump assembly configured to connect to a manifold of an applicator for dispensing adhesive, the manifold having a front, a back opposite to the front, a first side, and a second side, the pump assembly comprising: an inlet for receiving the adhesive; an outlet in flow communication with said manifold; a gear assembly disposed within a housing assembly; a drive motor unit coupled to said gear assembly and operable for pumping adhesive from said inlet to said outlet, said drive motor unit having a housing that defines a first end and a second end that is opposite said first end and faces said gear assembly, a drive shaft that extends through said second end and is connected to said gear assembly, and a drive motor disposed within said housing that is configured to rotate said drive shaft about an axis that extends through said drive motor and does not intersect both of the first side and the second side of the manifold when the pump assembly is connected to the manifold, wherein said axis extends through said drive motor and said housing assembly such that said drive motor and said housing assembly are aligned with one another along said axis; and a thermal isolation region between said drive motor and said gear assembly, said thermal isolation region including a thermal isolation member that spaces said housing and said housing assembly from one another so as to define a gap therebetween. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The pump assembly of claim 11, wherein said gear assembly comprises at least one gear having an outer diameter and a length, wherein the length is greater than or equal to said outer diameter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The pump assembly of claim 11, further comprising a front surface, wherein said outlet is on said front surface and said axis intersects said front surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The pump assembly of claim 11, wherein said axis is aligned within a plane that is substantially parallel to said first side and said second side. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The pump assembly of claim 11, further comprising a control unit and a rotational sensor coupled to the said control unit and said drive motor unit, said rotational sensor configured to provide data indicative an actual rotation speed of the drive motor unit to said control unit, said control unit configured to receive data indicative of a target rotational speed of said drive motor unit, said control unit configured to a) determine an extent of a variance between said target rotational speed of the drive motor unit and said actual rotational speed of the drive motor unit, and b) adjust the rotational speed of said drive motor unit to reduce the variance. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The pump assembly of claim 11, wherein said inlet and said outlet are oriented in a direction that is perpendicular to said axis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The pump assembly of claim 11, wherein said thermal isolation member couples said housing and said housing assembly. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) An applicator, comprising: a plurality of pump assemblies according to claim 11, wherein each of said pump assemblies is independently controlled, such that said drive motor of one of said plurality of pump assemblies is configured to pump the adhesive through said outlet thereof at a first targeted volumetric flow rate and said drive motor of another one of said plurality of pump assemblies is configured to pump the adhesive through said outlet thereof at a second targeted volumetric flow rate different from said first targeted volumetric flow rate. ### Claim 19 An applicator for dispensing adhesive onto a substrate, the applicator comprising: a manifold having a front, a back opposite to the front, a first side, and a second side that is opposite the first side; at least one dispensing module coupled to said manifold; and at least one modular pump assembly configured to be removably mounted to said manifold, each of said at least one modular pump assembly comprising: an inlet for receiving the adhesive and an outlet in fluid communication with said manifold; a gear assembly disposed within a housing assembly; a drive motor unit coupled to said gear assembly and operable for pumping adhesive from said inlet to said outlet, said drive motor unit having a housing that defines a first end and a second end that is opposite said first end and faces said gear assembly, a drive shaft that extends through said second end and is connected to said gear assembly, and a drive motor disposed within said housing that is configured to rotate said drive shaft about an axis that does not intersect both of said first side and said second side of said manifold; a plate integral with the housing of the drive motor unit, wherein the plate is directly attached to the housing assembly; and a thermal isolation region defined between the plate and the housing assembly. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The applicator of claim 19, wherein the housing assembly comprises: an upper plate partially defining the thermal isolation region; a lower plate opposite the upper plate and defining the inlet and the outlet; and a central block positioned between the upper and lower plates. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The applicator of claim 19, wherein the at least one modular pump assembly further comprises: at least one fastener securing the housing assembly to the plate.