Module, nozzle and method for dispensing controlled patterns of liquid material

A dispensing module for dispensing a controlled pattern of liquid material onto a strand moving along a line in a machine direction, comprising:

• a module body including a flat interface;
• a nozzle body including a first side including a flat surface mounted to said flat interface of said module body, and a second side;
• a liquid supply port and a process air supply port in said nozzle body;
• a liquid discharge passage connected in fluid communication with said liquid supply port and including a liquid discharge outlet on said second side of said nozzle body, said liquid discharge passage extending along an axis that extends through said liquid discharge outlet and is oriented at an acute angle to a plane parallel to said flat surface so as to form an acute angle with the machine direction when the nozzle is discharging liquid onto the strand in the machine direction;
• and
• a plurality of process air discharge passages connected in fluid communication with said process air supply port, a plurality of process air discharge outlets associated with said liquid discharge outlet on said second side of said nozzle body and said plurality of process air discharge passages connected in fluid communication with said plurality of process air discharge outlets.

A dispensing module for dispensing a filament of liquid material in a controlled pattern onto a strand moving along a line in a machine direction, comprising:

• a module body including an interface;
• a nozzle body including a first side mounted to said interface of said module body, and a second side;
• a liquid supply port and a process air supply port in said nozzle body;
• a liquid discharge passage connected in fluid communication with said liquid supply port and including a liquid discharge outlet on said second side of said nozzle body, said liquid discharge passage extending along an axis that extends through said liquid discharge outlet and is oriented at an acute angle of approximately 20 degrees with the machine direction when the nozzle is discharging liquid onto the strand moving along a line in the machine direction;
• and
• a plurality of process air discharge passages connected in fluid communication with said process air supply port, and a plurality of process air discharge outlets connected in fluid communication with said plurality of process air discharge passages and associated with said liquid discharge outlet on said second side of said nozzle body.

A dispensing nozzle for dispensing a filament of liquid material in a controlled pattern onto a strand moving along a line in a machine direction, comprising:

• a nozzle body including a first side mounted to said interface of said module body, and a second side;
• a liquid supply port and a process air supply port in said nozzle body;
• a liquid discharge passage connected in fluid communication with said liquid supply port and including a liquid discharge outlet on said second side of said nozzle body, said liquid discharge passage extending along an axis that extends through said liquid discharge outlet and is oriented at an acute angle of approximately 20 degrees with the machine direction when the nozzle is discharging liquid onto the strand moving along a line in the machine direction;
• and
• a plurality of process air discharge passages connected in fluid communication with said process air supply port, and a plurality of process air discharge outlets connected in fluid communication with said plurality of process air discharge passages and associated with said liquid discharge outlet on said second side of said nozzle body.

A method of dispensing a liquid material onto at least one strand from a liquid dispensing nozzle including at least one liquid discharge passage with a liquid discharge outlet and further including a plurality of air discharge outlets, the nozzle having a flat surface mounted to a flat interface of a module body, the method comprising:

• moving the strand relative to the liquid dispensing nozzle along a line extending in a machine direction;
• dispensing the liquid material in the form of a filament from the liquid discharge outlet while the liquid discharge passage is oriented at an acute angle to a plane parallel to the flat surface such that the filament discharges generally in the machine direction and at an acute angle with the machine direction;
• discharging air from the plurality of air discharge outlets to impinge the filament;
• and
• depositing the liquid material on the strand.

A method of dispensing a liquid to at least one strand from a liquid dispensing nozzle having at least one liquid discharge passage with a liquid discharge outlet and a plurality of air discharge outlets, and a strand guide coupled directly to the nozzle and including opposed side walls positioned adjacent to the liquid discharge passage, the method comprising:

• moving the strand relative to the liquid dispensing nozzle along a line extending in a machine direction;
• guiding the strand with the strand guide by positioning the strand between the opposed side walls;
• dispensing the liquid in the form of a filament from the liquid discharge outlet toward the strand in the machine direction;
• discharging air from the air discharge outlets to impinge the filament;
• and
• depositing the liquid on the strand.

A dispensing module for dispensing a controlled pattern of liquid material onto a strand, comprising:

• a module body including an interface;
• a nozzle body mounted to said interface and having a liquid supply port for receiving the liquid material from said module body and a process air supply port for receiving process air from said module body, a liquid discharge passage connected in fluid communication with said liquid supply port, and a plurality of process air discharge passages connected in fluid communication with said process air supply port;
• and
• a strand guide coupled directly with said nozzle body and having opposed sidewalls positioned adjacent said liquid discharge passage, said strand guide configured to receive and guide movement of the strand.

A dispensing module for dispensing a controlled pattern of liquid material onto a strand moving along a line in a machine direction, the dispensing module comprising:

• a module body including an interface;
• a nozzle body including a first side mounted to said interface, a second side, a liquid supply port, a process air supply port, a liquid discharge passage in fluid communication with said liquid supply port and including a liquid discharge outlet on said second side of said nozzle body, said liquid discharge passage extending along an axis that extends through said liquid discharge outlet and forms an acute angle with the machine direction when the nozzle is discharging liquid onto the strand, a plurality of process air discharge passages in fluid communication with said process air supply port, and a plurality of air discharge outlets, each communicating with one of said air discharge passages and associated with said liquid discharge outlet;
• and
• a strand guide including a notch with an opening for receiving the strand and guiding the movement of the strand, said opening facing in a direction away from said liquid discharge outlet when receiving the strand and guiding the movement of the strand, said notch positioned proximate to said liquid discharge outlet.

A dispensing module for dispensing a controlled pattern of liquid material onto a strand moving along a line in a machine direction, the dispensing module comprising:

• a module body including an interface;
• a nozzle body including a first side mounted to said interface, a second side, and a lower edge adapted to be positioned proximate the strand, a liquid supply port and at least one process air supply port each located on said first side, and a liquid discharge passage in fluid communication with said liquid supply port and opening on said second side, said liquid discharge passage including a liquid discharge outlet and extending along an axis extending through said liquid discharge outlet and forming an acute angle with the strand when the nozzle is discharging liquid onto the strand in the machine direction;
• and
• a plurality of air discharge passages in fluid communication with said process air supply port and opening on said second side, and an air outlet communicating with one of said air discharge passages and positioned between said liquid discharge outlet and said lower edge.