US 2015/0083230 A1 · ADHESIVE BUFFER UNIT AND ASSOCIATED FILL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR STORING AND MOVING ADHESIVE PARTICULATE

Abstract

A buffer unit is configured to store and transfer adhesive particulate to at least one adhesive melter. The buffer unit includes a buffer bin defining an interior space configured to hold a bulk supply of adhesive particulate with an agitator plate positioned within the housing at a non-horizontal orientation. A vibration generating mechanism is coupled to the agitator plate so that vibration is transmitted into the adhesive particulate to form a flow of fluidized adhesive particulate which flows toward at least one pump inlet. The buffer unit breaks up clumps of coalesced adhesive particulate to avoid clogging the pump inlet, while also ensuring that all adhesive particulate in the buffer bin can be removed at the pump inlet. Additionally, makeup air used by pumps to generate vacuum at the pump inlet does not need to be drawn through the entire bulk supply of adhesive particulate.

Claims33

Dependent claims

A buffer unit configured to store and transfer adhesive particulate to an adhesive melter, the buffer unit comprising:

a buffer bin defined by a housing including a bottom wall and a sidewall extending from said bottom wall to form an interior space;
an agitator plate positioned within said buffer bin so as to be angled from a horizontal orientation, said agitator plate including an upper end operatively coupled to said sidewall and a bottom end operatively coupled to said bottom wall, said agitator plate dividing said interior space into a lower chamber portion and an upper chamber portion configured to receive a bulk supply of adhesive particulate;
a vibration generating mechanism operatively coupled to said agitator plate and configured to selectively vibrate said agitator plate to produce a relative motion between said agitator plate and the bulk supply of adhesive particulate, the relative motion configured to agitate the bulk supply to generate a flow of fluidized adhesive particulate which moves towards said bottom end of said agitator plate;
and
at least one pump inlet located in said buffer bin proximate to said bottom end of said agitator plate, each pump inlet configured to receive the flow of fluidized adhesive particulate moving towards said bottom end to be transferred to the adhesive melter.

2 more elements

A method of transferring adhesive particulate to an adhesive melter with a buffer unit including a buffer bin defining an interior space, an agitator plate positioned within the buffer bin at a non-horizontal orientation, a vibration generating mechanism coupled to the agitator plate, and at least one pump inlet coupled with at least one pneumatic transfer pump, the method comprising:

storing a bulk supply of adhesive particulate within the interior space of the buffer bin such that the agitator plate engages a lower surface of the bulk supply;
generating vibrations at the agitator plate with the vibration generating mechanism to agitate the lower surface of the bulk supply and produce a flow of fluidized adhesive particulate;
guiding the flow of adhesive particulate along the non-horizontal orientation of the agitator plate to the at least one pump inlet;
and
removing adhesive particulate from the buffer bin through the at least one pump inlet with the at least one pneumatic transfer pump, for delivery to the adhesive melter.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Adhesive buffer unit and associated fill systems and methods for storing and moving adhesive particulate

Life of this patent

Adhesive buffer unit and associated fill systems and methods for storing and moving adhesive particulate

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims33