Tool for applying adhesive material

An adhesive-applying tool for melting and applying adhesive to a workpiece from a plurality of sequentially fed adhesive cartridges, said tool comprising wall means forming an elongate chamber of substantially uniform cross section throughout its length, heat-conducting means located at one end of said chamber and having an outlet passage communicating with said chamber, said heat-conducting means being effective to heat and melt an end of one of the cartridges in contact with said heat-conducting means at said one end of said chamber, means for closing off the other end of said chamber, resilient sealing means carried by said wall means and extending into said chamber at an intermediate position between said heat-conducting means and said closing means and effective to engage the outer surface of the cartridges of adhesive material inserted into said chamber, said sealing means being fixed and being spaced substantially rearwardly from said heat-conducting means and the melted ends of the cartridges, means for supplying fluid under pressure directly to said other end of said chamber, said sealing means being effective to substantially prevent the passage of fluid under pressure past said sealing means toward said outlet passage, and vent means communicating with said chamber and located proximate said sealing means to vent any fluid under pressure which might leak past said sealing means to prevent the fluid under pressure from directly acting on the molten adhesive to force the molten adhesive from said outlet passage.