Method for applying a hot melt adhesive pattern to a moving substrate

In the application of a hot melt adhesive to a substrate in a pattern which includes adhesive lines that extend transversely to one another,

• the method of applying said hot melt adhesive in said pattern comprising,
• depositing one line of predetermined length of said hot melt adhesive from a stationary orifice onto said substrate while conveying said substrate past said orifice, said one line of adhesive extending parallel to the direction of movement of said substrate,
• and, while conveying said substrate in said direction, spraying a flat sheet of said hot melt adhesive from a stationary nozzle which presents a flat spray orifice so oriented that said flat sheet extends in a plane transverse to the direction of substrate movement, said flat sheet having lateral edges which diverge angularly as a fan as said sheet moves from said flat spray orifice toward said substrate,
• and terminating said spraying so quickly, in relation to the rate of substrate movement, that a transverse line of adhesive is deposited on said substrate, said transverse line having a width in the direction of substrate movement which is substantially less than its length,
• said transverse line extending transversely to said one line,
• said flat spray orifice being spaced from said substrate to establish a length of said transverse line which is substantially greater than the width of said flat spray orifice.