Thermoplastic material applicator having an adjustable slot nozzle

A molten thermoplastic dispenser comprising

• a nozzle body,
• a valve body including a cylinder,
• a piston movable within said cylinder,
• a valve stem connected at one end of said piston, the opposite end of said stem terminating in a flow control valve, said valve cooperating with a valve seat to control the flow of molten thermoplastic material from a source of said molten material to a supply passage in said nozzle body,
• said nozzle body being provided with a transverse cylindrical bore,
• a radially disposed supply opening in the wall of said bore, said supply opening being in fluid communication with said supply passage in said nozzle body,
• a radially disposed discharge slot opening in the wall of said bore, said discharge slot opening in the wall of said bore being in fluid communication with a discharge slot opening in said nozzle body through which molten thermoplastic material is dispensed from said discharge slot opening in said nozzle body,
• a cylindrical flow control member rotatably mounted in said bore, said cylindrical flow control member having an arcuately shaped groove provided in its peripheral surface, said peripheral groove and said bore cooperating to provide a flow path for molten thermoplastic material between said supply opening in said bore and said discharge slot opening in said bore,
• said peripheral groove in said flow control member being of varying transverse width about the periphery of said flow control member, said peripheral groove being of substantially greater arcuate length about the periphery of said flow control member than the arcuate distance between said openings such that said flow control member may be reoriented relative to said openings in said bore to vary the width of molten material dispensed from said discharge slot opening of said nozzle body, and
• said cylindrical flow control member having a flange formed on one end thereof, said flange being engageable with one end face of said nozzle body, and a cap removably received on the opposite end of said cylindrical flow control member, said cap having a surface engageable with the opposite end face of said nozzle body such that said cap, when tightened onto said cylindrical flow control member, is operative to frictionally lock said cylindrical flow control member in an angular position of adjustment within said bore.