Apparatus for dispensing an adhesive

An apparatus for dispensing an adhesive material comprising:

• a body defining a fluid chamber, the fluid chamber extending from a first end to an outlet at a second end;
• a fixed pole disposed at the first end of the fluid chamber and extending away therefrom, wherein a portion of said fixed pole is in fluid contact with the fluid material within the fluid chamber;
• an inlet for coupling the fluid chamber to a source of adhesive material;
• a coil for generating an electromagnetic field, disposed about a portion of the pole and a portion of the fluid chamber;
• a plunger disposed within the fluid chamber adjacent to the fixed pole and mounted for reciprocal movement therein between closed and retracted positions when subjected to said electromagnetic field, such that when said plunger is in said closed position the outlet is blocked to prevent fluid flow therefrom and in said retracted position fluid flow is emitted from the outlet;
• and
• a substantially rectangular housing having a bore therein and a pair of end caps, one cap disposed in each end of said housing and each cap having a bore therein, said housing disposed about the coil;
• wherein in response to the electromagnetic field, a magnetic circuit is established comprising the pole, the end caps, the housing and the plunger.

An apparatus for dispensing an adhesive comprising:

• a housing defining a bore therein, said bore having a first and a second end;
• an inlet for coupling the bore to a source of adhesive;
• a pole, extending form the first end of the bore such that a portion of an external surface of the pole is in fluid communication with the adhesive;
• a coil for generating an electromagnetic field, disposed about a portion of the pole and the bore;
• a discharge opening coupled to the second end of the bore;
• a plunger, having first and second ends, disposed within the bore and mounted for reciprocal movement between a closed position and an open position, wherein in said open position, adhesive is dispensed from the discharge opening and in said closed position, adhesive is prevented from being dispensed from the discharge opening;
• a pair of magnetic end caps disposed within the housing, one located at either end of the coil;
• a flux guide member, coupled between the end caps having a non-uniform radial cross-section for guiding lines of flux of the electromagnetic field between the end caps;
• and
• wherein one end cap distributes the flux between the pole piece and the flux guide member, while the other distributes the flux between the plunger and the flux guide member such that the plunger is moved to the open position.

An apparatus for dispensing adhesive comprising a valve seat body, said body having a stepped bore therein, one end of said bore coupled to a discharge outlet, and an inlet coupled to the stepped bore and adapted to receive a source of adhesive, said valve seat body being non-magnetic;

• a non-magnetic sleeve member, having a bore therein, one end of the sleeve member engaging the stepped bore of the valve seat body;
• a pole, attached to a distal end of the sleeve member from the valve seat body and extending from the sleeve member;
• a coil assembly, for generating an electromagnetic field, disposed about a portion of both the pole and the sleeve member;
• first and second end caps, each end cap having a bore therein, the first end cap disposed between the coil and the valve seat body and the second end cap disposed about a portion of the pole,
• a non-circular housing, defining a bore and attached to and extending between the end caps;
• a plunger, slidably disposed within the bore of the sleeve and the bore of the valve housing for movement from a closed to an open position, such that upon energization of the coil, the plunger moves to an open portion for allowing the discharge of adhesive and upon the de-energization of the coil, the plunger moves to the closed position, thereby blocking the discharge opening of the valve seat body.

The method of dispensing an adhesive material comprising the steps of:

• mounting a plurality of gun modules to a manifold in side-by-side relationship;
• directing a flow of said adhesive material through a bore of each gun module containing a plunger slidably mounted therein, and further directing the flow of said polymeric material about a portion of a electromagnetic pole;
• generating an electromagnetic field in one or more of the gun modules, and causing the electromagnetic field for such gun module or modules, to pass axially through the pole and said plunger of the respective gun module, and further directing the field to concentrate the majority of the field in a first face of the module adjacent to the manifold and a second face diametrically opposed to the first face;
• wherein the electromagnetic field of each module effectuates movement of the plunger of the module from a closed to an open position such that the adhesive material is directed past the plunger and discharged from a discharge orifice.