US 6,032,714 A · Repeatably positionable nozzle assembly

Abstract

A nozzle assembly adapted for repeatably positioning the nozzle in a precise relationship to an article and method for using it in a seam-sealing operation, the nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle, an alignment plate, and an arm forming a unitary nozzle assembly, and an air conduit for connecting the nozzle to a source of pressurized air. The nozzle assembly may further comprise a base for mounting the integral nozzle unit alignment plate, and a linear actuator connected to the base for moving the base along a linear path from a first, operating position to a second, standby position. The nozzle may be oriented to avoid visually obstructing the article receiving air flow. The nozzle may be attached to a seam sealing machine and may discharge a heated air stream of sufficient temperature to melt seam sealing tape adhesive backing to adhere such tape to fabric, and the nozzle assembly may further include a thermocouple assembly attached to the integral nozzle unit for measuring the air stream temperature near the point of discharge from the nozzle.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A unitary nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle, an alignment plate, and an arm between the nozzle and the alignment plate, the arm further including an air conduit for connecting said nozzle to a source of pressurized air wherein said nozzle, arm and alignment plate form a single unit.

A heat sealing machine for heat sealing a fabric seam, the machine comprising a fabric transport for transporting said fabric seam along a path through a heat sealing station, the heat sealing station comprising a source of a pressurized heated air and a removable unitary nozzle assembly for uniformly applying said heated air to said fabric seam at the sealing station, the improvement wherein comprises the removable unitary nozzle assembly including:

a nozzle,
an alignment plate,
an arm extending parallel to the nozzle between the nozzle and the alignment plate, the arm further including an air conduit for connecting said nozzle to the source of pressurized air wherein said nozzle, said arm, and said alignment plate form a single unit;
and
a base having an alignment plate receptor wherein said alignment plate is mounted onto the alignment plate receptor to repeatably position said removable unitary nozzle assembly at substantially exactly the same position relative to the base.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Repeatably positionable nozzle assembly

Life of this patent

Repeatably positionable nozzle assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17