Segmented applicator for hot melt adhesives or other thermoplastic materials

A modular applicator for dispensing liquid comprising:

• a plurality of manifold segments having a plurality of edge portions and opposed side surfaces disposed between said edge portions, said manifold segments coupled together in side-by-side relation with said side surfaces of adjacent manifold segments directed toward one another, and each of said manifold segments having a recess communicating with at least one of said edge portions,
• a liquid supply passage and a liquid discharge passage within each manifold segment,
• a plurality of pumps each mounted in said recess of one of said manifold segments and being removable from said recess without decoupling said manifold segments from one another, each of said pumps including an inlet communicating with said liquid supply passage, an outlet communicating with said liquid discharge passage and a pumping mechanism for pumping the liquid from said inlet to said outlet, and
• a drive motor coupled to each of said pumps for operating each of said pumping mechanisms.

A modular applicator for dispensing liquid comprising:

• a plurality of manifold segments having a plurality of edge portions and opposed side surfaces disposed between said edge portions, said manifold segments coupled together in side-by-side relation with said side surfaces of adjacent manifold segments directed toward one another, and each of said manifold segments having a recess communicating with at least one of said edge portions,
• a liquid supply passage and a liquid discharge passage within each manifold segment,
• a plurality of positive displacement gear pumps each mounted in said recess of one of said manifold segments and being removable from said recess without decoupling said manifold segments from one another, each of said pumps including an inlet communicating with said liquid supply passage, an outlet communicating with said liquid discharge passage and a plurality of gears for pumping the liquid from said inlet to said outlet,
• a drive motor having a rotatable drive shaft extending through at least one of said gears of each pump to simultaneously operate each of said pumps, and
• a plurality of recirculating dispensing modules each having an ON condition and an OFF condition, each of said plurality of dispensing modules respectively coupled with one of said plurality of manifold segments and capable of dispensing the liquid from a corresponding one of said manifold segments when in an ON condition and recirculating the liquid back into said corresponding manifold segment when in an OFF condition.

A modular applicator for dispensing liquid comprising:

• a plurality of dispensing modules each having a liquid inlet for receiving liquid, a liquid outlet, and a valve positioned between said liquid inlet and said liquid outlet, said valve operative to selectively dispense liquid from said liquid outlet;
• and
• a plurality of manifold segments each coupled to a corresponding one of said dispensing modules;
• each of said manifold segments having opposed side surfaces, a liquid distribution passage extending between said side surfaces, and a liquid supply pathway coupling said liquid distribution passage with said liquid inlet of with said corresponding dispensing module said manifold segments attached together in side-by-side relation with said side surfaces of adjacent manifold segments directed toward one another and said liquid distribution passage of one of said manifold segments coupled in fluid communication with said liquid distribution passage of another of said manifold segments.