Laminated distribution manifold plate system

A material flow control system, comprising:

• an input manifold for receiving a supply of material from a supply source of material;
• a plurality of flow control valves for controlling the discharge of material therefrom such that material discharged from said plurality of flow control valves can be deposited upon a substrate in accordance with a predetermined pattern;
• at least one multiple-outlet pump for discharging material received from said input manifold toward said plurality of flow control valves;
• an output manifold for supplying material to said plurality of flow control valves;
• and
• a first plate interposed between said input manifold and said output manifold and having first and second separate and independent fluid flow paths defined upon first and second opposite surfaces of said first plate, with a solid plate portion defined between said first and second opposite surfaces and said first and second separate and independent fluid flow paths defined upon said first and second opposite surfaces of said first plate, for respectively conducting material from said input manifold to said at least one multiple-outlet pump along said first fluid flow path, and from said at least one multiple-outlet pump toward said output manifold and said plurality of flow control valves along said second fluid flow path.

A hot melt adhesive material flow control system, comprising:

• an input manifold for receiving a supply of adhesive material from a supply source of adhesive material;
• a plurality of flow control valves for controlling the discharge of adhesive material therefrom such that adhesive material discharged from said plurality of flow control valves can be deposited upon a substrate in accordance with a predetermined pattern;
• at least one multiple-outlet pump for discharging adhesive material received from said input manifold toward said plurality of flow control valves;
• an output manifold within which the adhesive material discharged by said at least one multiple-outlet pump is heated so as to supply hot melt adhesive material to said plurality of flow control valves;
• an adapter plate for mounting said plurality of flow control valves thereon in a predetermined arrangement such that adhesive material can be discharged from said plurality of flow control valves and deposited upon the substrate in accordance with the predetermined pattern;
• a recirculation pump for recirculating adhesive material from said plurality of flow control valves back to said at least one multiple-outlet pump;
• and
• means for mounting said plurality of flow control valves upon said adapter plate, for mounting said adapter plate upon said output manifold, for mounting said output manifold upon said input manifold, for mounting said at least one multiple-outlet pump upon said input manifold, and for mounting said recirculation pump upon said input manifold, in such a manner that said flow control valves can be disassembled from said adapter plate independent of disassembly of said adapter plate from said output manifold, as well as disassembly of said output manifold, said recirculation pump, and said at least one multiple-outlet pump from said input manifold;
• said adapter plate can be disassembled from said output manifold independent of disassembly of said output manifold, said recirculation pump, and said at least one multiple-output pump from said input manifold;
• and each one of said recirculation pump and said at least one multiple-outlet pump can be disassembled from said input manifold independent of disassembly of said output manifold, said adapter plate, and said plurality of flow control valves from said input manifold.