US 6,688,498 B1 · Hot melt adhesive supply system with independent gear pump assemblies

Abstract

A new and improved gear pump assembly, and a new and improved hot melt adhesive dispensing assembly having a plurality of the new and improved gear pump assemblies incorporated therein, wherein each gear pump assembly is mounted upon the dispensing assembly in an entirely independent manner such that each gear pump assembly can be individually removed from the dispensing assembly, and replaced back onto the dispensing assembly, as may be necessary in connection with, for example, repair or maintenance procedures. The independence of each gear pump assembly also effectively prevents damage to or failure of one gear pump assembly from experiencing additional damage as well as from adversely affecting the operation of the other gear pump assemblies. Furthermore, in view of the fact that a driven gear of each gear pump assembly projects radially outwardly through an end face of the gear pump assembly so as to operatively engage a common drive shaft of the applicator assembly, as opposed to having the common drive shaft of the applicator assembly pass through side portions or faces of all of the gear pump assemblies, not only is the aforenoted independent mounting of the plurality of gear pump assemblies upon the dispensing assembly facilitated, but in addition, the need for all external rotary dynamic shaft seals, normally necessarily provided between the common drive shaft and one of the gear members of each gear pump assembly, is eliminated.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A gear pump assembly, for use in conjunction with a liquid dispensing assembly which comprises a drive shaft which is adapted to operatively engage and drive at least one gear pump assembly, wherein the gear pump assembly will output a predetermined metered amount of liquid and comprises:

a gear pump housing;
a gear pump inlet defined upon said gear pump housing through which liquid material, to be supplied, is conducted into said gear pump housing;
a gear pump outlet defined upon said gear pump housing through which liquid material, to be supplied, is conducted out from said gear pump housing;
a pump drive gear disposed within said gear pump housing for conducting liquid material, to be dispensed from said gear pump assembly, from said gear pump inlet toward said gear pump outlet;
and
a driven gear disposed in enmeshed engagement with said pump drive gear for driving said pump drive gear and rotatably disposed within said gear pump housing upon a rotary shaft which is disposed entirely within said gear pump housing such that external rotary dynamic seals are obviated.

3 more elements

A liquid dispensing assembly, comprising:

a rotary drive shaft;
at least one drive gear mounted upon said rotary drive shaft so as to be rotatable with said rotary drive shaft;
and
at least one gear pump assembly for outputting a predetermined metered amount of liquid;
said at least one gear pump assembly comprising a gear pump housing;
a gear pump inlet defined upon said gear pump housing through which liquid material, to be dispensed, is conducted into said gear pump housing;
a gear pump outlet defined upon said gear pump housing through which liquid material, to be dispensed, is conducted out from said gear pump housing;
a pump drive gear disposed within said gear pump housing for conducting liquid material, to be dispensed from said liquid dispensing assembly, from said gear pump inlet toward said gear pump outlet;
and a driven gear disposed in enmeshed engagement with said pump drive gear for driving said pump drive gear and rotatably disposed within said gear pump housing upon a rotary shaft which is disposed entirely within said gear pump housing such that external rotary dynamic seals are obviated.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hot melt adhesive supply system with independent gear pump assemblies

Life of this patent

Hot melt adhesive supply system with independent gear pump assemblies

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28