Device and method for regulating application of adhesives and/or sealants

An apparatus for the controlled application of an adhesive to substrates, the arrangement comprising:

• a) a reservoir for containing adhesive,
• b) a feed pump,
• c) an applicator head having at least one applicator nozzle,
• d) a volume throughput sensor located between the feed pump and the applicator nozzle, and
• e) a monitoring unit having an associated data processing program,
• f) a conduit system fluidly connecting the reservoir, the feed pump and the applicator head with at least one applicator nozzle, the monitoring unit being operable to receive pulse transmissions from the volume throughput sensor, and the monitoring unit being operable to control the feed pump and the applicator head in response to transmissions from the volume throughput sensor.

A process for the controlled application of adhesive to substrates, said process comprising:

• a) providing an arrangement comprising:
• i) reservoir for containing a supply of adhesive,
• ii) a feed pump,
• iii) an applicator head having at least one applicator nozzle,
• iv) a volume throughput sensor located between the feed pump and the applicator nozzle, and
• v) a monitoring unit with an associated data processing program, the reservoir, the feed pump and the applicator head being fluidly connected by a conduit system capable of transporting the adhesive, the monitoring unit being operable to receive volume signals from the sensor, and the monitoring unit being operable to control the feed pump and the applicator head,
• b) employing the volume throughput sensor to measure the volume throughput of the adhesive,
• c) detecting electrical pulse signals indicative of the volume of adhesive to be applied by the volume throughput sensor and transmitting the detected pulse signals to the monitoring unit, and
• d) controlling the amount of adhesive applied to the substrate in-line by continuous monitoring the volume of adhesive to be applied and selectively adjusting the output of the feed pump in response to the signals.