Integral nozzle cleaning system
AssigneeNordson Corporation
InventorCharles P. Ganzer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A nozzle for a liquid dispenser that incorporates a cleaning probe capable of removing foreign debris from a nozzle discharge passageway. The cleaning probe is moveable between a retracted position that permits fluid flow to a discharge orifice terminating the discharge passageway and an extended position in which the cleaning probe extends into the discharge passageway. As the cleaning fixture advances from the retracted position to the extended position, foreign debris present in the discharge passageway is displaced and ejected out of the discharge orifice.
Claims22
A method of operating a thermoplastic material dispenser, the material dispenser including a supply passageway, a valve seat in the supply passageway, and a valve element movable relative to the valve seat for regulating a flow of thermoplastic material through the supply passageway, comprising:
- moving the valve element relative to the valve seat for regulating the flow of thermoplastic material through the supply passageway;
- coupling a first passageway of a nozzle in fluid communication with the supply passageway;
- and
- rotating a cleaning fixture threadingly engaged with a second passageway inclined relative to the first passageway to cause movement of an attached cleaning probe in a first direction to an extended position extending through a discharge passageway coupled with the second passageway.
A thermoplastic material dispenser, comprising:
- a dispenser module having a supply passageway, a valve seat in said supply passageway, and a valve element movable within said supply passageway relative to said valve seat for regulating a flow of a thermoplastic material into said supply passageway;
- a nozzle body having a first passageway coupled in fluid communication with said supply passageway of the dispenser, a discharge passageway for discharging the flow of the thermoplastic material, and a second passageway coupling said discharge passageway with said first passageway, said second passageway being inclined relative to said first passageway;
- a cleaning probe coupled with said nozzle body, said cleaning probe moveable between a retracted position in which thermoplastic material flows through said second passageway to said discharge passageway and an extended position in which the cleaning probe extends into said discharge passageway;
- and
- a driving element having an external threaded portion engaged with said internal threaded portion of said nozzle bode, wherein rotation of said driving element causes relative movement of said external threaded portion relative to said internal threaded portion for moving said cleaning probe relative to said discharge passageway between the extended position and the retracted position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.