Air annulus cut off nozzle to reduce stringing and method

An apparatus for use with a viscous liquid dispenser, the apparatus comprising:

• a nozzle comprising:
• a dispensing liquid passage terminating with a dispensing orifice and adapted to conduct a viscous liquid therethrough;
• a locating flange adapted to align the nozzle with the viscous liquid dispenser;
• and
• a shoulder adjacent the locating flange comprising:
• a bearing surface adapted to secure the nozzle to the viscous liquid dispenser, and
• at least one surface defining one side of a supply fluid passage adapted to provide a pressurized fluid;
• a nozzle tip extending from the shoulder to the dispensing orifice, the nozzle tip comprising a generally conical outer surface tapering linearly toward the dispensing orifice and forming one side of a conical discharge fluid passage adapted to direct a conical layer of pressurized fluid over the conical outer surface toward the dispensing orifice, the pressurized fluid not changing a path or flight of a dispensed viscous liquid but substantially preventing the dispensed viscous liquid from being pulled back toward, and accumulating on, the conical outer surface of the nozzle tip.