Hot-melt molding apparatus

A hot-melt molding apparatus comprising:

• a cylinder having a supply port configured to receive a thermoplastic material, and a discharge port configured to discharge the received thermoplastic material;
• a molding head in communication with the discharge port;
• a heating device configured to heat the cylinder and the molding head to melt thermoplastic material within the cylinder and the molding head;
• a conveying section disposed in the cylinder and configured to convey the thermoplastic material in the cylinder to the molding head;
• a heat-conductive member coupled to a high-temperature portion including at least one of the cylinder and the molding head, the heat-conductive member having a ring shape and being disposed along an outer peripheral surface of at least one of the cylinder and the molding head;
• a heat pipe having a first end coupled to the heat-conductive member and a second end opposite the first end;
• a thermoelectric conversion element having a first surface coupled to the second end of the heat pipe, and a second surface located on an opposite side from the first surface and coupled to a low-temperature portion, the low-temperature portion having a first temperature lower than a second temperature of the high-temperature portion and including a housing configured to house a driving section adapted to drive the cylinder;
• and
• a power storage section coupled to the thermoelectric conversion element and configured to store power generated by the thermoelectric conversion element.

A hot-melt molding apparatus comprising:

• a cylinder having a supply port configured to receive a thermoplastic material, and a discharge port configured to discharge the received thermoplastic material;
• a molding head in communication with the discharge port;
• a heating device configured to heat the cylinder and the molding head to melt thermoplastic material within the cylinder and the molding head;
• a conveying section disposed in the cylinder and configured to convey thermoplastic material in the cylinder to the molding head;
• a heat transport section having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end being coupled to at least one of the cylinder and the molding head;
• a thermoelectric conversion element having a first surface coupled to the second end of the heat transport section, and a second surface located on an opposite side from the first surface and coupled to a low-temperature portion including a housing configured to house a driving section adapted to drive the cylinder and having a first temperature lower than a second temperature of a connection position where the first end of the heat transport section is coupled to the at least one of the cylinder and the molding head;
• and
• a power storage section coupled to the thermoelectric conversion element and configured to store power generated by the thermoelectric conversion element.

A hot-melt molding apparatus comprising:

• a cylinder having a supply port configured to receive a thermoplastic material, and a discharge port configured to discharge the received thermoplastic material;
• a molding head in communication with the discharge port;
• a heating device configured to heat the cylinder and the molding head to melt thermoplastic material within the cylinder and the molding head;
• a conveying section disposed in the cylinder and configured to convey thermoplastic material in the cylinder to the molding head;
• a heat transport section having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end being coupled to at least one of the cylinder and the molding head;
• a thermoelectric conversion element having a first surface coupled to the second end of the heat transport section, and a second surface located on an opposite side from the first surface and coupled to a low-temperature portion provided separately from the hot-melt molding apparatus and having a first temperature lower than a second temperature of a position where the first end of the heat transport section is coupled to the at least one of the cylinder and the molding head;
• and
• a power storage section coupled to the thermoelectric conversion element and configured to store power generated by the thermoelectric conversion element.