Hot melt adhesive systems and related methods
AssigneeNordson Corporation
InventorsJustin A. Clark, William M. Ridge
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hot melt adhesive system includes a supply container for storing adhesive particulate, a transfer pump operatively connected to the supply container, a transfer hose operatively coupled to the transfer pump, and a blocking member. The blocking member is movable between a first position in which stored adhesive particulate and air are permitted to be withdrawn from the supply container into the transfer hose, and a second position in which the stored adhesive particulate is blocked from passing through the transfer hose while air is permitted to pass therethrough to flush the transfer hose of residual adhesive particulate.
Claims21
A hot melt adhesive system, comprising:
- a supply container for storing adhesive particulate;
- a transfer pump operatively connected to the supply container, the transfer pump including a pump inlet and a pump outlet, the transfer pump being configured to generate a vacuum at the pump inlet to thereby withdraw the stored adhesive particulate and air into the pump inlet from the supply container;
- a transfer hose operatively coupled to the pump outlet for transferring the withdrawn adhesive particulate toward an adhesive melter;
- and
- a blocking member, the blocking member being movable between a first position in which the stored adhesive particulate and air are permitted to be withdrawn from the supply container into the transfer hose and a second position in which the stored adhesive particulate is blocked from passing through the transfer hose while air is permitted to pass by the blocking member and through the transfer hose toward the adhesive melter to thereby flush the transfer hose of residual adhesive particulate therein.
A method of operating a hot melt adhesive system including a supply container for storing adhesive particulate, a transfer pump operatively connected to the supply container and having a pump inlet and a pump outlet, a transfer hose operatively coupled to the pump outlet, and a blocking member, the method comprising:
- placing the blocking member in a first position in which the stored adhesive particulate and air are permitted to be withdrawn from the supply container into the transfer hose;
- powering the transfer pump to generate a vacuum at the pump inlet to thereby withdraw the stored adhesive particulate and air into the pump inlet from the supply container and into the transfer hose;
- transferring the withdrawn adhesive particulate through the transfer hose toward an adhesive melter;
- moving the blocking member to a second position in which the stored adhesive particulate is blocked from passing through the transfer hose while air is permitted to pass by the blocking member and through the transfer hose toward the adhesive melter;
- and
- withdrawing additional air from the supply container past the blocking member in the second position to thereby flush the transfer hose of residual adhesive particulate therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.