Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Mel Steven Lessley

Edward Wayne Bolyard, Jr

Edward Wayne Bolyard

Andreas Pahl

Jonathan David Cunningham

Kui-Chiu Kwok

Grant McGuffey

Daniel D Bourget

Andrew S Ayers

Alan Pindrock

Joseph Angelini

Scott Mercer

Edward W Bolyard

Edward Wayne Bolyard Jr

Edward W Bolyard Jr

Edward Bolyard

Grant Mcguffey

A fluid application device and method of controlling the dispensing of the from the fluid delivery device are provided. The fluid application device includes a metering device configured to receive the fluid and has one or more metering pumps configured to meter the fluid flowing through each pump, a discrete fluid delivery conduit extending from each metering pump, the fluid delivery conduit configured to receive the metered fluid, and a nozzle assembly fluidically connected to the metering device. The nozzle assembly includes one or more orifices. Each metering pump is fluidically connected to at least one orifice, respectively, of the one or more orifices via a respective delivery conduit. The method includes positioning the metering device upstream from the one or more orifices and controlling a flow rate of the fluid delivered from each metering pump to at least one orifice associated with the metering pump.

Fluid application device having a nozzle with individually metered orifice or orifices

A fluid application device having a flow diverter is provided. The fluid application device includes an applicator head having an internally formed manifold having a fluid input conduit, two or more fluid output conduits and a chamber disposed between the input conduit and the two or more output conduits. An external attachment surface is formed on the applicator head and is configured to have two or more nozzles selectively and removably secured thereto. A flow diverter is removably disposed in the chamber and includes a plug having two or more channels, each channel in fluid communication with the fluid input conduit and a respective fluid output conduit of the two or more output conduits. The fluid input conduit is configured to receive a fluid from a supply source and the two or more fluid output conduits are configured to discharge the fluid from the applicator head to respective nozzles.

Flow diverter in fluid application device

A fluid application device includes an applicator head, a first fluid passageway extending in the applicator head, a second fluid passageway extending in the applicator head, a plurality of metering devices connected to the applicator head. A first metering device of the plurality of metering devices is configured to meter a fluid to the first fluid passageway and a second metering device of the plurality of metering devices is configured to meter the fluid to the second fluid passageway. The device further includes a plurality of valve modules, each valve module actuatable between an open condition and a closed condition to control flow of the fluid and a nozzle having one or more discharge orifices. At least one orifice of the one or more discharge orifices is positioned downstream from the first passageway and the second passageway to receive the material from both the first and second fluid passageways.

Variable volume strand coating apparatus and method

A fluid application device includes one or more applicator heads. each applicator head includes a service block configured to receive a fluid from a fluid supply source, a manifold secured to the service block and configured to receive the fluid from the service block, the manifold having a seat, a module secured to the manifold at the seat, the module including a valve configured to selectively control flow of the fluid in the manifold, and a nozzle having a first configuration removably securable to the manifold, the nozzle configured to receive the fluid from the manifold, the nozzle having a first interface for interfacing with the manifold.

Modular fluid application device compatible with different nozzle configurations

A fluid application device having an applicator head, a slot die assembly and a securing mechanism for securing the slot die assembly to the applicator head is provided. The slot die assembly includes a die extruder comprising one or more fluid input ports configured to receive a fluid from the applicator head, a shim positioned adjacent to the die extruder, and a plate positioned adjacent to the shim on a side of the shim opposite from the die extruder. The securing mechanism includes a securing component at one of the applicator head and the slot die assembly and a corresponding securing component at the other of the applicator head and slot die assembly.

Rapid changeover slot die assembly for a fluid application device

A fluid application device, strand engagement device, and method of controlling the same are provided. The fluid application device includes an applicator head and a nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly includes a guide slot configured to receive a strand of material and an orifice configured to discharge a first fluid on to the strand. The strand engagement device is secured to the applicator head and includes an actuating assembly and an engagement arm connected to the actuating assembly. The engagement arm is configured to engage the strand and move between a first position and a second position in response to actuation of the actuating assembly. The method of controlling the strand engagement device includes receiving an input signal including content, determining the content of the input signal and operating the strand engagement device in response to, and based on the content of, the input signal.

Fluid application device, strand engagement device and method of controlling the same

A fluid application device, a nozzle assembly and a method of applying a fluid onto a strand of material provided. The fluid application device includes an applicator head and a nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly includes a guide slot for receiving a strand of material. The nozzle assembly further includes an orifice, spaced from the guide slot, configured to discharge a first fluid to onto the strand, and at least one outlet, adjacent to the orifice, for discharging a second fluid to act on the first fluid. The method includes positioning the strand at the closed end of the guide slot so that the strand is spaced a predetermined distance from the orifice, feeding the strand through the guide slot at a predetermined speed, applying the first fluid onto the strand from the orifice and discharging the second fluid from the at least one outlet.

Fluid application device having a modular non-contact nozzle for applying fluid to an article

A laminated nozzle assembly includes a first end plate having first and second fluid inlets, a second end plate, and a plurality of nozzle plates positioned between the first and second end plates. A first fluid conduit is fluidically connected to the first fluid inlet. The first fluid conduit has a reservoir and one or more first openings. A second fluid conduit is fluidically connected to the second fluid inlet. The second fluid conduit has an inlet channel, a connecting channel and one or more second openings. An orifice assembly includes a first orifice fluidically connected to the first opening and a second orifice fluidically connected to the second opening. The first and second orifices are disposed in the same plate of the plurality of nozzle plates and are coplanar.

Laminated nozzle with thick plate

A fluid delivery device is provided. The fluid delivery device includes a melter having a loading chamber and a hopper disposed in communication with the loading chamber, the loading chamber having one or more heating elements. The hopper includes a second heating element. The melter also includes a container handling system for lifting a container a predetermined height and moving the container from a position remote of the melter to a position within the loading chamber. The container includes contents stored within. The heating elements heat the contents so that the contents may be received in the hopper. The hopper may continue to heat the contents to provide a fluid. The fluid may be discharged from the hopper by way of a pump assembly. A pressure of fluid may be regulated at the pump assembly.

Method and apparatus for loading, melting and delivering fluid from a fluid delivery device

A fluid application device having a modular nozzle assembly is provided. The fluid application device includes an applicator head and a modular nozzle assembly fluidly coupled thereto. The modular nozzle assembly includes at least one guide slot configured to receive a strand of material, at least one orifice configured to discharge a first fluid onto a respective strand of material, and at least one securing opening extending through the modular nozzle assembly. Each securing opening is configured to receive a releasable securing element. The modular nozzle assembly may be a contact nozzle assembly or a non-contact nozzle assembly, and include fluid or air assist for altering a flow of the first fluid. The modular nozzle assembly may be selectively removed from and secured to the fluid application device so that the modular nozzle assembly may be selectively switched between the contact nozzle assembly and the non-contact nozzle assembly.

Fluid application device having a modular nozzle assembly for applying fluid to an article

A laminated nozzle assembly is provided. The laminated nozzle includes a first end plate having a first fluid inlet and a second fluid inlet, a second end plate, a plurality of nozzle plates positioned and clamped between the first end plate and the second end plate, a first fluid conduit in fluid communication with the first fluid inlet formed in one or more of the nozzle plates, a second fluid conduit in fluid communication with the second fluid inlet formed in one or more of the nozzle plates, a first orifice in fluid communication with the first fluid conduit formed in one of the nozzle plates, and a second orifice in fluid communication with the second fluid conduit formed in the same nozzle plate as the first orifice. The laminated nozzle assembly minimizes the number of nozzle plates and includes no more than eight, and preferably no more than five nozzle plates.

Strand positional guide implements, for use in connection with hot melt adhesive strand coating applicator assemblies, comprise a plurality of V-shaped strand guide slots wherein the apex portions are oriented outwardly away from the hot melt adhesive material dispensing nozzles. Accordingly, an enlarged air space is effectively defined between the plurality of elongated strands and its respective hot melt adhesive material dispensing nozzle such that the plurality of elongated strands are not adversely affected by the heat or thermal radiation generated by or emanating from the hot melt adhesive material dispensing nozzles thereof.

Strand positioning guide having reversely oriented V-shaped slots for use in connection with strand coating applicators

A new and improved hybrid hot melt adhesive or other thermoplastic material dispensing system wherein two or more different hot melt adhesive or other thermoplastic material depositions, comprising, for example, two or more different types of patterns, two or more different types of application techniques or processes, or two or more different types of cyclical operations, can effectively be simultaneously achieved at substantially two or more different locations relative to an underlying substrate. The hybrid system comprises a metering station upon which is mounted a metering head comprising a plurality of metering head dispensing modules, and a pair or remote applicator heads comprising a pair of applicator head dispensing modules.

Hybrid hot melt adhesive or other thermoplastic material dispensing system

A new and improved strand coating system comprises a strand guide block which serves to properly position and orient a plurality of elongated, parallel strands, which are being respectively conveyed in front of a plurality of the material dispensing nozzles, in such a manner that the plurality of elongated, parallel strands can assuredly be respectively disposed within common planes which are effectively formed between the strand guide slots defined within the strand guide block and the plurality of material dispensing nozzles whereby the dispensed hot melt adhesive materials can be properly applied to and coated upon the elongated strands prior to the adherence of the elongated strands upon suitable substrates so as to, in turn, ensure the desirably secured adherence of the plurality of elongated strands upon the particular substrates when the elongated strands and the substrates are mated together. The plurality of strand guide slots may have substantially V-shaped cross-sectional configurations or substantially L-shaped cross-sectional configurations, and the strand guide block can be mounted either upon the module assembly or the dispensing nozzle assembly so as to be disposed at elevational positions which are either vertically above or below the hot melt adhesive dispensing nozzles in order to accommodate vertically upward or vertically downward strand conveyance systems.

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Villa Hills, KY, United States of America

Mel Steven Lessley