Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Paul J Donley

Daniel D Bourget

Mairi MacLean

Christopher D Bryan

Mairi Maclean

A hot melt adhesive hose assembly has a hot melt adhesive hose core, and a pair of heater circuits wrapped around the external peripheral surface of the hose core. A first one of the heater circuits is electrically connected to the hose assembly electrical circuitry, and should a failure occur within the first one of the heater circuits, an electrical switch mechanism is actuated so as to effectively remove the first, failed heater circuit from the hose assembly electrical circuitry, and substantially simultaneously, electrically connect the second one of the heater circuits to the hose assembly electrical circuitry.

Hot melt adhesive hose assembly having redundant components

A new and improved hot melt adhesive hose assembly has a hot melt adhesive hose core, a pair of heater circuits wrapped around the external peripheral surface of the hose core, and a pair of temperature sensors also disposed in contact with the external peripheral surface of the hose core. A first one of the heater circuits is initially electrically connected to the hot melt adhesive hose assembly electrical circuitry, and in a similar manner, a first one of the temperature sensors is electrically connected to the hot melt adhesive hose assembly electrical circuitry. Should a failure occur within the first one of the heater circuits, or within the first one of the temperature sensors, electrical switch mechanisms, which are fixedly mounted upon the hose assembly, can be actuated so as to effectively remove the first, failed heater circuit, or the first, failed temperature sensor from the hot melt adhesive hose assembly electrical circuitry, and substantially simultaneously therewith, electrically connect the second one of the heater circuits, or temperature sensors, to the hot melt adhesive hose assembly electrical circuitry. The hot melt adhesive hose assembly, including the heater circuits, the temperature sensors, and the switch mechanisms, effectively comprises a self-contained, stand-alone, or independent operative component that can be utilized in conjunction with any adhesive supply unit (ASU) and its temperature controller.

A new and improved hot melt adhesive applicator nozzle assembly comprises an adapter, a dispensing nozzle mounted within the adapter, a nozzle retainer threadedly engaged with the adapter for securing the dispensing nozzle within the adapter, an air inlet ring rotatably mounted upon the nozzle retainer and having an inlet air fitting fixedly mounted therein, and an end cap which is threadedly mounted upon the nozzle retainer. The end cap has swirl air passages integrally incorporated therein, and the end cap and air inlet ring are both fabricated from a suitable thermoplastic polymer material such that all exposed surfaces of the hot melt adhesive applicator nozzle assembly are plastic and are therefore at substantially lower temperature levels than the metal brass components of the hot melt adhesive applicator nozzle assembly. The external peripheral surface of the end cap is knurled so as to facilitate the manual removal of the end cap without the need for special tools, and most importantly, the dispensing tip portion of the dispensing nozzle is axially recessed with respect to the front surface of the end cap so as not to comprise a readily externally accessible surface portion. In this manner, the potential for burn and safety hazards to operator personnel has effectively been eliminated.

All plastic air cap for hot melt adhesive applicator

A hot melt adhesive dispensing gun has a needle valve movably mounted within a dispensing nozzle provided with a discharge port from which hot melt adhesive material can be dispensed, wherein the needle valve is normally seated upon a valve seat. An electrical switch mechanism is mounted upon the dispensing gun for controlling the activation of an adhesive material supply pump as well as a solenoid air valve for controlling the supply of swirl air in conjunction with the supply and dispensing of the hot melt adhesive material. A trigger member is operatively connected to the electrical switch mechanism and the needle valve such that when the trigger member is actuated or squeezed, the electrical switch mechanism is CLOSED prior to the unseating of the valve member from its valve seat so as to ensure a sufficient supply of hot melt adhesive material and swirl air to the dispensing nozzle prior to the actual dispensing of the hot melt adhesive material from the discharge port.

Needle valve actuator for hot melt adhesive hand applicator and a method for operating the same

An applicator gun for dispensing hot melt adhesive comprises a hydraulic material supply hose connection, an electrical power cable connection, and a hanger bracket connection. The hose connection may be inverted, and the power cable and hanger bracket connections interchanged so as to provide the applicator gun with different orientation capabilities. The applicator gun may also alternatively accommodate four-finger and two-finger trigger members, and the gun may be connected to the hose connection so as to be movable in alternative modes comprising rotation around a single linear axis or universal movement within six degrees of freedom. The gun also comprises a trigger lock mechanism comprising detent members which provide the operator with tactile indications of the trigger lock mechanism being disposed at LOCKED and UNLOCKED positions, and an enclosed weep hole or window is provided within a side portion of the gun housing so as to alert the operator to hydraulic material leakage prior to the leaking hydraulic material fouling component parts of the gun.

Growing community of inventors

Hendersonville, TN, United States of America

Paul J Donley