Nordson Corporation

Shahid A Siddiqui

Carl C Cucuzza

Roger A Ziecker

Paul S Brusko

George E Boccagno

Jim B Bassett

Jocelyne Nassar

Karen M Wagner

Richard D Leyva

A system for supplying molten thermoplastic material to a dispenser comprises a hopper for storing the thermoplastic material. A heating grid is associated with the hopper for heating and melting the thermoplastic material. A reservoir block receives melted material from the grid. The reservoir block includes a reservoir into which the melted material flows from the grid. A manifold and pump assembly is connected to the reservoir block for receiving material from the manifold block and pumping the material to a dispenser. A valve and filter assembly is mounted in the reservoir block. The valve and filter assembly includes a valve member capable of moving between an open position and a closed position for blocking the flow the material through the reservoir block, and includes a filter member for filtering material, the filter being removable to clean the filter.

Shutoff valve and filter in thermoplastic material supply system

A system for supplying melted thermoplastic material to a dispenser comprises a hopper for storing solid thermoplastic material. The hopper has interior side walls and an outlet. A reservoir block is located below the hopper. The reservoir block includes a reservoir into which melted material may flow from the hopper. A manifold and pump assembly is connected to the reservoir block for receiving material from the reservoir and pumping the material to a dispenser. A heating grid at the outlet of the hopper heats and melts the solid thermoplastic material in the hopper. The grid comprises a block which is spaced from the interior sidewalls of the hopper. The grid is thus thermally isolated from the exterior of the system resulting in more efficient heating of the material.

Molten thermoplastic material supply system with isolated grid

A system for supplying molten thermoplastic material to a dispenser through a supply hose comprises a hopper for storing the thermoplastic material. A heating grid associated with the hopper heats and melts the thermoplastic material. A reservoir block receives the melted material from the grid. The reservoir block includes a reservoir into which the melted material flows from the grid. A manifold assembly is supported below the reservoir block for receiving material from the reservoir. The manifold assembly includes a fitting for connection to the supply hose, a pump for pumping the material through the supply hose to the dispenser, a passageway system connecting the pump to the fitting for supplying a flow of material from the pump to the fitting, a filter connected to the passageway system for filtering impurities in the material after the material has been pumped, and a valving arrangement connected to the passageway system and separate from the filter which selectively directs a flow of the material in the passageway system through the filter to backflush the filter. The filter and the valving arrangement permit the filter to be removed without dislodging the contaminants in the filter. The backflushing capability allows the filter to be cleaned periodically without removal of the filter and without changing the position of the filter. When the filter is backflushed, the material flows through a drain valve assembly which opens automatically in response to pressure of the material from the pump.

Molten thermoplastic material supply system with distribution manifold

A system for supplying melted thermoplastic material to a dispenser comprises a hopper for storing the thermoplastic material, the hopper having an outlet. A heating grid is at the outlet of the hopper for heating and melting the thermoplastic material. A reservoir is provided into which the melted material flows from the grid. A manifold assembly is connected to the reservoir. The melted material flows into the manifold assembly from the reservoir. The manifold assembly includes connections for supplying the material to a dispenser. The manifold assembly also includes a pump cavity. A pump is mounted in the pump cavity and is capable of being removed from the pump cavity. A drive assembly is connected to drive the pump. A movable carriage supports the drive assembly. The carriage is capable of movement toward and away from the manifold assembly to remove the pump from the cavity and to replace the pump into the cavity. In addition, a positioning and moving device may be used to connect the pump to the pump cavity. The positioning and moving device is adapted for pushing the pump from the pump cavity when the pump is removed and for pulling the pump into the pump cavity when the pump is replaced. The system allows the pump to be easily removed from the system and replaced without disconnecting the pump from the drive assembly.

Molten thermoplastic material supply system with removable drive assembly

A system for supplying molten thermoplastic material to a dispenser has a hopper assembly which is made up of one or more hopper units each having opposite side walls being generally parallel to each other, the inlet and the outlet having generally the same cross section, so that the hopper units can be stacked on top of each other to increase the capacity of the hopper assembly. The hopper assembly might be supported on a plurality of reservoir blocks, with the hopper assembly straddling the plurality of reservoir blocks to supply melted material to all of the reservoirs. At least one isolator may be provided for thermally isolating one of the hopper units from the reservoir block and for thermally isolating the hopper units from each other, the isolator comprising a band of insulating material positioned between the flanges of the hopper unit and the reservoir block. The hopper assembly is preferably attached to the reservoir block by a plurality of clamps. Each of the clamps including at least one spring member to retain thrust force on the thrust member while accommodating expansion and contraction of the flanges.

Configurable system for supplying molten thermoplastic material

A system for supplying melted thermoplastic material to a dispenser a hopper, a heating grid, and a reservoir block providing a reservoir. A support harness is attached to the bottom of the reservoir block. A manifold assembly is supported in the harness below the reservoir block for receiving material from the reservoir. The manifold assembly includes a pump for pumping the material to the dispenser. The manifold assembly is capable of moving vertically within the harness between an upper position in engagement with the reservoir block and a lower position, and the manifold assembly is capable of horizontal movement with respect to the support harness when it is in the lower position, so that the manifold assembly slides horizontally in and out of the support harness. A lifting mechanism connected to the support harness moves the manifold assembly vertically within the harness. The manifold assembly comprises a manifold block and a heater plate which has cast-in heater elements and which is removably attached to the manifold block.

Growing community of inventors

Roswell, GA, United States of America

Shahid A Siddiqui