Viscous fluid spraying apparatus having a unitary nozzle

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing viscous fluid material having one-piece nozzles which produce a supply of drops of fluid material. The nozzles each include a nozzle body having a first end and a dispensing end. A gas flow path through the nozzle body has an array of outlet sections which terminate at the dispensing end of the nozzle body. The inlet section of the gas flow path is a cylindrical bore which feeds a stream of gas to each of the outlet sections. A plurality of viscous fluid material passageways closely surround the outlet sections of the gas flow path. As a stream of material is discharged from each material passageway, the expansion of gas emerging from the gas outlet sections breaks up the flowing material, thereby applying the material in a spray of droplets even though both the gas flow and material flow are continuous. The first ends of nozzles are attached to an elongated dispensing bar of an applicator. The dispensing bar has a first longitudinal bore which is supplied with low pressure viscous fluid material and which is in fluid communication with the material passageways. The dispensing bar also has a second longitudinal bore which is supplied with a gas, preferably air, and which is in fluid communication with the inlet section of the gas flow path. Each nozzle is associated with a pair of screws which penetrate the dispensing bar and selectively restrict the gas flow and the material flow to the associated nozzle.