All plastic air cap for hot melt adhesive applicator

Abstract

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.