《Illinois Tool Works Inc. : Patent Application Titled “Hot Melt Adhesive Dispensing System Including Adhesive Cut-Off Module” Published Online》：
By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Politics & Government Week — According to news reporting originating from Washington, D.C., by VerticalNews journalists, a patent application by the inventors Dorman, Kenneth H. (Carol Stream, IL); Carman, Bradley G. (Chicago, IL); Luo, Jyi-Jiin (Morton Grove, IL), filed on March 6, 2013, was made available online on December 26, 2013.
The assignee for this patent application is Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Reporters obtained the following quote from the background information supplied by the inventors: “The present disclosure generally relates to hot melt adhesive dispensing systems, and more particularly to an adhesive cut-off module for hot melt adhesive dispensing systems.
“Hot melt adhesives and hot melt adhesive dispensing systems are well known. A bull head, which is an adhesive bead formed at the start of an adhesive stream, and an angel hair formed at the end of a run have been known concerns for using hot melt adhesive applicators. Bull heads can result in wasted adhesive and in some instances can cause discomfort if the adhesive bead ends up in a location where it is in contact with an end user. The formation of adhesive beads or bull heads is believed to be caused by air friction slowing a leading edge of an adhesive stream.
“Angel hairs are formed due to a poor adhesive cut-off at a nozzle, which creates a thin strand of adhesive. Angel hairs can foul machine components and also cause adhesive to end up in locations that can cause discomfort for an end user. Angel hairs, which are fine adhesive fibers, can be caused by an adhesive shut-off, which is set back some distance from an orifice. When an adhesive module is shut off, adhesive flow is stopped. However, due to its high viscosity, the hot melt adhesive begins to stretch into small filaments, sometimes continuously, without breaking for a long period of time. It is this extra volume from the module shut-off to the orifice exit in conjunction with the high viscosity of the hot melt adhesive that result in undesired angel hairs.
“Accordingly, there is a need for improved hot melt adhesive dispensing systems including an improved adhesive cut-off module.”
In addition to obtaining background information on this patent application, VerticalNews editors also obtained the inventors’ summary information for this patent application: “Hot melt dispensing systems are provided according to various embodiments. The hot melt dispensing systems include an adhesive cut-off module, which introduces a secondary liquid medium to break a hot melt adhesive stream without forming an angel hair.
“In one aspect, a hot melt adhesive dispensing system is provided. The hot melt adhesive dispensing system includes a nozzle assembly, a hot melt adhesive delivery system configured to deliver a hot melt adhesive to the nozzle assembly, and a liquid delivery system configured to deliver the liquid to the nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly includes an adhesive cut-off module, which is configured to cut-off a hot melt adhesive stream by dispensing a liquid.
“In one embodiment, the adhesive cut-off module includes a spool valve assembly including an adhesive chamber and a liquid chamber. Further, the spool valve assembly has an adhesive dispensing position and a liquid dispensing position. The nozzle assembly dispenses the hot melt adhesive stream from the adhesive chamber in the adhesive dispensing position, and dispenses the liquid from the liquid chamber in the liquid dispensing position. The hot melt adhesive stream is cut-off when the position of the spool valve assembly is changed from the adhesive dispensing position to the liquid dispensing position. The liquid chamber can be configured to contain at least 50% less volume than the adhesive chamber.
“Preferably, the liquid is water. The water in the adhesive cut-off module is heated and pressurized, and vaporizes into steam as it is dispensed from the adhesive cut-off module to cut-off the hot melt adhesive stream. The liquid chamber is configured to hold and release an amount of the heated and pressurized water, such that the water vaporizes into steam as it is release from the liquid chamber without forming a violent spray of the heated and pressurized water.
“In another aspect, a hot melt adhesive dispensing system including a hot melt adhesive delivery system, a liquid delivery system, a nozzle assembly, an adhesive feed tube and a liquid feed tube is provided. The adhesive feed tube is arranged between the hot melt adhesive delivery system and the nozzle assembly for transporting a hot melt adhesive from the hot melt adhesive delivery system to the nozzle assembly, and the liquid feed tube is arranged between the liquid delivery system and the nozzle assembly for transporting the liquid from the liquid delivery system to the nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly includes a spool valve assembly arranged in a spool valve housing, and an orifice output port. The spool valve assembly includes a spool valve, an adhesive chamber defined between the spool valve and the spool valve housing, a liquid chamber defined between the spool valve and the spool valve housing. The nozzle assembly dispenses a hot melt adhesive stream from the adhesive chamber in an adhesive dispensing position, and dispenses a liquid from the liquid chamber in a liquid dispensing position. The hot melt adhesive stream is cut-off when the nozzle assembly dispenses the liquid.
“The spool valve is configured to move in the spool valve housing to change the position of the spool valve assembly from the adhesive dispensing position to the liquid dispensing position, or vice versa. Further, the orifice output port is in fluid communication with the adhesive chamber in the adhesive dispensing position, and in fluid communication with the liquid chamber in the liquid dispensing position.
“In an embodiment, the spool valve housing has a first end and a second end, and is provided with a first air tube arranged proximate the first end and a second air tube arranged proximate the second end. In this embodiment, air pressure is supplied via the first air tube to move the spool valve from the adhesive dispensing position to the liquid dispensing position. Similarly, air pressure is supplied via the second air tube to move the spool valve from the liquid dispensing position to the adhesive dispensing position.
“Preferably, the liquid is water, and the liquid delivery system delivers heated and pressurized water to the liquid chamber. The liquid chamber is configured to hold an amount of heated and pressurized water, such that the heated and pressurized water is vaporized into steam when released via the orifice output port to cut-off the hot melt adhesive stream. The liquid delivery system includes a water supply tank, a pressure regulator, a piston pump and a water pressure gauge, which are configured to control a temperature and pressure of the water.
“Preferably, the liquid chamber is configured to contain at least 50% less volume than the adhesive chamber.
“In yet another aspect, a method of cutting off a hot melt adhesive stream without forming an angel hair is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a hot melt adhesive dispensing system, dispensing a stream of hot melt adhesive through an orifice output port, stopping the stream of hot melt adhesive, and dispensing a liquid through the orifice output port to cut-off the stream of hot melt adhesive free of an angel hair formation.
“Further, the step of dispensing a stream of hot melt adhesive includes heating and pressurizing a hot melt adhesive. The step of dispensing a liquid includes heating and pressurizing water. Preferably, the water is pressurized to about the same pressure as the hot melt adhesive.
“In one embodiment, the step of dispensing a liquid includes releasing an amount of a heated and pressurized water, such that the heated and pressurized water is vaporized into steam when released from the orifice output port, thereby cutting off the stream of the hot melt adhesive free of an angel hair formation.
“In another embodiment, the hot melt adhesive system includes a spool valve assembly including a spool valve. In this embodiment, the step of stopping the stream of hot melt adhesive includes moving the spool valve from an adhesive dispensing position to a liquid dispensing position.
“Further, the spool valve assembly includes an adhesive chamber and a liquid chamber. The step of dispensing a stream of hot melt adhesive includes positioning the spool valve such that the orifice output port is in fluid communication with the adhesive chamber, the step of stopping the stream of hot melt adhesive includes moving the spool valve such that the orifice output port is not in fluid communication with the adhesive chamber, and the step of dispensing a liquid includes positioning the spool valve such that the orifice output port is in fluid communication with the liquid chamber.
“Other aspects, objectives and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
“The benefits and advantages of the present embodiments will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein:
“FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a hot melt adhesive dispensing system according to an embodiment;
“FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a nozzle assembly of the hot melt adhesive dispensing system of FIG. 1;
“FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a spool valve assembly of the nozzle assembly of FIG. 2 in an adhesive dispensing position, in which a spool valve housing is illustrated as transparent to show components of the spool valve assembly;
“FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the spool valve assembly FIG. 3 in a water dispensing position;
“FIG. 5 is an illustration of a spool valve in the spool valve assembly of FIGS. 3-4;
“FIGS. 6A-6H are photographs of the spool valve assembly of FIG. 4 showing an adhesive stream being cut-off by a burst of steam created when water is released;
“FIG. 7 is a perspective view a spool valve assembly according to another embodiment, in which a spool valve assembly is illustrated as transparent to show components of the spool valve assembly; and
“FIG. 8 is an illustration of a spool valve of the spool valve assembly of FIG. 7”
For more information, see this patent application: Dorman, Kenneth H.;Carman, Bradley G.; Luo, Jyi-Jiin. Hot Melt Adhesive Dispensing System Including Adhesive Cut-Off Module. Filed March 6, 2013 and postedDecember 26, 2013. Patent URL: http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-adv.html&r=5887&p=118&f=G&l=50&d=PG01&S1=20131219.PD.&OS=PD/20131219&RS=PD/20131219
Keywords for this news article include: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world. Copyright 2014, NewsRx LLC
《Illinois Tool Works Inc. : Patent Application Titled “Hot Melt Adhesive Dispensing System Including Adhesive Cut-Off Module” Published Online》：
By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Politics & Government Week — According to news reporting originating from Washington, D.C., by VerticalNews journalists, a patent application by the inventors Dorman, Kenneth H. (Carol Stream, IL); Carman, Bradley G. (Chicago, IL); Luo, Jyi-Jiin (Morton Grove, IL), filed on March 6, 2013, was made available online on December 26, 2013.
The assignee for this patent application is Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Reporters obtained the following quote from the background information supplied by the inventors: “The present disclosure generally relates to hot melt adhesive dispensing systems, and more particularly to an adhesive cut-off module for hot melt adhesive dispensing systems.
“Hot melt adhesives and hot melt adhesive dispensing systems are well known. A bull head, which is an adhesive bead formed at the start of an adhesive stream, and an angel hair formed at the end of a run have been known concerns for using hot melt adhesive applicators. Bull heads can result in wasted adhesive and in some instances can cause discomfort if the adhesive bead ends up in a location where it is in contact with an end user. The formation of adhesive beads or bull heads is believed to be caused by air friction slowing a leading edge of an adhesive stream.
“Angel hairs are formed due to a poor adhesive cut-off at a nozzle, which creates a thin strand of adhesive. Angel hairs can foul machine components and also cause adhesive to end up in locations that can cause discomfort for an end user. Angel hairs, which are fine adhesive fibers, can be caused by an adhesive shut-off, which is set back some distance from an orifice. When an adhesive module is shut off, adhesive flow is stopped. However, due to its high viscosity, the hot melt adhesive begins to stretch into small filaments, sometimes continuously, without breaking for a long period of time. It is this extra volume from the module shut-off to the orifice exit in conjunction with the high viscosity of the hot melt adhesive that result in undesired angel hairs.
“Accordingly, there is a need for improved hot melt adhesive dispensing systems including an improved adhesive cut-off module.”
In addition to obtaining background information on this patent application, VerticalNews editors also obtained the inventors’ summary information for this patent application: “Hot melt dispensing systems are provided according to various embodiments. The hot melt dispensing systems include an adhesive cut-off module, which introduces a secondary liquid medium to break a hot melt adhesive stream without forming an angel hair.
“In one aspect, a hot melt adhesive dispensing system is provided. The hot melt adhesive dispensing system includes a nozzle assembly, a hot melt adhesive delivery system configured to deliver a hot melt adhesive to the nozzle assembly, and a liquid delivery system configured to deliver the liquid to the nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly includes an adhesive cut-off module, which is configured to cut-off a hot melt adhesive stream by dispensing a liquid.
“In one embodiment, the adhesive cut-off module includes a spool valve assembly including an adhesive chamber and a liquid chamber. Further, the spool valve assembly has an adhesive dispensing position and a liquid dispensing position. The nozzle assembly dispenses the hot melt adhesive stream from the adhesive chamber in the adhesive dispensing position, and dispenses the liquid from the liquid chamber in the liquid dispensing position. The hot melt adhesive stream is cut-off when the position of the spool valve assembly is changed from the adhesive dispensing position to the liquid dispensing position. The liquid chamber can be configured to contain at least 50% less volume than the adhesive chamber.
“Preferably, the liquid is water. The water in the adhesive cut-off module is heated and pressurized, and vaporizes into steam as it is dispensed from the adhesive cut-off module to cut-off the hot melt adhesive stream. The liquid chamber is configured to hold and release an amount of the heated and pressurized water, such that the water vaporizes into steam as it is release from the liquid chamber without forming a violent spray of the heated and pressurized water.
“In another aspect, a hot melt adhesive dispensing system including a hot melt adhesive delivery system, a liquid delivery system, a nozzle assembly, an adhesive feed tube and a liquid feed tube is provided. The adhesive feed tube is arranged between the hot melt adhesive delivery system and the nozzle assembly for transporting a hot melt adhesive from the hot melt adhesive delivery system to the nozzle assembly, and the liquid feed tube is arranged between the liquid delivery system and the nozzle assembly for transporting the liquid from the liquid delivery system to the nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly includes a spool valve assembly arranged in a spool valve housing, and an orifice output port. The spool valve assembly includes a spool valve, an adhesive chamber defined between the spool valve and the spool valve housing, a liquid chamber defined between the spool valve and the spool valve housing. The nozzle assembly dispenses a hot melt adhesive stream from the adhesive chamber in an adhesive dispensing position, and dispenses a liquid from the liquid chamber in a liquid dispensing position. The hot melt adhesive stream is cut-off when the nozzle assembly dispenses the liquid.
“The spool valve is configured to move in the spool valve housing to change the position of the spool valve assembly from the adhesive dispensing position to the liquid dispensing position, or vice versa. Further, the orifice output port is in fluid communication with the adhesive chamber in the adhesive dispensing position, and in fluid communication with the liquid chamber in the liquid dispensing position.
“In an embodiment, the spool valve housing has a first end and a second end, and is provided with a first air tube arranged proximate the first end and a second air tube arranged proximate the second end. In this embodiment, air pressure is supplied via the first air tube to move the spool valve from the adhesive dispensing position to the liquid dispensing position. Similarly, air pressure is supplied via the second air tube to move the spool valve from the liquid dispensing position to the adhesive dispensing position.
“Preferably, the liquid is water, and the liquid delivery system delivers heated and pressurized water to the liquid chamber. The liquid chamber is configured to hold an amount of heated and pressurized water, such that the heated and pressurized water is vaporized into steam when released via the orifice output port to cut-off the hot melt adhesive stream. The liquid delivery system includes a water supply tank, a pressure regulator, a piston pump and a water pressure gauge, which are configured to control a temperature and pressure of the water.
“Preferably, the liquid chamber is configured to contain at least 50% less volume than the adhesive chamber.
“In yet another aspect, a method of cutting off a hot melt adhesive stream without forming an angel hair is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a hot melt adhesive dispensing system, dispensing a stream of hot melt adhesive through an orifice output port, stopping the stream of hot melt adhesive, and dispensing a liquid through the orifice output port to cut-off the stream of hot melt adhesive free of an angel hair formation.
“Further, the step of dispensing a stream of hot melt adhesive includes heating and pressurizing a hot melt adhesive. The step of dispensing a liquid includes heating and pressurizing water. Preferably, the water is pressurized to about the same pressure as the hot melt adhesive.
“In one embodiment, the step of dispensing a liquid includes releasing an amount of a heated and pressurized water, such that the heated and pressurized water is vaporized into steam when released from the orifice output port, thereby cutting off the stream of the hot melt adhesive free of an angel hair formation.
“In another embodiment, the hot melt adhesive system includes a spool valve assembly including a spool valve. In this embodiment, the step of stopping the stream of hot melt adhesive includes moving the spool valve from an adhesive dispensing position to a liquid dispensing position.
“Further, the spool valve assembly includes an adhesive chamber and a liquid chamber. The step of dispensing a stream of hot melt adhesive includes positioning the spool valve such that the orifice output port is in fluid communication with the adhesive chamber, the step of stopping the stream of hot melt adhesive includes moving the spool valve such that the orifice output port is not in fluid communication with the adhesive chamber, and the step of dispensing a liquid includes positioning the spool valve such that the orifice output port is in fluid communication with the liquid chamber.
“Other aspects, objectives and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
“The benefits and advantages of the present embodiments will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein:
“FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a hot melt adhesive dispensing system according to an embodiment;
“FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a nozzle assembly of the hot melt adhesive dispensing system of FIG. 1;
“FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a spool valve assembly of the nozzle assembly of FIG. 2 in an adhesive dispensing position, in which a spool valve housing is illustrated as transparent to show components of the spool valve assembly;
“FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the spool valve assembly FIG. 3 in a water dispensing position;
“FIG. 5 is an illustration of a spool valve in the spool valve assembly of FIGS. 3-4;
“FIGS. 6A-6H are photographs of the spool valve assembly of FIG. 4 showing an adhesive stream being cut-off by a burst of steam created when water is released;
“FIG. 7 is a perspective view a spool valve assembly according to another embodiment, in which a spool valve assembly is illustrated as transparent to show components of the spool valve assembly; and
“FIG. 8 is an illustration of a spool valve of the spool valve assembly of FIG. 7”
For more information, see this patent application: Dorman, Kenneth H.;Carman, Bradley G.; Luo, Jyi-Jiin. Hot Melt Adhesive Dispensing System Including Adhesive Cut-Off Module. Filed March 6, 2013 and postedDecember 26, 2013. Patent URL: http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-adv.html&r=5887&p=118&f=G&l=50&d=PG01&S1=20131219.PD.&OS=PD/20131219&RS=PD/20131219
Keywords for this news article include: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world. Copyright 2014, NewsRx LLC