Patent US3723035A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3723035A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for forming hot melt adhesives into a readily packageable form
Assignee: Fuller Co
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Filing: 1970-10-29
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1990-10-29
Abstract
Abstract An improved method and apparatus for handling of materials having characteristics such that they are normally solid at room ambient temperatures and are prepared and used at elevated temperatures to transfer the form of the material to a liquid. The improved method and apparatus provides for handling of the material in liquid form and extruding it as a stream or continuous flow, cooling the outer surface of the same to solidify it and severing the stream of material with the hardened exterior and liquid interior such that the individual segments severed therefrom seal themselves and form individual pillow-like segments which can be then further cooled to a hardened state and readily handled, packaged, shipped and used.
Inventors
- 👤 W Franke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 07:15
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B63/00; B65B63/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
A machine for forming a material having normally solid characteristics and a high melt temperature into a readily packageable form comprising, conduit means connectable to a source of the material in liquid form at elevated temperatures sufficient to sustain the material in liquid form, means included in the conduit means to selectively control flow of the material in a continuous liquid stream having a substantially uniform dimension, a bath of cooling medium, guide structure means having a first end in liquid communication with said conduit means and positioned to receive cooling medium for guiding the continuous stream of material through the cooling medium so as to solidify only the outer surface of the material on exposure to the cooling medium, cutter means positioned adjacent a second end of said guide structure means for receiving the stream of material having a solidified outer surface and operative to sever the stream into discrete segments in which the extremities of the partially solidified segments are sealed after severing so as to encase the inner liquid portion of the stream and the sealed segments are passed into said bath of cooling medium for additional solidification, and conveyor means positioned in part in the bath of cooling medium and operative to transfer segments of the material from the bath of cooling medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
217 words
A machine for forming a material having normally solid characteristics and a high melt temperature into a readily packageable form comprising, conduit means connectable to a source of the material in liquid form at elevated temperatures sufficient to sustain the material in liquid form, means included in the conduit means to selectively control flow of the material in a continuous liquid stream having a substantially uniform dimension, a bath of cooling medium, guide structure means having a first end in liquid communication with said conduit means and positioned to receive cooling medium for guiding the continuous stream of material through the cooling medium so as to solidify only the outer surface of the material on exposure to the cooling medium, cutter means positioned adjacent a second end of said guide structure means for receiving the stream of material having a solidified outer surface and operative to sever the stream into discrete segments in which the extremities of the partially solidified segments are sealed after severing so as to encase the inner liquid portion of the stream and the sealed segments are passed into said bath of cooling medium for additional solidification, and conveyor means positioned in part in the bath of cooling medium and operative to transfer segments of the material from the bath of cooling medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The machine of claim 1 in which the stream forming means includes a pump means having an inlet connected to the conduit means and an outlet adapted to pump the material in liquid form at a predetermined pressure and rate of flow.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The machine of claim 2 in which the stream forming means includes a stream forming restriction connected to the outlet of the pump and positioned in the end of the conduit means to form the stream of material from the conduit means of substantially uniform dimension.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The machine of claim 1 and including valve means positioned in said conduit means to control the flow of material in liquid form therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The machine of claim 3 and including heat applying means positioned in heat conducting association with the pump means and stream forming restriction means to maintain the material in liquid form as it is pumped through the stream forming restriction means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The machine of claim 1 in which the guide structure means is a trough positioned in the bath of cooling medium to guide the stream of material therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The machine of claim 3 in which the stream forming restriction means is an orifice.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
The machine of claim 1 in which the material is a hot melt adhesive and the bath of cooling medium is a container with cooling water therein and including a recirculation means with a cooling means associated therewith to maintain the cooling water at a predetermined temperature and circulating through the container.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The machine of claim 1 in which the severing means is a rotatable member driven from a motor and having a plurality of knife edges distributed over the peripheral surface of the same adapted to cooperate with a cushioning surface between which the stream of hot melt adhesive is directed to sever the segments.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The machine of claim 1 in which the cutter means is a pair of rotating drums driven from a motor at a predetermined speed, one of which drums has a plurality of cutting surfaces thereon adapted to receive therebetween the stream of hot melt adhesive with the surfacE solidified.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The machine of claim 1 in which the conveyor means includes in part a rotating wheel driven from a power source and adapted to receive segments of severed hot melt adhesive in tubular form and move the same through the bath of cooling medium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The machine of claim 1 in which the conveyor means includes a plurality of spray means positioned above the bath of cooling medium and receiving cooling medium from the bath to circulate the cooling medium and the severed segments therein.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The machine of claim 1 and including a recirculating and temperature changing system connected to the bath of cooling medium and controlling temperature of the same.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
67 words
The machine for forming a material of claim 1 in which the guide structure means is positioned adjacent the bath of cooling medium and in communication therewith and adapted to receive the continuous liquid stream from the conduit and transmit the same to the bath of cooling medium and in which a spray of cooling medium is directed on the liquid stream in the guide structure means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
The machine for forming a material of claim 1 in which the conduit means includes a plurality of valves each adapted to control a separate liquid stream and in which the guide structure means includes a plurality of paths for receiving and directing the continuous liquid streams to the bath of cooling medium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
The machine for forming a material of claim 1 in which the bath of cooling medium includes a box-like structure connected to the guide structure means and housing the severing means with a box structure connected to and receiving severed portions of the liquid stream and directing the same to the bath of cooling medium.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
The machine for forming a material of claim 1 in which the bath of cooling medium includes a plurality of tray-like structures positioned in vertical alignment and adapted to receive the cooling medium and the severed portions of the liquid stream as it is directed from one tray-like structure to a lower tray-like structure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The machine for forming a material of claim 17 and including a paddle wheel positioned in the upper of the tray-like structures and adapted to move the severed segments and the cooling medium through the tray-like structures.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The machine for forming a material of claim 18 and including a recirculating means and a cooling means connected to the cutter box-like structure and the tray-like structures for recirculating cooling medium through the tray-like structures.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
49 words
The machine for forming a material of claim 19 in which the lowermost tray-like structure of the bath of cooling medium includes a sump portion in which is positioned said conveyor means adapted to elevate the segments of the material and remove them from the bath of cooling medium.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The machine of claim 20 and including additional conveyor means adapted to receive the segments from the first named conveyor means and dry and move said segments to a point of packaging.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The machine of claim 21 in which the second named conveying means is a blower.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
156 words
Apparatus, comprising: a. means for containing a bath of cooling medium; b. conduit means for receiving a stream of liquid material from a source of such material; c. means communicating with said conduit means and said bath of cooling medium for guiding the received material through a cooling zone of sufficient length to cause only the outer surface of said stream of liquid material to solidify, the inner material remaining in a liquid state; d. means positioned for receiving the partially solidified stream of material from said guide means and operative to sever the stream of material into partially solidified segments and to simultaneously seal the extremities of said segments, said segments being discharged by said severing and sealing means into said bath of cooling medium for additional solidification; and e. conveyor means at least partially positioned in said bath of coolIng medium for removing said segments of material from said bath after the additional solidification.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
156 words
Apparatus, comprising: a. means for containing a bath of cooling medium; b. conduit means for receiving a stream of liquid material from a source of such material; c. means communicating with said conduit means and said bath of cooling medium for guiding the received material through a cooling zone of sufficient length to cause only the outer surface of said stream of liquid material to solidify, the inner material remaining in a liquid state; d. means positioned for receiving the partially solidified stream of material from said guide means and operative to sever the stream of material into partially solidified segments and to simultaneously seal the extremities of said segments, said segments being discharged by said severing and sealing means into said bath of cooling medium for additional solidification; and e. conveyor means at least partially positioned in said bath of coolIng medium for removing said segments of material from said bath after the additional solidification.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said guide means is mounted within said means containing said bath of cooling medium and said cooling zone is defined by the cooling medium contained within said bath means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 23 including means for directing a spray of the cooling medium onto said stream of liquid material within said guide means wherein said guide means is positioned adjacent said bath means in communication therewith so as to define said cooling zone on the outside of said bath means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
97 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein: a. said guide means is a trough-like structure having its open face upwardly directed; b. said spray means is positioned above said guide means to direct a spray of the cooling medium onto said stream of liquid material within said trough-like guide means; and c. said severing and sealing means is positioned at the extremity of said trough-like guide means adjacent said bath means and includes a box-like structure having a liquid inlet connected to said guide means and liquid outlet connected to said means containing said bath of cooling medium.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |