Device for distributing hot-melt adhesive

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 and wherein a manually operable means is operatively connected with said nozzle means for operating the latter.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 1 and wherein an electrical means is operatively connected with said nozzle means for operating the latter.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1 and wherein said supply means includes a pump for continuously urging the adhesive to flow from said chamber to said nozzle means and a pressure-relief valve means communicating with the outlet of said pump and with said reservoir means for returning adhesive to said reservoir means when a given pressure at the outlet of said pump is exceeded, said pump and said pressure-relief valve means both being situated in said interior chamber of said reservoir means at an elevation low enough to be immersed in a supply of hot-melt adhesive.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 4 and wherein an adjusting means operatively connected with said pressure-relief valve means for adjusting said given pressure.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 1 and wherein said supply means includes a pump in said interior chamber of said reservoir means for continuously urging the adhesive to flow from said reservoir means to said nozzle means, said pump having an inlet and an outlet and said supply means including a conduit in said interior chamber of said reservoir means connected in parallel with said pump and communicating with said inlet and outlet thereof, said conduit carrying an overpressure valve in said interior chamber of said reservoir means which acts for automatically returning adhesive from said outlet to said inlet when a given pressure is exceeded, said pump, conduit, and overpressure valve being situated at an elevation in said interior chamber low enough to be immersed in a hot-melt adhesive contained by said reservoir means.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 1 and wherein said chamber of said reservoir means is a main chamber thereof, said reservoir means including a premelting chamber and a filter situated between said premelting chamber and said main chamber, said filter being in the form of a wire mesh including at least some wires which form heating elements.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 1 and wherein said supply means includes a gear pump.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 8 and wherein said gear pump includes a driven pump gear and a floating pump gear.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 1 and wherein said housing of said nozzle means includes an interior tubular guide, said combined valve and nozzle unit being shiftable in said tubular guide and being in the form of an elongated body formed with an axial bore which at one end is provided with a nozzle outlet, and said body being formed inwardly of said nozzle outlet with a transverse bore communicating with said axial bore, said tubular guide being formed with an opening passing therethrough at the region of said transverse bore and said opening communicating with the interior of said hose so that hot-melt adhesive can flow through said opening into said transverse bore and from the latter through said axial bore to said nozzle outlet, and a spring-pressed ball member situated in said opening of said tubular guide for closing said opening to prevent the hot-melt adhesive from reaching said transverse bore when said unit is in said closed position thereof, said body having at the region of said transverse bore thereof an eXterior camming surface which engages said spring-pressed ball member to displace the latter to a position unblocking said opening when said unit is shifted to said open position for then providing flow of the hot-melt adhesive past said spring-pressed ball member through said opening into said transverse bore to flow from the latter through said axial bore out through said nozzle outlet.