Apparatus for melting and dispensing thermoplastic material

Claim 17

A modular apparatus for converting solid thermoplastic material to molten thermoplastic material and for dispensing the molten thermoplastic material comprising, a grid melter having a continuous side wall, a bottom wall, and an open top for receiving said solid thermoplastic material, said bottom wall having, a plurality of rows and columns of heating elements extending upwardly from said bottom wall, each of said heating elements having a base portion and an upper end portion, each of said upper end portions being shaped as a truncated cone, at least one discharge opening in said bottom wall, a reservoir mounted beneath said grid melter, and adapted to receive molten material from said discharge opening, means for heating said bottom wall of said grid melter, means for mounting a plurality of differing manifold blocks upon said reservoir, a plurality of manifold blocks adapted to be selectively secured to said manifold block mounting means, each of said manifold blocks being adapted to accommodate differing numbers of applicators, means for mounting any one of a plurality of differing pumps having different operating characteristics upon said apparatus, a plurality of differing operating characteristic pumps adapted to be selectively mounted upon said pump mounting means, said pumps when mounted upon said pump mounting means being at least partially located within said reservoir, means for mounting any one of a plurality of motors upon said pump, and a plurality of motors having differing operating characteristics adapted to be mounted upon said motor mounting means.

Claim 18

A modular apparatus for converting solid thermoplastic material to molten thermoplastic material and for dispensing the molten thermoplastic material comprising, a grid melter having a continuous side wall, a bottom wall, and an open top for receiving said solid thermoplastic material, said bottom wall having, a plurality of rows and columns of heating elements extending upwardly from said bottom wall, each of said heating elements having a base portion and an upper end portion, each of said upper end portions being shaped as a truncated cone, at least one discharge opening in said bottom wall, a reservoir mounted beneath said grid melter, and adapted to receive molten material from said discharge opening, means for heating said bottom wall of said grid melter, means for mounting a plurality of differing manifold blocks upon said reservoir, a plurality of manifold blocks adapted to be selectively secured to said manifold block mounting means, each of said manifold blocks being adapted to accommodate differing numbers of applicators, means for mounting any one of a plurality of differing pumps having different operating characteristics upon said apparatus, a plurality of differing operating characteristic pumps adapted to be selectively mounted upon said pump mounting means, said pumps when mounted upon said pump mounting means being at least partially located within said reservoir, means for mounting any one of a plurality of motors upon said pump, and a plurality of motors having differing operating characteristics adapted to be mounted upon said motor mounting means.

Claim 19

The modular apparatus of claim 9 in which said plurality of pumps includes at least one reciprocating piston type pump and at least one rotary gear type pump.

Claim 20

The modular apparatus of claim 9 in which said plurality of motor means comprises at least one electric motor and at least one pneumatic motor.

Claim 21

The modular apparatus of claim 9 which further includes a plurality of dispensers, each of said dispensers being selectively operable in combination with at least one of said manifold blocks.

Claim 22

Apparatus for melting thermoplastic material and dispensing it in molten condition comprising; a housing having a hopper formed therein for receiving unmelted thermoplastic material; a flow-through grid melter for melting said thermoplastic material, said grid melter being mounted upon said housing, said grid melter comprising a plurality of segmental sections, each of said segmental sections having a lower portion and an upper portion; said upper portion of each of said segmental sections being shaped as a truncated cone; heater means disposed in said lower portions of said segmental sections; at least two of said segmental sections being spaced apart to form a fluid flow passageway therebetween, and a reservoir mounted beneath said grid melter for receiving and storing melted thermoplastic material.

Claim 23

Apparatus for melting thermoplastic material and dispensing it in molten condition comprising; a housing having a hopper formed therein for receiving unmelted thermoplastic material; a flow-through grid melter for melting said thermoplastic material, said grid melter being mounted upon said housing, said grid melter comprising a plurality of segmental sections, each of said segmental sections having a lower portion and an upper portion; said upper portion of each of said segmental sections being shaped as a truncated cone; heater means disposed in said lower portions of said segmental sections; at least two of said segmental sections being spaced apart to form a fluid flow passageway therebetween, and a reservoir mounted beneath said grid melter for receiving and storing melted thermoplastic material.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said frustoconical upper portions of adjacent segmental sections are longitudinally offset from frustoconical upper portions of adjacent segmental sections so that said protrusions form a staggered offset pattern when viewed in top plan.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said passageway is continuous for the length of said grid melter.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said segmental sections are arranged in rows and wherein said passageway extends generally parallel to the length of said rows.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said heater means comprises an electrical resistance heating element disposed in the lower portion of each of said segmental sections.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said lower portions of said grid melter segmental sections having surfaces which form rows of undulating patterns on opposite sides and along the length of said segmental sections.

Claim 29

Apparatus of claim 18 wherein said frustoconical shaped upper portions of said segmental sections transitionally conform to the shape of said lower portions of said protrusions.

Claim 30

Apparatus of claim 13 wherein said reservoir extends to one side of said grid melter.

Claim 31

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein a hydraulic pump is disposed in said reservoir at said one side thereof.

Claim 32

The apparatus of claim 21 in which said reservoir is formed with bottom walls with heater means disposed in said walls.

Claim 33

A modular apparatus for converting solid thermoplastic material to molten thermoplastic material and for dispensing the molten thermoplastic material comprising, a hopper for receiving solid thermoplastic material, a reservoir adapted to receive solid thermoplastic material from said hopper, heater means disposed in the bottom of said reservoir for melting said solid thermoplastic material to a molten state, means for mounting a plurality of different manifold blocks to said reservoir, a plurality of manifold blocks adapted to be selectively secured to said manifold block mounting means, each of said manifold blocks being adapted to accommodate differing numbers of applicators, means for mounting any one of a plurality of differing pumps having different operating characteristics to one end of said reservoir, a plurality of pumps having different operating characteristics adapted to be selectively secured to said pump mounting means, said pumps being at least partially disposed within said reservoir when mounted upon said pump mounting means, means for mounting any one of a plurality of motors upn said pumps, and a plurality of motors having differing operating characteristics adapted to be mounted upon said motor mounting means.

Claim 34

A modular apparatus for converting solid thermoplastic material to molten thermoplastic material and for dispensing the molten thermoplastic material comprising, a hopper for receiving solid thermoplastic material, a reservoir adapted to receive solid thermoplastic material from said hopper, heater means disposed in the bottom of said reservoir for melting said solid thermoplastic material to a molten state, means for mounting a plurality of different manifold blocks to said reservoir, a plurality of manifold blocks adapted to be selectively secured to said manifold block mounting means, each of said manifold blocks being adapted to accommodate differing numbers of applicators, means for mounting any one of a plurality of differing pumps having different operating characteristics to one end of said reservoir, a plurality of pumps having different operating characteristics adapted to be selectively secured to said pump mounting means, said pumps being at least partially disposed within said reservoir when mounted upon said pump mounting means, means for mounting any one of a plurality of motors upn said pumps, and a plurality of motors having differing operating characteristics adapted to be mounted upon said motor mounting means.