Heater module for an apparatus for melting and dispensing thermoplastic material

Claim 1

A heater module assembly adapted to be used in an apparatus for melting and dispensing thermoplastic material, comprising: (a) at least first and second heater modules, (b) each of said heater modules comprising an elongated body of thermally conductive material including an elongated core having longitudinal, transverse, and vertical dimensions, and first and second sides, (c) each of said bodies including longitudinally spaced, vertically disposed, first fins projecting laterally from the first side of each of said corresponding cores, each first fin having exposed heat transfer surfaces and defining a substantially vertical first recess between each pair of adjacent first fins, (d) each of said bodies further including longitudinally spaced, vertically disposed, second fins projecting laterally from the second side of each of said cores, each second fin having exposed heat transfer surfaces and defining a substantially vertical second recess between each pair of adjacent second fins, (e) said first and second heater modules being arranged so that said corresponding elongated bodies are substantially parallel and adjacent to each other, (f) each first fin of said first body spanning a second recess of said second body, and each second fin of said second body spanning a first recess of said first body, so that each of said first recesses on said first body and each of said second recesses on said second body are closed by opposing corresponding fins to form longitudinally staggered substantially vertical holes through which thermoplastic material is adapted to flow, (g) each of said first fins on said first body having substantially the same longitudinal dimension as a corresponding second recess on said second body and each of said second fins on said second body having substantially the same longitudinal dimension as a corresponding first recess on said first body, and (h) heating means within said bodies for heating the exposed heat transfer surfaces of said first and second fins.