EP0148758A2 - Thermoplastic dispensing device with manually operated feed magazine - Google Patents
Thermoplastic dispensing device with manually operated feed magazine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0148758A2 EP0148758A2 EP85300008A EP85300008A EP0148758A2 EP 0148758 A2 EP0148758 A2 EP 0148758A2 EP 85300008 A EP85300008 A EP 85300008A EP 85300008 A EP85300008 A EP 85300008A EP 0148758 A2 EP0148758 A2 EP 0148758A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- block
- sleeve
- chamber
- thermoplastic material
- magazine
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 229920001169 thermoplastic Polymers 0.000 title description 7
- 239000004416 thermosoftening plastic Substances 0.000 title description 7
- 239000012815 thermoplastic material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 67
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 54
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 54
- 210000003813 thumb Anatomy 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims description 13
- 210000003811 finger Anatomy 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 description 23
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 8
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000001125 extrusion Methods 0.000 description 3
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910001369 Brass Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910000639 Spring steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229920006362 Teflon® Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004957 Zytel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920006102 Zytel® Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000010951 brass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005485 electric heating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000155 melt Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012768 molten material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003647 oxidation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007254 oxidation reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05C—APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05C17/00—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces
- B05C17/005—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces for discharging material from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool through an outlet orifice by pressure without using surface contacting members like pads or brushes
- B05C17/00523—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces for discharging material from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool through an outlet orifice by pressure without using surface contacting members like pads or brushes provided with means to heat the material
- B05C17/00526—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces for discharging material from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool through an outlet orifice by pressure without using surface contacting members like pads or brushes provided with means to heat the material the material being supplied to the apparatus in a solid state, e.g. rod, and melted before application
- B05C17/0053—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces for discharging material from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool through an outlet orifice by pressure without using surface contacting members like pads or brushes provided with means to heat the material the material being supplied to the apparatus in a solid state, e.g. rod, and melted before application the driving means for the material being manual, mechanical or electrical
- B05C17/00533—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces for discharging material from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool through an outlet orifice by pressure without using surface contacting members like pads or brushes provided with means to heat the material the material being supplied to the apparatus in a solid state, e.g. rod, and melted before application the driving means for the material being manual, mechanical or electrical comprising a piston
Definitions
- This invention relates to devices for dispensing molten thermoplastic materials.
- such devices comprise a barrel member having an internal melting chamber which communicates with an outlet opening through a nozzle, and a sleeve with a through opening having one end secured to the barrel member with its through opening communicating with the end of the melting chamber opposite the nozzle.
- the sleeve is adapted to receive an elongate cylindrical block of solid thermoplastic material which fits closely fit within the through opening in the sleeve, with one end portion of the block in the melting chamber and the other end portion projecting through the sleeve.
- Means are provided for heating the barrel member to melt the end portion of the block therein, and the device includes a handle positioned so that an operator can grip the handle with the fingers of one hand while pressing the block through the sleeve and into the melting chamber with the thumb of that hand to force molten thermoplastic material out of the melting chamber through the nozzle.
- the second block can fall or fly away from the block already in the sleeve, which is inconvenient, distracting, and wasteful of the operator's time.
- a device for dispensing molten thermoplastic material described in my U.S. Patent Application No. 456,346 filed January 7, 1983 provides, among other things, means for holding and properly positioning a second block of solid thermoplastic material at the end of a block of that material already in a sleeve and a melting barrel of a device of the type described above, even before the second block enters the outer end of the sleeve, thereby freeing the use of the operators second hand for other activities.
- That device will hold a maximum of less than three blocks of thermoplastic material, and thus frequent loading of the device is required if the device is used continuously.
- the magazine assembly provides means for holding and properly positioning a lowermost block of thermoplastic material in the magazine assembly in aligned end-to-end relationship with a block of thermoplastic material within the sleeve while affording use of the operator's thumb to press the lowermost block through the sleeve and into the melting chamber, while holding a stack of blocks of thermoplastic material normally above the lowermost block, which stack can be caused to drop down to position the next lowermost block in alignment with the remainder of a block of thermoplastic material that has been pressed through the sleeve by reciprocal movement of a thumb operated slide which provides both a pusher for the lowermost block and a support for the stack of blocks above the lowermost blocks.
- At least one inner sidewall of the magazine is formed with a plurality of recesses parallel to the axis of the melting chamber and adapted to partially receive the sides of the blocks, which recesses partially receive the sides of blocks in the stack and restrict them from moving out the open top end of the magazine assembly when the device is tipped on its side.
- the dispensing device 10 comprises a two part frame 12, a barrel member 14 mounted between the parts of the frame 12 and having an internal melting chamber 16 communicating via a discharge passageway 17 through a valve assembly 18 with an outlet opening 19 through a nozzle 21, and a sleeve 20 with a cylindrical through opening 22 having one end secured to the barrel member 14 with its through opening 22 communicating with the end of the melting chamber 16 opposite the discharge passageway 18.
- the sleeve 20 is adapted to receive a cylindrical block 24 of solid thermoplastic material within the cylindrical through opening 22 with a slight clearance fit even when the diameter of the block 24 is at the large end of its tolerance range, with one end portion of the block 24 in the melting chamber 16 and the block 24 projecting through the opening 22 in the sleeve 20.
- Means are provided in the device l0 for heating the barrel member 14 to melt the end portion of the block 24 therein.
- the frame 12 includes a handle 26 positioned so that an operator can grip the handle 26 with the fingers of one hand while applying pressure with the thumb of that hand to press the block 24 through the sleeve 20 and into the melting chamber 16 and force molten thermoplastic material out of the melting chamber 16 through the valve assembly 18 and nozzle 21.
- the device 10 further includes a bracket assembly 28 at the end of the sleeve 20 opposite the barrel member 14, which bracket assembly 28 includes means adapted for receiving and for holding a second block 24 of solid thermoplastic material in aligned end-to-end relationship with the block 24 of thermoplastic material in the sleeve 20 while affording the application of force by the thumb of an operator on the end of the block 24 opposite the sleeve 20 to press the second block 24 through the sleeve 20 and into the melting chamber 16.
- the bracket assembly 28 comprises spaced opposed gripping parts 30 of the frame 12 ( Figure 5) that project toward the handle 26 in a position spaced from the outer end of the sleeve 20 and on opposite sides of an extension of the axis for the sleeve 20.
- the gripping parts 30 are biased toward each other by spring means comprising a channel-like member 29 of spring steel engaged around the top surfaces of the two parts of the frame 12 to help hold the two parts of the frame 12 together, and having opposed arcuate projecting portions 27 that are biased against the outer surfaces on the gripping parts 30 of the frame 12.
- the gripping parts 30 have distal ends spaced at a distance that is less than the diameter of the cylindrical block 24 of thermoplastic material, but which distance is sufficient so that the block 24 can be transversely pressed therebetween to resiliently move the gripping parts 30 away from each other in opposition to the biasing of the projecting portions 27 and afford movement of the block 24 therebetween.
- the gripping parts 30 have concave opposed inner surfaces adapted to conform to and engage the cylindrical side surfaces of a block 24 of thermoplastic material therebetween to hold the block 24 in alignment with a block 24 in the sleeve 20, while affording axial sliding movement of the block 24 and movement of the thumb of the operator between the gripping parts 30 to move the second block 24 into the sleeve 20.
- the device also comprises a pressure plate 32 adapted to abut the end of the outermost block 24 of thermoplastic material opposite the melting chamber 16 and to be positioned between the block 24 and the user's thumb to transfer force therebetween.
- the plate 32 includes an elongate slide portion 33 ( Figure 2) at one edge slideably mounted in a track 34 defined between the parts of the frame 12 to afford movement of the plate 32 with the block 24 and is shaped to pass between the gripping parts 30 so that the plate 32 can be used to push the block 24 fully into the sleeve 20 while directing forces applied to the plate 32 in the longitudinal direction of the block 24, and protects an operator's thumb from contact with the thermoplastic block 24 and from contact with any molten thermoplastic material that (under unusual conditions) might extrude to the outer end of the sleeve 20.
- the pressure plate 32 includes two wing portions 35, one projecting from each side, which wing portions 35 are positioned to pass under the gripping parts 30 as the pressure plate 32 is used to press the block 24 into the sleeve 20, and either of which wing portions 35 can be manually engaged to move the pressure plate 32 away from the sleeve 20 to facilitate placing a new block 24 of thermoplastic material between the gripping parts 30 after a previous block 24 has been pushed into the sleeve 20.
- the two parts of the frame 12 are molded of a suitable high-temperature resistant polymeric material (e.g., the material commercially designated Dupon, Zytel FR50-NC10 available from E. I. duPont deNemours, Wilmington, Delaware). Both parts of the frame 12 are formed with spaced posts 36 projecting generally radially outwardly of the barrel member 14, which posts 36 can provide means for spacing the major side surface of the frame 12 and the nozzle 21 of the device 10 from a horizontal surface on which the device 10 is laid, and which posts 36 have sockets 37 adapted to receive end portions of a generally U -shaped wire 31 ( Figure 5) to further space the device 10 away from such a surface should that be desired.
- a suitable high-temperature resistant polymeric material e.g., the material commercially designated Dupon, Zytel FR50-NC10 available from E. I. duPont deNemours, Wilmington, Delaware.
- the sleeve 20 is made of a stiff heat-resistive polymeric material (e.g., Teflon®) made by an extrusion process to provide a polished inner surface with microscopic longitudinally extending scratches that facilitates movement of the thermoplastic material through the sleeve 20, particularly after molten thermoplastic has cooled in the sleeve 20 and is again heated by the device 10.
- a stiff heat-resistive polymeric material e.g., Teflon®
- the sleeve 20 is coupled to the barrel member 14 by a metal barrier ring 38 ( Figures 2 and 3) that is heated by the means for heating the barrel member 14, which barrier ring 38 provides means for restricting the extrusion of molten thermoplastic material between the block 24 and the inner surface of the sleeve 20.
- the inlet barrier ring 38 is a generally cylindrical member having axially spaced radically outwardly projecting ribs 39 at one end positioned in a cylindrical socket in the end of the barrel member 14, between which ribs 39 is a sealing strip 40 pressed between the barrier ring 38 and barrel member 14 to provide a seal therebetween.
- An end portion 41 of the barrier ring 38 opposite the barrel member 14 is press fit into an internally relieved area of the sleeve 20.
- the barrier ring 38 has a cylindrical inside surface that is smaller in diameter than the inside diameter of the sleeve 20 (which sleeve 20 is adapted to always receive a block 24 with a slight clearance fit even when the diameter of the block 24 is at the upper end of its tolerance limits) so that the barrier ring 38 will receive a block 24 having a diameter at the upper end of its tolerance limits with a slight interference fit (e.g., an interference of up to 0.025 cm) or will receive a block 24 having a diameter at the lower end of its tolerance range with a clearance fit of about 0.050 cm.
- a slight interference fit e.g., an interference of up to 0.025 cm
- the device 10 also includes three metal (preferably brass) cooling flanges around the outer periphery of the sleeve 20 that provide means for developing predetermined temperature zones in the sleeve 20, including two closely spaced regulating flanges 45 at the end of the sleeve 20 adjacent the barrier ring 38 which cool and regulate the temperature of the molten thermoplastic material in the area between the barrier ring 38 and the sleeve 20, and a cooling flange 48 about centered along the length of the sleeve 20 that cools the sleeve to restrict the thermoplastic material from becoming molten past that area along the sleeve 20, even if the heating means is activated for a long period of time during which molten thermoplastic material is not being dispensed from the device 10.
- three metal preferably brass
- the barrel member 14 is of a suitable metal (e.g., aluminum).
- the melting chamber 16 in the barrel 14 is defined by a generally frustoconical inner surface tapered toward the valve assembly 18 to direct the molten polymeric material to the dicharge passageway 17 through the valve assembly 18, and four equally spaced radially inwardly projecting ribs 42 which provide heated contact surfaces in addition to the frustoconical inner surface for engaging and melting the blocks 24 of thermoplastic material as they are pressed into the chamber 16.
- An electric heating element 43 which heats both the barrel member 14 and the barrier ring 38 is positioned in a socket 44 in the barrel member 14 beneath the chamber 16, and a thermostat 46 is fixed in a channel below the heating element 43 to disconnect electrical power normally supplied the heating element 43 via a power cord 47 and the thermostat 46 when the temperature of the barrel member 14 at the thermostat 46 exceeds a predetermined maximum (e.g., 200°C).
- a predetermined maximum e.g. 200°C
- the valve assembly 18 between the barrel member 14 and the nozzle 21 provides valve means for restricting molten thermoplastic material from running out of the nozzle 21 until a predetermined amount of force (e.g., about 0.9 to 1.8 kilograms) is manually applied to the block 24 of thermostatic material 24 to cause pressure in the molten thermoplastic material in the melting chamber 16.
- the valve assembly 18 is of the poppet valve type and includes a valve body 49 secured between the barrel member 14 and nozzle 21, which valve body 49 defines the discharge passageway 17 communicating between the melting chamber 16 and the opening 19 through the nozzle 21.
- the discharge passageway 17 through the valve body 49 is normally closed by a head 50 on a valve normally biased against a valve seat on the end of the valve body 49 adjacent the nozzle 21 by a spring 52 compressed between a flange on the valve body 49 and a perforated retaining disk 54 fixed on a stem 53 of the valve, which disk 54 is axially slidably mounted in the valve body 49.
- Pressure from molten thermoplastic material in the melting chamber 16 and discharge passageway 17 caused by pressure manually applied to the block 24 of thermoplastic material can move the valve head 50 away from its seat against the bias of the spring 52 and allow molten thermoplastic material to pass the valve head 50 and be discharged through the nozzle 21.
- the valve head 50 will again move to its seat under the influence of the spring 52 to prevent any more molten thermoplastic material within the melting chamber 16 and discharge passageway 17 from escaping through the nozzle 21.
- an operator first connects the power cord 47 to a source of electrical power so that the barrel member 14 and barrier ring 28 are heated by the heating element 43.
- the operator then places the block 24 of thermoplastic material in the opening 22 through the sleeve 20, grabs the handle 26 with one hand, and uses the thumb of that hand to press against the pressure plate 32 to slide it along the track 34 into engagement with the block 24 and thereby press the block 24 through the sleeve 20 and barrier ring 38 and into the melting chamber 16 in the barrel member 14 where the end portion of the block 24 will be made molten by contact with the inner surface of the barrel member 14, including the inwardly projecting ribs 42.
- the barrier ring 38 has a cylindrical inner surface with a slightly smaller inner diameter than the inner diameter of the sleeve 20 and will provide a slight interference fit or a very close clearance fit with the block 24, depending on whether the diameter of the block 24 is at the upper or lower limit of its tolerance range.
- the barrier ring 38 will melt the periphery of the thermoplastic block 24 sufficiently to allow it to easily pass; and in either event the barrier ring 38 will greatly restrict extrusion of thermoplastic material from the melting chamber 16 back between the block 24 and the barrier ring 38 and thus between the block 24 and the inner surface of the sleeve 20.
- Sufficient pressure in the molten thermoplastic within the melting chamber 16 caused by manual pressure on the pressure plate 32 and block 24 will cause the head 50 of the value to move away from its valve seat against the bias of the spring 52 so that the molten thermoplastic can flow around the head 50 and out the outlet opening 19 of the nozzle 21.
- the head 50 When manual pressure is released on the pressure plate 32, the head 50 will again move to its seat under the influence of the spring 52 which stops the flow of molten material through the nozzle 21 and restricts air from reaching the molten thermoplastic material in the melting chamber 16, thereby restricting oxidation of the molten thermoplastic in the valve assembly 18. If the heating element 43 remains activated for a long time while no molten thermoplastic material is dispensed through the nozzle 21, heat buildup can cause the block 24 to melt (at least around its periphery), to about the midpoint of the sleeve 20 where such melting will be restricted by the cooling effect of the cooling flange 48.
- thermoplastic material in the valve assembly 18 will be some of the first thermoplastic material melted and the valve assembly 18 can act as a relief valve for pressure developed in the barrel member 14 as the rest of the thermoplastic material in the barrel member 14 melts.
- the smooth longitudinally micro- grooved inner surface of the sleeve 20 will facilitate breaking loose of the block 24 from the sleeve 20 to press it through the barrier ring 38 and into the melting chamber 16 to again cause the molten thermoplastic material to flow out of the nozzle 21.
- the operator can manually retract the pressure plate 32 along its track 34 via one of the wing portions 35 and press a new block 24 of thermoplastic material transversely between the gripping parts 30 of the holding bracket 28, whereupon the new block 24 will be held in proper alignment with the sleeve 20, and the operator can again use the pressure plate 32 to press the new block 24 into the melting chamber 16.
- a dispensing device 60 for molten thermoplastic material which device 60 has the same structure as the device 10 except that the bracket assembly 28 and slide portion 33 of the device 10 have been replaced by a manually operated magazine assembly 62.
- Parts of the device 60 that have the same structures as parts of the device 10 have been given the same reference numerals to which have been added the suffix "a".
- the device 60 comprises a two part frame.64, a barrel member 14a mounted between the parts of the frame 64 and having an internal melting chamber communicating via a discharge passageway through a valve assembly 18a with an outlet opening through a nozzle 21a, and a sleeve 20a with a cylindrical through opening 22a having one end secured to the barrel member 14a with its through opening 22a communicating with the end of the melting chamber opposite the discharge passageway.
- the sleeve 20a is adapted to receive a cylindrical block 24 of solid thermoplastic material within the cylindrical through opening 22a with a slight clearance fit even when the diameter of the block 24 is at the large end of its tolerance range, with one end portion of the block 24 in the melting chamber and the block 24 projecting through the opening 22a in the sleeve 20a.
- Means are provided in the device 60 for heating the barrel member to melt the end portion of the block 24 therein.
- the frame 64 includes a handle 26a positioned so that an operator can grip the handle 26a with the fingers of one hand while applying pressure with the thumb of that hand to press the block 24 through the sleeve 20a and into the melting chamber to force molten thermoplastic material out of the melting chamber through the valve assembly 18a and nozzle 21a.
- the device 60 includes the magazine assembly 62 at the end of the sleeve 20a opposite the barrel member 14a, which magazine assembly 62 includes means adapted for receiving and for holding a stack of the blocks 24 of solid thermoplastic material with the lowermost block 24 of the stack in aligned end-to-end relationship with a block 24 of thermoplastic material in the sleeve 20a, while affording the application of force by the thumb of an operator on the end of the lowermost block 24 opposite the sleeve 20a to press it into the sleeve 20a toward the melting chamber.
- the magazine assembly 62 comprises (1) wall means or walls included in the frame 64 that define an open topped magazine chamber 66 adapted to hold a stack of the solid thermoplastic material blocks 24 with the lowermost block 24 of the stack in aligned end-to-end relationship with a block 24 of thermoplastic material in the sleeve 20a; and (2) an elongate slide 68 having an end surface 69 adapted to engage the end of the lowermost block 24 opposite the sleeve 20a, a shape adapted to replace the lowermost block 24 in the stack, and an upper surface 70 adapted to support the other blocks 24 in the stack.
- the slide 68 has portions projecting away from its side opposite its surface 70 that are longitudinally spaced to provide a notch 72 therebetween opening through its side.
- the notch 72 is adapted to receive the end portion of an operator's thumb.
- the slide 68 is mounted on the frame 64 for movement along a path generally aligned with the melting chamber (1) from a retracted position ( Figures 6 and 8) with the slide 68 out of the magazine chamber 66 and its first end surface 69 adjacent the end of the lowermost block in the magazine chamber 66 opposite the melting chamber (2) to an advanced position (dotted outline in Figure 6) with the slide 68 extending across the bottom of the magazine chamber 66 to press the lowermost block 24 in the magazine chamber 66 toward the melting chamber by engagement between its first end surface 69 and the block 24, in which advanced position the slide 68 supports the other blocks 24 in the magazine chamber 66 on its upper surface 70; and (3) back to its retracted position to allow the block 24 in the stack adjacent its upper surface 70 to move into alignment with the melting chamber so that the cycle can be repeated.
- the notch 72 is accessible by the thumb of an operator gripping the handle 26a to afford manual reciprocation of the slide 68 between its retracted and
- the walls of the frame 64 which define the magazine chamber 66 include spaced opposed ledges 74 which define a bottom wall for the magazine chamber 66, and the slide 68 has opposite longitudinally grooves extending receive the ledges 74 to afford reciprocation of the slide 68 along the ledges 74 between its retracted and advanced positions.
- the walls of the frame 64 defining the magazine chamber 66 include spaced vertically extending side walls 76. At least one of the side walls 76 has a plurality of recesses 78 parallel to each other and to the axis of the melting chamber along its inner surface.
- the recesses 78 are spaced and adapted to partially receive the sides of blocks 24 in the stack of blocks 24 in the magazine chamber 66 to restrict the blocks 24 from moving out the open top of the magazine chamber 66 when the device 60 is tipped on its side adjacent the recesses 78.
- Two resilient spring fingers 77 with enlarged inwardly projecting heads on their distal ends and positioned adjacent the open end of the magazine chamber 66 also help to retain the stack of blocks 24 in the magazine chamber 66, while being resiliently bendable so that their heads will be cammed out of the magazine chamber as blocks 24 are added to the stack in the magazine assembly 62.
- an operator first connects its power cord 47 to a source of electrical power so that the barrel member and barrier ring are heated by its heating element. After insuring the slide 68 is then it its retracted position ( Figures 6 and 8), the operator then places a series of blocks 24 of thermoplastic material in the open end of the magazine chamber 66, grabs the handle 26a with one hand, engages the thumb of that hand in the notch 72 in the slide 68 and uses his thumb to move the slide 68 along the ledges 74 into engagement with the lowermost block 24 in the stack to thereby press that block 24 toward the sleeve 20a and into the melting chamber in the barrel member 14a where the end portion of the block 24 will be made molten by contact with the inner surface of the barrel member 14a. As the slide 68 is thus moved from its retracted position toward its advanced position (dotted outline in Figure 6) it will replace the lowermost block 24 in the magazine chamber and support the other blocks in the magazine chamber 66 on its upper surface 70.
- the operator can manually retract the slide 68 along the ledges 74 by engagement of his thumb in the notch 72 or on one of a pair of projecting wing portions 79, so that the lowermost block 24 of thermoplastic material remaining in the magazine chamber will move to the bottom of the magazine chamber 66 in proper alignment with the sleeve 20a, and the operator can again manipulate the slide 68 with his thumb to press the new lowermost block 24 in the magazine chamber 66 into the sleeve 20a and the melting chamber.
- the present invention has now been described with reference to one embodiment thereof. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes can be made in the embodiment described without departing from the scope of the present invention.
- the device 60 could incorporate the features described with reference to drawing Figures 6 and 7 of my U.S. Patent Application No. 456,346.
- recesses 78 of the type illustrated could be used on the other sidewall defining the magazine chamber 66 instead of the spring fingers 77.
- the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the structures described in this application, but only by structures described by the language of the claim and their equivalents.
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Abstract
Description
- This invention relates to devices for dispensing molten thermoplastic materials.
- Many devices are known for dispensing molten thermoplastic materials, such as the prior art devices described in U.S. Patents Nos. 3,204,828 and 3,298,572.
- Generally, such devices comprise a barrel member having an internal melting chamber which communicates with an outlet opening through a nozzle, and a sleeve with a through opening having one end secured to the barrel member with its through opening communicating with the end of the melting chamber opposite the nozzle. The sleeve is adapted to receive an elongate cylindrical block of solid thermoplastic material which fits closely fit within the through opening in the sleeve, with one end portion of the block in the melting chamber and the other end portion projecting through the sleeve. Means are provided for heating the barrel member to melt the end portion of the block therein, and the device includes a handle positioned so that an operator can grip the handle with the fingers of one hand while pressing the block through the sleeve and into the melting chamber with the thumb of that hand to force molten thermoplastic material out of the melting chamber through the nozzle.
- While such devices function effectively, a problem can occur after the operator places a second block of thermoplastic material end to end with the block in the sleeve and presses on the outer end of the second block. The operator must hold the second block in place, thus occupying the operator's second hand, which may be needed elsewhere such as to manipulate articles to which the molten termoplastic material is being applied. If the operator does not hold the second block, in place and releases the pressure on the second block as must be done to stop the flow of the molten thermoplastic material, or applies pressure in some direction other than axially along the second block before its leading end enters the sleeve, the second block can fall or fly away from the block already in the sleeve, which is inconvenient, distracting, and wasteful of the operator's time.
- A device for dispensing molten thermoplastic material described in my U.S. Patent Application No. 456,346 filed January 7, 1983, provides, among other things, means for holding and properly positioning a second block of solid thermoplastic material at the end of a block of that material already in a sleeve and a melting barrel of a device of the type described above, even before the second block enters the outer end of the sleeve, thereby freeing the use of the operators second hand for other activities.
- That device, however, will hold a maximum of less than three blocks of thermoplastic material, and thus frequent loading of the device is required if the device is used continuously.
- According to the present invention there is provided a modification of the device described in my U.S. Patent Application No. 456,346 which, in addition to the melting barrel, the sleeve, heating means, and a handle generally of the type described above, further includes a magazine assembly at the outer end of the sleeve opposite the melting chamber. The magazine assembly provides means for holding and properly positioning a lowermost block of thermoplastic material in the magazine assembly in aligned end-to-end relationship with a block of thermoplastic material within the sleeve while affording use of the operator's thumb to press the lowermost block through the sleeve and into the melting chamber, while holding a stack of blocks of thermoplastic material normally above the lowermost block, which stack can be caused to drop down to position the next lowermost block in alignment with the remainder of a block of thermoplastic material that has been pressed through the sleeve by reciprocal movement of a thumb operated slide which provides both a pusher for the lowermost block and a support for the stack of blocks above the lowermost blocks.
- Also, preferably at least one inner sidewall of the magazine is formed with a plurality of recesses parallel to the axis of the melting chamber and adapted to partially receive the sides of the blocks, which recesses partially receive the sides of blocks in the stack and restrict them from moving out the open top end of the magazine assembly when the device is tipped on its side.
- The present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein like numbers refer to like parts in the several views, and wherein:
- Figure 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of a dispensing device described in my U.S. Patent Application No. 456,346;
- Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the dispensing device of Figure 2;
- Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a barrel member, a sleeve, and a barrier ring therebetween in the dispensing device of Figure 1;
- Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken approximately along lines 4-4 of Figure 2; and
- Figure 5 is an end view of the dispensing device of Figure 1:
- Figure 6 is a side view of a dispensing device according to the present invention which is similar to the device of Figure 1 except that it includes a manually operable magazine assembly for holding blocks of solid thermoplastic material to be dispensed through the device;
- Figure 7 in an end view of the dispensing device of Figure 6;
- Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the magazine assembly in the device of Figure 6;
- Figure 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a slide included in the magazine assembly in the device of Figure 6; and
- Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately along line 10-10 of Figure 8.
- Referring now to the drawing there is shown in Figures 1 through 5 a dispensing device for molten thermoplastic material generally designated by the
reference numeral 10, which was described in my U.S. Patent Application No. 456,346 filed January 7, 1983. - Like known prior art dispensing devices for thermoplastic material, the
dispensing device 10 comprises a twopart frame 12, abarrel member 14 mounted between the parts of theframe 12 and having aninternal melting chamber 16 communicating via adischarge passageway 17 through avalve assembly 18 with an outlet opening 19 through a nozzle 21, and asleeve 20 with a cylindrical through opening 22 having one end secured to thebarrel member 14 with its through opening 22 communicating with the end of themelting chamber 16 opposite thedischarge passageway 18. Thesleeve 20 is adapted to receive acylindrical block 24 of solid thermoplastic material within the cylindrical through opening 22 with a slight clearance fit even when the diameter of theblock 24 is at the large end of its tolerance range, with one end portion of theblock 24 in themelting chamber 16 and theblock 24 projecting through the opening 22 in thesleeve 20. Means are provided in the device l0 for heating thebarrel member 14 to melt the end portion of theblock 24 therein. Theframe 12 includes ahandle 26 positioned so that an operator can grip thehandle 26 with the fingers of one hand while applying pressure with the thumb of that hand to press theblock 24 through thesleeve 20 and into themelting chamber 16 and force molten thermoplastic material out of themelting chamber 16 through thevalve assembly 18 and nozzle 21. - Unlike known prior art devices, the
device 10 further includes abracket assembly 28 at the end of thesleeve 20 opposite thebarrel member 14, whichbracket assembly 28 includes means adapted for receiving and for holding asecond block 24 of solid thermoplastic material in aligned end-to-end relationship with theblock 24 of thermoplastic material in thesleeve 20 while affording the application of force by the thumb of an operator on the end of theblock 24 opposite thesleeve 20 to press thesecond block 24 through thesleeve 20 and into themelting chamber 16. - As illustrated, the
bracket assembly 28 comprises spacedopposed gripping parts 30 of the frame 12 (Figure 5) that project toward thehandle 26 in a position spaced from the outer end of thesleeve 20 and on opposite sides of an extension of the axis for thesleeve 20. The grippingparts 30 are biased toward each other by spring means comprising a channel-like member 29 of spring steel engaged around the top surfaces of the two parts of theframe 12 to help hold the two parts of theframe 12 together, and having opposed arcuate projectingportions 27 that are biased against the outer surfaces on the grippingparts 30 of theframe 12. The grippingparts 30 have distal ends spaced at a distance that is less than the diameter of thecylindrical block 24 of thermoplastic material, but which distance is sufficient so that theblock 24 can be transversely pressed therebetween to resiliently move the grippingparts 30 away from each other in opposition to the biasing of the projectingportions 27 and afford movement of theblock 24 therebetween. Also, thegripping parts 30 have concave opposed inner surfaces adapted to conform to and engage the cylindrical side surfaces of ablock 24 of thermoplastic material therebetween to hold theblock 24 in alignment with ablock 24 in thesleeve 20, while affording axial sliding movement of theblock 24 and movement of the thumb of the operator between the grippingparts 30 to move thesecond block 24 into thesleeve 20. - The device also comprises a
pressure plate 32 adapted to abut the end of theoutermost block 24 of thermoplastic material opposite themelting chamber 16 and to be positioned between theblock 24 and the user's thumb to transfer force therebetween. Theplate 32 includes an elongate slide portion 33 (Figure 2) at one edge slideably mounted in atrack 34 defined between the parts of theframe 12 to afford movement of theplate 32 with theblock 24 and is shaped to pass between thegripping parts 30 so that theplate 32 can be used to push theblock 24 fully into thesleeve 20 while directing forces applied to theplate 32 in the longitudinal direction of theblock 24, and protects an operator's thumb from contact with thethermoplastic block 24 and from contact with any molten thermoplastic material that (under unusual conditions) might extrude to the outer end of thesleeve 20. Thepressure plate 32 includes twowing portions 35, one projecting from each side, whichwing portions 35 are positioned to pass under the grippingparts 30 as thepressure plate 32 is used to press theblock 24 into thesleeve 20, and either of whichwing portions 35 can be manually engaged to move thepressure plate 32 away from thesleeve 20 to facilitate placing anew block 24 of thermoplastic material between the grippingparts 30 after aprevious block 24 has been pushed into thesleeve 20. - The two parts of the
frame 12 are molded of a suitable high-temperature resistant polymeric material (e.g., the material commercially designated Dupon, Zytel FR50-NC10 available from E. I. duPont deNemours, Wilmington, Delaware). Both parts of theframe 12 are formed with spacedposts 36 projecting generally radially outwardly of thebarrel member 14, whichposts 36 can provide means for spacing the major side surface of theframe 12 and the nozzle 21 of thedevice 10 from a horizontal surface on which thedevice 10 is laid, and whichposts 36 havesockets 37 adapted to receive end portions of a generally U-shaped wire 31 (Figure 5) to further space thedevice 10 away from such a surface should that be desired. - The
sleeve 20 is made of a stiff heat-resistive polymeric material (e.g., Teflon®) made by an extrusion process to provide a polished inner surface with microscopic longitudinally extending scratches that facilitates movement of the thermoplastic material through thesleeve 20, particularly after molten thermoplastic has cooled in thesleeve 20 and is again heated by thedevice 10. - The
sleeve 20 is coupled to thebarrel member 14 by a metal barrier ring 38 (Figures 2 and 3) that is heated by the means for heating thebarrel member 14, whichbarrier ring 38 provides means for restricting the extrusion of molten thermoplastic material between theblock 24 and the inner surface of thesleeve 20. Theinlet barrier ring 38 is a generally cylindrical member having axially spaced radically outwardly projectingribs 39 at one end positioned in a cylindrical socket in the end of thebarrel member 14, between whichribs 39 is asealing strip 40 pressed between thebarrier ring 38 andbarrel member 14 to provide a seal therebetween. Anend portion 41 of thebarrier ring 38 opposite thebarrel member 14 is press fit into an internally relieved area of thesleeve 20. Thebarrier ring 38 has a cylindrical inside surface that is smaller in diameter than the inside diameter of the sleeve 20 (whichsleeve 20 is adapted to always receive ablock 24 with a slight clearance fit even when the diameter of theblock 24 is at the upper end of its tolerance limits) so that thebarrier ring 38 will receive ablock 24 having a diameter at the upper end of its tolerance limits with a slight interference fit (e.g., an interference of up to 0.025 cm) or will receive ablock 24 having a diameter at the lower end of its tolerance range with a clearance fit of about 0.050 cm. Surprisingly thoseblocks 24 with a diameter that provides such a slight interference fit with thebarrier ring 38 will be melted sufficiently around their periphery by theheated barrier ring 38 that they can be easily pressed into themelting chamber 16, and blocks 24 of thermoplastic material with diameters that provide either such slight interference fits or clearance fits fit sufficiently close in thebarrier ring 38 so that no significant amount of molten polymeric material will extrude out of themelting chamber 16 between theblock 24 and thebarrier ring 38 and toward the outer end of thesleeve 20 between theblock 24 and the.sleeve 20. - The
device 10 also includes three metal (preferably brass) cooling flanges around the outer periphery of thesleeve 20 that provide means for developing predetermined temperature zones in thesleeve 20, including two closely spaced regulatingflanges 45 at the end of thesleeve 20 adjacent thebarrier ring 38 which cool and regulate the temperature of the molten thermoplastic material in the area between thebarrier ring 38 and thesleeve 20, and acooling flange 48 about centered along the length of thesleeve 20 that cools the sleeve to restrict the thermoplastic material from becoming molten past that area along thesleeve 20, even if the heating means is activated for a long period of time during which molten thermoplastic material is not being dispensed from thedevice 10. - The
barrel member 14 is of a suitable metal (e.g., aluminum). Themelting chamber 16 in thebarrel 14 is defined by a generally frustoconical inner surface tapered toward thevalve assembly 18 to direct the molten polymeric material to thedicharge passageway 17 through thevalve assembly 18, and four equally spaced radially inwardly projectingribs 42 which provide heated contact surfaces in addition to the frustoconical inner surface for engaging and melting theblocks 24 of thermoplastic material as they are pressed into thechamber 16. Anelectric heating element 43 which heats both thebarrel member 14 and thebarrier ring 38 is positioned in asocket 44 in thebarrel member 14 beneath thechamber 16, and athermostat 46 is fixed in a channel below theheating element 43 to disconnect electrical power normally supplied theheating element 43 via apower cord 47 and thethermostat 46 when the temperature of thebarrel member 14 at thethermostat 46 exceeds a predetermined maximum (e.g., 200°C). - The
valve assembly 18 between thebarrel member 14 and the nozzle 21 provides valve means for restricting molten thermoplastic material from running out of the nozzle 21 until a predetermined amount of force (e.g., about 0.9 to 1.8 kilograms) is manually applied to theblock 24 ofthermostatic material 24 to cause pressure in the molten thermoplastic material in themelting chamber 16. Thevalve assembly 18 is of the poppet valve type and includes avalve body 49 secured between thebarrel member 14 and nozzle 21, whichvalve body 49 defines thedischarge passageway 17 communicating between themelting chamber 16 and theopening 19 through the nozzle 21. Thedischarge passageway 17 through thevalve body 49 is normally closed by a head 50 on a valve normally biased against a valve seat on the end of thevalve body 49 adjacent the nozzle 21 by a spring 52 compressed between a flange on thevalve body 49 and a perforated retaining disk 54 fixed on a stem 53 of the valve, which disk 54 is axially slidably mounted in thevalve body 49. Pressure from molten thermoplastic material in themelting chamber 16 anddischarge passageway 17 caused by pressure manually applied to theblock 24 of thermoplastic material can move the valve head 50 away from its seat against the bias of the spring 52 and allow molten thermoplastic material to pass the valve head 50 and be discharged through the nozzle 21. When the operator releases such pressure, however, the valve head 50 will again move to its seat under the influence of the spring 52 to prevent any more molten thermoplastic material within themelting chamber 16 anddischarge passageway 17 from escaping through the nozzle 21. - To use the
dispensing device 10, an operator first connects thepower cord 47 to a source of electrical power so that thebarrel member 14 andbarrier ring 28 are heated by theheating element 43. The operator then places theblock 24 of thermoplastic material in theopening 22 through thesleeve 20, grabs thehandle 26 with one hand, and uses the thumb of that hand to press against thepressure plate 32 to slide it along thetrack 34 into engagement with theblock 24 and thereby press theblock 24 through thesleeve 20 andbarrier ring 38 and into themelting chamber 16 in thebarrel member 14 where the end portion of theblock 24 will be made molten by contact with the inner surface of thebarrel member 14, including the inwardly projectingribs 42. While the inner surface of thesleeve 20 will provide a clearance fit with the periphery of theblock 24, even if the diameter of theblock 24 is at the upper limit of its tolerance range, thebarrier ring 38 has a cylindrical inner surface with a slightly smaller inner diameter than the inner diameter of thesleeve 20 and will provide a slight interference fit or a very close clearance fit with theblock 24, depending on whether the diameter of theblock 24 is at the upper or lower limit of its tolerance range. If there is an interference fit, thebarrier ring 38 will melt the periphery of thethermoplastic block 24 sufficiently to allow it to easily pass; and in either event thebarrier ring 38 will greatly restrict extrusion of thermoplastic material from themelting chamber 16 back between theblock 24 and thebarrier ring 38 and thus between theblock 24 and the inner surface of thesleeve 20. Sufficient pressure in the molten thermoplastic within themelting chamber 16 caused by manual pressure on thepressure plate 32 and block 24 will cause the head 50 of the value to move away from its valve seat against the bias of the spring 52 so that the molten thermoplastic can flow around the head 50 and out the outlet opening 19 of the nozzle 21. When manual pressure is released on thepressure plate 32, the head 50 will again move to its seat under the influence of the spring 52 which stops the flow of molten material through the nozzle 21 and restricts air from reaching the molten thermoplastic material in themelting chamber 16, thereby restricting oxidation of the molten thermoplastic in thevalve assembly 18. If theheating element 43 remains activated for a long time while no molten thermoplastic material is dispensed through the nozzle 21, heat buildup can cause theblock 24 to melt (at least around its periphery), to about the midpoint of thesleeve 20 where such melting will be restricted by the cooling effect of the coolingflange 48. If the power is then disconnected so that this molten thermoplastic material cools and solidifies, and the power is then again connected to heat theheating element 43, the thermoplastic material in thevalve assembly 18 will be some of the first thermoplastic material melted and thevalve assembly 18 can act as a relief valve for pressure developed in thebarrel member 14 as the rest of the thermoplastic material in thebarrel member 14 melts. Also, the smooth longitudinally micro- grooved inner surface of thesleeve 20 will facilitate breaking loose of theblock 24 from thesleeve 20 to press it through thebarrier ring 38 and into themelting chamber 16 to again cause the molten thermoplastic material to flow out of the nozzle 21. - When the outer end of the
block 24 of thermoplastic material reaches the outer end of thesleeve 20, the operator can manually retract thepressure plate 32 along itstrack 34 via one of thewing portions 35 and press anew block 24 of thermoplastic material transversely between thegripping parts 30 of the holdingbracket 28, whereupon thenew block 24 will be held in proper alignment with thesleeve 20, and the operator can again use thepressure plate 32 to press thenew block 24 into themelting chamber 16. - Referring now to Figures 6 through 10 of the drawing there is shown a
dispensing device 60 for molten thermoplastic material according to the present invention whichdevice 60 has the same structure as thedevice 10 except that thebracket assembly 28 andslide portion 33 of thedevice 10 have been replaced by a manually operatedmagazine assembly 62. Parts of thedevice 60 that have the same structures as parts of thedevice 10 have been given the same reference numerals to which have been added the suffix "a". - Like the dispensing
device 10 thedevice 60 comprises a two part frame.64, a barrel member 14a mounted between the parts of theframe 64 and having an internal melting chamber communicating via a discharge passageway through avalve assembly 18a with an outlet opening through anozzle 21a, and a sleeve 20a with a cylindrical throughopening 22a having one end secured to the barrel member 14a with its throughopening 22a communicating with the end of the melting chamber opposite the discharge passageway. The sleeve 20a is adapted to receive acylindrical block 24 of solid thermoplastic material within the cylindrical throughopening 22a with a slight clearance fit even when the diameter of theblock 24 is at the large end of its tolerance range, with one end portion of theblock 24 in the melting chamber and theblock 24 projecting through theopening 22a in the sleeve 20a. Means are provided in thedevice 60 for heating the barrel member to melt the end portion of theblock 24 therein. Theframe 64 includes ahandle 26a positioned so that an operator can grip thehandle 26a with the fingers of one hand while applying pressure with the thumb of that hand to press theblock 24 through the sleeve 20a and into the melting chamber to force molten thermoplastic material out of the melting chamber through thevalve assembly 18a andnozzle 21a. - Unlike the
device 10, thedevice 60 includes themagazine assembly 62 at the end of the sleeve 20a opposite the barrel member 14a, whichmagazine assembly 62 includes means adapted for receiving and for holding a stack of theblocks 24 of solid thermoplastic material with thelowermost block 24 of the stack in aligned end-to-end relationship with ablock 24 of thermoplastic material in the sleeve 20a, while affording the application of force by the thumb of an operator on the end of thelowermost block 24 opposite the sleeve 20a to press it into the sleeve 20a toward the melting chamber. - As illustrated, the
magazine assembly 62 comprises (1) wall means or walls included in theframe 64 that define an open toppedmagazine chamber 66 adapted to hold a stack of the solid thermoplastic material blocks 24 with thelowermost block 24 of the stack in aligned end-to-end relationship with ablock 24 of thermoplastic material in the sleeve 20a; and (2) anelongate slide 68 having anend surface 69 adapted to engage the end of thelowermost block 24 opposite the sleeve 20a, a shape adapted to replace thelowermost block 24 in the stack, and anupper surface 70 adapted to support theother blocks 24 in the stack. Also, theslide 68 has portions projecting away from its side opposite itssurface 70 that are longitudinally spaced to provide anotch 72 therebetween opening through its side. Thenotch 72 is adapted to receive the end portion of an operator's thumb. Theslide 68 is mounted on theframe 64 for movement along a path generally aligned with the melting chamber (1) from a retracted position (Figures 6 and 8) with theslide 68 out of themagazine chamber 66 and itsfirst end surface 69 adjacent the end of the lowermost block in themagazine chamber 66 opposite the melting chamber (2) to an advanced position (dotted outline in Figure 6) with theslide 68 extending across the bottom of themagazine chamber 66 to press thelowermost block 24 in themagazine chamber 66 toward the melting chamber by engagement between itsfirst end surface 69 and theblock 24, in which advanced position theslide 68 supports theother blocks 24 in themagazine chamber 66 on itsupper surface 70; and (3) back to its retracted position to allow theblock 24 in the stack adjacent itsupper surface 70 to move into alignment with the melting chamber so that the cycle can be repeated. Thenotch 72 is accessible by the thumb of an operator gripping thehandle 26a to afford manual reciprocation of theslide 68 between its retracted and advanced positions by the operator. - The walls of the
frame 64 which define themagazine chamber 66 include spacedopposed ledges 74 which define a bottom wall for themagazine chamber 66, and theslide 68 has opposite longitudinally grooves extending receive theledges 74 to afford reciprocation of theslide 68 along theledges 74 between its retracted and advanced positions. - Also the walls of the
frame 64 defining themagazine chamber 66 include spaced vertically extendingside walls 76. At least one of theside walls 76 has a plurality ofrecesses 78 parallel to each other and to the axis of the melting chamber along its inner surface. Therecesses 78 are spaced and adapted to partially receive the sides ofblocks 24 in the stack ofblocks 24 in themagazine chamber 66 to restrict theblocks 24 from moving out the open top of themagazine chamber 66 when thedevice 60 is tipped on its side adjacent therecesses 78. Tworesilient spring fingers 77 with enlarged inwardly projecting heads on their distal ends and positioned adjacent the open end of themagazine chamber 66 also help to retain the stack ofblocks 24 in themagazine chamber 66, while being resiliently bendable so that their heads will be cammed out of the magazine chamber as blocks 24 are added to the stack in themagazine assembly 62. - To use the dispensing
device 60, an operator first connects itspower cord 47 to a source of electrical power so that the barrel member and barrier ring are heated by its heating element. After insuring theslide 68 is then it its retracted position (Figures 6 and 8), the operator then places a series ofblocks 24 of thermoplastic material in the open end of themagazine chamber 66, grabs thehandle 26a with one hand, engages the thumb of that hand in thenotch 72 in theslide 68 and uses his thumb to move theslide 68 along theledges 74 into engagement with thelowermost block 24 in the stack to thereby press thatblock 24 toward the sleeve 20a and into the melting chamber in the barrel member 14a where the end portion of theblock 24 will be made molten by contact with the inner surface of the barrel member 14a. As theslide 68 is thus moved from its retracted position toward its advanced position (dotted outline in Figure 6) it will replace thelowermost block 24 in the magazine chamber and support the other blocks in themagazine chamber 66 on itsupper surface 70. - When the outer end of the thermoplastic material and the
end surface 69 of theslide 68 reach the outer end of the sleeve 10al (the advance position of the slide 68) the operator can manually retract theslide 68 along theledges 74 by engagement of his thumb in thenotch 72 or on one of a pair of projectingwing portions 79, so that thelowermost block 24 of thermoplastic material remaining in the magazine chamber will move to the bottom of themagazine chamber 66 in proper alignment with the sleeve 20a, and the operator can again manipulate theslide 68 with his thumb to press the newlowermost block 24 in themagazine chamber 66 into the sleeve 20a and the melting chamber. - The present invention has now been described with reference to one embodiment thereof. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes can be made in the embodiment described without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the
device 60 could incorporate the features described with reference to drawing Figures 6 and 7 of my U.S. Patent Application No. 456,346. Also recesses 78 of the type illustrated could be used on the other sidewall defining themagazine chamber 66 instead of thespring fingers 77. Thus the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the structures described in this application, but only by structures described by the language of the claim and their equivalents.
Claims (3)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US57024584A | 1984-01-12 | 1984-01-12 | |
US570245 | 1984-01-12 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0148758A2 true EP0148758A2 (en) | 1985-07-17 |
EP0148758A3 EP0148758A3 (en) | 1986-12-30 |
EP0148758B1 EP0148758B1 (en) | 1989-03-15 |
Family
ID=24278847
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19850300008 Expired EP0148758B1 (en) | 1984-01-12 | 1985-01-02 | Thermoplastic dispensing device with manually operated feed magazine |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0148758B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPS60161135A (en) |
DE (1) | DE3568716D1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0196767A2 (en) * | 1985-03-29 | 1986-10-08 | N.V. Raychem S.A. | Pressurizable splice case |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3612357A (en) * | 1969-10-06 | 1971-10-12 | Swingline Inc | Molten material dispensers with controlled forcible manual feeder for ratchet-toothed heat-liquefiable rod, having heater and thermostat |
GB2054746A (en) * | 1979-06-25 | 1981-02-18 | Hilti Ag | Apparatus for dispensing two- component adhesive |
EP0055350A2 (en) * | 1980-12-29 | 1982-07-07 | Steinel GmbH & Co. KG | Device for fluidifying a fusible glue |
EP0077884A1 (en) * | 1981-10-26 | 1983-05-04 | Steinel GmbH & Co. KG | Device for guiding a rod-shaped, heat-fusible adhesive material |
EP0116400A1 (en) * | 1983-01-07 | 1984-08-22 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Thermoplastic dispensing device |
Family Cites Families (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE2854230C2 (en) * | 1978-12-15 | 1980-12-04 | Hubert Ing.(Grad.) 5100 Aachen Brab | Device for melting and applying thermoplastic adhesive |
-
1985
- 1985-01-02 EP EP19850300008 patent/EP0148758B1/en not_active Expired
- 1985-01-02 DE DE8585300008T patent/DE3568716D1/en not_active Expired
- 1985-01-11 JP JP227985A patent/JPS60161135A/en active Granted
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3612357A (en) * | 1969-10-06 | 1971-10-12 | Swingline Inc | Molten material dispensers with controlled forcible manual feeder for ratchet-toothed heat-liquefiable rod, having heater and thermostat |
GB2054746A (en) * | 1979-06-25 | 1981-02-18 | Hilti Ag | Apparatus for dispensing two- component adhesive |
EP0055350A2 (en) * | 1980-12-29 | 1982-07-07 | Steinel GmbH & Co. KG | Device for fluidifying a fusible glue |
EP0077884A1 (en) * | 1981-10-26 | 1983-05-04 | Steinel GmbH & Co. KG | Device for guiding a rod-shaped, heat-fusible adhesive material |
EP0116400A1 (en) * | 1983-01-07 | 1984-08-22 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Thermoplastic dispensing device |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0196767A2 (en) * | 1985-03-29 | 1986-10-08 | N.V. Raychem S.A. | Pressurizable splice case |
EP0196767B1 (en) * | 1985-03-29 | 1992-04-22 | N.V. Raychem S.A. | Pressurizable splice case |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0148758A3 (en) | 1986-12-30 |
JPH0436059B2 (en) | 1992-06-15 |
DE3568716D1 (en) | 1989-04-20 |
EP0148758B1 (en) | 1989-03-15 |
JPS60161135A (en) | 1985-08-22 |
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