GB2289858A - Applicator nozzle - Google Patents

Description

2289858 1 A device for delivering fluid substances The present invention

relates to a device for delivering fluid substances. In particular, the present invention relates to a device for delivering fluid substances of the type commonly referred to as a "gun", such as can be made to project a discrete quantity of adhesive material cyclically at articles in manufacture. Indeed for the sake of simplicity, though without limiting the scope of the invention in any sense, reference is made in the following specification to devices intended for handling adhesive substances, albeit devices with also widely utilized other substances to Conventional devices typically comprise 2 adhesive material iE which the nozzle is and a pressurized to which the valve the same general features are for the application of ink or articles in manufacture. of the gun type in question nozzle outlet from which the delivered, a solenoid valve to connected by way of a pipeline, source of the adhesive material is connected in its turn. Every 2 time a passage associated with the solenoid valve is opened, a jet of the adhesive material will be directed by the nozzle toward the article.

It has been observed that such devices operate in sufficiently clean manner as long as the nozzle is positioned to direct the jet of adhesive material downwards or horizontally, since the nozzle itself will not normally be fouled by the adhesive to any significant extent.

By contrast, when the selfsame devices are utilized to direct the jet of adhesive material upwards, the nozzle becomes caked progressively under the minute drops of adhesive that issue from the outlet after each delivery, and the entire device becomes fouled gradually by the increasing quantity of adhesive that trickles down from the nozzles.

This results in a need for unduly frequent cleaning operations, dictating generally that the production machine with which the device is associated must be shut down, and consequently that the machine itself remains inactive for lengthy periods.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device of the type in question, such as will allow of eliminating or at least minimizing the drawback described above in connection with the prior art.

1k 3 The aforementioned object is realized in a device for delivering fluid substances according to the present invention, comprising a nozzle outlet from which a fluid substance is directed cyclically toward manufactured articles, delivery means by which the fluid substance is supplied to the nozzle outlet, also valve means interposed between the delivery means and the nozzle outlet and serving to control the flow of the fluid substance to the outlet, characterized in that it comprises a cup located below the nozzle outlet in such a manner as to collect any of the fluid substance moving in a downwards direction. The invention will now be described in detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows a preferred embodiment of the device in a schematic elevation, partly in section. With reference to the drawing, 1 denotes a device for delivering adhesive material, in its entirety, of the type generally described as a "gun,,; such a device is designed to squirt discrete quantities of an adhesive material, in succession, onto products or articles denoted 2 in the drawing. The device 1 comprises a hollow body or housing 3 associated in conventional manner, not illustrated 4 is in the drawing, with the frame 4 of a production machine likewise not illustrated. 5 denotes a nut associated with a top wall of the housing 3, its axis vertically disposed, and functioning as the connection for an outlet consisting in a nozzle 6 positioned coaxially with and above the nut 5. The nozzle 6 is connected by way of a pipeline 7 to a shut-off passage (not illustrated) associated with a solenoid valve 8, the valve being connected in its turn to the outlet of delivery means consisting in a pump 9 of which the inlet is connected to a tank 10 containing adhesive material either in the liquid state or of paste consistency. The nut 5 comprises an upper portion appearing as a cylindrical boss 11 disposed coaxial with the body of the nut proper and affording a coaxial annular groove 12 that encircles the peripheral cylindrical surface. The cylindrical boss 11 is accommodated coaxially, together with an 0-ring 13 seated in the annular groove 12, within a circular opening 14 afforded by the horizontal base 15 of a cup 16 that will be of substantially rectangular shape when seen in plan. A lateral portion of the cup 16 is anchored to the frame 4 in a manner not indicated.

is In operation, any adhesive material trickling down from the nozzle 6 is collected in the cup 16 and prevented from fouling the housing 3 and/or other parts of the machine with which the device 1 is associated. It will be evident from the foregoing that a device for delivering fluid substances, furnished with the cup 16 in the position described, remains free of the drawback mentioned above in connection with the prior art. Clearly, the cup 16 will fill up at a considerably slow rate and can therefore be emptied and cleaned during the course of routine maintenance operations scheduled for the machine, without any interruption of the production cycle. It will also be observed that, to ensure conditions of absolute cleanliness for the machine in whatever situation, the cup 16 could be fitted equally well to devices 1 from which the fluid is delivered in a horizontal jet, or delivered upwards though at an angle rather than vertically.

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Claims (4)

1. Claims

   A device for delivering fluid substances comprising a nozzle outlet from which a fluid substance is directed cyclically toward manufactured articles, delivery means by which the fluid substance is supplied to the nozzle outlet, also valve means interposed between the delivery means and the nozzle outlet and serving to control the flow of the fluid substance to the outlet, characterized in that it comprises a cup located below the nozzle outlet in such a manner as to collect any of the fluid substance moving in a downwards direction.
2. 2) 3) A device for delivering fluid substances as in claim 1, wherein the fluid substance is directed upwards by the nozzle outlet in a substantially vertical direction.
3. A device for delivering fluid substances as in claim 2, wherein the base of the cup affords an opening into and through which the nozzle outlet is 7 insertable in fluid-tight association.
4. 4) A device for delivering fluid substances substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.