HOT MELT ADHESIVE SYSTEMS, ADHESIVE DEGRADATION DETECTION DEVICES, AND RELATED METHODS
First Claim
1. A hot melt adhesive system comprising:
- an adhesive supply for receiving unmelted hot melt adhesive material,an adhesive supply heater associated with the adhesive supply for melting the unmelted hot melt adhesive material into a liquid hot melt adhesive material,at least one adhesive dispenser fluidly coupled with the adhesive supply and including an outlet for dispensing the liquid hot melt adhesive,a fluid passage extending from the adhesive supply to the outlet of the adhesive dispenser; and
an adhesive degradation detection device operatively coupled to the fluid passage, the adhesive degradation detection device comprising;
an energy source configured for emitting energy into the liquid hot melt adhesive in the fluid passage, the energy becoming attenuated energy after emerging from the liquid hot melt adhesive,a detector configured for detecting the attenuated energy, anda controller operatively coupled to the adhesive degradation detection device and configured to determine an amount of attenuation of the energy to thereby determine a degradation condition of the liquid hot melt adhesive.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hot melt adhesive system includes an adhesive supply and an adhesive supply heater associated with the adhesive supply for melting hot melt adhesive material into a liquid hot melt adhesive. An adhesive dispenser is fluidly coupled with the adhesive supply and includes an outlet for dispensing the liquid hot melt adhesive. A fluid passage extends from the adhesive supply to the outlet of the adhesive dispenser; and an adhesive degradation detection device is operatively coupled to the fluid passage. The adhesive degradation detection device includes an energy source for emitting energy into the liquid hot melt adhesive in the fluid passage. The adhesive degradation detection device further includes a detector configured for detecting attenuated energy that emerges from the liquid hot melt adhesive. A controller operatively coupled to the adhesive degradation detection device can determine a degradation condition of the liquid hot melt adhesive.
1 Citation
33 Claims
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1. A hot melt adhesive system comprising:
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an adhesive supply for receiving unmelted hot melt adhesive material, an adhesive supply heater associated with the adhesive supply for melting the unmelted hot melt adhesive material into a liquid hot melt adhesive material, at least one adhesive dispenser fluidly coupled with the adhesive supply and including an outlet for dispensing the liquid hot melt adhesive, a fluid passage extending from the adhesive supply to the outlet of the adhesive dispenser; and an adhesive degradation detection device operatively coupled to the fluid passage, the adhesive degradation detection device comprising; an energy source configured for emitting energy into the liquid hot melt adhesive in the fluid passage, the energy becoming attenuated energy after emerging from the liquid hot melt adhesive, a detector configured for detecting the attenuated energy, and a controller operatively coupled to the adhesive degradation detection device and configured to determine an amount of attenuation of the energy to thereby determine a degradation condition of the liquid hot melt adhesive. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An adhesive degradation detection device for use with a hot melt adhesive system configured for dispensing liquid hot melt adhesive, comprising:
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a body having a fluid channel configured for communicating the liquid hot melt adhesive therethrough, an energy source coupled with the body and configured for emitting energy into the liquid hot melt adhesive in the fluid channel, the energy becoming attenuated energy after emerging from the liquid hot melt adhesive, and a detector coupled with the body and configured for detecting the attenuated energy and for detecting a degradation condition of the liquid hot melt adhesive. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of assessing the degradation of liquid hot melt adhesive in a hot melt adhesive system, comprising:
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directing energy into the liquid hot melt adhesive, detecting energy that emerges from the liquid hot melt adhesive. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification