Thermoplastic melting apparatus with a level indicator
First Claim
1. Apparatus for converting solid thermoplastic material to molten thermoplastic material, comprising:
- a tank for receiving solid thermoplastic material;
melting means connected to said tank for melting the solid thermoplastic material to form molten thermoplastic material;
pump means mounted upon said tank for pumping molten thermoplastic material out of said tank;
drive means mounted independently of said tank;
linkage means drivingly connected between said pump means and said drive means, said linkage means transmitting a drive force from said drive means for operating said pump means;
pivot means connected to one side of said tank for permitting pivotal motion of said tank;
level indicator means for sensing the extent of said pivotal motion of said tank and providing a corresponding measurement of the quantity of thermoplastic material carried within said tank; and
said pivot means being positioned relative to said linkage means so as to isolate said level indicator means from forces operating said pump means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A thermoplastic melting apparatus comprises a tank pivotally mounted upon bearings within the interior of a housing having a top cover. An electrical or mechanical level indicator device is mounted exteriorly of the tank which is effective to sense pivotal movement of the tank as it is loaded with and/or emptied of thermoplastic material, and to produce a signal which indicates the quantity of thermoplastic material within the tank. The level indicator device is isolated from dynamic forces produced by drive linkages which operate pumps associated with the tank, by positioning the pivot axis of the bearings in the same plane as the force produced by the drive linkage. The lid of the tank is isolated from downward forces applied to the top cover of the housing to prevent the transmittal of forces to the level indicator devices from objects placed on the top cover of the housing or the like.
35 Citations
13 Claims
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1. Apparatus for converting solid thermoplastic material to molten thermoplastic material, comprising:
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a tank for receiving solid thermoplastic material; melting means connected to said tank for melting the solid thermoplastic material to form molten thermoplastic material; pump means mounted upon said tank for pumping molten thermoplastic material out of said tank; drive means mounted independently of said tank; linkage means drivingly connected between said pump means and said drive means, said linkage means transmitting a drive force from said drive means for operating said pump means; pivot means connected to one side of said tank for permitting pivotal motion of said tank; level indicator means for sensing the extent of said pivotal motion of said tank and providing a corresponding measurement of the quantity of thermoplastic material carried within said tank; and said pivot means being positioned relative to said linkage means so as to isolate said level indicator means from forces operating said pump means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. Apparatus for converting solid thermoplastic material to molten thermoplastic material, comprising:
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a tank for receiving solid thermoplastic material; melting means connected to said tank for melting the solid thermoplastic material to form molten thermoplastic material; pump means mounted upon said tank for pumping molten thermoplastic material out of said tank; drive means mounted independently of said tank; means drivingly connected between said pump means and said drive means for transmitting a drive force from said drive means to operate said pump means; pivot means connected to one side of said tank for permitting pivotal motion of said tank; linkage means connected to said tank and being movable in response to said pivotal motion of said tank; sensing means for sensing the extent of said motion of said linkage means in response to pivotal motion of said tank, said sensing means being effective to provide a measurement corresponding to the quantity of thermoplastic material carried within said tank; and said pivot means being positioned relative to said linkage means so as to isolate said linkage means from forces operating said pump means. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus for converting solid thermoplastic material to molten thermoplastic material, comprising:
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a housing having an interior formed with an open top, said housing having a top cover for opening and closing said interior; a tank mounted within said interior of said housing, said tank being formed with an interior adapted to receive thermoplastic material, said tank having a lid for opening and closing said interior; connector means for mounting said lid of said tank to said cover of said housing so that said lid is protected from forces applied to said cover in a direction toward said interior of said tank; melting means connected to said tank for melting the solid thermoplastic material therein to form molten thermoplastic material; pump means communicating with said melting means for pumping molten thermoplastic material; drive means having linkage drivingly connected to said pump means, said linkage producing a drive force for operating said pump means acting between said drive means and said pump means; pivot means connected to one side of said tank for permitting pivotal motion of said tank, said pivot means having a pivot axis located in a plane containing said drive force produced by said linkage; level indicator means connected to said tank for sensing the extent of said pivotal motion of said tank and providing a corresponding measurement of the quantity of thermoplastic material carried within said tank. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification