Melting apparatus with material release sensing system
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for liquifying and supplying thermoplastic material from a container, the apparatus comprising:
- a hopper having a container receiving space for receiving a container of thermoplastic material and a thermoplastic material receiving space;
a container support for supporting the container of thermoplastic material within the hopper such that an open end of the container faces said thermoplastic material receiving space; and
an indicator operatively connected to the hopper and being activated to indicate when the thermoplastic material has moved from the container into the thermoplastic material receiving space so that the container may be removed and the thermoplastic material left within the hopper.
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Abstract
An apparatus for use in supplying thermoplastic material such as hot melt adhesive from containers includes an apparatus for detecting and indicating when thermoplastic material or adhesive has moved out the container such that the container may be removed from the apparatus. Both force responsive and temperature responsive indicators are disclosed, along with various signalling devices, to inform an operator when the container may be removed leaving the material within the apparatus.
39 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for liquifying and supplying thermoplastic material from a container, the apparatus comprising:
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a hopper having a container receiving space for receiving a container of thermoplastic material and a thermoplastic material receiving space; a container support for supporting the container of thermoplastic material within the hopper such that an open end of the container faces said thermoplastic material receiving space; and an indicator operatively connected to the hopper and being activated to indicate when the thermoplastic material has moved from the container into the thermoplastic material receiving space so that the container may be removed and the thermoplastic material left within the hopper. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. The apparatus of claim I wherein the indicator includes:
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a temperature sensor disposed within the thermoplastic material receiving space and producing an output signal representing changes in temperature in the thermoplastic material receiving space; and a controller responsive to the output signal for providing an indicator signal in response to a predetermined change in temperature in the thermoplastic material receiving space and indicating that the container should be removed from the hopper after thermoplastic material from the container has moved into the thermoplastic material receiving space. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of operating a thermoplastic material melting apparatus including a hopper having a container receiving space and a thermoplastic material receiving space, the method comprising the steps of:
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supporting a container of thermoplastic material in said container receiving space and above said thermoplastic material receiving space with an open end of said container facing said thermoplastic material receiving space; heating the container to promote liquification of the thermoplastic material and downward movement of said thermoplastic material from the open end of said container; detecting when at least a portion of said thermoplastic material has moved downwardly through the open end of said container and into said thermoplastic material receiving space; and signaling that the thermoplastic material has moved into said thermoplastic material receiving space. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of operating a thermoplastic material melting apparatus including a hopper having a container receiving space and a thermoplastic material receiving space, the method comprising the steps of:
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supporting a container of thermoplastic material in said container receiving space and above said thermoplastic material receiving space with an open end of said container facing said thermoplastic material receiving space; heating at least a portion of the thermoplastic material receiving space of the hopper to a predetermined temperature; heating the container to cause thermoplastic material to move out of the container and into the thermoplastic material receiving space of the hopper; detecting a change in said predetermined temperature in response to the presence of thermoplastic material in a thermoplastic material receiving space; and producing an indicating signal in response to detecting the change in said predetermined temperature. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification