THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL MELTING APPARATUS

摘要

A hopper-type dispensing unit for receiving and melting a slug of thermoplastic material such as hot melt adhesive. In a first embodiment a plurality of container supports formed of a material, such as steel, having a low heat conductivity extend inwardly from inner walls of the unit and radially inward of the opening in the inverted container to obstruct the path of the adhesive slug and cause a smooth, controlled descent. The steel supports are vertical members which extend upwardly from a melting grid of the unit to a point which allows a significant portion of the adhesive slug to remain in the apparatus when the container is empty. A plurality of heating fins are also provided about the inner periphery of the hopper and are generally disposed between the steel supports in the first embodiment. In a second embodiment the container supports are eliminated and the container is supported in another manner leaving the fins as both slug descent control elements and supplemental heating elements.