HOT MELT ADHESIVE SYSTEMS, ADHESIVE DEGRADATION DETECTION DEVICES, AND RELATED METHODS

摘要

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.