APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MELTING AND DISPENSING THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL

摘要

An apparatus (10, 150, 200) for melting and dispensing thermoplastic material is provided that includes an un-heated hopper (12, 151, 151) having an inlet (14, 166, 166) for receiving particles (56, 56, 56) of a thermoplastic material and an outlet (68, 163, 163) for discharging the particles (56, 56, 56) and a heated manifold (40, 40, 40) including at least one cavity (64, 64, 64) formed therein and having an inlet (66, 66, 66) and an outlet (76, 76, 76), the inlet (66, 66, 66) communicating with the outlet (68, 163, 163) of the hopper (12, 151, 151) for receipt of the particles (56, 56, 56) from the hopper (12, 151, 151). The hopper (12, 151, 153) is disposed external o the heated manifold (40, 40, 40). The heated manifold (40, 40, 40) is effective for melting the particles (56, 56, 56) into molten thermoplastic material therein.