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A new and improved gear pump assembly, and a new and improved hot melt adhesive dispensing assembly having a plurality of the new and improved gear pump assemblies incorporated therein, wherein each gear pump assembly is mounted upon the dispensing assembly in an entirely independent manner such tha

A new and improved gear pump assembly, and a new and improved hot melt adhesive dispensing assembly having a plurality of the new and improved gear pump assemblies incorporated therein, wherein each gear pump assembly is mounted upon the dispensing assembly in an entirely independent manner such that each gear pump assembly can be individually removed from the dispensing assembly, and replaced back onto the dispensing assembly, as may be necessary in connection with, for example, repair or maintenance procedures. The independence of each gear pump assembly also effectively prevents damage to or failure of one gear pump assembly from experiencing additional damage as well as from adversely affecting the operation of the other gear pump assemblies. Furthermore, in view of the fact that a driven gear of each gear pump assembly projects radially outwardly through an end face of the gear pump assembly so as to operatively engage a common drive shaft of the applicator assembly, as opposed to having the common drive shaft of the applicator assembly pass through side portions or faces of all of the gear pump assemblies, not only is the aforenoted independent mounting of the plurality of gear pump assemblies upon the dispensing assembly facilitated, but in addition, the need for all external rotary dynamic shaft seals, normally necessarily provided between the common drive shaft and one of the gear members of each gear pump assembly, is eliminated.

대표청구항 ▼

A new and improved gear pump assembly, and a new and improved hot melt adhesive dispensing assembly having a plurality of the new and improved gear pump assemblies incorporated therein, wherein each gear pump assembly is mounted upon the dispensing assembly in an entirely independent manner such tha

A new and improved gear pump assembly, and a new and improved hot melt adhesive dispensing assembly having a plurality of the new and improved gear pump assemblies incorporated therein, wherein each gear pump assembly is mounted upon the dispensing assembly in an entirely independent manner such that each gear pump assembly can be individually removed from the dispensing assembly, and replaced back onto the dispensing assembly, as may be necessary in connection with, for example, repair or maintenance procedures. The independence of each gear pump assembly also effectively prevents damage to or failure of one gear pump assembly from experiencing additional damage as well as from adversely affecting the operation of the other gear pump assemblies. Furthermore, in view of the fact that a driven gear of each gear pump assembly projects radially outwardly through an end face of the gear pump assembly so as to operatively engage a common drive shaft of the applicator assembly, as opposed to having the common drive shaft of the applicator assembly pass through side portions or faces of all of the gear pump assemblies, not only is the aforenoted independent mounting of the plurality of gear pump assemblies upon the dispensing assembly facilitated, but in addition, the need for all external rotary dynamic shaft seals, normally necessarily provided between the common drive shaft and one of the gear members of each gear pump assembly, is eliminated. m said tube, ii) a second ram for moving one said tube from a first position to a second position while preventing other tubes from interfering with said moving; d) an indexing assembly for controllably permitting one tube at a time to move in response to movement from said second ram; and, e) a controller for controlling said dispensing assembly. 2. An apparatus for dispensing objects, each object contained in a transport tube, comprising: a) a housing comprising a frame and a rollup access panel; b) a track assembly for holding a plurality of tubes, said track assembly comprising a pair of parallel spaced apart lengths of a rigid material arranged in a convoluted space; c) a dispensing assembly, comprising, i) a first ram for pushing one said object from said tube, said ram having a distal end terminating in a disk associated therewith, ii) a first powered cylinder for actuating said first ram; d) an advancing assembly for controllably permitting one tube at a time to advance to said dispensing assembly, comprising, i) a second ram having a distal end terminating in a curved section for holding a tube for moving one said tube from a first position to a second position along said track assembly; ii) a generally flat horizontal plate associated and reciprocating with said first ram for preventing tubes disposed above said dispensing assembly from prematurely entering said dispensing assembly when said first ram is extending; iii) a second powered cylinder for actuating said second ram, e) an indexing assembly for preventing movement of said tubes in a reverse direction, comprising, i) a first arm having a curved portion for releasably engaging a portion of a tube, ii) a second arm having a curved portion for releasably engaging a portion of a tube, iii) a rod connecting and maintaining said first and second arms in a generally parallel spaced apart relationship, iv) at least one rod in which said sleeve is rotatingly disposed, said at least one rod associated with said frame; f) at least one tube advancing assembly, comprising, i) a third ram, ii) a third powered cylinder, iii) a rocker bar having at least one third arm having a curved portion for releasably engaging a portion of a tube iv) at least one sleeve in which said rocker bar is at least partially disposed, v) a trough associated with said track assembly in which said rocker bar can reciprocatingly translate, g) means for controlling said dispensing assembly comprising a microprocessor; and, h) at least one sensor for detecting the presence of at least one of said objects. 00, Zwart, 166/217; US-4976322, 19901200, Abdrakhmanov et al., 175/057; US-4997320, 19910300, Hwang, 408/022; US-5014779, 19910500, Meling et al., 166/055.7; US-5052483, 19911000, Hudson, 166/055; US-5052849, 19911000, Zwart, 403/300; US-5156209, 19921000, McHardy, 166/324; US-5267613, 19931200, Zwart et al., 166/178; US-5271472, 19931200, Leturno, 175/107; US-5301760, 19940400, Graham, 175/061; US-5307879, 19940500, Kent, 166/382; US-5322127, 19940600, McNair et al., 166/313; US-5348095, 19940900, Worrall et al., 166/380; US-5366012, 19941100, Lohbeck, 166/277; US-5409059, 19950400, McHardy, 166/208;