초록 ▼

In a liquid dispensing system having a dispensing module and a manifold or service block, the manifold includes an vertically oriented interactive portion that extends, for example, outwardly from a front side and the dispensing module includes a correspondingly shaped interactive portion configured

In a liquid dispensing system having a dispensing module and a manifold or service block, the manifold includes an vertically oriented interactive portion that extends, for example, outwardly from a front side and the dispensing module includes a correspondingly shaped interactive portion configured to engage the manifold so that the dispensing module is automatically aligned. The increased surface area in contact between the module and manifold improves their sealing engagement and heat transfer with one another, reduces leakage, and permits increased operating pressures.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for dispensing liquid thermoplastic material comprising: a first component including a first side with a length adapted to be mounted vertically, and at least one passageway for receiving the liquid thermoplastic material, said passageway including an opening on

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for dispensing liquid thermoplastic material comprising: a first component including a first side with a length adapted to be mounted vertically, and at least one passageway for receiving the liquid thermoplastic material, said passageway including an opening on said first side and said first component further including a first interactive portion extending along said length and having a first undercut, said first interactive portion further adapted to cooperate with a second interactive portion and a second undercut extending vertically on a second component, said first component further including a transversely extending interactive portion that allows said vertically extending first and second interactive portions to be engaged with each other by moving at least one of the first and second components transversely relative to said length before engaging said undercuts together by moving at least one of the first and second components in a vertical direction. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first component is a gun manifold configured to carry a dispensing module on said first side. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising said second component, wherein said second component is a dispensing module. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein: said first component further comprises a first air port; and said second component further comprises a second air port; wherein, when said first and second interactive portions are in cooperation, said first air port communicates with said second air port. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first interactive portion is dovetail shaped. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first interactive portion is curvilinear in shape. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising fastening means for securing said first and second components together. 8. An apparatus for dispensing liquid thermoplastic material comprising: a first component including a first side with a length adapted to be mounted vertically, a first liquid port for receiving the liquid thermoplastic material, and a first interactive portion formed as a recess with a first undercut and a first transversely extending interactive portion, said recess and said first undercut extending along said length, and said first transversely extending interactive portion extending transversely to said recess, and a second component including a second side with a second length adapted to be mounted vertically, a second liquid port for receiving the liquid thermoplastic material, and a second interactive portion formed as a projection with a second undercut and a second transversely extending interactive portion, said projection and said second undercut extending along said second length, and said second transversely extending interactive portion extending transversely to said projection, wherein said first and second interactive portions may be engaged with each other by moving at least one of the first and second components transversely relative to said first and second lengths to engage said first and second transversely extending interactive portions before engaging said first and second undercuts together by movement in a vertical direction to align said first and second liquid ports. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first component is a gun manifold. 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said second component is a dispensing module. 11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein: said first component further includes a first air port, and said second component further includes a second air port, wherein, when said first and second interactive portions are in cooperation, said first air port communicates with said second air port. 12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first and second interactive portions are dovetail shaped. 13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first and second interactive portions are curvilinear in shape. 14. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising fastening means for securing said first and second components together. 15. A method for attaching a first component of a liquid thermoplastic material dispenser to a second component of the liquid thermoplastic material dispenser comprising the steps of: providing a first component including a first side with a first liquid port for receiving the liquid thermoplastic material and a first interactive portion formed as a recess with a first undercut and a first transversely extending interactive portion, providing a second component including a second side with a second liquid port for receiving the liquid thermoplastic material and a second interactive portion formed as a projection with a second undercut and a second transversely extending interactive portion, engaging the first and second transversely extending interactive portions by moving at least one of the first and second components toward the other in a first direction, engaging the recess and first undercut of the first component with the projection and second undercut of the second component by moving at least one of the first and second components in a second direction transverse to the first direction, aligning the first and second liquid ports in fluid communication with each other; and fastening the first component to the second component. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first side further includes a first air port and the second side further includes a second air port, and the method further comprises: aligning the first and second air ports in fluid communication with each other. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein engaging the recess of the first component with the projection of the second component further comprises: engaging a first dovetail surface with a second dovetail surface of complementary shape. 18. The method of claim 15, wherein engaging the recess of the first component with the projection of the second component further comprises: engaging a first curvilinear surface with a second curvilinear surface of complementary shape. 19. The method of claim 15, wherein one of the first and second components is a dispensing module and the other of the first and second components is a manifold.