초록 ▼

In a liquid dispensing system having a dispensing module and a gun manifold, the gun manifold includes a shelf portion that extends outwardly from its front face and the dispensing module includes a correspondingly shaped aperture configured to engage the shelf portion so that the dispensing module

In a liquid dispensing system having a dispensing module and a gun manifold, the gun manifold includes a shelf portion that extends outwardly from its front face and the dispensing module includes a correspondingly shaped aperture configured to engage the shelf portion so that the dispensing module rests, or hangs, on the gun manifold without being held into place. From this position, the module can be easily and readily attached to the manifold. The shelf and aperture have complementary shapes and can be keyed so as to require the mating of the manifold and module in only one orientation. Additionally, an adaptor can be provided between the module and manifold so that smooth face manifolds and modules can still be coupled to corresponding manifolds and modules having shelves or apertures.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for dispensing liquid thermoplastic material comprising: a first component including a first side 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

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for dispensing liquid thermoplastic material comprising: a first component including a first side 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 surface on said first side and configured as one of a recessed portion extending only partially into said first component and spaced from said opening or a projecting portion configured to extend only partially into a second component and spaced from said opening, said first interactive surface adapted to cooperate with a second interactive surface on the second component and thereby capable of either at least partially supporting said first component on the second component or at least partially supporting the second component on said first component. 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 including a second interactive surface complementary to said first interactive surface and configured such that said first interactive surface and said second interactive surface cooperate so that said dispensing module is at least partially supported on said gun manifold. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first component is a dispensing module including a valve for selectively dispensing the liquid thermoplastic material. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first interactive surface is asymmetrically shaped such that the first and second interactive surfaces cooperate for self-supporting one of said first and second components on the other of said first and second components when said first component is oriented in a first orientation and said first and second interactive surfaces do not cooperate for self-supporting one of said first and second components on the other of said first and second components when said first component is oriented in a second orientation opposite to said first orientation. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising said second component having a second interactive surface, and wherein said first interactive surface and said second interactive surface cooperate so that said first component is self-supported on said second component. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, 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 surfaces are in cooperation, said first air port communicates with said second air port. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein: said first interactive surface includes asymmetrically curved surfaces such that the first and second interactive surfaces cooperate only when said first air port is aligned with said second air port. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said asymmetrically curved surfaces further comprise opposed curvilinear surfaces having different radii of curvature. 10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said first interactive surface and said second interactive surface further cooperate to align said first and second air ports. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first component is an adaptor configured to be positioned generally between a dispensing module and a manifold. 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first interactive surface further comprises opposed curvilinear surfaces defining a recessed space therebetween for receiving a projecting portion at least partially defined by the second interactive surface. 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first interactive surface further comprises opposite curvilinear surfaces defining a projecting portion therebetween, said projecting portion configured to be received in a recessed space at least partially defined by the second interactive surface. 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said recessed portion and said projecting portion are each generally bow-tie shaped. 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said recessed portion and said projecting portion have shapes selected from the group consisting of: (a) a rectangle, (b) a plurality of angled surface portions, (c) a generally rectangular shape with opposed curved portions, and (d) a dove-tail. 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first interactive surface further comprises a projecting portion having a first undercut forming a first lip. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a second undercut forming a second lip in opposed relation to said first lip. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said first and second lips have opposed, chamfered surfaces. 19. An apparatus for dispensing liquid thermoplastic material comprising: a first component comprising a first face, said first face including a first interactive surface formed as a recessed portion extending only partially into said first component, and a first liquid port spaced from said first interactive surface, and a second component comprising a second face, said second face including a second interactive surface complementary to said first interactive surface and a second liquid port, said second interactive surface formed as a projecting portion, wherein said recessed portion and said projecting portion cooperate to align said first and second liquid ports and to at least partially support one of said first and second components on the other of said first and second components. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said first component is a gun manifold. 21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said second component is a dispensing module. 22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said first component is a dispensing module. 23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said second component is a gun manifold. 24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said first and second interactive surfaces are asymmetrically shaped such that the first and second interactive surfaces cooperate for self-supporting one of said first and second components on the other of said first and second components when said first component is oriented in a first orientation and said first and second interactive surfaces do not cooperate for self-supporting one of said first and second components on the second components when said first component is oriented in a second orientation opposite to said first orientation. 25. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said first interactive surface and said second interactive surface cooperate so that said first component is self-supported on said second component. 26. The apparatus of claim 19, 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 surfaces are in cooperation, said first air port communicates with said second air port. 27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein: said first interactive surface is asymmetrically shaped such that the first and second interactive surfaces cooperate only when said first liquid port is aligned with said second liquid port. 28. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein one of said first and second components is an adaptor configured to be positioned generally between a dispensing module and a manifold. 29. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein: said recessed portion is defined between a first set of curvilinear surfaces, and said projecting portion is defined between a second set of curvilinear surfaces. 30. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said recessed portion and said projecting portion are each generally bow-tie shaped. 31. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said recessed portion and said projecting portion have shapes selected from the group consisting of: (a) a rectangle, (b) a plurality of angled surface portions, (c) a generally rectangular shape with opposed curved portions, and (d) a dove-tail. 32. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said recessed portion and said projecting portion include mating undercuts and associated lips for self-supporting one of said first and second components on the other of said first and second components. 33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said lips have opposed, chamfered surfaces. 34. A method for attaching a first component of a liquid thermoplastic material dispenser to a second component of the liquid thermoplastic material dispenser, the first component including a first face having a recessed portion extending only partially into the first component, the second component including a second face having a projecting portion complementary to the recessed portion and configured such that the recessed portion and the projecting portion cooperate, and the first and second faces further having respective first and second liquid ports therein, wherein the first liquid port is spaced from the recessed portion, the method comprising: at least partially supporting one of the first and second components on the other of the first and second components by engaging the recessed portion of the first component with the projecting portion of the second component; aligning the first and second liquid ports in fluid communication with each other; and fastening the first component to the second component using a separate fastener. 35. The method of claim 34, wherein at least partially supporting one of the first and second components on the other of the first and second components further comprises hanging one of the first component and second components on the other of the first and second components. 36. The method of claim 34, wherein at least partially supporting one of the first and second components on the other of the first and second components further comprises fully self-supporting one of the first component and second components on the other of the first and second components. 37. The method of claim 34, wherein the first face further includes a first air port and the second face further includes a second air port, and the method further comprises: aligning the first and second air ports in fluid communication with each other. 38. The method of claim 34, wherein engaging the recessed portion of the first component with the projecting portion of the second component further comprises: engaging a first curvilinear surface with a second curvilinear surface of complementary shape. 39. The method of claim 34, wherein the first and second components are two different components selected from the group consisting of: a dispensing module, a manifold, and an adaptor for coupling the dispensing module and the manifold.