초록

A nozzle for dispensing molten thermoplastic material includes non-circular outlets spaced apart from one another in a predetermined pattern. The nozzle may be used to dispense patterns of adhesive that form closed geometric shapes, such as for use in making hermetic seals.

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1. A nozzle for dispensing molten adhesive, the nozzle comprising: a body including a fluid supply passage and a recess in fluid communication with said fluid supply passage, said fluid supply passage adapted to receive the molten adhesive, said recess defining an inner peripheral surface and a conf

1. A nozzle for dispensing molten adhesive, the nozzle comprising: a body including a fluid supply passage and a recess in fluid communication with said fluid supply passage, said fluid supply passage adapted to receive the molten adhesive, said recess defining an inner peripheral surface and a confronting surface;a nozzle plate disposed within said recess and including an upstream surface, a downstream surface, and a peripheral surface extending between said upstream and downstream surfaces, said upstream surface facing said confronting surface of said body;a plenum defined by said body and said nozzle plate and including a first portion between said upstream surface of said nozzle plate and said confronting surface of said body, said plenum being in fluid communication with said fluid supply passage;a plurality of spaced fluid discharge passages, each of said fluid discharge passages being in fluid communication with said plenum and including a non-circular outlet extending through said downstream surface, said non-circular outlets being spaced apart from one another in a predetermined pattern; anda shim plate disposed in said plenum, said shim plate including an inner portion and an outer portion including a plurality of peripherally spaced notches formed therein, said inner portion of said shim plate being disposed between said upstream surface of said nozzle plate and said confronting surface of said body, said outer portion of said shim plate being press fit between said inner peripheral surface of said body and said peripheral surface of said nozzle plate such that said spaced notches define said spaced fluid discharge passages,wherein said peripheral surface of said nozzle plate has a first shape and said inner peripheral surface of said body has a second shape that is complementary to said first shape, andwherein said nozzle plate further comprises a plurality of standoffs extending in an upstream direction from said upstream surface of said nozzle plate, said standoffs being in contacting engagement with said confronting surface of said body, said standoffs establishing a height of said first portion of said plenum. 2. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein said non-circular outlets comprise at least one of the following: a) generally rectangular slots, b) rectangular slots, or c) a combination thereof. 3. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein: said non-circular outlets further comprise generally rectangular slots; andsaid predetermined pattern comprises one of the following: a) a pattern with at least one curved side, or b) a pattern with at least one straight side. 4. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein: said predetermined pattern further comprises a closed geometric shape including at least one curved side; andsaid non-circular outlets include a plurality of generally rectangular slots for forming the curved side. 5. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein: said recess is a circular bore formed in said body and extends between a downstream surface of said body and said confronting surface of said body; andsaid confronting surface is round and said inner peripheral surface of said body is cylindrical. 6. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein said non-circular outlets are contained in a single plane. 7. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein said downstream surface of said nozzle plate defines a three-dimensional configuration such that said non-circular outlets are not coplanar. 8. Apparatus for dispensing molten comprising: a nozzle as set forth in claim 6; anda dispenser including a dispenser supply passage in fluid communication with the fluid supply passage of the nozzle. 9. A nozzle for dispensing molten adhesive, said nozzle comprising: a body including a fluid supply passage and a recess in fluid communication with said fluid supply passage, said fluid supply passage adapted to receive the molten adhesive, said recess defining an inner peripheral surface and a confronting surface;a nozzle plate disposed within said recess and including an upstream surface, a downstream surface, and a peripheral surface extending between said upstream and downstream surfaces, said upstream surface facing said confronting surface of said body;a plenum defined by said body and said nozzle plate and including a first portion between said upstream surface of said nozzle plate and said confronting surface of said body, said plenum being in fluid communication with said fluid supply passage; anda plurality of spaced fluid discharge passages, each of said fluid discharge passages being in fluid communication with said plenum and including a non-circular outlet extending through said downstream surface, said non-circular outlets being spaced apart from one another in a predetermined pattern,wherein said peripheral surface of said nozzle plate has a first shape and said inner peripheral surface of said body has a second shape that is complementary to said first shape, and said peripheral surface of said nozzle plate engages said inner peripheral surface of said body in a press fit, andwherein said downstream surface of said nozzle plate defines a three-dimensional configuration such that said non-circular outlets are not coplanar. 10. The nozzle of claim 9, wherein said nozzle plate further comprises a plurality of standoffs extending in an upstream direction from said upstream surface of said nozzle plate, said standoffs being in contacting engagement with said confronting surface of said body, said standoffs establishing a height of said first portion of said plenum. 11. The nozzle of claim 9, wherein said non-circular outlets comprise at least one of the following: a) generally rectangular slots, b) rectangular slots, or c) a combination thereof. 12. The nozzle of claim 9, wherein: said non-circular outlets further comprise generally rectangular slots; andsaid predetermined pattern comprises one of the following: a) a pattern with at least one curved side, or b) a pattern with at least one straight side. 13. The nozzle of claim 9, wherein: said predetermined pattern further comprises a closed geometric shape including at least one curved side; andsaid non-circular outlets include a plurality of generally rectangular slots for forming the curved side. 14. The nozzle of claim 9, wherein: said recess is a circular bore formed in said body and extends between a downstream surface of said body and said confronting surface of said body; andsaid confronting surface is round and said inner peripheral surface of said body is cylindrical. 15. The nozzle of claim 9, wherein: said peripheral surface of said nozzle plate includes a downstream portion and an upstream portion, said downstream portion engaging said inner peripheral surface of said body in a press fit, said upstream portion of said peripheral surface being spaced apart from said inner peripheral surface of said body thereby defining a second portion of said plenum therebetween. 16. The nozzle of claim 15, wherein said second portion of said plenum decreases in size from said first portion of said plenum toward said fluid discharge passages. 17. The nozzle of claim 9, wherein: said fluid discharge passages are defined by said body and said nozzle plate. 18. The nozzle of claim 17, wherein: said fluid discharge passages are peripherally spaced;said nozzle plate further comprises a plurality of peripherally spaced grooves formed therein, said grooves extending inward from said peripheral surface of said nozzle plate; andeach of said fluid discharge passages is defined by one of said grooves and said inner peripheral surface of said body.