초록 ▼

A buffer unit is configured to store and transfer adhesive particulate to at least one adhesive melter. The buffer unit includes a buffer bin defining an interior space configured to hold a bulk supply of adhesive particulate with an agitator plate positioned within the housing at a non-horizontal o

A buffer unit is configured to store and transfer adhesive particulate to at least one adhesive melter. The buffer unit includes a buffer bin defining an interior space configured to hold a bulk supply of adhesive particulate with an agitator plate positioned within the housing at a non-horizontal orientation. A vibration generating mechanism is coupled to the agitator plate so that vibration is transmitted into the adhesive particulate to form a flow of fluidized adhesive particulate which flows toward at least one pump inlet. The buffer unit breaks up clumps of coalesced adhesive particulate to avoid clogging the pump inlet, while also ensuring that all adhesive particulate in the buffer bin can be removed at the pump inlet. Additionally, makeup air used by pumps to generate vacuum at the pump inlet does not need to be drawn through the entire bulk supply of adhesive particulate.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A buffer unit configured to store and transfer adhesive particulate to an adhesive melter, the buffer unit comprising: a buffer bin defined by a housing including a bottom wall and a sidewall extending from said bottom wall to form an interior space;an agitator plate positioned within said buffer

1. A buffer unit configured to store and transfer adhesive particulate to an adhesive melter, the buffer unit comprising: a buffer bin defined by a housing including a bottom wall and a sidewall extending from said bottom wall to form an interior space;an agitator plate positioned within said buffer bin so as to be angled from a horizontal orientation, said agitator plate including an upper end operatively coupled to said sidewall and a bottom end operatively coupled to said bottom wall, said agitator plate dividing said interior space into a lower chamber portion and an upper chamber portion configured to receive a bulk supply of adhesive particulate;a vibration generating mechanism operatively coupled to said agitator plate and configured to selectively vibrate said agitator plate to produce a relative motion between said agitator plate and the bulk supply of adhesive particulate, the relative motion configured to agitate the bulk supply to generate a flow of fluidized adhesive particulate which moves towards said bottom end of said agitator plate;a pump inlet chamber located in said buffer bin proximate to said bottom end of said agitator plate, said pump inlet chamber configured to receive the flow of fluidized adhesive particulate moving towards said bottom end to be transferred to the adhesive melter; anda flow control element defining a gap for communication of adhesive particulate from said upper chamber portion to said pump inlet chamber, said gap controlling the flow of adhesive particulate to avoid flooding said pump inlet chamber. 2. The buffer unit of claim 1, said buffer bin including a top opening configured to provide an inlet for the adhesive particulate to be delivered into said interior space, and said buffer bin further including a lid pivotally coupled to said housing and configured to selectively open and close access to said interior space through said top opening. 3. The buffer unit of claim 1, further comprising: a platform operatively coupled to said bottom wall of said buffer bin, said platform supporting said buffer bin on a floor surface; anda lift mechanism connecting said platform to said bottom wall, said lift mechanism operating to move said buffer bin upwardly relative to said platform to selectively engage a mobile bin configured to refill said upper chamber portion with the adhesive particulate. 4. The buffer unit of claim 3, said lift mechanism further comprising: at least one compression spring extending between said bottom wall of said buffer bin and said platform, said at least one compression spring biasing said buffer bin to move upwardly away from said platform; andan air cylinder connected to said bottom wall of said buffer bin and said platform, said air cylinder being actuated to move said buffer bin downwardly toward said platform against the bias of said at least one compression spring. 5. The buffer unit of claim 1, said vibration generating mechanism being located within said lower chamber portion such that said vibration generating mechanism is isolated from the adhesive particulate. 6. The buffer unit of claim 1, said sidewall of said buffer bin including a front side defining an outlet for the adhesive particulate at said pump inlet chamber, said sidewall including a rear side opposite said front side, and said buffer bin further comprises a support bracket coupled with said rear side of said sidewall at a position above said bottom wall, said support bracket engaging said upper end of said agitator plate to support said agitator plate at an angle from a horizontal orientation, the angle configured to promote flow of fluidized adhesive particulate toward said outlet. 7. The buffer unit of claim 6, said agitator plate defining a periphery with a resilient cushion surrounding said periphery, said resilient cushion configured to prevent leakage of adhesive particulate into said lower chamber portion and also dampening transmission of vibrations from said vibration generating mechanism to said sidewall and said bottom wall. 8. The buffer unit of claim 1, wherein said flow control element comprises a flow control plate, said flow control plate coupled to said sidewall and including a leading end spaced apart from said agitator plate by said gap. 9. The buffer unit of claim 8, said flow control plate being angled transversely to said agitator plate to collectively define a funnel shape leading toward said gap. 10. The buffer unit of claim 8, said flow control plate including an adjustable gate portion defining said leading end, said adjustable gate portion moveably mounted to a remainder of said flow control plate to adjust a size of said gap. 11. The buffer unit of claim 8, said agitator plate including a plurality of pins projecting upwardly into said upper chamber portion proximate said flow control plate, said plurality of pins transferring vibrations from said vibration generating mechanism into the bulk supply of adhesive particulate to encourage breaking up of any coalesced clumps of the adhesive particulate in the bulk supply before such clumps could flow through said gap into said pump inlet chamber. 12. The buffer unit of claim 11, said plurality of pins including multiple rows of pins, with said pins increasing in length in said rows closer to said gap, said pins in each said row of pins being positioned laterally offset from said pins in adjacent rows of pins such that the fluidized adhesive particulate flows adjacent to at least one of said plurality of pins to break up clumps before passing through said gap and into said pump inlet chamber. 13. The buffer unit of claim 8, further comprising: at least one pneumatic transfer pump coupled to said pump inlet chamber, said at least one pneumatic transfer pump configured to remove the adhesive particulate from said pump inlet chamber and deliver the adhesive particulate to the adhesive melter. 14. The buffer unit of claim 13, wherein said sidewall of said buffer bin comprises air vents located between said flow control plate and said at least one pneumatic transfer pump, said air vents providing makeup gas to said at least one pneumatic transfer pump without requiring the makeup gas to travel through the bulk supply of adhesive particulate in said upper chamber portion. 15. The buffer unit of claim 14, further comprising: a divider plate located within said pump inlet chamber and extending between said flow control plate and said sidewall to divide said pump inlet chamber into an air channel communicating with said air vents and an adhesive outlet portion communicating with said gap and said pump inlet chamber. 16. The buffer unit of claim 15, further comprising: a filter covering a flow path through said divider plate between said air channel and said adhesive outlet portion, said filter configured to prevent adhesive particulate from entering and blocking said air channel and said filter configured to prevent contamination of adhesive with air drawn through said air channel and said air vents by said at least one pneumatic transfer pump. 17. A method of transferring adhesive particulate to an adhesive melter with a buffer unit including a buffer bin defining an interior space, an agitator plate positioned within the buffer bin at a non-horizontal orientation, a vibration generating mechanism coupled to the agitator plate, a pump inlet chamber including at least one pump inlet and communicating with the interior space, the pump inlet chamber configured to receive a flow of fluidized adhesive particulate and coupled with at least one pneumatic transfer pump, and a flow control element defining a gap for communication of adhesive particulate from the interior space to the pump inlet chamber, the method comprising: storing a bulk supply of adhesive particulate within the interior space of the buffer bin such that the agitator plate engages a lower surface of the bulk supply;generating vibrations at the agitator plate with the vibration generating mechanism to agitate the lower surface of the bulk supply and produce a flow of fluidized adhesive particulate;guiding the flow of adhesive particulate along the non-horizontal orientation of the agitator plate to the at least one pump inlet;forcing the flow of adhesive particulate through the gap to control an amount of the flow of adhesive particulate that is delivered at once to the pump inlet chamber and the at least one pump inlet; andremoving adhesive particulate from the buffer bin through the at least one pump inlet with the at least one pneumatic transfer pump, for delivery to the adhesive melter. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the buffer bin includes a lid and a top opening defining an inlet for adhesive particulate when the lid is open, and the method further comprises: opening the lid to provide access into the interior space of the buffer bin via the top opening; andrefilling the interior space with adhesive particulate when the buffer bin runs low on the bulk supply of adhesive particulate. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein refilling the interior space further comprises: engaging the buffer bin with a mobile bin containing an additional supply of adhesive particulate; andtransferring adhesive particulate from the mobile bin through the top opening into the buffer bin. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the buffer unit further includes a platform and a lift mechanism operatively coupling the platform and the buffer bin, and engaging the buffer bin with the mobile bin further comprises: actuating the lift mechanism to push the buffer bin upwardly away from the platform and into contact with the mobile bin. 21. The method of claim 17, wherein the buffer bin includes a bottom wall and the agitator plate includes a bottom end positioned adjacent the bottom wall and the at least one pump inlet, and removing adhesive particulate further comprises: operating the pneumatic transfer pump and the vibration generating mechanism until all of the adhesive particulate held within the buffer bin flows to the at least one pump inlet and is removed by the pneumatic transfer pump for delivery to the adhesive melter. 22. The method of claim 17, further comprising: adjusting a position of the flow control element to modify a size of the gap and thus control the flow of adhesive particulate into the pump inlet chamber. 23. The method of claim 17, wherein the buffer bin includes air vents located between the flow control element and the at least one pump inlet, and the method further comprises: drawing makeup gas through the air vents to replace air removed by operation of the at least one pneumatic transfer pump, the makeup gas not being forced to travel through the bulk supply of adhesive particulate. 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising: filtering the makeup gas drawn through the air vents with a filter before the makeup gas is delivered to the at least one pump inlet; andblocking the adhesive particulate from flowing to the air vents with the filter to avoid blockages of the air vents with the adhesive particulate. 25. The method of claim 17, wherein the agitator plate includes a plurality of pins projecting upwardly into the bulk supply of adhesive particulate, and the method further comprises: transmitting vibrations from the vibration generating mechanism and the agitator plate into the bulk supply of adhesive particulate using the plurality of pins, thereby breaking up any clumps of coalesced adhesive particulate before the clumps can pass through the gap and into the pump inlet chamber. 26. A fill system configured to store and transfer adhesive particulate to an adhesive melter, the fill system comprising: a storage container configured to contain a bulk supply of adhesive particulate;a separating element positioned proximate a bottom end of said storage container, said separating element configured to engage a surface of the bulk supply and configured to move relative to the surface to separate adhesive particulate from the bulk supply and generate a flow of fluidized adhesive particulate, at least a portion of which moves out of said storage container for transfer to the adhesive melter;a drive coupled to at least one of said storage container or said separating element, said drive operable to create the relative motion between said separating element and the surface of the bulk supply;a pump inlet chamber communicating with said storage container and configured to receive the flow of fluidized adhesive particulate that has been generated by said separating element;at least one pump communicating with said pump inlet chamber and configured to remove the flow of fluidized adhesive particulate from said pump inlet chamber and deliver the flow of fluidized adhesive particulate to the adhesive melter; anda flow control element defining a gap for communication of adhesive particulate from said storage container to said pump inlet chamber, said gap controlling the flow of adhesive particulate to avoid flooding said pump inlet chamber. 27. The fill system of claim 26, wherein a flow path is provided at the fill system for makeup gas drawn into said pump inlet chamber by said at least one pump, the flow path not requiring air flow through the bulk supply of adhesive particulate. 28. The fill system of claim 26, wherein: said storage container includes a sidewall;said separating element is defined by an agitator plate positioned to form at least a portion of said bottom end of said storage container; andsaid drive is defined by a vibration generating mechanism operatively coupled to said agitator plate and configured to selectively vibrate said agitator plate to generate the relative motion between said agitator plate and the surface of the bulk supply. 29. The fill system of claim 28, wherein said agitator plate is insulated from direct contact with said sidewall such that vibrations from said vibration generating mechanism are transferred primarily to the bulk supply of adhesive particulate. 30. The fill system of claim 28, wherein: the fill system comprises a buffer bin including said agitator plate, said vibration generating mechanism, and a housing including a bottom wall and said sidewall of said storage container so as to form an interior space including said storage container;said agitator plate is positioned within said housing so as to be angled from a horizontal orientation, said agitator plate including an upper end operatively coupled to said sidewall and a bottom end operatively coupled to said bottom wall, said agitator plate dividing said interior space into a lower chamber portion and an upper chamber portion, with said storage container located in said upper chamber portion;the flow of fluidized adhesive particulate generated by selective vibration of said agitator plate moves towards said bottom end of said agitator plate during the selective vibration; andsaid buffer bin further comprises at least one pump inlet located in said housing proximate to said bottom end of said agitator plate, each pump inlet configured to receive the flow of fluidized adhesive particulate moving towards said bottom end to be transferred to the adhesive melter. 31. A method of storing and moving adhesive particulate to an adhesive melter using a transfer pump with a pump inlet communicating with a pump inlet chamber operatively coupled with a storage container, the method comprising: receiving a bulk supply of the adhesive particulate in the storage container;generating a flow of fluidized adhesive particulate at the bulk supply of the adhesive particulate such that the flow of fluidized adhesive particulate moves into the pump inlet chamber;controlling the flow of fluidized adhesive particulate moving into the pump inlet chamber to prevent flooding of the pump inlet chamber with the adhesive particulate, thereby maintaining an open space within the pump inlet chamber proximate the pump inlet, the open space configured to contain gas to be drawn by the transfer pump; andactuating the transfer pump to generate a vacuum at the pump inlet to cause removal of the adhesive particulate from the pump inlet chamber for delivery to the adhesive melter. 32. The method of claim 31, wherein controlling the flow of fluidized adhesive particulate moving into the pump inlet chamber further comprises: forcing the flow of fluidized adhesive particulate to move through a gap limiting communication between the pump inlet chamber and the storage container, the gap preventing a flow that would flood the pump inlet chamber with adhesive particulate. 33. The method of claim 32, wherein controlling the flow of fluidized adhesive particulate moving into the pump inlet chamber further comprises: adjusting a metering of the flow of fluidized adhesive particulate into the pump inlet chamber by at least one of adjusting a size of the gap and selectively agitating the bulk supply of the adhesive particulate to generate the flow of fluidized adhesive particulate. 34. The method of claim 31, wherein the pump inlet chamber includes an air channel proximate the pump inlet defining at least a portion of the open space, and controlling the flow of fluidized adhesive particulate moving into the pump inlet chamber further comprises: blocking flow of the adhesive particulate into the air channel to avoid forcing the transfer pump during actuation to draw make-up gas through the bulk supply of the adhesive particulate. 35. The method of claim 31, wherein generating the flow of fluidized adhesive particulate further comprises: agitating the bulk supply of the adhesive particulate at the storage container to break apart clumps of stuck together adhesive particulate and thereby fluidize the adhesive particulate before flow into the pump inlet chamber.