Patent ID: 9302857
Filing Date: 2016-04-05
CPC Classification: B05C,B05D,B65G

Claim Text:
1. A hot melt dispensing system comprising: a supply hopper for storing adhesive pellets, said supply hopper including a collector portion defining a lowermost surface of said supply hopper; a transfer pump for transporting adhesive pellets from said supply hopper, said transfer pump comprising a venturi pump including a second air nozzle for creating a low pressure zone in said transfer pump for inducing flow of adhesive pellets from said supply hopper into said transfer pump; and said transfer pump further comprising a pump housing with an adhesive inlet positioned substantially at said lowermost surface of said supply hopper and at an angle relative to a horizontal orientation of said lowermost surface; and a first air nozzle positioned with respect to said adhesive inlet of said transfer pump for applying a flow of air for agitating the adhesive pellets and moving the adhesive pellets toward said adhesive inlet, said first air nozzle comprising an outlet aimed towards said adhesive inlet of said transfer pump, wherein said outlet of said first air nozzle is positioned upstream of said adhesive inlet of said transfer pump, said pump housing further including an adhesive outlet configured to be coupled to an outlet hose leading to an adhesive melter, and an adhesive passage located between said adhesive inlet and said adhesive outlet, said adhesive passage defining a passage axis and a passage periphery; said first air nozzle being configured to expel a first air jet in a direction generally along said passage axis to push pellets of adhesive through said adhesive passage; and said second air nozzle communicating with said adhesive passage between said adhesive inlet and said adhesive outlet, said second air nozzle configured to expel a plurality of second air jets in a direction generally along said passage periphery to draw pellets of adhesive through said adhesive passage with a vacuum force formed at said low pressure zone, wherein said supply hopper and said pump housing collectively define a device footprint including a device depth, and said passage axis is angled from a horizontal direction to reduce said device depth and thereby minimize said device footprint.