Patent ID: 6039217
Filing Date: 2000-03-21
Classification: B05C,B29B

Abstract:
Thermoplastic material melting and dispensing apparatus comprising:a hopper having an open upper end for receiving thermoplastic material to be melted and a lower end including a thermoplastic material outlet for discharging melted thermoplastic material,a heating element disposed generally at the lower end of the hopper for melting the thermoplastic material,a lid mounted adjacent the open end of the hopper and movable between an open position suitable for loading the thermoplastic material into the hopper and a closed position for melting and dispensing the thermoplastic material, andpressure release structure connected with the lid and operative to allow movement of at least a portion of the lid to a venting position to release a build-up of gas pressure from within the hopper, anda gas purging system, wherein the gas purging system comprises:a gas inlet and a gas outlet communicating with an air space in an upper interior portion of the hopper, anda pressure sensing device connected to the gas outlet for sensing a pressure of the gas with the upper interior portion of the hopper.