Patent ID: 8272537
Filing Date: 2012-09-25
Classification: G01F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for dispensing an adhesive contained within a cartridge, comprising: a valveless cartridge assembly including a housing with proximal and distal ends, an opening at said proximal end, and an outlet port for dispensing the adhesive at said distal end, said opening sized to receive the cartridge containing the adhesive therethrough and communicating with an interior space of said housing, said housing also including a first conduit extending distally from said interior space, a second conduit extending proximally to said outlet port, and a pump conduit directly coupled to and extending between said first and second conduits, said pump conduit being oriented transverse to said first and second conduits along an entire length of said pump conduit, a heating element for heating said housing sufficiently to maintain the adhesive in the cartridge in a molten state, and a metered dispensing device coupled to said valveless cartridge assembly and including a positive displacement pump located within said pump conduit in said housing and in fluid communication with said interior space and said outlet port for selectively dispensing the molten adhesive through said outlet port, said metered dispensing device also including a transmission rod for driving said positive displacement pump, said transmission rod extending out of said housing from said positive displacement pump, wherein said housing defines a central longitudinal axis at said opening, said first conduit, and said interior space, said second conduit is oriented generally parallel to said central longitudinal axis, and said transmission rod is oriented generally parallel to said central longitudinal axis of said housing.