Patent ID: 7776173

Claim:
A system for dispensing adhesive, comprising: (a) a dispenser having a housing, wherein the dispenser further includes: (i) a drive mechanism, and wherein the drive mechanism further includes: (A) an actuator for actuating the dispenser; and (B) a drive bar adapted to cooperate with the actuator, wherein the drive bar further includes: a) a first toothed portion, b) a second toothed portion, and c) a protrusion formed near the front end of the drive bar; (C) a drive wheel assembly, wherein the drive wheel assembly further includes: a drive wheel adapted to mechanically engage the second toothed portion of drive bar and mechanical means for limiting reverse rotation of the drive wheel when the dispenser is in use, and wherein the drive wheel further includes a plurality of tractive pins, (D) a first biasing member disposed between the actuator and the drive bar, and a second biasing member disposed between the drive bar and a portion of the housing; and (ii) a supply wheel assembly mounted within the housing, wherein the supply wheel assembly further includes: a supply wheel adapted to receive a quantity of discrete units of adhesive releasably deposited on a substrate, and mechanical means for limiting reverse rotation of the supply wheel when the dispenser is in use, and wherein the mechanical means for limiting reverse rotation of the supply wheel further includes a plurality of ratchet teeth formed on the supply wheel and a first latch mounted with the housing, wherein the first latch cooperates with the protrusion on the drive bar; (iii) a take-up wheel assembly mounted within the housing, wherein the take-up wheel assembly further includes: a take-wheel adapted to mechanically engage the first toothed portion of the drive bar and further adapted to receive the substrate following deposition of a discrete unit of adhesive, and mechanical means for limiting reverse rotation of the take-up wheel when the dispenser is in use, and wherein the mechanical means for limiting reverse rotation of the take-up wheel further includes a plurality of ratchet teeth formed on the take-up wheel and a second latch mounted with the housing; and (b) the quantity of discrete units of adhesive releasably deposited on a substrate, wherein the substrate is mounted on the supply wheel within the dispenser, and wherein the substrate further includes means for cooperating with the tractive pins on the drive wheel to advance the substrate a substantially fixed, predetermined distance upon actuation of the dispenser.