Patent ID: 8474660

Claim:
An apparatus for dispensing an adhesive, comprising: a dispensing module having a liquid inlet, a liquid passage in communication with said liquid inlet, an outlet in communication with said liquid passage to define a flow path from said liquid inlet to said outlet, a valve seat located in said flow path, and a valve element movable within said liquid passage into and out of engagement with said valve seat to selectively allow and prevent flow of the adhesive through said outlet; a liquid supply component coupled to said dispensing module and having a supply passage for directing adhesive to said liquid inlet, said liquid supply component being constructed as a component independent from said dispensing module; and an actuating assembly, comprising: a housing at least partially received in said liquid supply component, said housing constructed as a component independent from said dispensing module, said housing including a piston chamber and a piston configured to reciprocate within said piston chamber along a piston axis, said piston being operatively coupled to said valve element; and a three-way solenoid valve operatively coupled to said housing and configured to operate said piston, said solenoid valve having an inlet port for receiving pressurized air, a first outlet port continuously communicating with said inlet port, a second outlet port selectively communicating with said inlet port, and an exhaust port selectively communicating with said second outlet port.