Patent ID: 6983860

Claim:
A spreading head for spreading thermoplastic material on an intermediate component, comprising: at least one valve having a body with a needle movable therein and a cup; a first duct for feeding thermoplastic material in fluid state to said at least one valve; a second duct, connected in fluid communication to said cup, for spreading said thermoplastic material on a substrate, said needle being movable in said body between an open position allowing passage of thermoplastic material flow from said first duct to said second duct, and a closed position in which the needle interferes with said cup to arrest the thermoplastic material flow; and actuation and detection means for actuating and detecting selective positioning of said needle, said actuation and detection means comprising a first intake for injection of a pressurized actuation fluid to form an actuation fluid circuit and adapted to move said needle at least to the open position and at least one sensor, said at least one sensor comprising a pressure sensor arranged either connected to said first intake, or on the actuation fluid circuit upstream of said first intake, so as to sense the pressure of the pressurized actuation fluid and provide a confirmation of the position of the needle at least in the open condition.