Hot melt adhesive supply and methods associated therewith

Abstract

A melter melts particulate hot melt adhesive into a liquefied form. The melter includes a heated receiving device having an interior with an inlet that receives the particulate hot melt adhesive and an outlet. The heated receiving device melts the particulate hot melt adhesive and directs the liquified hot melt adhesive to the outlet. A prepackaged container holds a supply of the particulate hot melt adhesive and includes an outlet. A particulate hot melt adhesive feed device allows the particulate hot melt adhesive to be directed from the outlet of the prepackaged container to the inlet of the heated receiving device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A melter configured to melt particulate hot melt adhesive into a liquefied form, the melter comprising:
 a heated receiving device having an interior with an inlet configured to receive the particulate hot melt adhesive and an outlet, the heated receiving device operative to melt the particulate hot melt adhesive and direct the liquified hot melt adhesive to the outlet;   a prepackaged container holding a supply of the particulate hot melt adhesive and including an outlet; and   a particulate hot melt adhesive feed device allowing the particulate hot melt adhesive to be directed from the outlet of the prepackaged container to the inlet of the heated receiving device.   
     
     
         2 . The melter of  claim 1 , wherein the prepackaged container further comprises a flexible bag. 
     
     
         3 . The melter of  claim 1 , wherein the prepackaged container further comprises a rigid container. 
     
     
         4 . The melter of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover on the outlet of the prepackaged container, the cover capable of being opened for establishing a flow path for the particulate hot melt adhesive through the outlet of the prepackaged container. 
     
     
         5 . The melter of  claim 4 , wherein the cover further comprises a rupturable element. 
     
     
         6 . The melter of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a container mounting component positioned adjacent the heated receiving device, wherein the prepackaged container is directly connected to the container mounting component, and wherein the prepackaged container is configured to be connected to and disconnected from the container mounting component to allow removal of one prepackaged container and replacement by a different prepackaged container.   
     
     
         7 . The melter of  claim 1 , further comprising an articulation device comprising a driven element operative to move the particulate hot melt adhesive held in the prepackaged container. 
     
     
         8 . The melter of  claim 7 , wherein the articulation device moves the exterior of the prepackaged container to move the particulate hot melt adhesive held in the prepackaged container. 
     
     
         9 . A flexible hopper configured to hold a supply of particulate hot melt adhesive for use with a melter for heating and melting the particulate hot melt adhesive into a liquefied form, the flexible hopper comprising:
 at least one side wall defining an interior for holding the particulate hot melt adhesive, the side wall including at least a first section that can be moved relative to another section to move particulate adjacent to a wall of the flexible hopper toward a central interior location of the flexible hopper;   an outlet in communication with the interior; and   a coupling element configured to connect the outlet with a particulate hot melt adhesive feed device of the melter.   
     
     
         10 . The flexible hopper of  claim 9 , wherein the flexible hopper further comprises a prepackaged container. 
     
     
         11 . The flexible hopper of  claim 9 , wherein the flexible hopper further comprises a bag. 
     
     
         12 . The flexible hopper of  claim 9 , wherein the side wall further comprises a fabric. 
     
     
         13 . The flexible hopper of  claim 9 , further comprising particulate hot melt adhesive in the interior and a cover on the outlet, the cover configured to be opened for establishing a flow path for the particulate hot melt adhesive through the outlet. 
     
     
         14 . The flexible hopper of  claim 13 , wherein the cover further comprises a rupturable element. 
     
     
         15 . A method for heating and melting particulate hot melt adhesive into a liquefied form, the method comprising:
 holding a supply of the particulate hot melt adhesive in a first prepackaged container including a first outlet coupled in fluid communication with a pathway leading to an inlet of a heated receiving device;   feeding the particulate hot melt adhesive from the first outlet of the first prepackaged container through the inlet of the heated receiving device;   melting the particulate hot melt adhesive from the first prepackaged container in an interior of the heated receiving device;   directing liquefied hot melt adhesive from the interior of the heated receiving device to an outlet of the heated receiving device;   pumping the liquefied hot melt adhesive from the outlet to a hot melt adhesive dispenser;   removing the first prepackaged container from fluid communication with the pathway;   replacing the first prepackaged container with a second prepackaged container of particulate hot melt adhesive including a second outlet;   feeding the particulate hot melt adhesive from the second outlet of the second prepackaged container through the inlet of the heated receiving device;   melting the particulate hot melt adhesive from the second prepackaged container in an interior of the heated receiving device;   directing liquefied hot melt adhesive from the interior of the heated receiving device to an outlet of the heated receiving device; and   pumping the liquefied hot melt adhesive from the outlet to a hot melt adhesive dispenser.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second prepackaged containers further comprise flexible bags, and the method further comprises:
 opening respective first and second covers disposed over the first and second outlets either during or after coupling the first and second prepackaged containers, respectively, to a melter.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein opening the respective first and second covers disposed over the first and second outlets comprises rupturing respective first and second rupturable elements. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 feeding the particulate hot melt adhesive from the first outlet of the first prepackaged container comprises agitating the first prepackaged container; and   feeding the particulate hot melt adhesive from the second outlet of the second prepackaged container comprises agitating the second prepackaged container.