Slot nozzle for adhesive applicators

Abstract

To provide coating assemblies which dispense fluid materials onto substrates.SOLUTION: A nozzle assembly includes: a first body having an upper and an inner surface; a first channel in the first body to receive a material; a second body having an upper and an inner surface; a second channel in the second body which is in liquid communication with the first channel and configured to receive the material from the first channel; a material outlet defined by the first and second bodies configured to discharge the material; a material inlet on the upper surface of the first body which is in liquid communication with the first channel and configured to receive the material into the nozzle assembly; and an upper lip extending from the first body toward the second body and partly defined by the upper surface of the first body. The upper lip includes a lip surface opposite the upper surface of the first body. The upper surface of the second body is configured to contact the lip surface of the upper lip.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical field

[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to a coating assembly for dispensing flowable material onto a substrate and, in particular, to an improved nozzle assembly for use with the coating assembly. [Background technology]

[0002] Various applicator systems have been used in the past to apply patterns of viscous liquid materials, such as hot melt adhesives, onto moving substrates. In the production of disposable diapers, incontinence pads and similar articles, hot melt adhesive applicator systems have been developed to apply a laminate or adhesive layer of hot melt thermoplastic adhesive between, for example, a nonwoven fibrous layer and a thin polyethylene backsheet. It has been. In some existing systems, a hot melt adhesive applicator system is mounted above the moving polyethylene backsheet layer to apply a uniform pattern of hot melt adhesive across the top surface width of the backsheet substrate. Downstream of the applicator system, the nonwoven layer is laminated to the polyethylene layer through a pressure nip before further processing into the final ready-to-use product. [Outline of the invention] [Problems to be solved by the invention]

[0003] The application of materials onto various substrates can be controlled to have desired parameters. Such control can be performed by adjusting the dispensing nozzle that ejects the material toward the substrate. During adjustment of the nozzle, components of the nozzle may be displaced relative to other components of the nozzle or other components of the applicator assembly. Such displacement can have undesirable effects on the dispensed material and / or the dispensing process.

[0004] Accordingly, a need exists for an improved nozzle assembly that can be adjusted without undesirably affecting the dispensed material. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] This need is met by various embodiments of the disclosed nozzle assemblies. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a nozzle assembly for use with an applicator to apply material to a substrate includes a first body having a top surface and an inner surface angularly offset from the top surface; a first channel extending through the body of and configured to receive material therein; a second body having a top surface and an inner surface angularly offset from the top surface; , a second channel in fluid communication with the first channel and configured to receive material therein from the first channel; and a first body and a second body for discharging material from the nozzle assembly. a material inlet defined on the top surface of the first body and in fluid communication with the first channel and configured to receive material within the nozzle assembly; an upper lip extending from toward the second body and partially defined by the top surface of the first body and including a lip surface facing the top surface of the first body. A top surface of the second body is configured to contact a lip surface of an upper lip of the first body.

[0006] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an applicator assembly for dispensing material onto a substrate includes a housing, a dispensing assembly configured to receive material therein, and a material from the dispensing assembly at a material inlet. and a nozzle assembly configured to receive the material and eject the material through the material outlet. The nozzle assembly includes a first body having a top surface and an inner surface angularly offset from the top surface, a first channel extending through the first body and configured to receive material therein, and a top surface. and a second body having an inner surface angularly offset from the top surface; and extending through the second body and in fluid communication with the first channel and configured to internally receive material from the first channel. and a second channel extending from the first body toward the second body and partially defined by the top surface of the first body and including a lip surface facing the top surface of the first body. including. A material outlet is defined by the first body and the second body. A material inlet is defined on the top surface of the first body and in fluid communication with the first channel. A top surface of the second body is configured to contact a lip surface of an upper lip of the first body. The housing includes a first wall extending from the housing and a second wall extending from the housing spaced from the first wall, the housing defining a space between the first wall and the second wall. . A nozzle assembly is configured to be received within a space defined between the first wall and the second wall.

[0007] The present application will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Although the drawings depict exemplary aspects of the present subject matter for the purpose of illustrating the subject matter, the disclosed subject matter is not limited to the particular methods, apparatus and systems disclosed. [Brief description of the drawing]

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION Aspects of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout unless otherwise specified.

[0010] Certain consumables (e.g., diapers, sanitary napkins, pads, other sanitary products, and / or the like) are manufactured by depositing one or more flowable materials on a substrate to form each consumable. can form part of a product. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, processing, heating, extruding and / or the like of flowable material onto substrate 12 may be performed by applicator assembly 10 . Applicator assembly 10 may include a gun body or housing 14 configured to house one or more dispensing assemblies 34 and one or more nozzle assemblies 50 therein or thereon. The applicator assembly 10 may include a heater 11 (shown in dashed lines in FIGS. 10A and 10B) for transferring heat to the material flowing through the applicator assembly 10 . Applicator assembly 10 may include a controller (not shown) that controls operation of one or more components of applicator assembly 10 . Each dispense assembly 34 may include a dispense head 42 configured to receive material from a material source (not shown) and dispense the material into nozzle assembly 50 according to predetermined dispense parameters. Dispensing by dispense head 42 may be controlled by control assembly 38 operably connected to dispense head 42 . Control assembly 38 may include a solenoid controller.

[0011] Materials dispensed from one or more dispensing assemblies 34 can be received within the connected nozzle assembly 50 . This material can then be moved through nozzle assembly 50 and dispensed onto substrate 12 . Substrate 12 may be sheets, webs, strands, and / or the like. In some embodiments, the substrate 12 can be configured to move relative to the nozzle assembly 50 as material is being deposited onto the substrate 12 . In some embodiments, the substrate 12 can contact at least a portion of the nozzle assembly 50 while the material is being deposited.

[0012] This disclosure refers to various axes and orientations for the described components. It should be understood that the described coordinates are for reference purposes only, and that the present disclosure is not limited to the particular axes, directions or planes described. A first axis A is defined as extending substantially along the direction of material flow as the material travels through the nozzle assembly 50 . In some embodiments, the flow direction, and thus the first axis A, can be substantially perpendicular to the ground. A second axis B extends perpendicular to the first axis A. A third axis C extends perpendicularly to the first axis A and the second axis B. As shown in FIG. Thus, the plane defined by the first axis A and the second axis B is orthogonal to the third axis C, and the plane defined by the first axis A and the third axis C is orthogonal to the second axis B. and the plane defined by the second axis B and the third axis C is orthogonal to the first axis A. In this disclosure, unless otherwise indicated, references to one or more directions along the first, second and / or third axes A, B, C include both opposite directions. That is, for example, references to directions along a first axis A refer to directions along the first axis A from a first point to a second point and from a second point to a first point. including directions. Further, references to directions along one or more of the first axis A, second axis B, and third axis C include directions overlapping the reference axis, and directions offset from the reference axis. can include a direction substantially parallel to the reference axis. For example, reference to directions along a first axis A can include directions overlapping the first axis A or directions offset parallel to the first axis A.

[0013] 4-8 show nozzle assembly 50 having material inlet 144 and material outlet 62. As shown in FIG. Nozzle assembly 50 dispenses one or more materials (e.g., adhesives, molten thermoplastics, other non-woven liquids, semi-liquid materials, and / or similar materials) from dispensing assembly 34 . material) at one or more material inlets 144. Material travels in nozzle assembly 50 along first axis A in a dispensing direction and can be dispensed therefrom through material outlet 62 . Nozzle assembly 50 can be configured to be removably attached to housing 14 such that material can be dispensed from dispensing assembly 34 toward nozzle assembly 50 and into nozzle assembly 50 . When received in or on housing 14 , nozzle assembly 50 can receive heat from heater 11 (see FIGS. 10A and 10B ) located in or on housing 14 . The nozzle assembly 50 transfers heat from the heater 11 to the material flowing therein to heat the material to a desired temperature and / or maintain the desired temperature of the material as it is advanced through the nozzle assembly 50. can be done. In some embodiments, nozzle assembly 50 can include multiple material inlets 144 . The number of inlets 144 can correspond to the number of outlets 22 (shown in FIG. 3) that discharge material from housing 14 . Applicator assembly 10 may include a plurality of dispensing assemblies 34 arranged serially along second axis B, eg, as shown in FIG. The number of outlets 22 on housing 14 can correspond to the number of dispensing assemblies 34 . In some aspects, the number of inlets 144 on nozzle assembly 50 can correspond to the number of outlets 22 and the number of dispensing assemblies 34 . An exemplary applicator assembly 10 may have one, two, three, ten, or another suitable number of dispensing assemblies 34 .

[0014] With continued reference to FIGS. 4-8, the nozzle assembly 50 includes a first body 100 and a second body 200. As shown in FIG. The first body 100 and the second body 200 can contact each other during operation. First body 100 includes a proximal end 104 and a distal end 108 spaced along first axis A from proximal end 104 . One side of first body 100 is defined by left wall 112 and the opposite side of first body 100 is defined by right wall 116 . Left wall 112 is longitudinally spaced from right wall 116 along second axis B. As shown in FIG. Left wall 112 and right wall 116 each extend from proximal end 104 to distal end 108 . In some embodiments, left wall 112 and right wall 116 can be parallel to each other. A top surface 120 extends along the second axis B between the left wall 112 and the right wall 116 of the first body 100 . Top surface 120 can be substantially planar. When nozzle assembly 50 is retained within housing 14 , top surface 120 can contact dispensing surface 18 defined on housing 14 . In some embodiments, one or more sealing elements 58 may contact both top surface 120 and dispensing surface 18 when nozzle assembly 50 is held in or on housing 14 . One or more sealing elements 58, such as O-rings, can be arranged.

[0015] First body 100 includes a bottom surface 124 spaced along first axis A from top surface 120 . As shown in FIG. 7, first body 100 defines an inner surface 128 configured to receive material. Inner surface 128 and bottom surface 124 may define a lower lip 132 at distal end 108 of first body 100 . Lower lip 132 may have any preferred size and / or shape to facilitate a desired material extrusion rate, shape or pattern at outlet 62 .

[0016] First body 100 defines an upper lip 152 extending laterally along third axis C away from inner surface 128 toward second body 200 . Upper lip 152 is parted by upper surface 120 of first body 100 and a lip surface 156 opposite upper surface 120 and spaced from upper surface 120 along first axis A toward distal end 108 . defined as A lip surface 156 can extend from the inner surface 128 . In some embodiments, lip surface 156 can be substantially parallel to top surface 120 . The lip surface 156 is configured to engage the second body 200, as described below.

[0017] A second body 200 is spaced along a third axis C from the first body. A second body 200 is configured to contact the first body 100 . Second body 200 includes a proximal end 204 and a distal end 208 spaced along first axis A from proximal end 204 . One side of second body 200 is defined by left wall 212 and the opposite side of second body 200 is defined by right wall 216 . Left wall 212 is longitudinally spaced from right wall 216 along second axis B. As shown in FIG. Left wall 212 and right wall 216 each extend from proximal end 204 to distal end 208 . In some embodiments, left wall 212 and right wall 216 can be parallel to each other. A top surface 220 extends along the second axis B between the left wall 212 and the right wall 216 of the second body 200 . Top surface 220 can be substantially planar. The top surface 220 can be substantially parallel to the top surface 120 of the first body 100 . In some embodiments, top surface 220 can be substantially parallel to lip surface 156 of first body 100 .

[0018] Second body 200 includes a bottom surface 224 spaced along first axis A from top surface 220 . As shown in FIG. 7, second body 200 defines an inner surface 228 configured to receive material. Inner surface 228 and bottom surface 224 may define a lower lip 232 at distal end 208 of second body 200 . Lower lip 232 can have any preferred size and / or shape to facilitate a desired extrusion rate, shape or pattern of material at outlet 62 . In use, the lower lip 232 can abut the lower lip 132 of the first body 100 . Lower lip 132 and lower lip 232 may define material outlet 62 . The particular shape and size of lower lips 132 and 232 can control the extrusion rate, shape and / or pattern of material proceeding through outlet 62 . The components of nozzle assembly 50 can be held together with multiple fasteners.

[0019] A top surface 220 of the second body 200 is configured to contact the lip surface 156 of the first body 100 . During operation, heat is transferred from heater 11 within housing 14 to nozzle assembly 50 . In some embodiments, heat can be transferred to the first body 100 and the first body 100 can transfer heat to the second body 200 . In such an embodiment, second body 200 does not receive heat directly from housing 14 , but rather through engagement with first body 100 . In use, second body 200 contacts first body 100 along respective inner surfaces 228 and 128 . Heat can be transferred from the inner surface 128 of the first body 100 to the inner surface 228 of the second body 200 . In some embodiments, heat can also be transferred from the lip surface 156 of the upper lip 152 of the first body 100 to the upper surface 220 of the second body 200 that contacts the lip surface 156 .

[0020] Dispensed material is received into nozzle assembly 50 from housing 14 at inlet or channel inlet 144 . In some embodiments, inlet 144 may be defined on top surface 120 of first body 100 . A material channel 140 extends along a portion of the first body 100 . Channel 140 is configured to receive material at material inlet 144 and move the material toward channel outlet 148 . A channel outlet 148 can be defined on the inner surface 128 . Accordingly, material is received in channel inlets 144 at upper surface 120 of first body 100 , travels through channels 140 , and exits channel outlets 148 at inner surface 128 .

[0021] Second body 200 includes channel 240 extending between channel inlet 244 and channel outlet 248 . The material can enter the channel inlet 244 of the second body 200 after being discharged from the channel outlet 148 of the first body 100 . The material can travel along channel 240 and exit through channel outlet 248 . The particular shape and dimensions of channels 140 and 240 can be sized according to desired dispensing parameters, and thus the present disclosure is limited by the particular shape, size and / or orientation of individual channels 140 and / or 240. It will be understood that the In some embodiments, at least a portion of material can flow between the inner surface 128 of the first body 100 and the inner surface 228 of the second body 200 in the space 54 defined between the inner surfaces 128 and 228 .

[0022] In some embodiments, one or more shims 300 (see FIG. 8) can be defined within space 54 . One or more shims 300 can be configured to form desired layers and / or patterns in the extruded material. The present disclosure is not limited by the presence or absence of shims or any particular characteristics of any shims present.

[0023] In operation, second body 200 can move relative to first body 100 to set desired properties of the extruded material exiting outlet 62 . Therefore, the second body 200 should be movable with respect to the first body 100 . In some scenarios, such relative movement may interfere with proper alignment of first body 100 with respect to housing 14 as material is dispensed into nozzle assembly 50 . This can result in inaccurate and / or unclear application of material onto the substrate. Accordingly, the embodiments of nozzle assembly 50 disclosed throughout this application solve such misalignment problems.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, nozzle assembly 50 can be held in contact with housing 14 of applicator assembly 10 . As shown, housing 14 may include a plurality of walls 26 defining recesses 30 therebetween. Nozzle assembly 50 may be removably received within recess 30 and suitably secured to housing 14 for use. Nozzle assembly 50 has one or more outlets 22 on housing 14 axially aligned (e.g., along first axis A) with respective one or more channel inlets 144 on nozzle assembly 50. should be aligned with respect to housing 14 as follows.

[0025] In operation, material is expelled from dispensing assembly 34 under pressure through outlet 22 and forced through channel inlet 144 into nozzle assembly 50 . Pressure acting on the material can be generated by dispensing assembly 34 . This pressure continues to act on the material as it moves into and advances through nozzle assembly 50 . Accordingly, the pressure parameters acting on the material also affect the dispensing of material from nozzle assembly 50 onto substrate 12 . The nozzle assembly 50 contacts the housing 14 to ensure that the desired pressure is maintained as the material moves to the nozzle assembly 50 and to ensure that the material moves to its intended location. can be held in Specifically, nozzle assembly 50 includes dispensing surface 18 of housing 14 (shown in FIG. 3, which is a cross-sectional view of a portion of nozzle assembly 50 spaced apart from housing 14) having one or more outlets 22 defined therein. can be held in contact with In some embodiments, nozzle assembly 50 can be forcefully held against dispensing surface 18 along first axis A toward housing 14 .

[0026] The surface of nozzle assembly 50 that contacts dispensing surface 18 is preferably substantially planar and parallel to dispensing surface 18 . This can ensure that minimal spacing is defined between the nozzle assembly 50 and the dispensing surface 18 adjacent the material outlet 22 and channel inlet 144 . The lack of spacing reduces the risk of material being trapped between housing 14 and nozzle assembly 50 as material exits housing 14 at outlet 22 . The lack of spacing can also help reduce the build-up of air or other gas between nozzle assembly 50 and housing 14 . If excess space is defined between housing 14 and nozzle assembly 50, air may be trapped within this space and selectively pressurized and depressurized in response to the pressurized flow of material. have a nature. For example, during operation, the movement of material from dispensing assembly 34 to nozzle assembly 50 can be intermittent, and this movement can be controlled by suitable valve structures within dispensing assembly 34 . The material moves under pressure toward the nozzle assembly as it is allowed to flow. At this time, due to the flow of pressurized material, air trapped within the space between nozzle assembly 50 and dispensing surface 18 may likewise be compressed. When material flow is impeded, air trapped in the space between nozzle assembly 50 and dispensing surface 18 is no longer pressurized, allowing the compressed air to expand. This expansion acts on the material within nozzle assembly 50 to force the material toward nozzle assembly outlet 62 . This can result in excessive deposition of material on substrate 12 and / or deposition of material when such deposition is undesirable.

[0027] A space between nozzle assembly 50 and housing 14 may be caused by improper connection of nozzle assembly 50 to housing 14 . In some aspects, movement of one or more components of the nozzle assembly 50, such as movement of the second body 200 relative to the first body 100, may create a space. 9A-9C are schematic diagrams illustrating alignment and misalignment that can result in a space 32 between the nozzle assembly and the housing of the applicator assembly. It will be appreciated that the figures are not to scale and do not show all components of the referenced applicator system. Figure 9A shows the alignment of the nozzle assembly with respect to the housing. The nozzle assembly contacts the dispensing surface 18 of the housing without defining a substantial space 32 therebetween. The material outlet of the housing is shown axially aligned along the first axis A with the channel inlet of the nozzle assembly. FIG. 9B shows a scenario in which the nozzle assembly is spaced apart from the housing along the first axis A with a space 32 defined therebetween. Air can become trapped within space 32 during operation and adversely affect material application. FIG. 9C shows yet another scenario in which the nozzle assembly is partially in contact with and partially spaced from dispensing surface 18 along first axis A of the housing. This misalignment can be the result of movement of one or more components of the nozzle assembly, such as the first body or the second body as shown, which can result in undesirable material application parameters. .

[0028] FIG. 9D is a comparable schematic diagram showing nozzle assembly 50 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In some aspects, the second body 200 may move relative to the first body 100 during operation. Such movement may result in the formation of a space between the upper surface 220 of the second body 200 and the lip surface 156 of the upper lip 152 of the first body 100 . However, movement of the second body 200 does not result in the formation of a space 32 between the upper surface 120 of the first body 100 and the dispensing surface 18 of the housing. Such movement also does not result in misalignment of housing outlet 22 with respect to channel inlet 144 on first body 100 .

[0029] Embodiments of the nozzle assembly 50 disclosed in the present application ensure that, despite movement of the second body 200 with respect to the first body 100, during operation there is no movement between the nozzle assembly 50 and the dispensing surface 18 on the housing 14. This problem is solved by maintaining the contact surfaces in substantially constant and perfectly desirable contact. As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, top surface 120 of first body 100 is configured to contact dispensing surface 18 of housing 14 . One or more channel inlets 144 are disposed on top surface 120 to receive material from outlet 22 . However, second body 200 does not directly contact dispensing surface 18 . Instead, top surface 220 of second body 200 is configured to contact lip surface 156 of upper lip 152 of first body 100 . Therefore, the second body 200 does not contact the dispensing surface 18 at all. During operation, any movement of second body 200 relative to first body 100 does not affect contact between top surface 120 of first body 100 and dispensing surface 18 of housing 14 . This allows the nozzle assembly 50 to be held against the housing 14 in a desired alignment and contact that does not change with movement of the second body 200 .

[0030] In some embodiments, nozzle assembly 50 can be reversibly connected to housing 14 . That is, the nozzle assembly 50 is positioned within the space 30 between the walls 26 of the housing 14 such that the first body 100 is oriented along the third axis C away from the second body 200 in a first direction. It can be arranged in one configuration (see FIG. 10A). That is, the nozzle assembly 50 can be positioned within the space 30 between the two walls 26 such that the first body 100 lies between the second body 200 and one of the two walls 26 . Alternatively, the nozzle assembly 50 is arranged in a second configuration in which the first body 100 faces in a second direction opposite the first direction away from the second body 200 along the third axis C. (See Figure 10B). That is, the nozzle assembly 50 can be positioned within the space 30 between the two walls 26 such that the first body 100 lies between the second body 200 and the other of the two walls 26 . Accordingly, the nozzle assembly 50 can rotate substantially 180 degrees about the direction along the first axis A between the first configuration and the second configuration.

[0031] This allows for greater flexibility in utilizing the applicator assembly 10 within space-constrained work areas. In some embodiments, applicator assembly 10 may not be adapted to have nozzle assembly 50 in the first configuration. In such embodiments, the nozzle assembly 50 can be placed in the second configuration to face the applicator assembly 10 in the opposite direction. This can allow the relative positioning of other components of the applicator assembly 10 to change while the application of material onto the substrate 12 does not change.

[0032] Regardless of whether nozzle assembly 50 is in the first or second configuration, material must still be received from outlet 22 on housing 14 into one or more channel inlets 144 . Referring again to FIGS. 10A and 10B, each channel inlet 144 can be located at the midpoint of nozzle assembly 50 measured along third axis C. As shown in FIG. This aligns channel inlet 144 axially with outlet 22 on housing 14 both when nozzle assembly 50 is in the first configuration and when nozzle assembly 50 is in the second configuration. become. Nozzle assembly 50 may define a width measured along third axis C. As shown in FIG. This width can be measured between a first point on first body 100 and a second point on second body 200 . For example, the first body 100 can define an outer surface 126 (shown in FIG. 5) spaced from the inner surface 128 along the third axis C in a direction away from the second body 200 . The second body 200 can define an outer surface 226 (shown in FIG. 5) spaced from the inner surface 228 along the third axis C in a direction away from the first body 100 . The nozzle assembly 50 is positioned at a first point on the outer surface 126 of the first body 100 and at a second point on the outer surface 226 of the second body 200 spaced along the third axis C from the first point. can have a width W (shown in FIG. 4) measured from

[0033] When nozzle assembly 50 is in a first configuration, such as shown in FIG. 10A, channel inlet 144 may be positioned a first distance from one of walls 26 defining recess 30 of housing 14 . The first distance can be measured along the third axis C. Channel inlet 144 is still positioned the same first distance from the same side of wall 26 when nozzle assembly 50 is in a second configuration, such as shown in FIG. 10B. By positioning the channel inlet 144 on the nozzle assembly 50 so that it is always the same distance from the reference point, the nozzle assembly 50 can be adjusted without having to reconfigure the connection between the channel inlet 144 and the outlet 22 on the housing 14. It can be rotated 180 degrees between the first configuration and the second configuration. It should be noted that in embodiments having multiple channel inlets 144 configured to connect to respective outlets 22, all channel inlets 144 are energized when nozzle assembly 50 is in either the first configuration or the second configuration. can be positioned in desired alignment with their respective outlets 22 .

[0034] While the system and method have been described with reference to various embodiments in various figures, those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications can be made to the embodiments without departing from the broad inventive concept of these embodiments. would do. Therefore, it is intended that this disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that it cover modifications within the spirit and scope of this disclosure as defined by the claims. understood.

Claims

1. 1. A nozzle assembly for use with an applicator for applying material to a substrate, comprising: a first body having an upper surface and an inner surface angularly offset from the upper surface; a first channel extending through the first body and configured to receive a material therein; a second body having an upper surface and an inner surface angularly offset from the upper surface; a second channel extending through the second body, in liquid communication with the first channel, and configured to receive the material therein from the first channel; a material outlet defined by the first body and the second body and configured to expel the material from the nozzle assembly; a material inlet defined on the top surface of the first body, in liquid communication with the first channel and configured to receive the material within the nozzle assembly; an upper lip extending from the first body toward the second body and including a lip surface defined in part by the top surface of the first body and opposing the top surface of the first body; wherein the top surface of the second body is configured to contact the lip surface of the upper lip of the first body.

2. The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of material inlets disposed on the top surface of the first body.

3. The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second body is movable relative to the first body, and the top surface of the second body is movable relative to the lip surface of the upper lip of the first body.

4. the first body includes an outer surface spaced apart from the inner surface of the first body along a transverse direction away from the second body, the second body includes an outer surface spaced apart from the inner surface of the second body along the transverse direction away from the first body, and the nozzle assembly defines a width measured along the transverse direction between a first point on the outer surface of the first body and a second point on the outer surface of the second body; The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the material inlet is located on the top surface of the first body at a midpoint of the measured width.

5. further comprising a sealing element adjacent the material inlet on the top surface of the first body. The nozzle assembly of claim 1 .

6. 2. The nozzle assembly of claim 1, further comprising a shim disposed between the first body and the second body, the shim configured to contact the inner surface of the first body and the inner surface of the second body.

7. 7. The nozzle assembly of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of shims disposed between the first body and the second body, at least one shim of the plurality of shims configured to contact the inner surface of the first body and another shim of the plurality of shims configured to contact the inner surface of the second body.

8. The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle assembly is configured to be attached to the applicator assembly housing such that the upper surface of the first body contacts the applicator assembly housing of the applicator assembly and the upper surface of the second body does not contact the applicator assembly housing.

9. a sealing element adjacent the material inlet on the top surface of the first body; a shim disposed between the first body and the second body and configured to contact the inner surface of the first body and the inner surface of the second body; The nozzle assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

10. the second body is movable relative to the first body; the top surface of the second body is movable relative to the lip surface of the upper lip of the first body; the first body includes an outer surface spaced apart from the inner surface of the first body along a transverse direction away from the second body, the second body includes an outer surface spaced apart from the inner surface of the second body along the transverse direction away from the first body, and the nozzle assembly defines a width measured along the transverse direction between a first point on the outer surface of the first body and a second point on the outer surface of the second body; The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the material inlet is located on the top surface of the first body at a midpoint of the measured width.

11. 1. An applicator assembly for dispensing material onto a substrate, comprising: Housing and a dispensing assembly configured to receive the material therein; a nozzle assembly configured to receive the material from the dispensing assembly at a material inlet and to dispense the material through a material outlet; the nozzle assembly comprising: a first body having an upper surface and an inner surface angularly offset from the upper surface; a first channel extending through the first body and configured to receive a material therein; a second body having an upper surface and an inner surface angularly offset from the upper surface; a second channel extending through the second body, in liquid communication with the first channel, and configured to receive the material therein from the first channel; an upper lip extending from the first body toward the second body and including a lip surface defined in part by the top surface of the first body and opposing the top surface of the first body; Including, the material outlet is defined by the first body and the second body; the material inlet is defined on the top surface of the first body and in fluid communication with the first channel; the top surface of the second body is configured to contact the lip surface of the upper lip of the first body; the housing includes a first wall extending from the housing and a second wall extending from the housing spaced apart from the first wall, the housing defining a space between the first wall and the second wall; An applicator assembly, wherein the nozzle assembly is configured to be received within the space defined between the first wall and the second wall.

12. The applicator assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a heater configured to heat the material in the applicator assembly.

13. The applicator assembly of claim 12 , wherein the heater is configured to apply heat to the first body of the nozzle assembly.

14. 14. The applicator assembly of claim 13, wherein the second body of the nozzle assembly is configured to receive heat through the first body of the nozzle assembly and not directly from the heater.

15. The applicator assembly of claim 11 , wherein the material comprises a thermoplastic polymer.

16. The applicator assembly of claim 11 , wherein the material comprises an adhesive.

17. The applicator assembly of claim 11 , wherein an upper housing of the first body is configured to contact the housing and the top surface of the second body is prevented from contacting the housing.

18. 12. The applicator assembly of claim 11, wherein the applicator assembly has a first configuration and a second configuration, and when the applicator assembly is in the first configuration, the nozzle assembly is disposed within the space such that the first body of the nozzle assembly is disposed between the second body and the first wall of the housing, and when the applicator assembly is in the second configuration, the nozzle assembly is disposed within the space such that the first body of the nozzle assembly is disposed between the second body and the second wall of the housing.

19. a sealing element adjacent the material inlet on the top surface of the first body; a shim disposed between the first body and the second body and configured to contact the inner surface of the first body and the inner surface of the second body; The applicator assembly of claim 11 , further comprising:

20. the second body is movable relative to the first body; the top surface of the second body is movable relative to the lip surface of the upper lip of the first body; the first body includes an outer surface spaced apart from the inner surface of the first body along a transverse direction away from the second body, the second body includes an outer surface spaced apart from the inner surface of the second body along the transverse direction away from the first body, and the nozzle assembly defines a width measured along the transverse direction between a first point on the outer surface of the first body and a second point on the outer surface of the second body; The applicator assembly of claim 11 , wherein the material inlet is located on the top surface of the first body at a midpoint of the measured width.

21. A nozzle assembly as described in claim 1, wherein the material outlet has a lower lip at a distal end of the first body and a lower lip at a distal end of the second body.

22. The material outlet includes an inner surface of the first body and a bottom surface of the first body configured to define a lower lip at a distal end of the first body; 2. The nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the material outlet further comprises an inner surface of the second body and a bottom surface of the second body configured to define a lower lip at a distal end of the second body.

23. The first body and the second body are structured and configured to operate in a first configuration within the applicator, and the first body and the second body are further structured and configured to operate in a second configuration within the applicator; The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first configuration of the first body and the second body is 180 degrees from the second configuration relative to the applicator.

24. A nozzle assembly for use with an applicator for applying material to a substrate, comprising: a first body having an upper surface and an inner surface angularly offset from the upper surface; a first channel extending through the first body and configured to receive a material therein; a second body having an upper surface and an inner surface angularly offset from the upper surface; a second channel extending through the second body, in liquid communication with the first channel, and configured to receive the material therein from the first channel; a material outlet defined by the first body and the second body and configured to expel the material from the nozzle assembly; a material inlet defined on the top surface of the first body, in liquid communication with the first channel and configured to receive the material within the nozzle assembly; an upper lip extending from the first body toward the second body and including a lip surface defined in part by the top surface of the first body and opposing the top surface of the first body; wherein the top surface of the second body is configured to contact the lip surface of the upper lip of the first body; the first body and the second body are structured and configured to operate in the applicator in a first configuration, and the first body and the second body are structured and configured to operate in the applicator in a second configuration; 13. A nozzle assembly, comprising: a nozzle body having a first configuration and a second configuration, the first configuration being 180 degrees relative to the applicator from an arrangement of the first body and the second body in the second configuration.

25. A nozzle assembly as described in claim 24, wherein the second body is movable relative to the first body and the upper surface of the second body is movable relative to the lip surface of the upper lip of the first body.

26. A nozzle assembly as described in claim 24, further comprising a shim disposed between the first body and the second body, the shim configured to contact the inner surface of the first body and the inner surface of the second body.

27. ​​The nozzle assembly of claim 24, wherein the nozzle assembly is configured to be attached to the applicator assembly housing such that the upper surface of the first body contacts the applicator assembly housing of the applicator assembly and the upper surface of the second body does not contact the applicator assembly housing.

28. A sealing element adjacent the material inlet on the top surface of the first body; a shim disposed between the first body and the second body and configured to contact the inner surface of the first body and the inner surface of the second body; The nozzle assembly of claim 24 further comprising:

29. A nozzle assembly as described in claim 24, wherein the material outlet comprises a lower lip at a distal end of the first body and a lower lip at a distal end of the second body.

30. The material outlet comprises an inner surface of the first body and a bottom surface of the first body configured to define a lower lip at a distal end of the first body; 25. The nozzle assembly of claim 24, wherein the material outlet further comprises an inner surface of the second body and a bottom surface of the second body configured to define a lower lip at a distal end of the second body.

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