Segmented Hot Melt Adhesive Rod with Cleaning Agent

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Solution Overview

Problem

Reactive hot melt adhesives used in hot melt adhesive guns tend to irreversibly harden and clog the equipment, making it difficult to clean and reuse, especially when exposed to moisture or radiation, leading to inefficient processing and storage issues.

Innovation Solution

A rod-shaped hot melt adhesive body with distinct sections of reactive hot melt adhesive and a cleaning agent, where the cleaning agent is designed to inactivate the reactive groups of the adhesive, allowing for easy separation and prevention of clogging, with visual differentiation via color to facilitate user control during processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If reactive hot melt adhesive is used to achieve strong bonding performance, then adhesive strength is improved, but the adhesive irreversibly hardens and clogs the equipment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesive strengthVSAvoidequipment clogging
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive stick is divided into multiple functional sections: a first section containing reactive hot melt adhesive for bonding, and a second section containing cleaning agent for removing residual adhesive. This segmentation allows the adhesive to perform its bonding function while the cleaning section prevents equipment clogging by dissolving residual reactive adhesive.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning agent in the second section acts as an intermediary substance that reacts with the residual reactive hot melt adhesive in the equipment. This intermediary chemical reaction dissolves or deactivates the hardened adhesive, preventing permanent clogging and enabling equipment reuse.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If reactive hot melt adhesive is used to achieve chemical crosslinking and strong bonds, then bonding performance is improved, but cleaning and reuse of equipment becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding performanceVSAvoidequipment cleaning
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive stick is segmented into a bonding section (reactive adhesive) and a cleaning section (cleaning agent). This allows the equipment to be cleaned in-situ during the adhesive application process, making maintenance easier without requiring disassembly or external cleaning procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning agent in the second section enables the equipment to clean itself automatically during normal operation. As the reactive adhesive is dispensed, the cleaning agent follows and removes residual adhesive from the dispensing mechanism, eliminating the need for separate manual cleaning operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Duration of action of stationary object

If reactive hot melt adhesive is stored for extended periods, then adhesive performance is maintained, but exposure to moisture or radiation causes irreversible hardening

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage durationVSAvoidadhesive stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive stick is segmented into sealed functional sections that isolate the reactive adhesive from environmental factors during storage. The cleaning agent section acts as a barrier and reactive scavenger, preventing moisture and radiation from triggering premature crosslinking of the adhesive.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning agent is pre-positioned in the second section to counteract any premature reaction of the reactive adhesive. This preliminary protective action prevents moisture or radiation from causing irreversible hardening during storage, maintaining adhesive stability until use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution enables efficient processing and cleaning of hot melt adhesive guns by allowing the reactive adhesive to be easily distinguished and removed, preventing clogging and extending the usability of the equipment, while maintaining the adhesive's performance through chemical crosslinking.

Implementation Method 1

The chemically reactive groups lead to (post-)crosslinking or, in addition to the physical adhesive properties, also to the formation of chemical adhesive bonds

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical crosslinking: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

the cleaning agent contains at least one additive inactivating the chemically reactive groups of the reactive hot melt adhesive, wherein the additive has a functional group that reacts with the chemically reactive groups

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical reaction with functional groups: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentEP3231518B1Bar-shaped hot melt adhesive for hot glue gun
Publication Date: 2023.10.11 JOWAT SE
  • EP3231518B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1D
  • EP3231518B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3231518B1 patent drawingFigure 3~3B

AI summary

The present invention relates to a rod-shaped hot melt adhesive body for use in hot melt glue guns, wherein the hot melt adhesive body has at least one first section comprising or consisting of at least one reactive hot melt adhesive and at least one second section comprising or consisting of at least one cleaning agent (dishwashing liquid), wherein the first section and/or the reactive hot melt adhesive on the one hand and the second section and/or the cleaning agent on the other hand are optically and/or visually different from each other, in particular different in color from each other.