EP0696481A1 - Durch Mikrowellen aufheizbare Spender für Klebemittel und sein Klebemittelvorrat - Google Patents

Durch Mikrowellen aufheizbare Spender für Klebemittel und sein Klebemittelvorrat Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0696481A1
EP0696481A1 EP95305541A EP95305541A EP0696481A1 EP 0696481 A1 EP0696481 A1 EP 0696481A1 EP 95305541 A EP95305541 A EP 95305541A EP 95305541 A EP95305541 A EP 95305541A EP 0696481 A1 EP0696481 A1 EP 0696481A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cavity
susceptor
hot melt
dispensing assembly
charge
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP95305541A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Cynthia R. Jaros
Hans E. Haas
Bernard M. Malofsky
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Henkel Loctite Corp
Original Assignee
Henkel Loctite Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US08/287,978 external-priority patent/US5544787A/en
Priority claimed from US08/288,174 external-priority patent/US5540357A/en
Application filed by Henkel Loctite Corp filed Critical Henkel Loctite Corp
Publication of EP0696481A1 publication Critical patent/EP0696481A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05C—APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05C17/00—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces
    • B05C17/005—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces for discharging material from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool through an outlet orifice by pressure without using surface contacting members like pads or brushes
    • B05C17/00523—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces for discharging material from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool through an outlet orifice by pressure without using surface contacting members like pads or brushes provided with means to heat the material
    • B05C17/00546—Details of the heating means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/34—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within the package
    • B65D81/3446—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within the package specially adapted to be heated by microwaves
    • B65D81/3461—Flexible containers, e.g. bags, pouches, envelopes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to a microwaveable flowable material-dispensing assembly, and microwaveable adhesive charge articles, for the dispensing of hot melt adhesive materials which can be microwave heated for subsequent dispensing at a desired use location.
  • the packaging of the heatable, flowable (at least in the heated state) material is highly important to the usefulness of the material.
  • Such materials may be heated immediately prior to their dispensing at the point of use, by microwave, ultrasonic, infrared, or other thermal radiation techniques, so that the material to be dispensed is at the appropriate temperature, for example in a readily flowable or self-leveling state. It therefore is desirable to deploy the material in a heatable form, in a package in which it can be heated as well as subsequently dispensed.
  • a package including a flexible pouch defining a chamber containing the hot melt adhesive, with a dispensing means provided as part of the pouch to permit squeezing dispensing of the hot melt adhesive.
  • the package may include an insulating jacket for facilitating the handling of the package, particularly when the adhesive is in the elevated temperature melt form.
  • the insulating jacket may be formed of polypropylene foam or preferably a foam blend of polystyrene and polyphenylene oxide which may be adhered to and laminated with the microwave transparent layer of the container.
  • the insulating jacket comprises an insulating layer which is heat sealed with a microwave transparent layer at edge portions thereof.
  • the hot melt adhesive employed in such package and dispenser is described to be of varying type (e.g., a water-retaining type which does not require microwave susceptors, or alternatively a type including microwave susceptors in the form of microwave susceptor particles blended or mixed in the hot melt adhesive medium).
  • a microwave activatable adhesive article including the hot-melt or heat-curable adhesive, and a microwave susceptor layer of at least electrically semi-conductive microwave radiation absorbing material.
  • the susceptor layer is disposed on at least a portion of the substrate, and is responsive to exposure to microwave radiation for raising the temperature of the substrate above a desired level sufficient to melt the substrate.
  • U.S. Patent 5,188,256 issued 23 February 1993 to J.R. Nottingham, et al. discloses a hot melt adhesive dispenser including a container having hot melt adhesive therein, and a susceptor comprising metal particles adhered to a film such as a high temperature polyimid film, wherein the susceptor is in heat transfer relationship with the hot melt adhesive.
  • the hot melt adhesive container may be formed of a flexible film material having high temperature resistance, and the susceptor may be provided on an interior surface of the container, or otherwise in heat transfer relationship to the hot melt adhesive material.
  • the dispenser disclosed in this patent may further comprise a cover of relatively rigid, heat Insulating composite material, such as a foam polystyrene laminated with a bleached hardwood craft paper.
  • hot melt adhesive dispensers are known in the art in which microwave susceptors are a component of the container for the hot melt adhesive. Also known is the concept of a reusable package or sleeve accommodating receipt therein of a hot melt adhesive container including as a component of the container a microwave susceptor material. In the use of insulative sleeves of such type, the sleeve provides comfortable exterior temperatures for handling and dispensing of the hot melt adhesive despite temperatures of the adhesive being as high as 400°F
  • the production molds for making the shaped insulating sleeve are expensive, thereby rendering design changes correspondingly disadvantageous in cost, Finally, the molding operation has a cycle time of approximately 20 minutes, and thus is not well-suited to high volume mass production of sleeves for commercial use.
  • the adhesive medium is typically packaged in solid form, comprising a solid, e.g., tubularshaped, body of the adhesive solid, in a container of suitable material, such as injection-molded plastic, thin film material, or other packaging material, and the resulting adhesive article is termed a "glue stick.”
  • Glue stick articles in prior art practice have incorporated therein a susceptor (sometimes termed “receptor,” the terms “susceptor” and “receptor” being used synonymously in the art to denote a radiation-sorptive, e.g., microwave-sorptive, material which on radiation exposure converts radiation energy to heat), typically as a dispersed material or other component in the adhesive medium, or else as a part or component of the packaging material or other non-adhesive structure of the glue stick.
  • a susceptor sometimes termed "receptor,” the terms “susceptor” and “receptor” being used synonymously in the art to denote a radiation-sorptive, e.g., microwave-sorptive, material which on radiation exposure converts radiation energy to heat
  • the glue stick may for example comprise a silicone tube having a microwave receptor dispersed in the silicone material as the container.
  • Such tube may have a solid (hot melt) adhesive body of corresponding suitable size and shape disposed in the tube, with a silicone plug being placed in the open end of the tube, after insertion of the hot melt adhesive stick into the tube, for sealing thereof.
  • a problem which has arisen in the use of glue sticks of hot melt adhesive is the problem attendant the heating of air present in the glue stick, during the microwave heating of the glue stick.
  • air typically trapped at the bottom of the container holding the initially solid adhesive medium, also becomes heated, concurrently with the heating of the adhesive medium.
  • Such air invariably is present in the container holding the initially solid adhesive medium, being unavoidably incorporated in the container upon loading of the solid adhesive body in the container during the manufacture of the adhesive charge.
  • the trapped air expands, erupting the molten glue, and thereby presenting a disadvantage in respect of the evulsion of molten glue on the surrounding environs, such as the microwave oven in which the glue stick charge is disposed in the receptor.
  • the present invention relates to a dispensing assembly for heating and subsequent dispensing of a microwaveable adhesive material, comprising: a dispenser housing having a microwaveable adhesive charge-receiving cavity therein; a microwave susceptor member in said cavity, constructed and arranged to receive microwave energy when the dispensing assembly is exposed to microwave radiation and to responsively generate heat; and a microwaveable adhesive charge of a size and shape for insertion into and retention in the cavity including said microwave receptor, the charge comprising a container having disposed therein a heatable material, wherein the charge is devoid (free) of susceptor materials and susceptor structure.
  • the dispenser housing may be formed with any desired shape, and of any suitable materials of construction, and may for example comprise an insulating liner or sleeve formed of a foamed or expanded polymeric material, of microwave-transmissible character, such as a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene foam, polypropylene foam, polyphenylene oxide foam, polystyrene foam and silicone foam, or, more generally, a thermally insulative material selected from the group consisting of plastics, polymeric gels, polymeric foams, rubbers, and thermally insulative composite materials.
  • an insulating liner or sleeve formed of a foamed or expanded polymeric material, of microwave-transmissible character, such as a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene foam, polypropylene foam, polyphenylene oxide foam, polystyrene foam and silicone foam, or, more generally, a thermally insulative material selected from the group consisting of plastics, polymeric gels, polymeric foams, rubbers, and
  • the dispenser housing includes a cavity therein for receiving the microwaveable adhesive charge, as hereinafter more fully described.
  • the insulating sleeve in the aforementioned dispenser housing construction may be of elongate form, having a generally uniform cross-section along at least a portion of its length, and preferably is of elongate cylindrical form along a major portion of its length, together with a distal portion of truncated conical shape, having an opening at its distal end, and with an open proximal end.
  • the cylindrical sleeve member thus has a central cylindrical bore constituting the cavity for containing the microwaveable adhesive charge.
  • the dispenser housing comprising the insulating sleeve may be adapted to be reposed on and positioned statically by a base containing a cavity therein receiving a lower portion of the insulating sleeve, whereby the sleeve is positioned in vertically upwardly extending relationship to the base.
  • the dispenser housing may be integrally and unitarily formed with a base portion for positioning on the floor of a microwave oven or other support surface.
  • the housing on its interior surface bounding the cavity has a susceptor material associated therewith.
  • the susceptor may for example may be in the form of a liner or jacket comprising a susceptor material, as a structural element of the dispensing assembly which is separate and distinct from the housing per se.
  • the housing wall surface bounding the cavity itself be coated with or otherwise incorporate the susceptor material, provided that the housing is sufficient size (thickness) and shape so that the outer surface of the housing is manually graspable by a user of the dispensing assembly.
  • the susceptor may be of a known, temperature self-limiting type, in which impingement of microwave radiation on the susceptor results in conversion of the microwave radiation to heat energy, with consequent associated temperature rise in the susceptor (which heat energy is conductively transferrable to the microwaveable adhesive medium, disposed in proximate, preferably contiguous, relationship to the susceptor in the dispensing assembly), up to the self-limiting temperature level, beyond which no appreciable temperature rise is achieved with further microwave exposure.
  • the susceptor material may be of a non-self-limiting nature with respect to microwave exposure/temperature response, and such susceptor material may have associated therewith an elevated temperature-limiting material to prevent heating of the hot melt adhesive material in the adhesive material charge, above a predetermined temperature level.
  • a thermally insulating material layer such as a fiberglass mat, or felted liner of heat-insulating material, may suitably be disposed between the susceptor element and the housing, to ensure that even when the susceptor has been heated to high temperature by microwave exposure thereof, the user of the dispensing assembly is not burned or subjected to discomfort by heat transmission through the housing.
  • the housing may itself be constructed of suitable insulative material, and/or of a suitable thickness, obviating the need for such additional insulative stuctural member, but in the instance where the housing comprises a material such as a polymeric foam material of construction, the additional thermal insulative liner or liners is/are preferred, for reasons of safety and heat-retention efficiency.
  • the hot melt adhesive material charge suitably comprises the hot melt adhesive material in a container of suitable size and shape, constructed of any suitable material, such as a high temperature-resistant material.
  • the container may for example be formed of a thin film material of such type, or alternatively of an injection-molded plastic or other satisfactory material of construction.
  • the present invention relates to a dispenser assembly for use with a charge comprising hot melt adhesive material, comprising: an insulating sleeve having a cavity comprising a central bore extending through at least a major portion of the insulating sleeve and bounded by an interior surface of the sleeve; a susceptor material disposed on at least a portion of said interior surface; and a base member comprising a cavity into which the insulating sleeve is positionable so as to supportively maintain the insulating sleeve in a selected position relative to said base.
  • the invention relates to dispensing assembly comprising an insulating sleeve containing removable insert(s) which are unitarily removable from the sleeve, such insert(s) comprising a susceptor material, and preferably at least one thermally insulating, nonconductive layers disposable between the susceptor material and the housing.
  • the present invention relates to a dispensing assembly for heating and subsequent dispensing of a material, comprising: a seamless, resiliently deformable, unitary microwave-transparent insulating sleeve formed of a thermally insulative material and having a cavity therein; and a charge of a size and shape for insertion into and retention in the cavity, the charge comprising a container having disposed therein a heatable material.
  • the insulating sleeve is adapted to be reposed on and positioned statically by a base containing a cavity therein receiving a lower portion of the insulating sleeve, whereby the sleeve is positioned in vertically upwardly extending relationship to the base.
  • the insulating sleeve on its interior surface bounding said cavity has disposed thereon a susceptor material.
  • the susceptor material preferably is of a type which is self-limiting in temperature, i,e., a material which is absorptive of energy until a specific upper temperature limit or level is reached, beyond which the material does not produce further temperature increases in the presence of the energy (e.g., radiation) source, such as the temperature self-limiting materials disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Patent Application No. 08/200,852.
  • the susceptor may have associated therewith an elevated temperature-limiting material to prevent heating of the heatable material above a predetermined temperature level.
  • the aforementioned heatable material may suitably comprise a hot melt adhesive material, and the charge may comprise a hot melt adhesive medium in a container of high temperature-resistant material.
  • the adhesive may have associated therewith a susceptor material, e.g., in the form of particulate or other discontinuous-character material, dispersed in the adhesive medium.
  • the charge may be devoid of any susceptor material or structure, and the susceptor, if present, may be associated with the insulating sleeve, or as a separate element or structure of the overall adhesive dispensing assembly.
  • the overall adhesive dispensing assembly may itself be devoid of any susceptor components or materials.
  • the present invention relates to a method of making a seamless insulating sleeve for heating and dispensing of a heatable material, comprising: providing a precursor workpiece formed of a flexible resiliently deformable material; drilling a cavity into the precursor workpiece; and lathing the exterior portion of the block to yield a predetermined surface conformation of the workpiece; and disposing a charge of heatable material in the cavity.
  • the precursor workpiece may for example be formed of a thermally insulative polymeric foam material.
  • the above-described method may further comprise disposing a susceptor material in the cavity for provision of the susceptor material in heat-transfer relationship to the charge disposed in the cavity.
  • the present invention relates to a method of forming a cavity of other than cylindrical shape in a workpiece formed of a resiliently deformable, generally rigid material, comprising: applying a predetermined pressure force to at least a portion of an exterior surface of said workpiece; while maintaining such pressure force on said workpiece exterior surface portion, drilling the workpiece to form a cavity in a region of the workpiece subjected to compression and/or tension in consequence of the applied pressure forces; and relaxing the pressure forces to resiliently recover the original exterior shape of said workpiece, with a non-cylindrical cavity formed therein.
  • the invention relates to a glue stick article suitable for use in the dispenser assemblies described hereinabove, comprising a container having disposed therein a solid body of hot melt adhesive material having a cross-sectional shape differing from the cross-sectional shape of the container in which the hot melt adhesive material is disposed, e.g., for microwave heating.
  • the invention relates to a hot melt adhesive dispensing assembly comprising a housing defining a receiving cavity, such as the sleeve or liner constructions discussed hereinabove, and a glue stick article adapted for positioning and heating in the housing cavity, such glue stick article comprising a container having disposed therein a solid body of hot melt adhesive material having a cross-sectional shape differing from the cross-sectional shape of the container in which the solid body of hot melt adhesive material is disposed for heating.
  • the invention thus contemplates in one aspect the use of a "disfigured" glue stick to direct or channel the expanding air during heating of the glue stick, so as to avoid eruption of the molten hot melt adhesive.
  • Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a microwaveable adhesive dispensing assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG 2 is a vertical elevation sectional view of the microwaveable adhesive dispensing assembly shown in Figure 1.
  • Figure 3 is a sectional elevation view of a dispensing assembly according to one embodiment of the invention, featuring removable insert members including susceptor means.
  • Figures 4, 5, and 6 illustrate a manufacturing process according to one embodiment of the present invention, for forming an insulating sleeve.
  • Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a manufacturing process for making an insulating sleeve according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the central bore of the insulating sleeve is of varying transverse dimension along the length of the sleeve.
  • Figure 9 is a sectional side elevation view of the insulating sleeve of Figure 8, containing a hot melt adhesive container and an optional susceptor collar member.
  • Figures 10-12 illustrate a forming process for making an insulating sleeve according to another aspect of the present invention, wherein the hot melt adhesive charge-receiving cavity has a flared inlet for ease of insertion and removal of the hot melt adhesive charge.
  • Figure 13 is a top plan view, in cross-section, of a glue stick article according to one embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 14 is a top plan view, in cross-section, of a glue stick article according to another embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 15 is a top plan view, in cross-section, of a glue stick article according to a further embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 16 is a top plan view of a glue stick article according to another embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a microwaveable adhesive dispensing assembly 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • the microwaveable adhesive dispensing assembly includes an insulating sleeve 12 of generally cylindrical form having a conical distal portion 14 and a proximal open end 16 communicating with a central bore of the sleeve and terminating in distal opening 18.
  • the insulating sleeve 12 on its interior surface may have associated therewith interior layers of optional components, such as insulating material layers or liners, susceptor liners, mechanical integrity support liners, temperature-limiting inner sleeves serving coactively with the susceptor layer to limit the maximum temperature of the dispensing assembly when subjected to radiation (e.g., microwave) exposure, etc.
  • a separate susceptor liner When a separate susceptor liner is present in the dispensing assembly, it is suitably and preferably disposed adjacent the adhesive charge, to provide high efficiency heating of the susceptor material and resultant heat transfer (conductive heating) to the adhesive charge, for melting of the initially solid adhesive material and production of a desired temperature therein for the desired adhesive dispensing operation.
  • the insulating sleeve 12 is sized and shaped to accommodate insertion into its interior bore of a hot melt adhesive charge 20 comprising a hot melt adhesive medium 22 encased in a container 24 which may be formed of high temperature resistance material.
  • the high temperature resistance material may be in the form of a thin film, or it may be provided in the form of an injection molded material or other preformed material (e.g., an injection-molded silicone tube into which the adhesive material is loaded), it being understood that the container 24 is formable by a wide variety of fabrication processes, and is formable of a wide variety of suitable materials of construction.
  • the hot melt adhesive charge container 24 is closed at its proximal end 26 and features a conical-shaped distal portion 28 having an adhesive dispensing opening 30 at its distal extremity.
  • the insulating sleeve 12 in the dispensing assembly shown in Figure 1 is matingly arranged with respect to base member 32, which as shown may comprise a support having a circular-shaped cavity therein which receives the lower end portion 34 of insulating sleeve 12 therein, whereby the insulating sleeve containing the hot melt adhesive charge 20 may be stably mounted in the base member 32 and surrounded by the upper collar portion 36 thereof, so that the overall assembly may be reposed in unitary fashion in a microwave oven or in proximity to other heating means, for heating of the adhesive medium 42 in the hot melt adhesive charge 20.
  • the insulating sleeve 12 may be formed of any suitable heat insulating material, preferably a foamed or expanded polymeric material such as polyethylene foam, polypropylene foam, modified polythenylene oxide foam, polystyrene foam, etc., or other suitable insulating material of construction.
  • the insulative sleeve is preferably manufactured from flexible, resilient, relatively deformable materials capable of withstanding high temperatures, for example temperatures of up to 500°F, for periods of time for which the dispensing apparatus is contemplated to be subjected to elevated temperature exposure, e.g., in a microwave oven.
  • the insulating sleeve provides a cool-to-the-touch structural member which is manually graspable without burning of the user's hands, and the insulating sleeve, being essentially non-heat-transmissive, serves to retain heat in the material being dispensed, thereby extending the period of operability of the dispenser before additional heating is necessary.
  • the insulating sleeve is, in instances where microwave heating of hot melt adhesive is employed, microwave transmissive (transparent) in character, and capable of maintaining its shape and properties in exposure to the heating conditions.
  • the insulating sleeve 12 is of unitary and seamless character. Further, in contrast to prior art thermally molded insulating sleeves, the insulating sleeve 12 of the present invention may be shaped at ambient temperatures (ambient here referring to temperatures in the range of from about 0 to about 40°C).
  • the insulating sleeve avoids the seam splitting and spreading problems of the prior art seamed sleeves. Further, because it is shaped at ambient temperature, the insulating sleeve has better shape retention than the prior art seamed insulating sleeves. Further, the seamless sleeve of the instant invention is amenable to ready modification in shape or size, and is amenable to high volume mass production, thus overcoming significant deficiencies of the prior art seamed sleeves.
  • FIG 2 there is shown an elevation view in partial section of a dispensing assembly 10 of the type as shown in Figure 1. All parts and elements in Figure 2 are numbered correspondingly to Figure 1, for ease of description.
  • the base 32 of the dispensing assembly includes an upper collar portion for retentive placement of the insulating sleeve 12 therein at the lower portion 34 of the sleeve.
  • the sleeve at its conical distal end portion 14 terminates at distal opening 18, through which the distal conical portion 28 of hot melt adhesive charge 20 upwardly protrudes, so that distal opening 30 of the hot melt adhesive charge 20 is disposed exteriorly of the insulating sleeve 12, to facilitate dispensing of the hot melt adhesive 22 from the charge 20.
  • the sleeve although relatively rigid, is sufficiently deformable as to allow manual squeezing of the charge 20 by manual pressure exerted compressively on the outer surface of the insulating sleeve 12.
  • the inner surface 40 of the insulating sleeve 12 has optionally secured thereto one or more layers, including in the specific embodiment shown in Figure 2, first layer 42 and second layer 44, it being understood that such layers may be wholly absent and that the container 24 holding the adhesive charge 22 may be in direct abutting contact with the inner wall surface 40 of the insulating sleeve.
  • the optional illustrated layers 42 and 44 may comprise any suitable respective materials of construction layers as necessary or desirable in a given end use application of the dispensing assembly 10.
  • one of such layers may comprise a thermally insulating, non-conductive material layer, such as a fiberglass mat, or a woven or non-woven jacket containing a finely divided particulate-form mineralic insulator material.
  • the other one of such layers e.g., layer 44, may comprise a susceptor liner of a suitable susceptor material of a type known in the art, for the purpose of effecting heating of the hot melt adhesive to a desired elevated temperature.
  • the susceptor may be of a material for is absorptive of microwave or other electromagnetic energy impinged thereon. The thus-heated susceptor is in heat-transmission relationship to the adhesive charge 20, and thereby effects transfer of the requisite heat energy to the hot melt adhesive medium 22.
  • At least one of the additional optional layers is a thermally non-conductive material layer, and most preferably, the outermost of the additional optional layers is a thermally non-conductive material layer, particularly where the inner layer (or one of multiple inner layers) is a susceptor material layer.
  • the susceptor material layer when present, preferably is located directly adjacent, in contiguous position, to the adhesive charge.
  • one of such layers may comprise a liner of suitable material imparting enhanced mechanical integrity to the insulating sleeve, or otherwise providing enhanced structural and/or performance characteristics to the dispensing assembly, relative to a dispensing assembly lacking same.
  • the interior surface 40 of the insulating sleeve may have associated therewith any other and differing layers, liners, or other materials, efficacious for the storage, heating and dispensing of the adhesive medium or other medium to be dispensed by the dispensing assembly.
  • the adhesive in the charge may have associated therewith a susceptor material, e.g., in the form of particulate or other discontinuous-character material, dispersed in the adhesive medium.
  • the charge alternatively may be devoid of any susceptor material or structure, with the susceptor, if present at all, being associated with the insulating sleeve, or as a separate element or structure of the overall adhesive dispensing assembly.
  • the charge 20 may, as hereinabove described, comprise a bag or container 24 formed of a suitable material of construction, e.g., a thin film material, or an injection-molded plastic material, for purposes of containing the solid adhesive medium 22 and dispensing of same after being heated to a flowable heated state.
  • a suitable material of construction e.g., a thin film material, or an injection-molded plastic material
  • prior art hot melt adhesive dispensing systems have invariably utilized susceptor materials as a constituent part of the container in which the adhesive medium is disposed. It is correspondingly to be appreciated that such susceptor components constitute a relatively expensive part of the dispensing apparatus, and when utilized in the package comprising the adhesive medium, the charges introduced into the insulating sleeve in such prior art systems, are of a relatively expensive character.
  • the susceptor material may be provided in the form of a layer or liner which is affixed to or secured directly or indirectly to the insulating sleeve, whereby the susceptor component is a reusable part of the dispensing assembly.
  • the reusable insulating sleeve assembly comprising optional layers 42 and/or 44, e.g., a fiberglass insulation mat or other layer of thermally non-conductive material as the layer 42, and a liner of susceptor material as the layer 44, is utilized to receive a disposable charge container 24 of hot melt adhesive medium 22.
  • the hot melt adhesive in solid form thus is provided as a "stick" or cylindrical article of medium to be dispensed, contained within a suitable container 24, such as a thin film polymeric material container constructed of a high temperature-resistant material such as polyimide or other suitable material known in the art.
  • a suitable container 24 such as a thin film polymeric material container constructed of a high temperature-resistant material such as polyimide or other suitable material known in the art.
  • the sleeve assembly containing the charge then is reposed on the base 32 and disposed in a microwave heating oven at or in proximity to the application locus of use of the hot melt adhesive.
  • the dispensing assembly comprising insulating sleeve 12, adhesive charge 20, and base 32, is suitably removed from the microwave heating oven and transported to the locus of use.
  • the sleeve assembly may be manually compressed to exert pressure on the adhesive medium 22, via compressive deformation of the insulating liner against the container 24 holding the flowable adhesive medium, to cause issuance of the adhesive through distal opening 30 from container 24.
  • the material-depleted container 24 may be removed from the insulating liner assembly and discarded.
  • the adhesive charge is readily mass produceable in a convenient and economic manner, permitting significant cost savings to be realized in the use of hot melt adhesive media.
  • Figure 3 is a sectional elevation view of a hot melt adhesive dispensing assembly 210 according to another embodiment of the invention.
  • the dispensing assembly 210 comprises a vertically upwardly extending insulating sleeve 214 which at its lower extremity 215 is secured to a base member 216.
  • the insulating sleeve may as in previously described embodiments be arranged for removable mounting on the base member 216, as is described in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, or alternatively, the insulating sleeve 214 may be permanently secured at its lower end 215 to the base member 216, as for example by bonding, mechanical affixation, or the like.
  • the insulating sleeve 214 contains therewithin a cavity 217 as a central bore extending a major portion of the length of the sleeve.
  • the cavity 217 is of cylindrical shape, so that the sleeve in turn is of an annular cylindrical structure, with the exception of the lower portion of the sleeve.
  • a hot melt adhesive charge 222 comprising a container 224 which may be formed of a thin high temperature resistant film material which is microwave transmissive in character, or of other suitable microwave-transmissive material, being of generally cylindrical shape as shown with a conical-shaped distal portion 226 having an opening 228 at the distal extremity thereof.
  • the container 224 has disposed therein a hot melt adhesive medium 230, which prior to microwave heating thereof is of solid form, the charge 222 thus being referred to in the art as a "glue stick.”
  • the charge 222 is disposed in the cavity 217 in proximity to insert liners 218 and 220.
  • the insert liners 218 and 220 may comprise any suitable elements as necessary or desirable for the microwave heating of the hot melt adhesive 230 in the charge 222.
  • the insert liner 220 may comprise a microwave susceptor material which in receipt of microwave radiation serves to become heated to a high temperature and conductively transfer heat through the heat transmissive container 224 to the hot melt adhesive 230 for melting thereof and heating of the hot melt adhesive to a predetermined temperature.
  • insert liner 218 adjacent to insert liner 220 may in turn comprise an insulative medium, such as fiberglass, polymeric foam material, or any other suitable material such as those described illustratively hereinabove as used to form the insulating sleeve in the dispenser assembly of the invention.
  • an insulative medium such as fiberglass, polymeric foam material, or any other suitable material such as those described illustratively hereinabove as used to form the insulating sleeve in the dispenser assembly of the invention.
  • the insert liners 218 and 220 may be readily replaceable or otherwise removable from cavity 217, so that these liners can be withdrawn from the sleeve and discarded in favor of replacement liner elements, as necessary or desirable in the use of the dispensing assembly.
  • a susceptor liner may after some period of use become diminished in heat-absorbing ability, and may desirably be replaced by a new substitute susceptor liner element.
  • the dispensing assembly 210 comprising sleeve 214, base member 216, charge 222, and liner layers 218 and 220, may be manually transported in unitary fashion from the oven or heating locus to the locus of use.
  • the hot melt adhesive may be selectively dispensed by manual compression exerted on the outer surface of the insulating sleeve 214, which in turn is transmitted through insert liner 218, insert liner 220, and container 224 to exert a pressure force on the contents of container 224 thereby causing the hot melt adhesive to issue from the container through opening 228 at the distal end thereof.
  • the insert liners 218 and 220 are desirably of a resiliently deformable, flexible material, and may be constructed and arranged analogously to the liner layers 42 and 44 in the Figure 2 embodiment as described hereinabove, with at least one of the insert liners comprising a thermally insulative, non-conductive (of heat) material.
  • the insert liner 218 may as mentioned comprise an insulating material and be of suitable character to accommodate manual compression and deformation, while at the same time providing sufficient thickness to ensure adequate insulative character to prevent burns or discomfort to the hands of a user holding same.
  • the assembly shown in Figure 3 in like manner desirably comprises an insert liner 220 of a flexible, deformable character.
  • insert liner 220 is a susceptor
  • the liner may constitute a thin film material which is impregnated with or otherwise comprises or contains a microwave-sorptive material as an active susceptor ingredient.
  • insert liners 218 and 220 may be varied and that fewer or greater numbers of insert liner elements may be employed, as necessary or desirable in a given end use application.
  • the dispensing assembly shown in Figure 3 is unitarily placed in a microwave heating oven and subjected to microwave exposure conditions for sufficient time to effect microwave heating of the hot-melt adhesive material to a desired use temperature.
  • the dispensing assembly then is removed from the oven and transported to the locus of use, where the heated hot-melt adhesive is selectively dispensed to the locus to be adhesively bonded.
  • the dispensing assembly may be selectively reposed on a suitable support surface during the periods between actual dispensing use, resting on the base portion 216 of the housing structure.
  • Figure 3 dispensing assembly may be widely varied in specific construction and arrangement of insert liner components, as well as the shape and size of the insulating sleeve 214.
  • Figures 4-6 illustrate a manufacturing process embodiment of the invention, for making a shaped insulating sleeve of the type shown and described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 herein.
  • a precursor block 60 of a suitable material such as a polymeric foam material of thermally insulating character.
  • the precursor block 60 as shown is of a rectangular parallelopiped shape, being elongate with respective end surfaces 62 and 64 of generally square shape, and rectangular front and back surfaces 66 and 68, respectively, top surface 70, and bottom surface 72.
  • Figure 5 shows the precursor block 60 positioned in recipient boring relationship to drilling tool 80 having a generally conical-shaped distal portion 82.
  • the drilling tool 80 is operatively coupled with suitable rotation-imparting means, such as a conventional drill unit or other means effecting rotation of the drilling tool 80 at a selected rotational speed in a direction of rotation such as shown by arrow A in Figure 5.
  • suitable rotation-imparting means such as a conventional drill unit or other means effecting rotation of the drilling tool 80 at a selected rotational speed in a direction of rotation such as shown by arrow A in Figure 5.
  • the block may be subjected to lathing operations to impart a cylindrical exterior surface thereto, with a conical-shaped distal end portion, as the sleeve article 90 shown in Figure 6, wherein the lathing operation has formed a cylindrical exterior surface 92 which is coaxial and concentric with the inner cylindrical surface 94 of the central bore 84.
  • the relative dimension and shape of the core cavity 84 is demarcated by dashed line 86 in Figure 6.
  • the lathing operation may be carried out at ambient temperature, as may the coring operation, so that the disadvantages attendant elevated temperature molding of seamed sleeves in the practice of the prior art are wholly avoided in the manufacturing process of the present invention, producing a seamless sleeve in a ready and economical manner.
  • the insulating sleeve 90 as shown has a frontal opening 96 communicating with cavity 84.
  • the insulating sleeve 90 may be utilized in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 2.
  • the optional material layers may be usefully applied or formed in the interior of the sleeve on interior wall 94.
  • Figures 7-9 illustrate another manufacturing process for forming an insulating sleeve according to another embodiment of the invention, utilizing a compressive retention technique for deforming the sleeve precursor block 100, so that interior sleeve cavities of varying size and shape along the length of the precursor block may be achieved.
  • the precursor block 100 which is of rectangular parallelopiped shape similar to that shown in the perspective view of Figure 4, has a longitudinal axis L-L defining the central axis of the rectangular block.
  • the block is of regular rectangular (square) cross-section along its length (the transverse dimension or cross-section being measured in a plane perpendicular to longitudinal axis L-L).
  • the profile of the pressure-deformed block is of reduced cross-section at the locus of application of forces M and N, with the block correspondingly being enlarged at end regions 112, and having the curvate end profile 114.
  • the drilling tool 102 rotated in the direction of arrow B is forwardly translated for boring contact with block 100 through its entire length, along the axis L-L. Subsequent to drilling and coring of the block 100, the pressure forces M and N are released, and the block thereupon is returned to its original rectangular parallelopiped form.
  • the resulting undeformed block 100 is shown in Figure 8, as containing the bored cavity 120 which at its central portion 122, in the region in which boring had taken place with the pressure forces M and N imposed, is of greater dimension than the diameter (transverse dimension) of the drilling tool 102. Conversely, in the end regions 124 and 126 of the cavity 120, the transverse dimension of the cavity is smaller than the diameter of the drilling tool 102.
  • the dispensing operation typically entails the application of manual pressure by the user on the sleeve containing the adhesive charge, an action which can compact the container having the flowable adhesive therein and contribute to the disengagement of the charge from the sleeve, in the absence of tight holding of the charge by the sleeve.
  • Figure 9 shows the resulting insulating sleeve block 100 including a container 130 of hot melt adhesive, the container being of generally cylindrical shape along the major portion of its length, as disposed in the cavity 120 and with a distal end portion 132 of container 130 protruding from the right-hand end of block 100, as shown.
  • the central region 122 of cavity 120 is enlarged in cross-section in relation to other regions of the cavity.
  • the container 130 in this embodiment features a susceptor collar 134 over the exterior surface of the container 130 containing the hot melt adhesive medium.
  • the susceptor collar 134 may for example be formed of a suitable stretchable polymeric film material, having embedded therein fine metal particles or other susceptor component material. The susceptor collar thus circumscribes and is in abutting heat-transfer relationship to the container 130, to facilitate heating of the hot melt adhesive in container 130.
  • the collar 134 correspondingly is in abutting contact with the container 130 over at least a major portion of the length of the container, and most preferably is coextensive with the entire cylindrical portion of the container 130, as shown in Figure 9.
  • the susceptor Upon microwave heating of the container 130 in the insulating sleeve block 100, the susceptor provides heating which is sufficient to cause melting and heating to the desired dispensing temperature of the adhesive material in the container.
  • the narrower-diameter end portions of the sleeve serve to positively grip the adhesive charge, to help prevent its slippage or disengagement from the sleeve, particularly during or contemporaneous to the dispensing operation.
  • the cavity formed in the precursor block for the insulating sleeve in the broad practice of the present invention may be widely varied, consistent with the foregoing description, to produce cavity shapes of widely varying character within the interior of the sleeve block. It will be recognized that in a manner similar to that described in connection with Figure 6 hereof, the insulating sleeve shown in Figure 8 may be correspondingly machined, before, concurrently with, or subsequent to, the formation of the cavity, so that the profile of the outer surface of the sleeve is altered to a shape other than the rectangular parallelopiped shape shown.
  • the utility of the shaping method for the precursor block is not limited in utility to insulating sleeves for adhesive or flowable medium dispensing, but is broadly applicable in any instance in which a thermally insulative, or other, non-insulative, material is desired to be shaped with respect to the formation of a cavity therein, and the workpiece to be bored to form a cavity is amenable to deformation involving the imposition of pressure forces on selected area portions thereof.
  • Figures 10-12 illustrate the processing of an insulating sleeve precursor block 150 as shown in Figure 10, to yield an insulating sleeve product article 150 shown in Figure 12.
  • the precursor block 150 is of generally rectangular parallelopiped shape, similar to that shown in Figure 4 herein. Prior to the drilling/coring operation, the precursor block is subjected to pressure forces indicated by arrows P on the upper left-hand portion of the block, and pressure forces indicated by arrows Q on the lower left-hand portion of the block.
  • the profile of the applied pressure forces P and Q is such as to induce deformation of the left-hand portion of the precursor block 150 to the shape shown in Figure 11, wherein the pressure forces are maintained as the drilling tool 160 rotated in the direction of arrow G (by drive means not shown) is translated into boring relationship with block 150 along a major portion of its length, to provide the drilling profile in the partially compressed block which is identified by dashed line 156 in Figure 11.
  • the heated air in the lower portion of the adhesive charge channels upwardly, through the channel formed by predetermined shaping of the hot melt stick (to have a differing cross-section than the container wall) before substantial heating of the hot melt in the upper regions of the adhesive charge.
  • the solid hot melt adhesive stick 252 is encased in thin film container 250 having a cylindrical shape.
  • the view shown in Figure 13 is a top plan view, in cross-section, it being recognized that the glue stick article typically has a significant aspect ratio of length to diameter, with the length typically being substantially greater than the diameter.
  • the container 250 throughout a major portion of its circumferential extent is in direct abutting contact with the solid adhesive stick 252.
  • the solid adhesive stick 252 is formed with a flat edge which is encased by the container wall such that there is a void or interstice 258 between the container wall and the solid adhesive stick at such left-hand portion.
  • the void 258 extends along the length of the glue stick (perpendicular to the plane of the cross-section), along the entire length of the adhesive charge.
  • Figure 14 is a top plan view, in cross-section, of a glue stick article comprising solid adhesive body 262 having arcuate cutouts at spaced-apart intervals about its circumference, with the solid adhesive body 262 being encased in a casing member 264 which at such cut-out portions is in spaced relationship to the inner wall of the casing member so that the void spaces 268 accommodate heating, expansion, and egress of trapped air in the use of the adhesive charge.
  • Figure 15 is a top plan view, in cross-section, of another glue stick configuration, in which glue stick comprises a solid adhesive body 272 which is encased by casing 274, having a multiplicity of cut-outs along the circumference of the solid adhesive body, so that the casing 274 at the cut-out is in spaced-apart relationship to the outer circumferential surface of the solid adhesive body, to provide void spaces 278 for expansion and egress of heated air from the adhesive charge.
  • glue stick comprises a solid adhesive body 272 which is encased by casing 274, having a multiplicity of cut-outs along the circumference of the solid adhesive body, so that the casing 274 at the cut-out is in spaced-apart relationship to the outer circumferential surface of the solid adhesive body, to provide void spaces 278 for expansion and egress of heated air from the adhesive charge.
  • Figure 16 shows a glue stick 282 comprising a solid hot melt adhesive body of square cross-section, encased in a casing 286 which is in spaced relationship (along the flat sides of the glue stick) to the wall of the casing 286, thereby forming the void spaces 288 about the cross-sectional perimeter of the glue stick article.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Adhesives Or Adhesive Processes (AREA)
  • Cookers (AREA)
  • Coating Apparatus (AREA)
EP95305541A 1994-08-10 1995-08-09 Durch Mikrowellen aufheizbare Spender für Klebemittel und sein Klebemittelvorrat Withdrawn EP0696481A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US28817294A 1994-08-10 1994-08-10
US08/287,978 US5544787A (en) 1994-08-10 1994-08-10 Reusable dispensing assembly for susceptor-free microwaveable adhesive charge, and microwaveable adhesive charge therefor
US08/288,174 US5540357A (en) 1994-08-10 1994-08-10 Microwaveable adhesive charge comprising shaped adhesive body
US287978 1994-08-10
US288174 1994-08-10
US288172 1994-08-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0696481A1 true EP0696481A1 (de) 1996-02-14

Family

ID=27403767

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95305541A Withdrawn EP0696481A1 (de) 1994-08-10 1995-08-09 Durch Mikrowellen aufheizbare Spender für Klebemittel und sein Klebemittelvorrat

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0696481A1 (de)
JP (1) JPH08187456A (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2865477A1 (fr) * 2004-01-23 2005-07-29 Angega Procede de collage d'un obturateur a l'extremite d'un tube a partir d'un adhesif composite
WO2019015840A1 (de) * 2017-07-20 2019-01-24 Robert Bosch Gmbh HEIßKLEBEVORRICHTUNG MIT EINEM HEIßKLEBESTIFT
US11685079B2 (en) 2017-07-03 2023-06-27 Rampf Holding Gmbh & Co. Kg Apparatus and method for dispensing and curing of liquid media

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4690089B2 (ja) * 2005-03-30 2011-06-01 株式会社コーセー ホットメルトノズルの保温カバー

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0223253A2 (de) * 1985-11-20 1987-05-27 Toyo Aluminium Kabushiki Kaisha Verpackungsbogen und Behälter und Beutel wobei der Bogen verwendet wird
WO1992009503A1 (en) * 1990-11-29 1992-06-11 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Microwave hot melt adhesive package and dispenser
WO1993001247A1 (en) * 1991-07-03 1993-01-21 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Microwave activatable adhesive article and method of use
US5188256A (en) 1990-08-06 1993-02-23 Nottingham-Spirk Design Associates, Inc. Method of heating and dispensing hot melt materials that employs microwave energy
WO1994019917A1 (en) * 1993-02-22 1994-09-01 Loctite Corporation Microwaveable hot melt dispenser
WO1994019916A1 (en) * 1993-02-22 1994-09-01 Nottingham-Spirk Design Associates, Inc. Dispensing apparatus and method for hot melt materials that employs microwave energy
US9108661B2 (en) 2009-04-02 2015-08-18 Airbus Operations Gmbh Transport cart that can be stored in a space-saving manner for equipping an aircraft galley
US9205604B2 (en) 2012-06-19 2015-12-08 Airbus Group Limited Thermoplastic polymer powder

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0223253A2 (de) * 1985-11-20 1987-05-27 Toyo Aluminium Kabushiki Kaisha Verpackungsbogen und Behälter und Beutel wobei der Bogen verwendet wird
US5188256A (en) 1990-08-06 1993-02-23 Nottingham-Spirk Design Associates, Inc. Method of heating and dispensing hot melt materials that employs microwave energy
WO1992009503A1 (en) * 1990-11-29 1992-06-11 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Microwave hot melt adhesive package and dispenser
WO1993001247A1 (en) * 1991-07-03 1993-01-21 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Microwave activatable adhesive article and method of use
WO1994019917A1 (en) * 1993-02-22 1994-09-01 Loctite Corporation Microwaveable hot melt dispenser
WO1994019916A1 (en) * 1993-02-22 1994-09-01 Nottingham-Spirk Design Associates, Inc. Dispensing apparatus and method for hot melt materials that employs microwave energy
US9108661B2 (en) 2009-04-02 2015-08-18 Airbus Operations Gmbh Transport cart that can be stored in a space-saving manner for equipping an aircraft galley
US9205604B2 (en) 2012-06-19 2015-12-08 Airbus Group Limited Thermoplastic polymer powder

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2865477A1 (fr) * 2004-01-23 2005-07-29 Angega Procede de collage d'un obturateur a l'extremite d'un tube a partir d'un adhesif composite
US11685079B2 (en) 2017-07-03 2023-06-27 Rampf Holding Gmbh & Co. Kg Apparatus and method for dispensing and curing of liquid media
WO2019015840A1 (de) * 2017-07-20 2019-01-24 Robert Bosch Gmbh HEIßKLEBEVORRICHTUNG MIT EINEM HEIßKLEBESTIFT

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH08187456A (ja) 1996-07-23

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6191393B1 (en) Cooking utensil and manufacturing method therefor
CA2131325C (en) Microwaveable hot melt dispenser
US5368199A (en) Microwaveable hot melt dispenser
EP1481921A1 (de) Autotherme verpackung
US5540357A (en) Microwaveable adhesive charge comprising shaped adhesive body
JP2004532723A (ja) 熱軟化性湿気硬化性材料用のパッケージおよびディスペンサ
EP0696481A1 (de) Durch Mikrowellen aufheizbare Spender für Klebemittel und sein Klebemittelvorrat
US5718356A (en) Dispensing apparatus for hot melt materials that employs microwave energy
US11072481B2 (en) Container wall with fusible material and method for adding the fusible material to the container wall
WO1983000425A1 (en) Heating device
CN111108044B (zh) 具有分布的反应物的自加热食品袋
US5544787A (en) Reusable dispensing assembly for susceptor-free microwaveable adhesive charge, and microwaveable adhesive charge therefor
JPH1111542A (ja) 電子レンジ用紙カップ
JP4352695B2 (ja) 伸展容器
CA1192803A (en) Heating device
AU6298394A (en) Dispensing apparatus and method for hot melt materials that employs microwave energy
JPS6019703Y2 (ja) 簡易温灸具
EP1679057A4 (de) Vorrichtung zur herstellung von behältern
JPH0333608Y2 (de)
JPH04109584A (ja) 電磁調理器の自動加熱補助具、自動加熱容器及び自動加熱方法
JPS63279813A (ja) 加温・冷却容器の製造方法
JP2000344280A (ja) 食品用の断熱容器
JPH04150859A (ja) 無痕灸用台座及び無痕灸具
NZ202315A (en) Heating device:heating element in base of container includes ignition means and combustible material
JPH0159161B2 (de)

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 19960815