A dimensionally stable universal floor covering includes a tufted textile having stitches and a reinforcement layer operatively connected to the stitches to provide dimensional stability for the entire floor covering. The reinforcement layer is made of fibers that are initially contained within a composition of adhesive and fibers. Mixing of the adhesive/fibers composition and/or injection of compressed air, assists in preparing the adhesive and fiber composition to be in the preferred condition and position prior to the forming of the reinforcement layer. Multiple sources of pressure, including vacuum, are applied in a controlled manner for moving the adhesive and fiber composition to form a reinforcement layer of fibers that is operatively connected to the stitches and/or to form a layer of fibers and adhesive that is contained within the stitches. The universal floor covering is selectively cut and transported in a roll for installation, and it can be conveniently recycled if necessary.

A sealing blade includes opposite elongated edges (30, 31) and between them a flat (32) and which is adaptable to a blade holder (17) arranged in a coating applicator (25) of a coating device (21) and into contact with a moving surface (11). The sealing blade has a contact surface (33), which may be arranged against the moving surface and which is 5-15% of the width (W) of the sealing blade (10).

An apparatus for producing a roll of waxed fabric is provided, the apparatus comprising: a frame; a temperature controlled bath at an entrance end of the frame; a squeegee pressed against an exit side of the temperature controlled bath; a cooling tower adjacent the temperature controlled bath, the cooling tower including walls and a manifold to define a cooling zone, the manifold for delivering a flow of air to the cooling zone, a tower roller rotatably mounted above the cooling zone and a lower roller rotatably mounted proximate an exit side of the cooling tower; a blower for delivering air to the manifold; a collection roller rotatably mounted adjacent the alignment roller; a driver roller in rolling engagement with the collection roller; and a motor in mechanical communication with the driver motor for driving the driver motor. A method of producing a roll of waxed fabric is also provided.

An apparatus is provided for applying adhesive to a compressor liner having a longitudinal central axis. A first roller has a longitudinal central axis and has an outer circumferential surface which is immersed in adhesive in an adhesive sink. A second roller has a longitudinal central axis and is radially spaced apart from the first roller. The second roller has same outer diameter as the first roller and has an outer circumferential surface which is not immersed in adhesive in the adhesive sink. The first and second rollers cooperate to support the compressor liner for rotation about its longitudinal central axis. A drive mechanism includes a constant speed drive for rotating the first and second rollers about their longitudinal central axes at a constant rotational speed to allow a consistent weight and uniform layer of adhesive to be transferred from the first roller to the compressor liner.

An adhesive dispensing system for applying liquid adhesive to a substrate using different nozzles with the same manifold is disclosed. The adhesive dispensing system includes a manifold having a body, a first clamp configured to engage the body of the manifold, a second clamp configured to engage the body of the manifold, and a nozzle. The first and second clamps secure the nozzle to the body of the manifold. The body of the manifold has a first contact surface that engages the first clamp and a second contact surface that engages the second clamp and the nozzle, where the second contact surface is angularly offset from the first contact surface.

An applicator for dispensing adhesive is disclosed. The applicator includes a manifold, at least one dispensing module coupled to the manifold, a supply channel configured to contain at least a portion of the adhesive, a recirculation channel configured to contain at least a portion of the adhesive, and a recirculation pump assembly connected to the manifold. The recirculation pump assembly includes an inlet in fluid communication with the recirculation channel, an outlet in fluid communication with the supply channel, a gear assembly, and a drive motor coupled to the gear assembly and operable to pump the adhesive, where the drive motor is configured to operate at an adjustable number of revolutions per minute (RPM). The recirculation pump assembly can be configured to move at least a portion of the adhesive from the recirculation channel to the supply channel, such that a first pressure of the adhesive in the recirculation channel is substantially equal to a second pressure of the adhesive in the supply channel.

An applicator for dispensing adhesive and a method of diverting flow in an applicator are disclosed. The applicator includes a plurality of pump assemblies each having an inlet and an outlet, a plurality of dispensing modules each having an inlet, and a flow diverter plate in fluid communication with the plurality of pump assemblies. The flow diverter plate defines a body having a first surface in fluid communication with the plurality of pump assemblies, a second surface opposite the first surface in fluid communication with the plurality of dispensing modules, and a plurality of diverter passages extending from the first surface to the second surface. Each of the plurality of diverter passages has a first opening on the first surface and a second opening on the second surface, and the first opening is in fluid communication with the outlet of one of the plurality of pump assemblies, and the second opening is in fluid communication with the inlet of at least one of the plurality of dispensing modules.

A method for controlling a recirculation pump assembly is disclosed. The method includes receiving a process-dependent characteristic and determining a recirculation flow rate of adhesive that flows to the recirculation pump assembly based on the process-dependent characteristic. The method further includes determining a recirculation pump speed of the recirculation pump assembly for pumping the adhesive to a supply channel using the recirculation flow rate, and adjusting an operating speed of the recirculation pump assembly to match the recirculation pump speed. A system and storage device for performing the above method are also disclosed.

An embodiment of the present disclosure is an applicator for dispensing adhesive onto a substrate. The applicator includes a manifold and at least one dispensing module coupled to the manifold. The applicator may include a least one pump assembly removably mounted the manifold. Each pump assembly having an outlet in flow communication with the manifold, and an inlet in flow communication with the adhesive. The pump assembly includes a gear assembly for pumping adhesive from said inlet to said outlet and a drive motor with a drive shaft connected to the gear assembly. The drive motor has a shaft with an axis that intersects said front surface of the pump assembly. In another example, the shaft has an axis that does not intersect both of a first side and a second side of said manifold.

The invention relates to a device for applying a hot-melt to a web of material. The device includes a driven roller and a nozzle with a nozzle channel arranged adjacent the driven roller for supplying a hot melt through the nozzle channel to the surface of the roller. The invention also relates to a combination of a device according to the invention and a web of material, which web of material is guided along the driven roller and wherein the nozzle channel exits in front of the nip of the web of material and the driven roller.