I've been using a "Fry Daddy" or slug gun for my adhesive needs. Why do I need a roll applicator?
There are a variety of appliances capable of dispensing hot melt adhesives. In practice an electric "Fry Daddy" does a pretty good job of melting the stuff if that is your only objective. The little hand held "Slug Guns" from the hardware store and their heavy duty commercial cousins are inexpensive to purchase, and work well for small jobs, however they are tiring to operate, the formed adhesives are very expensive to purchase, the formulas available are limited, and temperature adjustment is seldom an option.
There are a variety of appliances capable of dispensing hot melt adhesives. In practice an electric "Fry Daddy" does a pretty good job of melting the stuff if that is your only objective. The little hand held "Slug Guns" from the hardware store and their heavy duty commercial cousins are inexpensive to purchase, and work well for small jobs, however they are tiring to operate, the formed adhesives are very expensive to purchase, the formulas available are limited, and temperature adjustment is seldom an option.
Why choose one of your roll coaters over a commercial bulk hot melter?
Let's assume that you have moved beyond the Fry Daddy and slug gun and need a piece of industrial hot melt glue application equipment. There are numerous fine companies producing excellent commercial bulk hot melt dispensing equipment. Bulk melters are generally referred to as "adhesive supply units" or ASUs and range in capacity from a couple pounds to one thousand or more. Some ASUs referred to as drum unloaders are designed to dispense hot melt directly from 55 gallon drums, or 5 gallon pails. All of these ASUs provide a means of melting and pumping molten adhesive to the point of application. While this is the most flexible and prevalent means of application, it is also the most complex, expensive, and maintenance intensive. You are dealing with various forms of pumps which have wear parts, heated flexible hoses which fail on occasion, multiple heated zones and the associated electronics, and dispensing guns and heads which require considerable maintenance. A "Roll Coater" by comparison is a simple device which often performs the same gluing tasks more efficiently.
Let's assume that you have moved beyond the Fry Daddy and slug gun and need a piece of industrial hot melt glue application equipment. There are numerous fine companies producing excellent commercial bulk hot melt dispensing equipment. Bulk melters are generally referred to as "adhesive supply units" or ASUs and range in capacity from a couple pounds to one thousand or more. Some ASUs referred to as drum unloaders are designed to dispense hot melt directly from 55 gallon drums, or 5 gallon pails. All of these ASUs provide a means of melting and pumping molten adhesive to the point of application. While this is the most flexible and prevalent means of application, it is also the most complex, expensive, and maintenance intensive. You are dealing with various forms of pumps which have wear parts, heated flexible hoses which fail on occasion, multiple heated zones and the associated electronics, and dispensing guns and heads which require considerable maintenance. A "Roll Coater" by comparison is a simple device which often performs the same gluing tasks more efficiently.
How does your roll applicator work?
Basic construction is a cylinder turning in a heated reservoir with a knife "Doctor Blade" which removes all but the desired amount of adhesive. There is only one moving part, and one heat zone. The amount of adhesive being dispensed is determined by the position of the doctor blade relative to the roll. This position is easily adjusted to accommodate various operations. The product or substrate to be glued is simply passed across the roll, and the adhesive is transferred. Because the product is brought to the stationary roll coater, the operator has both hands free vs. using and hand gun type dispenser. This fact alone will often increase production considerably. Obviously hand operations on a roll coater are limited to relatively small substrates that are easily handled. For larger substrates we often add hold down roll (s) to assist in the gluing operation. A roll coater with a hold down roll works like the old laundry mangle: you insert the product into one side and it self-feeds and departs the back side with the glue applied. If you wish to apply glue to a continuous web or film of material, the roll coater is simply placed to unwind and rewind, and the substrate passed over the roll.
Basic construction is a cylinder turning in a heated reservoir with a knife "Doctor Blade" which removes all but the desired amount of adhesive. There is only one moving part, and one heat zone. The amount of adhesive being dispensed is determined by the position of the doctor blade relative to the roll. This position is easily adjusted to accommodate various operations. The product or substrate to be glued is simply passed across the roll, and the adhesive is transferred. Because the product is brought to the stationary roll coater, the operator has both hands free vs. using and hand gun type dispenser. This fact alone will often increase production considerably. Obviously hand operations on a roll coater are limited to relatively small substrates that are easily handled. For larger substrates we often add hold down roll (s) to assist in the gluing operation. A roll coater with a hold down roll works like the old laundry mangle: you insert the product into one side and it self-feeds and departs the back side with the glue applied. If you wish to apply glue to a continuous web or film of material, the roll coater is simply placed to unwind and rewind, and the substrate passed over the roll.
If I have special needs, do you make custom modifications?
Datco is a modern machine shop with conventional as well as cnc cad/cam capabilities. We are often requested to build modified and custom applicators which we often produce in days, vs. weeks, months, or years from other vendors. While roll coaters are limited to certain operations, we have, through various modifications. been able to accommodate a vast variety of products. Please give us a call to discuss your gluing application and we will offer you our possible solutions for your consideration.
Datco is a modern machine shop with conventional as well as cnc cad/cam capabilities. We are often requested to build modified and custom applicators which we often produce in days, vs. weeks, months, or years from other vendors. While roll coaters are limited to certain operations, we have, through various modifications. been able to accommodate a vast variety of products. Please give us a call to discuss your gluing application and we will offer you our possible solutions for your consideration.