Pattern Controller Options

Pattern controllers are used mostly in packaging lines that require a unique set of glue application guidelines. A hot melt adhesive controller regulates the temperature and volume of glue that is dispensed and also the pattern that is delivered. The pattern of glue is important to ensure consistency, precision and quality. How it works is the pattern controller activates solenoids for the applicator heads in order to create individual adhesive patterns. Universal Systems SE offers two types of pattern controllers for our ProBilt® hot melt systems: Constant Speed and Variable Speed.

Constant Speed

Constant speed pattern controllers are also known as time based. This means that the glue is dispensed consistently between .001 – 9.999 seconds, depending on the time that you set. They are designed to trigger a 24VDC Solenoid Valve and have on the fly program adjustments, so nothing is set in stone. Universal Systems’ constant speed pattern controllers have up to 4 programmable glue pattern events available and up to 9 programs can be stored in memory and remain in memory even after the system is shut down.

Variable Speed

Variable speed pattern controllers come with an encoder and is also known as distance based. This means that the glue can be dispensed in set distances apart from the last application. Universal Systems’ variable speed pattern controllers measure in tenths of inches, trigger a 24VDC Solenoid Valve and the encoder offers 1200 pulses per revolution. There is a low speed cut off and easy to use program adjustments. Like the constant speed controller, the variable speed controller has 4 programmable glue pattern events and 9 programs can be stored in memory and remain in memory even after the system is shut down.

To learn more about pattern controllers, their benefits and which one is right for you, please call (800) 848-5018 or reach out to a Sales Representative at sales@ussefl.com.

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Nozzle Engagement

Nozzle engagement is rarely discussed because not many people understand what it truly is. Well, it’s simple, nozzle engagement details the length of the orifice hole. This means that engagement length will impact the flow of adhesive from the module onto the package. So as the engagement increases, making the length of the nozzle orifice longer, the flow of adhesive will decrease. For example, if a nozzle’s specifications are .018″ diameter x .075″ engagement, it means that the length of the .018″ diameter orifice is .075″ in length.

There are a few other key factors, along with engagement, to consider when understanding hot melt adhesive nozzle applicators. Review all of these in order to deliver the correct amount and pattern of glue for the products you are gluing.

Gluing pattern: Choose from bead, slot or spray pattern, depending on your application

Number of orifices: Single or multiple for adequate coverage

Style of gun: Verify that the nozzle you are choosing is compatible with your gun

Nozzle angle position: Straight or right angle are the most common, but make sure whatever you need suits your application gluing process

Orifice diameter: .008” for reduced flow up to .040” for high flow

Engagement: The length of orifice channel — nozzle seat to nozzle tip

For more information on nozzle engagement, please call (800) 848-5018 or email sales@ussefl.com. Universal Systems SE is offering FREE nozzle cleaning kits through the end of June for new clients. Take advantage of this free gift when you order 20 or more nozzles.

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The Importance of Tank Filters

There are two types of filters used in hot melt systems. The first, and most popular are the inline filters that go between the hose and the gun. These filters help reduce the transfer of char from the hose into the gun applicator. However, there is another type of filter that is just as important, and commonly overlooked. Your system’s tank filter.

Unlike an inline gun filter, that will come with either a straight, 45 degree or 90 degree filter body that houses a small inline mesh filter and mounts to your applicator gun, the tank filter is simply a long round cylinder that fits inside your tank itself. The tank filter’s job is to filter the glue out of the tank into the hose, reducing any burnt or charred old adhesive in the tank from clogging up your hoses.

Universal Systems SE recommends that you check and replace your tank filter every 500 hours. In order to check the filter, you can locate it in the lower right-hand side of your system tank. You may not need to replace the entire filter, so first check the screen. Below is an example of what the entire tank filter assembly will look like, compared to only the screen.

        TANK FILTER ASSEMBLY            TANK FILTER SCREEN

                                                      

For more information on tank or inline filters, please contact sales@ussefl.com or call (800) 848-5018. Our Universal Systems SE technicians are here to help!

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Preventative Tips to NOT Char Your Glue

One of the most dangerous, yet inevitable, occurrences running hot melt systems in your packaging lines is char. Universal Systems SE has updated technology running in our ClearFlow hoses that reduces char, however the main char that runs through the hoses comes from the tank itself. Once your tank is infested with char, no matter how efficiently your hoses and guns run, there is always the potential to transfer this char onto your packages. You also run the risk of char clogging your nozzles and modules, which can back up through your guns and kill your pumps. Our Universal Systems SE technicians have seen it all. That is why we have created a list of preventative tips that each line operator should follow to effectively reduce char and keep your ProBilt® system running at top capacity.

Preventative Maintenance

Universal Systems Se recommends a complete hot melt system cleaning at least twice a year using our Purge Plus system cleaner.

Contaminated Adhesive

Hot melt adhesive should always be stored in a strong container such as a heavy-duty plastic waste container. Do not set boxes or open bags of adhesive on the floor or on the top of the container. The container should be labeled “Adhesive Only” and include your adhesive part number.

Low Quality Adhesive

With hot melt adhesives, higher price usually means higher quality, the opposite is also true. Adhesive manufacturing is a highly un-regulated industry and many companies use low cost waxes and fillers in their products to reduce cost. These products tend to burn quickly. Due to the fillers and heavy waxes, low cost adhesives can greatly reduce your adhesive mileage whereas high quality adhesives are lighter and have a lower specific gravity. The bottom line is a higher dollar per pound does not necessarily translate to higher packaging costs. We also recommend that you do not mix old adhesives with new brand adhesives. Please read our past blog to help you understand why.

Old Equipment

Hot melt systems are not cheap, so most of the ones in operation today have been on their packaging lines for 10 – 20 years, whether they are running properly or not. That means that most likely, these older machines have char built up in their tanks. It may be time to evaluate the performance and efficiency of your aging equipment and trade up to a new ProBilt®.

To get the latest pricing on ClearFlow hoses, Purge Plus system cleaner or ProBilt® adhesive melters, please email sales@ussefl.com. If you are experiencing issues with char, please feel free to call one of our technicians at (800) 848-5018 and we would be happy to help you.

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What Hot Melt System is Best for Your Company

Hot melt adhesive can be used as a sealant solution for several different types of businesses. The most common use is with case packer systems, but it can also be used on product containers such as protein shake cartons, frozen pizza boxes, and so much more. There are several key elements that you need to take into consideration when choosing the perfect hot melt system such as efficiency, glue distribution, glue usage, and limiting downtime.

The first step in identifying what type of hot melt system is best for your company is to evaluate how much adhesive your packaging lines use in a day. If you are running a continuous packaging line with a large diameter glue nozzle, then you should research fill on-demand systems. A fill on-demand system, like Universal Systems’ ProBilt™ Phoenix, has a vacuum hose that continuously fills the melter tank with adhesive pellets from an adhesive storage container. Your line operators will only have to worry about filling up the adhesive storage container, which holds up to 6107 cui, allowing them to free up their time to tend to other tasks on the floor. If you are only running your packaging line for certain products, then you might want to look into limiting your tank capacity to either a 12 lb., 15 lb. or 20 lb. tank. The most commonly utilized tank size on today’s packaging lines is the 20 lb. tank, such as Universal Systems’ ProBilt 20.

Another topic to consider when choosing a melter system is how you will be distributing the adhesive onto the packages. Will you be laying down a line, spraying on the glue, or laying dots? This will be determined by the type of nozzle you are running on your modules. If you have a spray or swirl nozzle, then you will be using more glue than if you are using a straight small diameter nozzle. This knowledge will also help you choose the correct tank capacity melter needed.

To learn more about the different types of melters Universal Systems manufactures and which is right for you, please call us at (561) 272-5442 or email us at sales@ussefl.com.

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ClearFlow Hot Melt Heated Hoses

Heated hoses are an important component for your production line and have several uses. Universal Systems SE manufactures our ClearFlow line of heated hoses that can transfer most any heated material needed for different applications. ClearFlow hoses offer the latest technology in heating and insulation to lengthen the life of your hose. Our newly designed insulated jacket will keep a steady, consistent temperature, improving molten flow and reduce charring and curing. Given that char is the biggest cause of gun misfires and nozzle clogs, the reduction in char will lengthen not only the life of the hose, but your entire system.

The key benefits of using a ClearFlow hose over any other hose manufactured today includes the upgraded insulation and nylon fiberglass cuffs that improve the durability of the hose connection. Those factors, coupled with our heat flow technology that keeps your materials heated at a consistent temperature throughout your production process, will reduce downtime, maintenance costs and increase overall efficiency.

In some cases, your lines may require waterproof hoses, which we also manufacture. All of the above benefits are the same, but come with a secure waterwash connection between the hose and glue head. All ClearFlow waterwash hoses are encased with state of the art, high temperature, extremely durable waterproof jacketing.

Whether you are transferring hot melt adhesive or other materials such as cosmetics, it is important to understand the materials being used to manufacture the correct hose needed for your business.

Below is a list of the key factors needed when ordering a heated hose:

Diameter of Core:

Hose Size Options: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20
Inside Diameter (Actual): 0.125, 0.187, 0.25, 0.312, 0.405, 0.50, 0.625, 0.875, 1.125
Type of Sensor: 100 ohm Platinum, 120ohm Nickel, Type J Thermocouple or Type K Thermocouple
Type of Connection: Harwire or Pin (need to know type of pin connector and pin configuration)
Length of Hose (in feet)
Length of Wire Leads (in inches)
Fittings: JIC or Flanges (size), Brass or Stainless
Volatge: 110, 120 or 240
Maximinum Operation Temperature (in Fahrenheit)
Outer Jacket: Braided or Washdown
To find out more information on Universal Systems SE’s ClearFlow hoses or our custom hose capabilities, please call us at (800) 848-5018 or email sales@ussefl.com
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Why Tape Doesn’t Hold Up

There are two main options in the market available for sealing your packages: Adhesive vs. Tape. Much like Batman vs. Superman, this is a largely debated topic in the packaging industry. Many carton packaging line manufacturers have been changing their machines from hot glue to tape. They claim that this will cut costs and reduce downtime. Here is why that is the WRONG move!

The largest complaint among manufacturers is downtime. Downtime leads to higher product costs, higher labor overhead and material waste, especially when it comes to tape. Cartoner machines that seal packages with tape commonly run into the following issues:

  • Changeover Downtime – tape roll capacities are not as abundant as hot melt adhesive. Adhesive pellets are not only cheaper than tape, but with the new on-demand adhesive application systems, the adhesive flow process is seamless with fewer interruptions.
  • Poor Tape Adhesion – One of the things you will never hear a complaint about when it comes to hot melt adhesive is that it does not stick. However, that is the top complaint of packaging line operators when it comes to tape machines.
  • Uncut Tape – when the line fails to cut the tape at proper lengths, all of the cartons are held together. That results in the line being shut down and operators are forced to manually cut the tape. With hot melt adhesive, this is never a problem.
  • Broken Tape – this is a result from poor tension control which causes the tape to stretch and break. Another issue you will never experience from running an adhesive system.

Hot melt adhesive equipment, when maintained properly will last you decades and reduce your downtime overall.

To find out what the best hot melt adhesive application system is best for your packaging line, please call (561) 272-5442 or email sales@ussefl.com.

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A Personal Touch

Are you tired of listening to an automated phone system prompting you through a series of directories just to get someone on the phone? Then, after 20 minutes you still get sent to an operator and have to leave a message. At Universal Systems SE, that definitely will not happen. We pride ourselves in the personal relationships that we build with our customers. You will always have a direct sales representative that can help you with quotes and orders, or that will put you in touch with a technician or engineer that can help with any operation related inquiries.

Easy Online Quotes

If you would rather get a formal quote than speak to a sales representative, our website offers easy online quote forms for all of our products. Simply search for the product that you need, or the cross-reference number you may have, in the search box at the top right of our website. Then fill out the custom online quote form. An email will be sent directly to a sales representative who will get back to you within a couple of hours with a formal price quote. It’s quick and hassle free.

Instructional Videos

Universal Systems SE also offers several instructional videos on our YouTube channel. You can watch Meredith and Chris explain how an adhesive melter works, how to set your melter temperature, and even an introduction to the newly launched ProBilt® Phoenix on-demand melter system.

Order Confirmations

At Universal Systems we always want to make sure that you know when your order ships with an estimated time of delivery. At the end of each day, all of our order shipment confirmations get emailed out with your UPS or FedEx tracking numbers. This way you are never left wondering when you are going to get your products.

These amenities add value and a personal touch that not every company in the packaging industry offers. To create your own personal working relationship with Universal Systems, call us today at (561) 272-5442 or email sales@ussefl.com.

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Modules: The Glue That Holds Your Adhesive Melter Together

Modules, they are the most used product on your packaging line, yet so many operators don’t understand how they are constructed or when to replace them. Like an oil filter on your car, a hot melt module’s main job is to be the conduit for applying adhesive on your packages and should be replaced every 1,000 hours. Replacing a module is simple, and the part itself is fairly inexpensive, but not changing them out could lead to extremely expensive repercussions.

There are two different ways that hot melt can be pumped through the module. First, there is an air on, spring off module (AO/SC). This type of module is the most common in the packaging industry, and the easiest module type to replace. It works by the gun pumping air into the module, to open the flood gates and pump the adhesive through the nozzle, on to the packaging material. When the airflow stops, a spring inside the module closes the opening and stops the adhesive from flowing. The other type of module is an air open, air close (AO/AC). This is a less common type of module and patented by Nordson®. If your machine operates with an air open, air close module then the replacements will be more costly and harder to find. Essentially, this module operates with air pumping through the gun to open the flow of adhesive, and then uses an air intake from the side of the module to stop the flow of adhesive. Keep in mind, that if you operate using an air open, air close module, you can replace it with an air open, spring close module by bypassing the air intake line. However, you cannot run an air open, air close module on an air open, spring close gun.

O-rings are an important component on any module. These tiny ring-shaped seals keep your module from clogging up, increases the efficiency of your system and limits the downtime of your lines. When replacing modules on your guns, make sure that the o-rings are placed securely on the module. If they get clogged with glue, then your module will clog and become defective.

Another important point to note when learning about your module, is the type of nozzle it takes. Not all nozzles and modules are the same. For example, zero cavity modules come with an integrated nozzle seat which allows for a no drip, positive cut off of adhesive. Each zero cavity module needs to be ordered by diameter size. A standard H200 module, however, does not come with any nozzle. You need to order nozzle separately and they come in multiple orifice sizes.

For more information on modules and how they can help improve your packaging line efficiency, reach out to Universal Systems SE at (561) 272-5442 or sales@ussefl.com. You can also view all of our ProBilt® series modules by visiting the Hot Melt Modules section of our website.

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A Class Above the Rest

There are five main components that should go into your search for the right hot melt equipment manufacturer: Innovation, Knowledge, Quality, Price & Compatibility. Universal Systems SE has made it our top priority, over the last four decades, to ensure our customers get all of these. We do not compromise price for service and we stand behind all of our equipment with the strongest warranty program in the industry.

Innovation

Universal Systems SE has just launched our latest product in the ProBilt Series: The ProBilt Phoneix. This on-demand melter system allows packagers to melt and use adhesive only when they need it. The adhesive storage container eliminates the need to manually fill the melter tank, reducing adhesive spillage and waste, while improving safety. Our state of the art adhesive sensor and innovative vacuum technology will automatically fill your tank with adhesive to your desired level.

Universal Systems SE also manufactures 8 lb., 12 lb., 15 lb., 20 lb. and 40 lb. tanks that are the same footprint as most Nordson melters on the market. Our ProBilt systems continue to lead the industry with minimal down-time, easy to operate components and consumer flexibility.

Knowledge

When researching manufacturers to partner with, knowledge and availability are key. Our technicians have over 40 years’ experience in the hot melt industry and can help solve almost every issue you might run in to, because we have seen it all! Universal Systems SE’s facility is located in the United States and we are available for service calls, even if it’s a video conference to walk through any issues you might be experiencing.

Warranty, Price, Compatibility

We stand behind all of our products 100%, which is why we offer the longest warranty in the industry on our ProBilt tanks, 10 years! Also, if you find a cheaper rate from another direct manufacturer, which we are confident you won’t, we will match that price! Whether the pricing is from Nordson, Graco, ITW Dynatec or Robatech. We also ensure that almost all of our equipment is Nordson compatible. This means that even if you bought your main hot melt machine from Nordson you don’t have to stay with them forever. Even if your Nordson melter has been discontinued, such as the 2300 or 300 Series, you can still buy all of your replacement parts from USSE. We will warranty all parts that you buy from us, even if they are being paired with a competitor part.

For more information on Universal Systems SE or the ProBilt Series, please contact us at (561) 272-5442 or email us at sales@ussefl.com.

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