Maintenance 5-1

Section 5
Maintenance

WARNING! Allow only personnel with appropriate training and experience to

operate or service the equipment. The use of untrained or inexperienced
personnel to operate or service the equipment can result in injury, including
death, to themselves and others, and damage to the equipment.

Table 5‐1 describes the preventive maintenance tasks required to keep

ProBlue melters operating within their specified limits and to prevent
equipment malfunctions. For information about maintaining optional
equipment that was supplied by Nordson, refer to the instructions provided
with the equipment.

If the melter stops operating or is operating incorrectly, refer to Section 6,

Troubleshooting, for information about diagnosing common problems and
performing corrective maintenance.

 2018 Nordson Corporation Part 1058683_08

5-2 Maintenance

Table 5‐1 Preventive Maintenance Tasks

Task Frequency Reference
Relieving system pressure Before performing any maintenance Relieving System Pressure
task that requires opening a
hydraulic connection or port

Lockout external communications Before performing any maintenance Locking Out External
task Communications

Lubricate the SP/ProBlue piston At least quarterly Lubricating the SP Pump

pump
NOTE: SP/ProBlue pumps that
utilize instrument‐grade air should be
lubricated every one‐to‐three
months.

Cleaning the exterior of the melter, Daily Cleaning the Melter

hoses, and applicators

Replacing the filter  As needed Replacing the Filter

 When changing the type or grade

of hot melt

Cleaning the tank  When changing the type or grade Cleaning the Tank
of hot melt
 When excessive charring occurs

Removing the melter for the  As needed Removing the Melter from the
sub‐base Sub‐base

Part 1058683_08  2018 Nordson Corporation

 Maintenance 5-3

Lubricating the SP Pump

To lubricate SP/ProBlue pumps, see Figure 5‐1.

4130034A 4130815A

Figure 5-1 Disconnecting and lubricating the air inlet line

1. Remove the pump covers, and then disconnect the air inlet line.
2. Place 3-4 drops of lubricant in the air inlet elbow.
3. Reconnect the air line.
4. Open the drain valve and operate the pump at high speed for 10-15
seconds.
5. Close the drain valve and resume normal operation.
6. Replace the pump covers.

Table 5‐2 SP Service Kits

Part Number Description

1120290 Service kit, SP/ProBlue lubricating oil

1006027 Service kit,valve assy

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5-4 Maintenance

Relieving System Pressure

Before disconnecting any hydraulic fitting or opening any pressurized port,
always complete the following procedure to safely relieve hydraulic pressure
that may be trapped inside the melter, hoses, and applicators.

To relieve system pressure

1. Switch the melter off.

See Figure 5‐2.

Melter control switch (on/off)
2. Lower the drain chute and place a suitable waste container under the
drain port.
3. Using a flat‐tip screwdriver, slowly turn the drain valve counterclockwise
three turns.
4. Turn the drain valve clockwise until it stops (valve closed), and then wipe
off and raise the drain chute.
5. Trigger the applicators until hot melt no longer flows from the applicators.

Locking Out External Communications

WARNING! Disable external inputs and fieldbus communcations with the
melter before performing maintenance. Failure to disable external inputs or
fieldbus communications with the melter can result in personal injury due to
unexpected operation of the melter while performing maintenance.

To lockout external communications with the melter

 Set the control option for operating parameter 14 to 1 (Enabled).

Refer to Section 3, Setting Up the Melter, for information about changing
operating parameters.

Part 1058683_08  2018 Nordson Corporation

 Maintenance 5-5

Figure 5-2 Lowering the drain chute and opening the drain valve

 2018 Nordson Corporation Part 1058683_08

5-6 Maintenance

Cleaning the Melter

To prevent components from overheating due to heat build‐up or loss of air
circulation, regularly remove any hot melt that collects on the exterior of the
melter, hoses, and applicators.

If hot melt inadvertently spills inside the pump compartment or other interior
spaces, the exterior panels can be removed in order to clean out the spilled
hot melt.

WARNING! Risk of electricution and fire! Do not clean the melter with a
direct stream of water or steam. Use only water or an appropriate,
non‐flammable cleaning solution that is applied using a clean cloth. Cleaning
the melter using a direct stream of water or steam or a flammable solvent can
result in property damage and personal injury, including death.

To clean the exterior of the melter

 Use citrus‐based or other cleaning compounds that are compatible with

polyester.
 Apply cleaning compounds using a soft cloth.
 Do not use pointed or sharp tools to clean the exterior surface.

To remove and replace the exterior panels

See Figure 5‐3.

1. De‐energize the melter. Refer to Section 1, De‐energizing the System.

2. Turn off the plant air supply to the melter and then disconnect the air filter
from the back of the melter.
3. Open the pump enclosure door (The door must be open in order to
remove the top panel.).
4. Loosen the screws that secure panels to the melter.

NOTE: If necessary, the pump cover can also be removed.

Part 1058683_08  2018 Nordson Corporation

 Maintenance 5-7

Figure 5-3 Removing the exterior panels

 2018 Nordson Corporation Part 1058683_08

5-8 Maintenance

Replacing the Filter

ProBlue melters are equipped with a 100‐mesh (.15 mm) disposable hot melt
filter. The filter removes debris and char from the hot melt as it flows from the
tank. Hot melt flows from the inside to the outside of the filter, trapping
contaminants inside the filter. There is no need to back‐flush or clean the
filter.

When the filter reaches the end of its service life, it should be replaced. The
factors that determine the service life of the filter are:

 the type, grade, and purity of the solid‐form hot melt

 the set point temperature of the tank
 the period of time that the hot melt remains in the tank
The filter should also be replaced when making the change to a different type
or grade of hot melt.

Filter location To determine the optimal service life for the filter, monitor and compare the
total number of hours that the heaters are on with observations of:

 the purity of the dispensed hot melt

 increases in operating pressure
 the frequency of applicator nozzle replacement or cleaning

Monitoring the Life of the Filter

As an aid to ensuring that the filter is replaced at the end of its service life, the
melter is equipped with a service LED that turns on at the end of a
customer‐defined time period. You can use this feature to alert you when it is
time to change the filter. Refer to Section 3, Setting Up the Melter, for
information about the service interval time.

When the service LED turns on, replace the filter, and then press the
Clear/Reset key to reset the timer and turn off the service LED.
Hot melt flow path
NOTE: The melter must be in the automatic scan mode when you press the
Clear/Reset key.

Part 1058683_08  2018 Nordson Corporation

 Maintenance 5-9

To replace the filter

NOTE: Instructions for replacing the filter are also provided on the inside of
the pump enclosure door.
1. Relieve the system pressure. Refer to Relieving System Pressure, at the
beginning of this section.
2. Use a 8 mm hex wrench or an adjustable wrench to loosen
(counterclockwise) and then remove the filter.
Pump key 3. Properly dispose of the old filter.
4. Confirm that the O‐ring on the new filter is in good condition.
5. Screw the filter into the pump body and then tighten the filter to
4.5 Nm (40 in.‐lb).
6. Resume normal operation.

Loosening the filter

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5-10 Maintenance

Cleaning the Tank

To avoid the problems that can occur when different hot melt materials are
mixed or when hot melt char forms in the tank, clean the tank when:

 changing to a different type of hot melt

 excessive char builds up inside the tank
NOTE: The tank cleaning procedures provided in this section require that an
appropriate hot melt cleaning fluid be used to soften or dissolve residual hot
melt. Each type of hot melt should be supplied with a technical data sheet
that names the appropriate cleaning fluid If the technical data sheet is not
available, contact the hot melt supplier.

To clean the tank when changing hot melt

1. Operate the melter normally until the tank is empty.

2. If necessary, remove the strainer from the bottom of the tank.
3. Allow the melter to heat or cool to the temperature recommended by the
manufacturer of the hot melt cleaning fluid.
4. Press the Pump key to stop the pump.
5. While wearing the appropriate protective equipment, wipe any residual
hot melt from the inside of the tank.
6. Add the appropriate type and quantity of hot melt cleaning fluid to the
tank.
7. Press the Pump key to start the pump.
Pump key
8. Following the instructions provided with the cleaning fluid, pump all of the
cleaning fluid from the tank.
9. Return the melter to normal operation and pump a minimum of one tank
volume of the new type of hot melt through the tank, hoses, and
applicators.

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 Maintenance 5-11

To clean the tank of excessive char

1. Remove the old hot melt and loose char as follows:

a. Operate the melter normally until the tank is empty.
b. Allow the melter to heat or cool to the temperature recommended by
the manufacturer of the hot melt cleaning fluid.
c. Press the Pump key to stop the pump.
d. While wearing the appropriate protective equipment, wipe any
residual hot melt and loose char from the inside of the tank.
e. Add the appropriate type and quantity of cleaning fluid to the tank.

See Figure 5‐2.

Pump key
2. Lower the drain chute and place a suitable waste container under the
drain valve.
3. Press the Pump key to start the pump.
4. Using a flat‐tip screwdriver, slowly turn the drain valve counterclockwise
until cleaning fluid begins to flow from the drain.
5. Continue to slowly open the drain valve to create a controlled flow of
cleaning fluid from the drain.
6. Add cleaning fluid to the tank and clean the tank according to the
instructions provided with the cleaning fluid.
7. Press the Pump key to stop the pump.
8. Turn the drain valve clockwise until it stops (valve closed).
9. Wipe any cleaning fluid or hot melt residue away from the drain chute and
then raise the chute.
10. Change the filter. Refer to Replacing the Filter, earlier in this section.

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5-12 Maintenance

Removing the Melter from the Sub‐base

1. Switch the melter off.
2. Relieve system pressure. Refer to Relieving System Pressure earlier in
this section.
3. Disconnect the hoses.

See Figure 3‐5.

4. Disconnect the power cable and ground lead.

See Figure 3‐4.

5. Remove the four screws that secure the sub‐base hinges to the melter.

WARNING! Risk of Hand Injury

Do not lower the melter onto the sub‐base with the hinges in the vertical
position. Always lay the hinges flat before lowering the melter onto the
sub‐base. See Figure 3‐4 for correct hinge position.

Part 1058683_08  2018 Nordson Corporation