Abstract: The invention relates to a hot-melt adhesive applicator having a manually handleable applicator unit which is adapted to electrically heat a replaceably insertable adhesive container, in particular for adhesive which can be liquefied by the action of heat, and which has a heating unit of a material of a predetermined heat capacity and which is provided for transferring heat to the adhesive container and which affords a contact surface for the heat transfer and which has an electrical heating element, and a support module which is adapted to act on the heating element with an electrical voltage in a fitted holding condition of the applicator unit, the support module being so designed that the heating element is supplied with voltage only in the holding condition and the supply of voltage to the heating element cannot occur when the applicator unit is in an adhesive application condition of being detached from the support module.

Abstract: A metering unit for dough and related foodstuffs having a dough feeder unit, support structure, dough hopper, effluent housing, drive motor and centerless helix, with the effluent housing including an inlet, center and outlet section. The centerless helix is disposed within the effluent housing, and is rotatably coupled to the drive motor. Dough is fed into an aperture in the input section of the effluent housing, and upon rotation of the centerless helix, is discharged from the outlet section of the effluent housing. The internal flowpath of the effluent housing can include a separate discharge liner to prevent the centerless helix from contacting the flowpath wall. Additional control mechanisms can be included to limit motor power output and protect the system in event of an overpressure condition. The system is portable, and can be coupled to a conventional conveyor system to create an integrated approach to dough metering and transport.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing metered amounts of a viscous liquid includes a liquid reservoir and a pump chamber having an opening in communication with the reservoir. A dispensing orifice is defined in the pump chamber. A pump mechanism is configured with the pump chamber and is movable from a rest to a pressurizing position upon actuation thereof to pressurize liquid within the pump chamber. A check valve mechanism is disposed in the opening. A restriction device is disposed in the dispensing orifice and maintains a closed configuration to prevent leakage of liquid from the dispensing orifice. The restriction device opens upon sufficient liquid pressure build-up within the pump chamber upon actuation of the pump mechanism. The restriction device also may vent the pump chamber upon release of the pump mechanism.

Abstract: A paste dispensing container comprising a cylindrical container having positioned therein a piston slidable along the walls of the container, a first end closed with a cap to seal paste within the container, a connecting portion at a second end of the container for connection with a pressurized fluid supply, and a leakage preventing cover having an air orifice covering the second end of the container. The paste dispensing container can be vacuum packaged in a gas-impermeable film for shipping and storage to prevent exposure of the paste contained therein to air.

Abstract: A liquid dispensing closure for bottles and the like comprising a one-piece body having an end wall for covering the mouth of the bottle and a depending skirt for threading onto the neck of the bottle. A dispensing aperture in the end wall is surrounded by a spout that affords directional control of a stream of liquid being dispensed and reduced dribbling when dispensing is discontinued. A flap is hinged on the end wall to open and close the aperture with an associated depending plug that fits in the spout. The end wall, spout and hinged flap are arranged in a manner relative to one another that permits the flap to be advantageously molded in an upright position.

Abstract: A gas-assisted food decorating system is provided for applying frosting and the like to an item of food. The system includes a foot pedal assembly having a pedal housing and a movable pedal. A variable pressure valve assembly is disposed in the foot pedal assembly between the pedal housing and the pedal. An input hose extends between a source of pressurized gas and an input opening in the valve. An output hose extends between an output opening of the valve and a dispenser. The dispenser includes a chamber for holding the frosting, and a nozzle in communication with the chamber for dispensing the frosting. The flow of frosting can be controlled by manipulating the foot pedal assembly.

Abstract: A dropper assembly comprising a pipette portion, having a proximate end and a distal end, the distal end of said pipette having an opening through which fluid is adapted to flow in the pipette pr9otion; a cap portion having a top wall, the proximate end of the said pipette portion being integrally formed with the top wall of said cap portion on one side thereof; a bulb portion having a flange at one end thereof, said cap portion having an annular wall extending axially outwardly from the opposite side of the top wall thereof, the flange of said bulb portion being positioned on said opposite side of said top wall, and said annular wall being swaged over the flange of said bulb portion, to thereby integrally connect said bulb portion to said cap portion.

Abstract: An assembly including a pump attachment particularly adapted to form an nonaerosol pump sprayer, and a method of using the same. The apparatus desirably includes an attachment having a pump sprayer which is pressurized on the upstroke enabling the sprayer to be shipped and stored in a relaxed position. The attachment includes a body, a coupling, a shaft, a piston, an inlet valve and a biasing member. The body defines an elongate chamber having the first end, second end, and an interior wall extending between the first end and second end. The coupler is sized and shaped to secure the body to the neck of a container. The shaft extends through the opening in the first end of the chamber and defines an internal flow channel. The piston is reciprocally mounted within the chamber and includes an inner annular surface surrounding the shaft and an outer annular surface sized and shaped to form a sealing engagement with the interior wall of the body.

Abstract: Improved bottles for dispensing liquid household products such as liquid detergents and fabric softeners. The package is comprised of a multilayer body in which the inner layer includes polyethylene made with a metallocene catalyst. The bottles have improved stress cracks resistance yet may be lighter then traditional bottles. They may be made by blow molding.

Abstract: A one-piece side-dispensing closure including a cap, a dispensing lid, and a flexible actuating section connected between the cap and the dispensing lid is described. The cap has an inner wall connectable with a container, a platform overlying the inner wall and having an aperture, a discharge tube positioned over the aperture, and a top wall supported by the platform. The dispensing lid includes a lever portion, a conduit portion formed on an end of the lid opposite the lever portion, a fulcrum about which the lid rotates, a connector for pivotally connecting the lid to the cap, and a fluid passageway formed in the conduit portion and connected to the discharge tube. The flexible actuating section is connected on its upper end to the dispensing lid by a top hinge and on its lower end to the cap by a bottom hinge. The closure is formed to permit transition from a closed position to an open position when a force is applied to the flexible actuating section.

Abstract: A preassembled aerosol actuator assembly and a method of in-line capping the assembly to an aerosol container. A shell has a top opening and a hinged actuator lever therein with a depending button-receiving socket. A discrete spray button is preassembled into the socket with the button bottom positioned a substantial distance above the socket bottom to leave a stem-capturing space below the button. The button has an upwardly extending interior passage with a wide lead-in beginning at the bottom end of the button directly adjacent the outer side wall of the button and converging upwardly to terminate in a shallow valve stem-sealing socket. The bottom of the button has no obstructions and no unintended stem-capturing openings. The button socket has a side spray slot closed at the bottom by a radiused flap. Heat-dissipating interior channels are cored from the button top down into the button.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for discharging toothpaste from a toothpaste tube under control of a user. The apparatus includes a tube holder and a tube receptacle disposed within a first end of the tube holder and adapted to accept a cap end of the toothpaste tube. The apparatus further includes a set of nip rolls adapted to engage a body of the toothpaste tube and to urge toothpaste from a distal end of the toothpaste tube towards the cap end and a wheeled trolley coupled to the nip rolls on a first end and engaging a guide channel of the tube holder on a second end and adapted to maintain an alignment of the nip rolls with respect to a centerline of the tooth paste tube as the nip rolls travel along a longitudinal axis of the toothpaste tube from the distal end to the cap end.

Abstract: A spout for a container comprising a conduit having a first end connected to the container, an aperture and a second end configured to be inserted into an opening. The second end of the conduit is configured to direct fluid axially out of the second end of the conduit. A closure plate extending across the diameter of the conduit for preventing flow through the conduit is provided. The closure plate has a closed position to inhibit flow through the conduit in an open position to allow flow through the conduit. A sleeve movably responsive to inserting the conduit into the opening moves the closure plate from the closed position to the open position. The sleeve is spring loaded to hold the closure plate normally closed. A vent tube having a passage is coupled to and supports the closure plate centrally disposed in the conduit.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser system having a beverage tower with a first side and a second side. The beverage dispenser system also has an ice elevator and an ice hopper connected to the ice elevator. The ice hopper has a first side exit and a second side exit such that the ice elevator may be positioned on either side of the beverage tower and connected to either side exit of the ice hopper.

Abstract: A portable device for dispensing a particulate salt material upon a ground surface having a body with a substantially hollow interior, a forwardly located and open end and a reclosable end cap engaged with a rearwardly located end for permitting the hollow interior to be filled holding a volume of the particulate material. A rotor element is mounted in communication with the first open end and includes a plurality of individual and arcuately arrayed dispensing portions arranged around a central cross wise extending and rotatable shaft. A driving mechanism is associated with the body for actuating the rotor element to dispense volumes of the held particulate and may include either a hand-operated crank or an electric motor operatively connected to the rotatable shaft and powered by at least one battery contained within the hollow interior of the body and electrically communicable with the motor.

Abstract: A measuring/dispensing cap adapted for attachment to an open upper end of a container, the cap comprising a substantially cylindrical skirt and a lid connected thereto; the cylindrical skirt portion incorporating a measuring chamber defined in part by a weir panel having an opening that is defined in whole or in part by a wall extending upwardly from the panel toward the lid, terminating short of the underside of the lid.

Abstract: The dispensing system for a remote operation includes a trigger sprayer assembly removably mounted to a container of liquid to be sprayed, the assembly being mounted within a cutout section provided at the upper end of the container as part of a through opening forming the carrying handle of the container. The trigger sprayer assembly has a flexible delivery tube which may be coiled and stored within a hollow gripper handle provided on the trigger sprayer, and may extend outwardly from the gripper handle to function as a resilient element for mounting the trigger sprayer in place. A one-piece adaptor is non-removably connected to a distal end of the delivery tube and connects to the container by mounting directly to an external dip tube of the container or by mounting in a closure cap of the container.

Abstract: A collapsible tube paste dispenser is disclosed, wherein the dispenser has a head portion that consists of two concave symmetrical parts. One of the symmetrical parts is a concave collapsible part, the other is a concave rigid end plate. Apart from conventional paste dispensers, the outlet structure is mounted laterally instead of mounted axially on the end plate, to accommodate a broad and smooth end plate, for easy and smooth operation. When the tube is emptied, the concave collapsible part will collapse and fit perfectly into the broad and smooth concave rigid end plate, resulting in an effortlessly total evacuation of the content of the tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a substance from a collapsible tube. The apparatus comprises: a housing with a slider positioned therein, first and second flexible members passable through a passage in the slider, a rod for supporting the slider within the housing, and a motor coupled to the rod for causing rotation of the rod. When the rod rotates, the slider moves along the rod and urges the first flexible member toward the second flexible member. This movement causes the substance in the tube to be dispensed.

Abstract: A dispensing head for dispensing a product of liquid to viscous consistency. The head has a fixed part (10) fixed on a dispenser reservoir (3) and a movable part (4) separated from the fixed part by a peripheral cutout and connected thereto in a pivotable manner by a hinge zone (7). The movable part has a connector with a free end (11a) to cause the movable part (4) to communicate with the dispenser valve (2) and actuate the opening of the latter. The cutout (9) is situated substantially between the hinge zone and the fixed part (10), and is situated in a plane perpendicular to an axis of the connector in a position substantially corresponding to the position of the free end (11a) of the connector.