Abstract: The invention pertains to a hygienic vacuum valve for use in sterile environments such as food processing, medical and pharmaceutical applications where a vacuum valve is advantageously utilized in situ on processing equipment to eliminate multiple vacuum lines and valves remotely located from the processing equipment. The novel evacuation valve and method for evacuating, providing a sterilized environment and then sealing the package is accomplished by utilizing a vacuum valve having a housing which accommodates a first piston for opening and closing a vacuum inlet ported to a vacuum outlet and a second piston disposed between the housing and the vacuum outlet for rapidly releasing the vacuum after the package has been sealed. The first and second pistons each preferably include a sealing head which seats in a tapered frusto-conical shaped seat for positively sealing the vacuum inlet and the vent port in the operation of the valve.

Abstract: A refrigerated showcase has a front opening through which a consumer can view and access foodstuffs on display. The foodstuffs are cooled by coolant air introduced through a slanted, perforated, interior panel located near a rear wall of the showcase. An air curtain directed downwardly at the front opening minimizes coolant air loss through the opening. Lips are applied and extended from the edges of vertical sides of the access opening to reduce the loss of coolant air through the air curtain. Thus, relative flows of coolant air and the air curtain are maintained inside the showcase.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a hygienic three way valve for dispensing medicinal, pharmaceutical and food products or other fluid materials which require the processing of fill products without contamination while providing a positive control over the the fill product. The novel hygienic three way valve provides a positive control over fill products by utilizing a fluid activated piston having a positive shut off provided by a substantially cylindrical sealing head in combination with tapered sealing seats that receive the upper and lower sealing surfaces of the substantially cylindrical sealing head. A pneumatic or fluid means is provided for activating the piston and a leak detection port is disposed through the wall of the main valve body communicating with the piston.

Abstract: A positive control fill valve for dispensing fillable materials which eliminates dripping, splashing, sloshing and contamination of fill materials is provided with a fluid activiated fill piston having a substantially cylindrical piston sealing head cooperating with a tapered seat for receiving the piston filling head in combination with a leak detection port for positively detecting potential leaks between the fluid activated fill piston and the product fill chamber. The novel fill valve preferably includes at one end, a pneumatic means for opening and closing the fill valve piston and at the other end, a fill chamber having a tapered seat for positively seating the sealing head of the pneumatically activated piston with a product inlet means disposed therebetween and a two seal arrangement separating the pneumatic chamber at one end from the product dispensing chamber at the other end and a leak detection port disposed intermediate the two seals.

Abstract: An automatic bulk filling machine is provided having a container input end which includes a fill station for filling a container in accordance with weight or volume requirements followed by a lid dispensing and attachment station wherein the lids of the container are placed over the container in registry with the lip of the container and closed onto the bulk container by a piston cylinder combination having a lid pad for pressing and deforming the center of the lid onto the bulk container before press fitting the bulk container lid onto the bulk container which filled and sealed bulk container is then transferred to an optional labeling station and subsequently transferred to the output end of the conveyor to complete the automated filling, sealing and labeling operations for removal of the container from the automated bulk filling machine.

Abstract: A refrigerated showcase has a front opening through which a consumer can view and access foodstuffs on display. The foodstuffs are cooled by coolant air introduced through a slanted, perforated, interior panel located near a rear wall of the showcase. An air curtain directed downwardly at the front opening minimizes coolant air loss through the opening. Lips are applied and extended from edges of vertical sides of the access opening to reduce the loss of coolant air through the air curtain. Thus, relative flows of the coolant air and the air curtain are maintained inside the showcase.

Abstract: A refrigerated showcase has a front opening through which a consumer can view and access foodstuffs on display. The foodstuffs are cooled by coolant air introduced through a rear wall of the showcase. An air curtain directed downwardly at the front opening minimizes coolant air loss through the opening. Dual evaporator coils are arranged in housings on different sides of a plurality of fan motors. Condensate water produced by the dual evaporator coils is pumped to a primary dissipater pan arranged on top of the showcase. Because of the large amount of condensate water produced by the dual evaporator coils, a secondary dissipater pan is provided as a back-up system for any excess condensate water. A three-way solenoid valve diverts the excess condensate water to the secondary dissipater pan when the primary dissipater pan is full.

Abstract: A refrigerated showcase has a front opening through which a consumer can view and access foodstuffs on display. The foodstuffs are cooled by coolant air introduced through a slanted, perforated, Interior panel located near a rear wall of the showcase. An air curtain directed downwardly at the front opening minimizes coolant air loss through the opening. Lips are applied and extended from edges of vertical sides of the access opening to reduce the loss of coolant air through the air curtain. Thus, relative flows of the coolant air and the air curtain are maintained inside the showcase.