Abstract: A discharge assembly for use in or with dispensing apparatus. The discharge assembly includes an entry chamber for receiving one or more items to be dispensed in use. At least one discharge outlet is provided in the entry chamber. The directing member is movably mounted in the entry chamber for directing the one or more items through the at least one discharge outlet in use. At least one opening is defined in or associated with the directing member for allowing the one or more items to move through the at least one opening and towards the discharge outlet in use. A closure member is associated with the at least one opening of the directing member and said closure member is arranged to move in use between an open position, wherein the one or more items can move through the at least one opening of the directing member, and a closed position, wherein the one or more items are prevented from moving through the at least one opening of the directing member.

Abstract: The disclosure extends to apparatuses, methods, and systems, for producing frozen confections and conditioning ice for use in frozen confections. A frozen confection machine includes a hopper portion for receiving ice into an interior, and a motor configured to rotate a drive shaft, a blade to condition the ice in the hopper during rotation of the motor. The frozen confection machine also includes a lid for selectively covering the interior of the hopper, a bias member for biasing the lid away from a closed position, and a switch for causing the motor to actuate in response to the lid being pressed to a closed position.

Abstract: A particulate-incorporating attachment for a drop spreader is provided that includes a two-portion mount bracket, an implement holder, and a rake/brush and optionally includes wheels. The bracket portions are connected to form a mount bracket over the rest brace of the drop spreader. The mount bracket mounts the implement holder, which supports the rake/brush in a suitable position to assist in the incorporation of infill material into the space between the grass tufts of synthetic turf or to assist in the incorporation of other dropped particulates into synthetic or natural turf or onto the ground.

Abstract: A chemical granule metering system, for use on a row crop planter, allows for control of chemical granule drop rate. The chemical granule metering system also includes a motor permitting control of chemical granule drop rate by adjusting the rotational speed of the motor. An impeller for a chemical granule meter system having a plurality of apertures is optimized to allow a broad range of chemical granule flow rates, reduce or mitigate clogging, and reduce pulsing characteristics of the metering system.

Abstract: Systems, feeder devices and methods for moving particulate hot melt adhesive from an adhesive supply to an adhesive melter. A feeder device includes a body having an inlet and an outlet, and an interior communicating with the inlet and the outlet. The inlet is configured to receive particulate hot melt adhesive from an outlet of the adhesive supply, and the outlet is configured to provide particulate hot melt adhesive to an inlet of the adhesive melter. The feeder device further includes a mechanical agitator positioned in the interior for urging the particulate hot melt adhesive in a flow direction toward the outlet.

Abstract: A powder feed assembly comprises a powder hopper and a selectively rotating blade. The powder hopper has a wall and a floor together forming a chamber. A circumferential horizontal gap is defined between the wall and the floor to enable powder to exit the chamber. The selectively rotating blade has a body portion positioned within the chamber and one or more blade portions at least partially extending into the gap.

Abstract: A container for dispensing food products can include a clump decimator portion for breaking up food clumps. In one embodiment, a container comprises a container portion having an open interior and an open top and a cover for selectively covering the open top. The cover can include a cover base portion and a rotatable top portion configured to be coupled on top of the base portion. The cover base portion can include a plurality of dispensing apertures for allowing a food product to be dispensed therethrough. The rotatable top portion can be selectively rotatable relative to the cover base portion and the container portion. The clump decimator portion can extend downwardly and radially from the top portion through the cover base portion and into the container portion. The clump decimator can rotate as the rotatable top portion is rotated to agitate the contents of the container portion while they are being dispensed.

Abstract: A sludge handling system includes at least one bin that receives sewage sludge at an upper end thereof, and that has sloped side wall(s) at the lower end thereof, for directing sewage sludge toward a generally central discharge opening. A rotating discharge device is provided in the form of a thin foil or blade that is rotationally driven to scrape along the sloped side wall(s) of the bin, scraping sludge therefrom, to keep the sludge from adhering to sloped portions of the bin, and to direct sludge out the discharge opening. The rotating discharge device is mounted on and carried by a generally cylindrical rotating table that is motor-driven. A generally cylindrical seal is also carried by the rotating table, and slides along the inside of a sludge discharge chute, at the discharge opening of the bin.

Abstract: A powder dispensing apparatus for dispensing a powder either with or without a liquid is presented. The apparatus includes a base, a dispenser, and a tower. The base is adapted for receiving a container. The dispenser includes a rotatable carriage contacting a support element with an opening. The carriage includes a plurality of compartments horizontally disposed above an optional funnel and rotatable about a central axis. A hopper is disposed above the carriage and communicates with less than all compartments. Each compartment is capable of separately dispensing a powder from the hopper through the opening into the funnel and thereafter into the container resting on the base. The tower is disposed between and attached at opposing ends to the base and the dispenser. The apparatus is useful, for example, in preparing baby formula and other food for infants, as well as in preparing food and drink for children and adults.

Abstract: Tamper evident devices and methods including devices that can be used with pill bottles and other packages to provide evidence of tampering by an unauthorized user are provided.

Abstract: A granular spreader having a V-shaped hopper for distribution of oil absorbing granules can be used on race track spills. The granular spreader is towed by a vehicle such as a pickup truck during racing intervals. A rotatable scrubber is affixed to the hopper which can be lowered by an electric winch to contact the race track to urge the deposited granules into the spilled liquid. A pair of flexible flaps are affixed to the bottom of the hopper to assist in distribution and to prevent the fine granule particles from being blown away before contacting the spilled liquids. A cart is also provided for storing the granular spreader during periods of non-use.

Abstract: A coffee maker contains a siphon tube for discharging hot water from a heated reservoir to a container for coffee grounds. Flow through the siphon tube is initiated by pressurizing the air space in the heated reservoir with an air pump. A siphon flow of hot water through the siphon tube to a coffee grounds container then continues without pressurization. The flow is ended when the desired volume of coffee is brewed.

Abstract: An ice dispenser includes an ice storage bin with a drive shaft aperture and an ice dispensing aperture; an ice dispensing chute connected to the storage bin in proximity to the ice dispensing aperture; a paddlewheel inside the storage bin; and a drive mechanism, including a drive shaft passing through tile drive shaft aperture, for rotation of the paddlewheel. The drive shaft is connected to tile paddlewheel in such a fashion that the paddlewheel is prevented from disengaging from the drive shaft during normal operation of the ice dispensing apparatus, but the drive shaft can be disengaged from the paddlewheel in order to be able to remove the drive mechanism from the ice dispenser without accessing the ice storage bin.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a flowable material in a predetermined amount includes a metering wheel member for delivery of the flowable material from a supply reservoir to a dispensing port. The apparatus includes an agitator assembly mounted within the supply reservoir to maintain and promote flow of the material to be dispensed. A motive power source is provided to effect rotation of the metering wheel member and agitator assembly within the supply reservoir. Another embodiment further provides a liquid supply system for introducing liquid for rinsing or mixing. The apparatus may be further contained within a cabinet for security and maintenance.

Abstract: A powdered seed treatment applicator for evenly applying a powdered seed treatment to seeds to be dispensed and planted by a planting machine includes a container, a shaft, and a motor for rotating said shaft in the container. A dispensing element having a plurality of openings is positioned at a bottom of the container. Dispensing bristles are coupled to the shaft and contact the openings as the shaft rotates to urge powdered seed treatment out of the container through the openings while preventing clogging of the openings. Augers and paddles are utilized to provide agitation of the seed treatment, prevent clumping, and facilitate efficient dispensing of the powdered seed treatment within the container. An adjustable dispensing portion is also provided.

Abstract: A powder and grain feeder includes an outer cylinder and upper and lower inner cylinders sharing a centerline, the upper portion of the outer cylinder and the upper inner cylinder are connected by an upper annular plate, the lower portion of the outer cylinder and the lower portion of the lower inner cylinder are connected by a lower annular plate; a material passage is located below the outer periphery of a circular table closing the upper end of the lower inner cylinder, a material discharge gap is located between the outer periphery of the table and the lower end of the upper inner cylinder, routing blades are mounted on a rotation shaft protruding from the center of the table; the forward ends of the rotating blades are connected to the rotary ring in the material passage; a scraper for use in the material passage is mounted on the rotary ring.

Abstract: A rotary pump that may be used in manual or automatic dispensing systems to dispense material such as epoxy or solder paste, and the like. The rotary pump has a feed screw shaft with fins disposed in a mixing chamber that mixes the epoxy or solder paste. Epoxy or solder paste disposed in a container is forced by air pressure from the container through a feed shaft to the mixing chamber. The feed screw shaft and fins are driven by a motor that rotates the shaft and fins to blend the epoxy or solder paste in the mixing chamber. The epoxy or solder paste is forced out of a dispensing tip onto an article by the rotary motion of the feed screw shaft. Therefore, mixing of the epoxy or solder paste is achieved just prior to the point of application. The rotary pump keeps the epoxy or solder paste thoroughly blended before it is dispensed.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing ice includes a bin and a shroud that contains a recess for housing a wheel. The shroud mounts to a front wall of the bin and includes a chute that communicates exterior to the bin. The shroud further includes a curved plate that directs ice into the recess so that the wheel can raise the ice to the chute. A plate mounts at an angle sloping downward towards the front wall of the bin to direct ice onto the curved plate of the shroud. A discharge chute assembly mounts to the ice bin and communicates with the chute of the shroud to permit the delivery of the ice exterior to the bin. A gear motor drives the wheel to facilitate the lifting of the ice to the chute of the shroud. Alternatively, in a combination ice and beverage dispenser, the plate mounted within the bin is replaced with a cold plate mounted within the bin at an angle sloping downward towards the front wall of the bin.

Abstract: A hand-held repointing gun has an inclined feed chamber, which receives the material to be applied, and a driven feed screw which conveys the material from the chamber to an applicator nozzle. The discharge end of the nozzle defines an axis which is oriented at an angle with respect to the chamber whereby gravity feed of the material to the nozzle supplements the delivery action of the feed screw to minimize power consumption of the feed screw drive mechanism.

Abstract: A device for dispensing an exact, selected quantity of loose dry material, with this device comprising a multi-compartmented member rotatable about a substantially vertically-disposed axis toward and away from a reference location. The compartments of this member are of a specific, uniform configuration and spaced symmetrically about the substantially vertical axis. The multi-compartmented member is disposed between upper and lower generally planar partitions, with an aperture of approximately the same configuration as the compartments of the rotatable member located in each of the partitions. Importantly, one aperture is located in an offset relationship with respect to the other. Dry material to be dispensed is located above the upper partition, with such dry material dropping under the influence of gravity through its aperture into one or more of the compartments of the member as this member is rotated about its axis away from the reference location.

Abstract: The paste feeding apparatus is equipped, within a cylindrical container having a paste feeding opening at its lower end, with a spiral pump composed of a vertical mantle tube having a paste inlet and a paste outlet, which are spacedly formed at lower and upper positions, respectively, and a screw shaft provided coaxially within the mantle tube; a drive motor connected to the screw shaft; and a piston moving up and down in an annular space in the container. A raking blade which is connected to the screw shaft and serves to rake a paste in the paste inlet of the mantle tube may be provided. The paste feeding apparatus is composed of a drive section and a pump-container section detachably installed thereto. According to the paste feeding apparatus, the kneading of a paste, the adjustment of its viscosity and the control of its feed rate can be stably achieved with high precision, and hence high reliability can be attained.

Abstract: An appliance for dispensing of bulk material includes a circular-cylindrical stationary cellular housing with individual chambers of a cross-section in the form of a segment of a circle, which are closed in an upper and lower region by respective upper and lower rotating cover plates each having an orifice in the form of a segment of an annulus, the dispensing appliance having in its upper and lower region respective receiving flanges for supporting and guiding the rotating cover plates external of the housing. The upper receiving flange and the lower receiving flange for the respective cover plates are formed by respective flanged plates facing away from the cellular housing and respective flanged plates confronting the cellular housing, between which the respective cover plates are supported and mounted rotatably on bearings provided in each of the respective flanged plates axially opposite one another.

Abstract: Automatic dispensing apparatus for accurately dispensing preselected amounts of material. The apparatus includes a paddle wheel assembly having multiple compartments for holding selected amounts of material to be dispensed. The apparatus further includes an agitator assembly to break down the material, and a flexible skimmer element for removing excess material from the compartments before dispensing to ensure precise measurements. The paddle wheel assembly and the agitator assembly are driven by a linear actuator. A shutter shields the dispensing mechanism and the material from external elements. The shutter is automatically activated to open and tightly close in sequence with the dispensing cycle. The apparatus further includes a programmable microprocessor for controlling and monitoring the dispensing cycle.

Abstract: An ice handling and beverage dispenser includes an agitator assembly mounted within a downwardly sloping ice storage bin, the assembly including a rotor connected to an agitator with the agitator comprising a frame to sweep the ice and the rotor having a plurality of circumferentially arranged L-shaped ice moving scoops. The agitator assembly is rotatably driven by a motor adjacent a front wall of the bin whereby ice is lifted by the scoops from a location adjacent the bottom of the bin to an outlet chute thereabove. When used in a beverage cooling dispenser, the sweep arm "sweeps" the bin wall whereby ice is caused to fall onto a cold plate disposed therebelow.

Abstract: An ice dispensing bin has an inward and rearward sloped front wall and a downward and forward sloped semi-cylindrical bottom wall. The rear wall and side walls and an upper portion of the front wall are generally vertical. A paddle wheel is positioned in a recess in the sloping front wall. The paddle wheel has a circular plate lying along a central portion of the annular recess. A truncated conical plate converges axially about 10 degrees from the circular plate. Paddles extend radially from the conical plate. Turbine blade-like paddles curve circumferentially and then axially and stop short of the front wall to trap and move ice along the front wall of the recess as the paddle wheel is rotated. A shaft extends through the paddle wheel and rearwardly to a bearing in the rear wall. An angular arm on the shaft breaks ice bridges as the shaft rotates with the paddle wheel.

Abstract: The device comprises an inclined rotating chute with adjustable angle of inclination, having an elongated flat sliding surface with a rectilinear longitudinal side provided with a retaining edge, the opposite longitudinal side being the pouring side and having overall the shape of an elongated "S" extending, without interruption and without corners, along the bottom end of the sliding surface as far as the bottom end of the rectilinear side.

Abstract: A container (10) comprising a trough (23) is filled with pulverous or granular material, for example a neutralizing agent for sulphuric acid. At the place where the container (10) is used, for example on a waste gas cleaning apparatus, a subassembly (27') is pushed through an opening (20). The subassembly (27') comprises substantially an axial feed member (29) having the form of a helical spring, a loosening member (31), a rotatable shaft (33), and a coupling member (35). When rotational motion is transmitted from a drive to the coupling member (35) the screw (39) is rotated and the loosening member (31) which is periodically pressed by the trough (23) against the screw (39) loosens the granular or pulverous material, so that it glides towards the axial feed member (29). The axial feed member (29) transports the material from the interior of the container (10) to the outlet (53). When the container (10) is empty, the subassembly ( 27') is removed and inserted into a new container (10).

Abstract: An ice cream preparation apparatus having a cold storage container with a hole through its bottom in which a supporting member is disposed. A rotating screw in the hole through the supporting member moves material through that hole and out the bottom of the container. A covering plate is selectively openable and closable over the hole. A first rotatable blade is inclined downwardly along the inner surface of the cold storage container moves material off the wall. A second blade rotates around the bottom of the container. A second screw type rotary member extends along the radial direction parallel to the second blade and is rotated for moving material toward the supporting member. A third blade is upstanding in the container.

Abstract: An upright silo has a U-shaped central discharge opening in the floor and a cavity below the floor in vertical alignment with the opening. A hopper in the cavity has an upright wall terminating at an upper edge and a smooth, inclined slip ramp contiguous with the edge and rigidly secured to the floor along the opening. The horizontal configurations of the opening, the cavity, the wall and the ramp are identical. The silage falls freely from a cutter arm above the floor into the hopper such that unloading time is substantially decreased. In one embodiment, a rake is movable within the cavity adjacent the ramp and is operable to break up otherwise lodged silage. In another embodiment, a somewhat similar rake has an outer segment which is pivotal about a vertical axis for retraction when not in use.

Abstract: Apparatus for spreading dry or granular materials such as lawn seed and/or lawn treatment chemicals that includes a support frame 18 rollingly supported by a pair of wheels 14 and a hopper 12 attached to the support frame that defines four substantially isolated material compartments 55-58. Discharge openings 65-68 are associated with each compartment; the outflow of material through the discharge openings is controlled by shutter-like gates 65a-68a, two of which are remotely controlled by lever mechanisms 78, 87 mounted on operating handles 20a, the other two of which are adjustable by an arrangement mounted near the hopper. Material discharged through the openings falls into a blending chamber 90 that includes a blending disc 96 rotated by a vertical shaft 98 that is coupled to an axle 32 by a gear box 40 that is drivingly engaged by one or both wheels.

Abstract: A device for dispensing a selectively variable measured quantity of granular material from a container includes a cup-shaped first member and a hollow cylindrical dispensing member having a sidewall disposed concentrically within the first member. The dispensing member includes a handle, an open bottom, a closed top panel, and a pair of radially extending side panels depending from the top panel to define a measuring chamber. The volume of the measuring chamber may be varied by means of an adjustment member having a lateral panel disposed in a recess in the top of the dispensing member and a depending panel which forms a sidewall of the measuring chamber. The dispensing member is rotatable about a tubular projection extending from the first member, so that the measuring chamber may be moved from alignment with an intake port in the bottom panel of a reservoir supported above the first member to alignment with a discharge port in the bottom of the first member.

Abstract: Dispenser apparatus for particulate ice and/or ice cooled beverage has an ice bin with upright walls about a substantially vertical axis, a bottom canted rearwardly, a transverse ice discharge chute coplanar with the bin bottom and having a width continually divergent from the bin, a metallic ice dispensing chute point is secured in a resin bin wall on a downstream side of a dispensing rotor sweep and a self-closing dispensing door on an outlet of the chute has a barrier and a limit stop for placing the barrier in the path of ice being dispensed when the door is fully opened, an elongate drainage slot for melt water is in the bin bottom and extends radially outward from an axis of dispensing rotor rotation, a drain port extends from within the drain slot and is at a level below a level of the chute outlet, an ice dispensing rotor is within the bin and is revolvable about an axis canted rearwardly from the axis of the bin; the rotor has a hub, a ring, a plurality of paddlewheels mounted to the ring, entry ring

Abstract: A constant feed apparatus in which a straight tubular housing into which a material is fed has provided therein at least one rotary arm which rotates in the proximity of the bottom surface of the tubular housing, and at least one discharging port is provided in the internal surface of the tubular housing which the rotary arm comes to oppose while the rotary arm is rotating, whereby the material in the tubular housing is conveyed to the discharging port by the rotary arm and discharged out through the discharging port.

Abstract: The apparatus of this invention feeds coarse-grained, lumpy dry materials from a hopper (1) to an outlet chamber (19) into which materials are blown. It has two rotors (5, 15) that rotate in unison about a common vertical axis and have circumferentially arranged material chambers (24, 25) that are coaxial with one another. A plate (7) between the two rotors (5, 15) has a passage (8) with which the chambers (24, 25) of the rotors (5, 15) can be brought into register by rotor rotation. The upper rotor (5) has a plurality of air chambers (26, 27) which receive pressure air conducted through the passage (8) from each of the chambers (25) of the lower rotor (15). A connecting channel (28) serves to increase the pressure on the outer side of the chambers (25) of the lower rotor (15). Multiple openings into the atmosphere discharge the chambers (24, 26, 27) of the upper rotor (5). With this arrangement the pressure drop .DELTA.

Abstract: A dispensing device is provided herein for dispensing a selected amount of material from a container. The device includes a central disc which rotates to deliver a desired amount of material according to a pre-set adjustment. Total emptying of the container is assured due to the conically shaped hub member and the arcuate interior walls of the dispensing device.

Abstract: A dispensing machine mixing device has a base fastenable to the chassis of a dispensing machine, a bearing in the base, a shaft rotatably mounted in the bearing, a shaft seal on the front of the base, a mixing impeller on the front of the shaft and to the front of the seal, and a reduced size housing secured to the base; the housing has an integral tubular wall holding the seal to the base and defining the circumference of a mixing chamber within which is the impeller, a front end wall, a mixed fluid outlet from the bottom of and to the front of the mixing chamber, a fluid inlet conduit generally on the axis of rotation of the impeller, and a funnel to the front of the mixing chamber and above the inlet conduit; a common wall portion forms part of both the funnel and the mixing chamber wall, and part of a lower funnel wall forms part of the inlet conduit and is exposed to the mixing chamber; the inlet conduit to the mixing chamber expands in cross-section toward the mixing chamber.

Abstract: A hand held seed dispenser has a generally cylindrical shaped receptacle portion having a bottom wall in which is formed an outlet opening. An agitator blade is mounted within the receptacle and connected to a closure plate which is pivotably mounted below the bottom wall and has a dispenser opening in it. Pivoting oscillation of the closure plate simultaneously moves the agitator blade and the dispenser hole past the outlet opening to discharge seeds or the like from the dispenser. A selector plate having differently sized holes in it is independently pivotably mounted between the bottom wall and closure plate to align a selected control opening with the outlet opening to accommodate different sizes of seeds or the like.

Abstract: Highly accurate metering of particulate material is achieved by employing a rotatably mounted agitator to initially move the material radially outward to the periphery of a horizontally-disposed, stationary, circular, flat support plate, from which it falls, under the guidance of a cylindrical wall depending from the plate's periphery, to an annular-shaped support area of a horizontally-disposed, stationary, circular, flat metering plate. A rotatably mounted metering rotor, driven concurrently with the agitator, sweeps the particulate material radially inward from the support area to a centrally located discharge orifice in the metering plate. With such an arrangement, the particulate material will be maintained in an uncompacted state and the mixture will remain homogeneous, with the result that the volume of the material flowing through the discharge orifice will be directly proportional to the number of revolutions of the metering rotor. A precise volume may thus be fed to a collection station.

Abstract: A device for disentangling and spreading short steel fibers used for the reinforcement or crack prevention of concrete or mortar employed for civil engineering works, building constructions or the like. The device comprises a hopper for storing short steel fibers which has a bottom opening which is connected to a nozzle. A horizontal disc rotated by a motor is mounted at the intersection of the bottom of the hopper and the nozzle with the plane of the disc parallel with the general orientation of the nozzle, the disc being formed with a plurality of plate shaped members ranged radially on its upper surface forming an impeller. Projecting from the upper surface of the disc on the axis thereof is a central boss having a plurality of vanes radially mounted thereon in such a manner that they are alternately at different heights. The boss also has pendulum-like agitating arms pivotally mounted at the top thereof.

Abstract: The pneumatically operated apparatus includes a transparent, calibrated paint container to facilitate measuring of the required proportions of color and solvents. A vertically displaceable and rotatable member extends through and seals an opening in the bottom of the container. The member has a hollow body forming a paint passage. An agitator is sealingly mounted on the end thereof extending through the opening and into the container, the other end being opened. An aperture is provided in the wall of the member spaced a short distance from the agitator. A friction surface is provided for connecting a pneumatically operated drive to the member to rotate same.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing granular material having a tendency to form lumps, comprising a container at the bottom of which an outlet opening is provided, one or more wings being provided at the bottom and being movable in such a way that the lower surface of the wings may sweep over the bottom at least at the area of the outlet opening, and a guide baffle being arranged in the container over the path of movement of the wing or the wings, the guide baffle being constructed so as to form together with the bottom of the container a space which converges in the direction towards the opening.

Abstract: Apparatus for positively encouraging a flow of feed from a bulk storage bin to a receiver or conveyor and for supporting the weight of feed in the bin is disclosed. A rotating disk mounted in the plane of the bin exhaust forms apertures with the bin sides and an exhaust collar. These apertures encourage flow of feed from the bin and uniform delivery to the receiver or conveyor. A wand, carried by the rotating plate, extends into the bin to dislodge feed packed or bridged across the bin exhaust opening.

Abstract: A mass of particulate material stored in a hopper is bottom unloaded and passed through several stages of aeration and fluidization to condition the material and place it in a relatively uncompacted state. The material is conditioned with a minimum of vibration of the material mass so that the mass remains a homogeneous mixture of densities and does not stratify into powdery and coarse materials. The conditioned material is fed to a distributor ring wherein it is further aerated and fluidized into an uncompacted state and moved in a uniform volumetric flow through an annular array of holes into a pneumatic conveyor. Because the material is placed in an uncompacted state while being maintained as a homogeneous mixture of densities, a very precise mass of material may be metered out as a linear function of the time of delivery. With the present system, preselected masses of material can be delivered with extremely high accuracy.