Abstract: The present system is used for metered dispensing of bulk material. The system includes a hopper containing the bulk material, a base supporting the hopper, and a gate removably interposed between a hopper outlet and a base outlet. The gate rotates between positions either allowing or preventing flow of the bulk material from the hopper outlet to the base outlet. An impeller is located inside of the hopper, extending from an inner surface of the hopper to agitate the bulk material before, during, or after dispensing to ensure the hopper outlet is not blocked.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a method and apparatus for an orientation independent compressor. The subject compressor can be part of a vapor compression cycle system, and can use one or more of a variety of working fluids, including, but not limited to, refrigerants such as r-134a, r-22, CO2, and NH3. Embodiments of the compressor can utilize positive displacement apparatus to compress the vapor. In a specific embodiment, the compressor can incorporate an oil-lubricated rotary lobed type positive displacement compressor. In a further specific embodiment, the working fluid vapor can be a refrigerant, such as r-134a, incorporating entrained oil, such as miscible lubricating oils. An example of such a miscible lubricating oil that can be used is polyester (POE) oil.

Abstract: One or more processors receive hyperspectral band input, biometric input, and cognitive input as response input, from a user sampling a plurality of base foods, each base food prepared with a subset of ingredients and preparation techniques. The response input is transformed to a numeric representation of the respective input. Deep learning techniques are used to train an algorithm using the response data. A probabilistic ranking of base food is generated using unsupervised learning. Probability values of base food, ingredients, and preparation technique, associations preferred by the user, are generated, along with rules which define constraints associated with conditions for base food, ingredient, and preparation techniques, of user preferences. An objective function is generated that includes decision variables respectively aligned with constraints, and in response to optimizing the objective function, a preferred base food and ingredients, with preferred conditions of the user, is determined.

Abstract: A product dispenser is configured to dispense products subject to a warning and products not subject to a warning, the product dispenser further configured to transmit a product warning notice only in response to a request to dispense a product subject to the warning. In another embodiment, a product dispenser is configured to dispense a food or beverage product and provide information indicative of an attribute of the food or beverage product, such as nutrition facts, as it is being dispensed. In another embodiment, a product dispenser is configured to enable a user to request a customized product from the product dispenser, to determine a first profile for the customized product blend, compare the first profile to a second profile, and reformulate the customized product blend to a dispensed product blend comprising a third profile approximating the second idealized profile.

Abstract: A product dispenser is configured to dispense products subject to a warning and products not subject to a warning, the product dispenser further configured to transmit a product warning notice only in response to a request to dispense a product subject to the warning. In another embodiment, a product dispenser is configured to dispense a food or beverage product and provide information indicative of an attribute of the food or beverage product, such as nutrition facts, as it is being dispensed. In another embodiment, a product dispenser is configured to enable a user to request a customized product from the product dispenser, to determine a first profile for the customized product blend, compare the first profile to a second profile, and reformulate the customized product blend to a dispensed product blend comprising a third profile approximating the second idealized profile.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include systems and methods for providing dynamic ingredient matrix reconfiguration in a product dispenser. In one embodiment, a system can include an ingredient matrix operable to receive one or more ingredient packages within respective locations. In addition, the system can include a controller in communication with the ingredient matrix and operable to execute a set of instructions operable to receive information associated with one or more ingredient packages. Furthermore, the controller can be operable to determine at least one location within the ingredient matrix for a selected one or more ingredient packages, and output the at least one location within the ingredient matrix for insertion of selected one or more ingredient packages.

Abstract: A dispensing device for dosage of powdered material comprises a closed housing containing the powdered material and provided with a laterally displaced outlet for the dosed powdered material. An external manually operated sledge is arranged between the housing and the outlet. The sledge has a through-going pocket for containing the desired dose of the powdered material. When operating the sledge, the through-going pocket is moved from a position in the housing to a position in the outlet so as to effect dispensing of the dose of the powdered material through the action of gravity. The sledge also has an agitator including two posts and a bracket that extends between the posts for agitating the powdered material within the housing. The bracket is slightly arched and the leading edge inclines obliquely downwardly so as to press the powdered material towards the pocket when operating the sledge.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods relating to hoppers and the dispensing of bulk therefrom are provided. The hopper can include hopper walls that form a product storage receptacle. The hopper can also include a hopper door that includes a frame and a slide gate disposed within the frame. The slide gate is retractable between an open position and a closed position. A set of fingers projects from the slide gate to dislodge material proximate to the hopper door. Further, a port can be provided through at least one of the fingers of the set of fingers with the port configured to inject a fluid into the hopper.

Abstract: A hydration system comprising a dispenser portion adapted to allow a drinking fluid to flow therethrough, a sensor unit positioned to take a measurement of a flow of the drinking fluid through said dispenser portion and to output said measurement, a logic unit in communication with the sensor portion to receive said measurement output, to set a target consumption over time based on a multidimensional profile of a user's physical body information, and to determine if the user's consumption meets the target consumption based upon the measurement.

Abstract: A chute assembly for a system configured to dispense objects from a bulk supply of such objects includes: an elongate chute having an open bottom end; a dispensing assembly slidably mounted to a bottom end portion of the chute, the dispensing assembly including a sleeve that receives the bottom end portion of the chute and a door mounted thereto, the sleeve being slidable between a staging position, in which the door covers the bottom end of the chute and thereby stages objects in the bottom end portion of the chute, and a dispensing position, in which the door moves away from the bottom end of the chute to enable objects staged in the bottom end portion of the chute to be dispensed from the chute; and an agitation unit coupled to the dispensing assembly, the agitation unit configured to impart energy to objects staged in the bottom end of the sleeve as the sleeve moves to the dispensing position.

Abstract: A powder dispensing device is disclosed according to various embodiments. The powder dispenser includes a gravity bin configured to contain powder with a top opening and a smaller bottom opening. A housing coupled with and located beneath the gravity bin includes a top portion with a dosage portal. The dosage portal of the housing and the bottom opening of the gravity bin are substantially vertically misaligned. A slider that includes a dosage chamber with an opening in both the top surface and the bottom surface is included. The slider is configured to move between a first position and a second position. In the first position the dosage chamber is substantially aligned with the dosage portal of the housing and in the second position the dosage chamber is substantially aligned with the bottom opening of the gravity bin. An actuator moves the slider between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: A dispenser having an agitator for bulk product. The dispenser comprises a housing, a handle pivotally connected to the housing, a door connected to the handle and adapted to pivot between a closed position and an open position to selectively dispense the bulk product through an opening in the housing, and an agitator disposed within the housing and connected to the door. The agitator moves when the handle is pivoted, enabling the bulk product to flow by gravity toward the opening.

Abstract: A paint dispensing system including a container having a moveable piston contained therein wherein a paint containing area is defined between the piston and a portion of the container. A dispenser extends through an opening formed in the piston and by moving the piston against paint contained within the container results in paint being forced into the dispenser where the paint moves through the dispenser and through the piston to an outlet where the paint is dispensed.

Abstract: A fluid container having a timepiece incorporated into or attached to the body of the container for holding liquids in the container and displaying various time functions from the timepiece. The fluid container can be of a variety of styles, shapes and sizes, including bottles, jugs and cups. A removable, sealable cap portion can attach to the fluid container to seal the fluid therein. Straws, pop-up mechanisms and other apparatuses for withdrawing fluid from inside the fluid container can be used. The timepiece can be located anywhere on the container body and can display the time of day, elapsed time, date and similar time information. The timepiece can also include a stopwatch function.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for producing seasoned food products where seasoning is performed at individual packaging lines. The product is conveyed from the preparation area to a packaging area in an unseasoned condition. Upon reaching the packaging lines, which are disposed in packaging departments in the packaging area, the product can be selectively seasoned independent of other packaging lines. After seasoning, the product is packaged and prepared for delivery. At each packaging line, a volumetric feeder includes a feed head that cooperates with a tumbler having helical flights to produce continuous controlled product portions. A seasoning dispenser is positionable within the tumbler and can be adjusted to dispense a given weight of seasoning at a given rate, based on the amount of product passing through the tumbler, to obtain consistent seasoning levels and coverage.

Abstract: A feeding device includes a casing with a bottom and a container above the bottom. The bottom has a first opening extending therethrough while the container has an outlet adjacent to the bottom which lies on a straight line drawn across the first opening of the bottom. A food-carrying plate is provided between the container and the bottom and has a second opening which is aligned with the outlet of the container. An inverted U-shaped covering member includes a base disposed above the plate and has two arms connected to the bottom. The container is mounted on the base of the covering member. The covering member has a third opening formed through the base. The third opening is communicated with the outlet of the container and is aligned with the second opening of the food-carrying plate when the latter is not activated.

Abstract: A dispenser for granulated materials and powdered materials is disclosed having a hopper contained within a base mounting which dispenses material to a receiving cup. A manually operated sliding plate valve starts and stops the flow of material into the cup. Overflow is prevented by maintaining the receiving cup within close proximity to the mounting via runners extending from the top of the cup. Both the cup runners and sliding plate are slidably held adjacent the mounting via interior and exterior channels attached thereto.

Abstract: A miniaturized microwave transmission link comprises short links of dielectric coated fine wire overlying a ground plane between signal coupling/launching pins of MICs. A dielectric cap is provided at each wire-pin termination and a layer of conductive foil is pressed onto the overall structure to form a conformal tunnel/channel microwave transmission line configuration. The resulting tunneline, and/or channeline transmission line structure may connect MICs in a compact housing or provide access from external terminals to leads in a IC chip.

Abstract: An ice cube storage bin located beneath an automatic ice maker of a domestic refrigerator contains a pair of elongated ice dispensing rams that reciprocate along parallel lines, one of the rams moving toward the front of the bin, as the other moves toward the rear. The rams are interconnected by a pulley mounted belt that pulls one ram to the rear of the bin, as the other ram is pushed toward the front of the bin by a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism includes a pair of cam discs eccentrically mounted in opposed relation on a common motor shaft located outside of the bin adjacent its rear wall. A pair of resilient lever arms, having their top ends pivotally mounted to the outside of the rear wall of the bin and their bottom ends pivotally connected to the rearward ends of the rams which extend from the interior of the bin, are engaged at their intermediate portions by the rotating cam discs wherein the rams are alternately pushed by the bottom ends of the lever arms toward the front of the bin.

Abstract: A container for dispensing food includes a hopper having an inlet at its top and an outlet at its bottom, a gate slidably mounted on the hopper for opening and closing the outlet, and an actuator handle pivotally mounted on the hopper and engageable with the gate for moving the gate. The gate includes an upstanding projection that agitates the food in the hopper as the gate is moved, and the front wall of the hopper includes a plurality of flexible fingers that operate to meter the flow of food through the outlet. The gate may only be slid to an open position if a latching mechanism is first unlocked.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for moving particulate material such as alumina toward an outlet to a container while minimizing dispersion of dust into the atmosphere. The apparatus includes at least one coil spring which is disposed generally horizontally in the container with one end anchored to the container and the other end, which is disposed near the outlet, connected to a lever arm and crank for cyclically extending and contracting the spring. Such cyclic extension and contraction of the spring moves or at least encourages the flow of the particulate material to the outlet for gravity discharge therefrom and essentially eliminates problems of bridging and rat holes in the material.

Abstract: A multiple automatic metering device particularly suitable for metering and admixing paints and able to meter exact quantities of various base colors so as to be able to obtain an extremely wide range of shades. The device comprises a series of units consisting of a container for the color and of a metering head connected therewith. The device can be programmed to assure the duplication of the metering operation and to insure uniformity of the color of various batches of final product.

Abstract: A bin with a hopper bottom is provided for storing and dispensing dog food, including a sliding gate located at the bottom of the hopper for regulating flow of dog food from the bin. The gate includes a solid center section which prohibits flow of dog food from the bin when positioned across the outlet hole at the bottom of the hopper, an opening which allows dog food to flow from the bin when positioned in alignment with the outlet hole, and handle means on its forward end projecting out the front of the dog food dispenser for convenient manual operation. The sliding gate also includes unique forms of agitators connected thereto and protruding upwardly through the outlet hole and into the bin in such a way as to agitate the dog food in the vicinity of the outlet hole as the gate is slidably moved thereby breaking down bridging of the dog food particles and encouraging smooth flow of the dog food from the bin.

Abstract: In a dispenser for powdered products, the bottom wall of the storage container comprises a stationary outlet spout forming a measuring chamber and cooperating with a horizontally displaceable valve member having upper and lower walls to obstruct the upper and lower ends of the spout in respective extreme positions of the valve member. The upper wall of the valve member is integral with an agitator member that is slidable along an inclined section of the bottom wall of the container.

Abstract: A low profile material carrier which, in a preferred embodiment, comprises a grain trailer with a low rear opening for dumping. Most of the load, approximately 80%, dumps through the opening under the influence of gravity. The remaining portion of the load is assisted through the opening by a unique vibrator assembly attached to an interior sloping surface of the trailer. The assembly includes an elongated vibrator bar, which extends the length of and is parallel to the downwardly sloping surface of the trailer which leads to the opening. A motor driven shaft having a plurality of eccentric weights positioned thereon is located intermediate the vibrator bar and the inclined bottom surface and is attached to the bar by a plurality of bearings. Upon actuation of the motor, the shaft, and hence the bar, are vibrated so as to serve as a direct stimulus for the emptying of the material in contact therewith.

Abstract: A dispenser is provided to supply fine particulate to xerographic machines utilizing a reciprocal force to drive the dispensing means and anti-caking arms extending inside the cartridge to reciprocate through the body of particulate. A dispensing means is opposed corrugated members biased together which, on relative reciprocation, cam apart to discharge the particulate.

Abstract: An ice piece dispenser comprising a storage container having a longitudinally extending trough in its bottom wall with an ice dispensing closure means at the front end of the trough. A motor driven ram is positioned in the trough for combined reciprocating and oscillating travel wherein the ram has a stepped upper surface with a vertically extending ice piece agitating fin member formed integrally on one of the ram steps. The fin member is operative, in conjunction with the container's sloped front wall chute, to break-up ice piece clusters upon the forward thrust of the ram and whereby the ice pieces exert a downward gravitational force on inclined edges of the fin to maintain the ram in sliding contact with the trough base during its forward thrust.