Abstract: A liquid heater includes at least a pair of electrodes each of which having an electrically conducting surface and being spaced apart from each other. The liquid heater also includes a first heating passage defined, at least in part, by the electrically conducting surfaces of the electrodes. Electrical power to the liquid heater is provided by an electrical power supplier configured to draw an alternating electrical current having a frequency less than or substantially equal to 60 Hz and supply an alternating electrical voltage having a frequency substantially equal to or higher than 50 Hz across the electrodes. The electrodes are arranged to make electrical contacts with liquid received into the heating passage. The liquid in the heating passage generates heat when an electric current flows through the liquid and between electrodes.

Abstract: In a fluid pump and cartridge assembly, a cartridge includes a material inlet port, a material outlet port, and a feed screw. The feed screw delivers fluid to be dispensed from the fluid inlet to the outlet port. The fluid inlet is preferably elongated in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the feed screw to enhance consistency in material flow through the cartridge. The feed screw is preferably driven by a closed-loop servo motor to achieve high-performance dispensing resolution. The assembly is preferably compatible with fixed-z and floating-z cartridges.

Abstract: An actuator is used to dispense a medicament from a container having at least a first and second portion. The actuator includes a holder, a trigger member and a push member. The holder is adapted to engage at least the first portion of the container. The trigger member is pivotally connected to the holder at a pivot axis, wherein the trigger member is pivotable about the pivot axis in a first direction toward the grippable portion and a second direction opposite the first direction. The push member is connected to the trigger member, wherein the push member is pivotable about the pivot axis in the first direction as the trigger member is pivoted in the first direction and wherein the push member is pivotable about the pivot axis in the second direction as the trigger member is pivoted in the second direction. The push member is adapted to move at least the second portion of the container relative to the holder as the push member is pivoted in the first direction.

Abstract: A fluid product dispensing device comprising a reservoir (B), a pump (P) including two pump elements adapted to slide relative to each other in a longitudinal direction and an outer casing (R) provided with a nozzle (10) dispensing the product and an actuator for expelling a dose of product through the nozzle each time an action is exerted by the user of the actuator which comprises a pressing element (7, 8) accessible from outside the casing (R) and a force returning member, the pressing member being mobile substantially transversely to press on the force returning member between two longitudinal end parts, the transformation by the force returning member of the thrust force (F) exerted by the user into a longitudinal sliding force (F2) increasing while the thrust is being exerted.

Abstract: A magnetic powder feeding method for feeding magnetic powder into a cavity of a pressing apparatus includes the steps of: providing magnetic powder outside of the cavity; forming a magnetic field in a space including the cavity; and moving the magnetic powder into the cavity using a force exerted on the magnetic powder by the magnetic field, while the magnetic powder is oriented in a direction of the magnetic field. In the method, the step of moving of the magnetic powder into the inside of the cavity is performed after the start of the application of the magnetic field.

Abstract: An apparatus and corresponding method for purifying water is described. The apparatus includes a supporting housing, a source of power, a filter device containing at least one interchangeable filter unit having one or more filter elements, a mechanism for driving water through the filter device and a timing mechanism for monitoring elapsed time of operation and a mechanism for monitoring cumulative volume of water having flowed through the filter device which are each coupled to a filter memory. The mechanism for driving water through the filter device includes a cylinder holder on which an interchangeable gas pressure cylinder can be mounted, a gas release mechanism housed in the cylinder holder, a flow regulator and conduits connecting the other components together.

Abstract: In some aspects a process for forming deodorant or antiperspirant soft solid in which a mobile deodorant or antiperspirant composition is filled into dispensing containers by injection moulding, i.e. a process in which the deodorant or antiperspirant composition is filled under pressure. The composition at the time of injection moulding is preferably in the vicinity of its normal setting temperature. The deodorant or antiperspirant composition is preferably continuously produced in a screw extruder, especially a twin screw extruder, which is controlled to deliver the composition in a suitably viscous state under low shear, at a temperature in the vicinity of its normal setting temperature. Use of the twin screw extruder is particularly advantageous for formulations in which a particulate antiperspirant is suspended in a fluid carrier.

Abstract: A magnetic powder feeding method for feeding magnetic powder into a cavity of a pressing apparatus includes the steps of: providing magnetic powder outside of the cavity; forming a magnetic field in a space including the cavity; and moving the magnetic powder into the cavity using a force exerted on the magnetic powder by the magnetic field, while the magnetic powder is oriented in a direction of the magnetic field. In the method, the step of moving of the magnetic powder into the inside of the cavity is performed after the start of the application of the magnetic field.

Abstract: Impure portions such as air bubbles and gelled portions in a liquid are removed so that the liquid can be discharged with improved cleanliness. Under condition that a return flow path and a liquid discharge flow path are closed, a pump chamber is expanded, thereby sucking the liquid in a liquid container portion into a pump chamber through a filter. Under condition that a vent port of the filter and the return flow path are opened and a liquid introducing flow path, the liquid discharge flow path, and a pump inlet flow path are closed, the pump chamber is contracted, thereby returning the liquid in the pump chamber toward the filter so that air in the filter is exhausted to the outside. Under condition that the return flow path and the pump inlet flow path are closed, the pump chamber is contracted, thereby discharging the liquid from the nozzle.

Abstract: An essentially non-electric automatic fluid dispensing system is provided wherein a first induced pressure induces flow of a first fluid, which in the preferred embodiment is a liquid sanitizer. The system further divides the first fluid into a first divided fluid and second divided fluid, said first divided fluid inducing flow into a second fluid located in an airtight container for the second fluid, a regulator valve for varying the second divided fluid, a dispensing valve for displacing the second fluid from the said container under pressure and for varying the flow rate of the said displaced second fluid, and connector for impressing the displaced fluid into a receiving line which in the preferred embodiment is a water circulation circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus for metering out viscous compositions includes a metering chamber (12) for metering out the viscous composition, a driving mechanism (16), which drives a displacer disposed in the metering chamber, an inlet valve (32), which is connected upstream from the metering chamber (12) and an outlet valve (38), which is connected downstream from the metering chamber (12) and, after the metering chamber (12) is filled, is opened up for discharging the metered-out viscous composition from the metering chamber (12). A threaded rod (14) is disposed longitudinally displaceably as displacer in the metering chamber (12). The threaded rod (14) is rotationally guided coaxially in a hollow shaft (18) of an electric motor (16) and engaged by way of threads with the hollow shaft (18).

Abstract: A replaceable valve system for a fluid dispenser having a container with an opening for slidingly receiving the valve system, including an outer sleeve having an inlet end and an outlet end and being slidable in the container opening, the outer sleeve having a valve seat adjacent the inlet end thereof, a plunger slidable in the outer sleeve and having an internal passage for fluid flow from an inlet end to an outlet end, a one way valve positioned adjacent the inlet end for permitting fluid flow from the plunger inlet end to the outlet end while blocking fluid flow from the outlet end to the inlet end, an inner sleeve carried within the outer sleeve, a first spring carried between the plunger and inner sleeve urging the plunger and inner sleeve away from each other, a second valve positioned within the inner sleeve, a second spring positioned between the second valve and inner sleeve urging the second valve into sealing engagement with the outer sleeve valve seat for blocking fluid flow from the outer sleeve

Abstract: A dental composition, such as a paste or gel dentifrice containing triclosan, as an antibacterial agent which acts to decrease plaque on the teeth, and polyphosphate for anti-tartar actions, is packaged in a finger actuatable pump-type plastic dispensing container which is made of or includes a solid polymeric material, such as a polyfluoroethylene, which is compatible with triclosan, so that excessive loss of its anti-plaque activity on storage is avoided, which losses have been noted when various other plastics have been employed as dispensing container component materials. Alternatively, others of such plastic may be employed for dispensing container parts when a stabilizer, such as a terpene, e.g., limonene, is present in the dentifrice.

Abstract: The invention relates to creating an optical illusion of fluid or water in a display device which shows a solid water stream with undulations that rises, levitates or falls slowly. The illusion can be viewed under certain circumstances in ordinary room lighting. Also, the solid water stream with undulations can simultaneously transform into a set of rising, levitating or falling water droplets. The entire illusion may be examined and even touched by the audience.

Abstract: A valve bag filling apparatus that combines an auger-type feed and an air pressure-type feed in a unitary filling system for filling valve bags with flowable particulate material at higher speed and with greater accuracy. A concentric tube configuration is used to deliver such material at high speed into the bag during a major portion of the filling cycle with both feed systems acting simultaneously. A novel cutoff tube closes an annular air feed passage during the final portion of the filling cycle when the auger feed portion of the system completes the bag filling operation at a highly accurate and readily controlled low feed rate. Air purge jets clear the air passage of remaining material during the final portion of the filling cycle. A unique fluidizing section of the apparatus aerates the product and feeds it into both the auger and air passage during high speed filling.

Abstract: The toothpaste dispensing apparatus of my invention comprises an enclosure which houses multiple separate tube holders for holding the tubes of paste. It, also, contains a reversible motor connected by a worm screw to a holder containing a pair of movable rollers for dispensing tooth paste, shaving cream, etc. from any of its multiple positions. The paste is discharged at the bottom of the inner tube holder by a squeezing pressure exerted upon the tube by the pair of rollers which moves downward over the inner tube holder. This device is equipped with a switch for automatically reversing the downward direction of the rollers when the contents of the tube have been exhausted. A most unique feature is the provision for housing several tubes and the selector knob, which allows the operator to choose either one of the several tubes on which to operate without having to dismantle or load or unload the device.

Abstract: A diagnostic radiology preparation for injestion by patients, which preparation comprises a radio opaque substance such as barium sulphate, a carrier such as water and a dissolved and/or absorbed gas such as carbon dioxide. The gas is present in an amount such that it is released when the preparation is ingested.

Abstract: Cookie dough in a dough hopper is extruded through a die by means of a pair of dough rolls, and the extruded dough is separated into a plurality of cookie-shaped deposits employing a cutoff wire reciprocated beneath the die. After each movement of the cutoff wire, a conveyor carrying a tray moves a short distance for spacing the dough deposits on the tray. The dough rolls are operated independently from the cutoff wire and conveyor so that a variable quantity of dough can be extruded for each deposit, and a time delay is provided for operation of the cutoff wire such that a sufficient quantity of dough is extruded before initial severing of the dough.

Abstract: A dosing device for germ-free measuring and filling of liquid material into containers. The dosing device has a dosing pump situated between a material supply chamber and a material filling chamber. In particular the pump has an extended chamber which permits freeing of the pump piston during sterilization. The supply chamber, the extended chamber and the filling chamber are interconnected by rigidly arranged channels, and the upper part of the supply chamber is connected through a further chamber of the pump to the filling chamber for placing these chambers in contact with a sterile atmosphere.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus are disclosed for manufacturing a novel adhesive product. The product is a pair of substrates adhered together by compressed hot melt adhesive foam. The foam is created by first mixing a chemical blowing agent, such as powdered azodicarbonamide, into the solid hot melt adhesive at a temperature below the decomposition temperature of the blowing agent. Subsequently, the solid adhesive and powdered blowing agent are heated to a temperature above the melting temperature of the solid adhesive and above the decomposition temperature of the blowing agent while confining the molten mixture under pressure in order to force the gas generated by the decomposition of the blowing agent into solution with the liquid adhesive. The liquid adhesive is subsequently dispensed at atmospheric pressure with the result that the gas is released from the solution and becomes entrapped in the adhesive to form a homogenous closed cellular adhesive foam.