Abstract: A method is presented for indicating the dispensing of a predetermined amount of a material in a dispenser having a dispenser device which dispenses the material during periods of operation and frequency or intensity which can be varied. The inventive method includes determining the amount of time the dispenser device is operational; calculating a dispensing score representative of the time of operation of the dispenser device multiplied by a factor representative of the frequency or intensity of dispensing; and producing a signal indicating the dispensing of the predetermined amount of the material to be dispensed when the dispensing score is at least equal to a predetermined total score required for dispensing a predetermined amount of material. A dispenser incorporating such method is also described.

Abstract: A powder dispenser includes a powder housing for holding a supply of powdered material to be dispensed, the powder housing including an inhalation conduit provided displaced relation to the powdered material supply; a metering plate including a metered dose hole for holding a metered amount of the powdered material, and positioned below the powdered material supply, the metering plate and the powder housing being relatively rotatable with respect to each other about a common central axis; a counter providing a visual count of the number of doses of the powdered material that have been dispensed or remain to be dispensed in response to the relative rotation, the counter including counter rings providing the visual count, the counter rings being rotatable about the common central axis and having indicia thereon which display the visual count, and an actuating mechanism rotatable about the central axis for incrementally rotating the counter rings in response to the relative rotation; a nozzle for breaking up agg

Abstract: A counter device attachment for a depressible spray dispenser for products such as medicine. The dispenser comprises a clip to fit about the side wall of the dispenser's casing, a foot-leg positioned beneath the dispenser and connected to the clip, and a counter actuated by the shaft which moves within a shaft housing, wherein a button on the counter is incremented each time the tank is depressed. The length of the vertical shaft is adjustable by controlling the rotation of the top end of the shaft which is mateably threaded to the bottom end of the shaft. The bottom end of the shaft can be threaded within the top end of the shaft or vice-versa. The clip can alternatively be curved or have a dimpled surface which may contact another dimple through a hole in the side of the dispenser. A second embodiment features the counter located beneath the dispenser which is also incremented each time the tank is depressed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of counting dispensing events or washes in a fluid dispenser in which an activator is moved from a starting position to a dispensing position and back to dispense material includes a counter which is indexable to record a dispensing event only after dispensing pressure is totally relieved from the activator for a predetermined period of time. The counter is activated by a resilient member which is compressed by the activator but delays its full return to its starting state until compression is totally removed for the predetermined period of time. Only after elapse of this period of time is the counter activated.

Abstract: A medication dispensing apparatus comprising a liquid container having an open end and a cap assembly engagably removable from the open end of the container. The cap assembly comprises an external cap having a lower end, an inner fixing element adapted to be fitted into the open end of the liquid container and connected to the lower end of the external cap. The cap assembly further comprises a dropper connected through the inner fixing element and having a fluid passageway and activation element for aspirating liquid from the container into the dropper.

Abstract: A discharge apparatus (1) having a storing and indicating device (20), which is operated by the discharge actuating means (5) and is also adjustable in a single direction by direct manual actuation of a further actuator (23). Thus, indicating symbols of different scales (40) can be rendered visible in such a way that an indication or display advantageous for numerous applications is provided.

Abstract: A discharge apparatus (1) has an indicator (37) indexable independently of the discharge actuating means (5) and which is solely formed by a single additional component, mounted by means of a snap connection (24) and in the form of a sleeve-like body (21), which carries a scale (40) behind a jacket of the actuating cap (19) rotatable in stepwise manner by means of a catch system (29) and provided with an indicating window (38).

Abstract: A manually operable discharge apparatus (1) has a counting or determination device (20) to be mounted as a separate component on the discharge unit (2) and which is operated stepwise by the removal or fitting of a protective cap (23). Thus, existing discharge apparatuses (1) can be easily equipped with randomly operating determination devices (20).

Abstract: The device comprises a distributor provided with an operating member for a counting device of doses of fluid associated with a mouth of a container, a ring nut for fastening the distitributor onto the mouth and resilient element suitable for transforming the translatory motion of said operating member with respect to the ring nut in a rotatory and axially reciprocating motion of a rotating and axially translatable element to cause the appearance of a different numerical index provided on the rotating element at an observation position obtained in the control member.

Abstract: A portion monitor for mounting on a liquid dispensing appratus having a body, a pivotable open and closing mechanism connected to the slidable liquid control stem, a separate control box, the portion monitor comprised of a magnet installed in the end of the liquid control stem closest to said pivotable open and closing mechanism, a Hall effect digital switch supported opposite the end of the slidable liquid control stem nearest the pivotable open and closing mechanism, said magnet energizing said Hall effect digital switch when the slidable liquid control stem is in the open position and turn off said Hall effect digital switch when the liquid control stem is in the closed position.

Abstract: A system for monitoring ink flow from an ink storage tank to at least one ink fountain of a high-speed, web-fed printing press employing a scale for measuring the weight of the ink storage tank and comparing weight signals from the scale at successive times to determine the weight of ink consumed over the interval between readings. A pump is associated with the storage tank for pumping the ink to the fountain via coupling lines. An ink level sensor detects the level of ink in the fountain and provides an ink demand signal for operating a value means in the ink coupling line to in turn cause ink flow to the fountain so as to provide replenishment of ink thereat. With the use of plural fountains, means are provided for prioritizing delivery to the fountains so that individual ink comsumption on a per fountain basis can be determined. In this regard, the system also employs a volume sensor preferably in the form of a pump stroke positon sensor for determining incremental weight delivery per stroke.

Abstract: A device is described for indicating the number of doses dispensed from an aerosol container (2, 102) having an outlet valve member (4, 104) movable relative to the body of the container to dispense its contents in measured doses. Relative movement between the aerosol container body and the outlet member are detected by a ratchet wheel (14, 114) and ratchet driving member (11A, 111) which move with the body and outlet member respectively or vice versa. The ratchet wheel may in turn drive an indicating member in the form of a linear rack (20, 119, 120) or rotatable wheel (116).

Abstract: A returnable container system for containing and dispensing liquid chemicals and the like. The system has a drivable reciprocatable pump and a one-way check valve in the suction tube of the system. An attachable assembly unit is provided which includes a rod extension that is reciprocatably driven by a motor and is attachable to the pump rod for the drive of the pump and which includes a counter for indicating the amount of chemicals dispensed from the container. The container system gives the user the option of using the system in a first condition in which the assembly unit is attached or in a second condition in which the assembly unit is detached and the user uses his own separate pump but utilizes the one-way check valve in the suction tube.

Abstract: A system for monitoring ink flow from an ink storage tank to at least one ink fountain of a high-speed, web-fed printing press employing a scale for measuring the weight of the ink storage tank and comparing weight signals from the scale at successive times to determine the weight of ink consumed over the interval between readings. A pump is associated with the storage tank for pumping the ink to the fountain via coupling lines. An ink level sensor detects the level of ink in the fountain and provides an ink demand signal for operating a valve means in the ink coupling line to in turn cause ink flow to the fountain so as to provide replenishment of ink thereat. With the use of plural fountains, means are provided for prioritizing delivery to the fountains so that individual ink consumption on a per fountain basis can be determined. In this regard, the system also employs a volume sensor preferably in the form of a pump stroke position sensor for determining incremental weight delivery per stroke.

Abstract: A dosing mechanism in the form of a manually operable, single-acting piston pump, which dispenses a given quantity of a substance, e.g. in atomized form, during each actuating stroke has a counter. For this purpose, a counting ring mounted in rotary manner on a base part is provided, which is advanced by one step per actuating stroke by an indexing device with cooperating and correspondingly bevelled ribs, so that in each case a different character in the counting ring appears at a window in the actuating pusher casing. Two projections cooperating with one another in a given position of the counting ring form a locking device against further actuation of the atomizing pump, when a given number of strokes have been performed.

Abstract: The invention is an improved liquid measuring device which can be used as a proportioner, dispenser or flow meter for a single fluid or for an unlimited number of fluids. The device embodies a free-floating piston sealed within a cylinder capped at both ends, a high-resolution detector system, either optical or electrical, to accurately determine the piston location within the cylinder, and a microprocessor which converts the lateral movement of the piston within the cylinder into volume measurements of the fluid in the cylinder.

Abstract: A meter for a liquid dispenser of the type having an axially movable plunger. The meter includes a housing detachably mountable on the dispenser. The housing has a bore in which is engaged a sleeve on the dispenser. An annular space is provided, coaxially of the bore. In this space is provided a cylindrical actuating member, the base of which is formed as a striker. Upward sliding movement of member actuates hollow plunger so that liquid is dispensed through an aperture. Upward movement of the member also causes an operating member secured to a counter to turn, thereby advancing the counter by one digit. A spring loaded interlocking member is adapted to prevent upward movement of the actuating member if the meter is removed from the dispenser.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for metering particulate material from a source and transferring it to another location. The metering apparatus is primarily designed to supply a supplement or supplemental component to animal feed to obtain accurate control over the quantity of supplement and uniform distribution of it. The apparatus includes a bin with a gate which can be reciprocated across a discharge opening with the stroke of the gate being variable. The apparatus has an improved drive arrangement and improved controls for regulating the amount of feed which are more reliable and less subject to malfunction than those heretofore known.

Abstract: A method of dispensing baby milk powder which comprises compacting the powder to its maximum extent in a measuring chamber, which comprises a tubular member housing a plunger so that the chamber is defined between the plunger and an open end of the tubular member, and actuating the plunger to dispense the measured contents, and a dispenser for carrying out the method and being designed to indicate when maximum compaction of the baby milk powder in the measuring chamber is achieved.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for dosing a liquid product into water, particularly for dosing a liquid detergent product into the water stream fed to domestic washing machines. The apparatus is driven by the water pressure and therefore consists of two hydraulic pressure chambers into which the water is alternately directed. In these chambers two rigidly connected pistons are moved. The pistons are connected to the housing by membrane seals. On one side of the apparatus a pumping part with a pumping chamber is located, into which one of the pistons can move. The pumping chamber is provided with a non-return valve for unidirectionally controlling the flow of the liquid product from a reservoir and with another non-return valve for unidirectionally feeding the liquid product into the water stream in the common outlet pipe. The pistons are connected to an electrically controlled valve assembly for alternatively directing the water stream to one of the two hydraulic pressure chambers.

Abstract: A developer for an electrostatic reproduction machine has a dump door for opening and closing a discharge opening in the bottom of the developer. The door has two parallel channels formed therein and an actuator rod formed so that a portion of the actuator rod is slidably retained within each channel. The dump door is mounted to pivot about one of the channels toward and away from the discharge opening, a short support rod pivotally supporting one end of the door, and one end of the actuator rod supporting the other end of the door. The one end of the actuator rod is formed into a loop, the tip of which can be inserted into or removed from either of two openings in the developer housing by sliding the actuator rod in the channels. By inserting this tip into one of these openings, the dump door is locked in either an open or closed position. A switch mounted adjacent the support rod is closed to cause a count to be registered on a counter each time the dump door is opened.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing system which will deliver a precise, pre-set quantity of a selected beverage at each actuation. The system is operated by low pressure gas from a quickly replaceable source, and utilizes a controlled stroke piston pump which is driven and returned by the pressurized gas. All the valves for automatic operation of the punp are contained in the compact pump housing, but the gas and liquid sections are completely isolated to avoid contamination. The pump and valve unit contains a minimum of parts, all of which are readily accessible for cleaning and servicing. An automatic count of operations is maintained and the system shuts off when the liquid level is too low for a full serving.