Abstract: A dispenser including a chamber having a cavity, a spout in communication with the cavity and having an inner surface, a rotatable dial in communication with the spout and having an outer surface, and wherein the dial is positioned at least partially within the spout and rotates coaxially with the spout for dispensing a product within the cavity.

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: 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 dosage-dispensing device has a drive unit and a receiver for a dosage-dispensing unit. The drive unit has a drive shaft. The dosage-dispensing unit has a delivery orifice with a closure element that is disposed in the delivery orifice. The closure element is coupled to the drive shaft when the device is in an operating state. The closure element provides the delivery orifice with an aperture cross-section that varies between a closed position and a maximally open position. To couple the drive shaft to the closure element and to open the delivery orifice, the drive unit linearly advances towards the dosage-dispensing unit. A closure spring holds the closure element in a closed position up to the point of complete coupling. To prevent premature opening of the delivery orifice during the coupling process, the drive shaft has limited linear mobility in a direction away from the dosage-dispensing unit.

Abstract: A portable ice bucket apparatus for storing and dispensing ice includes: (a) an upper bucket portion including an insulated bucket with an opening at the top of the bucket and an ice body chute opening in a bottom wall of the bucket; (b) a motorless lower stand portion, the upper bucket portion being detachably attachable to the stand portion; (c) a dispensing mechanism including a movable gate flap within the bucket portion, a spring-loaded lever, and a gate shaft and a dispensing lever within the stand portion, the dispensing lever being coupled to the gate shaft, the gate shaft being coupled to the spring-loaded lever, the gate shaft being coupled with the gate flap; and (d) a water drainage and collection mechanism including a reservoir in the stand portion, and preferably a drain valve; wherein the movable gate flap in a closed position substantially covers the ice body chute opening.

Abstract: A concrete hose end insert for controlling the discharge of concrete from a concrete hose, having a base member and clamps for securing the insert to a concrete hose end, and having a vertical insert member for positioning within the interior of a concrete hose end. The hose insert momentarily interrupts the concrete free fall, causing the concrete to recombine or partly compact immediately prior to reaching the discharge end of the hose, thereby reducing the velocity of the discharging concrete for more highly controlled placement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a paste container with a follower plate tightly sealing the open side of the container. A multiblade mixing propeller is fitted to the follower plate in such a way that it can be rotated, a short distance beneath the follower plate, around an axle (5) which juts through the middle of the plate. The paste container includes a removal device with an external drive mechanism with which paste can be removed from the container through an opening in the follower plate. The agitator blades and the removal device have the same drive mechanism. The paste container is used in particular for receiving thixotropic pastes.