Abstract: A method of manufacture of a barrage unit comprising providing a chamber having an outer wall having at least one aperture therein; providing a liner layer proximate to the aperture; blowing the fibers of a fibrous material into the chamber whilst providing an absorbent crystalline material to the chamber such that the two mix and exit the aperture onto the liner forming a pad; and, providing a further liner layer on the pad.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drum mixer wherein a drum containing a mixable product and rotatably mounted on a frame and a drive for rotating the drum about the axis of rotation thereof, wherein the mixer is provided with an extraction line which receives the mixable product from the drum by the extracting opening thereof through the front filling opening of the drum. The aim of the invention is to provide an advantageous structural design. For this purpose, the invention provides for a support connected to the frame to which the extraction line, which is projected in the mixable product of the drum is fixed, preferably rigidly, in such a way that forces are removed at least partially.

Abstract: Inside a driven cylindrical housing 23 that is a cylindrical rotation member 13, a liquid to be mixed 4 is caused to become an inner circulation current f by extruded plate portions 24A-24D. Discharge ports 22A-22D formed in the cylindrical housing 21 discharge a portion of the inner circulation current f outward as outer discharge current d1-d4 by centrifugal force. At the same time, the outer portion of the liquid to be mixed 4 is sucked into suction ports 23, 30 as suction current e1-e3, h1-h4, thus mixing the liquid to be mixed 4 in the mixing tank 3.

Abstract: A method to impregnate a porous bone replacement material (1) with a liquid impregnating agent (5), wherein a) the bone replacement material (1) is or will be enclosed in a chamber (2) with two openings (3, 4) that can be closed, b) the impregnating agent (5) is introduced into the chamber (2) until the bone replacement material (1) is at least partly immersed in the impregnating agent (5), c) one of the two openings (3, 4) will be closed, d) the chamber (2) is evacuated at least partly via the other, open, opening (4, 3), so that the air contained in the pores of the bone replacement material (1) is at least partly removed from it, e) the vacuum produced in the chamber is terminated again by supplying air or a gas through one of the openings (3, 4), and f) the vacuum produced in the pores of the bone replacement material (1) is terminated by the impregnating agent (5) penetrating into the pores of the bone replacement material (1) immersed into the impregnating agent (5).

Abstract: There are provided method and apparatus for manufacturing a polarizable electrode for electric double layer capacitor is provided which is capable of preventing porosities, cracks, or breakage of a sheet as much as possible when molding materials are formed into a sheet form and improving the yield of the molding materials. The manufacturing apparatus is used before granulated molding materials that are finely divided and crushed are moved to a calendar molding machine 3. The apparatus includes a mixing machine 1, a vibrating sieve 2, and a vibrating feeder 4. In the mixing machine 1, when the granulated molding materials are mixed with IPA as a binding assistant in a hermetically sealed mixing container 9, they are agitated by agitating blades 11. With this, even when during the mixing, the granulated molding materials adhere with each other to form lumps, the lumps are crushed by the agitation of the agitating blades 11 so that the molding materials are disintegrated into smaller particles.

Abstract: In some aspects, an apparatus and method churning butter out of multi-component raw material are provided. The movement of the raw material develops energy that churns the raw material into butter.

Abstract: A metering and dispensing closure for a container wherein two rotatable disks rotate in conjunction with a stationary cap member to afford accurate measuring of a powder material and dispensing of it. The disks and the container cap afford a consistent measuring of the powder material, as well as provide a variety of drive members which can be utilized with the dispensing closure.

Abstract: An automated analyzer for performing multiple diagnostic assays simultaneously includes multiple stations, or modules, in which discrete aspects of the assay are performed on fluid samples contained in reaction receptacles. The analyzer includes stations for automatically preparing a specimen sample, incubating the sample at prescribed temperatures for prescribed periods, performing an analyte isolation procedure, and ascertaining the presence of a target analyte. An automated receptacle transporting system moves the reaction receptacles from one station to the next.

Abstract: According to the method of an aspect of the present invention, by forming the laminated body of the liquids by laminating a plurality of liquids after discharging the plurality of liquids from a central portion of the rotational stage onto the rotational stage and rotating the rotational stage after the formation, the centrifugal force by the rotation enables the laminated body to form a thin layer. Accordingly, because the diffusion between the layers can be executed rapidly in the latter mixing process, a mixing of liquids is allowed to advance immediately.

Abstract: The agitator of the present invention comprises: a drive source; a differential unit; a rotation-direction switching unit; and a brake unit. The drive source generates rotational driving forces. The differential unit and rotation-direction switching unit are positioned in a driving-force transmission path between agitation vessels containing agitation-target material. The brake unit alternately stops the rotation of two rotating shafts extended from the differential unit. Here, the differential unit of the agitator has functions of receiving the rotational driving forces from the drive source and transmitting the rotational driving forces to the two rotating shafts in a differential manner. The rotation-direction switching unit has a function of inverting the rotation direction of the rotational driving forces transmitted to the agitation vessel while the rotation of the rotating shaft is being stopped by a brake.

Abstract: A orbital shaker for cell extraction includes a digestion chamber and structure for translating the digestion chamber. Structure is also provided for rotating the digestion chamber. A method of performing cell extraction is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for continuously producing HIPR silicone in water emulsions are disclosed. The methods use low shear devices, and thus the temperature of the emulsions is kept low, while enhanced particle size and viscosity are obtained.

Abstract: A weigh batch blender including a hopper pivotally mounted within a housing and having two compartments between which ingredient materials which have been individually introduced into the hopper are transferred to blend the ingredient materials as the hopper is pivoted between two "mix" positions at the ends of the pivotal range of the hopper. After blending, the hopper is moved to beyond one of the ends of pivotal movement of the hopper to dump the blended ingredient material contents of the hopper.

Abstract: A composting toilet comprising a housing having a seat disposed about an opening communicating with an aeration drum for receiving human waste matter. The drum is rotatably-mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis oriented horizontally inside the housing. A removable receptacle adapted to receive decomposed solid waste matter from the aeration drum for periodic removal from the toilet is also provided. The aeration drum has a narrow front end for receiving and discharging waste, and a wide rear end extending radially outwardly from the front end. The rear end has liquid outlets in fluid communication with the housing and a gas outlet is disposed opposite the liquid outlets to cause an airflow through the composting solid waste and for venting any gases which enter the aeration drum or are formed through decomposition inside the drum.

Abstract: A method of treating sewage sludge is provided, in which the sludge is mixed with an alkaline material in such a way as to provide intimate surface contact that enables the alkaline material to permeate even small particles of the sludge, and to deliver the resultant product in a granular, scatterable form. The sludge and alkaline material are delivered to a mixing chamber and are confronted therein with a screw type mixer having generally helical flighting carried by a shaft, with the mixer being rotatably driven in generally horizontal arrangement to convey the mixture toward an outlet, with the mixture that is being mixed being maintained at a level in the mixer such that a spiral rolling action is imparted to the sludge and alkaline additive by the flighting engaging particles of sludge and rolling those particles up over the rotating shaft of the screw mixer.

Abstract: An improved vacuum tumble mixer (10) is provided, the mixer having a horizontal drum (11) with a cylindrical mid-section (12), frusto-conical or dished entry and discharge ends (13, 14), and entry and discharge openings (16, 17) axially into the ends, the drum (11) being rotatable in one direction to tumble products therein and rotatable in the other direction to discharge the contents from the dischage opening. A plurality of primary vanes (26) are secured helically to the interior of the mid-section (12) of the drum, the primary vanes having radial tumbling surfaces (27) to tumble the product and to move the product gently towards the entry end of the drum, the vanes (26) having opposed channel-shaped discharge surfaces (28) which progressively increase in height to convey the products in the drum to discharge chutes (31) that extend helically along the discharge end (14) of the drum to the discharge opening (17). A chilling system (50) can be provided with one or more CO.sub.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically and simultaneously weighing and integrating various nutritional supplements for subsequent blending with livestock feed grain. The apparatus includes a housing formed with a plurality of upper inlet openings and a lower outlet opening. A plurality of augers convey nutritional supplements from a storage area into the inlet openings. A plurality of weigh hoppers are pivotally mounted below the inlet openings on load cells. Weight indicators are electrically connected to the load cells and augers, and are interfaced with a computer, for controlling and coordinating the deposit of supplements from the augers, load cell weighing, and the pivotal dumping movement of the weigh hoppers. A funnel containing a plurality of deflectors is mounted within the housing below the weigh hoppers, and communicates at its lower end with a motor-driven flighted drum rotatably mounted within the housing, which in turn communicates with the outlet opening.

Abstract: A material blender includes an inclined, axially rotatable drum which is capable of executing multiple functions related to blending of materials including weighing and conveying the materials. The materials, such as agricultural fertilizers are loaded at a lower end into the drum and are at the same time weighted by weigh cells supporting the apparatus. The materials are then conveyed in an annular space of the drum to an upper end of the drum. An end cover disposed at the upper end of the drum is selectively movable between an open and a closed position. When the end cover is in the closed position the materials are transferred at the upper end from the annular space to a central return tube from where they are distributed and blended with parcels of material moving in turn toward the upper end to also be so distributed.

Abstract: Certain improvements are provided to the mechanical aspects of a tilt mixer which include a novel boggy, adjustable roller arrangement on the drum track which produces an improved distribution of the stresses produced by the extremely heavy rotating drum which reduces the wear on both individual rollers and on the track. An unique dual staggered-tooth gear drive is provided having two spaced sets of teeth each addressed by a pair of motor shaft mounted drive gears on each of a pair of flanking motors in which the teeth of the two sets are staggered or offset by one-half of the gear pitch. This produces a tighter, quieter drive which has been found to reduce gear wear. In addition, a unique torque tube system which possess a great deal more strength than previous drum tilt axles is provided to support the pivotal action of the drum thereby enabling the tilt point of the drum to be moved forward toward the discharge end of the mixers.

Abstract: An improved integrally mounted and operated dust hood is disclosed for a tilt mixer which minimizes the environmental effect of dust formed in the mixer which escapes from the discharge end of the drum. The integrally mounted dust hood of the invention includes a shaped sheet metal hood member which is hinge mounted from the forward drum support and operates in conjunction with the tilting of the mixer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a stirring apparatus for mixing, with metallic iron masses, a concentrated strongly acidic ferric chloride waste fluid containing iron and one or more other heavy metals in which the content of nickel is highest, the stirring apparatus being characterized by comprising a rotating mechanism for rotating a container, and a passage which is disposed in a rotary shaft and through which excess gas and liquid generated during stirring is discharged into the outside.

Abstract: A cylindrical, rotary and self-emptying vat for mixing and extracting materials contained therein combines a removal gutter (5) with one or two peripheral pick-up helical slopes (6 and 4) depending on whether the vat is horizontal or not. A racking orifice (7) is situated in one of the end walls of the vat near its axis. The invention is applicable to vinification, salting or curing, etc., as a fermentation accelerator or as a mixer.

Abstract: A kneader which comprises a main body, which forms a support structure, part of the main body constituting a support for a bowl or receptacle; a rotatable helix mounted on the main body so as to extend into the bowl or receptacle, the helix being connected to appropriate drive means which effect rotation of the helix about its axis in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, the arrangement being such that when the helix is rotated in one direction material within the bowl is kneaded and when rotated in the opposite direction of rotation the kneaded material is lifted upwardly out of the bowl by the helix; the kneader being further provided with means for guiding the kneaded material over the edge of the bowl or receptacle so as to effect removal of the kneaded material from the kneader.

Abstract: A toner container for use with a developing unit of an electrostatographic copier or the like which is rotated to discharge a toner thereoutof is disclosed. A toner agitating member is accommodated in the container in a freely movable manner and shaped and dimensioned to be prevented from slipping out of the container through a slot, or toner outlet, of the container.

Abstract: A dispenser for mixing fluid materials and dispensing the mixture includes a common passage having an output or dispensing nozzle end and an input end into which the separate fluid materials are injected from separate passages, the common passage being essentially straight and of constant cross section shape and size from end to end, a clean out plunger projecting into the input end of the common passage closing that end when the plunger is at its withdrawn position, a drive for the plunger for driving it through the common passage from the input end to the output end, forcing any material in the common passage out of the dispensing nozzle, so that the common passage is cleaned out and drive for withdrawing the plunger through the common passage back to its withdrawn position so that the materials can again be injected into the common passage and dispensed from the nozzle.

Abstract: An apparatus for charge-wise dosing a metered volume quantity of liquid medium to be supplied continuously under delivery pressure, comprising a pair of serially connected cylinder-and-piston assemblies of different diameters the cylinder blocks being arranged axially relatively to each other, forming a composite housing; a supply conduit for the flowing medium connected to the smaller diameter cylinder block and a filling nozzle connected to the larger diameter cylinder block and containing a discharge opening; a tube operating as a piston member for reciprocation in the composite housing, which tube is in direct communication with the smaller diameter cylinder block and connected to the larger diameter cylinder block via a passage provided in the larger diameter piston.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating a granular substance, especially for milling nuclear reactor fuel in powder form having a treatment drum supported rotatably about a central axis, an associated drive unit to drive the treatment drum about this central axis, and a cover at one end. The cover has two cover sections which are arranged side by side in the direction of the central axis of the treatment drum and can be rotated relative to each other about the central axis between two stops by means of a cover drive unit. The outer cover section has an opening for docking a substance container and the inner cover section has a passage opening which is aligned at one of the two stops with the opening for docking and which is closed at the other stop by the outer cover section. The treatment drum can be tilted about a tilting axis perpendicular to its central axis by means of a tilting unit.

Abstract: A small batch mixer having a cylindrical mixing drum which defines a closed mixing chamber is provided for the mixing of livestock feeds in a dust-free operation. Materials are loaded into the mixing chamber through an access opening in the sidewall whereas materials are unloaded through a discharge outlet in the end-wall. The drum is supported for rotation about its longitudinal axis and is inclined such that the materials move by gravity from the front portion to the rear portion of the mixing chamber. As the drum is rotated, vanes along its sidewall tumbles the materials about the mixing chamber while an auger disposed along the longitudinal axis of the drum conveys the materials from the rear portion to the front portion of the mixing chamber in thereby achieving a thorough mixing of the materials. The auger is supported at only one end of the mixing drum.

Abstract: A mixing device for forage and similar product has a rotatable, sloping mixing chamber with its closed rear axial end lower than its open forward axial end. The forward end receives and discharges the forage. Generally linear mixing vanes extend forwardly from adjacent the rear end of the mixing chamber for tumbling the forage during chamber rotation. An axial tubular housing within the mixing chamber encloses a rotatable axial auger, which communicates with the rear end of the mixing chamber to receive forage from the mixing chamber and feed it back toward and out of a forward end of the housing.

Abstract: In a rotary drum mixing machine of the kind in which the drum is rotated in opposite directions to mix and eject its contents respectively by a prime-mover operating through driving and driven means on a prime-mover driven shaft and the closed end of the drum respectively, reversal of the direction of rotation of the drum can be effected without reversing the prime-mover by a pivotally mounted pair of gear wheels which are continuously driven in opposite directions by the prime-mover and are alternately movable into operative engagement with the driving means for the drum.

Abstract: An improved recycling apparatus for particulate asphaltic concrete comprises a rotatable drum in which the particulate composition is gradually heated between an input end and an output end having a retractable chute extending into a port at the output end for recovering composition of a selected temperature. The chute contains a temperature sensing device, and the apparatus preferably includes a drive means for inserting or retracting the chute, and thermostat means for selecting a product temperature whereby the drive means causes the chute to be extended into the drum to recover the composition of a selected temperature. In another embodiment, the drum includes first, second, and third lifters each extending along different respective lengths of the drum interior to achieve different exposure of the particulate composition to the heating gases in the drum in the respective different drum sections to achieve improved heating and mixing efficiency.

Abstract: A machine for producing curds from milk and separating the curd from the whey, comprising a hollow vat pivotally mounted on a pair of parallel spaced members for rotation about a horizontal axis extending parallel and proximate to one side of a rectangular upper opening in the tank, by means of a pair of hollow stub shafts serving as outlet ports, and actuating means for keeping the vat normally in a horizontal position and rotating it into a position in which the upper opening thereof is in a vertical plane.

Abstract: A pasta making machine is provided with a body portion having a kneading chamber and an extrusion chamber therein with a passageway interconnecting the two chambers. The body portion is mounted on a base and is adapted for rotation about a horizontal axis whereby a conveyor member in the extrusion chamber is located above kneading means located in the kneading chamber during the kneading phase. During the extrusion phase, the conveyor member, by virtue of rotation of the body portion is located below the kneading chamber.

Abstract: A continuous liquid/liquid or liquid/solids contactor consists of a rotary contactor having a near horizontal axis. The interior of the drum is divided axially into a number of compartments by spaced discs secured to the drum wall and having openings through which the materials to be contacted can pass from one end to the other of the drum. In each compartment, there are a number of buckets which are carried by the discs and which in operation serve to cause intermingling of the materials to be contacted. At the ends of the drum are inlet and outlet passing through rotary joints in the drum ends and carrying the streams to be brought into contact.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring heat between solid particles includes a rotatable cylindrical drum which includes plates mounted on the interior surface of the drum wall to extend inwardly thereof. Also included is an elongate vibratory screen disposed within the drum but supported independently of the drum. The screen includes a plurality of apertures of generally uniform size and is inclined with respect to the horizontal. A plurality of vanes are located underneath the screen to guide material falling from the screen toward one end of the drum. A feed bin is provided to introduce a first granular material onto the screen near said one end of the drum, with the particles of such granular material generally being of a size greater than the size of the apertures in the screen. A second feed bin is provided to introduce a second granular material into the other end of the drum, with the particle size of the second granular material generally being less than the size of the apertures.

Abstract: A bowl having a bottom discharge opening is mounted at its periphery on a frame for rotation about an upright axis. A discharge gate is mounted on the frame under the bowl for movement along the bowl axis to control the discharge opening. A top inlet opening directs material to be processed onto the discharge gate. This material is propelled in a straight line radially up the inner wall of the rotating bowl by centrifugal force between radial vanes. Stationary guide vanes are suspended within the interior of the bowl to intercept the material at the upper margin of the bowl and direct the material in streams which collide in the center of the bowl to mix and/or triturate the material. Turning vanes or discharge cups are mounted for movement into registration with the guide vanes to direct the streams toward the discharge opening when the discharge gate is open.