Abstract: Effective active storage volume of an ice dispenser is increased by an upward and forward sloping bottom wall with a compound curve. A stainless steel helically bent auger rod has a conical shape and closely fits within a trough having a relatively large radius at a rear and a relatively small radius at a front. Larger radius curved lateral areas complete the bottom wall. Ice moves upward toward the front of the bin and then upward at an obtuse angle toward the top of the bin and then tumbles rearward and downward. The rotating auger prevents bridging and continually pushes more ice forward than is dispensed. A helical auger with solid flytes radially extends from a forward portion of the shaft to move ice cubes through the dispensing opening in the front wall at the front end of the trough.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an ice cream machine for home use. The ice cream machine of the invention having a mixing auger and a mixing cone uses a unique drive system to vertically drive the cone to engage the auger and mix the products contained within the cone. An arc gear, pinion gear and a rack gear are provided in the drive train of the invention and are intermeshed with each other and interconnected with a manually operable lever arm to accomplish the desired vertical drive of the mixing cone. This configuration allows increased leverage and efficiency in the vertical drive movement. Also provided herein are various size reduction and easy cleaning features. Finally the unique gear drive train allows for a steady extrusion of a deliciously mixed, flavored ice cream or ice milk product.

Abstract: Apparatus for mixing food ingredients is disclosed including a cabinet for supporting a mixer for the ingredients. A frame is arranged within the cabinet for being raised and lowered relative thereto. The frame supports a plate having a through hole for receiving the mixer and a movable tray for supporting a container for the ingredients. The tray is moved under the plate and the frame is raised by a weight arrangement, whereby the mixer engages the container and is actuated for mixing the ingredients therein.

Abstract: An aerated cementitious composition is produced by feeding a mixture comprising cement and foaming agent to a mixing chamber open to atmosphere together with a feed of liquid. The ingredients are mixed and the wetted mixture pumped to a desired site, the capacity of pumping being greater than the feed rate of the ingredients into the mixing chamber such that air is drawn into the mixing chamber.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for cooling a frozen comestible plasticizer apparatus with a heat exchanger pan over a freezer, protecting the freezer from extraneous matter filling in, while providing a cool circulatable environment to cool the auger and cup of the apparatus to help avoid bacterial growth and minimize the need for cleaning of the apparatus.

Abstract: In an apparatus for preparing flavored frozen comestibles, the improvement comprising means for directing a stream of cold air at the surroundings of the equipment in which the product is being prepared, said air being sufficiently cold to reduce the temperature of the surroundings to about 45.degree. F.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an ice cream machine for home use. The ice cream machine of the invention having a mixing auger and a mixing cone uses a unique drive system to vertically drive the cone to engage the auger and mix the products contained within the cone. An arc gear, pinion gear and a rack gear are provided in the drive train of the invention and are intermeshed with each other and interconnected with a manually operable lever arm to accomplish the desired vertical drive of the mixing cone. This configuration allows increased leverage and efficiency in the vertical drive movement. Also provided herein are various size reduction and easy cleaning features. Finally the unique gear drive train allows for a steady extrusion of a deliciously mixed, flavored ice cream or ice milk product.

Abstract: In a concrete production system, an improved aggregates conveying apparatus includes an aggregates drag conveyor having a lower, conveying run which drags aggregates along a centrally-located, common trough shared by separate fine and coarse aggregates hoppers to a discharge end and an upper, return run which moves through a hollow channel formed in a common wall separating the hoppers above the common trough. An improved cement metering apparatus in the system includes a cement conveyor mounted along a trough below the cement hopper so as to make an endless path around a floor of the trough. Baffle gates at each end of the floor coact with the conveyor to prevent inadvertent flow of cement past the ends of the floor and to only permit metered flow of the cement from the discharge end of the trough. The fine and coarse aggregates, and the cement discharge into a mixing auger where, after water is added, they are mixed into concrete before discharge from the auger.

Abstract: A portable mixing device particularly for use with power drills or the like, having a helicoidal flight of coil units of equal dimensions leading up from a bottom, that has a radial edge to scrape material off the bottom of a can and a rounded corner that prevents the edge from cutting into a can, the several coils of helixes terminating at the top in another radial edge with a rounded corner to prevent cutting into the side of the can, with a circular baffle plate spaced a predetermined distance above the top edge of the helical flight to deflect the material being stirred upwardly by the device, outwardly to that it can then circulate back downwardly to effect the mixing circulation.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for use in extruders of the screw type having an elongated passageway defined by a rigid barrel, the surface of which is susceptible to wear from abrasive, corrosive, adhesive or other severe wearing conditions. The improvement comprises a relinable barrel assembly having a housing, a removable sleeve liner and means for securing said liner in said housing. The housing has an elongated tapered bore therethrough, tapering from the feed end to the discharge end of the barrel (i.e. the largest cross-sectional diameter of the bore is at the feed end of the barrel). The sleeve liner has an elongated tapered exterior surface, shaped to mate tightly within the tapered bore of the housing, and an interior surface of wear resistant material, wherein the interior surface defines the passageway within which the screw of the extruder rotates.

Abstract: Agitator for the stirring of liquids which are enclosed in vessels the inner space of which is accessible through a hole in the wall of the vessel and of a small dimension compared to the dimension of the vessel, the agitator comprising an actuating organ and a turnable shaft for the rotation of the organ, which organ has the form of a screw with a larger diameter than said hole. The thread of the screw is formed of a coiled stripe the width of which is smaller than the width of the largest cross section of the hole and with a pitch which is so large compared to the thickness of the stripe and the height of the walls of said hole that, when the stripe forming the thread is inserted into the hole with a portion positioned on the one side of the center axis of the screw, the portions forming the thread on the opposite side of the axis will find room outside the projection of the hole at both sides of the wall through which the hole extends.

Abstract: A comestible processing apparatus employs an auger and receptacle in processing. In order to protect the operator or anyone having access to the apparatus while the auger is moving, a safety door and switch are provided, disenabling the auger when the door is open or until the auger in the receptacle is inaccessible through the door.

Abstract: A portable spot mixing apparatus (10) including a drive unit (11), a mixing unit (12), a handle (13), and a brake unit (14). The mixing unit (12) serves to stir and mix grain (53) within a specified local area and the brake unit (14) prevents the apparatus (10) from becoming buried in the grain (53) during use.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mixing two or more distinct fluids is disclosed, and which includes a housing, a sleeve fixedly mounted in the housing and defining a mixing chamber, and a rotatable mixing head having a grooved outer surface disposed in the mixing chamber. At least one of the fluids is fed radially through the sleeve and into the mixing chamber, so as to be sheared and highly dispersed in the mixing chamber by contact with the rotating mixing head. In one embodiment, the sleeve includes a plurality of distinct openings for permitting the passage of the fluid, and in another embodiment the sleeve is composed of a porous metallic material, with the pores of the material defining the openings for the passage of the fluid.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus in which parallel augers are located in a box. The upper mixing augers have specially shaped flighting which provides straight edges linked by corners rather than the conventional helical edge. The lower conveying auger is a helically edged auger with notches at intervals along the edge providing radially oriented surfaces which assist in engaging the material.The flighting of the special straight edged augers is produced from a square blank of sheet metal by pressing it into the spiral configuration required and attaching it to the auger shaft. The complete flighting is made up by several such sections joined end to end.

Abstract: An automatic paste-producing apparatus which includes a vertical assembly constituted by a tubular chamber whose upper end communicates with a metering tube of enlarged diameter to which flour or other powder is supplied. Coaxially mounted within the assembly is a rotating shaft having a main screw section of uniform diameter operating within the chamber and a conical screw section operating within the metering tube. Slidable within the metering tube is a ring which surrounds the conical screw section to define an annular valve orifice, the ring being axially shiftable to set the size of the orifice. The flour admitted into the chamber by the metering tube is hurled by the main screw section against the inner wall of the chamber to create a thin powder film thereon which is then intermixed with a liquid to form a paste, air being drawn from the chamber through the main screw section to control the entrainment of air within the paste.

Abstract: Pigment dispersion is manufactured by continuously flushing pigment press-cake. First and second troughs supply hydrophobic liquid organic media and the pigment wet-cake respectively at a constant rate to a twin screw co-rotating extruder having a L/D (length/diameter) value of 25 or more. The twin screw co-rotating extruder includes a feeding part where the hydrophobic liquid organic media and the pigment wet-cake are fed from the first and second troughs, a flushing part for flushing the pigment particles from water phase to form an organic medium phase, and a dehydrating part for removing water from the flushed mixture. The hydrophobic liquid organic media and the pigment wet-cake are fed to the twin screw co-rotating extruder, and the pigment press-cake is flushed and dehydrated continuously in the extruder to obtain the pigment dispersion.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing frozen comestibles has a cup for receiving a frozen comestible and a rotatable auger mounted for movement relative to the cup. The cup is moved to the auger to create a pocket in the frozen material in a first relative movement and mixes the frozen material with an added flavoring and extrudes the mixture from the cup in a second operation. A counter is provided which counts only the number of second operations of the apparatus.

Abstract: The screw or worm mixer comprises a downwardly tapering container and a conveying and mixing screw or worm arranged therein which does not move along the container wall. The container does not have a round cross-section but a substantially cornered cross-section and the screw is arranged in one corner thereof. This corner is rounded to form a curvature which is essentially concentrically arranged relative to the lengthwise axis of the screw. The entire container is pivotably supported so that, depending upon the requirements of the processed material, the container wall which is adjacent to the screw or worm and forms a segment of a cylinder is located somewhat below, adjacent or above the screw.

Abstract: The support device of the present invention comprises a stationary outer collar and a rotatable inner collar concentrically located within the outer collar. An outwardly extending flange is attached to the outer surface of the inner collar and an inwardly extending flange is attached to the inner surface of the outer collar. These two flanges are superimposed over one another and a plurality of ball bearings are interposed between them so as to permit the inner collar to rotate with respect to the outer collar. The mixer auger is attached to the inner collar and consequently the auger can be rotated about the rotational connection between the inner and outer collars.

Abstract: A plasticating extruder in which the screw conveyor includes an inner backfeed passage communicating with the channel established by the main flight of the screw conveyor and a solids-directing flight for directing unplasticated material into the backfeed passage and segregating already-plasticated material from the unplasticated material in the channel.

Abstract: A juice container and stirrer comprising a container having a bottom wall, side wall and open upper end and a removable cover for the open end. A shaft is rotatably supported on the cover such that one portion of the shaft extends exteriorly of the container and another portion of the shaft extends internally substantially throughout the height of the container. A handle is provided on the outer end portion of the shaft for gripping and rotating the shaft. A helical vane extends radially outwardly along the portion of the shaft extending within the container. The helical vane has a cross section which includes a radially extending portion and wall adjacent the periphery of the radially extending portion extending axially toward the cover.

Abstract: An easily-movable plug seal that is susceptible to quick and ready longitudinal adjustment in the central, lengthwise bore of an internally differentially heated (or cooled) extruder screw for sequentially diverse and distinct heat controlled zones within the extruder barrel is comprised of at least a single, cup-like member that is adequately flexible and supple to be flared laterally outwardly and urged into tight wall contact to make a sealing engagement against the internal screw bore wall upon pressurization of the interior of the plug seal member by the heat transfer fluid being passed into and applied within the screw.

Abstract: A twin-screw machine used for treatment of plastics in which the screw shafts are fitted with eccentrically arranged kneading discs, the clearance .delta. between the kneading discs and the inner wall of the machine housing being greater than the constant clearance s between the particular adjacent kneading discs, and the eccentricity e, which is in each case of like orientation, between the axis of rotation and the central point of the kneading disc being greater than zero and less than half the absolute value of the difference between the housing and disc diameters minus the clearance s.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying a reactant gas to an extrudable polymer, as, for example, a carbonate resin having the phenolic hydrogen end atoms replaced by stress corrodant preventive groups which are halohydrocarbon groups or a silane groups or the hydrogen end atoms replaced by a capping group having fluorescent properties to provide ultraviolet light and stress corrosive protection.

Abstract: Milling apparatus wherein material to be milled is agitated with a charge of particulate material also includes one or more predispersing chambers through which the material to be milled enters the apparatus. The chamber includes pumping means which carry out predispersing work.

Abstract: A vertically standing, slender, cylindrical flow container with an upper intake connection for crushed raw sludge already heated to a pasteurization temperature and a lower outlet connection for pasteurized sludge. A slowly rotating guide member is incorporated into the container coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the latter and is driven by an electric motor via a reduction gear. The tube-like guide member core is provided with a plurality of continuous, helically-wound blades which extend from top to bottom and which, with respect to the direction of rotation of the guide member, form front and rear helical deflectors for the sludge. The helically wound blades also subdivide the circular cross-section of the passage of the container into a plurality of helically-wound individual channels.

Abstract: Within the sump of a dry developing, magnetic brush system in an office copier machine, twisted strips of aluminum sheet metal are used to form an auger blade mixing arrangement for the purpose of mixing dual component developer. Each auger blade is formed from strip sheet metal into a single, elongated helical convolution and is appropriately journaled at each end for the application of rotative power. In addition, the auger blades have smooth, rounded, axial edges which provides extended useful life to the carrier constituent due to reduced shearing effects.

Abstract: An apparatus for the mixing of materials such as synthetic polymers and their additives. The apparatus comprises a casing which surrounds a cylindrical rotor. A series of groove rings are axially arranged in succession in the casing and have end surfaces placing the rings in abutting axial engagement with one another. These end surfaces of each groove ring may be integral therewith or may be provided by separate spacer rings. The grooves formed on the peripheral working surfaces of the groove rings are circumferentially separated by shearing lands and are limited in an axial direction by said end surfaces, said shearing lands and end surfaces defining said grooves as a series of individual closed chambers.

Abstract: An ice body delivery apparatus having a hopper for storing a plurality of discrete ice bodies and a wall portion defining an outlet opening for passing the ice bodies seriatim outwardly therethrough for dispensing the ice bodies as desired. A rotatable auger is provided in a lower frustoconical portion of the hopper and includes spaced spiral vanes arranged to sweep across the opening so as to dislodge ice bodies which may have become lodged thereacross. The auger is arranged so as to define an effectively open axial portion permitting the dislodged ice bodies to be returned to the outlet opening therethrough and under or behind the rotating vanes back to the outlet opening. The vanes extend arcuately a total of approximately 360 degrees or more. The auger may be driven by a subjacent drive motor.

Abstract: Accurate metering and dispensing of small quantities of abrasive material comprised of particles or powder, or both is accomplished by feed apparatus comprising a rotatable tubular member having a threaded interior surface for transporting the abrasive material through the tubular member in response to rotation of the member about the axis thereof. The discharge portion of the tube is particularly adapted to dispense frequent, small quantities of the material rather than less frequent larger quantities.

Abstract: A machine for processing plastics materials having a screw mounted in a housing and made up of a plurality of screw members in the form of collars on a drive shaft, whereby screw members to suit a particular material treatment are secured against rotation on the drive shaft and can be exchanged when required for other screw members, the machine including a thrust arrangement to press the screw members axially into close engagement with one another, the thrust arrangement comprising a divided thrust ring axially supported on the drive shaft at least at one of the end zones thereof, thrust or draw bolts, which act on the adjacent end surface of the adjacent outermost one of the screw members or on a frontal surface of a guide ring bearing against the outermost one of the screw members, and a sleeve closely surrounding the periphery of the divided thrust ring.

Abstract: A rotatable scroll for a rubber extruding machine comprising a series of vanes in the base of channels in the scroll to redirect the material into a surface layer and to direct lumps of material to one edge of the channel and a ramp or ramps over which the lumps flow with a small clearance between the ramp and the barrel.

Abstract: Liquid-containing radioactive wastes are bound into thermoplastic material by introducing particles of thermoplastic material at a non-sticking temperature into a kneading machine, heating the thermoplastic material in the absence of radioactive wastes to at least 100.degree. C., adding the liquid-containing wastes to the heated thermoplastic material, mixing and concurrently increasing the temperature of the mixture to a temperature of about 200.degree. C. or more to vaporize liquid in the mixture, maintaining the mixture at a vaporization temperature to dry to the mixture, releasing evolved vapors and discharging the dried mixture from the kneading machine. Difficulties due to clogging of the kneading machine and fluctuations in the consistency of the dried end product are minimized.

Abstract: A detachable coupling provided between the helix and drive shaft of an injection molding machine is provided by a flattened end of the helix shaft received within a fork-shaped end of the actuation shaft so that respective boreholes are aligned for receiving therethrough a pin. An axially slidable locking sleeve is movable between a position preventing movement of the pin and a position permitting removal of the pin, and a resiliently urged locking detent ball and groove are provided at each of the positions.

Abstract: Apparatus for the preparation and extrusion of plastics material or rubber, comprising a planet rolling extruder and a feed portion disposed upstream thereof with a main shaft of the planet rolling extruder being surrounded by planet shafts and being driven jointly with a feed-screw of the feed portion, in which some of the planet shafts at their ends adjacent the feed-screw are reduced in section to form transfer shaft portions and thereby receiving chambers for material fed to the planet rolling extruder by the feed portion. The transfer shaft portions may be cylindrical with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the root circle of the planet shaft gearing or may have, adjacent the feed-screw, a diameter smaller than the root circle of the planet shaft gearing and increase in diameter in a direction away from the feed-screw until they achieve the full shaft outline.

Abstract: A fluid mixing apparatus having means for producing vortex-like motions of the fluids introduced therein, one embodiment of such an apparatus, for example, using two concentrically mounted inner and outer members, preferably cylindrical, moveable relative to each other at rotational speeds such as to produce the desired vortex-like motions of the fluids introduced into the region therebetween. In one embodiment thereof, the vortex-like motions may be obtained at relatively low rotational speeds by the use of V-shaped grooves on the inner member. In addition, suitable means can further be used to generate a de-stabilizing force for the fluids in a direction substantially perpendicular to the velocity streamlines thereof to further enhance the mixing effectiveness and to improve the quality of the mix, such de-stabilizing force in one embodiment, for example, being generated by the application of an electric field across the region between the inner and outer members.

Abstract: A fluid mixing apparatus having means for producing vortex-like motions of the fluids introduced therein, one embodiment of such an apparatus, for example, using two concentrically mounted inner and outer members, preferably cylindrical, moveable relative to each other at rotational speeds such as to produce the desired vortex-like motions of the fluids introduced into the region therebetween. In one embodiment thereof, the vortex-like motions may be obtained at relatively low rotational speeds by the use of V-shaped grooves on the inner member. In addition, suitable means can further be used to generate a de-stabilizing force for the fluids in a direction substantially perpendicular to the velocity streamlines thereof to further enhance the mixing effectiveness and to improve the quality of the mix, such de-stabilizing force in one embodiment, for example, being generated by the application of an electric field across the region between the inner and outer members.

Abstract: Mixing of liquids by passing through space delineated by body of revolution and surrounding co-operating casing in relative rotation, the co-operating surface of rotating part having plurality of grooves at angle less than 80.degree. to its axis and one liquid being fed to grooved surface at point distance by less than distance between body and casing, and the liquids being immediately thereafter fed through zone providing high grade dispersive mixing.

Abstract: An extruder comprising a cylindrical extruder housing and an extruder screw extending inside the housing to define an intake section, a mixer section, and a discharge section, the screw having a basic flight which extends in an uninterrupted helix from the intake section, through a mixer section to the discharge section and the basic flight is of one diameter in the intake and discharge sections so as to be a running fit in the housing but have a diameter in the mixer section less than the one diameter so as to define in use a clearance fit in the housing and, in the mixer section, a flow advancer and diverter between appearances of the basic flight which over at least the greater part of its length is of the one diameter so as also to be a running fit in the housing so that material fed to the mixer section is caused, in the mixer section, to pass over the basic flight.

Abstract: An installation is provided for extruding plastic material comprising a screw extruder having a cylinder provided with a hopper near the rearward end of said cylinder and with an extrusion head secured to the forward end of said cylinder, and at least one pump having a delivery pipe connected to at least one port disposed in the wall of said cylinder for delivering an additional fluid product to said extruder through said port or ports during the extrusion operation, the inner surface of said cylinder including a zone provided with grooves extending downstream starting from said hopper over a limited distance, said port or ports opening out into one or more of said grooved zone, said grooved zone being followed by a smooth zone, the inside diameter of which is less than the maximum diameter measured from the bottoms of said grooves, and wherein said screw extruder is of essentially uniform dimensions at the point of said zone and the portion of said screw extruder immediately upstream thereof.

Abstract: A scroll for extruding machines comprising a single or double start helical flight or rib divided into a plurality of zones one or more of the zones being formed with a plurality of facets formed with a plurality of opposing angled members located around the root diameter of the flight or rib to homogenize and plasticate the mix as it passes along the scroll and an extruding machine incorporating the scroll comprising a liner forming an under wall of a cavitated outer jacket or barrel divided into a plurality of zones within which the scroll rotates means for circulating steam/water through each zone to maintain a predetermined temperature therein, thermo pockets for monitoring the temperatures, and a motor for driving the scroll.

Abstract: An apparatus useful for the extrusion of high melting slippery plastic resins comprising a screw element which operates rotatably within a close-fitting barrel having cut into the interior surface thereof a shallow and narrow groove of the same hand and substantially the same lead as the screw element.

Abstract: A mixer is disclosed of the type including a downwardly tapering conical wall and a rotating worm or screw which rotates both about its own axis and which rotates about a conical path along the inside wall of the vessel to effect mixing. At the bottom of the vessel is a flanged opening, and a bearing housing sealingly engages the flanged opening of the mixing vessel from below. The bearing housing includes a product outlet tube extending straight vertically downwardly therefrom.

Abstract: Mixing apparatus having a vertical mixing vessel and a mixing screw rotatable therein, the lower end of said screw being supported by bearings and a universal joint. One of the universal joint parts is below the vessel bottom and the other part extends through said bottom. The upper surface of the other part is in the shape of a sphere segment and is sealed in the bottom aperture by a sealing ring.

Abstract: Semiconducting carbonaceous pyropolymeric inorganic refractory oxide materials are prepared by utilizing a continuous semi-fluidized bed system comprising a laterally disposed tubular reaction section, a stabilizing section and a cooling section in axial alignment with one another, means for introducing an inorganic refractory oxide into said reaction section and means for introducing a gaseous hydrocarbon pyropolymeric precursor into the reaction section whereby said oxide is contacted with a precursor while maintaining said oxide in a semi-fluidized state.