Abstract: A pump for dispensing fluids and like media, having a pump casing including structure forming a counter locking means, a pusher for operating the pump, movable from a rest position into the pump casing to deliver a pumping stroke responsive to manual depression of an operating surface formed in an end face of the pusher, a locking mechanism for the pusher formed by the operating surface and a locking portion rigidly affixed to the operating surface, the locking mechanism being pivotally attached to the pusher to enable movement of the locking portion into and inwardly of a locking position relative to the counter locking means of the pump casing, whereby each pumping stroke must be preceded by pivotal movement of the locking mechanism, and, resilient structure for automatically urging the locking portion outwardly, into the locking position, after each pumping stroke, whereby pressure exerted upon any portion of the end face other than the operating surface will be ineffective for accidentally operating the p

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pre-charging the pump chamber of a discharge pump on a container such as a fluid atomizer primes the pump for dependable operation thereafter. The method includes opening the outlet valve of the discharge pump by operating the pump to its full displacement, and applying a vacuum to draw container contents into the pump chamber, just up to the outlet valve. The apparatus for practicing the method includes a controllable vacuum head adapted to engage an outlet channel of the container, the vacuum head also being movable to engage and move the pump. The apparatus can incorporate an indexing feeding arrangement for delivering articles to the vacuum head, and a blast of pressure may be applied upon completing the process, to release the containers from the vacuum head and securely close the pump outlet valve.