Abstract: A dispenser for a product in the form of pieces or chips includes a hopper into which the product is loaded. The hopper has a discharge orifice and houses a feed screw which extends outwardly through the discharge orifice. Divergent legs are located adjacent to the hopper discharge orifice and extend in the feed direction for the product.

Abstract: One end of a valve assembly has a first check valve arrangement and is positioned in a channel connecting a variable volume reservoir and a second chamber. The other end of the valve assembly has a second check valve and is attached to a movable wall of the variable volume reservoir. Each check valve includes an element which opens in response to pressure changes in the variable volume reservoir: the first check valve opening in response to pressure increases while the second check valve opens in response to pressure decreases. The valve assembly is bodily movable with the wall of the variable volume reservoir such that the first check valve reciprocates in the channel.

Abstract: A flow control valve is provided having a system of cup valves (3, 4) and a mushroom valve (6) mounted on a sliding rod (8), which valves alternately close one or more passages (5) admitting fluid in a first condition and an outlet passage (7) for the fluid in a second condition. The invention is applicable, among other things, to the feeding of a frying tank with hot oil followed by discharge of the oil cooled by the heat exchange with the foods to be fried, without a significant mixing between the hot stream and the cooled stream.

Abstract: A deep-fry pan for industrial deep-fryers. The pan is hermetically closed during operation to minimize contact between oil contained in the pan and ambient air and to minimize pollution of the room in which the fryer is located.