Abstract: A disc-shaped, soluble, chlorine base tablet is supported in a disposable plastic container on the upper ends of a pair of spaced partitions, which extend between the sidewalls of the container adjacent its midpoint. Movably mounted between the partitions beneath the tablet is an inverted, cup-shaped member, which has a water soluble dye cast or otherwise secured in its closed, upper end. The container has therein a pair of vertically spaced ports, and is adapted to be mounted in an upright position adjacent the bottom of a conventional toilet tank so that the lower port in the container permits a limited amount of water to flow in and out of the container each time the tank is flushed. After repeated flushings the water soluble tablet dissolves to a point where it permits the inverted cup member to float upwardly in the container, and to swing towards its upright position so that water in the container flows into engagement with the dye compositions.

Abstract: Unfinished bricks are placed lengthwise on the inlet end of a first horizontal frame section, and are pushed one after another toward a discharge station at the opposite end of the section by a plurality of spaced flight bars, which are carried by an endless chain that travels beneath an elongate slot in the center of the first frame section. Four separate grinding operations are performed on each brick as it travels toward the discharge station. At the first station opposite sides of the brick are ground to provide the desired brick width; at the second station two parallel slots are ground in its bottom surface; at the third station a radius groove is cut in one side of each of the two bottom slots; and at the fourth station the top of the brick is ground or rounded off at each end.

Abstract: Herbs or spices are sterilized for commercial sale purposes by extruding the products through a small orifice in a die, preferably while maintaining the products at a temperature above approximately 220.degree. F. Before extrusion the herbs or spices are moistened, and then are tempered or allowed to remain in the presence of the moisture until the moisture level thereof has equilbrated to a range of about 16-20% by weight. When the moistened and tempered products are extruded, they expand slightly upon emerging from the die orifice, and are severed into pieces by a rotating knife. The severed pieces may then be ground into any desired particle size.