Abstract: An automatic dispenser for cylindrical containers is disclosed in which containers are disposed one-by-one from a vertical presentment position. The dispenser comprises a storage compartment which stores the containers substantially horizontally in a side-by-side relationship, and a dispenser portion which is located at one end of the storage compartment. The storage compartment has a downward and sideway slant so that the containers are gravitationally urged to roll towards the dispenser portion. The degree of slant of the surface upon which the containers move is such as to provide sufficient torque when the container engages a swivel means to cause it to swivel and drop from the stored horizontal to vertical presentment positions.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus for selectively sorting timber into different compartments. When a compartment is filled, it is emptied onto a conveyor for removing the timber from the apparatus. Each of the compartments includes a flexible support which can be lowered beneath the dividing wall of the compartment to form an opening through which the timber can empty onto the conveyor. The flexible support is then pulled tightly to ensure that all of the timber leaves the compartment.

Abstract: A pastry bag improved in that a continuous band of coacting fastener components are secured to the inside of the bag a spaced interval from its large filling end; such components being of the conventional pressure engageable, forcibly disengageable, hook and loop type. Preferably, the bag has folds facilitating proper registry of the fastener components. The interval, which is slitted along the fold line, allows finger gripping for forcibly detaching the components.

Abstract: A device for chilling fluids includes a cooling chamber for containing cooling media such as ice or the like. The wall of the cooling chamber includes a mounting arm for supporting a container of fluid generally in an inverted position. A fluid conduit is positioned within the cooling chamber in contact with the cooling media. The fluid conduit includes a removable coupler at its upper end for coupling the open end of the fluid container to the conduit and a check valve to prevent accidental spilling of the container. The lower end of the conduit includes a valve to allow selective flow of fluid from the container into the conduit for cooling and out through the valve into a suitable receptacle such as a drinking glass. In an alternate embodiment, the cooling chamber is generally rectangular in shape and the fluid conduit comprises a thin, sloping heat exchange element mounted within the cooling chamber.

Abstract: In order to sort a quantity of hard gelatin capsules of the type having at least a top and bottom and being filled with powdery contents, and to remove therefrom defective capsules which do not have a top or which may be cut or deformed in some way, the apparatus includes a first member with apertures for the capsules and a second member with similar apertures which are aligned with the first apertures in a first relative position of the two members. By applying suction to the top of the second member, intact capsules are urged into the second member while defective or deformed capsules are retained in the calibrated bore of the lower member. The two members undergo a relative displacement subsequent to which a discharge device moves rods into the individual orifice causing the discharge of intact capsules and defective capsules into different receiver chutes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for low-dust discharge of particulate material such as grain. The apparatus provides a nozzle having a hollow body with an inlet at the top and an outlet at the bottom. An impeller is mounted inside the body in an outwardly and downwardly flaring region below the inlet. A fluid stream of the particulate material drops through the inlet and impinges on the immpeller which deflects or throws the particles outwardly within the flaring region of the nozzle. The coarser, heavier particles have more outward momentum than the lighter, finer particles and are concentrated toward the wall of the nozzle below the impeller while the lighter, finer particles are concentrated toward the center, so that a rough separation is made and stream density is increased. A compacted downwardly moving mass is accumulated within the nozzle and is discharged through the outlet at controlled rate as a denser, relatively dust-free stream in open air.

Abstract: A ticket dispenser associated with a vending machine for vending goods or services of the type requiring the insertion of coins or tokens of a certain value in order to obtain the goods or services. The ticket dispenser provides for dispensing of a ticket by the machine in addition to the vending of the goods or services with the ticket being redeemable by the user of the machine for something of value in addition to the goods or services received. Ticket feeding pawls are employed for dispensing the tickets at a ticket delivery position, and the pawls are driven by coin operated actuating means of the machine so that the tickets are dispensed only upon insertion of sufficient coins or tokens. The pawls comprise a spring-loaded forward drive and locking pawl, and a spring-loaded retaining pawl. A ticket engaging baffle provides for simplified ticket removal.

Abstract: Reusable pressurized containers are disclosed for dispensing fluids from the container without release of the pressurized propellant to the surrounding environment. The propellant is contained in a sealed, flexible compartment positioned within the container as a mixture of gas and liquid under pressure in equilibrium at the temperature of the container. A pressure transfer liquid, such as water or compressed air, is used to liquefy the propellant in the compartment. The pressure transfer fluid also contacts the fluid or semi-solid to be dispensed and exerts pressure thereon to force the fluid to be dispensed out of the container. The liquefied propellant, as it vaporizes, maintains the pressure against the pressure transfer fluid essentially constant. The propellant in the flexible compartment is preferably a mixture of a liquefiable propellant gas or blend thereof and a non-liquefiable inert gas such as nitrogen or helium.

Abstract: A measuring dispenser for divided material comprising a container having an open top and a closure for the open top of the container. The closure includes an end wall having an opening therein, a peripheral wall joined to the end wall, and a first baffle projecting inwardly from the peripheral wall. A receiving chamber having an inlet communicates with the interior of the container. A slide is mounted on the end wall for movement in the receiving chamber to open and close the opening and to vary the volume of the region of the receiving chamber which can receive divided material from the inlet. The opening in the end wall defines an outlet for the receiving chamber.

Abstract: A packing injector gun for injecting packing under high pressure through a nozzle to pipe flanges and the like. The injector gun has high pressure barrel equipped with a piston to expel packing under high pressure through the nozzle to packing flanges. On the opposite side of the piston a high pressure reservoir communicates with a hand operated hydraulic pump connected to the exterior of the barrel. The hydraulic pump is adapted to force hydraulic fluid at extremely high pressure to the high pressure reservoir gun to operate the piston. The piston shaft to which the piston is connected has a portion extending outside the gun and has a handle for manual operation. A further U-shaped handle is connected to the middle of the barrel and extends over hydraulic pump for carrying by the operator and protection of the hydraulic pump.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser for attachment between a water pipe and a shower head having a main stream water passage therethrough into which dispensed fluids flow through a port surrounded by a delivery manifold delivering the fluids from a reservoir assembly from which the fluids flow through valves, the outlet ports of the valves being cleaned to prevent clogging by water flowing past them which reaches them by flow from a bypass opening from the main stream passage upwardly through an in-flow compartment of the manifold which is separated from the out-flow compartment by a weir over which the water flows to direct it at the outlets of the valves, the reservoir assembly with its valves being removable from the delivery manifold for ease of refilling.

Abstract: A dispenser of cups. A main body includes a cup cavity having a slidable plate mounted therein for receiving a stack of cups. A helical spring urges the plate toward the cavity opening to allow for the removal of one cup at a time from the dispenser main body. The spring is yieldable to allow a new stack of cups to be inserted into the cup cavity. A plurality of ribs within the cavity provide guide means upon which the plate moves to and from the cavity opening. The ribs have enlarged ends which project into the cavity preventing the plate from moving through the opening and insuring that only a cup at a time is removed from the dispenser. A centering plateau on the plate locates the stack of cups.

Abstract: A hot melt adhesive gun capable of dispensing relatively large volumes of molten adhesive and comprising a hot melt chamber and a pressurized air chamber separated by a moveable element which isolates the chambers one from the other. Molten adhesive from an associated bulk supply is fed into the hot melt chamber by means of a supply nozzle temporarily plugged into a valved inlet passage of the gun only when necessary to charge the gun with a fresh supply of molten adhesive. Upon actuation of the gun trigger, pressurized air in the air chamber, drives the moveable element forward to cause adhesive to flow out of the nozzle. Upon release of the trigger, adhesive flow from the nozzle valve is discontinued. The novel gun also includes a pressure relief valve and relief port to allow the escape of trapped gas which can build up in the melted adhesive and which exceeds a predetermined pressure level.

Abstract: A piston-cylinder unit includes a cylinder having an inner cylindrical wall face; a pressure piston slidably accommodated in the cylinder and arranged for being driven into the cylinder by an external force. The cylinder defines a cylinder chamber in which pressure is generated by the pressure piston forced into the cylinder. The pressure piston has a radial bottom and a generally cylindrical outer face extending axially away from the piston bottom. In the outer face of the pressure piston, adjacent the bottom, there is provided a circumferential recess which, together with an overlying circumferential portion of the inner cylindrical wall face of the cylinder defines an annular chamber surrounding the pressure piston. The radially measured width of the annular chamber gradually decreases in a direction axially away from the piston bottom. A sealing ring is disposed in the annular chamber and sealingly engages the inner face of the cylinder even when situated in the widest zone of the annular chamber.

Abstract: A dispenser for delivering any one of three different quantities of uncooked spaghetti or the like elongated rod-like pasta elements. The dispenser consists of an elongated container with a removable lid having a central round opening and a series of rings of progressively decreasing diameter removably fitted within said round opening and within one another. A closing cap is removably fitted within the ring of smallest diameter. The rings may be selectively open for choosing the size of the opening required for the metering of the required portion of pasta. The pasta is discharged by turning the container upside down. When the cap is in closed position, the pasta is stored in the container in a hygienic manner. The lid is of arcuate shape to facilitate delivering of pasta.

Abstract: A portable machine for transporting heated asphalt products for use in repairing asphalt pavement. The machine includes a hopper for containing premixed asphalt and aggregate and a reservoir positioned below and contiguous with the hopper for containing a liquid asphalt tack material. A source of heat is disposed in the liquid asphalt tank for heating the liquid asphalt which, in turn, heats the premixed asphalt and aggregate in the hopper. The machine also includes a hydraulic power plant for operating a screw conveyor in the hopper, a pump communicating with the liquid asphalt tank, and for providing hydraulic power to the various tools employed in preparing and finishing pavement repairs.

Abstract: Sequential closure interlock devices for and in combination with dispersing container packages having multiple product compartments provided with parallel neck finishes lying generally in a single plane and separate closure device for each neck finish, especially for use with single use premeasured multiple component products to help ensure opening of the compartments and dispensing of the product components in a proper sequence.

Abstract: A manually charged fluid dispenser includes a charging cylinder disposed in the mouth of a bottle and a manually reciprocable piston carried on a charging rod which extends out each end of the cylinder. The charging rod has a differential diameter for providing hydraulic return thereof by fluid pressure in the charging tube after manual charging of the tube. The charging tube is in fluid communication with a spray nozzle mounted on the bottle and tube through a ball valve which is selectively unseatable by a cam actuated by a slidable trigger, which is hydraulically biased by a piston which is in connection with pressurized fluid at the ball valve. An alternative embodiment of the charging cylinder provides a charging rod slidable in a draw tube disposed above an end of a charging cylinder and a piston slidable therein so that fluid pressure in the cylinder will return the rod to its rest position.

Abstract: A sorting device, particularly for trout and fish eggs which is of the type having an inclined wall against which the eggs are launched and caused to rebound a distance apart depending on the resilience thereof. Collecting means are provided for receiving the eggs according to their different trajectories. The device comprises a tank for receiving eggs and water having a rotating drum associated therewith having a plurality of cups on the outer surface thereof. Each cup is adapted to receive one egg therein and the cups are arranged in parallel transverse rows. The bottom of the cups is perforated so as to permit the water to be discharged therefrom. A fan is provided in order to dry the eggs in the cups through the perforated bottom thereof and a pneumatic launching device serves to launch the eggs against the inclined wall.

Abstract: There is disclosed a fire suppression mechanism for a military tracked vehicle. The mechanism includes a number of relatively small cylindrical pressure vessels, each having a floating piston that separates the respective cylinder into 2 chambers. Vaporizable liquid fire suppressant material (such as C Br F.sub.3) occupies one chamber; an inert pressurized gas such as nitrogen occupies the other chamber. An electrically-controlled valve at one end of each cylinder can be remotely triggered open to enable fire suppressant vapor to be discharged from the cylinder under the driving force provided by the pressure of the inert gas; the floating piston shifts along the cylinder as the vapor is discharged from the cylinder toward the developing fireball within the vehicle. Each cylinder is oriented in a horizontal prone position at a central point in the vehicle.