Abstract: In a pump assembly, the outer wall of the first inner-housing sidewall, the inner wall of the second inner-housing sidewall and the inner-housing top wall define a first chamber with a first opening, and the gas chamber of the first chamber is a sealed chamber collectively defined by the piston portion, the inner-housing top wall, the outer wall of the first inner-housing sidewall and the inner wall of the second inner-housing sidewall, so that the formation of the sealed chamber does not require an additional sealing ring. This thereby reduces the risk of gas leakage due to aging of the sealing ring. A container with contents discharge function provided by this disclosure can include the above pump assembly.

Abstract: An outlet valve for a dispensing nozzle comprising a first valve component constructed and arranged to be received by the dispensing nozzle and a second valve component constructed and arranged to cooperate with the first valve component. The first valve component and the second valve component define a normally-closed flow interface.

Abstract: Various beverage preparation systems and methods are disclosed. The beverage preparation system can include a dispensing unit configured to receive beverage, such as a shot of espresso, from a beverage preparation machine. The dispensing unit can include a dispensing unit with a first end and a second end. The dispensing unit can be rotatable between an upright position and an inverted position. The dispensing unit can be configured to receive the beverage through the second end when the dispensing unit is in the upright position, and can be configured to receive cleansing fluid through the second end when the dispensing unit is in the inverted position. In some embodiments, when the dispensing unit is in an intermediate position between the upright and inverted positions, the dispensing unit is configured to dispense the beverage out of the first end and into a cup or other vessel.

Abstract: A portable hydration system and various components are disclosed. The system utilizes a pump to transfer potable liquid (e.g. water) from a liquid container to a user during challenging activities (e.g. endurance motorcycle riding).

Abstract: An apparatus or method for generating a microfoam, the apparatus comprising a channel having an inlet and an outlet, a source of foamable liquid and pressurised gas arranged to feed into the inlet, wherein the channel is comprised of a spatially oscillating flow channel to provide an oscillating flow direction, the spatially oscillating flow channel oscillating about a bulk flow direction, the spatially oscillating flow channel providing a sequence of planar cross-sections perpendicular to the flow direction, with a sub-sequence of planar cross-sections that are perpendicular to the bulk flow direction in the plane in question, the sub-sequence comprising at least one plane that does not overlap with at least one other plane in the sub-sequence.

Abstract: Disclosed is a post-mix beverage dispensing nozzle. The dispensing nozzle includes an input fitting, a cap, an insert, and a body. The dispensing nozzle defines a first flow path and a second flow path. The first flow path flows from a first input port offset from a central axis of the dispensing nozzle to a mixing chamber. The second flow path flows from an input port offset from the central axis of the dispensing nozzle to the mixing chamber. At the point of the mixing chamber both the first flow path and second flow path have uniform flow rates in all radial directions around the central axis.

Abstract: A welding electrode apparatus may be mounted to a robot that presents it to a workpiece along a pre-programmed path conforming to the surface of the workpiece. The welding electrode apparatus has a first drive for rotating the welding electrode about its own axis. The electrode handle has a second rotating drive having an imbalance to impose vibration on the welding rod transverse to the axis of the rod. The first drive may turn relatively slowly; the second drive may turn more quickly. The first drive has an electrical pickup by which to carry DC power to the electrode. The two rotating drives impose two frequencies of vibration into the apparatus, causing a make-and-break contact for low power spark deposition, while at the same time causing the electrode to bounce and impact the surface. The forward end of the apparatus may include a cowling and a delivery line to provide shielding gas to the electrode.

Abstract: A machine intended for cooling and draining contents of a metal beverage can comprising a refrigerated housing intended to receive a can; a tube projecting into the refrigerated housing and defining a bore. The machine further includes a removable subassembly including a stirrer mounted to slide with respect to the tube to pass through the bore between an upper position in which the stirrer projects above the upper edge of the tube and a position in which the stirrer is set back with respect to the upper edge of the tube; a duct having an outlet orifice and an inlet orifice communicating with the bore; a plug blocking or opening selectively the outlet orifice of the duct.

Abstract: A closure (1) for a beverage keg (90), comprising an inlet for admitting a pressurised gas into a headspace of the beverage keg (90) and a venting aperture (27) separate from the inlet. The venting aperture (27) is configured to provide fluid communication between the headspace of the keg (90) and an exterior of the closure (1). The closure (1) is provided with a barrier (29) that is welded to the closure (1) and configured to seal the venting aperture such that the closure (1) is able to retain the pressurised gas within the keg (90) in an unvented configuration. The barrier (29) is configured to rupture and/or to become at least partially detached from the closure (1) by internal pressure from within the keg (90) in order to switch the closure (1) into a vented configuration in which the venting aperture (27) is no longer sealed by the barrier (29).

Abstract: A closure (1) for a beverage keg (90) is provided, the closure (1) comprising an inlet for admitting a pressurised gas into a headspace of the beverage keg (90) and a valve housing (20) defining at least a portion of the closure (1). The valve housing (20) has a housing wall (21) that defines at least a portion of the valve housing (20). The closure (1) is provided with a barrier (29), separate from the inlet, that is integrally formed with the housing wall (21) and configured to seal the closure (1) such that the closure (1) is able to retain the pressurised gas within the keg (90) in an unvented configuration. The barrier thickness is configured such that the barrier (29) ruptures by internal pressure from within the keg (90) in order to switch the closure (1) into a vented configuration in which fluid communication between the headspace of the keg (90) and an exterior of the closure (1) is possible, through the ruptured barrier (29).

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a glue-saving mechanism, a glue gun handle, a glue gun and a use method thereof, and relates to the technical field of gluing tools, wherein the glue-saving mechanism is applicable to the glue gun and includes a body and a locking piece; a top end of the locking piece is connected with a rear end of the body, the locking piece is provided with a assembling hole for glue gun ejector rod penetrating the locking piece, and the angle between a front surface of the locking piece and the horizontal direction is greater than 0° and smaller than 90° when a length extension direction of a glue gun ejector rod in a working condition that the glue gun ejector rod is assembled to the glue gun is regarded as a horizontal direction; a guiding structure is provided on the body, and the guiding structure is used for guiding the body to slide forward and backward relative to a glue gun handle in a working condition that the glue-saving mechanism is assembled at a top end of the glue gun handle;

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a fluid pump including a plastomer spring with a captive valve element provided in an integrally formed valve chamber. The spring includes a first end portion and a second end portion and one or more spring sections connecting the first end portion to the second end portion, which spring sections can be compressed in the axial direction from an initial condition to a compressed condition and can subsequently expand to their initial condition. The valve chamber is formed in the first end portion.

Abstract: A spout fitment and cap assembly for a dispensing container is provided. The spout fitment and cap assembly includes a fitment and a cap. The fitment includes a generally tubular shape surrounding a central axial passage and multiple horizontal sealing ribs configured to secure the fitment to the dispensing container. The cap includes a generally tubular shape with an annular wall extending circumferentially about an exterior surface of the tubular shape, a central plug portion, and multiple flow openings surrounding the central plug portion. The cap is slidably coupled to the fitment and is configured to be actuated between a first position and a second position through an application of force to the annular wall.

Abstract: Various beverage preparation systems and methods are disclosed. The beverage preparation system can include a dispensing unit configured to receive beverage, such as a shot of espresso, from a beverage preparation machine. The dispensing unit can include a dispensing unit with a first end and a second end. The dispensing unit can be rotatable between an upright position and an inverted position. The dispensing unit can be configured to receive the beverage through the second end when the dispensing unit is in the upright position, and can be configured to receive cleansing fluid through the second end when the dispensing unit is in the inverted position. In some embodiments, when the dispensing unit is in an intermediate position between the upright and inverted positions, the dispensing unit is configured to dispense the beverage out of the first end and into a cup or other vessel.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a valve, including a rigid end piece that defines a center; a rod at the center of the end piece defining an axis; and a flap, wherein the flap is in one piece and has a flexible wall situated opposite a free end of the rod, the flexible wall is perforated by an orifice concentric with the end of the rod, the orifice has a contour substantially homothetic with that of the contour of the end of the rod in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the rod, the orifice has a surface below a projected surface of the end of the rod in the plane, the flap is connected to the end piece by a non-deformable fixed connection, and the flexible wall presses against the end of the rod at any point of its surface in contact with the end.

Abstract: A coaxial laser metal deposition head includes a wire guide and a plurality of laser optical units. The wire guide defines a wire guide axis. The laser optical units are distributed around the wire guide axis. Each of the laser optical units is connected to a separate laser and each defines a beam axis. The optical units are fixed relative to the wire guide and in a first condition are positioned to allow each of the beam axes to intersect the wire guide axis at a common point.

Abstract: A stackable plastic container includes a base with a recessed portion; a sidewall portion; a shoulder; and a spout configured to dispense contents. The shoulder and spout may be configured to move downwardly in a vertical direction toward the base. In embodiments, the recessed portion may be configured to receive or cover at least a portion of a spout of an identical container. In embodiments, one or more containers in a retracted configuration may be stacked.

Abstract: Dispensers for container assemblies and related methods are disclosed. The dispenser can provide for a measured quantity of a substance. The dispenser can allow for retaining of a predetermined measured quantity of a substance by inversion of the container assembly. The dispenser can be used in conjunction with a flip cover of a lid of the container assembly for dispensing of the measured quantity.

Abstract: A sustained duration trigger sprayer capable of dispensing at least 3 mL of product over a time period of about 3 seconds utilizing a force-to-actuate of between about 10 pounds and about 15 pounds. The trigger sprayer includes an enlarged piston bore and piston and an elongated trigger lever creating a high output fluid displacement with a 0.5 inch displacement distance. The container bottle and/or the sprayer shroud are contoured to provide a gripping area opposing the terminal end of the trigger lever wherein the gripping distance in from the gripping area to the terminal end of the trigger lever is no greater than 3.3 inches.

Abstract: A foam dispensing container (100) has a container body (40) that reserves a liquid agent (L); a head part (30) that has an outlet (20), and dispenses the liquid agent (L) delivered from the container body (40) through the outlet (20) into foam; and a pump head part (32) that allows dispensing of a predetermined amount of the foamy liquid agent (foam) through the outlet (20) each time it accepts a user's operation. The outlet (20) is formed with a contiguous geometry narrowed from an intended shape. A foam, dispensed through the outlet (20) as a result of a single or multiple operations of the pump head part (32), is built up into the intended shape in a plan view seen in the dispensing direction.