Abstract: A machine for making liquid or semi-liquid food products includes a plurality of first containers containing a liquid or semi-liquid basic mixture and having a deformable wall, such that the space occupied by each first container depends on a quantity of basic mixture in the first container. A rigid second container forming a processing chamber for the basic mixture includes a mixer and mechanism for thermal treatment to convert the basic mixture into a liquid or semi-liquid product. A sensor providing a signal representing the quantity of basic mixture at least in one of the first containers is operatively connected to the second container. A command and control unit is connected to the sensor to receive the signal and configured to infer, based on the signal, a condition of absence of mixture in one of the first containers connected to the second container.

Abstract: The invention provides a mixing container comprising: a liquid holding vessel having first and second chambers each for holding a different liquid; a mixing unit having a first valve and a second adjustable valve, the second adjustable valve having an opening that can be partially closed to permit a pre-determined portion of liquid from each chamber to be dispensed when pouring from the mixing container; and the second valve including a series of teeth around the periphery thereof for engaging an adjustment wheel in the mixing unit to open or close the opening in the second adjustable valve.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the creation and dispensing of a custom formulation within a package at a retail point of sale. In one aspect, the invention includes an automated dispensing apparatus including at least a two-axis robot arm. In another aspect, the invention includes an automated mixer adapted to mix the dispensed custom formulation within the package.

Abstract: A disposable container comprising a side wall, top and bottom, wherein the side wall comprises a first flexible material and the bottom comprises a rigid or semi-rigid material. The side wall top and bottom are joined together to define the container with an interior compartment for keeping a fluid inside the container. The bottom comprises at least one opening that is fluid-tightly covered with an assembly comprising a second flexible material. The assembly comprises at least one port which provides access to the interior compartment of the container. The invention also relates to a mixing system comprising the disposable container.

Abstract: A container for bone cement includes a first member defining a chamber, which contains a first ingredient. The chamber also includes a second member movably coupled to the first member. The second member includes a mixing device that is movably disposed within the first chamber, and the second member defines a second chamber containing a second ingredient. The container additional includes an opening device that selectively opens the second chamber and allows the second ingredient to enter from the second chamber into the first chamber. The mixing device is movable within the first chamber to promote mixing of the first ingredient and the second ingredient to prepare the bone cement. A corresponding method of preparing bone cement also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for preparing micro-ingredient feed additives for use in designated feed rations. A micro-ingredient system of the invention includes a plurality of bins that store designated micro-ingredients therein. A master controller of the delivery system provides signals to control system components based on programmed commands corresponding to micro-ingredient batches to be prepared. Slide gate mechanisms are used to prevent loss of micro-ingredients delivered to a receiving receptacle of the system. During delivery of the micro-ingredients to the receptacle and during processing, the micro-ingredients can become airborne and subsequently lost. The slide gate mechanisms also provide controlled access to the receiving receptacle to prevent system errors such as contamination of ingredients in the receptacle, or improper batching of a prescribed micro-ingredient mixture to be delivered to a designated feed ration.

Abstract: A mobile mixing apparatus for ensuring optimal mixing of a material includes a support member which is mobile on a support surface. A mixing drum is carried by the support member. The mixing drum has a base drum end, a side drum wall extending from the base drum end, an open drum end opposite the base drum end, a drum interior extending between the base drum end and the open drum end, a central inner surface and a base inner surface on the base drum end and a side inner surface on the side drum wall and facing the drum interior. A paddle assembly is disposed for rotation in the drum interior of the mixing drum. The paddle assembly includes a plurality of paddles engaging the central inner surface, the base inner surface and the side inner surface, respectively, of the mixing drum. At least one motor drivingly engages the paddle assembly for rotation in the drum interior of the mixing drum.

Abstract: The mixing machine is a motorized cement mixer that designed to mix cement in batches of less than 1 cubic foot. The mixing machine comprises a mixing bucket, a paddle insert, a motor, a drive system, a housing, and a control system. The mixing bucket is used to contain the cement or concrete mixture. The paddle insert is an insert designed to go into the mixing bucket. The paddle insert further comprises a plurality of paddles that are used to agitate the concrete mixture to insure efficient mixing. The motor and drive system are used to rotate the mixing bucket to efficiently mix the concrete mixture, and to prevent the concrete mixture from setting in the mixing bucket. The mixing machine comprises a mixing bucket, a paddle insert, a motor, a drive system, a housing, and a control system.

Abstract: A vacuum blender having a vessel, a motor base containing a motor having a motor drive shaft, the motor base containing a vacuum pump, the motor drive shaft adapted to drive the vacuum pump, a blade holder having a blade with a blade shaft for engaging the motor drive shaft, and a fan connected to the motor drive shaft. The blender includes a conduit system for the passage of air from the vessel to the ambient environment. The fan and blade are capable of being selectively actuated using a gear or clutch system, preferably operated by firmware. The vacuum pump may also be selectively actuated using a solenoid to disengage the motor drive shaft from the vacuum pump or by closing the conduit system from the vessel to the vacuum pump. The invention is capable of evacuating air from the vessel before blending of the food contents occurs.

Abstract: Methods and systems for acoustically treating material using a continuous process in which material may be caused to flow in a continuous or intermittent fashion into/out of an acoustic treatment chamber where the material is exposed to focused acoustic energy. The methods and systems may be arranged to permit continuous processing for extended periods while an acoustic energy source operates at a relatively high power output. Treatment chambers may include features such as an acoustic window and/or a chamber wall which may comprise an acoustically reflective material or a gas/wall interface that serves to reflect acoustic energy to form one or more secondary focal zones. Treatment system configurations relating to arrangements of a treatment chamber relative to an acoustic source and coupling medium, material flow paths, and others are provided.

Abstract: An adjustable coupler for linking an oscillating kneader to a gear box. The adjustable coupling has a slide coupler adapted to be slidably received within an output couple of a gear box. The slide coupler has external splines wherein the external splines mate with splines of the output couple thereby coupling rotation of the slide coupler with rotation of the output couple. The internal splines are capable of mating with external splines of a slidably received kneader input shaft thereby coupling rotation of the kneader input shaft with rotation of the slide coupler. A plug in the slide coupler abut the kneader input shaft in the slide coupler and a lock mechanism maintains the kneader input shaft abutted against the plug.

Abstract: In order to develop mixing and application capsules known from the prior art, so that limitations regarding the dental preparations that can be obtained are overcome, a mixing capsule (22) for producing a dental preparation is proposed in which the mixing capsule (22) has: a capsule body (1) having a mixing chamber for receiving a mixing component and for mixing the dental preparation from the mixing component, a first fluid and a second fluid and having an outlet opening (4) for expelling the dental preparation, a first cavity for receiving the first fluid, a first piston body (2) which delimits the mixing chamber in the capsule body (1) and which has a first passageway for guiding the first fluid from the first cavity into the mixing chamber, a second cavity for receiving the second fluid and a second piston body (2) which delimits the mixing chamber in the capsule body (1) and which has a second passageway for guiding the second fluid from the second cavity into the mixing chamber.

Abstract: A dialysis concentrate production system includes a container and a stationary production system. The container comprises a discharge port and a combined port. The stationary production system comprises a storage container comprising a mixing inlet and an outlet, a delivery pump arranged downstream of the outlet, a first water jet pump arranged downstream of the delivery pump, and a second water jet pump arranged downstream of the delivery pump and parallel to the first water jet pump. The first water jet pump comprises a driving inlet in fluid communication with the delivery pump, a suction port in fluid communication with the combined port, and an outlet. The second water jet pump comprises a driving inlet in fluid communication with the delivery pump, a suction port in fluid communication with the discharge port, and an outlet in fluid communication with the mixing inlet.

Abstract: The invention discloses a dough kneading machine, including a main body on which a dough kneading component is mounted; the dough kneading component comprises a dough kneading bowl with a cover, in which a dough kneading drive shaft is set passing through a mounting hole on the bottom of the bowl and connecting to the main body at the lower end; a bidirectional dough kneading hook with a center shaft is mounted on the upper end of the dough kneading drive shaft; a first dough kneading hook and a second dough kneading hook with asymmetric structure are oppositely set on the center shaft and a center scraper is connected to the bottom of the center shaft. The dough kneading machine effectively ensures the stationarity during rotation operation of food processing, and the efficiency is two times as fast as that of unidirectional dough kneading hook.

Abstract: A blending appliance includes a housing having a motor compartment and a jar receiving portion spaced laterally therefrom. The jar receiving portion is disposed below an upper housing. A motor is disposed in the motor compartment is adapted to drive a blade assembly of the jar through a magnetic coupling system. The motor is connected to a blade assembly disposed within the jar through a series of gears or belts, and finally through a magnetic coupler. The magnetic coupler is configured such that it stores kinetic energy while the motor is running at a high speed, and releases the stored energy when the motor is running at a slower speed.

Abstract: An extrusion device includes a container, a pump, a plurality of pipes, and an adjustment device. The container has a chamber, and a first inlet/outlet and a second inlet/outlet connected to the chamber, wherein the chamber is adapted to contain a fluid inside. The pipes are connected between the pump and the first and second inlet/outlets of the container, so as to form a fluid loop. The pump is adapted to drive the fluid to flow inside the fluid loop. The adjustment device is coupled to the container for adjusting a volume of the chamber. Further, a coating system is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a kitchen appliance (1), in particular a mixer having a base device (2) and a vessel (3), which can be arranged thereon, wherein the kitchen appliance (1) has a positioning device (8) for positioning a first partial area (6) of the kitchen appliance (1) relative to a second partial area (7) of the kitchen appliance (1). For an advantageous monitoring of a positioning, it is proposed for an optical measuring device comprising a light emitter (9) and a light receiver (10) to be assigned to the positioning device (8), which are arranged on the first partial area (6) and/or on the second partial area (7) in such a manner that the light intensity measured by the light receiver (10) varies as a function of the positioning of the first partial area (6) relative to the second partial area (7).

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing nanocomposite-ink, the apparatus comprising, a nanoparticle reservoir, an organic-matrix reservoir, a homogenizer, and a dispenser. The homogenizer combines the nanoparticles and the organic-matrix, dispersing the nanoparticles within the organic-matrix, thereby producing a nanocomposite-ink for dispensement by the dispenser.

Abstract: A waste liquid solidification system includes a chamber at least partially enclosing a volume, a liquid outlet positioned to spray a liquid into the volume, and a powder outlet adjacent the liquid outlet positioned to discharge a super-absorbent polymer powder into the volume. The liquid outlet and powder outlet are configured such that the liquid and the super-absorbent polymer powder undergo airborne mixing within the volume enclosed by the chamber to create a solid waste.

Abstract: A caulking tube assembly is provided having a cap and an auger component, and the auger component has an auger engagement head portion and a helical or spiral portion that is compressible and sized to be fitted in a tube for holding caulk. The auger engagement head has a shaft housing sized to receive a mixing shaft therein. A coloring agent is added to the caulk in the tube and the auger component mixes the caulk and coloring agent to produce a tube of colored caulk. The caulk is thus colored to satisfy the requirements of virtually any application and dispensed from a caulking gun. In another preferred embodiment there is a caulking tube assembly with having a closed cap and a mixing component having a shaft engagement portion and a shaftless auger portion. The caulking tube assembly can also be used to mix epoxy.