Abstract: This relates to a dispenser for a hot melt material which is supplied in rod-like form from a spool and which is heated to the required semi-liquid dispensing state. The dispensing head is provided with a heating passage which provides for uniform heating of the rod-like hot melt material and there is further provided a special piston having a throughbore through which hot melt material is fed into a pumping cylinder as the piston retracts after a pumping stroke so as to eliminate in the dispensing head downstream of the piston any momentary voids. There is also a feed mechanism which will feed the hot melt material in accordance with the demand of the dispensing head and which will urge the rod-like hot melt material into the heating passage of the dispensing head under a preselected pressure so as to assure flow not only through the heating passage, but also through the piston.

Abstract: A refrigerator door comprises an inner panel and an outer panel forming the wall of the door and has a drink container removably associated with the inner panel. A drink-delivery tube communicates with the interior of the container and is hingedly movable against a resilient bias from an inoperative position to a delivery position, the tube extending through the wall of the door and terminating in a spout. A slide is associated with the tube for effecting such movement thereof and is movable from the outside of the door in a vertical opening formed in the outer panel of the door wall. A compartment accessible from the outside of the door without opening the same is provided in the door, the compartment being divided into a lower compartment for placement of a cup and an upper compartment for reception of the tube spout. A pivotal partition controllable by the slide separates the lower compartment from the upper compartment.

Abstract: A seed dispensing apparatus includes an upper grain flute housing which mounts a grain flute type seed dispensing system, as well as a lower seed plate housing which mounts a seed plate type dispensing system. Both the flute type dispensing system and the seed plate type dispensing system include respective drive shafts. By selecting and rotating the appropriate one of the drive shafts, the disclosed seed dispensing system can be used either to dispense relatively small seeds via the flute type dispensing system, or relatively large seeds via the seed plate type dispensing system.

Abstract: A bin for storing and discharging free-flowing granular material such as sugar has a flexible, inflatable double-walled cup-shaped bag resting on the bin floor with the discharge opening in the bottom and a conveyor for discharging to the bin side above the bin floor. In one embodiment, the bin has at least a partial false floor built up to the level of the conveyor. In another embodiment the conveyor is in an upwardly inclined tunnel shaped enclosure.

Abstract: A dispensing device is disclosed which includes a tubular body having front and rear ends, the body having a central bore which narrows at the front thereof to form a tip. A piston is slidable in the bore, the bore space in the body forward of the piston defining a chamber. A supply bottle is removably mounted at the rear of the piston. The piston has a communicating passage between the bottle and the chamber. A first one-way valve means restricts flow in the communicating passage to occur only from the bottle toward the chamber. Also, a second one-way valve means restricts flow as between the chamber and the tip to occur only from the chamber toward the tip. The first one-way valve means includes a hollow valve body having one end which opens into the chamber and at least one port which communicates between the communicating passage and the inner region of the valve body.

Abstract: A hinge apparatus is disclosed, in which at least two flexible strips (1-3) are articulated, each via two articulation grooves (7, 8), to two parts (5, 6) that are movable relative to one another and are substantially cylindrical in embodiment, in such a manner that upon a relative movement of the two parts with respect to one another out of one stable position into the other stable position, the flexible strips are located in a substantially radial plane of the two parts (FIG. 3a).

Abstract: A propellant augmented, gas dispensing device is charged with a pressurized gas during assembly by inserting the gas in its solid form into the pressure chamber and thereafter sealing the pressure chamber. The gas is chosen so that it is in its gaseous state at normal ambient conditions. In another aspect, an improved pressure relief assembly includes a burst disc affixed to a flow passage between the pressurized gas chamber and the propellant chamber for normally preventing flow through the passage. In its preferred form, the burst disc carries an annular score line. A support member is provided on the propellant side of the burst disc and is placed in supporting contact with the burst disc adjacent the score line. The support member has a central opening communicating with the passageway to the propellant chamber. The score line is located outwardly from the central opening.

Abstract: A pourout fitment/closure that may be applied as a single unit to a container for liquids, includes a plurality of areas providing a liquid tight seal as torqued onto a container, and wherein, on removal of the closure, the fitment regulates and provides a smooth rate of flow of liquid as it is dispensed therethrough from the container.

Abstract: An insertable, integrally molded, one-piece valve assembly for use in the intake bore of the pump of a liquid dispensing device has a body portion and a top portion which is spaced from the body portion by resilient links. The body portion is pressed into the bore a distance determined by an external stop area, and has a flow passage in which a valve seat is located. The top portion is formed to fit loosely in the bore and abuts against an internal stop area which prevents further inward movement. A compression member extends between the top portion and the body portion and has a valve plug molded on the end which engages the valve seat in normally closed valve relation.

Abstract: A tamper indicating closure cap of the type having a pivotable stopper closing a cap top orifice. The stopper has an integral flange overlying portions of the top and extending behind the pivotable member to preclude pivoting of the pivotable member. The flange is removable from the pivotable member and indicia formed in the container top underlying the flange is made visible by removal of the flange.

Abstract: Activator for fluidizing slow-moving material in fluid containers (10). The activator comprises a flat activator hose (15) which is suspended on a support member (16) arranged like a coat-hanger, a conduit (17) projecting into the activator hose between the layers thereof for the supply of pressurized gas pulses to the space between the front and rear layers of the activator hose. At least the front layer of the activator hose is gas-permeable and allows transmission of the pressurized gas pulses to the material in the container, a rhythmical movement simultaneously being imparted to the front layer in relation to the rear layer in pace with the pressurized gas pulses.

Abstract: A container comprises a hollow outer element and an inner element. The inner element is mounted for movement within the hollow portion of the outer element and is also hollow to contain articles. The inner element has a hole in one end to permit the articles to be dispensed when the inner element extends from the outer element. The contents are retained in the inner element when the hole is covered by the outer element. A control mechanism causes the inner element to extend from the outer element when the container is in the open position, holds the inner element so that the hole is covered by the outer element in a closed position and holds the inner element in a third, locked position.

Abstract: A head depression type dispenser comprises a cylinder formed of an elastic material such as rubber. The cylinder is arranged between a head and a cap, and is constructed to operate as a piston for sucking and pressurizing liquid by axial deformation of the cylinder upon movement of the head. When the depressing force applied to its head is removed after the cylinder is deformed, the cylinder will return to the original shape by its own elasticity. In addition, a sealing piece extends from the cylinder into the passage of the head, thereby closely contacting the inner wall of the passage to form a secondary valve. The sealing piece becomes isolated from the inner wall of the passage when the hydraulic pressure in the cylinder exceeds the elasticity of the sealing piece, allowing the flow of the compressed liquid through the passage, and closely contacts the inner wall of the passage by the elasticity of the sealing piece when the hydraulic pressure becomes lower than the elasticity of the sealing piece.

Abstract: To each panel is associated a panel suspension and guiding arrangement which comprises rollers cooperating with at least one guiding rail and through which the panel is slidably supported on the door frame. An extension of the guiding rails laterally beyond the door frame is avoided, in closing position of the door, through the provision of the panel suspension and guiding arrangement which is constructed to comprise a fixed guiding rail along which moves at least one roller movable with the panel, and a guiding rail movable with the panel and displaceable over a roller fixed in position. Such an arrangement facilitates the transportation, the handling and the mounting of doors, namely fully equipped landing doors, whether they be of the central opening or telescopic panel type.

Abstract: A refillable syrup tank for use in a post-mix beverage dispenser including an open top through which the tank may be refilled and a discharge end at the bottom. A flow rate control assembly is mounted within the tank and includes a flow rate control tube extending from the top of the tank to a position spaced from the discharge opening. A diaphragm is connected between the bottom of the tube and the tank sidewalls. Weep holes are provided in the diaphragm to permit the flow of syrup therethrough.

Abstract: A dispensing container for dispensing a plurality of different types of items, e.g., vitamins. The container is constructed to include a jar and a releasably securable lid. The jar includes vertically disposed and radially extending partitions to establish a plurality of separate chambers, each adapted for storing a different type or a combination of items. The jar portion further includes a plurality of passages, with each passage being in communication with a respective chamber. The lid includes a downwardly extending sidewall having a dispensing slot located therein. The lid is releasably and rotatably secured to an upper portion of the jar by an annular projection on the sidewall of the jar which engages an annular recess on the inside of the sidewall of the lid. Accordingly, as the lid is manually rotated, the dispensing slot can be brought to overlie a respective passage in the jar portion to permit the dispensing of an item from the associated chamber.

Abstract: A device for piercing a container comprises a first block and a second block spaced apart by electrical insulators and provided with gas flow between the blocks to prevent fouling of the insulators. A pair of stops and a jaw are mounted atop one of the blocks for positioning the container to be pierced. A piercer is mounted to the device to pierce the sidewall of the container held between the jaw and stops. The piercer rebounds to a withdrawn position to avoid spray from the pierced container. The device is especially useful in measuring static charge generated by the rapid discharge of a pressurized container.

Abstract: A dispenser for high viscosity fluid materials is disclosed which includes a container of predetermined inside diameter, a selectively operable valve means providing, in open condition, an outlet flow passage for a fluid material and propelling means for forcing the fluid material through the flow passage and out of the container. The propelling means comprises a follower plate disposed in contact with the fluid material and mounted for movement toward the valve means to force the fluid material out of the container. The configuration, the structure and dimensional relationships between various portions of the follower plate are carefully controlled to provide a unique, dependable and effective fluid material discharge from the container as the follower plate is moved toward the open valve means.

Abstract: In a hopper or the like wherein the flow of particulate material is controlled by a gate the improvement wherein the gate is mounted to be swingable towards an open position within the hopper so as to break arches and rat holes which form in the material above the gate or a gate adjacent thereto.

Abstract: A bin made of flexible bag material is disclosed for containing granular free flowing material and for discharging the entire mass of stored material remaining in the bin after discharge by gravity alone. The granular material is intially discharged through a discharge port of the bin by gravity until the remaining granular material forms a cone shape at its angle of repose and stops flowing out the discharge port. The bin is further emptied by forcing air into the bag to inflate an inner membrane until the remaining contents of the bin are fully discharged.