Abstract: The present invention is a tube press designed to squeeze excess toothpaste, ointments, and similar materials trapped at the bottom of a collapsible tube dispenser. Two rods having oblongated cross-sections are positioned in parallel and have notches to guide and hold two bands or O-rings at each end. The rods have preferred cross-sections of ellipses or football shapes. A tube-receiving slot is formed by gradual slopes towards a nip. The bands or O-rings provide pressure against the tube which is sandwiched between the two rods within the nip. Sliding the whole assembly up the length of the tube forces the residual contents to the top.

Abstract: A liquid cryogen is supplied, preferably by means of a reservoir, to a dispensing tube so that the liquid cryogen tends to flow from the dispensing tube. A heating coil wrapped around the dispensing tube heats the dispensing tube so that the liquid cryogen undergoes nucleate boiling within the dispensing tube to form a vapor block, and thereby at least impede the liquid cryogen from flowing from the dispensing tube. Flow is reestablished within the dispensing tube by terminating the heating of the dispensing tube, e.g. by turning off electrical power supplied to the heating coil. The heating of the dispensing tube can be sufficient to stop the flow of liquid cryogen. Additionally, the dispensing tube can be cyclically heated by a timing circuit connected to the heating coil. Such cyclical heating is used to throttle the flow of the liquid cryogen from the dispensing tube.

Abstract: A dispenser package for viscous products comprising a container, a hanger and pouch assembly of plastic material suspended in the container and a head including a pumping mechanism mounted on the container. The head includes a chamber with a first one way valve adjacent an opening in the hanger and pouch assembly and a second one way valve adjacent an outlet of the pumping mechanism.

Abstract: A container for selectively dispensing one of two beverages is includes a liquid holding vessel having an upper open mouth at the top and a vertically disposed partition to divide the vessel into a pair of laterally disposed left and right compartments for two different beverages. A cover is provided to fit within the mouth at the top of the vessel. The partition has a horizontally disposed sealing edge at the top between the compartments. The cover has a corresponding diametrically extending sealing surface adapted to engage the sealing edge of the partition to form a seal to prevent mixing of the contents of the compartments when the cover is in place on the container. Left and right valves are provided in a lower surface of the cover on opposite sides of the seal between the partition and the cover. The cover has an outlet duct so that when one of the valves in the lower surface of the cover is opened the beverage can be dispensed through the outlet duct from a corresponding chamber in the vessel.

Abstract: A puncturing device (10) for pressurized containers (12) comprises an elongated housing member (16) defining an elongated cavity (24) with openings (26, 28) at first and second ends (30, 32) thereof for receiving an inverted pressurized container at the first end, the housing member including a selective attachment member (36) for securing the second end of the housing member to a collection receptacle (38). A non-sparking puncturing apparatus (18), with a lever (44) having a built-in stop (48, 50), is movably mounted on the housing member with a pivot-link (54)-driven puncture pin (56) extending through an intermediate aperture (34) into the cavity for piercing a nozzle-end of the pressurized container below an internal shoulder (40) thereof with a seal (42). Thus, gases and residual contents are released into the receptacle through the opening in the second end.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the flow of adhesive onto a moving substrate is provided using a thermal flowmeter. It is particularly designed for the tobacco industry wherein the flow of adhesive onto a continuous ribbon of paper in forming the side seam on tobacco rods requires consistent, controlled flow independent of external factors.

Abstract: A squeeze container has a flexible tubular body and a separately molded bottom cover. The bottom cover has an axially facing continuous groove in which the open end of the tubular body seats with the end surface of the tube abutting the bottom surface of the groove. A radially outwardly extending flange spaced axially from the open end of the container has a bottom surface which abuts a top surface on a lip extending radially outward from the groove in the bottom cover. A tubular extension on the bottom cover radially inward of the groove has an outer surface which abuts the inner surface of the tubular body. Sonic energy directors in the form of continuous pointed ribs effect sonic welds between each of the sets of abutting surfaces to hermetically seal the bottom cover to the tubular body.

Abstract: A closure gate for a coal-loading chute has opposed flat plate closure members for controlling the flow of coal from a storage bin to transport vehicles and the like. Each closure member is provided with opposed seal assemblies engaged with opposed surfaces of the closure member to prevent leakage of coal dust. The seal assemblies comprise elongated, spaced-apart support plates for supporting an abrasion-resistant, plastic seal member characterized by an elongated flat plate which is supported between the seal assembly support plates and is spring biased into engagement with the closure member.

Abstract: Dispensing apparatus comprises a housing defining a chamber receiving liquid to be dispensed and comprising a perforate membrane which defines a front wall of the chamber. A vibrating means is connected to the housing and is operable to vibrate the perforate membrane to dispense droplets of liquid through holes in the perforate membrane. The membrane defines an array of holes each of which is flared such that the cross-section narrows in a direction from the rear surface of the membrane in contact with the liquid towards the front surface of the membrane. The apparatus is suitable for dispensing pharmaceutical products as an atomized mist and provides a hand-held inhaler for oral inhalation.

Abstract: A flexible liquid dispenser which may be used to hold and discharge suntan lotion, sunscreen lotion, perfume, insect repellent, or other liquids. In one embodiment the liquid dispenser is relatively flat, about 0.5 inch thick, fits in the palm of a person's hand, and may be conveniently carried in a person's pocket or hung around a person's neck by a cord or tube attached to the dispenser. The dispenser body may be made out of molded plastic and has at least one flexible wall portion which allows the dispenser body to be compressed for the purpose of discharging the liquid from the dispenser. The liquid dispenser has a rotatable cap which may be turned to open a dispensing aperture in the cap. Liquid may then be discharged through the dispensing aperture by squeezing or compressing the dispenser body.

Abstract: A dispenser for smoothly and reliably dispensing flowable or particulate matter such as fish food is provided, in which dynamic gravity of the matter itself is utilized to regulate dispensing of the same in an uncomplicated manner. The dispenser has a container adapted to be mounted upon a rotatable shaft and having a hollow interior with two openings therethrough for communicating with external surroundings. A partition is mounted within the container interior for dividing a portion of the container interior into a plurality of compartments. The partition extends between the openings to limit quantity of matter falling into one of the compartments as the container rotates. A duct is mounted to rotate with the container and communicates with one of these openings. As the container rotates, the partition regulates the quantity of matter falling into the dispensing compartment and directs matter not discharged from the dispensing compartment back into the other compartment.

Abstract: Fitted into the neck (14) of a container (16) is a securing part (12), in the central opening (20) of which there is located the mixer part (26) with mixing chambers (38, 40), covered over by a screen-like refining element (48). Arranged on the refining element (48) is a disk-like valve body (58), which interacts with a ring-like valve seat (60). For discharging foam, the actuating element (70) is pressed down, until the stop (78) bears against the counter-stop (78'). As a result, the valve body (58) reaches the open position, with simultaneous bending of the refining element (48), and air is forced through the air passages (32) and liquid is forced through the liquid passage (34) into the mixing chambers (38, 40) by virtue of the positive pressure in the container (16). The foam formed there is refined upon flowing through the refining element (48).

Abstract: A cleaning system is disclosed for pumping compressed air and cleaning solvent to the injection cartridge of a foam-in-place packaging system. The cleaning system comprises a solvent tank for containing a stock supply of solvent; a source of compressed air; and an air-activated submersible solvent pump in air flow communication with the compressed air source. The system also includes an injection cartridge of a foam-in-place packaging system in liquid communication with the solvent pump; and a regulator in air flow communication with the compressed air source, the pump, and the injection cartridge. The regulator distributes compressed air to operate the pump and to travel with solvent to the injection cartridge to provide a cleaning mixture of solvent and air to the cartridge.

Abstract: A collapsible liquid container is mounted within a pressure chamber, the chamber is pressurized either by an external air pump, or by a manual pump within the wall of the chamber. The pressure inside the chamber causes the wall of the container to collapse as liquid is drawn from it. A check valve mounted in a channel connecting the inside of the pressure chamber to the spout of the container transfers pressurized air into the container when the pressure within the container drops below the pressure in the chamber, in order to evacuate any liquid remaining into the container when the walls have been collapsed to the maximum extent possible.

Abstract: A biological fluid collection and dispensing apparatus for attachment to a test tube includes a pump and a cannula assembly including a fluid transfer cannula and a vent cannula housed partially within the pump. Biological fluid may be both collected and delivered with the apparatus, and the apparatus may remain attached to the test tube during processing of the collected biological fluid sample.

Abstract: A dispenser for liquids having an insulated cool chamber to receive a liquid container with a flexible tube for flow of liquid, a heat exchanger or pump in the chamber to pump liquid along the tube, a shut-off valve in the chamber below the pump with an opening for the tube to pass to a dispensing point outside the chamber, a motor and shaft for driving the pump, and gears connected between the motor shaft and the pump, a revolution counter coupled to the motor shaft, and connected to a counter logic circuit to count each revolution of the motor shaft, and manual controls mounted on the chamber and connected to the shut-off valve and to the motor, and to the counter logic circuit so that the shut-off valve opens within the chamber and the motor is started thereby driving the pump within the chamber, and automatically stopping the motor shaft when the predetermined count is reached, thereby maximizing the accuracy of the volume of liquid pumped by the pump.

Abstract: A dynamic mixer comprises a cylindrical chamber portion 50 the rear end of hich is closed by a sealing plate 51 provided with conical pipe sockets 58, 59 adapted for being directly inserted into outlet openings of cartridges from which the pasty components to be mixed are supplied. Due to the closed structure of the mixer housing 50, 51, contamination of the device by the components and cross-contamination between them is avoided when the mixer is removed from the cartridges. Further, the direct connection of the mixer to the cartridges results in minimum travelling distances for the components, thus low friction losses, which is particularly advantageous in case of substances of high-viscosity.

Abstract: A volumetric measuring/dispensing device for liquids is provided which has a measuring container having graduation markings thereon for measuring the quantity of liquid in the container. The container has an upper valve housing and a lower valve housing mounted in the top and bottom of the container. A valve stem having a single handle extends through the upper and lower valve housings and is selectively turnable by a turning the single handle to a selected one of three different positions, namely: a filling position, a closed position and an emptying position. When in the filling position, the upper and lower housings in conjunction with the valve stem respectively provide for the entrance of liquid into the interior of the container while at the same time provide for the exit of air out of the container. When in the closed position, the upper and lower housings in conjunction with the valve stem respectively provide for the closure of all entrances into and exits out of the container by both liquid and air.

Abstract: A dispensing closure for a squeeze container comprises a closure cap having a discharge spout terminating in a discharge orifice, and a spout cover hingedly connected to the cap for manual rocking movement about a transverse hinge axis between discharge orifice closed and open positions. The cover has a lid overlying and sealing the orifice closed and is snap locked thereto in the closed position.

Abstract: A container 12, for example for containing herbicide for delivery means of a hand-held applicator, has a guide rib 84 for assisting guidance of the container 12 with respect to a handset 2 of the applicator as the container 12 is fitted to the handset 2. The container 12 also has a latching recess 20 for cooperation with a latching element 44 provided in the handset, to retain the container 12 with respect to the handset. The rib 84 tapers in the direction from a base 66 of the container towards an outlet 16, so that the fit between the rib 84 and a slot 24 in a guide 22 on the handset becomes progressively tighter as the container is inserted.