Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing hot melt adhesive or other materials. The apparatus includes a container and an outlet. The container has a first material (the material to be dispensed) disposed therein, which changes from a solid state or a state of high viscosity to a state of low viscosity when heated above a predetermined temperature. The container also has a second material disposed therein, which is adapted to be heated above a predetermined temperature when subjected to microwaves for at least a predetermined period of time. The second material can be an inner layer of the container, can be applied to a microwave transparent sheet surrounding the first material, or can be embedded in a silicone tube surrounding the first material. The second material is in a heat transfer relationship with the first material. While the dispenser is being subjected to microwaves, the second material converts the microwave energy into heat and transfers the heat to the first material.

Abstract: An apparatus (20, 60) capable of dispensing a liquid 1 (e.g. water) or a liquid 1/liquid 2 mixture through a hand held syringe (26) and configured, in embodiments thereof, to be attached to a showerhead (24) or sink faucet (68) is provided. Liquid 2 (e.g. a dental concentrate) is held in a container (140) and dispensed by liquid 1 pressure on a piston (142) therein. A spool valve (84) responsive to a liquid 1 pressure bleed line (110a, 110b) diverts liquid 1 from the showerhead or sink faucet to drive the piston. The apparatus is controlled by a mode control disc (30) mounted in the syringe. Provisions for adjusting the flow rate of the dispensed liquid (34) and the proportional mix of the liquid 1/liquid 2 mixture (160) are provided.

Abstract: A dispensing unit for a threaded neck bottle including a dispensing nipple, valve assembly, and a connector. The dispensing nipple is squeezable and mostly cylindrical in shape with one end converging. The bottom of the converging end is open so that the fluid contained within the dispensing nipple escapes when the nipple is squeezed. The valve arrangement is disposed inside the convergent end of the dispensing nipple and includes a rod connecting a ball valve at its bottom and a truncated cone shaped member at its other end. The connector secures the neck of the storage bottle to the dispensing nipple and includes outer and inner concentric cylinders secured to and made an integral part of an annular ring having an outside diameter and an inside diameter about the same diameter as the first and second concentric cylinders. The annular ring seals one end of the space between the cylinders.

Abstract: A reciprocating piston with an integral valve moves in a first direction within a cylinder to pressurize viscous material contained therein, such as ice cream or the like, thereby pushing it out of a dispensing nozzle located at one end of the cylinder while simultaneously extracting viscous material from a collapsible container into the other end of the cylinder by suctioning the material from the container. When the piston moves in a second direction, the integral valve opens to allow the piston to pass through the previously suctioned viscous material then within the cylinder. The dispensing nozzle includes a normally closed, spring-biased valve opened by the force of the pressurized material, closing of the valve being assisted by a transient suction force occurring as the valved piston begins to move in the second direction through the material.

Abstract: A perfume gas generating device including a container for containing the perfume, a cap member associated with a neck portion of the container and formed with at least one opening, a fiber-made wick member disposed in the container and serving as an upward moving path of the perfume in the container, and a heating system including a heating mechanism disposed above the wick member and contacting a top surface thereof, whereby the heating mechanism forms a high temperature area above the top surface of the wick member and the perfume is able to move upward along the wick member into the high temperature area to be vaporized into gas which dissipates to ambient environment.

Abstract: A device for dispensing an exact, selected quantity of loose dry material, with this device comprising a multi-compartmented member rotatable about a substantially vertically-disposed axis toward and away from a reference location. The compartments of this member are of a specific, uniform configuration and spaced symmetrically about the substantially vertical axis. The multi-compartmented member is disposed between upper and lower generally planar partitions, with an aperture of approximately the same configuration as the compartments of the rotatable member located in each of the partitions. Importantly, one aperture is located in an offset relationship with respect to the other. Dry material to be dispensed is located above the upper partition, with such dry material dropping under the influence of gravity through its aperture into one or more of the compartments of the member as this member is rotated about its axis away from the reference location.

Abstract: An improved actuator probe assembly is provided for a bottled water station of the type having an actuator probe for engaging and opening a valved bottle cap on an inverted water bottle. The probe assembly comprises an inner support funnel and an outer adapter sleeve retained by a probe fitting in assembled relation with a cover plate adapted for mounting onto a station housing in a position over an upwardly open water reservoir. The support funnel extends downwardly through a central opening in the cover plate and defines a cup-shaped receiver structure for receiving and supporting an inverted water bottle, with the probe fitting positioned at a lower end of the support funnel and including the actuator probe. The adapter sleeve is carried about the support funnel and includes an outwardly radiating diaphragm member for closing the top of the reservoir when the cover plate is installed onto the station housing.

Abstract: An improved pump spray bottle comprising a container for holding liquid therein. A pump head is on the container. A dip tube is coupled to the pump head. A structure is within the container for completely removing all of the liquid from within the container through the dip tube and out of the pump head.

Abstract: A dispensing container is produced from a disposable flexible, collapsible inner container surrounded by a resilient outer container. A dispensing cap assembly is removably coupled to the outer container to define a dispensing outlet for the contents of the inner container. The dispensing cap assembly includes a cap having an outlet coupled to the inner container. The inner container is attached to a support hanger which in turn is supported by the outer container. The cap has a dispensing outlet coaxially disposed with the outlet of the inner container. A dispensing check valve is provided in the cap assembly to allow the material to be dispensed without air being drawn into the container at the end of the dispensing cycle. The contents of the inner container are dispensed by squeezing the outer container to deform the side walls and create an increased pressure within the outer container causing the contents to be expelled through the dispensing check valve.

Abstract: Material feeding apparatus having, as one aspect, combining the loading, feeding and refilling functions in a single, vertically disposed housing with a feeder hopper portion of the housing below a refill hopper portion of the housing and separated from the refill hopper portion by a divider wall. The passage of material from the refill hopper portion to the feeder hopper portion is through a valve and material is drawn into the refill hopper portion by a vacuum source and discharged to the feeder hopper portion in response to indications of the level of the material in the refill hopper portion and the feeder hopper portion. A second aspect of this material feeding apparatus is the use of a flap valve as the valve which determines the passage of material from the refill hopper to the feeder hopper.

Abstract: An apparatus dispenses dry polyacrylamide (PAM), which is very sensitive to humidity, into irrigation water for stabilizing soil to reduce erosion and maintain porosity. A tank containing PAM discharges the PAM into a feed tube leading to a distribution canister. A fan at the canister blows a stream of air across an outlet end of the feed tube to keep moist air away from the end of the tube and facilitate discharge of the PAM into the canister and out of the open bottom end of the canister into the irrigation water. The apparatus is battery powered for use in remote areas without power lines and is operated periodically by a programmable timer.

Abstract: A piston (6) for a tool dispensing a mass from a foil bag (5) includes an axially extending piston rod (8) engageable with a central engagement part (14) of the piston and arranged to be pressed against the foil bag (5). A wipe-off edge (15) at least partially encircles and is located radially outwardly from the central engagement part (14). The wipe-off edge (15) is axially displaceable for a limited extent relative to the central engagement part (14).

Abstract: A tray is supported in the base of a collapsible intermediate bulk container that forms part of a container assembly, particularly for carrying viscous liquids within plastic bags. The tray includes a floor which, in use, slopes downwardly from the rear of the base towards a discharge gate carried by the base and has side portions which slope in the same direction. The tray has flanges which in use rest upon upper edges of the base. The front portion of the tray is formed with a discharge aperture, located adjacent the gate of the base, through which the nozzle of a bag can project. With this arrangement, access to the nozzle of the bag can be obtained through the gate and the sloping configuration of the tray will assure that substantially the whole content of the bag will be discharged.

Abstract: In order to form an extemporaneous mixture of two components (S, A) isolated from each other, the first component (S) is placed in a can (1) in which a resupply capsule (5) under relatively high pressure is disposed, a valve (12) being provided and controlled depending on the value of the ambient pressure relative to a reference pressure.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing apparatus includes a modular dispensing tower which may be positioned remote from both the product and the cooling unit or, alternatively, may be mounted onto the cooling unit housing using quick connect couplings. When positioned remote from the cooling unit, the modular dispensing tower connects to the cooling unit through an insulated trunk line which allows positioning of the modular dispensing tower up to twenty five feet away from the cooling unit. Additionally, the modular dispensing tower comprises an insulated manifold which operates to significantly decrease the temperature of the dispensed "casual" drink. The manifold houses a plurality of product conduits which are positioned against a carbonated water conduit which works in a recirculation system to greatly reduce the temperature of the dispensed "casual" drink. Furthermore, the modular dispensing tower may reside on the countertop or may be mounted onto the edge of the countertop in order to save countertop space.

Abstract: A liquid container comprising a multi-layer container including a wall made up of a main layer and a separate, delaminatable inner layer, a container opening at the top for filling and evacuation and a plurality of air vents extending completely through the main layer and terminating at the inner layer, such that the inner layer delaminates when liquid is evacuated by suction.

Abstract: Continuous feed, chemical switching unit for supplying an uninterrupted flow of chemical fluid to a processing system including a control unit and a reservoir for containing a predetermined volume of chemical fluid wherein the reservoir is in hydraulic communication with a processing system. A plurality of float level sensors are provided within the reservoir for locating the fluid level in the reservoir wherein at least one level sensor provides an interlock to the processing system when energized to halt the processing system operation, and the other level sensors communicate reservoir level information to the control unit. The switching unit also includes a plurality of replaceable chemical fluid bottles for storing the fluid, e.g. a first active bottle and a second standby bottle, wherein the bottles are in independent hydraulic communication with the reservoir. Each fluid bottle has associated therewith an inert-gas actuated isolation valve for isolating the bottle from the reservoir.

Abstract: The bottle is designed for use in holding fluids, such as milk, water and can be used with all forms of physical activity and has a one way check valve positioned at the end opposite the bottle's opening. The valve is used to provide a constant pressure and a steady stream of water when the rider turns the bottle upside down, even during the operation of the bicycle. The valve allows air into the bottle, but does not allow fluid to exit through the valve.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method is provided for accurately dispensing a preselected volume of liquid. A flowmeter is provided to generate signals proportional to the flow of liquid through a faucet. A programmed microcomputer receives the flowmeter signals and controls the faucet. The residual volume of liquid (spill), which was dispensed after the faucet was last commanded to close, is stored and averaged with additional, previously stored spill amounts by the microcomputer. The average spill volume is used to anticipate the spill for the forthcoming pour. When the cumulative volume of liquid dispensed is equal to the preselected volume less the anticipated spill volume, the microcomputer signals the faucet to close, resulting in an accurate pour. In a another aspect, an improved beer dispensing head is provided. A spring-loaded conventional tap handle activates a sensor means in the head.

Abstract: Changes in the flow characteristics of a fluid being dispensed from a nozzle under .[.then.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.control of a metering valve are compensated for in order to maintain the volume of fluid dispensed over a predetermined time interval substantially equal to a selected setpoint. The volume of fluid delivered to the metering valve during a predetermined interval is measured and a correction factor based on the difference between the measured volume and the setpoint is calculated. The correction factor is used to generate a driving signal from which a control signal applied to the metering valve is generated.