Abstract: A material dispensing pump includes a drip prevention system and method so as to avoid undesired dripping of the dispensed fluid. In one example, the fluid path is sealed. Positive pressure is applied to the fluid during a dispensing operation to present the fluid to the auger-style pump at a desired rate. Between dispensing operations, or when dispensing is completed, the fluid is placed in suspension, for example by applying a negative pressure, thereby preventing the fluid from being inadvertently released at the dispense tip. In addition, following a dispensing operation, the pump dispensing controller can be programmed to reverse the rotation of the feed screw, in order to draw the material in a reverse direction and to further suspend the fluid.

Abstract: An improved concentrated/extract cartridge is provided for dispensing a liquid in an accurate and repeatable manner. The cartridge includes an electromagnetically actuated piston connected to a value. The piston includes an exterior ring supported by a hollow interior web that is configured to permit a flow of fluid into the dispensing tube when the value body is in contact with the value seat. A membrane is located below the web and is in sealing contact with the internal ring when the piston is activated. This allows a precise and repeatable amount of the liquid to be dispensed with each stroke. Dispensers for dispensing the liquid from the cartridge for a number of applications are also provided. The dispensers each include an actuating coil into which the dispensing tube is inserted. A controller is connected to the coil for controlling the actuation of the piston/value assembly for dispensing the fluid in the cartridge as required for the particular application.

Abstract: A closure for a container having an opening includes a base cap and an overcap that form a chamber adjacent the opening which is sealed from the contents of the container by a frangible membrane having an inclined line of weakness and by a hinge member having a pocket extending downward adjacent lower and upper terminuses of the line of weakness. The overcap includes a cutting member received within the pocket that severs the line of weakness upon substantial rotation of the overcap with respect to the base cap. A pushing member may cooperate with a cam member to deflect open the membrane upon severance. The pocket may include a stop for the cutting member. The base cap may include a cylindrical structure having an upwardly inwardly projection member to form a seal with an thickened upper portion of the overcap skirt to protect against penetration into the chamber.

Abstract: A dispenser for a bottle that is adapted to contain a consumable beverage. The dispenser may be reusable to facilitate easy use and last minute selection of flavoring component for a consumable beverage.

Abstract: A minute quantity viscous material dispenser employing a pressurized material source and a reciprocating piston is driven by a variable drive which is controlled in response to a signal reflective of piston position and wherein the drive can be controlled for direction, stroke distance, speed, acceleration, and force and wherein the drive is coupled to the piston through a quick disconnect.

Abstract: A pump for metering a liquid is disclosed comprising a flexible tube connected to a container with a pressure relief valve located in the flexible tube. A housing defines an aperture for receiving the flexible tube with a compression surface located adjacent to the aperture. A reciprocating member has a sealing element and a pumping element. A drive moves the sealing element for pinching the flexible tube against the compression surface upstream from the pressure relief valve for trapping liquid between the sealing element and the pressure relief valve. The drive moves the pumping element for collapsing the flexible tube against the compression surface for pumping the trapped liquid to discharge a metered quantity of the liquid from the pressure relief valve.

Abstract: A dispensing urn assembly (10, 10?) with a hollow body (12) with an interior surface for containing beverage (14) and a manually operable faucet (16) for selectively dispensing beverage (14) from the bottom of hollow body with an electronic status display assembly (50) controlled by a microcomputer (62) in response to a temperature probe (44), a level probe (42) and a timer reset switch (46) to provide graphic displays (64,68, 72), numerical displays (66,70, 74) of the temperature, quantity and time elapsed or remaining since the brewing of the beverage and light indication displays (55,57, 59) when preselected values are achieved.

Abstract: A dispensing system for a plural component mixture including a first operator held container and separate flexible containers placed within the first container. Conduits coupled between the second containers and a dispensing device. The dispensing device includes a passageway and a valve for each respective component. An actuator controls the valves. A second valve is coupled in the conduits between the components' sources and the dispensing device. The second valve includes an inlet port for each component, an equal number of outlet ports, and an inlet port for flushing the plural components from at least portions of their respective conduits. The second valve has a first state where each inlet port is coupled to an outlet port and a second state where the inlet port for flushing material from the conduits and the mixed plural components is coupled to the outlet ports.

Abstract: A diagonally divided bottle is disclosed, wherein the bottle includes at least two bottle sections separately formed, each bottle section including a bottom wall and outer wall extending therefrom defining a chamber. At least one portion of the outer wall of each bottle section has a portion adapted to mate with the portion of another bottle section. The mated portions of the bottle sections form at least one common wall. The common wall is arranged at an angle disposed diagonally to a major axis of the bottle when viewed from the top or bottom such that products contained in the chambers of the bottle sections are simultaneously viewed when the diagonally divided bottle is observed from a front.

Abstract: A manually operated trigger sprayer has an integral plastic spring and pump piston rod that are connected by a breakable connection, whereby the spring and piston rod can be assembled to the trigger sprayer as one piece and are subsequently broken into two separate pieces in response to their assembly to the trigger sprayer, or subsequent manual operation of the trigger sprayer.

Abstract: Certain pump dispensers, for example foam dispensers, are specially adapted for inverted use. One feature especially useful in a foam dispenser having both an air cylinder and a liquid cylinder with respective pistons is an intake conduit arrangement to increase the clearance of liquid from the container. An intermediate shell fits over the upright liquid cylinder body and carries an inlet valve positively urged upward to the closed position to prevent leaking. A conduit shell fits over the intermediate shell and creates an intake conduit extending down the side of the liquid cylinder to an intake opening lower down the pump body.

Abstract: A pressurized container (1) for a viscous product, comprising a container body (2) with an opening (9), a piston (3), a dispensing closure (4) attached to the container body opening (9) which comprises closure walls, at least one dispensing aperture (13), at least one closing element (14) that is movable relative to the closure walls between a closed position and an open position, the container (1) further comprising a spring element (15) disposed between said closing element (14) and said closure walls, so as to naturally force the closing element (14) in a position where it closes said aperture (13), wherein the closure walls define a channel (16) with at least one lateral dispensing aperture (13) remote from the container body opening (9), said closing element (14) having the shape of a ring that seals around and is movable relative to the channel (16), by translation along, or by rotation around, an axis which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the channel (16).

Abstract: A dispensing system for plural components mixture including second containers placed within a first container. The first container is held by an operator during dispensing. Separate conduits are coupled between the containers and the dispensing device and include passageways for the passage of each respective component. Each passageway includes an actuator controlled valve. A second valve coupled in the conduits between the respective components' sources and includes an inlet port for each component, an equal number of outlet ports, and an inlet port for a material for flushing the plural components from respective conduits and the mixed plural components. The second valve has a first state in which each respective inlet port is coupled to an outlet port. The second valve also has a second state in which the inlet port for flushing the plural components from the respective conduits and the mixed plural components is coupled to the outlet ports.

Abstract: A dispenser for a bottle that is adapted to contain a consumable beverage. The dispenser includes a dispenser body defining a chamber therein. The chamber is adapted to hold a flavoring component. The dispenser body has a first dispenser end, suitable for drinking therefrom, and has a second dispenser end, adapted to be positioned within the bottle when the dispenser is engaged with the bottle. The plunger is slidably disposed at least partially within the dispenser body for movement from a first plunger position to a second plunger position, in which the plunger penetrates a portion of the dispenser body to create a passageway. When the plunger is in the second plunger position and a cap is in a first cap position, the plunger end cooperates with the cap to seal the cap opening.

Abstract: A plunger for a syringe of a liquid dispenser comprises a tapered front end section 12 having at its rear end 16 an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the syringe, a cylindrical drum section 14 continued to the rear end 16 of the tapered front end section 12, having a maximum outer diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the syringe and opening there, and a collar member 24 (30, 32) slidably formed by coupling with an outer circumferential surface in the vicinity of an opening 22 of the drum section 14 and maintaining the close contact with an inner wall surface 26 of the syringe 18, thereby inclination toward the syringe is eliminated and action within the syringe is constantly made smooth.

Abstract: A dispenser for use with a liquid product including beads which are rupturable to release additives when rubbed between the hands of a user. The dispenser includes a discharge head reciprocable between pressure and return strokes, and a valve assembly for respectively allowing and preventing liquid product from being discharged during the pressure and return strokes. The valve assembly includes ribs for guiding movement of a check valve disposable in respective valve open and closed positions in which the check valve is disposed out of and in contact with a valve seat. The valve assembly includes primary fluid passages for permitting passage of the liquid and beads into a pump cylinder, and secondary fluid passages for permitting displacement of the beads during translation of the check valve between the valve open to the valve closed positions for thereby preventing accumulation of beads between the check valve and its valve seat.

Abstract: A distribution assembly includes at least two containers or receptacles, each containing a product, and being fitted with a valve having an actuator rod. A distribution device is mounted on top of the containers and includes a distribution nozzle fitted with at least one distribution orifice. The distribution device further includes a movable actuator element to provoke the simultaneous distribution of two products in a mixed or separate state. Further, an intermediate body is separate from the actuator element and includes two skirts. The intermediate body is able to engage respectively on the two actuator rods of the containers, and at least one inner channel allows the flow of products towards the distribution nozzle. The actuator element and the intermediate body are arranged to co-operate on operation of the actuator element so as to allow the passage of products from the recipients to the distribution nozzle via the inner channel.

Abstract: A pump for dispensing a liquid contained in a bottle including a shrunk-fit section including an orifice for communicating with the liquid, a pushbutton including an orifice for ejecting the liquid, a dosing sleeve integrating a needle for plugging the ejection orifice and a device for bi-directional movement of the needle, a dosing piston including a channel equipped with a closing valve for the orifice, the piston being mounted in translation, in a leak-tight manner, inside the shrunk-fit section, between an open position and a closed position of the orifice, by means of the valve, an actuating member integral with the device for moving the needle and slidably mounted inside the dosing piston, by pressing on the pushbutton, the sliding assembly being set up to actuate the moving device and to position the valve in closed position so as to enable ejection of the liquid from the dosing chamber.

Abstract: A refill container is disclosed which utilizes an enclosure with at least one orientational tab and a neck that carries a pump mechanism with a nozzle. The refill container provides a collar with a notch that receives the orientational tab and axially receives the neck. The refill container is axially received by a release mechanism of a dispenser housing.

Abstract: A dispensing device comprising a base, a cover and a valve, in which the cover is releasably attached to the base by means of first hinge means, the movement of the cove defined by first hinge means operating the valve, and in which the cover is attached to the base by means of second hinge means, the movement of the cover defined by second hinge means exposing the base for loading or unloading a container of material to be dispensed, said movement defined by second hinge means only being possible when the cover is detached from the first hinge manes.