Abstract: An authentication reader and a dispenser comprising the authentication reader for authenticating a product having a taggant ink disposed on the product's surface.

Abstract: Apparatus, and methods for constructing and implementing beverage containment and dispensing systems are provided herein. An example apparatus includes a thermally-insulated container, an adjustable pressure regulator positioned within the thermally-insulated container, a stopper component, and one or more tubes connected to the adjustable pressure regulator and to the stopper component. The example apparatus also includes an external housing within which the thermally-insulated container is contained, and a user-controllable faucet component affixed to the external housing and connected to the adjustable pressure regulator through the external housing and thermally-insulated container via at least one conduit.

Abstract: A flexible mounting system for a chemical product dispenser includes a dispenser holder and at least one mounting apparatus. A releasable connection mechanism provides for attachment of the dispenser holder to the mounting apparatus. The releasable connection mechanism may provide for attachment of the dispenser holder to the mounting apparatus in multiple orientations. In one example, the mounting apparatus includes a mounting bracket configured for mounting to a support object, such as a wall, table, counter top, cabinet, shelf, cart etc. In another example, the mounting apparatus includes a mounting clamp configured for mounting to ledges, poles, bedrails, handles, etc.

Abstract: A dispenser having a housing, a container disposed in the housing for holding a liquid, a nozzle, and a pump. The pump includes a pump inlet, a pump outlet, a pump chamber. The pump inlet is in fluid communication with the container and the pump chamber, and the pump outlet is in fluid communication with the pump chamber and the nozzle. The pump chamber is movable between an expanded position and a compressed position. A first check valve is disposed between the container and the pump, and the first check valve has a first cracking pressure. A second check valve is disposed between the first check valve and the pump, and the second check valve has a second cracking pressure. The first cracking pressure of the first check valve is greater than the second cracking pressure of the second check valve.

Abstract: A novel pressure control system is provided for maintaining a constant predetermined excess pressure in a fluid dispensing container, comprising a high-pressure plastic vessel having an inner chamber, a closed end and an open end, and a pressure control device with a valve, which pressure control device is mounted on the open end of the high-pressure vessel, whereas a passageway is provided from the inner chamber to the outside, which is controlled by the valve, wherein the high-pressure vessel is essentially spherical.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for depositing flowable material comprising a chamber housing that receives and deposits flowable material, a rotary valve shaft and a piston shaft inside the chamber housing, the piston shaft rotatable in synchronization with the rotary valve shaft, wherein the piston shaft and the rotary valve shaft form a volumetric pocket to receive the flowable material, wherein the piston shaft rotates between a position that expands the volumetric pocket to draw the flowable material into the volumetric pocket, and a position that compresses the volumetric pocket to urge flowable material from the volumetric pocket.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a bag for transporting and handling powdery bulk materials, especially inorganic or organic pigments. Further, the present invention relates to a method for opening the tubular drain of such a bag, as well as to the use of the bag for transporting and handling powdery bulk materials.

Abstract: A dispenser container having a retractable nozzle is proposed. The container is configured such that an air pumping part (30) is coupled and secured to an upper portion of a container body (10) by a locking cap (20), a guide cap (20) configured to be movable up and down is coupled to the outer surface of the locking cap (20) at a location outside the locking cap, and a nozzle cap (50) configured to pressurize and operate the air pumping part while being rotated and being moved up and down in conjunction with the guide cap is coupled to an upper portion of the guide cap (40) at a location outside the guide cap so that the nozzle (60) coupled to the nozzle coupling hole formed at the side of the nozzle cap is extended and retracted in response to the rotation of the nozzle cap.

Abstract: A preform suitable for blow molding into for an outer container usable for a pressurized aerosol dispenser. The preform has a longitudinal axis and a closed end bottom, an open neck. The neck has threads for accepting a valve having complementary threads. At least one pawl or ratchet is operatively juxtaposed with the periphery of the preform. The at least one pawl or ratchet allows onward rotation of the complementary valve in an onward direction, and prevents detachment of the valve in a reverse rotation direction. Any such preform can be blow molded into a corresponding outer container, and any such outer container can be blow molded from a corresponding preform.

Abstract: An aerosol container for an aerosol dispenser. The aerosol container has an outer container. The outer container has a closed end bottom and a longitudinally opposed threaded open neck. The open neck has one or more pawls or ratchets disposed near the neck. The pawls or ratchets allow a complementary valve to be threaded onto the neck. The valve has complementary ratchets or pawls. The ratchet and pawl combination co-acts to impede or even prevent reverse rotation and subsequent removal of the valve. The outer container may be made from a preform having the ratchets and/or pawls integrally molded as part of the injection molding process. A valve having a housing may have ratchets and or pawls integrally molded as part of the injection molding process.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing system provides a product metering system, a dispenser and a control system for operatively controlling dispensing, metering, delivering and reporting of dispensed product. Authentication, authorization and control operation are distributed in a cloud based control through a wide area network. The dispenser includes sensor to identifying objects and filter out movements that are not interpreted as requests for dispensing. A local controller operates the metering and dispensing, combining inputs from the hardware level sensors and applying logic and rules from the remote cloud level. The instant abstract neither defines the invention disclosed in this specification nor limits the invention scope in any way.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention may provide a frozen beverage dispenser capable of dispensing multiple frozen beverage flavors.

Abstract: A direct metal laser melting (DMLM) system includes a rotatable base, and a build plate mounted on and supported by the rotatable base, where the build plate includes a build surface. The DMLM system also includes a first actuator assembly, a first powder dispenser disposed proximate the build plate and configured to deposit a weldable powder on the build surface of the build plate. In addition, the DMLM system includes a first powder spreader disposed proximate the build plate and configured to spread the weldable powder deposited on the build surface of the build plate, and a first laser scanner supported by the first actuator assembly in a position relative to the build plate, such that at least a portion of the build surface is within a field of view of the first laser scanner. The first laser scanner is configured to selectively weld the weldable powder. The first laser scanner is further configured to translate axially relative to the build surface on the first actuator assembly.

Abstract: A hard surface cleaning and conditioning assembly is provided that includes a pole having a lower section and an upper section; an adjusting device securing the upper and lower sections to one another in a telescoping manner; a tool depending from the lower section; a conditioning agent dispensing device depending from the lower section; a trigger depending from the upper section; and a telescoping trigger assembly operatively connecting the dispensing device to the trigger.

Abstract: A chemical solution supply apparatus (1) includes a container (10) and a chemical solution supply implement (20) that, in a state of being connected to a mouth portion (14), can switch over a state where the container (10) is sealed and a state where a chemical solution in a storage portion (12) is allowed to be supplied to the outside of the container (10). The chemical solution supply implement (20) has a base (30) and a supply body (50). The base (30) has a retaining portion (40), a pressing portion (42), and a restricting portion (34) that restricts displacement of the supply body (50) with coming into contact with the supply body (50) when the supply body (50) is pressed against pressing force of the pressing portion (42). The supply body (50) moves away from the retaining portion (40) to thereby form a supply flow passage, and comes into contact with the retaining portion (40) to thereby block the supply flow passage.

Abstract: Driver support assemblies to work in concert with a setup assembly are provided. Setup assemblies to work in concert with a driver support assembly and a cutting assembly are provided. Cutting assemblies configured to work in concert with a driver support assembly are provided. Driver tip cutting assemblies are provided. Methods for cutting the tip of a driver shaft are provided.

Abstract: A heating platform for heating a wafer is provided. The heating platform includes a support carrier, a detection module and a first heating module. The wafer is supported by the support carrier. The detection module is configured to monitor a surface condition of the wafer supported by the support carrier. The first heating module is disposed at a side of the support carrier. The first heating module includes a plurality of heating units electrically connected to the detection module, and the heating units is arranged in an array. A thermal treatment and a manufacturing method are further provided.

Abstract: A remotely controlled attractant or repellent dispersing apparatus housing a remotely controlled actuator system where an aerosol spray can is mountable for engagement with the actuator system. A receiver in communication with a transmitter is configured to receive one or more commands from the transmitter and relay the command to the actuator system for opening and/or closing a valve on the spray can for dispersing the contents of the aerosol can at selected times and for selected durations. The dispersing system is mountable in an outdoor environment and the transmitter is a hand-held remote control. A removable base support is provided to retain aerosol spray cans of different sizes in alignment with the actuator system.

Abstract: An dispenser includes a housing, a container disposed in the housing for holding a liquid, a nozzle, and a pump. The pump is disposed between the container and the nozzle. The pump includes a pump inlet, a pump outlet, a pump chamber, a first check valve, and a second check valve. The pump inlet is in fluid communication with the container and the pump chamber, and the pump outlet is in fluid communication with the pump chamber and the nozzle. The pump chamber is movable between an expanded position and a compressed position. The first check valve is disposed between the container and the pump, and the first check valve has a first cracking pressure. The second check valve is disposed between the first check valve and the pump, and the second check valve has a second cracking pressure. The first cracking pressure of the first check valve is greater than the second cracking pressure of the second check valve.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dispensing a viscous fluid using an apparatus that may include: a housing; an applicator coupling on the housing that can releasably couple an applicator that contains a viscous fluid; a gas supply coupling that receives a pressurized gas from a gas supply; a valve having a first open position in which the valve can be gradually and controllably opened to adjustably control the delivery of pressurized gas to the applicator coupling, and a second closed position where the pressurized gas delivered to the applicator coupling is vented; and a valve actuator configured to permit a user to gradually and controllably open the valve to controllably dispense the viscous fluid from the applicator, where ceasing to depress the valve actuator vents the applicator coupling and immediately discontinues the dispensing of viscous fluid from the applicator.