Abstract: Apparatus is provided for automatically carbonating a liquid. A pressure vessel receives carbonating gas at a pressure P.sub.1 via a first input, and a supply of liquid at a pressure P.sub.2 via a second input. P.sub.2 is greater than P.sub.1. The flow of liquid into the pressure vessel is restricted, to enable carbonating gas to enter the vessel and substantially reach the pressure P.sub.1 therewithin before liquid entering the vessel raises the interior pressure above P.sub.1. An output is provided for drawing carbonated liquid out of the pressure vessel. The apparatus is particularly suitable for residential use in providing Seltzer water, where it operates at conventional municipal or private well water pressures.

Abstract: Disclosed is a new mixing device for joint compound and the like for mixing pre-blended and newly blended viscous liquid compounds within a cylindrical flat-bottomed container to obtain homogeneous consistency of the compound. The mixing device for joint compound and the like comprises a paddle member adapted to be rotatively driven by a conventional drill motor. The paddle member comprises a unitarily formed, essentially rigid rod having an elongated vertical shank portion with a collinearly formed chuck engagable portion on the proximal end thereof. An agitator blade portion is formed on the distal end of the shank portion. The agitator blade portion includes vertical and horizontal rod portions for efficient mixing of compound near the container sides and bottom. Angled rod portions are also included for efficient mixing of compound in the central area of the container.

Abstract: An apparatus for the carbonation of liquids, such as water, comprises a liquid storage tank coupled to a carbonizer having a carbonated liquid holding tank which presents a carbon dioxide atmosphere to liquid introduced therein. The liquid introduced into the holding tank blends with the carbon dioxide atmosphere, and is held in the tank for withdrawal upon demand. The liquid storage tank maintains a liquid therein at ambient pressure, and has a draw tube for liquid removal positioned proximate the bottom wall of the tank. The tank has a channel system in the tank bottom to allow liquid to collect therein to maximize the amount of liquid which may be withdrawn. Liquid level switches sense the level of liquid within the channel system and are coupled to the carbonizer to prevent its operation when insufficient liquid is present in the storage tank.

Abstract: The present invention represents an improvement in state of the art apparatus for injecting controlled amounts of a soil amendment, including fertilizers, into an irrigation system, by first effecting the batch mixing of a selected soil amendment, in the form of a particulate material in a fluid medium, such that the particulate material is either dissolved or suspended in the fluid medium to form a slurry, continuously locating an area within the mixing tank in which the admixture displays the greatest, or optimum homogeneity, and continuously withdrawing metered amounts of the resultant slurry for injection into an irrigation system over the entire period of the irrigation cycle.

Abstract: A coffee grinder which has several different automatic grinding capacities is connected to a coffee brewer which has several different automatic brewing capacities by a control that inhibits brewing of all but the corresponding brew capacity following grinding of a quantity of coffee. The grinder is also inhibited from grinding any more coffee until the appropriate brew cycle of the coffee brewer is started. Once the corresponding brewing cycle is selected, the coffee grinder is reset and any grinding capacity may be selected. A calibration mode for the coffee grinder and the coffee brewer is provided wherein the duration of the grinding cycle or brewing cycle, respectively, is set by manually initiating the cycle and then halting of the cycle when the appropriate capacity is reached. The duration of the cycle is then set for subsequent automatic operation.

Abstract: An electric beverage maker comprising: a water reservoir; a water delivery tube for conducting hot water from the reservoir; a water distribution chamber located above a location of a filter holder and disposed for receiving water from the water delivery tube, the chamber being provided with a water outlet opening; a water recycling conduit providing a water flow path between the water distribution chamber and the reservoir; and a valve for blocking or unblocking the water outlet opening for permitting, when the water outlet opening is blocked, recycling of water via the recycling conduit, the improvement wherein the recycling conduit is constituted by a guide member forming a channel enclosing the water delivery tube.

Abstract: An automatic breadmaking appliance has an outer housing containing a baking chamber for receiving a mold in which the bread ingredients are mixed, kneaded and baked. A heating element located in the baking chamber supplies heat as necessary throughout the breadmaking process and an improved ventilating system is selectively operable under control of the appliance process controller to circulate cooling air through the baking chamber and to recirculate heated air from the upper region of the baking chamber to the lower regions thereof to accelerate heating and conserve energy. The ventilating system also effectively cools the housing and prevents condensation from forming thereon. Temperature sensing means located outside the baking chamber senses the temperature of the contents of the mold in the baking chamber. An improved viewing window, window cover, and light facilitate visual inspection of the bread being baked.

Abstract: The appliance, in particular a coffee machine, comprises three boilers (1, 2, 3). In addition a heating element (10, 11, 12) is disposed in each boiler, which element can be switched on and off through one switching means each (20, 21, 22) which are provided in a control mechanism (16). In each of the boilers moreover there is one temperature sensor (13, 14, 15) to measure the temperature of the hot water. The control mechanism (16) has in addition computational means (17) as well as memory means (18, 19). Among other things predetermined desired temperatures for the water in the individual boilers as well as the maximum available power supply of the coffee machine can be stored in the memory means (18, 19). The control mechanism is designed in such a way that, based on the water heating pattern in the individual boilers, the heating capacity can be apportioned to the boiler which needs it most according to a certain order of priority.

Abstract: An orbital shaking attachment can be fitted or removed from a magnetic stirrer thereby giving the stirrer the extra function of orbital shaking in addition to its primary function of magnetic stirring. The principal of he invention could also be used to make a dedicated orbital shaker for other applications such as in an over, incubator or liquid filled tank. The orbital shaking attachment includes a top-plate/platform with a circular magnet attached centrally to its underside and a base-plate with a central circular hole. The two plates are separated by ball bearings which are able to roll around orbitally in bearing cups on both plates. When operated the base-plate is static and the top-plate/platform moves orbitally. The device is constructed mainly from nonferrous material except for the circular magnet and ball bearings.

Abstract: A semiconductor processor blending system for diluting a concentrated liquid additive into an actively flowing primary liquid. The concentrated additive is stored in a reservoir and transferred to a drained mixing tank via a metering pump. A diluent supply adds a measured amount of diluent to the mixing tank to provide a diluted additive. Primary fluid flows through aspirator-injectors having a suction port which draws from the mixing tank. This provides two-stage dilution which can easily achieve very dilute ratios of the additive.

Abstract: An improved tea brewer which can be attached to a coffee brewer and has a tea wiper that connects to the coffee wiper for removing tea leaves from the machine.

Abstract: An impeller for stirring has an impeller head having a central hollow chamber with an opening, a stirring tool provided on the impeller head, and a driving pin received in the opening. The stirring tool is formed as a propeller having a rotary direction which produces an upwardly directed flow and provided in a lower region with flow producing surfaces which form an additional flow directed opposite to the flow produced by the propeller.

Abstract: A pitcher with a stirring device including a lid which is firmly fitted in the top end of the pitcher. The lid includes a rotatable disc sitting in a recess in the lid and rotated by an eccentric knob. A stirring device including a stem is fitted centrally through an opening in the lid to the disc such that on rotating the knob, the disc and the stem rotate relative to the pitcher. The stem is provided with four equi-angularly disposed wings which stir the liquid.

Abstract: A brewer for providing a single cup of coffee which comprises an outer cylindrical tubular member having an open top and a platform formed on the top. A slidable second cylindrical tubular member reciprocates within the first tubular member along the axis thereof and is provided with a gasket at the top thereof in sealing contact with the inner surface of the first tubular member. A permanent filter is provided at the top of the second cylindrical tubular member. A fixed piston head is located within the second cylindrical tubular member and is fixed relative to the first tubular member. A wiper is provided on the top platform of the first tubular member such that when the filter is in its uppermost position, the wiper can be activated to clean the coffee grounds from the filter. A pour spout is provided in the second cylindrical member which communicates with the fluid once the pour spout is above the level of the piston head.

Abstract: In known beverage dealcoholizing plants, one disadvantage is that volatile content materials always escape, and the end product consequently lacks aroma materials and/or preserving materials that were previously present. This disadvantage is eliminated in that the volatile content materials, previously lost into the surroundings via the vacuum pump, are fed back again into the beverage. A duct at the exhaust air pipe, connected to the vacuum pump and leading to a gas washer, circulates the volatile content materials back into the beverage.

Abstract: A coffee-making machine includes a reservoir connected to an external water supply via a valve which is divided into hot and cold water tanks. The cold water tank feeds a boiler which operates to heat the water in the cold water tank only when a brew cycle has been initiated. Heated water from the boiler is fed to an expansion chamber before being discharged onto the ground coffee via a spray head at the end of the expansion chamber. Upper and lower water level sensors are in the cold water tank and detect water level conditions therein. A controller communicates with the upper and lower level sensors and the boiler and allows a brew cycle to be initiated only when the water level in the cold water tank is detected by the upper level sensor. When the water level in the cold water tank falls below the lower level sensor, the controller disables the boiler and opens the valve to replenish the water level in the cold water tank.

Abstract: Systems for preparing comestibles, particularly beverages, from substances contained in sealed cartridges have a water injector, a support for a cartridge holder and a cartridge holder which includes a flow grille and relief surface element so that upon introducing water under pressure into the cartridge to prepare a beverage, a face of the cartridge adjacent the relief surface element and flow grille is deformed and then torn to enable a fluid comestible to be removed from the cartridge and pass through the relief surface element and grille.

Abstract: Apparatus (20) for the dispersion of minute bubbles in a liquid resin material comprises high pressure tank means (21) containing a liquid resin material (M) under pressure; means for delivering (45) at least one agent selected from the group consisting of blowing agents and nucleating agents into the liquid resin material; means for agitating (63) the mixture of liquid resin material and the selected agent within the tank; means for shearing (60) the mixture; and control means (50) for determining the population of bubbles of the agent within the mixture and provides an output signal for controlling operation of the means for shearing, thereby altering the fineness of dispersion of the agent in the liquid resin material as desired.

Abstract: A mixer mechanism is used for an automatic baking machine which includes an oven and a container disposed within the oven so as to bake bread. The mixer mechanism includes a driving device which has a rod member rotated by a motor, and a driving plate member secured to the upper end portion of the rod member. A shaft assembly includes a shaft member journalled on the bottom wall of the container, a driven plate member secured to the bottom end of the shaft member and mounted removably on the driving plate member in such a manner that the shaft assembly rotates synchronously with the rod member, and a positioning unit secured to the top end of the shaft member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mixing photographic emulsions is disclosed. The mixer is a truncated hollow cone having a first circumference and a second end having a second circumference. The second circumference is larger than the first circumference. The cone is attached to an end of a central shaft attached to the first end. The rotation of the shaft produces micromixing of the photographic emulsion while minimizing air entrainment.