Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer coupling system for fluid materials within a walled container is provided which couples the output of transducers through the wall directly to the fluid and is isolated acoustically from the walls of the container by a soft gasket material, or couples the output of the transducers to the wall of the container by means of bonding material being isolated acoustically from the support bracket outside the container by a soft gasket material.

Abstract: An improved espresso/cappuccino machine and methods which comprise a crema device downstream of the coffee filter for producing consistent and rich crema on top of the espresso and an automatic milk frothier for producing a predetermined amount of visually appealing foamy head for the milk, both in a manner that is independent of the operators' skill. The crema device comprises an expandable opening for forming a stream or jet of espresso, a crema chamber having keeping means for maintaining an amount of espresso in the chamber during the brewing process, and an arrangement that allows the jet of espresso to plunge directly into the espresso maintained in the chamber thereby producing the crema.

Abstract: A pod group module adapted for attachment to a coffee machine operable for receiving and sealably containing a prefabricated coffee pod and directing the flow of heated water therethrough. A coffee pod consists of a measure of pre-ground coffee beans contained within and enveloped by a water permeable membrane such as a filter paper. The pod group module includes attachment means adapted to mount a pod group module onto a coffee machine. The attachment means includes a flow channel having an intake port which is positioned to receive hot water from a hot water output port on the coffee machine. The pod group module includes a coffee pod receptacle adapted to receive a coffee pod. Activation of a lever-type handle on the pod group module doses and seals the pod receptacle providing a fluid-tight chamber containing the coffee pod.

Abstract: A coffee brewer of the type having an outer fixed cylindrical tube and a fixed piston within the tube. A sliding cylinder slides in sealing contact between the outer cylinder and the piston. The sliding cylinder has a filter at the top thereof. A frame mounts the piston head and the outer cylindrical tube, and motor means are mounted on the frame with a pair of rotors rotatably mounted on the frame, one on either side of the outer cylindrical tube about a lateral axis at right angles to the axial axis of the outer and sliding cylindrical tubes. Each rotor includes an arcuate segment with gear teeth on the periphery thereof. Gear means connect the motor to the rotors for rotating the rotors, and a cam connector connects the sliding cylinder to the rotors for sliding movement of the sliding cylindrical tube during the brewing cycle.

Abstract: Brewing apparatus comprising a brew-collecting container (1), defined by a sidewall (2) and a bottom wall (3), that can be placed under the outlet (4) of a filter (5) of a housing (6) of a brewing apparatus (7), in such a way that it rests on a base (8) of said brewing apparatus (7). The container (1) includes a handle (9) fastened to said sidewall (2) by fastening means, a spout (10) through which the brew is poured out of the container (1) and a lid (11) which has an opening (12) through which the brew flows into the container. In accordance with the invention, the opening (12) is located in alignment with the spout (10), and the outlet (4) of the filter (5) is arranged so as to overlay said spout (10) in a brewing position. The invention is particularly useful for electric coffee-makers.

Abstract: An espresso coffee machine wherein a percolator cup is fitted removably to a fixed tubular support and beneath a pressurized-hot-water supply conduit; the fixed tubular support housing a sealing element which is movable by the pressurized hot water towards the cup for connecting the conduit to the cup in fluidtight manner.

Abstract: A portable PVC resin blending system mounted in a semi-monocoque steel silo having multiple levels therein. The various components of the blending system are mounted within and attached to the silo and lifting lugs on the silo capable of lifting and tilting the silo from a vertical to a horizontal position for transportation and re-erection.

Abstract: A feed mixer apparatus includes a tongue attached to a frame mounted upon a wheeled axle, a forward and rearward mixing chambers separated by a trough, a pair of reels driven by sprockets and gears and drive shafts which are actuated by a power take off on preferably a prime, a plurality of elongate mixing members extending between the side walls of the mixing chambers and deflectably attached to the ends of a plurality of radially-extending arms, an auger being rotatably disposed in the trough and having fins attached thereon for flipping clumps or chunks of feed material back into the chambers, an opening through a side wall in alignment with the trough and through which fine particles of feed material is dispensed to the outside, and a conveyor chute pivotally attached to the side wall in alignment with the opening to facilitate the dispensing of fine particles of feed material to the outside.

Abstract: A continuous particle treating system (10) is shown having an elongated treatment chamber (12) with a slurry supply network (14) connected to the inlet end (12a) of the chamber and an outlet network (16) connected to the outlet end (12b) of the chamber. The supply network includes a loading chamber (24) coupled to a slurry container (18) forming a main circulation loop and a by-pass conduit (32) connected in parallel with the loading chamber forming a by-pass loop with the slurry container. High pressure liquid (36) is used to pressurize the treatment chamber (12) and at selected times during an operational cycle, the loading chamber (24). A plurality of valves (V1-V7) are interconnected and sequenced to maintain slurry circulation at all times and to intermittently separate the loading chanter (24) from the circulation path and to pass on the slurry in the loading chamber into the treatment chamber (12).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying gypsum slurry of predetermined concentration to a follow-on utilization device, such as an irrigation network. Slurry of a first higher concentration is prepared in a vessel using a vertically arranged mixer with power and drive components mounted outside the tank and a mixer shaft bearing an impeller and a propeller positioned inside the tank for immersion in the slurry ingredients. Rotation of the impeller and propeller causes the slurry ingredients to flow downwardly in the central region of the vessel, outwardly near the bottom towards the inner wall surfaces, upwardly of the inner wall surfaces towards the top and inwardly to the central region in a cyclic fashion to produce a uniform slurry. The slurry is withdrawn through an outlet in one of the tank walls and mixed with externally supplied water in a mixing chamber to dilute the slurry to a desired useable concentration.

Abstract: The multi-component mixer is characterized by great simplicity of manufacture, use and mounting in the installation. A semi-rigid tube is fitted onto two joining pieces held by two collars. Components of the product to be mixed enter the tube at one end, and after stirring takes place, the product, ready to use, is discharged at the other end.

Abstract: An infusing unit is employed in a bubble-forming apparatus which includes a venturi-tube type inlet pipe unit, a discharge pipe unit, and a branch pipe. The infusing unit includes an infusing casing with a large-diameter upper section within which a main pipe section of the inlet pipe unit is press-fitted so as to establish a fluid-tight seal therebetween, and a small-diameter lower section located coaxially within the discharge pipe unit. A truncated conical lower end portion of the inlet pipe unit is located within the large-diameter upper section of the infusing casing and ranges from 1.0 mm to 1.7 mm in inner diameter. The infusing casing further has an integral tubular section which extends radially and outwardly from the lower section of the infusing casing and which is press-fitted into the branch pipe. The integral tubular section ranges from 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm in inner diameter.

Abstract: A blender construction employing a unitary cylindrical body and removable, semicircular segmented, end cap closures wherein a unitary blender body includes an inlet chute at a first end and an exit chute at a second end. A centrally disposed hollow mixing shaft extends through the segmented end caps and is provided with diametrically disposed hollow mixing fingers spaced therealong positioned within the blender body. A high pressure heat exchange fluid source connects the blender, through tubing extending through one of the segmented end caps and, along the interior length of the blender housing. The heat exchange fluid is expelled from openings therein aligned with each of the mixing tool hollow interiors. The blender housing is supported on a platform that also supports the end bearings for the rotating blender shaft. A drive wheel is keyed to the hollow rotating blender shaft at one end thereof to connect with a suitable drive power supply.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for preparing a homogeneous solution of a powder, particularly hard-to-wet polymer powders, which includes:(1) feeding simultaneously a powder and a liquid solvent for the powder to a high-speed in-line mixer minimizing contact between said powder and said liquid solvent before said powder and said liquid solvent enter said mixer;(2) mixing said powder and said liquid solvent in said mixer to form a dispersion of said powder in said liquid solvent; and(3) dissolving said dispersed powder in said solvent.

Abstract: An infuser (1) comprising an elongated member (2) having at one end (4), a gripping portion (64) and, at the other end (3), a perforated or porous wall portion (5) forming the infuser charge holding chamber. A sleeve (9) slides along the elongated member (2) to cover or expose the perforations (8) or the porous material (40). To use the infuser (1), the infuser (1) is gripped by the gripping portion (64) and the sleeve (9) slid towards the gripping end (64), exposing the hygienically covered perforations (8) or porous material (40), which is stirred into boiling water to extract the required flavour or substances from the infuser charge. Upon completion the infuser is removed above the water and the sleeve (9) is slid down sealing the perforations (8) or porous material to lessen leakage from the infuser (1).

Abstract: A single chamber brewing device for brewing beverage has a single brewing chamber for receiving water and a brewing material such as tea, a thermally controlled heating element, and a thermally controlled valve for releasing brewed beverage from the brewing chamber into a container positionable underneath the brewing chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mixing two or more materials which are difficult to mix. The dispersion apparatus has a cylindrical housing which is divided into an upper chamber and a lower chamber by a baffle. The materials to be mixed are forced under high pressure into the lower chamber which is divided into three pressure zones by kinetic baffles. A turbine blade imparts energy to the liquids which are kept from swirling by the kinetic baffles. The high pressure of the materials introduced into the chamber forces the materials through an opening between the baffle and shaft turning the blade into the upper chamber. In the upper chamber a second blade imparts centrifugal force to the materials to force them outwardly through a porous screen. The materials are sheared as they move through the screen and then are delivered to an outlet.

Abstract: A brewing head of an espresso maker includes a housing, and a lower brewing head section fixedly attached to the housing. The lower brewing head section includes a pressure sealed brewing chamber, and a lifting piston forming a floor of the brewing chamber. The lifting piston has apertures therethrough. A water inlet is located beneath the floor of the brewing chamber. An apparatus for moving the lifting piston is provided. The brewing head further includes an upper brewing head section movable relative to the lower brewing head section. The upper brewing head section includes an upper brewing head housing, and a fill shaft. The fill shaft is in communication with the brewing chamber when the upper brewing head section is moved to a fill position. The upper brewing head section further includes a brewing piston positioned over the brewing chamber when the upper brewing head section is moved to a brewing position.

Abstract: A compacting granulator for continuous, compacting granulation comprises a substantially horizontal rotatable drum, through which an eccentric shaft extends, which carries compacting means which partly transfer substantial amounts of energy to the granulate possible for attainment of a high degree of compacting, partly hurl up the material under treatment, so that the material, while hurled up, is brought in intimate contact with a treatment liquid sprayed through the nozzle. A stationary scraper as well as nozzles with individual feed supply ensures great flexibility and a reliable operation.

Abstract: The invention is directed to method for controlling a pump for delivering the water in an apparatus for the production of brewed beverages, in particular espresso, coffee, cappuccino, wherein a switch is provided which, on actuation, starts the pump. The pump is started both when a temperature requirement is satisfied and when the switch is actuated, with the pump being started only if actuation of the switch has occurred after the temperature requirement is met.