Abstract: A mixing apparatus, puncturing mechanism, and cartridge are disclosed. The mixing apparatus has a housing and a drawer with a recess. Corresponding cartridges may be inserted into the drawer and slid into the housing to facilitate mixing a liquid with contents of the cartridge. The liquid may originate from a reservoir in the mixing apparatus or a direct line. Also inside the housing of the mixing apparatus is the puncturing mechanism. The puncturing mechanism has a nozzle configured to puncture a lid of a cartridge and inject liquid to mix with the contents of the cartridge. The puncturing mechanism is further configured to drive an internal puncturing unit inside of the cartridge through a lower portion of the cartridge to allow liquid from the nozzle and contents of the cartridge to be dispensed into a receptacle.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus, puncturing mechanism, and cartridge are disclosed. The mixing apparatus has a housing and a drawer with a recess. Corresponding cartridges may be inserted into the drawer and slid into the housing to facilitate mixing a liquid with contents of the cartridge. The liquid may originate from a reservoir in the mixing apparatus or a direct line. Also inside the housing of the mixing apparatus is the puncturing mechanism. The puncturing mechanism has a nozzle configured to puncture a lid of a cartridge and inject liquid to mix with the contents of the cartridge. The puncturing mechanism is further configured to drive an internal puncturing unit inside of the cartridge through a lower portion of the cartridge to allow liquid from the nozzle and contents of the cartridge to be dispensed into a receptacle.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus, puncturing mechanism, and cartridge are disclosed. The mixing apparatus has a housing and a drawer with a recess. Corresponding cartridges may be inserted into the drawer and slid into the housing to facilitate mixing a liquid with contents of the cartridge. The liquid may originate from a reservoir in the mixing apparatus or a direct line. Also inside the housing of the mixing apparatus is the puncturing mechanism. The puncturing mechanism has a nozzle configured to puncture a lid of a cartridge and inject liquid to mix with the contents of the cartridge. The puncturing mechanism is further configured to drive an internal puncturing unit inside of the cartridge through a lower portion of the cartridge to allow liquid from the nozzle and contents of the cartridge to be dispensed into a receptacle.

Abstract: Hand trucks and methods for displacing an object with a hand truck are disclosed. An example hand truck includes a lifting toe and a lift apparatus coupled to the lifting toe and configured to displace the lifting toe. A microprocessor is configured to output a plurality of control signals. An actuator is coupled to the lift apparatus and is configured to displace the lift apparatus responsive at least in part to the microprocessor outputting at least one of a plurality of control signals. An example method includes changing the load on a lifting toe from a first weight to a second weight and activating an actuator responsive at least in part on changing the load. A lift sled is moved in a first direction responsive to the activation of the actuator and the lifting toe is moved in the first direction by the lift sled.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus, puncturing mechanism, and cartridge are disclosed. The mixing apparatus has a housing and a drawer with a recess. Corresponding cartridges may be inserted into the drawer and slid into the housing to facilitate mixing a liquid with contents of the cartridge. The liquid may originate from a reservoir in the mixing apparatus or a direct line. Also inside the housing of the mixing apparatus is the puncturing mechanism. The puncturing mechanism has a nozzle configured to puncture a lid of a cartridge and inject liquid to mix with the contents of the cartridge. The puncturing mechanism is further configured to drive an internal puncturing unit inside of the cartridge through a lower portion of the cartridge to allow liquid from the nozzle and contents of the cartridge to be dispensed into a receptacle.

Abstract: A method for dispensing blended fertilizer to a customer at a dispensing site, which may be remote and unmanned. The fertilizer dealer enters the blend of standard fertilizer ingredients required to provide the customer's desired nutrients into a database identified with the customer. The customer identifies himself to a dispensing site based computer which recognizes the blend and operates a blending and dispensing apparatus to dispense the desired quantity of blended fertilizer to the customer. A plurality of blends may be available to the customer.

Abstract: A polyester film can be dyed by coating the film with a layer of a dye mixture which is a suspension of at least one disperse dyestuff in a solution of a thickener in water and which has a viscosity of no more than 500 centipoise, preferably 5-50 centipoise, at ambient temperature, followed by heating to cause the dyestuff to migrate from the layer into the film. The coating process is preferably reverse gravure printing. The process can be used to prepare films which contain one or more dyestuffs in one surface region of the film and one or more different dyestuffs, for example an ultraviolet absorber, in the other surface region of the film. The dyed films show good resistance to fading when exposed to light and are useful for example as automobile window films.

Abstract: A polyester film can be dyed by coating the film with a layer of a dye mixture which is a suspension of at least one disperse dyestuff in a solution of a thickener in water and which has a viscosity of no more than 500 centipoise, preferably 5-50 centipoise, at ambient temperature, followed by heating to cause the dyestuff to migrate from the layer into the film. The coating process is preferably reverse gravure printing. The process can be used to prepare films which contain one or more dyestuffs in one surface region of the film and one or more different dyestuffs, for example an ultraviolet absorber, in the other surface region of the film. The dyed films show good resistance to fading when exposed to light and are useful for example as automobile window films.