Abstract: A new apparatus and method for feeding cotton continuously, uniformally, and at a constant rate to individual gin stands in a battery of gin stands is disclosed. The full flow feeder comprises a rectangular chamber with an upper and a lower section. Valves which form part of the chamber sides in the open position close to form two sections when in the closed position, causing the device to operate as a single chamber in the open position and a dual chamber in the closed position. On-off control switches located in the upper and lower sections operate to balance the flow of seedcotton by signaling a system of hydraulic cylinders to open and close the valves.

Abstract: A new apparatus for metering insect diet accurately and efficiently into individual insect rearing cells is disclosed. Insect diet is accurately metered into a set of plastic rearing cells which are preformed by a form-fill-seal machine. The insect diet is transferred from a thermally controlled reservoir through a pneumatic cylinder type metering device by means of a negative pressure on the intake and a positive pressure on the discharge. Thus very high viscosity diet materials can be utilized. The diet is discharged through a set of nozzles into individual plastic rearing cells. A ball type check valve is used on both the intake and discharge ends of the metering device, which can be incrementally calibrated by a threaded collar type mechanism. The whole apparatus is mounted to a stationary frame with a movable lower cross-head which imparts function to the metering devices. The number of metering devices can be varied and assembled in series and operated simultaneously with the number of rearing cells.