Abstract: A container for holding ground coffee or tealeaves. The container may include a body and a lip extending from the body. The lip may include a top substantially flat surface and a width of no more than about 2.6 millimeters (about 0.1 inch).

Abstract: A system and method for order packing forms a mixed pallet or a mixed multi-pack. In this system, a first embodiment utilizes a high volume module, a low volume module, a sorting and packing module, a prepackage module and a mixed palletizer module for picking, sorting, packaging and palletizing articles. In a second embodiment of the present invention, a bulk load can be fed via a carrousel to a bank of elevators. A transfer device will load different levels of the elevators which can then be moved adjacent a discharge conveyor. A lane is provided in this discharge conveyor for each of the elevators in the bank of elevators. The different levels of the elevators are positioned adjacent the lanes and can discharge articles onto the conveyor in order to form groups of the same or different types of articles. Many different types of articles including beverage containers such as cans, bottles or beverage boxes can use this system.

Abstract: A pet watering device for automatically providing water to a pet, such as a dog, from a source of water under pressure. The pet watering device includes a water supply conduit having a first end which is operably connected to a faucet and a second end which is disposed remote from the faucet to allow a discharge of the water therefrom. A valve is in the water supply conduit for being opened to allow the water to flow through the water supply conduit and closed to prevent the flow of the water therethrough. The water supply conduit includes a mounting element for mounting the second end at a selected position for allowing the pet to drink the water therefrom. A sensor is for sensing the presence of the pet near the second end of the water supply conduit. The sensor is operably connected to the valve to cause the valve to be opened after the pet is sensed moving near the second end and to be closed after the pet is no longer being sensed near the second end.

Abstract: In a method for applying labels about a bulbous sidewall region of a container, the leading end of the label is joined to the bulbous sidewall region by adhesive bonds above and below a major diameter section of the bulbous sidewall region. While being pressed to the bulbous sidewall region, the label is wrapped about the container, and the trailing end of the label is then adhesively joined to the bulbous sidewall region, or to the overlapped leading end of the label. An apparatus for applying labels about a bulbous sidewall region of a container employs a label transfer drum which cooperates with an adhesive applicator to apply spaced adhesive patches to the leading end of the label above and below a major diameter section of the bulbous sidewall region. The label transfer drum also cooperates with the adhesive applicator to apply a continuous strip of adhesive to the trailing end of the label.

Abstract: A system and method for order packing forms a mixed pallet or a mixed multi-pack. In this system, a first embodiment utilizes a high volume module, a low volume module, a sorting and packing module, a prepackage module and a mixed palletizer module for picking, sorting, packaging and palletizing articles. In a second embodiment of the present invention, a bulk load can be fed via a carrousel to a bank of elevators. A transfer device will load different levels of the elevators which can then be moved adjacent a discharge conveyor. A lane is provided in this discharge conveyor for each of the elevators in the bank of elevators. The different levels of the elevators are positioned adjacent the lanes and can discharge articles onto the conveyor in order to form groups of the same or different types of articles. Many different types of articles including beverage containers such as cans, bottles or beverage boxes can use this system.

Abstract: A pet watering device is for automatically providing water to a pet, such as a dog, from a source of water under pressure. The pet watering device includes a water supply conduit having a first end which is operably connected to a faucet and a second end which is disposed remote from the faucet to allow a discharge of the water therefrom. A valve is in the water supply conduit for being opened to allow the water to flow though the water supply conduit and closed to prevent the flow of the water therethrough. The water supply conduit includes a mounting element for mounting the second end at a selected position for allowing the pet to drink the water therefrom. A sensor is for sensing the movement of the pet near the second end of the water supply conduit. The sensor is operably connected to the valve to cause the valve to be opened when the pet is sensed moving near the second end and to be closed after the pet is no longer sensed near the second end.

Abstract: A container crushing apparatus which is particularly useful with plastic beverage containers employs a stationary presser member, a confronting movable presser member, links which constrain the movable presser member for movement along an arcuate path toward and away from the stationary member, and a lever for effecting movement of the movable presser member along the arcuate path. The confronting surfaces of the presser members carry an elastomeric material for gripping the sidewalls of a container to be crushed. As the movable presser member is forced toward the stationary presser member, the sidewalls of the container are displaced toward each other and longitudinally, and the container base pivots toward a position generally aligned with the sidewalls. The lever is connected between the presser members for increased force multiplication as the crushing operation progresses.

Abstract: A system and method for adhering resin to the exterior of the bottles includes a coating section, a flash-off section, and a curing section. In the coating section, the bottles are dipped in a solution of resin and solvent. Only the exterior of the bottles is coated. The bottles are fed from the coating section to the flash-off section where they will be conveyed along a zig-zag path. In the flash-off section, air will pass over the bottles in order to remove solvent from their exterior. The bottles are then fed to the curing section where they pass in front of a plurality of ultraviolet lights. The ultraviolet lights will cure the resin on the exterior of the bottles.

Abstract: A postmix juice dispensing system for dispensing a finished beverage directly from a pliable beverage concentrate having an ice point at or near freezer temperatures, with little or no conditioning. The system preferably uses a one-piece, unitary, disposable package that includes both the concentrate container and a positive displacement metering pump. The disposable package is placed in the dispenser which automatically connects the pump to a pump motor. A mixing nozzle is connected to the metering pump and a water line is connected to the mixing nozzle. Upon pushing a load button, the dispenser automatically feeds compressed air on top of a piston in the concentrate container to force concentrate into the pump. The dispenser automatically reads an indicator on the package to set the pump speed in response to the type of concentrate in the package. The dispenser requires no cleanup or sanitization and allows rapid flavor change.

Abstract: A postmix juice dispensing system for dispensing a finished beverage directly from a pliable beverage concentrate having an ice point at or near freezer temperatures, with little or no conditioning. The system preferably uses a one-piece, unitary, disposable package that includes both the concentrate container and a positive displacement metering pump. The disposable package is placed in the dispenser which automatically connects the pump to a pump motor. A mixing nozzle is connected to the metering pump and a water line is connected to the mixing nozzle. Upon pushing a load button, the dispenser automatically feeds compressed air on top of a piston in the concentrate container to force concentrate into the pump. The dispenser automatically reads an indicator on the package to set the pump speed in response to the type of concentrate in the package. The dispenser requires no cleanup or sanitization and allows rapid flavor change.

Abstract: A post-mix beverage dispenser and refrigeration system including a water filter/purifier disposed within a refrigerated water reservoir for filtering carbonated water output from the dispenser carbonator en route to being mixed with flavor concentrate. The water reservoir also has a rotary agitator blade immersed therein with apertures to increase agitation.

Abstract: An ice bank control system for a beverage dispenser having a mechanical refrigeration system including an inexpensive solid state sensor, preferably a thermistor, located in the ice water bath adjacent to the evaporator coil and connected to a control circuit including a microprocessor which not only controls the ice bank, but also protects the compressor motor. The resistance of the thermistor is measured and then compared to a reference value previously stored in the microprocessor memory.

Abstract: An orifice disc insertion and removal device for the syrup tube of the mixing valve of a post-mix beverage dispenser, comprising a cylindrical plastic adaptor having an inside shoulder on which interchangeable orifice plates are disposed, a flange on the opposite end thereof which seats on the end of the syrup tube to accurately position the orifice device and a pull-tab connected to the flange for removing the cylindrical adaptor from within the syrup tube.

Abstract: A refillable syrup tank for use in a post-mix beverage dispenser including an openable top through which the tank may be refilled and a discharge end at the bottom. A flow rate control assembly is mounted within the tank and includes a flow rate control tube extending from the top of the tank to a position spaced from the discharge opening. A removable lid with a hermetic sealing device fits onto the top openable end of the tank and supports the flow-rate control tube in the tank. The tube is permanently secured to the lid, for removal from the tank therewith. The hermetic sealing is achieved either by a snap-fit between the lid and the tank or an O-ring seal.

Abstract: An orange juice dispensing system including a pump driven by a d.c. motor for pumping concentrate through a concentrate conduit to a mixing chamber of a dispensing valve, a water line for feeding water to the mixing chamber and including a flow meter and a motorized control valve therein, sensors connected to the pump for sensing concentrate flow rate, and a microcontroller receiving signals from the pump sensors and the water flow meter for controlling the mixture ratio and flow rate by controlling the motorized control valve in the water line and the d.c. motor connected to the concentrate pump. The concentrate is preferably contained in a nonreturnable, plastic, semi-rigid container.

Abstract: A motorless batch carbonator for a carbonated drink dispenser is located in a chilled water bath including a set of evaporator coils located on the outside of the water bath with the ice build up on the inside thereof being controlled by an ice bank detector. The carbonator is comprised of an immersible closed tank including a semi-permeable membrane carbonating section where still water and CO.sup.2 gas are mixed together. Still water from a pressurized source is fed into the interior of the carbonator tank which is pressurized to operate a spring-biased spool valve for opening and closing a CO.sup.2 supply line. A vent passage through the top of the carbonator chamber is opened and closed to atmospheric pressure in response to the manual actuation of a spring-biased dispensing plunger which includes a fluid dispensing path.