Abstract: A toothpaste dispenser is constructed in the form of a wall unit simulating a toothbrush with an elongate upper compartment for receiving an inverted toothpaste tube and constituting the toothbrush handle portion, and a lower compartment constituting the bristle portion of the toothbrush and containing a dispenser mechanism. The dispenser mechanism comprises a resilient dispensing duct which receives toothpaste from the inverted tube, and a lever-operated plunger for pumping paste through the tube and discharging same through an outlet nozzle. A metered quantity of paste is dispensed with each forward stroke of the lever.

Abstract: An abrading member is moved back and forth over a discharge opening of a hopper to abrade lumps of salt in the hopper to cause all of the salt passed out of the opening to be free flowing. The abraded member is moved with a slotted spreader tray positioned below the opening of the hopper and movable past a spreader plate extending down from the opening, and the salt drops through the slots onto food particles on a conveyor therebelow.

Abstract: Tapered ears of corn are moved one-at-a-time lengthwise into engagement first with a feeler-positioner and then with a feeler, and if the small end of an ear is forward, the feeler engages only the periphery of the ear and is moved slowly, while if the larger, butt end is first, the feeler engages the end or corner portion and is moved much more rapidly. This higher velocity of the feeler is sensed by an electro magnetic velocity transducer, and a pair of discs are actuated to grip the ear and turn it end-for-end. In one embodiment, the feeler-positioner is a pair of wheels which engage each ear and lift the feeler in accordance with the diameter and taper of that ear. In an alternate embodiment, the feeler-positioner is in the form of a plate which engages the ear and lifts the feeler in accordance with the diameter and taper of the ear.