Abstract: A peristaltic pump comprises a drivable rotor, having at least one pressing member, and a housing comprising a cylindrical stator in which the rotor is rotatable. Flexible tubing, having an inlet side and an outlet side, extends circumferentially around the cylindrical stator against an inner wall. The peristaltic pump includes a radially deformable ring positioned between the rotor and the circumferentially extending flexible tubing. The ring is deformed by the pressing member upon rotation of the rotor and this compresses the flexible tubing against the inner wall of the cylindrical stator to convey liquid along the flexible tubing. The radially deformable ring includes a ring anchor which prevents rotation of the radially deformable ring during rotation of the rotor. The ring anchor is engaged with the housing to secure the ring anchor to the housing whilst allowing reciprocal movement of the ring anchor in a radial direction.

Abstract: A pumping apparatus 1 for dispensing a flowable product comprises first and second peristaltic pumps 12, 14. The first peristaltic pump 12 comprises a first rotor 18 having at least one pressing member 20, a first cylindrical stator 19 in which the first rotor 18 is rotatable and first flexible tubing 30 extending circumferentially around the first stator 19 against a first inner wall 19a. The second peristaltic pump 14 comprises a second rotor 42 having at least one pressing member 46, a second cylindrical stator 44 in which the second rotor 42 is rotatable and second flexible tubing 54 extending circumferentially around the second stator 44 against a second inner wall 44a. The first and second inner walls 19a, 44a each have a first and second radius r1, r2 respectively with the first radius r1 being greater than the second radius r2, and at least one of the stators 19, 44 is movable relative to the other stator 19, 44.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) for dispensing an additive into a liquid in a container comprises a support structure (22) and a container holder (28), supported by the support structure (22), for holding a container (21) containing a liquid. The apparatus (20) also includes a capsule holder (38) for holding a capsule (40) containing an additive, for example a liquid, semi-liquid or powder, and a manipulator device (41) which is operable to manipulate the capsule (40), for example by crushing it, to thereby dispense the additive into the liquid in the container (21).

Abstract: Apparatus (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) for customized production of a flavoring agent, the apparatus too, (200, 300, 400, 500, 600) comprising: a retainer (110, 210, 310, 610) for retaining at least two containers (10), each container (10) comprising a respective flavoring agent; a collecting and dispensing unit, e g a manipulator (120, 220, 320), for collecting and dispensing flavoring agents; a mixer (130, 230, 330) for mixing flavoring agents for obtaining a new flavoring agent; a control-unit (140) for controlling at least the collecting and dispensing unit (120, 220, 320) and the mixer (130, 230, 330), and a communication unit for communicating with a remote server (41) and/or remote device 20, wherein the control-unit (140) is configured such that the collecting and dispensing unit (120, 220, 320) collects and dispenses a first defined amount of flavoring agent from a first container (10) to the mixer (130, 230, 330), the collecting and dispensing unit (120, 220, 320) collects and dispenses a second d

Abstract: A pumping apparatus 1 for dispensing a flowable product comprises first and second peristaltic pumps 12, 14. The first peristaltic pump 12 comprises a first rotor 18 having at least one pressing member 20, a first cylindrical stator 19 in which the first rotor 18 is rotatable and first flexible tubing 30 extending circumferentially around the first stator 19 against a first inner wall 19a. The second peristaltic pump 14 comprises a second rotor 42 having at least one pressing member 46, a second cylindrical stator 44 in which the second rotor 42 is rotatable and second flexible tubing 54 extending circumferentially around the second stator 44 against a second inner wall 44a. The first and second inner walls 19a, 44a each have a first and second radius r1, r2 respectively with the first radius r1 being greater than the second radius r2, and at least one of the stators 19, 44 is movable relative to the other stator 19, 44.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) is provided for dispensing a flowable product from a collapsible container (12) comprising an air-tight cavity (14) and an opening (16). The apparatus (10) includes a reservoir (18) comprising a chamber (20) for storing flowable product, the chamber (20) comprising a product inlet (22) for receiving flowable product delivered from the air-tight cavity (14) of a connected collapsible container (12) through the opening (16) thereof, and a product outlet (24) for the flowable product. A piston (46) is positioned inside the chamber (30) and is movable to vary the volume of the chamber (30), for example between a first position defining a maximum chamber volume and a second position defining a minimum chamber volume.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump (10) comprises a drivable rotor (14), having at least one pressing member (15), and a cylindrical stator (12) in which the rotor (14) is rotatable. Flexible tubing (22), having an inlet side (24) and an outlet side (26), extends circumferentially around the cylindrical stator (12) against an inner wall (12a). The peristaltic pump (10) includes a radially deformable ring (28) positioned between the rotor (14) and the circumferentially extending flexible tubing (22). The ring (28) is deformed by the pressing member (15) upon rotation of the rotor (14) and this compresses the flexible tubing (22) against the inner wall (12a) of the cylindrical stator (12) to convey liquid along the flexible tubing (22). The radially deformable ring (28) includes a ring anchor (30) which prevents rotation of the radially deformable ring (28) during rotation of the rotor (14).

Abstract: An apparatus (20) for dispensing an additive into a liquid in a container comprises a support structure (22) and a container holder (28), supported by the support structure (22), for holding a container (21) containing a liquid. The apparatus (20) also includes a capsule holder (38) for holding a capsule (40) containing an additive, for example a liquid, semi-liquid or powder, and a manipulator device (41) which is operable to manipulate the capsule (40), for example by crushing it, to thereby dispense the additive into the liquid in the container (21).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) is provided for dispensing a flowable product from a collapsible container (12) comprising an air-tight cavity (14) and an opening (16). The apparatus (10) includes a reservoir (18) comprising a chamber (20) for storing flowable product, the chamber (20) comprising a product inlet (22) for receiving flowable product delivered from the air-tight cavity (14) of a connected collapsible container (12) through the opening (16) thereof, and a product outlet (24) for the flowable product. A piston (46) is positioned inside the chamber (30) and is movable to vary the volume of the chamber (30), for example between a first position defining a maximum chamber volume and a second position defining a minimum chamber volume.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for dispensing a flavored, optionally alcoholic, beverage, is housed in a cabinet (16) and comprises a dispensing outlet (12) connectable to a beverage supply and a plurality of different liquid beverage flavorings, the dispensing outlet being configured to dispense the beverage and one or more of said flavorings into a drinking container. An actuating member (44) is operable to initiate dispensing of the beverage and one or more of said flavorings from the dispensing outlet. The apparatus includes a selector (42) configured to receive a user input selection of one or more of the beverage flavorings to be dispensed and a control unit (40). Upon user operation of the actuating member (44), the control unit (40) operates a pump (24a-f) to supply a selected one or more of the flavorings to the dispensing outlet based on the user input selection.

Abstract: A container 100 containing material 140 such as hops for flavouring a beverage is disclosed, the container 100 being formed from liquid impermeable material and comprising an inlet 110 for receiving beverage to be flavoured, an outlet 120 for dispensing flavoured beverage and a compartment 130 within the container, configured to allow liquid to pass between the inside of the container and the inside of the compartment 130, the compartment 130 containing and retaining material, further comprising means configured to allow compression of the material in the compartment. Also disclosed is a dispenser 500 for dispensing a beverage flavoured from the container 100 and methods of extracting flavour from hops and of flavouring beverages.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump (10) comprises a drivable rotor (14), having at least one pressing member (15), and a cylindrical stator (12) in which the rotor (14) is rotatable. Flexible tubing (22), having an inlet side (24) and an outlet side (26), extends circumferentially around the cylindrical stator (12) against an inner wall (12a). The peristaltic pump (10) includes a radially deformable ring (28) positioned between the rotor (14) and the circumferentially extending flexible tubing (22). The ring (28) is deformed by the pressing member (15) upon rotation of the rotor (14) and this compresses the flexible tubing (22) against the inner wall (12a) of the cylindrical stator (12) to convey liquid along the flexible tubing (22). The radially deformable ring (28) includes a ring anchor (30) which prevents rotation of the radially deformable ring (28) during rotation of the rotor (14).

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for dispensing a flavoured, optionally alcoholic, beverage, is housed in a cabinet (16) and comprises a dispensing outlet (12) connectable to a beverage supply and a plurality of different liquid beverage flavourings, the dispensing outlet being configured to dispense the beverage and one or more of said flavourings into a drinking container. An actuating member (44) is operable to initiate dispensing of the beverage and one or more of said flavourings from the dispensing outlet. The apparatus includes a selector (42) configured to receive a user input selection of one or more of the beverage flavourings to be dispensed and a control unit (40). Upon user operation of the actuating member (44), the control unit (40) operates a pump (24a-f) to supply a selected one or more of the flavourings to the dispensing outlet based on the user input selection.

Abstract: A slow/intermittent sand filter that purifies polluted water by flowing through sand in a manner that achieves greater purity and permits simpler and more effective maintenance than existing filters.

Abstract: An owl replica for deterring pests, having a plastic owl body; a plastic owl head; an unstable mount disposed between the body and head for free movement of the head relative to the body; and a powered assembly supported by the mount and operable to move with the mount relative to the body and enable intermittent powered movement of the head relative to the body without interfering with free movement of the head.

Abstract: A slow/intermittent sand filter that purifies polluted water by flowing through sand in a manner that achieves greater purity and permits simpler and more effective maintenance than existing filters.

Abstract: An owl replica for deterring pests, having a plastic owl body; a plastic owl head; an unstable mount disposed between the body and head for free movement of the head relative to the body; and a powered assembly supported by the mount and operable to move with the mount relative to the body and enable intermittent powered movement of the head relative to the body without interfering with free movement of the head.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying information related to a plurality of resources in a network environment. The system uses web technology to receive and store information related to back-end resources and to provide a framework by which client computer systems can manage the plurality of back-end resources in a uniform manner. In accordance with one method, a request is received to display object information from different network resources. In response, attribute and task information is retrieved from the appropriate different network resources and this information is displayed. A graphical user interface (GUI) displays information related to network resource objects. The GUI includes a console displaying a tool zone and a work zone. A module is displayed in the work zone having an object zone displaying a list of objects and a task zone displaying a list of tasks.

Abstract: A method and system for task-based management of a plurality of resources in a network environment. The system uses web technology, preferably XML-technology, to receive and store information related to back-end resources and to provide a framework by which client computer systems can manage the plurality of back-end resources in a uniform manner. The method for managing a plurality of resources relates to receiving information from a resource related to a task for an object type and then receiving information from another resource related to a different task, but where the different task is associated with the same object type. The method then stores the information received from the second resource in association with the information received from the first resource.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a computing device control interface are provided. A system administrator accesses a graphical user interface and selects a group of actions that are to be executed by a number of computing devices. The actions selected by the system administrator are embodied in a graphical action icon and displayed on the graphical user interface. The system administrator initiates the actions by manipulating the action icon such that it overlaps a computer icon, which embodies one or more computing devices within the network that will execute the selected actions. The computing device icon is also displayed on the user interface. The user interface executes the selected action on the selected computer and then generates an archive file embodying the execution of the selected actions on the selected group of computing devices.