Abstract: A workstation for filling muffin pans and the like by means of a piston filler fed from a hopper located in surmounting relation to the piston filler, the invention further includes a lift assembly mounting the combined piston filler and hopper for vertical motion to facilitate removal of all material being dispensed from the hopper and to allow the hopper to be quickly and safely scraped and cleaned. The lift assembly of the invention holds the piston filler and hopper at an adjustable level above the floor which is best suited to the height of a user performing pan filling operations at the workstation, the lift assembly acting to controllably lower the piston filler and associated hopper not only for scraping and cleaning but also for filling of the hopper with bulk material which is to be dispensed.

Abstract: Mixing apparatus includes a rotor having at least one rotor surface comprising a non-cylindrical surface of revolution about the rotor shaft axis and a stator having at least one stator surface which is substantially reciprocal in shape to the rotor surface. The rotor and stator surfaces have pluralities of mixing teeth attached to and projecting outwardly from these surfaces such that the teeth on the rotor surfaces intermesh with those on the stator surfaces. These mixing teeth may be tapered preferably on both their circumferential and radial sides.

Abstract: Premixing apparatus includes a number of elongated interdigitated rotors and stators. At least some of the rotors and/or stators include a first longitudinal portion with a transverse axis oriented at a first angle with respect to the horizontal axis and a second longitudinal portion with a transverse axis which forms an acute angle with the transverse axis of the first portion.

Abstract: A motionless mixer including a number of baffles attached to a central rod is slidably mountable within a hollow cylindrical conduit. A cross member is attached across the interior of the conduit and is configured to mate with a slot formed in the downstream end of the central rod, to prevent longitudinal motion or rotation of the mixer within the conduit.

Abstract: Dispensing apparatus for semi-fluid material includes a housing having a vertical bore and a second bore connecting with this vertical bore. A piston is slidably mounted within said second bore and is movable between a first position spaced from the vertical bore and a second position adjacent to the vertical bore. Fluid pressure is applied through a first channel to a first piston surface to cause the piston to move from a first to the second position. Fluid pressure is applied through a second channel to a second piston surface to cause the piston to move back to the first position from the second position. An input aperture connects the vertical bore in the housing to an interconnecting array of branching channels which are in turn connected through a plurality of apertures to dispensing members. The channels in this array are configured such that the pressure drop between the input aperture to the array and the inputs of each of the dispensing members is equal.