Abstract: A container is provided for the mixing and storage of liquid and liquifiable ingredients which, when full, must be carried from place to place. The container has a constricted neck between an upwardly flared brim and a downwardly flared shoulder section to which is attached a vertically slidable handle assembly arranged to conform to the counters of the container when at rest and to maintain the container in a substantially upright orientation when full to avoid spillage of the contents.

Abstract: A mixer housing is provided to partially enclose and support a long shaft rotary mixer for use on an open cannister. The housing includes a generally semicircular seat channel on the housing's bottom panel configured to accommodate a range of cannister mouth diameters. The seat channel also includes raised bosses to cant the mixer shaft and its blade toward the center of the cannister and away from the cannister walls. Also included in a recessed bevelled sideboard on the housing which provides access to the cannister opening for ease in introducing ingredients into the cannister.

Abstract: Method for making a mixture-type product by preparing a pumpable slush to contain a portion of the product ingredients and then mixing the slush with other product ingredients. Where product temperature control is important, e.g. where the separate mix contains an ingredient which tends to be unstable at elevated temperatures, the slush also serves a cooling and stabilizing function. The slush is prepared by supercooling an aqueous solution of water-soluble product ingredients. For example, water, salt and sugar are used in the manufacture of a food product, dough, and a slush is prepared containing the salt and sugar. Other ingredients of the dough, including a leavening agent which is not stable at the processing temperature and would tend to leaven the dough, are blended as a separate mix.

Abstract: A water conditioning device for conditioning the cold water supply to a beverage vending machine. The device uses a spirally twisted strip of corrosion and lime scale inhibiting copper-nickel alloy contained within a cylindrical casing through which the cold water is delivered. The spiral strip churns the water for more complete contact of the water with the strip surfaces as the water flows through the casing.

Abstract: A nestable stackable food container for the temporary storage of items, particularly food items, characterized by the provision of interengageable tray-like members having a channeled interior bottom surface and vent means leading outwardly of the tray members, with the tray members including a bottom, a top, which is nestably associated with the bottom, for containing a single food item; and a plurality of intermediate tray members which may be stacked in vertical tandem for containing a plurality of food pieces in a unitary stacked carton arrangement.