Abstract: A beverage production system, comprising a cup dispensing station configured to dispense cups, a beverage dispensing station configured to dispense a beverage, and a turntable assembly. The turntable assembly comprising a central axis, an inner turntable including a first row of cup receptacles, and an outer turntable including a second row of cup receptacles. The outer turntable is disposed circumferentially about the inner turntable, and the outer turntable is configured to rotate about the central axis to align the cup receptacles of the second row with the cup dispensing station and the beverage dispensing station. The turntable assembly is configured to align an opening in a cup receptacle in the second row with an opening in a cup receptacle in the first row. A slide assembly includes an arm configured to slide a cup positioned in the cup receptacle in the second row into the aligned opening of the cup receptacle in the first row.

Abstract: A beverage brewing apparatus including a brewing module, an ingredient providing module, a drink providing module and a control unit is provided. The brewing module is adapted to brew at least one drink and at least one ingredient in a beverage cup. The ingredient providing module is adapted to provide the at least one ingredient into the beverage cup. The drink providing module is adapted to provide the at least one drink into the beverage cup. The control unit is adapted to control the brewing module, the ingredient providing module and the drink providing module according to a brewing procedure corresponding to the at least one drink and the at least one ingredient.

Abstract: A doser for dispensing a cryogenic fluid includes a doser body configured to receive the cryogenic fluid. A dosing arm has a proximal end and a distal end, with a central passage extending between the proximal and distal ends and configured to receive cryogenic fluid from the doser body. Multiple dosing heads are mounted to the distal end of the dosing arm with each of the dosing heads including a dosing valve. The dosing heads are configured to receive cryogenic fluid from the central passage of the dosing arm and to dispense the cryogenic fluid when the dosing valve is opened.

Abstract: A reader for mechanical actuation of fluids within a test cartridge. The instrument interface including multiple independently-controlled plungers aligned to respective fluidic pouches on a test cartridge that is inserted into a testing apparatus embodying the instrument interface. The plungers include tips for applying mechanical force to the respective fluidic pouches.

Abstract: A sterile dispense system provides for transfer of a fluid from a disposable fluid-path to a vial without needles piercing the vial stopper, for disconnecting the vial from the disposable fluid-path while keeping integrity of the solution filled into the vial and to enable withdrawing of the solution from the vial. The pressure valve and luer valve are provided in serial connection to a fluid vial to enable clean filling and dispensing from the vial.

Abstract: A liquid filling apparatus comprises an apparatus body having a liquid channel connected at one end thereof to a liquid tank and at the other end thereof to a filling nozzle, a metering cylinder provided in the liquid channel between opposite ends thereof in communication with the ends for causing the liquid to be filled to flow into and out of the liquid channel by strokes of a piston housed in the cylinder, a check valve disposed upstream from the metering cylinder of the liquid channel, and valve opening-closing means for mechanically operating the check valve so as to open the valve during the inflow stroke of the piston and to close the valve during the outflow stroke of the piston.

Abstract: A solenoid valve is provided that includes a valve body (14) having an inlet duct (18), an outlet duct (24) and a plurality of sequentially operated solenoid actuators arranged in a circular configuration for selectively bringing these two ducts into communication with each other. The valve body includes at least two separate passages (19, 20) which connect the inlet duct to the outlet duct, and each of the solenoid actuators operates to periodically and selectively close off one of said passages. The solenoid valve finds particular application in inerting and pressurizing bottles containing still liquids with nitrogen.

Abstract: A high-speed liquid filling machine comprises a conveyor 11 for transporting containers C so as to stop the containers successively at a primary filling station S1 and at secondary filling station S2, a primary filling device 21 and a secondary filling device 22 arranged at the primary and secondary filling stations S1, S2 respectively, a supply device for supplying the same kind of liquid to be filled into the primary and secondary filling devices 21, 22, and a control device for controlling the amount to be filled in by the primary filling device 21 and the amount to be filled in by the secondary filling device 22 so that the combined amount to be filled in by the devices 21, 22 is equal to the capacity of each of the containers.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an apparatus for filling powder which comprises introducing a predetermined amount of powder into each of the receiving holes formed at the peripheral edge portion of a rotary disk from a powder hopper, intermittently rotating the rotary disk, and discharging and filling the powder accommodated in each of the receiving holes into a powder container positioned therebelow when each of the receiving holes reaches a discharging and filling portion. The rotational axis (C) of the rotary disk (1) is inclined. The center axis of each of the receiving holes (8) is arranged on an imaginary conical surface (12) having this rotational axis (C) as its center axis and an apex angle (.theta.) of 60.degree. to 120.degree.. The powder hopper (6) is disposed on the lateral side portion of an opening (8a) of the receiving hole (8) at a vacuum sucking portion (9) and a boss portion (28) supporting the rotational axis (34) of the agitator (7) is arranged above the powder hopper (6).

Abstract: An automatic dispenser for doughy food products, particularly for shop windows displaying ice cream products to be dispensed. The dispenser includes a taking unit which is movable with respect to ice cream containers present in the shop window. The taking unit dispenses a desired portion of ice cream and organizes the sorting, taking and dispensing of the desired portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting and dispensing segments of thermoplastic material into receptacles such as crowns includes a conveyor for conveying the crowns through a passageway at predetermined speeds, an extruder for extruding thermoplastic material through a discharge opening, a rotary knife having blades for cutting the extruded material into segments and depositing the segments into the receptacles as they are conveyed through the passage, and an adjustable belt drive system for rotating the blade in response to the conveying of the receptacles. The belt drive system includes a drive and driven pulley, two pairs of fixed idler pulleys, and a third pair of idler pulleys which are coupled to a laterally shiftable carrier.

Abstract: The dosing device is provided with a storage container (1), in which is located a shaft (3) under the filling height of the product (23). The shaft has at least one bore (5), in which a bilaterally operating piston (6) is depressed by a driven actuating shaft (10) which can be adjusted for length, which enables the desired dosing volume to be obtained. The product arrives into a container via a shut-off valve (8). During operation of this dosing device, the actuating system (10) is raised in the lowest position of the piston, as a result of which the bore is filled with product and the shaft turned by a switchgear motor (4) through 180.degree., after which the piston during its downward travel ejects the volume contained in the bore. This dosing device allows a high filling frequency, precise and simple adjustment of the volume of the individual dosing units, highly aseptic filling and easy cleaning.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a foamed confection such as foamed chocolate, a confection in liquid form is mixed with carbon dioxide under pressure. The mixture is discharged from the depositor through annular outlet orifices which are opened and closed in turn by associated valves so that at any one time some of the orifices are discharging the mixture, and the number of orifices which are closed does not vary. Each annular orifice has a length which is not greater than its diameter. Each valve has an annular valve seat and a valve member movable into and out of engagement with the valve seat.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing uncompacted rice upon each of a continuously-moving train of plates from a hopper containing an auger which is rotated to effect dispensing only when a plate is in position beneath the outlet of the hopper. The hopper is caused to swing back and forth about an axis at right angles to the direction of motion of the plates, so that the outlet of the hopper swings downstream at about the same speed as the underlying plate while the auger is operating, thereby to concentrate the dispensed rice on a predetermined part of the plate. The timing may be such that, while the hopper is executing its upstream return motion, the next plate passes beneath it without receiving rice, the hopper dispensing only upon every other plate; another similar hopper at a downstream position then provides similar rice deposits upon similar parts of those alternate plates which do not receive rice from the upstream hopper.

Abstract: Air in the space above the fill level in the neck of a bottle or similar container is displaced before the closure is applied, by injection of a liquid or gaseous medium that causes the product to foam. The system consists of a filling station, a closure station, a star wheel to transfer bottles between the two stations, and a jetting device. The jetting device is mounted to a horizontal holding arm above the transfer star and pivots concentrically around the axis of the transfer star. The conveyor speed is automatically monitored by a tach generator. Its signal activates a servo motor which engages the holding arm and moves it together with the jetting nozzle along the bottle path according to the operating speed. The jetting device is moved closer to the closure station at lower operating speeds while its distance to the closure station is increased during higher speeds.

Abstract: A system for controlling and synchronizing the operation of a conveyor system and an article supply system. An encoder monitors the operation of a standard reference or dispensing device along with a rate detecting device. This information is fed into a computer employing a microprocessor. The microprocessor provides an output to a drive system for a conveyor or the like to be synchronized with a supplying or dispensing system.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing squirts of liquid into the top openings of a moving train of regularly spaced-apart containers, including a rotating circular band having a plurality of nozzle openings spaced about it and aligned directly over the container top openings, and a fixed manifold device slidingly sealed to the band and supplied with liquid under pressure so that each time a nozzle opening passes the manifold it supplies a squirt of liquid into a corresponding container moving along beneath it. Automatic shut-off of the dispenser is provided in the absence of a container by sensing the absence of the container at an upstream position and automatically moving the manifold device axially out of alignment with the path of the nozzle openings to prevent squirting of liquid into a gap in the train. Another manifold slidingly sealed to the band is supplied with pressurized air so that each nozzle is blown clean of liquid immediately after it completes its dispensing action.

Abstract: An improved liquid filling valve for filling containers with carbonated liquid such as soft drinks is disclosed which features concentric valves for introduction of counterpressure gas and product into the container. The container is moved into sealing engagement with the valve which movement is continued to open the valve for admission of counterpressure gas. After counterpressurization is completed the valve for admission of product opens automatically allowing product to fill the container. After filling is completed, motion of the container away from the valve automatically closes it. In the bottle filling embodiment, motion of the bottle away from the valve additionally uncovers a snift port. The counterpressure filling and snifting of containers with carbonated liquids is thus accomplished without use of external valve operating cams or the like.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously metering soil into moving containers is provided. Two synchronated rotating bladed wheels dispense soil from a hopper into flats of pots moving on a conveyor in a coordinated manner beneath the wheels. The hopper is vibrated by impingement of the wheel blades against the lower portion of the hopper and the containers are agitated by movement of a frame against the conveyor underside.

Abstract: A horizontal filler comprising a rotating turret supporting open-top containers and mounting a turntable for receiving a falling stream of particulate material is provided with tiltable trays on said turntable disposed to collect individual divided amounts of material from said stream for discharge gradually and individually into respective ones of said containers.

Abstract: A Method and Apparatus for automatically packaging granular or powdered material in envelopes wherein a belt supported horizontal column of material of uniform cross section is intermittently advanced longitudinally toward an envelope filling station in such equal increments that during each advance a leading end column section of predetermined volume falls into an envelope newly positioned at said station.

Abstract: Apparatus for filling containers whose upper ends are open and which are moved seriatim and stepwise to a filling station has a receptacle which is disposed at a level above a container at the filling station and below a metering device whose lower end can be opened to discharge a metered quantity of flowable material onto a normally horizontal bottom wall of the receptacle. The receptacle is thereupon pivoted to move a discharge opening thereof into the open end of the container at the filling station and to incline the bottom wall to such an extent that the metered quantity of flowable material slides off the bottom wall and enters the container by way of the opening. The opening is normally sealed by a flap which is opened when the opening extends into the open end of a container at the filling station.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling caulking tubes with a liquid composition with improved linkage and adjusting mechanisms for determining the amount of composition that is placed into the caulking tubes.

Abstract: A filling machine for filling containers with a fluid product by the use of filling nozzles with two substantially parallel filling channels which are formed in part by two separate conveyors, with a vacuum filling mechanism connected with the filling nozzles, with a support for the filling nozzles, with a mechanism for lowering and raising the nozzle support and therewith the filling nozzles into and out of containers held stationary under the filling nozzles, with an indexing mechanism for determining the correct number of containers to be filled at the same time in a respective channel during a given filling operation while held stationary in their filling positions, with a reciprocating mechanism for the nozzle support to alternately place the filling nozzles over the containers to be filled in one channel and after completion of the filling operation to move the nozzle support over the other channel to fill the containers which have been brought into filling position in the meantime in the other channel

Abstract: Disclosed is an article inflating system for engaging and inflating articles to be decorated including an endless belt assembly for engaging the article to permit inflation thereof while the article is being decorated. A plurality of spaced cup-shaped nozzles are disposed on a horizontal moving endless belt so as to allow the cup-shaped nozzles to engage the article prior to decoration and assume a sealed relation therewith while passing through the decorating station. While at the decorating station, the open end of the cup-shaped nozzle is positioned in communication with an air supply manifold disposed adjacent the decorating station to enable inflation of the article during decorating. After the label has been applied to the article, the nozzle is gradually lifted out of engagement with the decorated article while the latter is conveyed away from the decorating station.

Abstract: An automatic high-speed filling machine with lowerable nozzles for simultaneously filling a predetermined number of containers, in which the control of the machine is transferred to the star wheel of the indexing mechanism, when the star wheel is released after completion of the filling operation; the drive actuating the filling units is thereby stopped while the star wheel performs its indexing function during rotation thereof.

Abstract: Product is delivered into a funnel which then is moved downwardly to deposit the product into a pouch. The funnel includes a movable plate which initially is disposed in a closed position to enable the funnel to receive and retain the product. As the funnel travels downwardly, the plate moves to an open position to enable the product to be delivered out of the funnel and into the pouch. When the plate moves to its open position, the interior of the funnel takes on the same shape as a plunger which moves downwardly through the funnel to force the product out of the funnel.

Abstract: This relates to a filling apparatus for simultaneously filling plural containers, which apparatus includes a product supply, a dispenser and a conveyor system wherein plural containers are positioned beneath the dispenser and plural products are dispensed by the dispenser from the supply into the plural containers simultaneously. Most specifically, the apparatus includes a container positioner of the vane and screw type and the dispenser is in the form of a turret having a plurality of spaces in accordance with the number of containers to be simultaneously filled, the plurality of spaces being arranged in groups and disposed radially about the axis of the turret. Most particularly, the apparatus is intended for filling cans with tennis balls.

Abstract: A filling machine for small containers comprises a main hopper which feeds powder to a secondary hopper located above a rotatable dosing head provided with chambers for receiving the powder from the secondary hopper and discharging the powder into individual containers successively displaced below this head. Between the secondary hopper and the rotating head is provided a yieldable intermediate body having a curved surface confronting the curved surface of the head and an opening adapted to communicate between the chamber of the head and the secondary hopper. One of these surfaces is formed with a pair of grooves on each side of the opening and between each pair of grooves with a recess to which compressed air is admitted with the air being discharged through ports in the grooves so that a hermetic seal is provided between the recesses. Pins can space the intermediate body form the head when compressed air is not supplied to the seal.

Abstract: Feeder for packaging machines comprising a conveyor for transferring a number of containers which advance with intermittent motion and on which the containers receiving the portions of product are supported in parallel rows perpendicular to the direction of advancement of the conveyor. A flexible member is arranged in a closed path around a pair of pulleys of vertical axis so as to lie in a horizontal plane above the transfer conveyor and comprising two portions parallel to the rows of containers. A plurality of compartments are distributed along the flexible member at distances equal to that of the containers of each row and arranged to receive portions of product from portion delivery means disposed at said pulleys, and to discharge said portions by gravity through lower apertures closable by doors operated by control means.