Abstract: Modular pillboxes that include at least one one-way passage through which pills, materials or other articles can be pushed through and into and underlying interior compartment of the modular pillboxes. The modular pillboxes include coupling structure by which the modular pillbox can be coupled to a loading tray and/or additional modular pillboxes. The modular pillboxes include lids that can be opened to access pills, materials or other articles that are loaded therein through the one-way passages.

Abstract: Powder-particle material in compression molding is transferred using air suction power and filled thinly, evenly and rapidly in a female mold. An adsorption pad 21 which is held so as to be freely movable in the vertical direction is provided at a movable cylinder 7, which can move in the horizontal direction in a space between a metal supply hopper 2 and a female mold 34 and rotate 180°, and powder particle material is laid in a scraped manner at the adsorption pad 21, adsorbed by actuating a vacuum pump 14, transferred to the female mold 34 in this state, turned around and caused to fall into the mold by terminating adsorption.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating a fluid. A method for treating a fluid may include combining two or more separate streams into a common stream and then splitting the common stream into a new set of separate streams wherein the separate streams may possess different properties. The separate streams may be combined to produce a gradient, such as a concentration gradient or shear gradient. The apparatus of the invention may provide a network of fluidic channels that may be used to manipulate a fluid to produce, for example, a gradient or a series of solutions containing a substance at varying concentrations.

Abstract: An improved machine and method for automatically proportioning-out or measuring-out a predetermined quantities of a variety of selected products and feeding the predetermined quantities of product into the individual chambers of a multiple-chamber dispensing container. The multiple-chamber dispensing containers are fed by a conveyor that is driven by a stepper-motor, to the filling location. The filling cycle begins when an empty container is recognized by a sensing mechanism. The machine and method causes the measured products to be deposited simultaneously into all of the individual chamber of the multiple-chamber dispensing container. The cycle is completed at a predetermined time period after the container was recognized. When a cycle has been completed the conveyor is energized. The next cycle begins when the next container is recognized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating a fluid. A method for treating a fluid may include combining two or more separate streams into a common stream and then splitting the common stream into a new set of separate streams wherein the separate streams may possess different properties. The separate streams may be combined to produce a gradient, such as a concentration gradient or shear gradient. The apparatus of the invention may provide a network of fluidic channels that may be used to manipulate a fluid to produce, for example, a gradient or a series of solutions containing a substance at varying concentrations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating a fluid. A method for treating a fluid may include combining two or more separate streams into a common stream and then splitting the common stream into a new set of separate streams wherein the separate streams may possess different properties. The separate streams may be combined to produce a gradient, such as a concentration gradient or shear gradient. The apparatus of the invention may provide a network of fluidic channels that may be used to manipulate a fluid to produce, for example, a gradient or a series of solutions containing a substance at varying concentrations.

Abstract: The processing system for preparing and filling beverage containers with ice and liquid. The beverage processing system simplifies the task of filling multiple glasses, cups or like containers with ice and a beverage, in a short time period, which is required with large crowds at restaurants and banquets. The system features three components including an ice tray, a glass inverter, and a glass filler, which in the best mode combine to the task of filling such beverage containers. Each component might also be used individually to significantly enhance the current art of beverage container filling with ice and liquids.

Abstract: A metering device has a filling material container with a metering disk. Metering bores for products such as microtablets are disposed in the metering disk. Underneath the metering disk in a transfer region, there is a capsule filling shaft which is disposed in line with prepared capsule bottoms. The invention proposes supporting the filling material container so that it can rotate on an axis which is disposed inclined in relation to the vertical. This permits the microcapsules to be easily dispensed into the metering bores, permits the microtablets to be handled in a manner that is gentle on the product, and permits a high performance of the metering device.

Abstract: A powder material supply device is able to supply powder material to a mold system equally and accurately to produce a fuel cell separator of high surface accuracy, thereby producing a high performance fuel cell. The powder material supply device includes a material supplier which is provided with a plurality of supply openings in a downward direction, a slide plate provided at the lower part of the material supplier and is slidable between a location where all of the supply openings are closed and another location where all the supply openings are opened, and a base to support the material supplier and the slide plate. The base has a single opening with a size substantially corresponding to a size of all of the supply openings.

Abstract: An apparatus for metering and dispensing powder into hard gelatin capsules or the like. The apparatus has a metering disk that rotates in advancing steps, with bores disposed in its base. The bores which cooperate with tamping plungers that move up and down. The tamping plungers are disposed on a common tamping plunger support and when inserted into the bores, compress the powder into compressed pellets. In order to detect breakage of the springs and in order to be able to make a statement as to the mass of the compressed pellets, means are provided which detect the spring path of the tamping plungers immediately preceding the ejection plungers.

Abstract: In a device for filling a blister band with products, a hopper (3) holds the products (2) in bulk and has a open bottom where taking over rollers (17) rotate to slightly push the products upwards, contrasting the products weight and causing reciprocal detachment of the products. The taking over rollers (17) define openings, and one product (2) at a time passes suitably oriented through each opening and towards a conveyor including channels (4) having inlets (4a) situated directly under the openings. A delivering cylinder (7) is connected to the channels (4) and transfers the products (2) to the blisters (5a) of the band 5.

Abstract: A device for feeding tablets in a blister packaging machine includes a vibrating container containing a mass of tablets. The vibrating container features a bottom wall, one portion of which includes tablet feeding channels, communicating with related slots made in the bottom wall. The slots communicate with the conveying means, which feed the tablets along a predetermined feeding path and release the tablets into respective blisters of a blister band. The blister band moves in a determined direction inside the packaging machine. The conveying means include a plate with a plurality of grooves, arranged one beside another and a covering element. The covering element is coupled with said plate, so as to move with respect thereto and includes transversal wings, each of which is situated inside a respective groove of the plate, so as to define a respective channel for conveying said tablets.

Abstract: The invention consists of a hopper to place material in, and a door beneath it to hold back the material until it is to be released onto a grid consisting of four separate compartments or chutes that direct the material into four separate sample containers. The latch is arranged in such a manner as to allow the gates to open suddenly, and simultaneously, releasing the material in a mass (rather than slowly), assuring an even flow of the material down the chutes and into the four waiting containers below. This assures an unbiased sample in each container. For further reductions in sample size, the common practice is to choose any two opposite corner containers, combine in the hopper and repeat the process.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for automatically and evenly dispensing adequate amount of seeds into bedding compartments of a latticed and bottom-netted seed holder according to a ratio of volume expansion of seeds in the bedding compartment. The apparatus mainly includes a conveyor for forward moving latticed seed holders disposed thereon, a volume-based seed holder straddling the conveyor and having multiple fixed-volume through holes for accommodating seeds to be dispensed into the latticed seed holders, a seed feeding tank mounted on a rail rack over the volume-based seed holder for temporarily storing and dispensing seeds, and sweeping off extra seeds from the volume-based seed holder, and a seed storage for storing seeds to be supplied to the seed feeding tank. With the fixed-volume through holes on the volume-based seed holder, the amount of seeds in each bedding compartment of the latticed seed holder can be well controlled to avoid undesirable compression of seeds after they are soaked and expanded.

Abstract: A device comprising a transport table, a multiplicity of longitudinal holders that can move freely in relation to one another in a square or rectangular closed circuit past various work stations by means of transport devices, which have points of contact which fit into recesses in the bottom of the longitudinal holders and drive means. The points of contact in the transport devices, when engaged in the recesses of the longitudinal holders, move the longitudinal holders approximately one width of the longitudinal holders in the direction of movement though at least one feed cycle by means of a controller controlling the drive means. The quantity of longitudinal holders preferably does not exceed 100.

Abstract: Device and method for dosing a liquid product from a tubular container are provided. The container includes a plurality of doses of the liquid product and a plate for pinching the container together locally such that it is divided into a plurality of separate liquid chambers containing a desired dose.

Abstract: An ice distribution system comprises a light weight, hand carried ice distribution tray which functions in conjunction with a plurality of glasses, or other drink receptacles, removably retained by a base assembly, or industry standard dishwashing rack, or both to provide a quick easy system for distributing ice, or fluent drinking matter, or both to the plurality of drink receptacles; and the ice distribution tray thereof is formed with a plurality of apertures formed through the bottom of the tray, which plurality of apertures are arranged in a predefined pattern to match the pattern which the plurality of drink receptacles occupy on the base assembly, or industry standard dishwashing rack, or both, and is also formed with short protruding lip members extending from each of the plurality of apertures which maintain the plurality of apertures in alignment with the plurality of drink receptacles during the process of filling the plurality of drink receptacles with ice, or fluent drinking matter, or both.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for stirring an explosive materials mixture maintained in a molten state to ensure homogeneity of its composition and for simultaneous transfer of predetermined quantities thereof, by effecting the transfers primarily in a horizontal direction, via a plurality of positive displacement piston-cylinder mechanisms and a corresponding plurality of pneumatically controlled spool valves for injection into a plurality of munitions items through detachable intermediate distribution elements that also serve as temporary risers.