Abstract: Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for dosing products, a predefined amount of which is fed to a package. The dosed amount is defined by opening and closing at least one valve (1). A sleeve-type blocking element (4, 5) is arranged in a housing (3) of said valve (1). By placing said at least one blocking element (4, 5) in a manner that can be controlled or regulated, at least one recess (9, 10) located in the zone of lateral surfaces (7, 8) of the blocking element (4, 5) is disposed in such a way as to create an open or closed position and define a cross-section of an outlet 12). Preferably, the blocking elements (4, 5) are coaxially arranged relative to one another.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing metered amounts of powdered material, such as baby formula, from a dispenser unit, or cartridge, that can be quickly and easily interconnected with the dispenser. The dispenser can accommodate formula bottles of various sizes and includes a dispensing plunger that provides an oscillating action to prevent compaction of the formula and functions to ensure even dispensing of the formula into the formula bottle. Uniquely, actuation of the dispensing plunger creates a negative pressure internally of the dispensing chamber of the dispenser so as to assist the uniform withdrawal of formula from the cartridge.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for moving powder from a hopper containing a supply of powder to fill a container. The apparatus includes (a) a conduit member operably connected to the hopper and having a discharging end for permitting a powder to be moved therethrough; (b) a nozzle member for directing the powder from the conveyor to fill the container, the nozzle member being operably connected to the discharge end of the conduit member and having a first end connected to the conduit member, and a second and opposite end for dispensing moving powder into the container; and (c) a conveyor device located at least partially within the conduit member for moving the powder from the hopper in a powder moving direction to the nozzle member, the conveyor device being stoppable for halting the flow of powder, and including a porous portion and vacuum device for additionally halting the flow of powder for a clean shutoff.

Abstract: A balloon rotation apparatus includes a base; a rotator disk or plate rotatable on the base and having an air passage opening therethrough to a sealingly connectable balloon envelope; a motor drive including a plurality of resiliently tired wheels for supporting and rotating the rotator plate; a duct connected to the base and having a duct inlet for connection to a source of pressure gas, and a duct outlet located proximate rotator plate for feeding the pressure gas through the inlet passage for inflating the balloon and maintaining the inflation while the rotator plate is being rotated. The duct includes a flexible sheet enclosing at least a portion of the base having a ring rigidly supported proximate the rotator plate and having a portion of the sheet of the duct fastened thereto for forming the duct outlet, a plurality of leg supports being rigidly connected to the base and projecting outwardly from the sheet member of the duct.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of dispensing granular material in which a flow regulator regulates the flow of grains through a fill tube is provided. A hopper assembly including a funnel and fill tube are relatively rotatable with respect to a flow regulator to facilitate the flow of grain through the flow regulator down the fill tube and cut a tip which deflects the granular material to uniformly dispense the material, for example around a cartridge. The tip rotates to further facilitate uniform distribution of granular material in the cartridge.

Abstract: A valve for use in a pipette gun for selectively providing different ranges of flow rates through a pipette cooperating with the pipette gun. The valve has a predetermined number of discrete settings, each of which provides a range of fluid flow rates between zero and a different maximum flow rate. The operator controls the flow rate by depressing the gun trigger a selected distance. To change the flow rate setting, the operator simply rotates the gun trigger to a desired setting. The present valve also eliminates the "piston effect" of prior art valve elements by isolating the pipette chamber while the valve element operably slides in and out of engagement with a port thereby connecting the pipette with a fluid source either under pressure or at a vacuum.