Abstract: An apparatus includes a conveyor system for conveying tubes, having respective self-sealing closure members, sequentially to a station whereupon the conveyor system is temporarily halted. At the station, a clamping device having a clamp lowers to prevent movement of the tube. An arm moves in the direction of the tube to enable a hollow needle to penetrate the closure member of the tube. A metering pump enables a predetermined volume of a fluid, preferably liquid agar, to be introduced into the tube. Following release of the needle from the closure member, the conveyor systems moves to enable another tube to arrive at the station.

Abstract: An automatic packaging machine can load light and fluffy particulate product without having it scattered over a large area. The system does this by using a plurality of inclined planes to cause said product to slide in successive small steps, as distinguished from simply dropping in a single fall. The system also tips a box and provides a vent to prevent air from being entrapped and compressed within a box as it is being filled.

Abstract: Printers' ink liquid work product transfer apparatus is provided to transfer raw printers' ink work product stored in drums to a remote location for processing into finished commercial printers' ink. The mechanism includes means to provide substantially simultaneous operations comprising: rotating the drum; scraping product residue from the interior wall surface of the drum; pumping the work product from the drum; and lowering the nozzle of a pump connected work product inlet tube in a work product-filled drum at the same rate that the level of the work product is lowered in the drum by pumping action. When the nozzle of the work product inlet tube reaches the bottom of the drum, the work product in the drum will have been substantially completely emptied of work product.

Abstract: Containers such as beer kegs are cleaned and filled by movement along a linear treatment line, in step-wise fashion, and delivery to movable filling stations which are alternately brought into alignment with the treatment line. The filling procedure is accomplished continuously while the containers are moving, the filling station motion having a directional component which is angularly related to the axis of the treatment line, away from and back to the position of alignment with the treatment line.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing ravioli and other dough capsules containing a filler comprises a rotatable horizontal drum with uniformly spaced cavities in its cylindrical surface, means for suplying a first dough sheet to the top of the drum, a filler feed header flexibly suspended thereover and containing a gear pump with discharge nozzles aimed downwardly at the cavities, active drive means for moving the header, passive drive means for the pump to meter gobs of filler through the nozzles, means for supplying a second dough sheet over the first sheet with filler gobs thereon, and a roller to press the second sheet against the first sheet to fuse them around the filler gobs. The dough-encapsulated filler gobs are cut from the fused dough sheets as ravioli or like product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for charging a cosmetic material which is capable of providing a transparent cosmetic material containing a three-dimensional pattern formed by a coloring material. Method and apparatus are provided for charging a transparent gel base as well as a coloring material into a charging nozzle and injecting the transparent gel base and coloring material from the tip of the charging nozzle into a vessel. The vessel can be rotated and at least one of the vessel and charging nozzle can be moved in longitudinal directions.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for making a shaped frozen confection. The apparatus has a plurality of nozzles for extruding the shaped confection in a variety of contoured shapes. The nozzles simultaneously move in a vertical direction and circularly in a horizontal direction, thereby moving in a spiral path to produce a spirally-shaped frozen confection. A variety of differently shaped frozen confections can be made by varying the rate of extrusion from the nozzles, or the rate or direction of vertical movement of the nozzles.

Abstract: Apparatus for filling fluid products into container which comprises at least one feed line connectable with a reservoir for fluid products and a filling valve connects to the feed line. The filling valve comprises a tubular portion connected with the feed line. The tubular portion comprises, at its free end, a lateral end wall and an aperture. A slide sleeve is reciprocated by a positioning device and is movable coaxially of the tubular portion between open and closed positions. In its closed position, the slide sleeve sealingly engages the end wall to closed the aperture of the tubular portion. In its open position, the slide sleeve opens the aperture for product flow. Means are provided to lower the filling valve into a filling opening of a container positioned underneath the filling valve.

Abstract: A container filling apparatus and method that includes a container support movable on a frame so as to raise and lower a container mounted thereon. A conveyor discharge section is also movably mounted on the frame so as to raise and lower the conveyor discharge end. The container support is coupled to the conveyor discharge section by a linkage that provides the container filling apparatus with the ability to initially lower the container support through an initial filling phase while maintaining the conveyor discharge section in a lowered condition, and thereafter simultaneously lower the container support while raising the conveyor discharge section. The linkage preferably includes a slotted bracket pivotally couple to the container support, a joining bracket pivotally mounted on the frame and having a follower mating with the slotted bracket, and a conveyor bracket pivotally mounted to the joining bracket and to the conveyor.

Abstract: A vertically movable hood, for temporarily closing and sealing the open upper end of a bulk container as the container is being filled with particulate material through the hood from a dispensing spout, and a pneumatically actuated mechanism for moving the hood vertically a slight distance over the container between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for filling a container with a liquid. Apparatus includes a filling lance for introducing liquid into a container and a bung engaging tool assembly for removing the bung cap from the container prior to filling operations and for replacing the bung cap into the container after filling operations have been completed.

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: An improved bung alignment mechanism for liquid filling apparatus is characterized by an infrared sensor which aligns the vertical axis of the filling lance and bung. The apparatus includes a wheeled carriage which moves along a stanchion, the carriage being operatively associated with the filling lance. A wiper ring assembly, a drip collection assembly, and a fume disposal assembly which contains or entraps substantially all sources of fume generation are also provided as part of the filler apparatus.

Abstract: An adhesive applicator for applying an air-curable adhesive to sheets of paper has a nozzle that normally is located in a storage position with the end of the nozzle inserted into a liquid in a sump. This prevents adhesive material in the end of the nozzle from drying out or caking and thereby clogging the end of the nozzle. When the nozzle is to be used for applying adhesive, the nozzle is lifted out of the sump, the sump is pivoted away from the nozzle, and the nozzle is then moved into an operating position for applying the adhesive.

Abstract: An apparatus for accurately dispensing predetermined amounts of fluid sealant onto can ends which comprises a dispenser arm mounted at one end for horizontal and vertical arcuate movement, a clamp for releasably holding the arm in one operative position, a can end hold down located on said dispenser arm and capable of reciprocal and rotational movement, and a proximity sensor responsive to the reciprocal movement of said can end hold down to generate a control signal when the can end hold down is approaching the apex of its reciprocal movement and dispenser mounted on said dispenser arm proximate to said can end hold down and capable of dispensing a predetermined amount of fluid sealant onto a can end in a predetermined location in timed response to the signal from said proximity sensor.

Abstract: A device for raising the bottom of a can, wherein a lift plate slides vertically inside the can and is activated by a pantograph extending axially thereof. A base structure transmits vertical drive from a vertically-extendable fluid drive to the lower end of the pantograph, which pantograph at its upper end is connected to the plate. The plate is independent of the bottom of the can.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for simultaneously transferring, in both irections, a plurality of quantities of liquids between a first receptacled assembly disposed in a first arrangement and a second receptacled assembly disposed in a second arrangement of different disposition and/or dimensions, said device comprising a plurality of vertical syringes of which the needles are arranged in register with said first receptacled assembly and a connecting assembly comprising on the one hand a plurality of orifices arranged in register with the needles of said syringes and on the other hand a plurality of conduits arranged in register with the receptacles of said second assembly, each of said orifices being connected to one of said conduits. The invention finds particular application in the handling of microdoses of liquids, particularly for biological, serological . . . microtests.

Abstract: A whipped cream making machine comprising a fixed whipping barrel, having a substantially labyrinth passage defined therein, to which a liquid milk product is supplied under pressure after having been sucked by and mixed with a gas in a suction pump. The liquid milk product mixed with air is emulsified as it flows through the labyrinth passage in the fixed whipping barrel and then is supplied towards a rotary whipping barrel having therein a stirring rod rotatable about its longitudinal axis. The emulsified milk product is stirred so that it can further be emulsified during its flow through the rotary whipping barrel. The machine further comprises a platform arrangement for the support of an article to be decorated with the whipped cream discharged from a dispensing nozzle of the whipping machine.

Abstract: Antibiotic liquids of different concentrations are dispensed to wells of a multi-well tray through an array of nozzles connected to an array of perstaltic pumps operated to supply predetermined quantities of the liquids in co-ordination with upward movement of a support for the multi-well tray from a loading position. A suspended drop of liquid is formed at each nozzle and the drops are dispensed by contact between the wells and the drops.

Abstract: A number of jars containing powders to be homogenized are fixed in a corresponding number of peripheral openings formed in a mixer housing, means being provided for conveying the jars to and away from the mixer. A jar-sealing valve is caused by actuating cams to undergo in alternate sequence and in accordance with a predetermined program a plurality of successive cycles of opening and closure when each jar is located above the mixer during a movement of rotation through an angle A. After homogenization, a plurality of successive cycles of opening and closure of the sealing valve take place when each jar is located beneath the mixer during a movement of rotation through an angle B.