Abstract: In a snap-fit for attaching a second unit to a first unit, an engaging member provided on the second unit includes: a claw configured to restrict movement of the second unit relative the first unit in a removing direction; an elastic support configured to support the claw so as to be movable in a direction intersecting the removing direction and in a releasing direction in which the claw is released from the engagement with an engaged member provided on the first unit; and an operative part provided on the elastic support and configured to release an engagement of the engaging member with the engaged member. The operative part includes at least a portion that overlaps the claw with respect to the removing direction.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for polishing an object to be polished using a polishing pad having a polishing surface, the apparatus including a polishing table for supporting the polishing pad, the polishing table being configured to be rotatable, a substrate holding unit configured to hold the object to be polished and pressing the object to be polished against the polishing pad, and a polishing-liquid removing unit configured to remove polishing liquid from the polishing surface. The polishing-liquid removing unit includes a rinse unit configured to jet cleaning liquid onto the polishing surface and a sucking unit configured to suck the polishing liquid on the polishing surface onto which the cleaning liquid is jetted. The rinse unit includes a cleaning space surrounded by a sidewall. The sidewall includes an opening section for opening the cleaning space toward a radial direction outer side of the polishing table.

Abstract: A fitting structure for fitting first and second members together includes a fitting projection and a receptacle. The fitting projection protrudes from a second member opposed surface of the first member opposed to the second member toward the second member. The receptacle protrudes from an opposite surface on an opposite side from the second member opposed surface in an opposite direction from the second member opposed surface and includes an internal receiving space. The receptacle includes a fitting portion, a supporting portion, and two slits. A section of an inner surface of the supporting portion is opposed to inner surface of the fitting portion. The slits are provided between two edges of the fitting portion and two edges of the supporting portion to communicate with the receiving space. The fitting projection includes a first section disposed in the receiving space and a second section fitted to the fitting portion.

Abstract: A driver seat airbag apparatus may include: a mounting plate having a housing space formed at the front thereof; a cover having an insertion part and a pressing part, wherein the insertion part is formed at the rear of the cover and inserted into the housing space, and the pressing part is formed at the front of the insertion part; and a coupling part formed at each of the mounting plate and the outer surface of the insertion part, and comprising a male portion and a female portion that are locked to each other when the insertion part is inserted into the housing space.

Abstract: A particulate material leveling system includes an agitating system disposed within a storage tank for a particulate material. The agitating system includes a drive system and a shaft coupled to the drive system. Further, the drive system drives the shaft to rotate about a central axis. The agitating system also includes a wrapped wire coupled to the shaft. The wrapped wire extends around the shaft along a helical path in an axial direction and a circumferential direction, and the wrapped wire moves the particulate material in the axial direction in response to rotation of the shaft in a first direction about the central axis.

Abstract: Provided is a plastic cover capable of quantitatively discharging powder, including an upper cover, a powder discharging box, a slidable spoon, a powder feeding box 4, and a spring, wherein the upper cover is screwed on the powder discharging box, the slidable spoon is arranged between the powder discharging box and the powder feeding box, the spring is arranged in the slidable spoon, with one end being connected to the powder feeding box and the other end connected to the slidable spoon. With the plastic cover capable of quantitatively discharging powder, the powder can be taken out quantitatively, and the structure is simple, the use is convenient, and the operation is easy.

Abstract: A feeding device for an in-line screw machine with a shaft rotating in a feed container. A conveying screw is arranged in the direction toward the longitudinal axis of the rotating shaft. At least one disk wheel is allocated to each longitudinal side in the feed container. A separate drive is allocated to each disk wheel for purposes of rotational movement.

Abstract: Determining a maximum dispensing efficiency of a dispensing point in a fuel dispenser and determining if a dispensing point has a blockage and/or a performance problem if the maximum dispensing efficiency is less than expected. The maximum dispensing efficiency is calculated by determining the dispensing events exhibiting the lowest time for dispensed volume from a set of volume and time pair measurements for the dispensing point. The dispensing events exhibiting the lowest time for dispensed volume that are used to determine the maximum dispensing efficiency are taken from dispensing events where the amount of dead time, the time between the activation of a fuel dispensing event and the engaging of a nozzle and the time between the disengaging of the nozzle and the deactivation of the dispensing event, and customer or pre-pay transaction controlled reduced flow rates are minimized.

Abstract: An apparatus for agitating ice cream in an ice cream vending machine including a screw member rotatably disposed on an inner lower side of a canister, a worm wheel disposed in contact with an upper end of the screw member, rotatably driven by a rotational movement of the screw member, and an agitating member, a lower end of which contacts the worm wheel, and an upper end positioned at an inner upper side of the canister. The agitating member agitates ice cream particles filled in the upper and lower portions of the canister evenly by being resiliently vibrated upward and downward by rotational movement of the worm wheel. Accordingly, by evenly agitating ice cream particles at upper and lower portions of the canister, the bead-shaped ice cream particles are prevented from attaching to each other.

Abstract: A granular material spreader is adapted for towing behind a yard tractor. A frame upports an inverted cone which is sized to contain a supply of granular material for distribution. The bin sweep rod is carried adjacent to the inside surface of the cone, and turns a drive spring. The drive spring drives a helix, which rotates about the bin sweep rod, driving the granular material toward the narrow base of the cone. Should the helix become jammed, the drive spring snaps past the helix, rather than risk damage by forcing its movement. A bin sweep drive wheel is also driven by the revolution of the bin sweep. Movement of the wheel against the an upper portion of the outside surface of the cone moves the bin sweep rod and helix in a circular path about the inside surface of the cone. A valve at the base of the cone allows granular material to drop into a housing which defines slots about portions of its perimeter.

Abstract: A single-piece piston and drive assembly for use in a motor-actuated pump to meter a predetermined amount of lubricant or other liquid. The drive assembly includes a rotatable drive shaft, an eccentric cam insert, a cam rod, and a rocking beam. The rocking beam is coupled to the piston, the cam rod shaft, and a biasing mechanism. When the drive shaft is rotated, movement of the cam rod shaft causes the rocking beam to pivot and move the piston along a stroke to dispense the liquid. The piston operates in association with a flow adjustment stem that regulates the amount of liquid metered by the pump, and a valve assembly for evacuating the liquid from the pump chamber into and through an outlet fitting.Also provided is a flow volume indicator for use in a pump for indicating the amount of liquid being discharged. The flow volume indicator has a main body with an annular side wall, flexible base wall, and a knobbed pointer that is inserted into a bore of the pump body and coupled to the flow adjustment stem.

Abstract: An apparatus for liquifying a substance embodied in a substantially amorphous mass in a substantially continuous operation, the apparatus having a housing for feeding the substance to a delivery position; a system for supplying liquid to a liquifying station; and an assembly operable to engage the substance in the delivery position and transport the substance toward the liquifying station for receipt in the liquid.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying mortar, grout, bonding materials and caulk ("sealing material") into or between building components or materials includes a handheld power tool having or adapted to mount, a hopper receiving a supply of sealing material, an auger associated with the hopper selectively to convey the sealing material, and a nozzle adjacent the end of the auger to direct the sealing material to the point of application. The auger may have temporary auger extension(s) releasably and rotatably coupled thereto for conveying sealing material into voids, cracks or holes ("holes") in the building components or materials, with the temporary auger extension(s) being uncoupled and left in the filled holes as a central anchor or reinforcing member. When used with caulk, the apparatus is preferably adapted to have a disposable caulk container coupled to the assembly to replace the hopper and a removable and disposable plastic auger assembly to replace the steel auger.

Abstract: A detergent dispenser for a washing machine includes a detergent container for containing a certain amount of powdered detergent, a detergent discharger for discharging a necessary amount of powdered detergent from the container to a detergent receiver of the washing machine, a shaft rotated upon operation of the detergent discharger, a crank mechanism for changing the rotational movement of the shaft to the reciprocal movement, a reciprocating member reciprocally moved by the crank mechanism in the detergent container in the direction of one of end walls of the detergent container and in the direction opposite to the end wall so that the powdered detergent adherent to the inside surface of each end wall of the detergent container is removed.

Abstract: A detergent supply apparatus includes a detergent storage compartment for storing a powdery detergent, and a conveying device for conveying the powdery detergent from the detergent storage compartment. The conveying device includes a coiled member having a hollow body and an open end. When the conveying device is rotated, the detergent fed from the detergent storage compartment to the hollow body of coiled member is conveyed by coiled member, and then is discharged from the open end of the coiled member.

Abstract: A cleanser feeding mechanism has a cleanser housing portion, a cleanser feeding member for feeding a cleanser housed in the cleanser housing portion, and a synchronous motor for applying a drive force to the cleanser feeding member, and feeds and amount of cleanser corresponding to the number of revolutions of the synchronous motor. A cleanser feeding amount-setting unit sets an amount of cleanser to be fed from the cleanser feeding mechanism. A driving unit applies an AC source voltage of an AC power source to the synchronous motor. A counter counts the number of cycles of the AC source voltage from a timing at which the AC source voltage is applied to the synchronous motor. A reference cycle number-setting unit sets a total cycle number of the AC source voltage which corresponds to a cleanser amount set by the cleanser feeding amount-setting unit.

Abstract: A quantitative feeding device includes a housing being funnel-shaped, a hollow ball valve capable of sealingly seating in the housing and vertically rotating with respect to the housing between a first and a second positions. The ball valve has an open top and a radial protrusion defining the first position at which the open top upwardly faces when the protrusion contacts with a side wall of the housing and defining the second position at which the open top downwardly faces when the protrusion contacts with an opposite side wall of the housing. An actuating medium for rotating the ball valve between the first and second positions, an elastic member for usually urging the ball valve at the first position, and an oscillating element capable of contacting with the radial protrusion in the course of rotation between the first and second position in order to be oscillating.

Abstract: An apparatus in which particles are dispensed from an open ended chamber of a container into a transport adapted to move the particles therefrom. The apparatus prevents the bridging and caking of particles in the chamber. A member, positioned in the chamber of the container in the region of the open end thereof, is in engagement with the transport. The member is resiliently coupled to the container and agitated as the transport moves the particles. This causes the springs resiliently coupling the member to the container to vibrate. As the springs vibrate, bridging and caking of the particles is prevented and the particles are dispensed from the open end of the chamber in the container.

Abstract: The metering device for powdered material comprises a storage container (10) for the powdered material and a discharge opening in the bottom of the storage container which is opened and closed, respectively, by a closing mechanism (12). The powdered material flows through the discharge opening into a drawing cup (13). In order to obtain a defined bulk density of the powdered material in the drawing cup (13), a vibration mechanism (14) imparts vibrations to the metering device when the discharge opening (11) is open. The closing mechanism (12) can be designed in the manner of a blade diaphragm, and in that case the closing mechanism (12) can be actuated by a grooved disk (17) which at the same time is a part of the vibration mechanism (14).

Abstract: Apparatus for converting a serving of hard ice cream to soft ice cream with additions of fruit, flavoring, nuts, etc. as desired. The apparatus includes a cup having an extrusion nozzle and containing rotatable cutting and mixing means rotated by retractable pins of a rotatable and retractible piston which not only rotates the cutter but also forces the ice cream from the nozzle of the cup.

Abstract: A debridger for finely divided solids fed from a hopper to a screw feed by gravity. It has a heavy base that can rest on the threads of the screw feed and will be moved up and down over succeeding threads. There is a member attached to the base for extending up centrally in the hopper with radial arms reaching near the walls of the hopper.

Abstract: Wind-powered apparatus for applying a powdered substance over a given area including a housing designed to receive a quantity of the powdered substance, a sieve located within the housing and a wind motor assembly. The powdered substance is contained within the housing above the sieve. The wind motor assembly is rotatably received by the housing and extends through the housing. The wind motor assembly includes a center pole, a hub located on top of the center pole, a plurality of blades attached to the hub by spokes, a flexible plate which is attached to the bottom end of the pole beneath the sieve, a counterweight assembly and a scraper bar. The counterweight assembly and scraper bar are attached to the plate. As the wind acts on the blades and rotates the wind motor assembly, the scraper contacts and vibrates the sieve. This releases the powdered substance for distribution over the given area by the wind.

Abstract: A chemical dispenser is provided for hay balers and it comprises a hopper for the temporary storage of particulate chemicals. The hopper has a rounded bottom with a plurality of openings therein. The openings are selectively opened by 1/4 increments by a slider. The slider has an indicator which cooperates with 1/4 increment indicia printed on the front wall of the hopper for indicating the degree of opening thus permitting the operator to predetermine the quantity of particulate chemicals to be dispensed. For round hay balers, the dispenser has a blower and chemical directing lines.

Abstract: Within a loose or bulk good container there is arranged a loosening wheel which is wider than a discharge spiral. The loosening wheel is secured by a wheel holder device at a removable wall portion of the container. The removable wall portion is arranged transversely with respect to the discharge spiral and is fixedly connected with an outlet or discharge connection of the container. During exchange of the discharge spiral and/or the loosening wheel there can be removed as a structural unit or assembly from the container wall the removable wall portion together with the outlet or discharge connection, the wheel holder device and the loosening wheel, and such structural unit can be replaced by a different structural unit containing the corresponding elements but of different dimensions.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing dry powdered material including a hopper having a trough shaped bottom and a dispensing outlet at one end of the bottom wall, a feed auger for feeding material along the bottom and an agitator wheel mounted for rotation in an upright plane through the auger and meshing with the auger for rotation thereby. Reciprocating agitators are mounted in the hopper at opposite sides of the agitator wheel for movement along paths generally paralleling the auger and actuator members are provided on the wheel arranged to engage abutments on the agitator members to move the agitator members in one direction. Springs are provided on the agitator members to return the agitator members in the opposite direction until stops on the agitator members engage brackets on the hopper with an impact to jar and loosen material that may cling to the walls of the hopper.

Abstract: At its outlet end, a rotary feed screw coacts with a control element which, in a first position relative to the screw, closes a delivery conduit. To effect a dispensing operation, the control element is moved to a second position relative to the screw to form therewith a discharge opening through the delivery conduit, the dispensing being effected by rotating the screw and said opening together to maintain said opening. When the dispensing is to be stopped, the control element is returned to its first position relative to the screw.

Abstract: An apparatus in which particles are dispensed from the open end of a chamber. A member is positioned interiorly of the chamber and periodically agitated in response to particles being dispensed therefrom. Agitation of the member prevents bridging and caking of the particles in the chamber and facilitates the flow of the particles therefrom.

Abstract: A housing such as a dispensing canister is constructed of a plurality of modules removably interconnected together. The lowermost module has a screw for dispensing granular material and an agitator driven by the screw.

Abstract: The canister is provided with a screw for dispensing granular material from an outlet port in the canister. An agitator is rotatably supported for rotation about an axis generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the screw. The agitator has teeth on its outer periphery which mesh with the screw flights of the screw.

Abstract: A hopper device for delivering granular or powdery material to a conveyor system of a type having a circuitous tube and a continuous flexible member having disc members rigidly attached thereto has a material level monitor and control apparatus attached thereto. The continuous flexible member passes through the hopper and a material flow varying mechanism is disposed within the hopper for causing material to be delivered from the hopper into the conveyor system when such mechanism is in operation. A housing having a chamber therein is attached to the outlet side of the hopper and has a float assembly disposed in the chamber for sensing the amount of material being fed into the conveyor system.

Abstract: A toner dispensing device for use in a developing apparatus of an electrophotographic copying machine. The device includes a toner tank mounted on the developing apparatus, a horizontal slit formed at a lower portion of the toner tank, a toner supplying plate which is adapted to reciprocate through the slit for supplying toner at constantly uniform rates from a plurality of openings formed in the same plate, and a stabilizing plate pivotally disposed in the toner tank for dividing the toner tank into upper and lower portions. When the toner supplying plate strikes in its return motion against the stabilizing plate, a predetermined amount of toner is supplied from the upper portion into the lower portion through openings formed in the stabilizing plate for maintaining a predetermined amount of toner in the lower portion at a uniform density.

Abstract: A spreader for particulate material, particularly for wet lime. The mechanism compresses a cover which is placed on the vertical shaft of a conventional spin spreader. The particulate material is placed on the cover and is vibrated into a hopper, then dispersed within the hopper and spread by blades mounted on the shaft.

Abstract: Anti-bridging device for a hopper having an upper inlet portion and a lower outlet portion with sidewalls disposed therebetween, the anti-bridging device including at least one anti-bridging member movably attached to one sidewall of the hopper with cooperating elements to raise and lower the anti-bridging member. The cooperating elements for raising and lowering the anti-bridging member are generally an endless belt having at least one upwardly extending member which contacts the anti-bridging member during movement of the belt.

Abstract: Improved apparatus for the transportation of granular materials such as concrete is disclosed. The apparatus includes a pneumatic discharge area, a rotatable feed wheel having a plurality of pockets opening to a hopper for transporting increments of material to the discharge area and vibrating apparatus including one or more resilient members disposed adjacent the openings to the feed wheel pockets for being alternately flexed and released to impart vibration to the resilient members to enhance the flow of material into the pockets. The vibrating apparatus further includes a mounting ring, adapted for mounting in the device, and one or more inwardly extending mounting bars affixed to the ring for carrying the resilient members.

Abstract: A portable pneumatic dispenser wherein a bulk of finely divided dry substance, such as powdered or granulated industrial and agricultural chemicals, is deposited in a funnel-shaped hopper from which it flows downwardly to a suitable distribution outlet under concurrently acting forces of gravity, suction and agitation.

Abstract: A material dispenser comprising a material receiver, an elongate vertical material conducting duct communicating with and depending from the receiver and having a lower open discharge end, a vertically opening metering orifice in the duct, a valving member normally engaged in the orifice in a closed position and shiftable vertically to an open position, an armature freely engaged in the duct and shiftable upwardly therein from a lower normal position, means drivingly connecting the armature and the valve member, an annular coil about the duct and positioned so its field normally intersects the armature whereby the armature is drivingly elevated and the valve member is moved to its open position when the coil is energized, a power supply connected with and operable to cyclically energize the coil and including a half-wave rectifier in series with the coil and a resistor in parallel with the rectifier, whereby the coil is energized by pulsating direct current and supplemental alternating current.

Abstract: Liquid dispensing apparatus especially adapted for dispensing liquid insecticide and the like to material being transported by a conveying device. A valve providing communication between a liquid reservoir and the conveying device is normally biased closed. Operation of the conveying device cocks a tripping device, which when released strikes a portion of the valve causing temporary opening thereof, and dispensing of a predetermined amount of liquid to the material. The amount of liquid dispensed during each temporary opening of the valve is controlled by adjustment of an arcuate member that controls the amount that the valve may be opened.