Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems, for producing frozen confections and conditioning ice for use in frozen confections. An apparatus includes a housing comprising an inner cavity defined by a sidewall and an ice conditioning blade disposed within the sidewall of the housing. The apparatus includes a paddle wheel disposed within the inner cavity of the housing. The apparatus includes a drive coupler for communicating with a motor, wherein the drive coupler communicates power from the motor to the paddle wheel.

Abstract: A developer supply container includes a rotating container for conveying a developer and an intermittent regulator for intermittently supplying gas into the rotating container and regulating an internal pressure of the rotating container. A fixed amount of gas is intermittently supplied by the intermittent regulator to the gas mixing space and is discharged from the powder discharging port after the fixed amount of gas is mixed with the developer. Since the intermittent regulator can periodically supply the fixed amount of gas to the gas mixing space, the fixed amount of gas ensures a stable gas pressure inside the developer supply container. The developer supply container can continuously and stably replenish the developer into the image forming device under any storage or operating environment. The air pressure of the developer supply container is maintained at a stable level and a high precision replenishment amount of the developer is achieved.

Abstract: A frozen treat dispenser (11) dispenses a snow cone and/or a slushy, and has at least an ice storage bin (14) for storing ice (10), a cup de-nesting mechanism (49) to separate a cup from a stack having a plurality of cups, an ice grinder (21) to grind ice from the ice storage bin to produce snow (82), a flavor dispenser (25), a cup transport mechanism (23) to move the cup to a first position (40A) whereby the ice grinder can at least partially fill the cup with the snow and to a second position (40B) whereby the flavor dispenser can dispense at least one flavor onto the snow in the cup, and a processor (152) to control the operation of at least one of the cup de-nesting mechanism, the ice grinder, the flavor dispenser, or the indexer.

Abstract: The agitating device is a moveable safety grate designed mainly for use in grain and material handling bins. The grate creates a safe and easy way to break up any lumps created in the grain or material during storage which would impede the flow to the grain sump. The safety bars may comprise width adjustable safety bars which are mounted on rails to move and reciprocate freely at the central opening of the grain sump in the bin floor. The grate can be moved via a rod protruding to the exterior of the bin, or by an optional air cylinder with air lines running to controls on the exterior of the bin. To aid in breaking up of lumps, the grate may also be equipped with a collapsible metal slat which is attached to the sliding grate and can be collapsed when the bin sweep is in use.

Abstract: A method for clearing obstructions in a silo having a reciprocating frame uses an obstruction clearance mode. The method includes driving at least one frame in a reciprocal motion across a silo floor until sensing an indication that at least one frame has encountered an obstruction. Upon sensing the indication of obstruction, an obstruction clearance mode is initiated in an attempt to clear the obstruction.

Abstract: A silo includes a stuffing box forming for use with a reciprocating frame. A push-rod extends from a hydraulic cylinder through a stuffing box and a silo wall to actuate a reciprocating frame. The stuffing box forms a floating seal around the push-rod capable of moving with the push-rod to accommodate misalignment.

Abstract: A dosing device for bulk goods comprises a mounting frame (2) in which a trough (4) with a dosing screw (28) is arranged, a drive motor (30) and at least one first vibrating paddle (48). The trough (4) comprises two opposing sidewalls (14, 16), of which at least one flexible sidewall (14) is flexible and the vibrating paddle (48) is arranged on said flexible sidewall (14). The upper edges of said sidewalls (14, 16) are not parallel to each other. A significant improvement in mass flow may be achieved, with a particularly effective prevention of cavity formation, whereby any bulk goods bridges which are formed are rapidly and effectively broken. Even bulk goods which have a clearly poor flow characteristic and tend to clump or stick to the trough sidewalls can be dosed without problems.

Abstract: A printer for printing a viscous material at predetermined positions forming a pattern on a substrate. The printer includes a frame, a device, mounted to the frame, having a number of perforations arranged to form the pattern, a support apparatus, coupled to the frame, that supports the substrate in a printing position beneath the device, and a material dispenser. The material dispenser has a chamber to contain the viscous material to be printed on the substrate. The chamber has an opening through which the viscous material is dispensed. The material dispenser is coupled to the frame, positioned over the device, and constructed and arranged to dispense the viscous material through the perforations in the device and onto the substrate. The material dispenser has a retraction device that prevents leakage of the viscous material from the opening after dispensing is complete.

Abstract: An injection unit for injection molding machines includes an extruder as plasticizing unit and a plunger-type injection molding device that can be coupled to the injection molding machine by an injection nozzle. The plunger-type injection molding machine has an injection plunger, wherein the area in front of the injection plunger forms an injection space which is connected to a forward end of the extruder by a melt channel, with a shutoff valve disposed in the melt channel. The extruder can be continuously operated and has one or more plasticizing screws for plastification, wherein the extruder is so configured that a backup length is able to increase backwards into the extruder, when the shutoff valve is closed.

Abstract: A printer for printing a viscous material at predetermined positions forming a pattern on a substrate. The printer includes a frame, a device, mounted to the frame, having a number of perforations arranged to form the pattern, a support apparatus, coupled to the frame, that supports the substrate in a printing position beneath the device, and a material dispenser. The material dispenser has a chamber to contain the viscous material to be printed on the substrate. The chamber has an opening through which the viscous material is dispensed. The material dispenser is coupled to the frame, positioned over the device, and constructed and arranged to dispense the viscous material through the perforations in the device and onto the substrate. The material dispenser has a retraction device that prevents leakage of the viscous material from the opening after dispensing is complete.

Abstract: An ice storage and dispensing apparatus includes a container (10) defining an inlet aperture (15) for receiving frozen product and an outlet aperture (30) for dispensing frozen product. A platform (16) is movably mounted within a lower end of the container. A rake (18) is rotatably mounted within an upper end of the container. An actuator (26) is mounted within the container between the platform and a support frame at the lower end of the container, and can be activated to selectively move the platform toward or away from the rake. A motor (24) is coupled to the rake for driving rotation of the rake. A torque sensor associated with the motor senses the level of load being applied on the motor as a measure of the proximity of the top layer of stored ice to the rake. A controller controls operation of the actuator in response to the sensor to automatically adjust the position of the platform relative to the rake.

Abstract: Screw-feeder dosage unit particularly for the dosage of solid or powdered products, which includes a frame which supports a hopper in which the product to be dosed is introduced, and an extractor for the product which is driven by a gearmotor. The unit includes a stirrer which is suspended inside the hopper, above the extractor, and is driven by an actuation means, the stirrer producing vibrations which allow separation of the product from the walls of the hopper for the descent of the product toward the extractor.

Abstract: A seasoning can structure includes an open can body to receive therein the seasoning, a cover being releasably secured to the opening of the can body. A seasoning dispensing device is mounted on the cover to dispense the seasoning contained in the can. A seasoning block breaking device is provided, including an elongated rod extending from the bottom of the can into the can body with a number of sideward arms fixed thereon so that by reciprocally moving the rod relative to the can body, the arms hit and thus break the seasoning blocks formed by the seasoning particles bonding together. Biasing device is disposed on the bottom of the can body to help reciprocally moving the breaking device relative to the can body.

Abstract: A volumetric dry material feeder comprising a movable wall hopper. Nesting lower and end wall hopper components receive and clamp a flexible diaphragm sheet in position to overlie mutually opposing hopper walls and to receive and isolate the material therefrom. A pair of thrust plates are each located between the diaphragm and a hopper wall and alternately displaced relative thereto at differing frequencies to produce a continually varying combination of thrust plate movements.

Abstract: A conveying device used in weighing apparatus for conveying powder comprising a conveying cylinder which is subjected to a vibrational movement by a vibrator to finely control the powder exited from the cylinder. Inside the conveying cylinder, there is a shaft with first and second blade segments which is actuable to rotate, thereby receiving powder from a loading hopper and exiting the powder to an outside. The vibrational movement of the conveying cylinder is irrespective of the rotational movement of the shaft, and either one or both of the conveying cylinder and the shaft is selected to operate to obtain a desired quantity of powder, ranging from a very small quantity where only the vibrator operates to a very large quantity where both the vibrator and the shaft operate.

Abstract: A device for dispensing predetermined quantities of, for example, spaghetti, includes a hopper containing a supply of the pasta. An outlet in the hopper deposits the spaghetti at the upper end of a vibrating slide. The vibration causes the spaghetti to move toward a chute at the slide's lower end. An arm hinged to the upper end of the plate carries an axially moveable blade and an end plate. Rocking the arm positions the blade intermittently to interrupt the movement of the spaghetti to the chute and alternately positions the end plate to allow the batch of spaghetti accumulated in the chute to drop into a batch container positioned below it. The position of the blade on the arm determines the quantity of pasta in each batch. An articulated carrier moves the loaded batch container to a dispensing location and discharges its contents.

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: 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: A method and apparatus for filling multi-cell or honeycomb cored panels wih fibrous insulation is described. Bales of insulation are reduced to particulate composition and evenly distributed within honeycomb panels.Insulation reduced to particulate composition is temporarily stored in an insulation feeder. Located within the feeder is a reciprocating grating that disperses the stored insulation at a controlled rate. Below the grating is an insulation conveyor belt that receives the dispersed insulation and transfers it to a point of discharge into a panel to be filled. The panel is conveyed over a vibrator to evenly distribute the insulation contained therein. The panel is also conveyed under reciprocating and rotary brushes that extend into the panel interior for uniformly packing the insulation to achieve an even predetermined insulation density. Flexible scrapers are located between the rotary brushes to scrape the surfaces of the panels clear of any insulation remaining on such surfaces.

Abstract: A bin having an essentially round or polygonal cross section with a discharge device, especially for flour, shaving or chip-type goods, such as wood shavings, sawdust, wood chips or the like, including a bin floor with at least one discharge opening channel underneath it for a conveyor worm or the like conveyor element in the channel and a drivable supporting body situated above the bin floor including pusher type discharge elements, at least some of which are limited on one longitudinal side by a carrier edge directed steeply to the bin floor, which pusher type discharge elements and supporting body form an essentially rigid unit of an outline conforming to the cross section of the bin, and a reversing drive for the rigid unit for alternately driving it in opposite directions.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of a vibrating element (herein disclosed in the form of a ring) inside storage tanks or bins for aiding flow of powdered bulk material therefrom. The vibrating element is isolated from the walls of the storage tank or bin and vibrations are transmitted directly and principally to the material rather than indirectly through the walls.