Abstract: An ice dispenser provides a storage bin in which ice cubes manufactured by an ice maker are stored until used. A powered agitator within the bin operates to move cubes to an exit end where they enter a lifting and metering drum. From the lifting and metering drum the ice cubes, in one embodiment, pass through an adjustable ice crusher which functions to crush the ice into particles the size of which can be changed by adjustment of the crusher. In one position, the crusher can be adjusted so that uncrushed cubes pass through the crusher. In a second embodiment, a deflector is provided to allow the ice cubes to bypass the crusher when uncrushed cubes are required. The deflector is moveable to a position to cause the cubes to pass through the crusher and for delivery of crushed ice. The lifting and metering drum operates at a lower speed than the agitator or crusher and is driven by gearing connecting the lifting and metering drum with the agitator.

Abstract: A dispenser of foodstuff is particularly well adapted to deliver cheese for pizza making. A refrigerator contains a bin which may be completely removed from said refrigerator for cleaning, as in a dishwasher, for example. The bin features inwardly sloping walls so that the cheese does not normally stick to the wall. An auger delivers the cheese to a spout where a star wheel meters flow and breaks up any clumps in the cheese. A spring biased trap door closes the spout, especially when the bin is removed from the refrigerator. The refrigerator contains parts which control the opening and closing of the trap door and the turning of the auger. The entire system operates under the control of a programmable microprocessor which includes means for detecting when the bin is empty or is failing to delivery the cheese.

Abstract: An apparatus for the storage and dispensing of particulate coffee in a domestic refrigerator comprising a sealed bin for preserving the freshness of the particulate coffee and a manually operated transfer mechanism for dispensing the coffee into a container for the preparation of coffee beverages. The transfer mechanism includes a rotary auger and a pick-up wheel disposed within the bin and operatively connected to a manual crank on the front of the bin. The auger feeds the coffee to the pick-up wheel, which deposits the coffee into a graduated chute from which the user may dispense the coffee to a suitable container.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an extruder 1, particularly a small extruder for transferring plastics material in strand form to a plasticized state. In order to improve the homogeneity, it is provided that the screw portion 7 serving for drawing in be constructed simultaneously for granulating the plastics material which is then melted in the further plasticizing portion 6. The special arrangement of the draw-in channel 12 in relation to the configuration of the screw profile of the granulating screw portion 7 causes the separation and granulation of the drawn in plastics strand, so that material which is already granulated is fed into the plasticizing screw portion 6 projecting into the cylindrical bore hole 10 of the housing portion 9 and can then be transferred into the desired state along a short distance.

Abstract: An ice handling and beverage dispenser includes an agitator assembly mounted within a downwardly sloping ice storage bin, the assembly including a rotor connected to an agitator with the agitator comprising a frame to sweep the ice and the rotor having a plurality of circumferentially arranged L-shaped ice moving scoops. The agitator assembly is rotatably driven by a motor adjacent a front wall of the bin whereby ice is lifted by the scoops from a location adjacent the bottom of the bin to an outlet chute thereabove. When used in a beverage cooling dispenser, the sweep arm "sweeps" the bin wall whereby ice is caused to fall onto a cold plate disposed therebelow.

Abstract: A selective ice cube and crushed ice dispenser having a crusher section including a crusher arm mounted to a horizontal shaft axially rotatable in either direction, and a stationary crusher arm mounted to one side of the shaft. When the shaft is driven in one direction, ice pieces fed to the crusher section are caught and crushed between the rotating and stationary crusher arms. However, when the shaft is driven in the opposite direction, the ice pieces escape down the side of the shaft opposite the stationary crusher arms thereby avoiding being crushed. The ice piece feed within the ice piece receptacle is also rotatably driven by the shaft and is operable to feed ice pieces to the crusher section regardless of which direction the shaft is being driven.

Abstract: The mortar dispenser disclosed herein utilizes a rotating auger extending through a feed barrel at the bottom of a supply hopper to force mortar through a nozzle attached to the barrel for use in tuck pointing. Formation of a rotating plug which would obstruct flow is prevented by an auger construction in which a single helical flute divides into a pair of flutes which, in the nozzle region, extend in opposite directions from the auger axis to provide two channels. The pair of flutes are apertured to permit mortar flow between the two channels and a slender elongate spring scraper prevents mortar from sticking to the nozzle. An agitator extending into the hopper is driven by a cam rotating with the auger so as to work mortar in the hopper and cause it to flow into the auger.

Abstract: An ice dispensing apparatus includes a rotatable drum dispenser and an adjacent floating baffle, the baffle having an opening for ice bodies to pass from the drum dispenser to an ice crusher mechanism. The drum dispenser has blade augers spaced from the baffle a select distance and operate in connection with the baffle opening to prevent wedging of ice bodies.

Abstract: Ice cubes manufactured by the automatic ice maker of a household refrigerator are collected in a storage bin and conveyed towards the front of the bin and metered through an outlet opening at a constant rate by a longitudinal conveyor rotatably mounted between the front and back walls of the bin, and defined by spaced front and back helical sections of different pitches which convey the cubes forwardly at different rates and a propeller positioned on the conveyor forwardly of the front helical section at the outlet opening for breaking up frozen ice clusters and metering the cubes through the opening and past an upwardly angled ramp carried by an ice dam housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing ice bodies collected in a storage receptacle, including a manually operable knob and structure connected thereto for delivering ice bodies from the collecting bin to a transfer mechanism which, in turn, delivers the ice bodies one at a time through a discharge chute to a dispensing space. The apparatus is self-contained so as to permit removal thereof from the refrigeration apparatus for dispensing of the ice bodies by manual rotation of the knob at locations remote from the refrigeration apparatus, as well as in the installed arrangement within the refrigeration apparatus. Accurate dispensing of the ice bodies one at a time is effected without personal contact with the ice bodies. A guide is associated with the discharge structure for locating a receiver, such as a glass or pitcher, accurately to receive the transferred ice bodies. Gears are utilized to provide desired operation of a conveyor auger for transferring the ice bodies from the collecting bin to the transfer mechanism.

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 spray device is used to deliver a liquid, liquid containing a solid or a solid in a shaped flow onto a surface. The spray device can be used to deliver the material downwardly, laterally or upwardly in the form of droplets, a curtain or a mist. The spray device consists of a housing which uses a center shaft to deliver the material from the feed end to the discharge end. At the discharge end this center shaft has a flange which rotates with the center shaft. This flange is adjustable. Disposed over this center shaft flange is a flange fixedly attached to the nozzle housing. The material that is being delivered is shaped into the desired form in this flange region of the spray device. This spray device is non-clogging. In a preferred embodiment the surface that is being coated is the surface of an edible food product such as a cookie, biscuit, cracker or candy. The coating can be an oil, an oil containing dissolved or suspended flavorants, or a confection such as chocolate.

Abstract: A toner cartridge comprises a cylindrical cartridge body having a toner discharge port formed in a part of a peripheral surface thereof along its longitudinal direction, a pivot shaft disposed at the axis of the body, and a toner pressure feeding member joined to the pivot shaft through a plurality of connecting rods and adapted to discharge toner contained in the body from the toner discharge port. The toner pressure feeding member is disposed in parallel with the pivot shaft. Connecting rods, which are not locate in a position corresponding to the toner discharge port, are diagonally disposed with respect to the pivot shaft with an end of each of the group of connecting rods joined with the pivot shaft situated at the side where they attach toner discharge port. The group of connecting rods are provided at the side of the to with a toner guiding portion. Thos connecting rods opposite the toner discharge port are perpendicular to the pivot shaft.

Abstract: A flail chain unloader for discharging particulate material from a lower output of an upright storage vessel includes a rotating shaft extending upwardly of the central portion of the vessel above the outlet and flail chains secured to the shaft at different levels thereon to rotate with the shaft and loosen the particulate materials in the vessel to flow downwardly for discharge through the lower outlet. One or more upper flail chains are secured adjacent an upper level portion of the shaft and have outer ends movable in a generally circular path closely adjacent the inside wall surface of the vessel for loosening the material adjacent the vessel wall. At least one set of intermediate flail chains of a relatively short length is provided at spaced apart lower levels below the upper flail chains in order to dig out the material in the central portion of the vessel around the shaft.

Abstract: A dispenser for a product in the form of pieces or chips includes a hopper into which the product is loaded. The hopper has a discharge orifice and houses a feed screw which extends outwardly through the discharge orifice. Divergent legs are located adjacent to the hopper discharge orifice and extend in the feed direction for the product.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively dispensing discrete quantities of elongated ice pieces from a supply thereof. The apparatus includes a baffle defining an upper edge and mechanism adjacent the baffle for causing ice pieces received from the supply to extend lengthwise generally parallel to the baffle and to be translated upwardly to above the level of the baffle upper edge while concurrently tipping the ice pieces over the upper edge to pass to forwardly of the baffle for dispensing thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, the transfer mechanism is defined by at least one helical vane extending from a rearward transfer position to a forward dispensing position defined by the upper edge of the baffle. In the illustrated embodiment, the vanes extend approximately 105.degree. about an axis of rotation thereof within a tubular drum. The apparatus may include a constant speed dispensing mechanism and a timer control for any one of a plurality of preselected time periods.

Abstract: A cylindrical developer storage and dispensing cartridge with a dispensing opening at one end has an integral developer transport mixing and antibridging member rotatably supported within the container which has a first coiled spring element having a cross section substantially the same as the cross section of the container and freely rotatable therein which is wound in the direction to transport developer along its length toward the dispensing opening and a second coiled spring element having a cross section substantially smaller than the first spring element but being substantially concentrically positioned and being attached to the first element but wound in a direction opposite to the first spring element to provide a counter rotating motion relative to the first spring element.

Abstract: A seal and discharge assembly for use in the processing of farinaceous material is disclosed in which the dry food mix is introduced into a continuous pressure cooker assembly without undue pressure loss and while maintaining a regulated flow of material into the continuous pressure cooker assembly. The seal and discharge assembly comprises an extension of the root of the pressure feeder screw upon which is mounted a compacting ring for plug sealing and flinger paddles for breaking-up the plug seal and positively conveying the farinaceous material making up the plug seal into the continuous pressure cooker assembly. The root extension and the radially mounted flinger paddles are housed in a discharge chamber between a pressure feeder screw barrel and the continuous pressure cooker assembly.

Abstract: An ice piece dispenser comprising a receptacle for storing ice pieces and including a front plate having a discharge opening therein. There is provided a dispenser horizontally supported in the receptacle and includes a rotatable feed section having an inlet end and a discharge end with a central axle therebetween, the feed section comprising a cylindrical collar adjacent the front plate and a double bladed screw auger within the collar forming two helical passages. The blades of the screw auger extend from the central axle to the collar and are spaced rearwardly from the front plate with the trailing edge of each blade being curved rearwardly between the axle and collar sufficiently to prevent ice pieces being wedged between the front plate and the blades during rotation of the feed section. A wire auger which is rotatably driven is secured to the feed section for rotation in unison therewith.

Abstract: An ice dispenser comprising a receptacle for storing ice pieces and having a front discharge opening. Supported in the receptacle is a cylindrical, rotatable, feed section having the outer end thereof positioned adjacent the receptacle discharge opening and the inner end thereof having an opening to receive ice pieces. A rotatable wire auger comprising an elongate axial portion is secured to the cylindrical, rotatable, feed section at one end and at the opposite end to a helically coiled portion concentric therewith and spaced therefrom. The helically coiled portion has a terminal end spaced from the feed section and the axial portion of the auger. A drive arrangement is provided to rotate the feed section and auger.

Abstract: Material dispenser apparatus includes a dispenser roll and dispenser roll cleaning brush mounted within the bottom discharge opening of a material receiving hopper for direct contact by the material in the hopper. The brush, being directly disposed to the material in the hopper, aids in displacing the material in the hopper toward the dispenser roll and compacting the dispenser roll with such material. Also, the brush clears the material from the dispenser roll as the brush and dispenser roll come into contact with each other. The speeds of rotation of the brush and dispenser roll are desirably each controlled independently of the other to permit them to be simultaneously rotated in the same direction but at different rpm for controlling the rate and size of material being dispensed. A material agitator may be provided in the material receiving hopper for working the material down within the hopper into contact with the surfaces of the dispenser roll and brush which are exposed to the material in the hopper.

Abstract: Ice is stored for dispensing in a semicylindrical bin. A cone-shaped wire auger is mounted on radial extensions from a sloped axle near the bottom of the bin. A large flyte of the auger pushes ice from the rear of the bin toward smaller flytes near the front of the bin. Distal ends of generally radially extending fingers sweep an opening in the front of a bottom wall. Interchangeable plates with varied size openings control dispensing rate from the bin. The large flyte pushes the ice toward the front where some of the ice drops through the dispensing opening and some of the ice is recirculated upward. Ice clusters near the dispensing opening are broken by the fingers which extend generally radially and slightly rearwardly from the axle on which the conical auger wire is mounted.

Abstract: An improved machine for dosing, filling and packaging of a doughy or pasty food substance. The machine sequentially includes a trough, screw conveyor, guide channel, dosing station and forming channel. The forming channel widens in a funnel-like or obelisk-like fashion in the flow direction of the food substance which is being transported therethrough. At least a part of the guide channel is covered with a layer of friction-reducing material.

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 ice body delivery apparatus having a hopper for storing a plurality of discrete ice bodies and a wall portion defining an outlet opening for passing the ice bodies seriatim outwardly therethrough for dispensing the ice bodies as desired. A rotatable auger is provided in a lower frustoconical portion of the hopper and includes spaced spiral vanes arranged to sweep across the opening so as to dislodge ice bodies which may have become lodged thereacross. The auger is arranged so as to define an effectively open axial portion permitting the dislodged ice bodies to be returned to the outlet opening therethrough and under or behind the rotating vanes back to the outlet opening. The vanes extend arcuately a total of approximately 360 degrees or more. The auger may be driven by a subjacent drive motor.

Abstract: Accurate metering and dispensing of small quantities of abrasive material comprised of particles or powder, or both is accomplished by feed apparatus comprising a rotatable tubular member having a threaded interior surface for transporting the abrasive material through the tubular member in response to rotation of the member about the axis thereof. The discharge portion of the tube is particularly adapted to dispense frequent, small quantities of the material rather than less frequent larger quantities.

Abstract: An ice handling apparatus effectively handles crushed, cracked, flaked or cubed ice without agglomeration or congealing of the ice. The apparatus has a hopper for holding a mass of small particles of ice and an agitator in the hopper, and in one embodiment the hopper has level or inclined shelves extending from its side walls for supporting the ice and decreasing the compressive pressures to which the mass of ice is subjected, and for cooperating with the agitator to keep the ice particles in discrete, free flowing form. The hopper has an opening spaced above a lowermost end thereof through which ice may be dispensed, and in accordance with another embodiment of the invention a ramp extends from the bottom of the hopper to the opening to smoothly carry ice to the opening and facilitate dispensing of ice from the hopper. In combination with the shelves, the ramp provides for significantly improved dispensing of discrete, free flowing particles of ice.

Abstract: Apparatus for building up and repairing a refractory lining of an industrial oven or like hot-running vessel comprises a disc rotatable in a horizontal plane in either direction for centrifugally depositing a granular refractory material on a portion of the lining to be built up or repaired, a conduit having an outlet opening above the disc for feeding the granular material thereto, and a drive shaft for the disc and for mixing and conveying elements for the granular material in the conduit, these elements being capable of conveying the granular material to the rotatable disc in either one of the selected directions of rotation of the disc.

Abstract: A dispensing machine mixing device has a base fastenable to the chassis of a dispensing machine, a bearing in the base, a shaft rotatably mounted in the bearing, a shaft seal on the front of the base, a mixing impeller on the front of the shaft and to the front of the seal, and a reduced size housing secured to the base; the housing has an integral tubular wall holding the seal to the base and defining the circumference of a mixing chamber within which is the impeller, a front end wall, a mixed fluid outlet from the bottom of and to the front of the mixing chamber, a fluid inlet conduit generally on the axis of rotation of the impeller, and a funnel to the front of the mixing chamber and above the inlet conduit; a common wall portion forms part of both the funnel and the mixing chamber wall, and part of a lower funnel wall forms part of the inlet conduit and is exposed to the mixing chamber; the inlet conduit to the mixing chamber expands in cross-section toward the mixing chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for the extrusion of thermofusible materials which are applied while being heated comprises a prefusion and feeding chamber, a heating element for the prefusion and feeding chamber, a shaft capable of rotation at the base of the chamber, the shaft while in rotation mixing the thermofusible material and an extruder comprising an extrusion screw axially connected to said shaft. The extrusion screw is located in a cylindrical tubular structure which is provided with an exit for the thermofusible material. Preferably the shaft is located at a predetermined distance from the bottom wall of the prefusion chamber whereby a passageway is formed between the bottom wall and the shaft, the chamber and the shaft being so dimensioned that the shaft during rotation forces the entire mass of thermofusible material through the passageway.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding flock fibers comprising an upwardly open flock-receiving hopper. The hopper has a bottom discharge passage under which is mounted metering apparatus providing a plurality of discharge openings of controllably variable size. An upper impeller having a plurality of downwardly angled blades is rotatably driven within the hopper passage to urge the flock fibers to fall downwardly through the discharge openings into a cylindrical pump chamber. A lower impeller is rotatably driven within the pump chamber to sweep falling flock fibers into a pump throat in communication with a venturi flow tube through which a supply of air is passed. The air flowing through the venturi flow tube creates suction to draw the fibers within the throat into the venturi flow tube for entrainment with the air stream.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering ice from an ice body maker to an ice delivery area selectively in the form of ice bodies or as crushed ice. The ice crusher is mounted in a housing and includes first and second crusher arms mounted to a rotatable shaft therein. A stop is provided for preventing rotation of the second crusher arm while permitting the first crusher arm to continue rotation with the shaft. The relative movement between the crusher arms effects a crushing of the ice bodies so as to permit the ice to then be delivered to the delivery area in the form of crushed ice. When the stop is positioned so as to permit rotation of both the first and second crusher arms with the shaft, the ice bodies are delivered intact thereby to the delivery area. The stop is arranged to prevent rotation of the second crusher arm in either direction when disposed to prevent movement of the second crusher arm with the shaft.

Abstract: A soup dispenser is provided which will dispense liquid, semi-liquid and/or chunky soups, stews, chilis, etc., with equal facility. A motor driven dial configuration of a plurality of measuring chambers or traps is provided at the bottom of a heated reservoir in which an impeller is constantly driven to preclude settling and scorching. The same motor drive is selectively interconnected to rotate the dial and successively register a measuring chamber with a discharge port beneath which a food container can be placed to receive the discharged product. The measuring chambers are vented to atmosphere through the dial and other venting as registry with the discharge opening is respectively effected to assure full discharge of the food product therein.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for dispensing discrete elements from a container defining a storage space containing the elements into a transport apparatus for transporting the elements to a discharge location. The dispensing apparatus defines a recess opening generally horizontally to the storage space at a lower portion thereof. The elements are guided into the recess which preferably has a height substantially equal to the greatest transverse dimension of the elements. A transferring structure is provided to be disposable selectively subjacent the recess for receiving the elements from the recess and transferring the received elements to a discharge position. In one embodiment, the apparatus dispenses ice bodies into an air-operated transport system. An agitator for agitating the elements in the storage space may be utilized to effect the desired guiding of the elements into the recess.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to plastic molding machines and more particularly to a mixing chamber connected to a main hopper which is fed by an auxiliary hopper for mixing the materials from the main hopper and auxiliary hopper together wherein the mixing chamber includes a rotatable shaft extending across the chamber, a pair of ring elements symmetrically carried by the shaft closely adjacent the interior surface of the mixing chamber for removing and cleaning materials therefrom, and a plurality of outwardly extending mixing arms carried by the shaft for mixing the materials together within the volume of the ring elements.

Abstract: A feed mechanism for feeding a food product to a volumetric gauging device of a gauging and canning machine comprises a feed hopper having a first feed screw adjacent the hopper outlet and a second feed screw located above the first feed screws and arranged to scrape the walls of the hopper. The two feed screws are rotated in opposite senses.

Abstract: A discharge device including a discharge member rotating about a vertical axis, arranged below a conical bunker outlet and above a base plate with a discharge opening, over which member is a fixed cover, said member being a peripherally driven disc having openings separated by bars, the openings being eccentric, the cover extending radially, and an adjusting element for adjusting the height of the edge of the cover over the disc.