Abstract: A dispenser for pasty substances and/or liquids has two coaxially arranged metering pistons 11,24 which supply charges of material from two coaxially arranged pump chambers 14,23 through ejection channels 19,26 into an ejection chamber 20. The material can emerge from ejection chamber 20 through an outlet 4. This outlet 4 is controlled by means of plug 21 biassed in closing direction. When the metering pistons 11,24 are on their suction strokes material passes from the supply tanks 17,27 which are likewise arranged coaxially one inside the other. Such a configuration yields a dispenser which consists in essence of two separate dispensers, one inside the other. The two streams of material combine directly ahead of the outlet 4.

Abstract: An apparatus for volumetrically dosing particulate matter, such as tea to be loaded into bags, comprises a housing whose lower part is kept filled through a hopper with the mass of particles above the top of a dosing drum which is intermittently rotatable just above the housing bottom about a generally vertical axis and has several outwardly open, angularly equispaced through-going peripheral notches of constant horizontal cross-section. A discharge compartment of the housing accommodates a segment of the drum, including two of its notches, and has an entrance gate closely hugging the drum surfaces so that only the particles occupying a notch can reach that compartment.

Abstract: Control apparatus for purging the pressure in conduits or hoses of pressurized gas/liquid systems such as hot melt foam generating equipment. The control includes a selectively actuable "purge valve" which upon actuation applies an output pressure to reverse the direction of rotation of the motor driving the gas/liquid mixing pump, or alternatively to operate a diverter valve that connects the pump outlet side back to the liquid supply line. Simultaneously, the purge valve cuts off the supply of gas to the mixing pump. The control desirably also includes a selectively actuable "start-up valve" for supplying gas to the gas/liquid mixing pump at higher than normal operating pressure, in order to overcome any internal blockage and prime the pump for starting operation.

Abstract: Liquid dispensing apparatus comprises a T-tube (9) of which the limb tube serves as a closed reservoir (8) for liquid, with an air space above. Liquid is pumped by a peristaltic pump (A) through a tube (6) and one arm of the T-tube into the reservoir until a level detector (D) responds to the liquid level in the reservoir reaching a datum level whereupon it renders the pump (A) inoperative. A further peristaltic pump (B) then starts to pump liquid from the reservoir out of the other arm of the T-tube and through tubes 13 and 15 to an infusion needle in a patient's body. When the liquid level in the reservoir reaches a predeterined lower level detected by another detector (E), the second pump (B) is rendered inoperative and the cycle is then repeated starting with operation of the first pump (A).The use of a peristaltic pump as the second pump (B) enables the liquid delivery pressure at the needle to be held just above the minimum necessary for infusion.

Abstract: Apparatus for metering material and transferring it from one location is provided. The new metering apparatus has several advantages over that disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,118,799. The apparatus includes a pair of cylinders with rams which are reciprocated in opposite directions by gear racks connected thereto and driven by a common pinion. A plurality of pairs of the cylinders and rams can be mounted on a common frame or base to meter a number of different materials. Also, the rams, with or without the cylinders, can be readily replaced with components of different diameters to provide different metered quantities of materials. In addition, mechanism are provided for changing the stroke lengths of one or more pair of rams when two or more pairs are employed.

Abstract: This invention provides water supply apparatus having a water reservoir serving two or more nozzles, a pump for pumping the water to the nozzles, a valve for opening and closing a respective nozzle and apparatus for varying the rate of pumping of the pump in accordance with the number of valves which are open.

Abstract: A hot melt adhesive foam pump system having a first stage pump that meters molten hot melt adhesive into a second stage pump, which in turn mixes gas under pressure into the adhesive so that the gas is driven into solution with the adhesive at an adjustably controllable ratio. The pump is insensitive to changes in adhesive viscosity and pump speed, and provides uniformity of foam density and output flow rate when the adhesive is ejected from a dispenser connected to the pump.

Abstract: An apparatus for the essentially uniform feed or conveying of a fluent or flowable medium by means of to-and-fro moving feed or conveying pistons, wherein there are provided at least two single-acting feed pistons. Each of the feed pistons is equipped with a forward drive and a return drive. The return velocity is greater than the forward velocity. The forward drive and return drive are driven with a phase shift such that the terminal or end portion of the feed stroke of the one feed pump overlaps the starting portion of the feed stroke of the other feed pump.

Abstract: Sample preparation apparatus for forming a thin layer of diluted blood specimen on a substrate by centrifugal force includes a sample probe having coaxial blood and diluent conduits coupled to respective reversibly-drivable peristaltic pumps having forward operation intakes connected to a diluent supply. A one-way clutch limits the diluent pump to forward operation and the pumps are geared to produce a blood-to-diluent displacement ratio of 2:1. A substrate holder is mounted on a carriage for selective insertion into and removal from a sealed centrifuge chamber in which it is spun at a high angular rate by a drive motor. Means are provided to form a curtain of flowing liquid within the chamber surrounding the spinning substrate to collect spun-off blood particles and aerosol. The liquid forming the curtain is drained by an exhaust pump which operates after spinning has ceased so as to create a partial vacuum for draining off residual aerosol prior to unsealing the centrifuge chamber.

Abstract: A manifold for use in conjunction with fluid actuable liquid dispensing apparatus is disclosed for supporting and interconnecting such apparatus, especially where numerous individual liquid dispensers are employed, for example for lubricating various points in a system. The manifold allows individual dispensers, or sets of dispensers, to be disabled, for example for repair purposes, while others may continue to operate. Several such manifolds would typically be employed in a lubricating system with each comprising a block having a plurality of separated passageways therein, including at least one actuating fluid passageway with an inlet for connection to an actuating fluid source, and an outlet for connection to the liquid dispensing device, and at least a second passageway for the liquid to be dispensed, again having an inlet for connection to a liquid source, and an outlet for connection to the liquid dispensing device.

Abstract: A charge forming and depositing machine particularly for sticky semi-liquid material including a rocking valve having sharp edges disposed between a supply hopper and a charge-measuring expansible chamber, a charge receiving cylinder having a port communicating with the chamber and controlled by a delivery piston in the cylinder, and the delivery piston being arranged to clear from the cylinder, to carry it beyond the end of the cylinder and into contact with a receiving surface, and such delivery piston being provided with air blast means to release the measured charge from the lower end of the piston. The invention contemplates that the semi-liquid material may have nuts or the like solids mixed therein.

Abstract: An injection molding machine for plastic material comprising an injection cylinder; a displaceable element axially disposed in the cylinder, one of the cylinder and displaceable element being movable with respect to the other; an injection nozzle on one end of the injection cylinder; a feed device including a feed hopper and a plunger reciprocally mounted in said hopper in communication with the other end of the cylinder; a pressure block between the feed device and the other end of the cylinders and a substantially continuously curving passage in the pressure block.

Abstract: In a batcher plant at least one pair of reciprocable pressure cylinders are provided one of which as a first pressure cylinder is connected to a source of pressure medium while the other one as a further pressure cylinder is supplied with pressure medium in dependence on the number of strokes per minute of the first pressure cylinder. Both pressure cylinders drive delivery pumps. The total amount of delivered material is controlled by the speed and the number of cycles of the piston of the first pressure cylinder while the mutual proportions of delivered material are controlled by varying the length of stroke of the further pressure cylinder. Thus, on the one hand, mutual proportions of delivered substances can be finely adjusted within very wide limits and, on the other hand, the pressure cylinders of the various batcher units may be located in considerable distances from one another so that the plant is suitable to perform the most various functions.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for applying gasket-forming material to workpieces. The apparatus includes a supply of the gasket-forming material under pressure with a nozzle communicating with the material for directing the material to mateable surfaces of workpieces which are to be joined to mateable surfaces of other workpieces. Means are provided to move the nozzle over the mateable surfaces and to supply beads of the gasket-forming material thereto. The means include a track positioned in a predetermined location relative to the mateable surface, with means connected to the nozzle and the material supply and movable along the track to move the nozzle in the desired direction. When the connecting means makes one trip around the track, a complete bead of the gasket-forming material is applied to the mateable surface of the associated workpiece from the nozzle. Another workpiece is then moved into position and the bead-applying process is repeated.

Abstract: An improvement in a method of applying plastic to a planar surface which comprises extruding the plastic through an annular orifice as a ring onto the planar surface. The improvement is particularly helpful in the manufacture of push button ends for beverage cans.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser having one piston and cylinder for feeding the liquid and a larger piston and cylinder cooperating with a valve to provide aspirator action to eliminate dripping and break stringing.

Abstract: Thixotropic battery paste is metered at a substantially predetermined volumetric flow rate onto a battery grid with the aid of a positive displacement pump means and alternate operation of a pair of cylinder and ram metering devices which are synchronized to deliver the paste substantially without turbulence to a discharge means such as a nozzle for delivery to the battery grid substrate.

Abstract: A housing has a compartment subdivided by a pair of sleeve valves into an input compartment to which is continuously fed a stream of viscous hardenable material and an output compartment arranged adjacent a transport device which step-wise advances a succession of containers. Each of these sleeve valves has a central piston and has a valve port that can be directed either into the input compartment or the output compartment. Thus one of the sleeves is turned with its port toward the input compartment and its piston is retracted to draw into the sleeve a predetermined quantity of the viscous mass. Thereupon the sleeve is rotated through 180.degree. and this portion is discharged into the output compartment and thence into one of the containers.

Abstract: A new apparatus for metering insect diet accurately and efficiently into individual insect rearing cells is disclosed. Insect diet is accurately metered into a set of plastic rearing cells which are preformed by a form-fill-seal machine. The insect diet is transferred from a thermally controlled reservoir through a pneumatic cylinder type metering device by means of a negative pressure on the intake and a positive pressure on the discharge. Thus very high viscosity diet materials can be utilized. The diet is discharged through a set of nozzles into individual plastic rearing cells. A ball type check valve is used on both the intake and discharge ends of the metering device, which can be incrementally calibrated by a threaded collar type mechanism. The whole apparatus is mounted to a stationary frame with a movable lower cross-head which imparts function to the metering devices. The number of metering devices can be varied and assembled in series and operated simultaneously with the number of rearing cells.