Abstract: A fixed codebook searching apparatus which slightly suppresses an increase in the operation amount, even if the filter applied to the excitation pulse has the characteristic that it cannot be represented by a lower triangular matrix and realizes a quasi-optimal fixed codebook search. This fixed codebook searching apparatus is provided with an algebraic codebook that generates a pulse excitation vector; a convolution operation section that convolutes an impulse response of auditory weighted synthesis filter into an impulse response vector that has a value at negative times, to generate a second impulse response vector that has a value at second negative times; a matrix generating section that generates a Toeplitz-type convolution matrix by means of the second impulse response vector; and a convolution operation section that convolutes the matrix generated by matrix generating section into the pulse excitation vector generated by algebraic codebook.

Abstract: An automatic dispenser for ground coffee composed of a reservoir for grounds, the reservoir having a bottom provided with an outlet opening, rotatable dosing paddles at the bottom of the reservoir for dispensing a predetermined quantity of ground coffee through the outlet opening; a drive cone having rotatable blades disposed above the dosing paddles and adapted to be rotated about a vertical axis by a motor assembly, and a mixer in the form or a pyramid disposed above, and forming an extension of, the drive cone. An automatic coffee maker equipped with this dispenser.

Abstract: A dry chemical dispensing system includes one or more chemical dispenser, a fluid supply conduit, and a fluid pressure source. The fluid supply conduit is adapted to couple to a fluid source, and supplies fluid from the source to dry chemicals installed in the chemical dispensers. The fluid supplied to the dry chemicals dissolves a portion into solution. The fluid pressure source maintains a substantially constant fluid pressure magnitude in the fluid supply conduit. Thus, any variations in pressure of the fluid source do not affect the pressure of the fluid supplied to the chemical dispensers. As a result, dissolved chemical concentration is substantially controlled.

Abstract: Injection mechanism for powder and the like comprising a movable disc (II) with a number of throughholes (6) and two stationary members (I, III), each having a number of openings (1,2 and 3, 4, 5) communicating with a powder supply, a propellant gas source and a powder receiving unit, respectively, wherein the two faces of the disc each faces a closely mating face of each of the members and wherein in defined relative positions holes (6) at the disc (II) are in alignment with openings (1-5) in the members (I, III). The surfaces of the stationary members (I, III) presented spaced apart depressions (7) communicating with an adjustable pressure oil source and an adjustable spring action device acts against the members with opposite direction.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a rotor mounted in and sealed in a housing for rotation about a vertical axis and including a plurality of pockets. Between the peripheral outer side wall of the rotor and the cylindrical inner surface of the housing there is an interspace which is supplied with a pressurized gaseous medium and an exit port for discharging pourable material entering the interspace.

Abstract: An animal feeding apparatus has a housing for confining animal food items, such as flake-type fish food, and a mechanism for dispensing the food items from the housing for feeding purposes. The housing has an opening therein communicating with the interior of the housing, and the mechanism has a rotatably mounted member disposed partially within the housing and extending outwardly through the opening. The member has one or more receptacles therein for receiving food items from the interior of the housing, and a motive device, such as a motor, rotates the member about its axis to carry food items in the receptacle from within the housing outwardly through the opening for feeding purposes. The motive device rotates the member periodically, such as once in twenty-four hours, to perform a feeding operation one or more times during each such interval of time.

Abstract: A rotating sampling valve is described consisting of a rotating plate held between two fixed plates. The rotating plate contains a number of concentric channel sets bored through its longitudinal axis which channels are disposed symmetrically around its center axis. The channels in each set are of equal volume while the volume of channels in different sets can vary as desired. Both the upper and lower fixed plates contain the same number of correspondingly placed channels serving as inlets and outlets. Thus, when the center plate is rotated liquids flowing through the channels in the center plate are entrapped and transferred to a position indexing with different channels in the upper and lower plates. By connecting the desired inlet and outlet channels with selected sets of channels in the rotating plate it is possible to obtain varying sample volumes.