Abstract: A device for dispensing two or more substances by pushing against the slidable bottoms of respective containers, includes an arrangement for varying the ratio at which the substances are being dispensed relative to one another.

Abstract: A rotary driven drum-shaped dispenser for fluid materials is disclosed. The drum is comprised of a plurality of nested rings each of which has a plurality of arcuate channels through which the fluid material is passed during rotation of the drum. An adjustable valve is positioned at the inlet end of each flow channel. The end bells of the drum have covered access openings for filling the drum with fluid material to be dispensed. A divider within the drum separates the drum chamber into two chambers so that separate materials may be dispensed simultaneously without pre-mixing.

Abstract: A housing having an inlet port and an outlet port utilizes a variable volume cavity connected to the housing and includes a device for limiting the volume of the cavity which is alternately filled through the inlet port and exhausted through the outlet port using a spool valve. The spool valve is arranged to prevent continuous communication of fluid between the inlet and outlet ports. The volume of the variable volume cavity can be varied using electro-expansive or piezoelectric apparatus. The spool valve is reciprocated between the inlet and outlet ports using an electromechanical device and a motion amplifier.

Abstract: A volume-adjusting mechanism for a filling machine adapted to fill a number of containers with a predetermined amount of a product from a corresponding number of filling units; to enable a volume adjustment while the machine is running, the part of the filling unit normally connected with a relatively fixed part of the filling machine includes a selectively adjustable lost motion volume-adjusting mechanism to permit adjustment of the suction and discharge stroke of the filling unit.

Abstract: Cookie dough in a dough hopper is extruded through a die by means of a pair of dough rolls, and the extruded dough is separated into a plurality of cookie-shaped deposits employing a cutoff wire reciprocated beneath the die. After each movement of the cutoff wire, a conveyor carrying a tray moves a short distance for spacing the dough deposits on the tray. The dough rolls are operated independently from the cutoff wire and conveyor so that a variable quantity of dough can be extruded for each deposit, and a time delay is provided for operation of the cutoff wire such that a sufficient quantity of dough is extruded before initial severing of the dough.

Abstract: A dosing device for germ-free measuring and filling of liquid material into containers. The dosing device has a dosing pump situated between a material supply chamber and a material filling chamber. In particular the pump has an extended chamber which permits freeing of the pump piston during sterilization. The supply chamber, the extended chamber and the filling chamber are interconnected by rigidly arranged channels, and the upper part of the supply chamber is connected through a further chamber of the pump to the filling chamber for placing these chambers in contact with a sterile atmosphere.

Abstract: A viscous liquid dispenser is characterized by a yieldable lever arm pivotally connected within a casing. The lever arm carries a rigid dispensing block thereon. In response to the imposition of an actuating force to the lever arm, the arm pivots to bring the tip of the dispensing block into contact with a resilient flexible tube extending from a viscous liquid reservoir. The resilient tube is constricted between the tip of the dispensing block and a predetermined impact point located on a movable back-up block provided adjacent to the resilient tube and opposite from the dispensing block. The lever arm yieldably responds to the continued application of an actuating force to compress a portion of the resilient tube immediately below the constriction between the dispensing block and a predetermined dispensing surface disposed on the back-up block.

Abstract: A regulatable flush valve for tank type flush toilets includes a piston-cylinder dash pot, a weighted (fluid filled) plug/valve, a cylindrical overflow tube and a fluid vortex generating element secured in a coaxial arrangement vertically above the outlet of the toilet tank. The piston and plug/valve secured to the overflow tube are lifted from a normally closed position by a conventional pivoting handle mechanism. The piston-cylinder dash pot determines the water volume of a particular flush by controlling the rate of descent of the weighted plug/valve. The vortex generating element works in combination with the walls of the raised plug/valve to generate an energetic fluid vortex as the water flows from the tank into the toilet bowl. The vortex generated by the generating element is complementary to vortex generating elements within the toilet basin to increase washing action in the toilet bowl. The above combination of elements significantly reduces the volume of water required for complete flushing action.

Abstract: A fluent material dispenser, preferably for use in conjunction with a planter, is provided with a precision metering device having buckets which pick up material and dump it into a collector. The collector preferably has discrete axially spaced openings which communicate with separate discharge tubes to deposit material in remote locations. The axially elongated buckets are mounted on a rotor and dump at a substantially uniform rate per degree of rotor rotation, preferably having a radially inner flat wall and an arcuate radially outer wall disposed at a uniform radius about the leading edge of the inner wall. Preferably, the rotor is enclosed in a pressurized housing and air pressure is utilized to deliver the material through the discharge tubes, the air supply and rotor drive being operatively connected with sources as available on the associated planter.

Abstract: An automatic volume control for centrifugal pumps wherein a centrifugal pump is arranged with its suction oriface facing downwardly into an open top tank having a tangential feed channel. The tank is placed in a receiver for the liquid to be pumped, at a level wherein the tank and the feed channel is submerged below the intended maximum liquid level. An upwardly directed air line outlet may be placed in the bottom of the tank in axial alignment with the pump.