Abstract: The present invention is directed to a ball feed mechanism and associated method for use in a paintball loader. The ball feed mechanism includes a feeder which conveys or impels balls toward a feed neck, and a drive member which is concentric with the feeder. The feeder is coupled to the drive member. An electric motor is used to rotate the drive member which in turn causes the feeder to rotate. The feed mechanism includes sensors which detect the motion of the feeder and the drive member. A controller determines the position of the feeder relative to the drive member and actuates a motor when necessary.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and device are provided for dispensing a granular food product into a receptacle for consumption. The apparatus includes: a hopper containing said granular food product, said hopper having an outlet proximate a bottom end thereof; a dispensing rotor mounted in said hopper, said rotor rotatable to push said granular food product through said outlet; a control subsystem operable to receive a signal indicative of a desired quantity of said granular food product and to dispense the desired quantity of said food product through said outlet by rotating said rotor by a specific amount; and a chute positioned below said outlet to direct dispensed food product into said receptacle.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser contains and dispenses metered amounts of fluid, and in some embodiments comprises a reservoir for containing fluid; a chamber positioned substantially within the reservoir for containing a quantity of fluid; and a piston moveable within the chamber in a first direction to draw fluid into the chamber from the reservoir, and movable in a second direction to discharge a metered amount of fluid from the chamber. A user-manipulatable control can be coupled to the piston to move the piston with respect to the chamber, and in some cases to select the desired metered amount of fluid to be dispensed. Also, a pawl can be used to selectively permit and inhibit movement of the piston in the first and/or second directions to prevent partial doses from being dispensed from the fluid dispenser.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for accurately and repeatably depositing edible particulates on edible products. A dual-drum rotary feed system accurately meters an amount of edible particle for each edible product with a first rotary drum while a second rotary drum deposits the edible particulates onto or within the edible product. The dual-drum rotary feeder can comprise replaceable drums wherein drums can be quickly removed and replaced for cleaning, sanitization and to adjust processing conditions such as, for example, changes in production rates and/or product size.

Abstract: The dispenser has a plunger which is pressed downwardly by the user to dispense condiments, such as salt, pepper, sugar, spices, etc. The plunger structure has a dispensing head which passes through an outlet opening in the base of the device. The outlet opening through which the dispensing head passes is sealed by use of a seal structure forming a flexible flap contacting the head. The seal is secured in a base which can be removed to provide a wide opening for refilling the container. The device dispenses a predetermined quantity of condiment with each stroke reliably and with a minimum danger of jamming.

Abstract: The dispenser has a plunger which is pressed downwardly by the user to dispense condiments, such as salt, pepper, sugar, spices, etc. An adjusting device can be set to determine a predetermined amount to be dispensed by each stroke of the plunger. The plunger structure has a dispensing head which passes through an outlet opening in the base of the device. The head has a plurality of vertically spaced recesses with walls separating the recesses. The walls form an acute angle with the plane of the outlet opening. The base can be slipped over a resilient sealing member at the lower end of the dispensing head to remove and replace the base for refilling and cleaning of the dispenser. Resilient seals are used to seal the openings between the housing and the outside air so as to minimize clogging and jamming of the moving parts of the device due to humid air. The plunger can be locked to prevent unwanted dispensing, and to tighten the seals to facilitate washing, refilling and transportation of the dispenser.

Abstract: A captive key release closure structure includes a base ring for connection to a rim of a container, a closure member or cap integrally hinged to the base ring, latch indentations on an outer surface of a neck wall of the base ring, and latch pawls on an inner surface of a depending circumferential wall of the cap and aligned with the indentations. A key slot is formed in the cap wall at a position opposite the hinge, and a key receiving recess is formed in the base ring. The latch indentations and pawls are positioned in sets on opposite sides of the key slot and key recess. The closure structure is opened by insertion of a small keylike tool, such as a coin, spoon, or the like, and twisting against the surfaces forming the key slot and recess to separate and thereby release the pawls from the indentations.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing system is disclosed which uses throw-away plastic packages in which beverage concentrate is contained. The package comprises a body and an integral valve. The valve has a sleeve in which is contained a rotary barrel. The barrel defines two sub-chambers. As the barrel is turned by a drive of the machine, the valve is positioned so that one of the sub-chambers dispenses its contents into a drinking vessel, while the other refills and vice versa. As long as concentrate is being dispensed, diluent is also being dispensed into the vessel to form the final beverage.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein is a canister type of measuring and dispensing device featuring interchangeable canister sections and drawers and including a mixing lever in rotational engagement with a drawer holder wherein the drawers are removable from the drawer holder through an opening in the dispenser housing to provide an overall device which may be adapted to store nearly any quantity of granular material and to dispense the granular material from removable drawers having different dispensing dimensions.

Abstract: A practical and simple system that automatically measures and dispenses grain and powder type food products, such as sugar and flour contained within a canister type holder. The system consists of a drawer compartmentalized into precisely measured divisions with the topside uncovered and the bottomside selectively covered or uncovered by a moveable slide that allows for the pulling out of the drawer without spillage. The drawer will stop at one of several preset measured positions. These positions are controlled by a spring-pressured arm. With the drawer in a selected position the contents of the outward division or divisions of the drawer are dispensed accurately and immediately by pushing inwardly the moveable slide covering the bottom side. When the drawer is pulled outward an attached trailing horizontal upper slide prevents any of the contents within the canister from filling the empty area behind the drawer when the drawer is pulled out.

Abstract: An apparatus for apportioning powdered material into each of a series of containers is disclosed which includes a powdered material hopper having a dispensing opening and a rotatable filling head contiguous to the dispensing opening. The rotatable filling head includes a plurality of radially situated chambers each having an open outer end for displacement between the material hopper and the series of containers. A conventional pneumatic source is provided for assisting the filling and emptying of the chambers during the apportioning process. Within each chamber, the volume of powdered material received is defined by a piston having a porous surface. The piston engages a threaded stem longitudinally fixed in position yet rotatable about its longitudinal axis to effect displacement of the piston head and support longitudinally within the chamber. A seal is provided at the radially inner end of the threaded stem to ensure positive pneumatic action through the porous piston surface.

Abstract: A dispenser of a granular material having a hopper containing the product and, at the base of the hopper, a device for measuring and distributing the product as well as a support to hold the device in elevated position. The device comprises a hollow cylinder and a drum rotatably mounted in the cylinder, the drum being provided with a first and a second cavity defining, at the periphery, two openings disposed side by side and extending transversely of the drum, the opening of the first cavity extending forwardly past the opening of the second cavity in one of the directions of rotation of the drum. Two feed apertures are provided side by side through the drum cylinder and in communication with the inside of the hopper, the cavities being arranged so that their openings be, in feeding position, simultaneously in registry with the feed aperture.

Abstract: A measuring and dispensing closure for containers of granular material employs a slide element slidable in and out of a container cap top. The slide element has a chute element positioned thereon defining a series of trap spaces into which granular material is passed from the container when the slide element is in its retracted position. When the container is turned upside down and the slide element is moved outwardly relative to the cap top, the chute chamber passes out from a discharge opening formed on the cap top to expose the trap spaces to atmosphere for dispensing the granular material. Communication between the interior of the container and the trap spaces during dispensing is prevented by a planar ledge portion formed on the cap top and underlying the space beneath the chute chamber member. The slide element is preferably formed of plastic molded material and also includes a biasing member to provide a return force against outward movement of the slide.

Abstract: A fully automatic dispensing apparatus for dispensing predetermined measured of granular materials such as coffee, sugar, spices, and the like. The materials are stored in a sealed container and are dispensed therefrom by means of a unique dispensing and distribution system which ensures that each measure of material dispensed is substantially equal whether the storage container is full or nearly empty.

Abstract: A toner dispensing device for use in a developing apparatus of an electrophotographic copying machine. The device includes a toner tank mounted on the developing apparatus, a horizontal slit formed at a lower portion of the toner tank, a toner supplying plate which is adapted to reciprocate through the slit for supplying toner at constantly uniform rates from a plurality of openings formed in the same plate, and a stabilizing plate pivotally disposed in the toner tank for dividing the toner tank into upper and lower portions. When the toner supplying plate strikes in its return motion against the stabilizing plate, a predetermined amount of toner is supplied from the upper portion into the lower portion through openings formed in the stabilizing plate for maintaining a predetermined amount of toner in the lower portion at a uniform density.

Abstract: A measuring and dispensing closure for dispensing a measured amount of material from a container. The closure has a wedge rotatably secured between a pair of discs one of which is attached to the container and each having defined therein a dispensing slot which is offset from the other dispensing slot. The wedge has a metering chamber which is alignable with the dispensing slots in the discs for dispensing a metered amount of material from the container, and a sealing surface alignable with the dispensing slot in the disc attached to the container for effecting an essentially air-tight seal of the container. The metering chamber is divided so that less than a full charge of material can be dispensed.