Abstract: The specification discloses a system and method for producing a particulate MBOCA product including relatively uniformly sized granules. The system includes a pan granulator, a dust hood enclosing the granulator pan, and a blower for circulating an air stream through the hood to carry away the heat of fusion of the granulation. In a second aspect, the system includes a novel drum charging apparatus having a filler tube extendable into a drum, a dust cup covering the drum opening when the filler tube is inserted therein, and a vacuum for drawing air through the dust cup. Air displaced from the drum and product particles dispersed therein are therefore drawn into the vacuum for subsequent recovery of product particles.

Abstract: Proportioning dispenser for powdered products consisting of a main body delimitating a first, filling chamber and a second, discharge chamber. The body supports a feed hopper, a proportioner operable to move between the two chambers, and a dispenser located beneath the discharge chamber. The dispenser comprises a cup movable from a loading position under the discharge chamber to a position of automatic discharge. A preferred embodiment involving the filling of explosive cartridges is described.

Abstract: Base structure is provided from which an upstanding post is supported and separate top and bottom horizontal support plates are mounted on the post in vertically spaced relation and for rotation relative thereto. Sleeve structure is also rotatable on the post and disposed between and keys the plates against rotation relative to each other. A plurality of upright tubular fluent material reservoirs are supported from and extend between corresponding peripheral portions of the plates spaced about and outward from the post and the upper and lower ends of the reservoirs open upwardly and downwardly through the upper and lower plates, respectively. Manually actuatable dispensing structure is carried by the lower end of each reservoir and a horizontal closure plate is mounted on the post above the upper plate for rotation relative to and about the post.

Abstract: A system of dispensers for bulk material is provided. The system includes a free-standing rack and a plurality of dispensers for bulk material having bottom panels and mounted on the rack. Each dispenser includes an enclosed container, an access door on the upper portion of the container, a spout connected to the bottom panel and defining an outlet in the bottom of the container. A downwardly directed taper is formed inside in its lower portion, the narrow portion of the taper being offset from the outlet. A passage extends generally longitudinally between and communicates with the narrow portion of the taper and the outlet. A feed slide assembly is slidably disposed on the inside of the bottom panel under the narrow portion of the taper and in the bottom of the passage. The feed slide assembly includes a knob and rod connected at one end for gripping to manually slide the assembly in to-and-fro movements longitudinally thereof and a spring in contact with the other end of the slide assembly.

Abstract: A metering and dispensing unit comprises a body 13, a drawer 14 and a track unit 15. The unit 13 includes upstanding walls for holding a container 12 which is filled in use with granular material, such as coffee. The container 12 is sealed to the unit 13 by an upstanding wall 29 and a port 31 is provided for passage of coffee towards the drawer 14. The port is partly closed off by a sloping segment 51. When the drawer 14 closes a relatively sharp edge 52 scraps a surface 39 of the drawer 14 to clean off any material on that surface.

Abstract: A measured charge dispenser for particulate material comprises a rectangular open-topped base having a drawer between its bottom wall and a superposed horizontal wall. The horizontal wall has a part circular opening therethrough bounded by an upstanding cylindrical flange, and the drawer has at least one upwardly and downwardly opening compartment which in the closed position of the drawer registers with that opening to receive material from an inverted container whose neck is held about the cylindrical flange by a resilient finger. When the drawer is pulled open, the material in the drawer compartment is dispensed by gravity. The portion of the horizontal wall within the cylindrical flange can have a forwardly downwardly inclined surface, e.g. forwardly and upwardly convex, to prevent arching over of the material above the discharge opening. The dispenser can have lugs for slidable reception on a mounting bracket.

Abstract: A three-dimensional dispenser housing comprises a removable top closure exposing a top opening in a storage hopper, which may be constructed from thin sheets of plastic material, having slanted walls leading to a restricted outlet above a small, bottomless drawer which slides and delivers a small measured quantity out of the front of the dispenser. The drawer is positioned below the outlet of the hopper and is caused to slide across a bottom plate by means of a control rod operated by a pivoting plate which is spring biased until contacted by a push rod manually operated from the top of the dispenser.

Abstract: A device for storing and dispensing mercury and tablets comprising:(a) a housing having a main discharge port;(b) a normally closed mercury reservoir extending from the housing, the reservoir including a discharge port;(c) a tablet container extending from the housing, the container having a discharge port;(d) a passageway within the housing, part being below the mercury discharge port and another being above the main discharge port, the passageway being adapted to receive a slidable member, the slidable member being adapted to slide within the passageway between first and second positions;(e) a vent including a passage communicating with the interior of the mercury reservoir near the top and with the passageway when the slidable member is not in the first position, but is sealed from the passageway when the slidable member is in the first position;(f) a mercury metering cavity within the slidable member to receive mercury from the reservoir through the discharge port when the slidable member is in one of the

Abstract: A seeder is disclosed which includes prior art elements of a bottom stationary drop plate, an intermediate and sliding reciprocating cell plate with individual singulating cells, and "wiper bars" overlying and in sliding engagement with the cell plate. The improvement herein has the overlying wiper bars apertured in registry to the underlying drop holes. The cell plate at each individual singulating cell reciprocates to and from a position of registry with and to the wiper bar apertures above and drop apertures below. Reciprocation to a position of registry typically accumulates a singulated seed in each cell of the cell plate, and thus places the seeder in position for seeding with singulation. A probe, registered to the wiper bar aperture is mounted for reciprocation relative to the wiper bar aperture. The probe is actuated in its reciprocation when registration of the singulating cell to the wiper bar aperture and drop hole is effected.

Abstract: A transparent dispenser for nuts or the like having a movable slide which, by its movement, transfers a measured volume from the bottom of a hopper to a delivery chute. The upper wall of the slide chamber is partly relieved so as to prevent jamming of the slide.

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 dispenser is adapted to be attached to a conventional jar-type container in which particulate material, such as instant coffee, is commercially sold. The dispenser includes a mounting member which screws on the container in the manner of a conventional lid. The mounting member has an end wall having a pair of openings therein through which coffee will pass when a container is inverted. The mounting member has a guide structure thereon which slidably receives a slide dispenser. The guide structure has one opening therethrough and the slide dispenser has a pair of openings therethrough. The volumetric space of each opening in the slide dispenser constitutes the volume of coffee which is dispensed when the slide dispenser is shifted in either direction.

Abstract: An automatic supplying apparatus for powder or particle materials which repeatedly transfers the material laterally in fixed quantities from a position directly below a hopper to a working table. The apparatus comprises a measuring transfer table having through holes of a predetermined configuration and capable of reciprocating along a track, and a gate moving integrally with the measuring transfer means to close the bottom of the through holes when the measuring transfer table proceeds towards the working table, and returning to the original position when it reaches a predetermined position on the working table, leaving the measuring transfer table behind and causing the bottom of the through holes to open at a predetermined position on the working table.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser includes a cylindrical body which is open at one end and which has an opening in its side wall adjacent the other end to communicate with fluid material inside a container in which the dispenser is mounted. A second cylinder having openings in opposed side walls is slidably mounted within the body and is connected to a plunger for axially moving the inner cylinder which is normally biased inwardly so that fluid material may pass into the interior of the inner cylinder. As the plunger is activated, a closure member first slides under the opening in the cylindrical body to prevent additional material from leaving the container. Further movement of the plunger pushes the end of the inner cylinder out of the body of the dispenser to expose the opening in the side wall to thereby dispense the fluid material which had been in the interior thereof.

Abstract: A trigger-actuated sliding dental amalgam dispenser is provided with a material distribution shell within which a transport carriage is longitudinally reciprocated under the control of a trigger actuator. Liquid conduit channels in the shell carry mercury from a reservoir above the shell to a measuring chamber in the carriage. Upon actuation of the trigger, the measuring chamber, otherwise held in communication with the mercury reservoir by a spring bias on the trigger, is reciprocated relative to the shell to that the mercury in the measuring chamber is discharged into a dispensing well. Concurrently, a slide with a silver receptacle tray is repositioned to receive another tablet of silver from a tablet dispensing cartridge positioned above the material distribution shell. When the trigger is released, the tray carries the silver tablet into vertical registration with the dispensing well to drop the tablet into the well.

Abstract: In a drain device for purging compressed air lines of water, oil, sludge, and other contaminants by the alignment of a first pair of apertures in a valving mechanism to allow the contaminants to enter a central chamber and periodically moving the central chamber to align a second pair of apertures to allow the contaminants to flow from the chamber, a pair of seals are provided for sealing each of the pairs of apertures. One seal is concentric with the one aperture in order that, with the apertures aligned, the seal will prevent leakage into or from the interior of the housing. A second seal encircles the first seal and extends radially away from the first seal in a direction coincident with the movement of the chamber portion which causes misalignment of the apertures. Accordingly, the second seal prevents escape of contaminants from the misaligned apertures while the first and second seals cooperate in the misaligned mode to prevent communication of the two apertures.

Abstract: A measuring and transferring device for automatically metering predetermined and variable quantities of virgin plastic material, reprocessed plastic material and color concentrate to an extrusion machine. This masterbatch material blender incorporates a rotary conveyor having openings therein that receive and retain predetermined amounts of virgin plastic material and color concentrate in one position of movement of the conveyor and discharge same to the extruder in yet another position of movement thereof. Furthermore, such conveyor is adapted to control yet another reciprocable metering and transfer mechanism that similarly controls the addition of reprocessed material to the batch by way of the same measuring and transferring device.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for dispensing viscous substances includes a cylinder encompassing a sliding sleeve which in turn receives a free sliding dispensing piston. Material to be dispensed is supplied to the sleeve under pressure. Air pressure is applied to the piston through the use of a three-way, two-position air valve, causing the sleeve to shift, thereby closing a supply port and opening a dispensing port in the apparatus and causing the dispensing piston to discharge material through the dispensing port.

Abstract: A shower dispenser adapted to be connected to a water pipe at one end and having a shower head connected to the opposite end includes a through passage for water from the water pipe to the shower head which is surrounded by an annular reservoir for receiving liquid soap or the like. A transverse passage intersects the through passage and a spool valve having a measuring chamber therein is slidably mounted in the transverse passage. The chamber is provided with ports which will be aligned with a dispensing port communicating with the reservoir when the spool valve is in a first position and which will be disposed in the through passage when the spool valve is in a second position. The spool valve has a reduced diameter portion which is completely disposed within the through passage in the first position of the spool valve and partially within the through passage when the spool valve is in the second position.

Abstract: An ice dispensing mechanism for use with an ice dispensing machine having an ice storage area and a transfer path for communicating ice from the storage area to the dispensing mechanism; the dispensing mechanism includes first and second enclosures which are arranged subjacent the ice storage area, the first enclosure being adapted to receive ice from the ice storage area, and the second ice enclosure being adapted to receive ice in metered quantities from the first enclosure and move from a position arranged generally vertically below the first enclosure to a second position disposed laterally therefrom wherein the ice within the second enclosure may drop downwardly under the influence of gravity into a suitable ice receptacle or the like.

Abstract: A fuel delivery system for an internal combustion engine. A fuel supply chamber is located adjacent the combustion chamber and is in communication with the combustion chamber. A fuel supply line communicates with the fuel chamber. A valving piston is movable in said fuel chamber and a fuel port or pocket is formed between the valving piston and the fuel chamber. The valving piston is actuable to place the fuel port in communication with the combustion chamber to deliver discrete quantities of fuel to support combustion. The valving piston may be mechanically, hydraulically, pneumatically or electrically operated. Means are also disclosed which cooperate with the valving piston to expel fuel from the port in the fuel delivery position.

Abstract: To extract and measure out a product from a bulk stock and adding said product inside a hopper use is made of at least three perforated surfaces or plates superimposed on one another and in contact with one another so that the product to be extracted is trapped in the hole(s) in the center plate between the top plate and the bottom plate by a relative movement of the top plate in relation to the two other plates then stationary in relation to each other and the product so trapped in the hole(s) in the center plate is extracted to the outside by a relative movement of the center plate in relation to the top plate and the bottom plate, then stationary in relation to each other, or by a relative movement of the bottom plate in relation to the center plate and the top plate.

Abstract: A timer-controlled animal feed dispensing device is provided with a rotary cam having trip pins to periodically displace a rocker arm to reciprocate in conjunction with a bias spring, a shuttle assembly. At one end position of the shuttle assembly, a metering chamber defined in the shuttle assembly receives feed material through an opening in the base of a container. The metered feed portion is delivered through another opening below the shuttle assembly, upon its movement to its opposite end position. An agitator for agitating and stirring the feed material in the container are affixed to the shuttle assembly. Spaced primary and secondary engagement surfaces on the rocker arm interact with the trip pins to deliver mechanical shock loading into the feed mass during the filling of the metering chamber.

Abstract: A liquid measuring and dispensing device has a central flow tube sealingly surrounded by a measuring chamber slidable relative to the flow tube so as to bring respective ports in the flow tube and the chamber into register for filling and emptying the chamber through the two ends of the flow tube which form inflow and outflow ducts respectfully, and a shuttle valve within the flow tube and between the ducts and movable with the chamber to isolate the portion of the flow tube between its ports and thereby prevent direct flow along the flow tube between the ducts, the outside diameter of the flow tube surrounding the inlet duct being reduced in diameter so as to provide an air vent for the chamber during emptying.

Abstract: Disclosed is popcorn vending apparatus including a hot air cooker assembly, an elevator type supply assembly for furnishing raw kernels to the cooker, a cup dispenser, a dispenser including a pump for withdrawing butter flavoring from its original container and dispensing to the vended container of popcorn, and a salt dispenser for delivering tubes of salt to the purchaser. The cooker includes a transparent receptacle tiltable from a cooking position to a dispensing position; and a chute assembly for delivering both the cups and cooked popcorn to a delivery station includes means for preventing unauthorized access to the interior of the apparatus housing.

Abstract: A hopper has an elongated nozzle projecting from the bottom thereof and a manually operable metering assembly having discs which form first and second loading areas operates reciprocally through the hopper in an arrangement such that in one movement thereof a first loading area is filled and the second area is emptied and in the other movement thereof the second area is filled and the first area is emptied whereby a charge is dispensed in each inward and outward movement of the metering assembly. The loading areas are adjustable in size to vary the charges dispensed and the nozzle is also adjustable in length to accommodate persons of different stature as well as to suit different dispensing applications.

Abstract: An apparatus for the transfer of powder into a high-pressure vessel comprises a cylinder, two pistons disposed one on top of the other inside said cylinder and two openings formed in the circular wall of the cylinder, the one opening serving as an inlet for entry of the powder and the other opening serving as an outlet for exit of the powder into the high-pressure vessel.

Abstract: The following specification describes a dispensing drawer assembly having a housing in which a passage is formed to permit material in a container to fall upon a bridge wall spaced from the passage. The periphery of the passage is sealed by spaced partition walls of the drawer when in the closed position and metering walls between the partition walls are optionally broken out to control or select the quantity of material deposited on the bridge wall.On movement of the drawer to an open position, the rear partition wall scrapes the selected quantity of material on the bridge wall through a passage for capture by a container, while a top closure wall on the drawer seals the passage to prevent the entrance of contaminants into the container.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic seed singulating and dispensing apparatus adapted to singulate and dispense seeds from a hopper into a growing medium such as a series of soil pots or cubes. The seed singulating and dispensing apparatus comprises a frame structure having a hopper disposed about the upper portion thereof and including a series of three plates associated therewith. Disposed within the hopper is a seed buffer structure that lies just above an upper seed singulating plate. During operation the seed singulating plate moves relative to the seed buffer structure and the seeds within the hopper are moderately agitated and tend to assure that vacant seed openings within said seed singulating plate are filled.

Abstract: A solids feeder for transporting particulated solids from a solids feed supply into the bottom of a solids upflow vessel. The feeder includes a pair of solids feed chutes, each terminating in a bottom outlet located in essentially the same horizontal plane as the bottom solids inlet of the solids upflow vessel and on opposite sides of the bottom solids inlet. A pair of solids feed cylinders provided with hydraulically actuated pistons are vertically mounted in spaced relationship on a reciprocating carriage positioned below the solids upflow vessel. The carriage is reciprocated between two stationary positions in which the cylinders alternately fill with particulated solids and discharge the solids into the bottom of the solids upflow vessel.

Abstract: Slide dispenser apparatus comprising a manually operable, controlled-quantity merchandise dispenser of a type including a base and a separable upper merchandise-storing chamber positioned thereover and having a bottom opening for merchandise gravity-feeding relationship with respect to an upwardly open, intermediately positioned, merchandise-receiving-and-dispensing chamber positioned between the bottom of the merchandise-storing chamber and the underlying base, and with said intermediate chamber being provided with a manually-extendible-and-retractable merchandise-receiving-and-dispensing slide member having an upwardly open merchandise-receiving cavity of a size such as to receive a desired quantity of particulate merchandise material, or a unit of globular merchandise material, or the like, completely within the cavity for slidable transverse extending movement of the slide member into a position such that the cavity will be exterior of the base for dispensing the particulate material from a spoon carried

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for feeding material to a gas generator. A cell feeder is provided for preventing backflow of gases through the feeding apparatus from the gas generator. The cell feeder includes a housing having an axial passage extending therethrough defining a path of travel for material from an inlet opening to an outlet opening, first and second pistons mounted in the housing for compressing and transferring material received in the housing along the path from the inlet to the outlet, each of the pistons also alternately blocking and unblocking the path whereby material received within the housing will be compressed prior to the opening of the outlets, thereby preventing the backflow of gases.

Abstract: A coating applicator system comprising a stationary coater blade, reciprocating valve and applicator plates and, interposed between the valve and applicator plates, a stationary metering plate which includes a metering cavity. In operation, a quantity of photoelectrophoretic imaging suspension is supplied to the metering cavity in the metering plate when the valve and applicator plates are cammed in. When the reciprocating plates are cammed out, a metered amount of the suspension is deposited on the coater blade and when the plates are cammed in the imaging suspension is caused to move into a coating gap to supply a uniform quantity of suspension to a surface to be coated.

Abstract: A dispenser for powdered or granular materials having a cylindrical base with inner threads adapted to be screwed onto a rim of a jar, and having a disc integrally connected to the base formed with an intake opening adjacent a periphery thereof, two spaced parallel tracks formed on said disc, wherein the opening is between the two tracks. A cylindical cap is snap-detachably connected to the base and has a central opening formed in a circular top thereof, and a recess formed at a cylindrical edge thereof, adjacent the disc of the base between the tracks. A slide member is slidably disposed in the track extending through the recess and has a cylinder, open at both ends, integrally connected therewith.

Abstract: A vending machine including a vibrating mechanism or thumper mechanism for vibrating a container of powdered material, said vibrating mechanism including a pivotally mounted spring-biased arm member actuatable to a cocked position by the movement of a slide mechanism and releasable to apply a blow to the container said vibrating mechanism and slide mechanism having interengageable portions for effecting movement of the arm member to the cocked position.