Abstract: A revolver valve includes a housing with a cylindrical inner chamber, and a pair of end caps respectively attached to each end of the housing. One of the end caps includes an inlet opening and the other end cap includes an outlet opening. A cylindrical rotor body is rotatably disposed within the inner chamber of the housing. The rotor body includes a pair of end faces respectively positioned closely adjacent to the end caps, and a plurality of longitudinally extending cylinders extending between the end faces. Each cylinder is positioned generally concentrically about an axis of rotation of the rotor body, whereby the plurality of cylinders are sequentially disposed in communication with the inlet opening and the outlet opening during rotation of the rotor body within the inner chamber during use. The revolver valve is preferably used in a fiber stock preparation system in conjunction with a fiber loading apparatus having a pressurized vessel.

Abstract: A rotary powder dispenser disposed between a top inlet pipe and at least two bottom outlet pipes includes a casing (1) connected at its top to an inlet via which the flow of powder is taken in, and at its bottom to outlets via which the flow is delivered, the casing (1) being formed of a shell (2) and of a removable base (3); a rotary plug (8) that is disposed in the casing, that is of generally cylindrical shape, and that can turn about its own axis, the plug being provided with an internal duct (11) that slopes relative to its axis so as to enable the powder to flow through it under gravity, with a ring of gear teeth (12) that co-operates with a worm screw (12a) to rotate said plug, and with a cam (13) that co-operates with at least one pusher (14, 15) external to the plug to determine the exact position of the plug; and at least one sealing system (9, 10) disposed between the plug (8) and the casing (1).

Abstract: An automatic container filler (20) having a frame (22) that supports a hopper (24). A dispensing unit (26) is located at the bottom of the hopper (24) that selectively feeds a fluent material, such as sand, into a plurality of discharge chutes (28). The automatic container filler (20) is designed such that fluent material, such as sand, is fed into the hopper (24). The dispensing unit (26) moves the fluent material from the hopper (24) through the discharge chutes (28) into containers such as sandbags. The dispensing unit (26) deposits a predetermined amount of the fluent material through each of the discharge chutes (28) and into containers in sequential order.

Abstract: A revolver valve includes a housing with a cylindrical inner chamber, and a pair of end caps respectively attached to each end of the housing. One of the end caps includes an inlet opening and the other end cap includes an outlet opening. A cylindrical rotor body is rotatably disposed within the inner chamber of the housing. The rotor body includes a pair of end faces respectively positioned closely adjacent to the end caps, and a plurality of longitudinally extending cylinders extending between the end faces. Each cylinder is positioned generally concentrically about an axis of rotation of the rotor body, whereby the plurality of cylinders are sequentially disposed in communication with the inlet opening and the outlet opening during rotation of the rotor body within the inner chamber during use. The revolver valve is preferably used in a fiber stock preparation system in conjunction with a fiber loading apparatus having a pressurized vessel.

Abstract: A two-part dispenser for attachment to the bottom of a cylindrical container for dispensing a pre-calibrated amount of powdered or granular product from the container by twisting or rotating one part of the dispenser with respect to the container. The dispenser comprises a generally cup-shaped member adapted to engage the bottom of the container in fixed relationship therewith and a chambered member that fits within the cup-shaped member and can be rotated with respect to the cup-shaped member to dispense product.

Abstract: A revolver valve includes a housing with a cylindrical inner chamber, and a pair of end caps respectively attached to each end of the housing. One of the end caps includes an inlet opening and the other end cap includes an outlet opening. A cylindrical rotor body is rotatably disposed within the inner chamber of the housing. The rotor body includes a pair of end faces respectively positioned closely adjacent to the end caps, and a plurality of longitudinally extending cylinders extending between the end faces. Each cylinder is positioned generally concentrically about an axis of rotation of the rotor body, whereby the plurality of cylinders are sequentially disposed in communication with the inlet opening and the outlet opening during rotation of the rotor body within the inner chamber during use. The revolver valve is preferably used in a fiber stock preparation system in conjunction with a fiber loading apparatus having a pressurized vessel.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for adjusting a discharge width of a powder feeder. The system includes a supply hopper that is spaced from the powder feeder. The powder feeder includes a receiving opening and a discharge opening and at least one adjustable wall. Preferably, two adjustable walls are provided. Movement of the two adjustable walls provides variations in the width of the discharge opening and therefore facilitates use of the powder feeder on target volumes or target areas having different widths. A rotatable auger brush is in communication with the supply hopper for causing powder withdrawn from the supply hopper to be transported to the powder feeder and disposed uniformly across the receiving opening of the powder feeder. The brush is immersed within the powder and extends across the receiving opening of the powder feeder, and maintains a filled level powder feeder. The powder feeder is particularly well-suited for use in a coating apparatus, as well as a dual-side coating apparatus.

Abstract: An automatic container filler (20) having a frame (22) that supports a hopper (24). A dispensing unit (26) is located at the bottom of the hopper (24) that selectively feeds a fluent material, such as sand, into a plurality of discharge chutes (28). The automatic container filler (20) is designed such that fluent material, such as sand, is fed into the hopper (24). The dispensing unit (26) moves the fluent material from the hopper (24) through the discharge chutes (28) into containers such as sandbags. The dispensing unit (26) deposits a predetermined amount of the fluent material through each of the discharge chutes (28) and into containers in sequential order.

Abstract: An apparatus, which is intended for metering bulk materials, has a rotatable cell wheel (9) and a stirrer (2), arranged above the latter, and operates reliably even in the case of very sluggishly flowing bulk materials, in particular with small metering capacities, i.e., with the cell wheel (9) rotating slowly. For this purpose, the invention provides two different, isolated drives for the stirrer (2) and the cell wheel (9).

Abstract: A cellular wheel sluice, comprising a housing with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, side covers, a cellular wheel with a shaft, and the bearing of the shaft with fixed and loose bearing.

Abstract: A transfer device for passing material between two different fluid environments which uses a multi-passageway rotor member rotatable about a vertical axis and interposed between upper and lower ported members. Each passageway (or chamber) passes through the rotor and has a major axis parallel to the vertical axis of the rotor. Rotation of the rotor brings each passageway successively into fluid communication with the upper ported member whereby the passageway is filled with material, then to at least one position where the passageway is not aligned with either ported member, and finally to a position where the passageway is aligned with the lower ported member and the material is transferred to the second environment. The rotation may be continuous or incremental, and the fluid environments are maintained in isolation from each other. Methods of transferring solids, and a solids transfer system in a steam hydrolysis and drying plant are also disclosed.

Abstract: A dispenser for products such as dessert toppings includes a reservoir for product to be dispensed, a rotatable drum mounted below the reservoir and including a plurality of compartments to be filled from the reservoir. A knob coupled to the drum moves the compartments from loading to dispensing positions, preferably in a single, uni-directional movement. An agitator may be coupled to the drum for insuring complete filling of the compartments and the compartments remain in communication with the reservoir for a portion of each rotation to insure that product completely fills the compartments, even if product bridging may have occurred between uses. A simplified construction allows the dispenser to be readily assembled, disassembled, repaired and cleaned by unskilled workers.

Abstract: A spray machine having a driven rotor unit which carries, at its periphery, a plurality of bushings that are open at both sides. The bushings are arranged such that their axes point in a direction with at least one directional component parallel to an axis of the rotor unit. The bushings include a filling opening (6) at a filling arrangement (20), a pressurized air inlet opening (5), and an ejection opening (3) which is located opposite to the pressurized air inlet opening (5) relative to a direction of the bushing axes. Each of the openings are arranged so that, when the rotor unit rotates, the openings of the bushings pass over the openings. Sealing plate arrangements are provided so that the surface pressure between the sealing plate arrangements and the rotor unit in an area including the filling opening is lower than the surface pressure of the sealing plate arrangements to the rotor unit in an area including the pressurized air inlet opening and the ejection opening.

Abstract: A particulate material dispensing system suitable for metering seed for individual rows of a seed sowing drill. The seed sowing drill having a container which acts as a seed hopper. Positioned beneath the container is a metering device. Below the metering device are a number of tubes which are seed outlets to which the metering device feeds the seed it receives from the container. A peripheral guide forms part of the metering device. The peripheral guide is a disc of material that defines an aperture. On the inner walls of the guide is a seed track and an outlet. There are a plurality of seed track/outlet combinations, one for each of the outlets. A vertical-axis rotor fits within the aperture of the guide. The rotor rotating within the aperture causes seed falling from the container into the guide to be dragged down and around the inside walls of the guide. The seeds are guided by a seed track to a guide outlet and into the appropriate seed outlet. At the base of the seed track is a flange.

Abstract: A wear insert is provided for an air seeder metering system directing rising air away from product as it is metered from a product tank by the associated metering system. The wear insert has a lip which extends into the outlet of the metering system in order to divert air away from the path of metered product to prevent the product from bunching and to promote a continuous flow of product from the metering system.

Abstract: The measuring dispenser consists of a base element having a container element inserted therein where both elements are of cylindrical construction and can be rotated relative to each other. The base element has a bottom end which has measuring chambers to hold granular material to be dispensed. The container element holds the supply of granular material which fills the measuring chambers through a fill opening. A dispensing channel in the container element is designed to be positioned over a measuring chamber such that when the measuring dispenser is inverted the measuring chamber contents are poured out through the dispensing channel and the dispensing top end.

Abstract: A transfer device for passing material between two different fluid environments which uses a multi-passageway rotor member rotatable about a vertical axis and interposed between upper and lower ported members. Each passageway (or chamber) passes through the rotor and has a major axis parallel to the vertical axis of the rotor. Rotation of the rotor brings each passageway successively into fluid communication with the upper ported member whereby the passageway is filled with material, then to at least one position where the passageway is not aligned with either ported member, and finally to a position where the passageway is aligned with the lower ported member and the material is transferred to the second environment. The rotation may be continuous or incremental, and the fluid environments are maintained in isolation from each other. Methods of transferring solids, and a solids transfer system in a steam hydrolysis and drying plant are also disclosed.

Abstract: A dispenser comprises a ground grain container positioned in a matching seat recess in a housing and at least one blade rotated by a motor in the housing and capable of transferring, on rotation, a measure of ground grains through a flow aperture in the container to an outlet in the housing seat recess. The container is removably fitted into the seat recess of the housing through the use of two rotary, mutual coupling elements located at the bottom of the container and at the base of the seat recess of the housing respectively, and connected to the blade and to the motor respectively. The container also comprises elements for closing the flow aperture when the motor is stopped and for opening it when the motor is started. The dispenser is particularly useful in automatic coffee machines.

Abstract: In a system consisting of utilization equipment receiving material from a blending apparatus, the blending apparatus receiving at least two component ingredients from at least one feeding apparatus and passing the blended mix to the utilization equipment, a process and apparatus for automatic, periodic, intermittent calibration of the feeding apparatus while the utilization equipment continues to operate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for dosing and dispensing solid substances such as ice, which device is provided with at least one storage chamber, at least one discharge opening, at least one movable feed element which is arranged between the storage chamber and the discharge opening and has at least one receiving space, and a structure for dosing the quantity of solid substance to be dispensed through the discharge opening. A solid substance, such as ice, can hereby be dosed and dispensed quickly and hygienically. A suitable choice of the volume of the storage chamber in relation to the adjusted quantity of solid substance for dispensing ensures an uninterrupted operation of the device.

Abstract: A rotary feed structure for a gunite-conveying machine includes a polymeric body to resist sticking of gunite even if the latter includes silica fume, and even if it has set. The body has chambers in a circle. Preferably the body is urethane, self-bonded to a Ni-hard wear plate to eliminate radial leakage, and the mounting, (typically holes for studs), at least in part, is integral with the plate. A metal axial spacer is preferably next to the plate, but only within the innermost radius of chambers and with a sizable wall thickness. The body is preferably a feed-bowl type, with chambers formed as generally U-shaped pockets. A gunite machine using the polymeric feed structure also has a hopper, delivery tube, support and rotation of the feed structure, compressed-air for expelling the particulate material from the chambers into the tube, and provision for transporting the hopper, tube, body, and other apparatus. Chambers are selectively sealed to the expelling device and delivery tube.

Abstract: A coin-operated multi-product vending machine which may vend products such as small candies, gumballs, peanuts, cashews, M & M's and the like has one or more stand-alone, interchangeable product compartments which may easily be filled with product and installed on the vending machine. The vending machine is also provided with means for discharging the product from the product compartments in a controlled manner with out crushing or otherwise damaging the product. A security cover is also provided which when installed interlocks with the product compartments and other components of the vending machine to prevent removal.

Abstract: An adjustable powder flow gate for a rotary pellet press has a movable gate wherein one dimensional motion of the gate across an opening in a powder flow feed frame on the rotating turret of the press is effected with a rotatable shaft having a screw connection to a member attached to the gate. The shaft is maintained in a selected rotational position with a bias member that is movable between an engaged and a disengaged position. The bias member is adapted to engage a selected detent on a member attached to the shaft having several circumferentially spaced detents when the bias member is in the engaged position. The shaft can freely rotate when the bias member is in the disengaged position. An operator can easily adjust the size of the opening by first disengaging the bias member from the selected detent, turning the shaft to move the gate to the desired position, and then engaging the bias member into a newly selected detent.

Abstract: A continuous powder catalyst supply apparatus and a catalyst supply system that is suitable for olefin gas phase polymerization. The supply apparatus comprises a catalyst storage chamber having a catalyst inlet port and a catalyst supply port for transmitting the catalyst to the reactor. Inside the catalyst storage chamber is a catalyst supply mechanism which substantially continuously supplies the catalyst to the catalyst supply port, and a forcible discharge mechanism which forcibly discharges the catalyst, supplied from the catalyst supply mechanism, through the catalyst supply port with a pressurized gas. The apparatus can be used to supply the catalyst to the reactor with low amounts of pressurized gas. Further, the system can be configured so as to avoid contamination of stored catalyst by reactant gas.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuous gravimetric metering of pourable material includes a housing having arranged therein a rotor. The material is supplied to pockets of the rotor through a charging inlet and blown out of the pockets at a discharging outlet arranged on a side of the housing opposite to a charging device. The housing is mounted at a frame and is pivotal about an axis extending through centers of elastic coupling members connecting a supply bin and a feed-away duct, respectively, to the housing. The axis may extend inclined to the horizontal. Pressurized fluid for blowing out the pockets of the rotor may be used for cleaning an interior space of the rotor prior to being applied to the pockets of the rotor.

Abstract: A cellular rotary sluice for discharging material from a pressure vessel including a cell housing rotatable about a vertical axis with top and bottom stationary sealing plates and rotatable inner and outer vertical edge members with the edge members provided with wear facing at a top and bottom edge and with wear inserts in the top and bottom plates, a seal outside of the wear locations formed either by a packing seal within a ring or an O-ring, and in one form a space which is pressurized preventing the passing of material into and past the wear locations.

Abstract: A continuous gravimetric metering apparatus for pourable material including a predetermined measuring path supplied with pourable material, the predetermined measuring path being provided with a porous wall for continuously supplying a finely distributed air stream thereto. The apparatus is particularly adapted for use in a continuously operating conveying system for pourable material having lower flowability in large quantities.

Abstract: Automatic dispensing apparatus for accurately dispensing preselected amounts of material. The apparatus includes a paddle wheel assembly having multiple compartments for holding selected amounts of material to be dispensed. The apparatus further includes an agitator assembly to break down the material, and a flexible skimmer element for removing excess material from the compartments before dispensing to ensure precise measurements. The paddle wheel assembly and the agitator assembly are driven by a linear actuator. A shutter shields the dispensing mechanism and the material from external elements. The shutter is automatically activated to open and tightly close in sequence with the dispensing cycle. The apparatus further includes a programmable microprocessor for controlling and monitoring the dispensing cycle.

Abstract: The material to be metered drops onto a plate 21 which is driven in rotation. This plate 21 is provided on its edge with a cylindrical wall 22 pierced by recesses 24. The plate 21 turns in a cylinder 3 which masks the recesses 24 except at a place where a hole 5 is provided. When the recesses 24 pass opposite the hole 5 they pass behind a screen 4. Each recess 24 is emptied when it passes behind the screen 4 and is otherwise filled under the effect of centrifugal force.

Abstract: In a dispensing device for automatically feeding fish a base 11 has mounted on its upper surface 14 a drive member 23 constantly rotated by a small, highly geared battery powered stepping motor controlled by a quartz controlled electronic circuit mounted within the base. A ring 15 of compartments freely rotatable on the surface 14 within location ribs 16 of the base has on its inner periphery 18 spaced ribs 26 one of which will be engaged by a pawl 25 or 25' of the drive member 23 during each revolution of the drive member, whereby the ring 15 is periodically arcuately displaced. The compartments of the ring 15 are open at top and bottom and in their path is an aperture 20 through the base. The compartments of the ring 15 are brought successively into alignment with the aperture 20 so that fish food located in the compartments is discharged by gravity through the aperture 20.

Abstract: A vending machine 10 has a hopper 24 which leads to a modular dispenser unit 38 which includes a hopper chute 26, a top plate 28, a bottom plate 32 and a carousel assembly 36 interposed between the top and bottom plates 28 and 32. The carousel assembly includes a closing plate and a container 53 depending therefrom which includes two mesh screen walls and two solid side walls. The carousel assembly is rotatable between the top and bottom plate such that the container is filled when it passes under the opening in the top plate. The container is moved to be adjacent a heat gun 66 which heats the food within the container 53 and is further moved to be over a discharge opening in the bottom plate which allows dispensing the heated food from the container.

Abstract: A precision powder hopper comprises a canister for storing particulate material and a rotatable carrier wheel that accurately meters small amounts of the material to a powder out port. The carrier wheel has slots therethourgh that receive definite quantities of material, which is tamped into the carrier wheel slots by a tamper assembly. The tamper assembly includes a deflectable leaf spring that mounts to the same shaft that rotates the powder carrier wheel. A cam and spoke arrangement cause the leaf spring to deflect cyclically in response to rotation of the powder carrier wheel. A cupped spring washer cooperates with the leaf spring to absorb some of the deflection thereof, thereby decreasing the bending stress in the leaf spring and increasing its service life. Powder in the carrier wheel slots is wiped by a novel seal that has at least one circular line contact with the carrier wheel.

Abstract: A shotcrete gun having a rotatable multichamber rotor, with a top feed hopper for receiving a dry concrete mixture in a chamber, and a bottom outlet pipe for discharging the dry concrete mixture from the chamber. The outlet pipe having a compressed air connector for connection to a compressed air source. The upper surface of the drum rotor adjoins a gasket having one or more openings fixed to a clamping plate. The lower surface of the drum rotor adjoins a gasket which is fixed to a base plate. The hopper and the outlet pipe being spaced such that a chamber which communicates directly with the hopper can be moved so that it no longer communicates with the hopper but communicates with the outlet pipe. The clamping plate has a compressed air connector for blowing the dry mixture out into the outlet pipe.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for packaging frozen food includes positioning a stationary hopper above a rotating plate having spaced openings receiving frozen food from the hopper and directing same into spaced vertical cylinders of predetermined volume preparatary to discharge, the cylinders and associated parts being constructed of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene and the like to avoid sticking and binding of the frozen food thereon.

Abstract: A shotcrete gun having a rotatable multichamber rotor, with a top feed hopper for receiving a dry concrete mixture in a chamber, and a bottom outlet pipe for discharging the dry concret mixture from the chamber. The outlet pipe having a compressed air connector for connection to a compressed air source. The upper surface of the drum rotor adjoins a gasket having one or more openings fixed to a clamping plate. The lower surface of the drum rotor adjoins a gasket which is fixed to a base plate. The hopper and the outlet pipe being spaced such that a chamber which communicates directly with the hopper can be moved so that it no longer communicates with the hopper but communicates with the outlet pipe. The clamping plate has a compressed air connector for blowing the dry mixture out into the outlet pipe, and at least three pressure cylinders in order to press the gasket against the drum rotor. Means are provided for maintaining the pressure in the cylinders proportional to the pressure in the outlet pipe.

Abstract: A device for dispensing predetermined equal amounts of coffee into the reservoirs mounted to the upper termination of the lower detachable portion of an expresso coffee pot. The device is adapted to securely receive the open end of a cylindrical coffee container on one end and the other end has several concentric recesses that cooperatively receive the upper termination. A dispensing member with hemispheric shape is rotably mounted within the device to cover the opening of the smaller one of the concentric recesses with the convex side and capable of dispensing a predetermined amount of coffee when rotated with an externally accessible handle member.

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: A convertible metering apparatus for dispensing metered quantities of different flowable goods of unlike physical properties comprises a housing defining a material storge chamber therein; a motor; and a drive shaft being rotatably connected to the motor and extending into the housing. There is further provided a metering member adapted to handle a flowable material of a first physical property; a discharge unit configured to receive the metering member therein; and a first releasable connecting arrangement for readily connecting the metering member to and readily disconnecting it from the drive shaft. This arrangement ensures that the metering member is readily replaceable by another metering member adapted to handle a flowable material of a second physical property.

Abstract: An ice dispensing bin has an inward and rearward sloped front wall and a downward and forward sloped semi-cylindrical bottom wall. The rear wall and side walls and an upper portion of the front wall are generally vertical. A paddle wheel is positioned in a recess in the sloping front wall. The paddle wheel has a circular plate lying along a central portion of the annular recess. A truncated conical plate converges axially about 10 degrees from the circular plate. Paddles extend radially from the conical plate. Turbine blade-like paddles curve circumferentially and then axially and stop short of the front wall to trap and move ice along the front wall of the recess as the paddle wheel is rotated. A shaft extends through the paddle wheel and rearwardly to a bearing in the rear wall. An angular arm on the shaft breaks ice bridges as the shaft rotates with the paddle wheel.

Abstract: A dispenser for goods such as coffee has a container with a discharge opening in its bottom, a rotor which covers the bottom of the container and is provided with vanes which define a plurality of dispensing compartments, and a wiper which covers the rotor in the vicinity of the discharge opening. A drive mechanism with a stepwise pivoting action is operable to move one dispensing compartment at a time to the discharge opening. The lower surface of each vane has a leading edge which contacts the container bottom, and there is a rake space between this lower surface and the bottom of the container. The wiper extends up to intersect the container wall at an acute angle to prevent the goods from rotating with the rotor.

Abstract: A volumetric metering apparatus for dosing constant quantities of granular material includes a generally vertically oriented shaft having a shaft axis, a cylindrical trough having a generally horizontal trough base and being mounted on the shaft for rotation about the shaft axis and a plurality of metering receptacles secured to the trough base and extending downwardly therefrom. Each metering receptacle has a top opening being in a continuous communication with a space above the trough base and a bottom outlet openable and closable by a shutoff element. There is further provided an evener device stationarily supported above the trough base. The metering receptacles are arranged to be brought in succession into alignment with the evener device by the rotation of the cylindrical trough. The evener device has a radial dimension measured parallel to the trough base; the radial dimension is greater than a diametral dimension of each top opening.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a condiment measuring system which is compact, easy to store, and easy to manufacture. The device attaches to standard condiment containers and permits precise and easy measurement of predetermined quantities of condiment with no danger of over dispensing or spilling. In addition, measured quantities of condiment may be measured and stored for later dispensing while still being protected from environmental degradation. The device comprises a housing 10, a metering drum 20, drum retaining disk 30, selector disk 40, and plug 52. The central shaft 11 passes through housing 10 and drum 20 to dispense condiments without measuring, when plug 52 is removed. The device can be built to close tolerances for durability, effective sealing, and ease and smoothness of operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotary-type metering device making it possible to dispense granular substances consisting of fine particles which are difficult to handle. The metering device consists of a spherical core rotating around a horizontal axis inside a casing comprising a feed orifice and an outlet orifice. The spherical core comprises at least one cavity having an opening at the surface of the core, and sides and bottom within the core. This cavity has the shape of a volume consisting of two volumes of revolution, contiguous and coaxial, V.sub.1 and V.sub.2, with an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the spherical core. The volume V.sub.1 is a truncated cone of revolution or a cylinder of revolution.

Abstract: An animal food dispensing machine capable of being operated by a domesticated animal or pet includes a housing provided with a discharge chute, a food storage compartment, a free-wheeling external actuator, and a measuring dispenser mechanism complete the device. In one embodiment of the dispenser, a lower plate is rotatable about a boss and aligns an opening with the discharge chute to discharge a quantity of food therethrough to an outlet. An upper plate mounted in a fixed position guides the food to the lower plate. In another embodiment of the dispenser, a metering plate is included to control a measured quantity of the food to be dispensed. The free-wheeling external actuator assembly coupled to the internal dispenser mechanism is activated by the animal to effect discharge of the metered quantity of food through the discharge chute in the housing in relation to the angular distance through which the actuator assembly is moved by the animal.

Abstract: The apparatus for the dosed delivery of a granular solid material to a reaction container possessing a delivery inlet possesses a dosing device comprising a piston-cylinder unit which opens or discharges into the base or floor of a transfer chamber. The solid material which exits or leaves the dosing device is conveyed in the transfer chamber by means of a rotating conveyor component to a funnel whose inlet opening is located in the base or floor of the transfer chamber. The conveyor elements or cavities of the conveyor component extend over the entire cross section of the inner volume of the transfer chamber such that the solid material is transferred without loss from the dosing device to the funnel which discharges into the delivery inlet of the reaction container and the conveyor component seals the gas volume above the funnel.

Abstract: An improved dispenser for granular materials is disclosed, comprising upper and lower fixed plates and a rotating intermediate plate. The upper and lower plates have orifices formed in them which are out of register with one another. The relative extent of these orifices is chosen in accordance with the material to be dispensed such that the material only flows through the plates when the intermediate plate is rotating.

Abstract: A dispenser for capsules or the like utilizes a turnstile member rotatable in only a single direction to transport the capsules from a reservoir to an exit port. Fingers on the turnstile arms interleave with corresponding fingers on the dispenser housing to prevent a capsule from being rotated beyond the exit port and back into the housing. A propeller member in the reservoir orients the capsules in a predetermined orientation before they are fed into the turnstile member. A cap on the exterior of the housing which rotates the turnstile member utilizes a bayonet-type detent mechanism to bias the cap into successive dispensing positions. The cap must be pushed toward the housing to be rotatable to the next dispensing position.

Abstract: A dispenser for shaped solids, in particular for tablets and pills of very small format, is described. In a cylindrical housing, a dosing device is inserted between a stock container and a collecting chamber, part of the dosing device being rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the housing. The dosing device consists of three parts, i.e. (a) a cylindrical ring part from whose inner wall a lug projects radially, (b) a dosing wheel which can be inserted into the ring part and rotated about the longitudinal axis of the housing, and (c) a base part which can be inserted into the dosing wheel. The dosing wheel has a perforated plate with dosing orifices arranged in the peripheral region. A rim projects at right angles from the peripheral edge of the perforated plate, locking notches assigned to the dosing orifices being provided on the inner wall of the rim. The base part is inserted into the rim of the dosing wheel and is provided with an ejection hole for the tablet or pill to be dispensed.

Abstract: A device for metering bulk materials with a vertical axis having a rotor featuring radially extending paddles about the vertical axis, and a cover plate, constructed to prevent especially coarse particle materials from being scraped or squashed between the rotor and the cover plate. For this purpose a ring segment type opening is provided in the cover plate, and a recess is provided in the under surface of the cover adjacent the opening to provide a space for producing material slopes underneath, whereby the limiting edge between the inlet opening of the cover plate and the rotor paddles forms an acute angle.

Abstract: A seal member for use in a pellet dispensing apparatus which can provide a barrier between a rotor member and a supply hopper so that gas emitted from the supply hopper will not escape. The seal arrangement also serves the function of a spacing or biasing member for a drive gear as well as a bearing surface. The seal member is disposed in a manner that it will selfadjust during wear yet is flexible to withstand contact with debris. Preferably the seal unit is fabricated from a fluorocarbon resin and is frusto conical in shape.