Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a configuration of a bale chute of a baler and, particularly, a square baler are disclosed. In some implementations, the baler includes a linkage and an actuator that is operable to move the bale chute between an extended position and a retracted position and to lock the bale chute in the retracted position. For example, the bale chute may be retracted into a retracted position when the baler is determined not to be producing bales, when a bale is not protruding from the baler, and when the baler is being transported.

Abstract: A package includes a container formed to include an interior product-storage region and a closure. The closure is coupled to the container selectively to allow access to the product stored in the interior product-storage region.

Abstract: Fitment and container for powdered products, especially powdered products prone to clumping behavior, comprising a stopper that closes the passageway between the interior chamber and the mouth of the container, a pour spout in the stopper that permits the powdered product to flow through the passageway during a pouring operation, and one or more baffles connected to the stopper and extending into the interior chamber of the container, the baffles being configured to break apart clumps of the powdered product before the clumps can flow through the pour spout. The pour spout further includes a restriction element, associated with the pour spout, configured to break apart clumps that reach the pour spout without being broken apart by the baffles. The invention promotes a consistent and predictable rate of flow in the stream of powdered product flowing out of the container during the pouring operation.

Abstract: In an apparatus for measuring and dispensing pourable material, a removable cap includes a body, a cylindrical sleeve member sheathing an outer circumference of the body, and a biasing spring engageable between the body and the cylindrical sleeve member for biasing the cylindrical sleeve member toward a predetermined home position. The body can include chambers separated longitudinally from one another by a radial panel defining an arcuate aperture allowing passage of the pourable material between the chambers. The cylindrical sleeve member is rotatable with respect to the body for aligning at least one of a plurality of measuring compartments defined by the cylindrical sleeve member with the arcuate aperture for allowing pourable material flow therethrough. The biasing spring can close access to the plurality of measuring compartments during dispensing of a predetermined amount of the pourable material.

Abstract: The present invention is a device that is not only the top for a container of spice or other food additive, but it is also a measuring device to measure and then dispense the contained spice or food additive when such spice or other food additive is needed. The device has an indicator to show the amount of spice or other food additive to be measured and dispensed. The spice or other food additive can be premeasured and held in the device until needed.

Abstract: Spill and contaminant resistant dispensers and measuring cap devices and methods for measuring and dispensing a desired amount of a bulk particulate, powdery, granular or viscous liquid substance from a storage container through a cap or a dispenser are provided. A dispenser and measuring cap is attached to a storage container or comprises an integral storage container. The dispenser and measuring cap has one or more measuring chamber ducts, each having a different predetermined volume. The measuring chamber ducts are selectively and separately operationally aligned with an internal funnel stem and a dispensing spout. A selected measuring chamber duct is filled with the substance by inverting the cap and attached container. A measured amount of the substance is captured and dispensed, and the unused portion of the substance retained in the storage container without exposure to outside contaminants or implements, by rotating the duct into operational alignment with the spout.

Abstract: A volumetric metering device includes a hopper adapted to hold a supply of granular material, the hopper having an outlet; a rotating wheel located in communication with the outlet, the rotating wheel having an outer periphery and a plurality of metering cavities distributed around the outer periphery, each metering cavity having an open bottom portion; and a plurality of metering valves located around the outer periphery of the rotating wheel with each metering valve located in registry with one of the metering cavities. Each metering valve is movable between a loading position wherein the metering valve blocks the open bottom portion of the metering cavity, and an unloading position wherein the granular material dispenses from the metering cavity through the metering valve. Other features and related methods are also described.

Abstract: A chamber member is mounted to a bottle body and has an opening and partially bounds a first chamber and a second chamber. A selector is mounted to the chamber body for relative rotation between a first dosing condition and a second dosing condition. In the first dosing condition: flow is not blocked from the first chamber out the opening; flow is blocked from the second chamber out the opening; flow is blocked from the bottle interior to the first chamber; and flow is not blocked from the bottle interior to the second chamber. In the second dosing condition: flow is blocked from the first chamber out the opening; flow is not blocked from the second chamber out the opening; flow is not blocked from the bottle interior to the first chamber; and flow is blocked from the bottle interior to the second chamber.

Abstract: A feed unit for filling a coin module with coins improved in such a way that a plurality of coin modules can be filled or loaded with just one feed unit. The coin feed unit is a coin drum which is rotatable inside a shell. A coin stock compartment is provided into which coins can be filled via a charge aperture. A dispensing compartment is provided inside the coin drum from which coins can be taken out via the discharge aperture. A passage is arranged in such a way that coins get from the stock compartment into the dispensing compartment as the coin drum rotates around a pivot pin.

Abstract: A dispenser using a stopcock valve has a first and second chamber. The first chamber has a flow material and is pressurized with air. The first chamber is connected to a stopcock valve that holds a second chamber which has a pressure sensor when the stopcock valve is rotated to the proper orientation. The stopcock valve is then rotated to a dispensing position where the flow material is dispensed under pressure to an outlet. By using the air pressure sensor and by taking into consideration the volume of the second chamber, the amount of flow of material can be dosed out consistently.

Abstract: A metering device for flowable products, in particular, dairy products, is provided with a metering cylinder, a valve cylinder connected to the reservoir, a metering piston that is movable between an upper intake end position and a lower dispensing end position, and also has a mouthpiece closing the bottom of the metering chamber and having a coaxial cylindrical dispensing opening, and a central valve piston. The valve cylinder and the valve piston form a rotary control unit which, in a first rotary position, connects the metering chamber with a supply channel in the valve cylinder and, in a second rotary position, connects the metering chamber to an outlet channel.

Abstract: A container top includes rotatable elements that are used to dispense matter from the container. The top includes a drum with chambers of varying volumes, and a rotatable disc on opposing ends of the drum to allow material to flow into and out of selected chambers of the drum. A spout is rotatably connected to one end of the drum with one disc connected to rotate with the spout, and a cap is rotatably connected to an opposing end of the drum. The drum and spout are rotated to control the filling of the chambers and the emptying of selected chambers. Latches extend between the parts to hold them together while allowing the rotation. Resilient rings are interposed between the drum and mating parts to allow resilient sealing of the chambers during rotation.

Abstract: A medium dispensing apparatus, a stirring and heat-retaining apparatus, and a dispensing method are provided which enable a medium to be surely supplied at an adequate temperature while variation of the dispensation amount of the medium, liquid dripping which produces air bubbles, and pulsated ejection are prevented from occurring, and local gelation of the medium and contamination due to various kinds of bacteria are prevented from occurring.

Abstract: A heat maintaining food container includes a container for depositing a food product therein and a ferrous material heated element, which has been heated to a selected temperature by electromagnetic induction heating, positioned in close proximity to the food product. The heated element comprises one or more substantially planar carbon steel sheets having a thickness of about 0.005″ to 0.030″ and having an insulative layer fixed to one side of the sheet. The sheet is preferably foldable to take the form of a U-shape or an O-shape for substantially surrounding the food product when placed in the container. Alternatively, the material of the food container may contain a ferrous material wherein the container itself is preheated to a selected temperature by electromagnetic induction heating.

Abstract: A device for the discharge of bulk material (96) from a pressure vessel (2) is proposed, which comprises at least one sluice bin (24, 26) with a bottom (42, 44) and a top (40) sluice gate. The sluice bin (24, 26) is arranged under a plate (76, 76'), into which it forms an orifice (28, 30) for the bulk material (96). The top sluice gate (40) has a sealing plate (66), which is arranged above this plate (76, 76') in such a way that it can be positioned above the orifice (28, 30) of the sluice bin (24, 26) and, after a sealing connection to the edge of the orifice (28, 30) has been made, can be forced against this edge by overpressure in the pressure vessel (2).

Abstract: A metered serving dispenser of cup-strength quantitites of granular material, having few parts, that may be erected as a free-standing device, or hung from an overhanging surface or mounted on a vertical surface, such as a wall, to dispense dried powders and granulated foods into a container, such as a cup, for mixing with water for ingestion.

Abstract: A dispenser for instant coffee or the like which may be used as independent unit or attached to the storage container. A dispenser includes a housing and a plate with measuring cavities of different volume. The cavity plate is journaling the assembly of the disc and shutter which are resiliently preloaded against cavity plate. A handle is attached to the disc and protrudes outwardly through the opening in the housing. The handle is adapted to be rotated by the user of dispenser for rotation of the disc and shutter for dispensing desired amount of instant coffee or the like from each cavity.

Abstract: A filling machine for repeatedly dispensing predetermined amounts of particulate material comprises a stationary hopper having two spaced-apart spouts; a motor-driven horizontally rotatable upper plate beneath the spouts and having four groups of receiving holes therethrough and a stationary bottom plate beneath the upper plate and having two groups of dispensing holes therethrough. As the upper plate is rotatably driven, the receiving holes align with the spouts, are filled with material, and then align with the dispensing holes through which the material then falls. A sweeper member above the upper plate directs excess material accumulated on the upper plate into emptied receiving holes approaching a spout. A weighted sleeve on each spout slidably engages the upper plate to inhibit material leakage. Each group of receiving holes has a cup plate on the underside of the upper plate with apertures in registery with the receiving holes and slidably engageable with extension tubes from the receiving holes.

Abstract: An improved concrete apparatus is disclosed herein which is particularly well suited for a wide variety of applications wherein it is necessary to supply a granulated or powdered material in either wet or dry form to a remote worksite. The apparatus of the present invention employs a rotary valving arrangement whereby a plurality of charging bowls may be successively supplied with the desired material and thereafter evacuated under pressure into a central mixing chamber from where the material is conveyed to a suitable conduit which in turn conducts the material to the desired worksite again under pressure. The apparatus includes feeding arrangements whereby water, air, or other desired additives may be automatically fed into and mixed with the material in the mixing chamber before it reaches the remote application nozzle thus affording a greater time for proper absorption of water or the like by the material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing liquid compositions. The apparatus includes a reservoir for containing the liquid at a low temperature, a metering device for transferring the liquid to a circulating loop at a higher temperature, a heater/mixer for coincidentally heating and mixing the liquid in the loop and means for dispensing the liquid from the loop. The invention is particularly useful for dispensing liquid adhesive and coating compositions, including thermosetting polymers, heat sensitive polymers or plastisols and other dispersed liquid systems. In addition, mixtures of polymeric liquids with other components such as gases, solvents or liquid blowing agents may be employed with uniformity of composition for dispensing foams or atomizable paints.

Abstract: A metering and/or feeding device for materials is disclosed. A plurality of vertically oriented, elastic-walled tubes are arranged at equal distances from the axis of a rotatable helical rod which, as it rotates, sequentially engages and constricts each of the elastic-walled tubes, beginning at their upper portions and progressively moving down the length of the tubes. The material being metered and/or fed is introduced into the elastic-walled tubes at their upper ends. A cover member is provided to cover the infeed ends of the tubes at selected intervals to prevent entry of the material being fed and/or metered into the tube at the time that the helical member engages the upper portion of the tube to constrict the tube so that it is substantially free of material. A plenum, through which a stream of pressurized gas is discharged, communicates with the discharge ends of each of the tubes, the gas conveying the material entering the plenum from the tubes to a work location.

Abstract: An annular tray having numbered compartments, downward and inward sloping bottom on no inner side surrounds a separate central cylindrical container having vertical sides. When assembled, the sides of the central container form an inner side to the numbered compartments of the annular tray such that objects such as betting chips or coins placed in the numbered compartments are restrained from falling out. When the annular tray is raised while leaving the cylindrical container resting on the original surface, the objects in the compartments are no longer restrained by the walls of the cylindrical container, but instead, fall downward and inward into the cylindrical container from when they are readily retrieved.