Abstract: A flavouring dispenser for dispensing doses of flavouring is disclosed. The flavouring dispenser comprises a flavouring chamber for containing flavouring; a dosing member having a dosing volume for receiving flavouring from the flavouring chamber, the dosing member defining an opening to the dosing volume through which flavouring is received from the flavouring chamber. A reciprocating member is movable relative to the dosing member between a closed position, at which the opening is isolated from the flavouring chamber by the reciprocating member, to a first open position, at which the opening is partially exposed to the flavouring chamber such that an amount of flavouring may enter into the dosing volume via the opening, and back to the closed position, such that the flavouring may be dispensed by the dosing member.

Abstract: A mono-dose container comprises a housing defining an internal cavity. The housing includes a first sidewall defining a first interior surface of the internal cavity, and a second sidewall defining a second interior surface of the internal cavity at least partially opposing the first interior surface. A first protrusion extends from the first sidewall into the internal cavity. A second protrusion extends from the second sidewall into the internal cavity and in a direction of the first protrusion. The first and second protrusions define complementary surfaces sized to engage one another and limit relative movement between the first and second protrusions in at least two directions.

Abstract: A volumetric flow measuring and metering device for flowable solids as a flow passage through which a flow of bulk material may be passed. An obturating device is positioned at the bottom end of the flow passage and is movable in a linear direction toward and away from the bottom end. The obturating device is positioned relative to the bottom end of the flow passage at a distance that imparts a consolidated, column-like flow of the bulk material in the flow passage. A speed sensor operates to measure a speed of consolidated, column-like flow of the bulk material in the flow passage. A controller uses the speed data from the speed sensor to calculate a volumetric flow rate of the bulk material flowing through the flow passage. The obturating device can be selectively positioned to increase or decrease the volumetric flow rate of the bulk material. Other aspects are also provided.

Abstract: A storage container for a storage and dispensing station for small piece goods, in particular drugs or dietary supplement products, is provided. The storage container includes a housing with an on the inside circular cylindrical section, a separating device arranged in the on the inside circular cylindrical section including a base body and multiple channels, the channels being open to the outer periphery of the separating device and each channel having a peripheral wall and two radial walls, and a retainer. At least one radial wall and/or the peripheral wall includes a depression and/or an elevation to reduce a contact area between a small piece good and the channel wall, the shape and size of the depression/elevation being selected in such a way that an electrostatic attraction between the small piece good and the channel wall is reduced.

Abstract: The invention is a dispensing module for use in delivering measured doses of feed supplement to an animal. It comprises a storage container for holding the supplement and a metering module that is rotatably connected to the storage container for dispensing a measured (pre-determined) dose of the supplement. The dispensing module is adapted to be moved between an open configuration and a closed configuration. In the open configuration, the measured dose of the supplement is able to be dispensed out of the dispensing module. In the closed configuration, the measured dose of the supplement is prevented from being dispensed out of the dispensing module. Compressed air can be used to send the dose to an outlet when the dispensing module is closed.

Abstract: A fluid measuring and dispensing device comprises a bottle engaging element having a bottom portion configured for removably sealably engaging the mouth of the bottle, a fluid container movably mounted on a top portion of a bottle engaging element and defining a fluid chamber, and a mist spray pump connected to the fluid container and having a fluid input port in fluid communication with the chamber. The fluid container is movable between a first position and a second position relative to the bottle engaging element. When the fluid container is in the first position, the chamber is sealed from the interior of the bottle. And when the fluid container is in the second position, at least one passageway extends throughout a bottom wall of the fluid container and throughout the bottle engaging element respectively, such that the chamber is in fluid communication with the interior of the bottle.

Abstract: A measuring and dispensing device (10) is used to selectively dispense a selected fixed volume of a solid, flowable human consumable material. The device may be in releasable connection with a container (12) that is operable to deliver the material therefrom to the device by gravity. The device includes a lid (20) which is in rotatable connection with a cup plate (24). The cup plate includes a cup (26) having an interior volume. The cup has a cup outlet (80) that is closable by a relatively movable cup closure (28). The lid includes a lid plate opening (52) and the cup plate includes a cup plate opening (84) that are positionable in overlapping relation to enable the interior volume of the cup to be filled with material from the container.

Abstract: The dual-chamber carafe is a beverage container that is formed with two separated storage chambers capable of separately storing two different beverages such as regular coffee and decaffeinated coffee. The dual-chamber carafe is an insulated container. Beverages are introduced separately into each separate storage chamber through an opening in the dual-chamber carafe. The opening is closed with a lid. The lid has a valve arrangement that allows the user to select which of the separated storage chambers liquids will be drawn from. The dual-chamber carafe comprises a carafe and a lid.

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: The present technology allows for substances contained within containers to be transferred to a measuring cup so as to allow for a clean, efficient, and accurate transfer of a substance from a container in to a measuring cup. The measuring cup can be reversibly attached to the lid such that when the container is inverted, the measuring cup can fill with the substance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a container for a fluid, the container comprising: a storage compartment with a passage opening; a dosing compartment with a closable pouring opening and with an inflow opening arranged on the passage opening of the storage compartment; a conduit arranged between the inflow opening and the pouring opening of the dosing compartment, wherein at least one opening is arranged in the wall of the conduit; an adjusting part arranged in the conduit for at least partially closing the at least one opening in the conduit wall such that the distance between the inflow opening of the dosing compartment and the part of the least one opening left clear can be varied; and operating means for operating the adjusting part, wherein the operating means are arranged on the outer side of the container.

Abstract: An improved seed metering wheel assembly is provided to deliver a substantially constant flow of seed to a downstream treating device or the like, without any substantial surging of seeds. The seed metering wheel assembly includes an axially rotatable metering wheel having a plurality of strategically sized and arranged seed metering openings therethrough, arranged in circular arrays of differently sized metering openings. In another embodiment, the seed metering wheel includes a central hub section and an outermost rib, with a series of ribs between the hub section and rim, which lie along respective non-diameter chords. Incoming seed is delivered from a seed hopper outlet by gravitation to the metering wheel, which preferably provides a substantially constant open area while preventing wholly unobstructed flow of seeds.

Abstract: A spill and contaminant resistant dispenser and measuring cap device and method for measuring and dispensing a desired amount of a bulk particulate, powdery, granular or viscous liquid substance from a storage container through a cap. A dispenser and measuring cap is attached to a storage container. The 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: The invention concerns a dosing unit for a powder dispenser comprising two dosing chambers (2,3) each chamber comprising: one upstream inlet (21, 31) and one downstream outlet (22, 32), an upstream means (23, 33) for opening and closing the inlet, a downstream means (24, 34) for opening and closing the outlet, the upstream means (23, 33) closing the inlet (21, 31) when the downstream means (24, 34) opens the outlet (22, 32) and reciprocally, wherein the upstream means (23) of the first chamber closes the first chamber (2) when the upstream means (33) of the second chamber opens the second chamber (3) and reciprocally.

Abstract: A dispenser device for dispensing a controlled number of solid items, or a certain quantity of a variable quantity substance, such as a powdered, granular or liquid substance, through rotation of a roller having one or more cavities for delivering an item or substance.

Abstract: A chamber member is mounted to the 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 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: The invention concerns a dosing device for dosing a metered amount of a powdered product comprising: —a fixed body (2) made of at least a disc presenting a single pierced aperture (5), —a rotary top disk (1) disposed on the top of the fixed body (2) and presenting a taking out pierced aperture (4), —a rotary bottom disk (3) disposed on the bottom of the fixed body and presenting a discharging pierced aperture (6), —a rotary shaft (7) connecting the bottom disk (1) and the top disk (3), wherein in the stand-by position of the device the metered pierced aperture (5) is empty and closed to the atmosphere. The invention also concerns a beverage preparation apparatus implementing such a dosing device.

Abstract: A bottle body (22) has an interior (23) for storing a flowable material. A chamber member (24) is mounted to the bottle body and has an opening and partially bounds a first chamber (62) and a second chamber (64). A selector (26) 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 cap is attached to a container using a device with first and second disks mounted on opposite ends of a shaft, each disk having an opening. A cover cup is rotatably mounted on the shaft. When the container is inverted, rotation of the cover cup to a first position provokes alignment of the opening of an interior wall of the cover cup with the opening of the first disk, permitting material to flow from the container to the interior of the cover cup, and a subsequent rotation of the cover cup to a second position aligns the opening of the second disk with the opening of an end wall of the cover cup, to permit dispensing the material from the cover cup to a place of use.

Abstract: The invention concerns a dosing unit for a powder dispenser comprising two dosing chambers (2,3) each chamber comprising: one upstream inlet (21, 31) and one downstream outlet (22, 32), an upstream means (23, 33) for opening and closing the inlet, a downstream means (24, 34) for opening and closing the outlet, the upstream means (23, 33) closing the inlet (21, 31) when the downstream means (24, 34) opens the outlet (22, 32) and reciprocally, wherein the upstream means (23) of the first chamber closes the first chamber (2) when the upstream means (33) of the second chamber opens the second chamber (3) and reciprocally.

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 cap is attached to a container by means of a device with first and second disks mounted on opposite ends of a shaft, each disk having an opening. A cover cup is rotatably mounted on the shaft. When the container is inverted, rotation of the cover cup to a first position provokes alignment of the opening of an interior wall of the cover cup with the opening of the first disk, permitting material to flow from the container to the interior of the cover cup, and a subsequent rotation of the cover cup to a second position aligns the opening of the second disk with the opening of an end wall of the cover cup, to permit dispensing the material from the cover cup to a place of use.

Abstract: A device for discharging granular material, has a receptacle into which the granular material may be introduced, with a separation grid, which is disposed in the receptacle, and an intermediate plate, which is disposed beneath the separation grid. The intermediate plate is equipped with a through-opening for the granular material, and with an aperture, which is provided beneath the intermediate plate and through which the granular material may be removed from the receptacle. The intermediate plate is disposed to be rotatable relative to the separation grid and the separation grid is disposed to be stationary relative to the receptacle.

Abstract: The apparatus is constituted by at least an operating unit comprising: a chute, inferiorly associated to a hopper for containing granular or powder product, the chute being extended downwards to convey the product towards an underlying container; a rotary obturator having a horizontal axis X, for transversally occluding the chute and being laterally provided with an opening destined to place the chute in communication with a batching chamber, realized internally of the body of the obturator and delimited, on an opposite side to the opening, by a gas-permeable wall; a conduit connected at an end thereof to the batching chamber, via the wall, and at another end thereof to aspirating and blowing means; motorized organs for commanding rotations of the obturator, with which the opening is alternatingly oriented upwards, during the loading stage, in order to enable the granular or powder products, falling from the hopper and introduced into the upper part of the chute to enter the batching chamber, which is depress

Abstract: The invention concerns a dosing device for dosing a metered amount of a powdered product comprising: a fixed body (2) made of at least a disc presenting a single pierced aperture (5), a rotary top disk (1) disposed on the top of the fixed body (2) and presenting a taking out pierced aperture (4), a rotary bottom disk (3) disposed on the bottom of the fixed body and presenting a discharging pierced aperture (6), a rotary shaft (7) connecting the bottom disk (1) and the top disk (3), wherein in the stand-by position of the device the metered pierced aperture (5) is empty and closed to the atmosphere. The invention also concerns a beverage preparation apparatus implementing such a dosing device.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus includes a container having an opening, and a doser coupled with the container about the container opening. The doser includes a housing forming a chamber with an interior wall, an inlet, and an outlet. The inlet is diametrically offset from the outlet, and substantially aligned with the opening of the container. The doser also includes a covering member to alternatively cover and open the inlet and the outlet. The covering member is movable about a range of positions to substantially completely cover at least one of the inlet and outlet at all positions in the range. The covering member covers no more than a portion of the chamber interior wall when the covering member completely opens the outlet.

Abstract: A two-way dispenser cap with metered and unmetered selection includes: (a) a main cap member having a sidewall and a recessed top, the main cap member having attachment means for attachment to a container, the recessed top having a pour orifice for unmetered dispensing and having a trap separate from the pour orifice for metered dispensing, the trap having an inlet and an outlet; and, (b) a toggle valve connected to the main cap member above the pour orifice and above the trap, the toggle valve having three positions, and being rotatably movable among the three positions, the three positions being a first position wherein the pour orifice is closed, the trap outlet is closed and the trap inlet is open, a second position wherein the pour orifice is open, the trap outlet is closed and the trap inlet is open and a third position wherein the pour orifice is closed, the trap outlet is open and the trap inlet is closed.

Abstract: An ice measuring and dispensing apparatus includes a rotating drum rotatable about a horizontal axis. The rotating drum has a plurality of chambers, and an ice supply hopper has a delivery opening for delivering ice into the plurality of chambers. A discharge tube to dispense ice from the plurality of chambers is also provided. The delivery opening of the supply hopper is larger than an opening of each of the chambers.

Abstract: A two-piece dispensing cap for a container has a body and an insert mounted for rotation within the body. The body has a sidewall defining a cylindrical chamber with an open first end and an end wall forming a partially closed second end. The body sidewall has an inlet while the body end wall has an axial opening, a non-axial outlet, and a protruding flange for attachment to a container mouth. The insert is received into open first end of the cylindrical chamber. The insert has a peripheral wall dimensioned to conform to the cylindrical housing interior surface and a first insert end wall including a protruding handle extending through the axial opening in the body end wall. The insert includes openings to permit filling of the insert from the container and dispensing of the contents of the insert. An insert second end wall is integrally formed with a hinge to the insert peripheral wall while an over-cap is integrally formed with a hinge to the body portion.

Abstract: A two-piece dispensing cap for a container has a body and an insert mounted for rotation within the body. The body has a sidewall defining a cylindrical chamber with an open first end and an end wall forming a partially closed second end. The body sidewall has an inlet while the body end wall has an axial opening, a non-axial outlet, and a protruding flange for attachment to a container mouth. The insert is received into open first end of the cylindrical chamber. The insert has a peripheral wall dimensioned to conform to the cylindrical housing interior surface and a first insert end wall including a protruding handle extending through the axial opening in the body end wall. The insert includes openings to permit filling of the insert from the container and dispensing of the contents of the insert. An insert second end wall is integrally formed with a hinge to the insert peripheral wall while an over-cap is integrally formed with a hinge to the body portion.

Abstract: A cap device mounted to an opening of a container includes a base with its skirt 12 securely engaged with the opening of the container and a hole is defined through the base and a neck extends from the base and encloses the hole. An access portion is rotatably engaged with the neck and includes a tube extending therefrom at an angle. A slidable tube is slidably mounted to the tube so that the stuff in the container can be poured into the slidable tube without opening the cap device. A fastening belt is securely mounted to the skirt of the base.

Abstract: A dispensing container is described in which a measuring cap, for The contents of a liquid container, is rotatably mounted on the adapted bottle neck of the container. Particularly, the bottle neck is partially closed, having two diametrically opposed openings. A container interior partition separates the two bottle neck openings (the fill opening and the dispensing opening), and communicates with the dispensing spout being an integral part of the container. The measuring cap, an annular wall with top wall and base wall, snaps securely on the bottle neck. The base wall of the measuring cap is closed except for one opening, the size and shape being equal to each of the two openings of the bottle neck. Rotary movement of the measuring cap allows the opening of the measuring cap to align with either bottle neck opening.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a measuring and dispensing device having a container cap securely fastened to a container by screw threads or other suitable means; two piece rotatable metering drum connected to the cap by a rotatable, snap-action ring; and an exit spout on the opposite end of the metering drum attached to the drum by a rotatable, snap-action ring. An objective in the development of the present device was to reduce the height of the metering drum which is achieved by splitting the metering drum along a parting line, and then permanently joining the two parts by a non-rotatable locking snap-action ring so that the entrance and exiting openings to the metering drum are approximately ⅜ inch in diameter while the interior of the metering drum chambers vary in size to accommodate the ¼, ½, and 1 teaspoon measurement amounts.

Abstract: An apparatus for making molded candles from wax pieces of old candles or new candle-making wax. The candle making apparatus comprising an electrically heatedmelting chamber from which melted wax flows into an attached dispensing chamber and a valving mechanism which, when turned by hand, allows a pre-set amount of melted wax to flow into a removable mold, eliminating the need for measuring by the user. The apparatus accomodates making candles of different volumes, whereby the removable molds may be filled by the user of the apparatus by executing a predefined number of turns of the valving mechanism. The removable mold also functions to hold the candle wick in plan, and may be made to form candles of various shapes and sizes.

Abstract: The apparatus is comprised of a dosing chamber which is internally provided with a piston displaceable freely by means of pasty material introduced through a first extremity of said chamber from a first position to a second position, the piston being then actuated by means of a pressure fluid introduced through a second extremity to return to said first position, thereby displacing a volume being ejected through the extremity which is associated by sealed closing means to an opening of a housing wherein is housed a valve body with means to move the body inside the housing thereby communicating an inlet with said chamber, and alternatingly, communicating said chamber with an outlet conduit having emptying piston.

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: The assembly comprises a holder and a pack filled with a granular material such as ground coffee, which is received in the holder. It comprises a first valve for closing and clearing a first dispensing opening in the pack, and the holder comprises a second valve for closing and clearing a second dispensing opening in the holder. The holder includes a dosing space.

Abstract: A cap for dispensing material from a container defining an interior portion, including a housing capable of attachment to the container and including a translucent region, and defining an aperture, a first opening, and a second opening, and a spout member disposed through the aperture and defining a transfer compartment, having a first end and a second end and defining an inlet orifice at the first end and an outlet orifice at the second end, the spout member rotatably movable with respect to the housing between a first position where the inlet orifice is disposed to generally align with the first opening and communicate with the interior portion and the outlet orifice is disposed within and closed by the housing whereby material within the container may be transferred from the interior portion into the transfer compartment through the inlet orifice but material may not be dispensed from the container, and a second position where the inlet orifice is disposed within and closed by the housing and the outlet or

Abstract: By employing a product dispensing head assembly securely mounted to a storage container, within which desired flowable material is retained, with the head assembly being movable into a plurality of alternate positions, the controlled, measured, dispensing and delivery of any desired flowable product is attained. In the preferred embodiment, the product dispensing head assembly incorporates automatic locking means which are automatically engaged when the product dispensing head assembly is in the closed position. Furthermore, a special dispensing coupling is preferably employed to effectively disengage the locking means, thereby providing assurance that no individual can obtain unauthorized access to the flowable material stored within the closed and sealed container.

Abstract: The dispenser dispenses and spreads measured quantities of granular materials over a relatively wide area. A plurality of individual measurement chambers are distributed throughout a disc or rectilinear panel which is moved relative to other discs or panels with similarly shaped and spaced holes to first cover the inlet to the chambers to prevent unwanted leakage of material from the interior of the container, and to then open the outlet to each of the chambers to dispense material. A deflector is positioned below the dispenser outlets to spread the dispersed materials over an even wider area. The dispenser is used advantageously to spread seasonings and other food materials onto spread-out food items such as french fries and popcorn, large kettles and vats, etc.

Abstract: A measuring/dispensing cap for a container comprising a peripheral side wall and a pivotable flip top movable between closed and open positions, the flip top mounted for pivotal motion about a horizontal hinge axis wherein the hinge axis separates a closure panel of the flip top from a push panel of the flip top; a first panel within the side wall having a first free edge in substantially vertical alignment with the hinge axis; a second weir panel having a weir edge extending parallel to and laterally spaced from the first free edge, thus establishing a weir opening, the closure panel and the weir panel along with a portion of the peripheral side wall defining a measuring chamber within the cap, adapted to receive contents of a container passing through the weir opening.

Abstract: A measuring dispensing closure for a container includes a hollow body having an opening therein, and a pivotable flip top. The flip top is mounted on the body for pivotal motion about a horizontal hinge axis between closed and open positions. The hollow body has an internal, part spherical weir panel located below the opening, with an edge extending parallel with the hinge axis thus establishing a weir opening between the weir edge and a peripheral portion of the opening, and defining, in cooperation with an underside portion of the flip top and a remaining peripheral portion of the opening, a measuring chamber within the closure. The flip top is also formed with a shut-off blade adapted to engage the weir edge when the flip top is in the open position.

Abstract: A measuring canister is disclosed for storing any of a variety of particulate solid particulate materials, and for dispensing in a controlled manner a portion of the stored particulate material selected by the user to be any portion up to maximum volume, while preventing spillage from or dispensing of the remaining particulate material. The interior of a container having an open top is divided into a storage compartment and a measuring dispensing compartment by a partition having a notch. A generally planar flap is hinged to a cover having a dispensing orifice proximate to the measuring compartment, with the cover removably attached to the container.

Abstract: A constant quantity discharging device for measuring and discharging a constant quantity of powdered object from a powdered object container includes a fixed cap, a rotary disk, and a rotary cap which are coupled and mounted to the container. The rotary disk and the rotary cap sandwiching the fixed cap are rotated manually as a unit with respect to the fixed cap. The rotary disk has a powder taking out aperture, the fixed cap has a powder storing aperture, and the rotary cap has a powder discharging aperture. The positional relationships of these apertures are shifted circumferentially as the rotary disk and the rotary cap are rotated with respect to the fixed cap such that these apertures are sequentially communicated with an adjacent aperture.

Abstract: A device for dispensing particulate condiments comprising a condiment hopper translatably mounted on a transfer plate having a gated reservoir for receiving and dispensing condiments from the hopper. The invention also includes a method for dispensing particulate condiments comprising translating an open-bottomed condiments hopper over a transfer plate having a gated reservoir to transfer a predetermined aliquot of condiments from the hopper to the reservoir. The method further includes closing a dispensing aperture of the reservoir while the hopper is in register with a transfer opening of the reservoir, and opening the dispensing aperture to dispense the aliquot of condiments when the hopper is out of register with the transfer opening.

Abstract: A volumetric measuring/dispensing device for liquids is provided which has a measuring container having graduation markings thereon for measuring the quantity of liquid in the container. The container has an upper valve housing and a lower valve housing mounted in the top and bottom of the container. A valve stem having a single handle extends through the upper and lower valve housings and is selectively turnable by a turning the single handle to a selected one of three different positions, namely: a filling position, a closed position and an emptying position. When in the filling position, the upper and lower housings in conjunction with the valve stem respectively provide for the entrance of liquid into the interior of the container while at the same time provide for the exit of air out of the container. When in the closed position, the upper and lower housings in conjunction with the valve stem respectively provide for the closure of all entrances into and exits out of the container by both liquid and air.

Abstract: A vacuum fill system for continuously deaerating and compacting flowable materials for transportation and storage in containers includes a first rotatable chamber valve for receiving the flowable materials. Attached to the rotatable chamber valve is a fixed position chamber connected to a vacuum source for receiving the flowable materials from the first rotatable chamber and for deaerating the flowable materials. The fixed position chamber is in turn connected to a second rotatable chamber valve for receiving the deaerated flowable materials from the fixed position chamber, maintaining the materials in a vacuum, then returning the materials to atmospheric pressure substantially instantaneously as the valve rotates to compact the deaerated materials into a substantially solid mass.

Abstract: An appliance for dispensing of bulk material includes a circular-cylindrical stationary cellular housing with individual chambers of a cross-section in the form of a segment of a circle, which are closed in an upper and lower region by respective upper and lower rotating cover plates each having an orifice in the form of a segment of an annulus, the dispensing appliance having in its upper and lower region respective receiving flanges for supporting and guiding the rotating cover plates external of the housing. The upper receiving flange and the lower receiving flange for the respective cover plates are formed by respective flanged plates facing away from the cellular housing and respective flanged plates confronting the cellular housing, between which the respective cover plates are supported and mounted rotatably on bearings provided in each of the respective flanged plates axially opposite one another.

Abstract: A low profile, lock-gate type of valve for handling dry particulate material forms a conduit therethrough, and a pair of curved flow control blades are mounted on arms and are pivoted with respect to the conduit, to define therebetween a flow measuring chamber, in which the blades are supplied with the convex surface facing the direction of flow in the conduit. The conduit is dog-legged within the valve to provide a low valve profile, and the blades are fully enclosed within the blade housing. A part of the enclosure walls form surfaces on which air cylinders are mounted for controlling the movement of the valve blades. The valve blade seals are accessible from an exterior wall of the valve and are replaceable by extraction through wall openings, and the valve seals are mounted on external brackets on the valve side walls so that they may be easily withdrawn and replaced.