Abstract: A mechanical post mix beverage dispensing system is presented in which one soda and/or water valve is common to a plurality of syrup valves. The common soda and/or water valve is automatically actuated upon actuation of any of the syrup valves to provide a desired syrup-soda or water mixture. The soda and/or water valve may also be actuated independently of the syrup valves to dispense only soda or water.

Abstract: An apparatus for evenly distributing powdered and granular food product ingredients at a controlled and variable rate. A delivery tube communicates with the interior of a hopper that holds a supply of the ingredient and an auger causes the ingredient to move from the hopper and axially along the tube. The auger has a central body with a large diameter portion extending through the hopper, a small diameter portion disposed within the tube and a land extending along and around the body to define a generally helical flute that serves as an ingredient flow path of variable cross-sectional area. A series of non-circular openings arranged along the tube allow the ingredient to escape in a uniform manner, the effective size of the openings being variable by changing the relative rotational positions of the tube and an apertured sleeve that surrounds the tube. The positions of the openings is also variable by rotating the tube and the sleeve together to further improve the uniformity of distribution.

Abstract: A convenient, self-contained, disposable device suitable for the rapid identification of microorganisms, having capability for simultaneously carrying out a multiplicity of analytical determinations. The device comprises a disc-shaped arrangement defining a multiplicity of satellite testing chambers each of which is connected to a centrally defined chamber. The central chamber is provided with a movable sleeve or piston arrangement. Liquid sample is received in the central chamber and the sleeve is manipulated to provide samples uniformly and simultaneously to each of the satellite testing chambers without resorting to external means, such as positive or a negative pressurization or centrifugal force. Also disclosed are unique disc-shaped optically transparent support films which are coated on one or both sides with analytical substrates or reagents which are predispensed to the satellite testing chambers.

Abstract: A tramlining device is provided for a seed drill having shutters associated with respective seed spouts and controlled by individual fluid pressure operated actuators for improved flexibility in selecting the tramline spacing. The actuators are preferably such that when pressurized they close the shutters to produce tramlines. Fluid pressure is tapped from the rams that force the coulters into work. Preferably, a control valve in the fluid supply line comprises a valve member that is urged closed by the supply pressure but is opened by a plunger controlled by a bout register. Preferably, a solenoid operated plunger is provided to override operation of the bout register.

Abstract: A multiple nozzle fluid dispenser having jointly and independently actuable valves that are interchangeable as to their relative positions and having means for accommodating a valve operating mechanism for the valves to any arrangement of the valves.

Abstract: A container for dispensing powdered or granulated material is provided. The container includes top, bottom, side, and end walls with the top of the container having a handle and a filling spout communicating with the interior of the container. The bottom of the container is provided with slide channels, the slide channels cooperating with a slide channel engaging mechanism on the closure member to secure the closure member to the bottom of the container. The closure member is movable from a closed position where the array of openings in the closure member are out of register with the array of openings in the bottom of the container to an open position where the array of openings in the closure member are in register with the array of openings in the bottom of the container for the purpose of dispensing the contents of the container.

Abstract: The invention relates to a small container for liquid gases for filling of the various types of gas lighters having various forms of intake valves. This is achieved by the small container for liquid gas according to the invention, wherein the bottom member and the top member at the two ends of the container are each provided with a self-acting, normally closed outlet valve and these two valves are different from each other and are adapted for filling-up the gas tanks of different types of gas lighters.The container is also provided with a single cover cap to cover one or the other end of the container and the respective valve selectively. The container and the cover cap are provided with matched snap-in portions in one embodiment. In a further embodiment the cover cap and the ends of the container are provided with members for joining the cover cap and the end of the container in a relatively tight sliding fit and thus to secure the cover cap over the valve which it is desired to cover.

Abstract: Valve mechanism supplying creme on the tops of a succession of two rows of cookies for sandwiching. The cookies are moved along a sandwiching machine by a conveyor beneath a rotating stencil supplying creme to the cookies, under the control of a one-piece valve assuring a uniform supply of creme on the tops of cookies of each row of cookies to thereafter be sandwiched by other cookies supplied to the cremed cookies as passing along the conveyor. The valve is in the form of a one-piece valve block supported at one end and rotationally adjusted to balance the flow through orifices in a stencil sleeve within which the valve is mounted. The creme enters the stencil sleeve from one end of the tube. The stencil sleeve has an outlet port for each row of cookies, which in turn supplies the creme to annular orifices in a rotating stencil, rotating at the speed of travel of the conveyor and the cookies carried thereby.

Abstract: A dispensing device for liquids wherein a toggle member defines separate channels so designed and arranged as to allow for the confinement, dispensing or measured dispensing of fluids held in a container to which the device is attached.

Abstract: A multiple nozzle fluid dispenser, such as a glue gun, having some of its nozzle valves selectively and jointly actuable by a common operating element and at least one of its nozzle valves actuable independently of the jointly actuable valves, for controlling fluid flow through the dispenser nozzles in complex delivery patterns.

Abstract: Measuring receptacle means comprising a plurality of cup members, each having an open top and bottom, with a removable bottom closure means in common with the cup members. Each cup member is of a different volume than the other cup members. Removable bottom plate means slidably closes the bottoms of the cup members such that the individual cup members are fillable with a measured material from the top when the bottom plate is in closure relation, and emptied from the bottom when the bottom plate is slidably removed.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing pasty flowable substances, and particularly for dispensing substances such as mustard and catsup for deposit on buns. The apparatus comprises a closed container having a plurality of compartments for containing mustard and catsup. A valve arrangement is associated with the container to uncover selected openings in compartments, and air under slight pressure is introduced into the container to assist in ejecting the mustard or catsup. A control is included to selectively provide for ejection of mustard, or catsup, or both.

Abstract: A spreader for granular or powdery material such as fertilizer having three conveyors extending transversally from each side of a hopper for the material, the hopper having two funnels and two discharge ports, one for each funnel, each discharge port being disposed above the inboard ends of a corresponding group of conveyors with each conveyor in each group having different lengths and terminating outboard in a rotary disc spreading member, such spreading members being spaced apart about 2 meters in the two groups of conveyors which are aligned. The conveyors each comprise an endless belt which, through further belts, rotate the spreader members about vertical axes. Disposed between each spreader and the end of the corresponding conveyor is a guide hood which guides the flow of material to the rotary disc behind its flat ejector blades which are biased 60.degree. from a radial line intercepting the inward edge of the blade, so that at design speed the material is ejected through an arc of about 180.degree..

Abstract: Our invention relates to a wheeled fertilizer or other granular material spreader which is pushed over the area or surface to be treated. The granular material is dropped through feed openings onto the surface to be treated, the metering of the granular material being accomplished by placing the metering blade in a desired position or positions depending upon what particular granular material is being discharged from the hopper.

Abstract: Pizza sauce is contained in a vat and is deposited onto a pizza through resiliently flexible tubes having upper end portions leading from the vat and having intermediate portions disposed in a pressure chamber. When the chamber is pressurized, the intermediate portions of the tubes are squeezed closed and hold the sauce in the upper portions of the tubes. Upon de-pressurization of the chamber, the intermediate portions of the tubes automatically flex open and allow the sauce to flow out of the tubes and onto the pizza. Different ones of the tubes may be selectively permitted to flex open so as to enable the sauce to be discharged in patterns of different diameters.

Abstract: An infant training tumbler includes an upright tubular housing within which is an upright internal web that divides the housing into a pair of longitudinal compartments. Affixed upon the upper end of the housing is a cap that completes a closure of the upper end of that one compartment. Openings in the cap permit the egress of liquid from the cap upon tilting of the housing. The geometrical relationships are such that the compartment is opposite the egress opening so that, upon a dropping of the housing, the openings are in a position that prevents significant spillage.

Abstract: A lawn spreader includes an elongated generally rectangular hopper supported by a set of wheels and having a bottom member formed by a longitudinally extending aluminum extrusion. The extrusion has upwardly projecting inclined flange portions which are secured to the inclined side walls of the hopper, and the flange portions are integrally connected by a lower portion defining a longitudinally extending guideway. A slide member is supported within the guideway and is also formed from an aluminum extrusion. The slide member includes a longitudinally extending integral rib which projects downwardly and connects directly with the lower end portion of a control lever pivotally supported by a side wall of the hopper. The upper end portion of the lever engages a rotatably adjustable cam for precisely positioning the slide member to regulate accurately the discharge of material from the hopper through a set of spaced apertures within the extrusions.

Abstract: One end of a resiliently flexible valve stem is supported in a coaxially aligned, axially adjustable, socket means and mounts a ball at its other end for normally closing the seat of an outlet orifice of a nozzle. A portion of the valve stem intermediate its ends is operatively associated with a laterally reciprocable operator bar for selectively effecting flexure of the valve stem to displace the valve ball on its seat to open the orifice to release a fluid to be dispensed through the nozzle. A plurality of such valve assemblies are actuable by a common operator bar and the adjustment means of each valve can be selectively manipulated to render one or more of the valves inoperable to establish a desired pattern of flow of fluids from the valves which remain operable, or to vary the time sequence of operation of the valves proportionally to the degree of adjustment of the individual valves, or to vary flow rates.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to fluid dispenser valves.

Abstract: A simple and efficient flow regulator for controlling the discharge from adjoining collecting chambers separated by a partition and including a common wall which includes a disc mounted in the side wall. The axis of rotation of the disc is in general aligned with the partition and the disc includes an opening asymmetrically disposed relative to the axis of rotation. Thus upon rotation of the disc the area of the opening communicating with each chamber is varied to vary the ratio of discharge flow from each chamber. Details of the structure and mounting are described.