Abstract: The invention relates to an electrically operable pipette comprising a body member with upper and lower portions and a removable flanged cylinder assembly coupled to the lower portion of the body member via its flange. The cylinder assembly has confined in it, a piston which is vertically displaced by a motor confined in the body member, an adjustable limiter being provided for varying the stroke length of the piston and hence the volume of liquid displaced.

Abstract: An automatic cleaning-fluid dispensing device includes: a containing structure for containing cleaning fluid; a sensing device disposed on a base member being installed in the lower portion of said containing structure wherein said base member is provided with an outlet, a sensing circuit disposed on a circuit board, a motor arrangement electrically connected to the sensing circuit, an outlet for passing a light source of the sensing circuit therefrom so as to detect the presence of an external object closing on the light source; and a dispensing mechanism, which is composed of a push structure functionally connected with the driving motor and a pumping structure operatively engaged with the push structure, installed on the base member in connection with the sensing device; whereby when an external object closes to the sensing device, a given amount of the contained cleaning fluid in the containing structure will be automatically supplied for cleaning purposes.

Abstract: A multiflavor beverage dispenser comprises a microprocessor system for controlling the ratio of diluent to concentrate of a post-mix beverage. The system includes a compact flow rate control module for selectively controlling the flow rates of liquids in a plurality of flow passages leading to nozzle assemblies of the dispenser. Each flow rate control module includes a single stepper motor connected to a rotary spool valve for selectively controlling the flow rate of the liquids. The microprocessor system utilizes variable reference signals which are ramped to approximately correspond to the actual flow rate of the liquid towards a target in order to reduce overshoot values of the flow rates. A scaling function is provided by the microprocessor system to adjust target flow rates between pours in order to achieve consistent controlled ratios of the beverage being dispensed.

Abstract: A liquid or powder measurement apparatus, usable also for mixing a plurality of measured materials and for distributing the mixture to a plurality of dispensing containers. A flow control valve having a wide flow rate range and excellent linearity between the degree of valve opening and flow rate is disposed in each of the liquid flow paths and is adjustable to have a flow rate linearly varying with the stroke of the valve. A mixing container receives the raw material from one or more supply containers and is weighed by a load cell to thereby detect the amount of material flowing into or out of the mixing container. A control unit operating according to fuzzy logic compares the measured weight with a target weight and accordingly adjusts the flow rate of a selected one of the flow regulators. The same load cell and control unit can also control the flows from the mixing containers to the dispensing containers.

Abstract: An inflator for automatically inflating an inflatable article, such as a personal flotation vest, upon immersion in water. A plunger is movably mounted within a housing and is movable with respect to a pressurized gas canister attached to the housing. An internally resettable automatic actuator mechanism, mounted within the housing, acts on the plunger to move the plunger to pierce the canister to release the pressurized gas therefrom through the housing to the inflatable article attached to the housing. A pair of spaced water sensor probes mounted in the housing provide a signal to a control device indicating that the housing is immersed in water. The control device activates the automatic actuator mechanism to release a spring-biased ram from a latched position such that the ram engages and urges the plunger under force into the sealed end of the gas canister.

Abstract: An electronically-controlled fluid dispenser which houses a replaceable self-venting, self-priming plump and fluid container and contains a rotary motor for automatically operating the pump in response to an optically-detected infrared signal. The infrared signal is generated with a predetermined waveform which is detectable by a receiver so as to avoid extraneous signals. The rotary motor operates the pump through an eccentric cam directly mounted upon the pump dispensing plunger to cause direct linear motion. The dispenser is designed for battery operation.

Abstract: To control with precision and repeatability the amount of fluid dispensed or aspirated by a pumping system, a volume disk rotates with the output shaft of a DC motor that drives a reciprocating dispensing pump. A sensor detects indicia on the disk and provides periodic signals spaced-apart in time by an amount: (1) an amount proportional to the volume of fluid pumped; (2) proportional to the angle between indicia; (3) less than one-third of the length of the total stroke of the piston as the piston moves linearly in its working portion of a cycle; (4) necessary for the piston to sweep out a volume of less than five milliliters. The speed of the pump is controlled by a second disk having equally spaced indicia that are sensed to provide signals proportional to the motor speed. During dispensing or aspirating large volumes, the motor speed is increased to a high speed, run at the high speed and then decreased before stopping and during dispensing smaller volumes, it is maintained at a constant lower speed.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively controlling a plurality of electric motors for driving individual work objects, the apparatus including an electrical switch which is adapted to produce predetermined speed signals for the electric motor selected, a programmable controller disposed in signal receiving relation relative to the electrical switch and which is adapted to generate a predetermined signalling sequence in response to the signal received from the electrical switch, a variable speed motor drive electrically coupled with the programmable controller, and with the electric motor selected, the variable speed motor drive selectively driving the selected electric motor at a predetermined speed in response to the signalling sequence received from the programmable controller, and a sensor adapted to indicate the work performed by the electric motor whereby the electric switch may be selectively adjusted to control the operation of the electric motor selected.

Abstract: An electrically operable liquid soap dispenser responsive to the presence of a user dispenses a measured amount of soap on demand. It has a spout with a fluid conduit therein connecting a soap reservoir and a nozzle. A pump draws soap from the reservoir during a stroke of its plunger and depending on the embodiment, ejects a measured amount of soap during a subsequent plunger downstroke or upstroke. At least one check valve regulates the flow of soap from the reservoir to an orifice at the nozzle. The soap path from the reservoir to the nozzle is kept full of soap so that a single cycle of the pump is sufficient to eject the desired amount of soap. The orifice is sized and shaped so as to prevent dripping while maintaining soap at the nozzle ready to be ejected. A light beam emitter and detector control operation of the pump.

Abstract: A dosing apparatus for packaging containers comprises a dosing device including a housing, a wall within the housing and reciprocable to draw in and expel a substance through an inlet and an outlet, respectively, of the housing, a rotary stepping motor which drives the wall, and a screw device which converts rotary motion of the motor to linear motion of the wall; and a control programmable to control the speed and stroke angle of the motor. The filled containers may be weighed in turn and the weight data used automatically to make any necessary corrections to the wall stroke.

Abstract: A cleanser feeding mechanism has a cleanser housing portion, a cleanser feeding member for feeding a cleanser housed in the cleanser housing portion, and a synchronous motor for applying a drive force to the cleanser feeding member, and feeds an amount of cleanser corresponding to the number of revolutions of the synchronous motor. A cleanser feeding amount-setting unit sets an amount of cleanser to be fed from the cleanser feeding mechanism. A driving unit applies an AC source voltage of an AC power source to the synchronous motor. A counter counts the number of cycles of the AC source voltage from a timing at which the AC source voltage is applied to the synchronous motor. A reference cycle number-setting unit sets a total cycle number of the AC source voltage which corresponds to a cleanser amount set by the cleanser feeding amount-setting unit.

Abstract: An inflator for automatically inflating an inflatable article, such as a personal flotation vest, upon immersion in water. A plunger is mounted in a housing and is movable with respect to a pressurized gas canister attached to the housing. An actuator mechanism, mounted within the housing, acts on the plunger to move the plunger to pierce the canistor to release the pressurized gas through the housing to the inflatable article attached to the housing. A pair of spaced water sensor probes provide a signal to a control device mounted within the housing when immersed in water. The control device automatically activates the actuator to drive the piercing end of the plunger into the canister. A manual lanyard is extensibly mounted within the housing and is connected to a link and lever to drive the plunger into the canister when the lanyard is pulled outward from the housing.

Abstract: A pump/dispenser, ratioing/mixer dispenser apparatus and a method and apparatus for precision vacuum degassed dispensing of work liquids are presented. The pump/dispenser is a positive displacement high precision piston/cylinder constant flush type with piston smaller than chamber. The piston is advanced along its stroke in tiny repeatable adjustably programmable steps, the infinitely adjustable precision ratioing programmable mixing being provided when two such pumps are used. The vacuum degassed work liquids dispensing system features the creation and maintenance of a positive absolute pressure on the work liquid(s) when exiting the degassing chamber(s) to the dispensing outlet(s) whether moved along the flow path through the precision dispensing pump(s) or other types of pump(s). Available softwear and adjustable programmable precision hardwear of the system may be provided by a widely available personal computer. Further degassing is provided by dispensing in a vacuum.

Abstract: A faucet has a body with a hollow inner cavity and a spout which opens into the inner cavity. A valve assembly is located within the inner cavity to control the flow of water from a source into the spout. The valve assembly comprises a housing with an inlet chamber which opens into a ring-shaped channel, an outlet chamber having an opening centrally located with respect to the ring of the channel, and a diaphragm to selectively close the communication of the inlet and outlet chambers. A solenoid includes a plunger that is biased by a spring against the diaphragm and an electromagnetic coil to pull the plunger away from the diaphragm. A proximity sensor is included to detect the presence of an object adjacent the faucet and energize the coil. A safeguard alarm mechanism is provided to deenergize the coil after a given interval if the object continues to be detected and thereafter periodically briefly energize the solenoid until the object is removed.

Abstract: A grain moisture sensor includes a capacitor having at least a pair of capacitor plates positioned within a grain drying bin adjacent the bottom wall and in spaced relation from the peripheral side walls so that grain in the bin fills the space between the plates and passes downwardly between the plates in response to operation of the discharge auger for the bin. The sensor further includes electrical circuitry for measuring the capacitance of the capacitor, calculating the percentage moisture content of the grain and controlling the activation of the discharge auger for removing a uniform layer of grain from the bottom of the bin in response to the percentage moisture content being lowered to a selected amount.

Abstract: A hopper for dispensing seed, grain and the like comprises a housing having a lower portion and at least one dispensing opening in the lower portion; a rotatable shaft located within the housing; a drive shaft transferring rotational energy to the shaft from a low horsepower, low rpm, electric motor; a brush having a plurality of tufts of flexible bristles held in an annular member mounted on the shaft above each dispensing opening for feeding seed, grain and the like to the dispensing opening during rotation of the shaft; a marked metering plate having a metering hole therethrough and extending into a slot formed in a first side portion of the housing; and a mechanism for selectively stopping rotation of the shaft whereby when rotation of the shaft is stopped, seeds, grain and the like are blocked from access to the dispensing opening, the mechanism including a cam adjustably mounted on the shaft, a cam follower for engaging the cam and a microswitch connected to the cam follower and deactivating the electri

Abstract: An auger feeder suitable for use in subdividing and feeding of powdery particles such as precious medicines in a trace amount, because the component parts of the auger feeder can be easily disassembled for sterilization treatment before use. In addition, it can be prevented owing to the electric detection system in the auger feeder of the present invention that foreign particles resulting from the contact or the friction between the components are mixed with the powdery particles.

Abstract: A postmix juice dispensing system for reconstituting and dispensing pliable 5+1 orange juice at freezer temperatures of from about -10.degree. F. to 0.degree. F., including a pressurizable canister for pressurizing concentrate in a flexible bag and for forcing the concentrate through a concentrate conduit into a heat exchanger, then into a metering device and then into a mixing chamber where the concentrate mixes with water fed also through a metering device.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser valve system in which the mixture ratio is controlled by continuous modulation of the solenoid valves. The solenoid valves have movable stop (or push rods) that control the travel of the armature, which in turn controls the position of a needle valve with respect to the valve seat to gradually change the flow opening and thus the syrup and water flow rates. A microprocessor uses the movable stop to adjust the syrup and/or water flow rate to deliver the proper ratio of syrup to water based on the flow of water and syrup as measured by flow meters. In addition, the total flow rate from the nozzle can be controlled and varied in relation to the distance the cup lever arm is depressed; thus, the flow rate can be made slow at the beginning and end, and fast in-between.

Abstract: A powder measuring device and powder measuring mixer in which powder is supplied from a supply hopper to a measuring hopper with its flow rate controlled by a flow regulator associated with the hopper. The weight of the measuring hopper is monitored. A controller compares the measured weight with a target rate to produce a deviation therebetween and a time variation of the deviation. The controller operates according to fuzzy inference to produce a desired flow rate for the next control cycle. This desired flow rate is then supplied to the flow regulator. Several supply hoppers with associated flow regulators can be used. Then the output of the controller is switched between the different flow regulators at different phases of the mixing measurement. Additionally, the measuring hopper can be movable between the different supply hoppers so as to avoid complicated piping.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing a substance to a work area in which the method includes the steps of determining the quantity of the substance to be dispensed substantially evenly to the work area, calculating the rate of dispensing the substance to the work area for the quantity determined in the determining step to achieve substantially even dispensing, dispensing the substance to the work area at the calculated rate during movement over the work area, and adjusting the rate of dispensing at intervals during such movement to minimize error in such dispensing.

Abstract: A control arrangement is provided which permits precise metering of a bellows pump. The control arrangement permits the predetermined setting of an amount of fluid to be dispensed from a single pump or a plurality of pumps. The control system permits a double bellows pump to cooperate with a drive mechanism in order to precisely meter the fluid to be dispensed from the pump by selecting a predetermined amount of fluid from a range of settings of the control mechanism. When a plurality of double bellows liquid dispensing pump units are provided, a plurality of electric motors are arranged to drive an adjustable stop element and provide a limit on the length of stroke of a driving rod connected to the bellows pump. The motors are controlled by a program logic circuit which monitors the degree of movement of the stop elements and controls the motors in response to a preset or selected fill condition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous weighing system and more specifically to a combination of a "wild-flow" flow of material and a loss-in-weight monitoring system. An uncontrolled flow of material from a wild-flow stream is accurately weighed and discharged by the loss-in-weight system.

Abstract: Apparatus for mixing granules of different colors for use in surfacing for example asphalt shingles in which the valve opening is controlled automatically, the valve being opened by a drive having a fixed valve opening travel and the different valve open positions being determined by intially presetting the valve opening drive by operating it a predetermined amount from a home position in the direction opposite from the valve opening direction, reversing the drive motor to return it to the home position while recording the motion as a part of the fixed valve opening motion, and reenergizing the drive to complete the valve opening motion. The apparatus is also adapted to be operated manually in the event of a malfunction or power failure and it is provided with diamond-shaped orifices whereby the valve opening is a function of the square of the percent of valve travel to provide more accurate control in the low valve opening ranges.

Abstract: A pump control system is described in which the pumping mechanism causes corresponding movement of a pair of capacitor plates. The plates are energized by an a.c. signal, and the signal produced by the plates is amplitude detected, with the amplitude modulation representing pumping force. The pumping force is converted to pumping pressure. The pumping pressure peak during pumping and the pressure minimum during filling are detected to determine the portion of a pumping cycle required to make the transition between these two pressure levels. The difference between the two pressure levels divided by the transition portion of the pumping cycle gives a measure of the compliance of the pump chamber. The ratio of the compliance measure to the total cycle, when multiplied by the nominal chamber volume, gives a measure of unpumped volume, which is subtracted from the nominal volume to give the volume actually pumped during a pump cycle.

Abstract: A control system and method is disclosed for a plaster pump 10. A pair of nozzles A, B dispenses material pumped from the nozzle and are connected by a "Y"-branch 50 in supply lines 11a and 11b to pump manifold 10a. Actual pressure signals 14a are compared in a comparator 16 to preset pressure signal 28. A differential pressure signal 16a is delivered to a signal switch 34 which controls a throttle driver 38 to control throttle 40 and pump 10. The pump may be throttled up or down to satisfy the pressure difference and bring the pressure to the desired preset pressure. An actual pressure signal 14c is delivered to an overpressure comparator circuit 26. An upper pressure limit signal 28a is compared to actual pressure by comparator 26. If an overpressure condition exists, an overpressure signal 26a is sent to signal switch 32 which shuts off or idles down the pump. If either nozzle A or B is shut off, a nozzle-off signal at 64a is sent to logic controller E.

Abstract: A microwave oven and a refrigerator are combined into a single cabinet housing a shared power supply with an electrical supply disconnect for the magnetron of the oven during a start-up power demand by the compressor of the refrigerator and for a period of time depending upon a rating of the compressor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring a uniform volume and weight of food material, and continuously delivering it, is provided. The apparatus comprises screws disposed at the bottom of a hopper and a delivering means having a rotating cylinder and vanes freely slidable in respective pairs of slots formed in the periphery of the cylinder. The delivering means is disposed in a housing, and both ends of the vanes slidably contact the inner surface of the side wall of the housing to form compartments between each adjacent pair of vanes. In the apparatus, the material is fed by screws and introduced into the compartment for measuring. Since the rotational speeds of the screw and cylinder are respectively controlled to introduce a sufficient amount of the material into the compartment, the density of the material in the compartment becomes uniform. The material is then continuously discharged from the apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically dispensing accurately a predetermined quantity of a liquid required to be stored at room temperature including a syringe pump, a liquid tank, and a pump displacement mechanism for moving the syringe pump between the liquid tank and a container. The piston of the syringe pump is displaced by a piston displacement mechanism. A weigher measures weights of the tank and liquid in the tank as well as a draining system for draining the liquid of the liquid tank. Liquid is supplied to the liquid tank from a supply system. A control device controls displacement of the syringe pump and the piston of the syringe pump, actuation of the supply system and the drainage system, and reads measurement output signals of the weigher.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously supplying fine powder at a constant rate comprises a hopper for holding the fine powder, a first piezoelectric transducer disposed on the diaphragm for supplying vibration to cause discharge of the fine powder therefrom, a second piezoelectric transducer for detecting change in the frequency of vibration of the hopper with change in the amount of fine powder contained in the hopper and feeding the detected signal back to a driver for the first piezoelectric transducer so as to supply vibration to the hopper at a frequency determined on the basis of the amount of fine powder contained in the hopper.

Abstract: A liquid mixing system and method are disclosed for automatically preparing a batch mixture containing predetermined quantities of liquids such as spray dampening solutions or silicone emulsions used in the printing industry. The system comprises a holding tank having one or more liquid columns in liquid communication with the tank so that the level of liquid in the column, or columns, will be the same as the level of the liquid in the tank. Liquid level detection devices preferably in the form of static capacity-type proximity switches sense the level of the liquid in the column, or columns, and liquid charging devices responsive to the liquid level detection devices charges the liquids into the tank in seriatum each time raising the level of the liquid in the tank and in the columns to the next detected level.

Abstract: A liquid dispensing system and a unified assembly for control of fluid flow in such a system has a container 1 from which liquid such as beer is drawn by an electrically controlled pump 2 to be supplied through a unified assembly 4 to a dispensing tap 5. The assembly 4 has an inlet 6 which communicates through a pressure biased non-return valve 8 with a high pressure chamber 9 and an outlet 11 to the tap 5. A piston 14 responds to high pressure in the chamber 9 to be displaced and pivot a rocking lever 26 to operate a microswitch 28 which is normally closed to operate the pump 2 but is opened in response to said displacement of the piston 14 to deactivate the pump 2. A low pressure chamber 35 communicates with the inlet passage 6 and the pressure of liquid in the system expands the chamber 35 to maintain a plunger 38 against its spring biasing.

Abstract: A dispenser is described for extruding a hot melt adhesive obtained by melting a rod of adhesive in a normally closed pressurized melting chamber. The rod is supplied from a remotely located spool through a flexible conduit to an inlet of the dispenser. A seal is placed at the inlet and is cooled by a flow of air so as to maintain the shape of the rod at the seal, prevent its deformation, and inhibit the leakage of melted adhesive back through the seal. A friction drive is used in the vicinity of the spool to push the rod into the melting chamber. A movable section is provided for the melting chamber to absorb expansion of the melted adhesive and a sensor is used to inhibit feeding of the rod when the chamber section expands and enable feeding when it is in a contracted position. A foamable adhesive rod is described wherein an unblown foaming agent is incorporated in the rod and activated in the melting chamber of the dispenser. Several embodiments are described.

Abstract: A fluid feeding device in which a battery, a DC motor and an electric pump are housed within a portable case. A fluid in a fluid container mounted on and communicated with the electric pump is discharged from a fluid discharge gun in a predetermined quantity or continuously. The fluid feeding device is compact in size and light in weight so that an operator can easily carry it in a wide range, whereby the fluid feeding device can be easily used at a high place or at a narrow place. The fluid feeding device is used, for instance, for feeding grease into mechanical bearings or the like.

Abstract: When a weigh feeding system which senses the rate of material feed by weighing the material and automatically controls the actual feed on the basis of a departure of the sensed rate of material feed from a desired rate, thereby to produce an error signal, is subjected to a major or sporadic disturbance such that the sensed rate departs from the desired feed rate by more than a predetermined amount, the system limits the feed rate used to produce the error signal to a synthetic amount no matter by how far the sensed feed rate departs from the desired rate, the values of said predetermined amount and said synthetic amount being selected in accordance with the nature of the system, the degree of accuracy desired, and the nature of the expected disturbances, thereby to improve the overall accuracy of the system when subjected to such disturbances.

Abstract: A system for delivering a drug to a patient according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown as including a plunger assembly reciprocally received in a reservoir for forcing the drug therefrom for delivery to the patient. The plunger assembly is axially advanced by the rotation of a lead screw rotatably mounted and axially movable with respect to the chassis. In a first axial position, the end of the lead screw deflects contacts of a switch member into electrical engagement which interrupts operation of the motor which rotates the lead screw. The lead screw is biased out of its first axial position such that the first end of the lead screw does not actuate the switch member and rotation of the lead screw is not interrupted.

Abstract: A fuel supplying apparatus comprises a switch for driving a pump in response to moving of a fuel supplying nozzle from a waiting position, a circuit for driving the pump and carrying out a fuel supplying operation until a desired quantity or price of fuel is reached, a circuit for driving the pump for a predetermined short time after completion of the fuel supplying operation, and a circuit for comparing a measured flow rate which is measured in the flowmeter and a predetermined flow rate when the pump is driven for the predetermined short time, and for prohibiting the pump from being driven in a subsequent fuel supplying operation when the measured flow rate is greater than the predetermined flow rate, even when the switch operates.

Abstract: A fluid infusion positive displacement pump includes a plunger driven by a stepping motor which is operated by a motor control system. The control system advances the plunger to expel liquid in a series of incremental steps at a user-set pumping rate and until a preset total dosage has been delivered with the pumping rate being determined by the waiting time between each step. In order to minimize shock to the patient, the pump is operated at a plurality of increasing fractional rates during the start of pumping and at a plurality of decreasing fractional rates at the termination of pumping with the user-set (maximum) pumping rate occurring between such fractional rate pumping periods.

Abstract: The batch control system is used in a batching system for controlling the batching of a fluid material from one container to another container through a conduit having a pump coupled therein, a flowmeter coupled therein and a valve coupled therein. The batch control system includes a microprocessor; a keypad coupled to said microprocessor; a battery backed non-volatile memory coupled to the microprocessor; a serial port in the microprocessor; an alpha-numeric display coupled to the microprocessor; relay control outputs coupled to said microprocessor and to relays for controlling energization of the pump and the valve, respectively; at least one input coupled to the microprocessor for receiving count pulses from the flowmeter; and, outputs for supply data to a station remote from the location of the batch control system, such as a manager's office or a station at the location of one of the containers.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispending a fluid free of included air bubbles, such as for example, an adhesive bead, includes sensing devices for detecting the presence of an included air bubble in the conduit leading from a source of the fluid to a discharge of a movable fluid dispenser. The sensing devices are connected to a motor which drives an arm on which the fluid dispenser is mounted. A first sensing device slows movement of the dispenser upon sensing an air bubble in the fluid and a second sensing device stops movement of the dispenser upon sensing an air bubble in the fluid. The movement of the dispenser is restarted after a predetermined time period sufficient to allow the air bubble to pass out of the dispenser discharge. The sensing devices advantageously use a light beam, such as infra-red light or laser, to detect the presence of the included air bubble.

Abstract: A mixture control system for mixing a bactericidal chemical and water in a reservoir in batches. Flow of the water into the reservoir is initiated by a float actuated switch and the duration of the flow is controlled. While the flow is occurring, a dispenser dispenses chemical into the reservoir according to a preset dispensing cycle which is initiated when the water flow is initiated and also terminates therewith.

Abstract: A system for dispensing multiple discrete streams of a high viscosity liquid material, and particularly, systems such as those for applying sealants to the seams of an automobile body on a production line. The system is provided with a multi-speed pump for supplying the viscous liquid from a reservoir at high pressure to a distribution manifold from which it is distributed at regulated rates to a plurality of extrusion guns through drop lines from the manifold. A motor speed control which is settable to a number of predetermined motor operating speeds which selects the speed of the multi-speed pump in response to the combination of guns which is activated, so that the dispensing rate can remain the same regardless of which other guns are activated. Regulators which include volumetric metering pumps are included in the drop lines at each of the guns, with controls coordinated with the motor speed control.

Abstract: Apparatus for preparing and dispensing thermoplastic resin has a conveyor or extruder with a chamber provided with heating elements, a conveyor or extruder screw mounted in the chamber and connected to a drive motor, a resin inlet and a resin outlet. To ensure the intended continuous dispensing of the resin even during intermittent operation, a control device is provided having inputs connected to a resin pressure sensor, a conveyor speed of rotation sensor and a resin temperature sensor. Intended values for the conveyor speed, resin pressure and resin temperature are supplied to the control device, which regulates the pressure during interruption of the dispensing of the resin and effects a speed regulation or a pressure regulation with a superimposed speed regulation during dispensing of the resin. For plasticizing of the resin, which is supplied in solid, preferably granular form, and since the conveyor geometry by the heating elements is required.

Abstract: An automatic weighing apparatus with a dispersion feed apparatus comprising a plurality of feed troughs adapted to be separately vibrated and radially arranged around the outer periphery of a dispersion table which performs spiral reciprocating vibratory motion, the feed troughs being separately vibrated at predetermined times to feed articles to associated weighing units.

Abstract: A fuel supplying apparatus comprises a switch for driving a pump in response to unhooking of a fuel supplying nozzle from an accommodating part, a circuit for driving the pump and carrying out a fuel supplying operation until a preset fuel supplying quantity or a preset amount of money is reached, where the preset fuel supplying quantity and the preset amount of money are preset before the preset fuel supplying operation is started, a circuit for driving the pump for a predetermined short time in response to accommodation of the fuel supplying nozzle in the accommodating part after completion of the preset fuel supplying operation, and a circuit for comparing a measured flow rate which is measured in the flowmeter and a predetermined flow rate when the pump is driven for the predetermined short time, and for prohibiting the pump from being driven in response to the unhooking of the fuel supplying nozzle from the accommodating part when the measured flow rate is greater than the predetermined flow rate, even w

Abstract: A system for activating a dosing apparatus to dispense predetermined amounts of a beverage from a bottle and comprising a lever arm containing an annular housing, through which a dosing apparatus is inserted. The lever arm annular housing has an annular electromagnet to control a valve in the dosing apparatus, and an optical reader to identify the type of liquid being dispensed. An electromagnetically operated slidable lock on the lever arm locks the dosing apparatus in position. The dosing apparatus is clamped to the bottle of liquid to be dispensed and has a code on its side such that the optical reader may identify to a controller device the liquid and therefor amount to be dispensed. The lever arm and dosing apparatus are arranged so that depression of the lever arm results in the dispensing of a predetermined liquid amount.

Abstract: A pressure-monitoring system for detecting pressure between a fuel pump in a fuel storage tank and a fuel dispenser in automotive fuel service stations. The pressure-monitoring system utilizes a pressure-sensitive switch interconnected in the dispensers. A controller is associated with the pressure sensitive switch and the fuel pump utilized to extract fuel from the fuel storage tank. Upon the detection of a leak in the lines between the pump and the fuel dispenser, the controller interrupts the electrical circuitry to the pump and disables the pump until the leak has been located and repaired.

Abstract: A vertical rotary post in a silo is formed with a transverse passage across and into which a stop sleeve is fixed. A chain, for loosening compacted material in the silo, extends freely through the passage. The chain has a ring, at one end, which extends into the passage but is stopped by the stop sleeve.

Abstract: A control system for controlling a supply of a predetermined quantity of fluid comprises a pump for supplying a fluid, a motor for driving the pump, a measuring device for measuring a flow quantity of the fluid which is supplied by the pump, a device for presetting before starting a fluid supplying operation a preset value P which is indicative of a desired fluid supplying quantity, and a control device supplied with a measured flow quantity from the measuring device and the preset value P for controlling the application of a current to the motor. The control device comprises a first circuit for applying the current to the motor until the measured flow quantity from the measuring device becomes equal to P-K, where K is a predetermined value greater than an oversupply quantity .DELTA.

Abstract: An improved vending machine power switching apparatus in which a single power switching circuit is associated with a plurality of load selecting relay switches and a switching control circuit, in which the control circuit controls the order of switching of the power switch and relay switches, such that any relay switch is always closed before power is delivered to its associated load and is always opened after power is removed from the load, and the power is applied and removed by the power switching means.