Abstract: A beverage fluid dispensing head comprising a housing; and a fluid track, at least in part, arranged inside the housing. The fluid track comprises: an inlet channel arranged for receiving a beverage fluid, such as coffee, from a beverage apparatus; a collection chamber, fluidly connected to the inlet channel, for receiving the beverage fluid therefrom; and at least one outlet channel. The at least one outlet channel is fluidly connected to the collection chamber for receiving the beverage fluid from the collection chamber. A downstream part of the at least one outlet channel is formed as a tongue-shaped flow guide which is downwardly directed for, in use, guiding the received beverage fluid and submitting the received beverage fluid therefrom in the form of an integral fluid beam for dispensing.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical drug delivery device comprises a main body having a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end is configured to attach to a dispense interface. A separable housing that can prevent an administration of a drug by the drug delivery device, the housing configured to cover at least a portion of the distal end of the main body when the separable housing is coupled to the main body of the drug delivery device. A conduction element is provided by the main body and configured for establishing an electrical connection with an electrical connector. Establishment of the electrical connection is prevented when the housing does not cover at least a portion of the distal end of the main body. The electrical connection may be established when the housing covers at least a portion of the distal end of the main body of the drug delivery device.

Abstract: A distributed intelligent system. The distributed network includes at least one gateway server configured for receiving meter data from one or more nodes of a distributed meter network and at least one subscriber station in communication with the at least one gateway server via a communication network. The at least one gateway server is further configured to selectively distribute the received meter data to the at least one subscriber station in accordance with a policy.

Abstract: A printhead includes a chamber layer and at least two orifice layers. A first orifice layer is disposed on the chamber layer, and a second orifice layer is disposed on the first orifice layer. The second orifice layer has at least one counterbore formed therein. A first nozzle is formed through both orifice layers and produces droplets of a first drop weight. A second nozzle is formed through the first orifice layer, coincident with the counterbore, and produces droplets of a second drop weight that is different than the first drop weight. In one embodiment, the printhead is used in a stand-alone fluid-dispensing device.

Abstract: A distributed intelligent system. The distributed network includes at least one gateway server configured for receiving meter data from one or more nodes of a distributed meter network and at least one subscriber station in communication with the at least one gateway server via a communication network. The at least one gateway server is further configured to selectively distribute the received meter data to the at least one subscriber station in accordance with a policy.

Abstract: A dispensing system for controlled, especially remote controlled, dispensing of medicaments is disclosed. The system consists of a dispensing mechanism adapted to receive a sealed or resealable container of material to be dispensed and to validate that it is the correct material, and which includes a mechanical actuation mechanism which, when actuated, causes a measured dose of material to be dispensed from the material container. The mechanical actuation mechanism may be inhibited from operation by a locking mechanism which, when actuated, locks the device against the further dispensing of a dose of material until release in accordance with the desired dispensing programme, e.g. until a certain time period has elapsed, or until the programme permits dispensing to occur on some other basis. The dispensing system may be in two parts, a hand-held hand-actuated dispensing mechanism (1) and a base or docking station (2) into which the hand-held unit may be placed in order to release the locking mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of dosing pre-set quantities of gas, wherein the addition of known quantities of gas is required. The apparatus is designed to dosify gases in variable quantities, with temperature correction. The apparatus and the method is mainly applied to the gasification of containers used to transport foodstuffs, which must be kept at a controlled environment in order to better preserve them.

Abstract: A liquid measuring device is described for carrying out the assay using a gas or vapor permeable but liquid impermeable membrane barrier to control the volume of liquid to be measured or transferred. The membrane may be used in any instance where a fixed volume of liquid needs to be measured.

Abstract: A fluid delivery system includes one or more measure modules for measuring and delivering predetermined volumes of one or more different fluids. Each measure module includes a fluid inlet port, a retention vessel, an overflow aperture to allow fluid in excess of the desired volume to flow out of the vessel, and an outlet port for dispensing the retained fluid. A calibrating rod adjustably occupies a portion of the volume of the vessel to facilitate precise adjustment of the volume of fluid dispensed by the measure module. In one particular embodiment, a blender includes a plurality of measure modules whose outputs are coupled together to produce a mixture having a composition defined by the relative capacities of the vessels of the various measure modules. In another particular embodiment, one blender dilutes a chemical concentrate, and provides the diluted mixture to another blender, which further dilutes the mixture.

Abstract: A windshield washing fluid dispenser is described for selectively filling a vehicle windshield washer reservoir. A base housing supports a windshield washing fluid tower which is at least partially transparent to visually display windshield washing fluid therein. A bulk windshield washing fluid container is situated within the base housing. A fluid pump assembly has an intake line received within the fluid container and a discharge line that extends to openly communicate with the display tower. The pump assembly is operable to at least partially fill the display tower to a selected level such that the windshield washing fluid is visible through the windshield washing fluid display tower. A filler hose leads from the display tower to a discharge end, the hose being of sufficient length to extend from the windshield washer fluid display tower to the vehicle windshield washer reservoir.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for accurately and efficiently metering at least one compressible fluid and at least one incompressible fluid for mixing, whereby pressure and therefore density is regulated with regard to each compressible fluid, and volume is regulated with regard to each compressible fluid as well as each incompressible fluid. Compressible fluids in particular are metered more accurately because the mass of each fluid is used as the variable measurement standard, both the density and the volume of each fluid being maintained at controlled and predictable levels.

Abstract: A measured dispensing system includes a bulk reservoir containing a bulk quantity of a liquid material and a measurement container interconnected with the bulk reservoir. A pressure sensor is received within the measurement container for sensing a pressure head which develops therein as liquid is caused to enter the measurement container. Additionally, the measurement container has a level sensor therein for sensing the presence and absence of the liquid material in the measurement container at a particular level. A microprocessor controls valves allowing liquid to enter the tank during a filling cycle to determine when a specific quantity of the liquid has been received therein. The microprocessor similarly controls a dispensing valve and monitors a low level sensor to determine when that quantity has been dispensed from the tank.

Abstract: System for inflating tires comprised of a pressure air supply apparatus with a series of push-buttons (2) for different pressures and completed with a series of collars (6) which may be mounted on the outside of the valve of the tire with identification or characteristics which match those of one of the push-buttons. The pressure air supply apparatus includes a control unit (12) which acts on a pressure inlet electrovalve (93) or on a pressure discharge electrovalve (95) said control unit (12) having an amplifier (14), a transducer (13), a converter (15) and a zero adjusting circuit formed by two potentiometers (16). Two air supply hoses (9) are each fitted at their ends with a mouthpiece (10) terminated by clamping elements which tend to move towards one of the inclined grooves (20) through the action of a pushing element (22) biased by a spring (23).

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for bulk fluids, and a method associated therewith, is disclosed in which a bulk storage tank operates in association with a second tank of a smaller size, and which retains a fluid to be dispensed in a self-serve operation. Preferably, separate pumps are employed for feeding liquid from the bulk tank to the smaller reservoir, and from the reservoir through a nozzle to a receptacle, on demand. The apparatus of the present invention provides a system for dispensing fluids such as windshield washer at e.g., service stations, which can be used by a customer when it is desired to re-fill a vehicle windshield washer, without the problems associated with filling using larger containers.

Abstract: An X-ray solution mixing machine is provided which operates automatically, is simple in design, has no electronic parts, does not require electricity, and produces accurate and reproducible results. The mixing machine employs a unique liquids metering device which is wholly mechanical in its operation. In one embodiment of the liquids metering device, a first valve is actuated which directs a flow of liquid to the base of a vertical hydraulic cylinder. The flow of liquids causes the piston within the hydraulic cylinder to rise to the top of the cylinder. At the top of the cylinder, linking means close the first valve and the piston begins a slow descent as liquid is expelled from the hydraulic cylinder via a bleed hole located in the cylinder base. The time in which it takes for the hydraulic piston to descend from the top of the hydraulic cylinder to the bottom of the hydraulic cylinder is easily controlled by sizing the capacity of the cylinder, the weight of the piston and the sizes of the bleed hole.

Abstract: An apparatus is proposed for volumetric metering and filling of liquids which includes a vertically extending dispensing chamber provided with a lower inflow and outflow opening and an upper vent opening. A float having an indicator ring is freely reciprocable in the dispensing chamber and scanning elements for controlling the inflow or outflow of liquid are disposed outside the dispensing chamber. Further control elements control a retarded inflow or outflow of the liquid via a throttle device, so that the upper and lower height, the criterion for accurate metering out of quantities of liquid, of the surface of the liquid in the dispensing chamber can be regulated.

Abstract: A filling machine for supplying predetermined quantities of liquid is disclosed. The filling machine comprises a measuring chamber, a float positioned with clearance in the chamber and adapted to move up and down in at least a portion of the chamber with the level of liquid in the chamber, an abutment positioned in the chamber above the float for limiting the upper movement of the float in the chamber, and a seal adjacent the abutment for sealing against the chamber, the seal being arranged such that it can be moved into and out of sealing engagement with the chamber without disassembly of the filling machine thereby facilitating cleaning of the machine.

Abstract: A batch controller for automatically and selectively controlling a plurality of material dispensers. The controller includes circuitry for metering, for slowing, and for terminating the flow of material in and at selectable quantity levels thereof. The apparatus includes a starting circuit that renders the apparatus inoperative in response to the absence or interruption of operating potential, and flow of the material is controlled by devices that provide fail-safe termination of flow in the event of failure.

Abstract: A liquid proportioning system includes two groups of positive metering tanks, each group consisting of at least two tanks each containing a supply of liquid to be blended and including outlet control device for selectively regulating the volume of liquid leaving the tank per unit of time. The liquids from each tank are fed together through a single conduit to a mixer which continuously blends the liquid components as they are flowing, and the blended liquids are fed to a reservoir tank, from which they are fed to a point of use in accordance with the variable requirements of the latter. One group of positive metering tanks feeds the liquid components to the mixer in exact proportions until these tanks are depleted, at which time the flow from these tanks is shut off automatically and the second group of tanks begins to feed the portioned liquid components to the mixer, while the first group of tanks are refilled.