Abstract: An ice storage bin with sliding sleeve metering device for filling buckets, totes or other ice containers. The metering device allows the containers to be filled from the ice storage bin with the exact volume of ice desired during each dispense. The metering device won't spill ice or water, is easily operated and prevents the ice container from being removed prematurely. The metering device can be operated either manually or automatically. The bucket or container is optionally a liner disposed in a bucket with a false bottom.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dispenser for bulk products, such as powdered products, for dispensing said product in a controlled and hygienic form. According to an embodiment of the invention, the dispenser assembly comprises a container (110) for storing the bulk product and is endowed with an opening (111) for filling the bulk product and an opening (112) for dispensing said bulk product; a means (200) for dispensing the bulk product in a controlled manner provided beneath said second opening; and a means (300) for receiving said dispensed bulk product.

Abstract: A feeder with variable rhomboidal walls includes a base housing, a soft hopper, a plurality of extrusion mechanisms, a pusher screw pole, a motor, and a decelerator. The extrusion mechanisms are respectively provided at four appropriate positions of the soft hopper, and are activated by protruding wheels with the aid of the motor in conjunction with the decelerator, so that the four extrusion mechanisms operate in pairs to squeeze the soft hopper while rendering a rhomboidal space change. Accordingly, a bridge effect associated with the prior art is eliminated to allow a raw material to fall and then to be dispensed by the pusher screw rod for further processing.

Abstract: A dispensing tool for dispensing material from a cartridge includes a cartridge holder defining an opening sized to receive the cartridge and including a cartridge rail. The tool further includes a plunger coupled to the cartridge holder such that it is movable axially through the cartridge holder opening, a plunger restraining member coupled to the cartridge holder, a handle coupled to the cartridge rail, and a trigger pivotably coupled to the handle. The handle may be repositionable along the cartridge rail and the plunger restraining member may disengage with the plunger to allow axial movement when the trigger is pivoted relative to the handle.

Abstract: A dispenser for solid flowable material such as breakfast cereal having a storage hopper positioned above a rotatable auger dispenser. The storage hopper being provided with off-set baffles to prevent bridging of the flowable material in the hopper and to support the flowable material to reduce the weight of the flowable material resting on the auger. One of the off-set baffles extending to the top center of the auger such that the flowable material flows directly downward on only one side of the auger. Still another baffle in the hopper extends downwardly and inwardly from discharge end of the auger to prevent discharge of the flowable material without rotation of the auger.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dispensing canister that improves dosing consistency and powder evacuation, particularly when dry powdered beverage-forming or food-forming material having poor intrinsic flowing properties are to be dispensed. The canister includes a reservoir having two terminal walls and two side walls, a rotatable volumetric dosing device longitudinally extending in the reservoir, and a main agitating wheel arranged to gear on the rotatable volumetric dosing device to rotate in the reservoir upon actuation of the rotatable dosing device. The secondary agitating wheel is arranged to gear on the main agitating wheel and the two wheels are vertically offset so that the main wheel is arranged to act in a downward rotation closer to a first terminal wall whereas the secondary wheel is arranged to act in a downward rotation closer to the second terminal wall.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for cleanly cutting off filling of a container with toner without post-cutoff dribbling. The apparatus for the method includes (a) a conduit member having a discharging end; (b) a conveyor device for moving the toner from the hopper towards the container; and (c) a nozzle device including a positive and negative air pressure applying device, and a nozzle member for directing the toner to the container. The nozzle member has a first end connected to the discharge end of the conduit member and a second and opposite end for dispensing moving toner into the container. The nozzle member includes a post-cutoff controllable vibrator assembly connected to a controller for selectively enabling clean cutoff of powder flowing into the container without post-cutoff dribbling.

Abstract: A material feeder having a flexible rotary dispensing member allows precise control over quantity and flow character of material being dispensed. Also, provided are a flexible dispensing member for a rotary material feeder, and a method of adjusting a dispensing amount on a rotary material feeder by adjusting a curvature of the rotating dispensing member.

Abstract: A method is provided for dosing powdered material from a supply container having a vertically suspending discharge tube of an elastically deformable material, by squeezing said discharge tube at locations, which periodically move along a part of the discharge tube length. In this method, the squeezing of the discharge tube is effected in a similar way as the flexible tube of a peristaltic pump of the type, with which the tube engages a support wall on one side and with which a peristaltic mechanism is provided on the opposite side for squeezing the tube according to a travelling wave, the length of which does not exceed one single wave length.

Abstract: A method for filling a powder container, including the steps of placing a first powder container to be filled in filling relationship to a supply of powder in a vessel, vibrofluidizing the powder in the vessel to improve its flow properties, dispensing powder from the vessel into the first container, removing the first container from the vessel, and placing a second container to be filled in filling relationship to the vessel.

Abstract: A dispersing system comprises a dispersing apparatus, a storage tank for storing a dispersing medium and a liquid containing a material to be treated, and conduits for connecting the dispersing apparatus in fluid communication with the storage tank. The dispersing apparatus comprises a dispersing chamber, at least one rotationally driven disc, a suction inlet through which the liquid containing the material to be treated and the dispersing medium are drawn from the storage tank into the dispersing chamber by the suction created by rotation of the disc, a discharge outlet, and a medium-separating device for separating the dispersing medium from the liquid containing the dispersed material and selectively discharging the liquid containing the dispersed material but not the dispersing medium from the discharge outlet.

Abstract: An apparatus for assisting in filling a container from a hopper containing a supply of powder is provided. The apparatus includes a conduit flexibly connected to the hopper and extending downwardly therefrom. The conduit is adapted to permit a flow of powder therewithin. The conduit defines a longitudinal axis thereof and the hopper defines a longitudinal axis thereof. The conduit is flexibly connected to the hopper so that the hopper and the conduit may be arranged in a first position with the longitudinal axis of the hopper and the longitudinal axis of said conduit being coincident and may be arranged in a second position with the longitudinal axis of the hopper and the longitudinal axis of the conduit being skewed with respect to each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for assisting in filling a container from a hopper containing a supply of powder is provided. The hopper defines a longitudinal axis thereof. The apparatus includes a conduit rotatably connected to the hopper and extending downwardly therefrom. The conduit is adapted to permit a flow of powder therewithin. The conduit defines a longitudinal axis thereof. The conduit further defines an inlet thereof for receiving the supply of powder from the hopper and an outlet for dispelling the powder therefrom. The inlet has an inlet center thereof and the outlet has an outlet center thereof. At least one of the inlet center and the outlet center is spaced from the longitudinal axis of the hopper so that as the conduit is rotated with respect to the hopper, the position of the outlet center with respect to the hopper changes.

Abstract: A method for filling a powder container is provided. The method includes the steps of placing a first powder container to be filled in filling relationship to a supply of powder in a vessel, mechanically exciting the powder in the vessel to improve its flow properties, dispensing powder from the vessel into the first container, removing the first container from the vessel, and placing a second container to be filled in filling relationship to the vessel.

Abstract: A flexible hopper made of rubber or other suitable flexible material which is driven by a motor through an eccentric drive so as to cause the hopper and a drive auger to vibrate to more readily dispense product in the hopper. One or more flexible fingers are attached to the auger and are flexed as the auger rotates so as to further improve the flow characteristics of the materials in the hopper.

Abstract: A flammable gel is arranged for extrusion through a nozzle of the associated container, wherein the container includes support legs pivotally mounted about a cylindrical collar secured to the container adjacent a top portion of the container, with the collar including the pivotal legs each including feet secured to the floor of the container in a first position relative to a second position, wherein the legs are projected beyond the container cap member to position the cap member for extrusion of the gel. Agitator structure is provided within the container to effect agitation of the gel for use in projecting the gel in a convenient manner to assist in a starting of fires.

Abstract: The mortar dispenser disclosed herein utilizes a rotating auger extending through a feed barrel at the bottom of a supply hopper to force mortar through a nozzle attached to the barrel for use in tuck pointing. Formation of a rotating plug which would obstruct flow is prevented by an auger construction in which a single helical flute divides into a pair of flutes which, in the nozzle region, extend in opposite directions from the auger axis to provide two channels. The pair of flutes are apertured to permit mortar flow between the two channels and a slender elongate spring scraper prevents mortar from sticking to the nozzle. An agitator extending into the hopper is driven by a cam rotating with the auger so as to work mortar in the hopper and cause it to flow into the auger.

Abstract: An elongate, horizontally upwardly opening particulate material storing receptacle with vertical front and end walls, upwardly projecting side walls, a longitudinally extending bottom wall, a material discharge opening at the front end of the receptacle, an elongate auger extending longitudinally within the receptacle from the rear wall to the discharge opening, a driven shaft on the auger and projecting rearwardly from the receptacle; and, a drive motor unit drivingly coupled with the driven shaft, the improvements comprise: mounting structure pivotally supporting the upper rear end of the receptacle about a horizontal transverse turning axis spaced vertically from the axis of the shaft, a cam plate with circumferentially spaced, rearwardly disposed lobes and recesses positioned rearward of the receptacle and carried by the shaft; and, a forwardly disposed reaction pose mounted rearward of the plate and in reacting driving engagement therewith to sequentially pivot the receptacle about the turning axis when

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing solid snack foods and the like comprises a closed container defining a chamber adapted to be at least partially filled with a snack food. A measuring cup is mounted on the container for receiving a measured quantity of the snack food. A combined dispensing tray and chute is pivotally mounted on the measuring cup to normally close an open bottom thereof and is moveable to an open position for discharging the measured quantity of foodstuff. An elongated screw conveyor, having flexible blades, is mounted in the container, between the chamber and measuring cup, and is adapted to be manually turned to convey the measured quantity of foodstuff into the measuring cup. A baffle is movably mounted in the chamber and responsive to rotation of the screw conveyor to shake the foodstuff onto the screw conveyor and to prevent clogging and breakage.

Abstract: An apparatus in which an auger, coupled to a hopper storing toner particles, dispenses toner particles substantially uniformly into a developer mixture. The auger comprises a tubular member having a plurality of apertures therein for discharging toner particles therefrom. A toner transport is disposed interiorly of the tubular member for advancing the toner particles therealong. The toner transport has a helical tooth for advancing the toner particles along the tubular member. The helical tooth has sections thereof deleted therefrom in the region of the apertures in the tubular member to facilitate discharging of the toner particles from the toner member and to prevent caking and clogging thereof.

Abstract: In the silo unloader art, wherein a bottom unloader is used, and specifically an unloader of the generally central discharge type, wherein an auger delivers silage to the central zone of a silo, as the auger rotates on its own axis, and sweeps across the bottom of a silo, to a passageway through the floor of the silo, generally at the center of the silo, an openable closure is provided for the silo, for controlling the flow of silage through the passageways. Particularly, when the silo is closed down for the night, and when the silage is of the dry, granular, readily flowable type, the openable closure allows the passageways to be closed so as not to allow silage to build up and become compacted in the passageway area beneath the silo floor and around the silo exit auger.

Abstract: The invention relates to an agricultural implement comprising a tool oscillating about a vertical axis, for example a spreading pipe of a fertilizer distributor, a mechanism for producing the oscillatory movement of the tool being formed by a rotatably driven flywheel and a coupling element eccentrically in said flywheel and engaging the tool or a holder thereof at a distance to said axis, and comprising a frame carrying the tool and the driving mechanism; the objects of the invention are to provide an improved frame, flywheel and toolholder respectively in particular the arrangement of the bearings relative to each other in order to achieve a more quiet run of the implement resulting in a light weight construction, longer lifetime and lower cost price.

Abstract: A spreader is described, primarily for use in distributing sand and the like on ice and snow-covered sidewalks. The spreader has a frame supported on ground wheels and a sand hopper is provided on the frame. An auger is mounted at a lower end of the hopper in an opening in the hopper to control the flow of sand from the spreader. A driving wheel is operably coupled to the auger, and supported on the hopper for movement between an operative position in which the wheel is in peripheral driving engagement with one of the ground wheels and an inoperative position in which the driving wheel is clear of this ground wheel. In the operative position the auger is driven as the spreader moves along the ground to spread sand and in the inoperative position the driving wheel is disengaged from the ground wheel and the auger is stationary.