A notched stirring device having additional functionalities includes a decorative element forming a grip for a user, a piercing tip for protruding through a garnish, and an elongated body that spans between the decorative element and the piercing tip. The decorative element may be formed in a fanciful shape to facilitate identification. The elongated body forms one or more functional notches and may support (or restrain) one or more items of garnish. The one or more functional notches include a first notch for receiving a first lip of the vessel so that the stirring device may be removably attached to the vessel. In certain embodiments, the stirring device includes a second notch for receiving a second lip of the vessel to secure the stirring device in a horizontal position with the garnish safely above the level of the liquid in the vessel. The notched stirring device may additionally have a vertical hanging notch for positioning the stirring device in a vertical orientation.

A method of forming a composite material includes mixing granules of thermoplastic(s) and granules of reinforcing material(s) using a mixer with an interior friction coating. The friction generated by interaction between the granules and friction coating causes granules of at least one of the thermoplastic(s) to be heated to a liquid or semi-liquid state. The liquid/semi-liquid thermoplastic(s) act a binder for the mixed material. A system for forming such a composite material includes such a mixer with an interior friction coating. The system may also include a mould and/or a press for forming material produced by the mixer into a finished shape. The method and system may use post-consumer and post-industrial material as an input allowing such material to be recycled. In some cases, cross-contaminated or mixed post-consumer/post-industrial material may be recycled, potentially reducing environmental impacts.

The present invention provides a method for the manufacture of a carbonated beverage, including the steps of: providing oxygen-reduced water; mixing the oxygen-reduced water with a mixing component to obtain a beverage mixture, adding a gas comprising CO.sub.2 to the beverage mixture to obtain a beverage mixture mixed with CO.sub.2, reducing the oxygen content of the beverage mixture mixed with CO.sub.2 in a first container to obtain an oxygen-reduced beverage mixture mixed with CO.sub.2, discharging the oxygen-reduced beverage mixture mixed with CO.sub.2 from the first container, determining the CO.sub.2 content of the oxygen-reduced beverage mixture mixed with CO.sub.2; and adding further CO.sub.2 to the discharged oxygen-reduced beverage mixture mixed with CO.sub.2 on the basis of the determined CO.sub.2 content to obtain a finally carbonated beverage.

A low-cost drug compounding system that can practically fit inside of a fume hood or the like is provided. The system can use a single pump operable in forward and reverse directions (or multiple pumps) to compound complex mixtures particularly including those requiring the creation of solutions from dry or powdered ingredients. A wireless link allows operation of the system remotely. In one embodiment, the system uses a disposable mixing tube set that can be discarded after mixing while still attached to the base ingredient containers used for the compounding thereby minimize the chance of personnel exposure.

Provided is a dust stop device for a sealed kneader, the device being capable of excellent supply of lubricating oil. The sealed kneader includes a pair of rotors and a supporting member. The dust stop device includes a rotating ring attached to each rotor and a stationary ring attached to the supporting member. Both the rings have respective contact surfaces which make surface contact with each other. The stationary ring has a lubricating-oil supply portion with a through-hole. A part of the through-hole, the part including a part opened in the contact surface, is a long hole extending along a circumferential direction of rotation of the rotating ring.

Described herein are systems and methods for the automated adjustment of flour property measurement equipment such as dough rheometers. The systems and methods allow measurements of flour and dough to be performed on different rheometers with consistent results, regardless of the manufacturer or location of the rheometers. The systems and methods described herein allow a second rheometer, for example, that is deployed in the field to provide results that are consistent with a first dough rheometer, for example, that may be at a different location, or the same location but of the same or different manufacturer. The systems and methods can be used to calibrate, remotely and in real-time, dough rheometers that are deployed in various locations.

A polymer dispersion system for use in a hydraulic fracturing operation is disclosed. The system comprises: (a) a first sub-system comprising an ingress and an egress; (b) a second sub-system comprising an ingress and an egress; (c) an eductor mixing device comprising a first inlet in fluid communication with the egress of the first sub-system, a second inlet in fluid communication with the egress of the second subsystem, and an egress; (d) a tank assembly comprising an ingress and an egress, the ingress of the tank assembly being in fluid communication with the egress of the eductor mixing device; and (e) a transfer sub-system comprising an ingress that is coupled to the egress of the tank assembly. The transfer sub-system comprises a first transfer pump and a second transfer pump. In addition, method for operating the polymer dispersion system is disclosed.

A portable, self-contained beverage apparatus includes a container assembly having a known storage capacity for storing a consumable liquid, and a dispensing assembly disposed within the container assembly that dispenses variable, non-zero quantities of additives into the consumable liquid. The dispensing assembly includes multiple apertures structured and arranged to retain vessels containing the additives to be dispensed into the consumable liquid. The beverage apparatus also includes a level sensor disposed within the container assembly that determines a consumable liquid level of the consumable liquid stored in the container assembly. In certain embodiments, one or more positive displacement pumping mechanisms are configured to pump additive liquid from additive containers into a beverage chamber.

A blender includes a blade assembly including a main blade shaft that is coupled to a first blade and a first main coupler so as to rotate in a forward direction and a reverse-rotation blade shaft that is coupled to a second blade and a first reverse-rotation coupler so as to rotate in a reverse direction, a gearbox assembly including a main gear shaft coupled to a second main coupler, which is engaged with the first main coupler, so as to rotate in the forward direction, a plurality of gears configured to convert the forward rotation of the main gear shaft to reverse rotation, and a second reverse-rotation coupler configured to transmit the reverse rotation transmitted through the plurality of gears to the first reverse-rotation coupler, and a case that has the gearbox assembly provided therein.

A system for making a brine solution is provided comprising: a single conveyor; and a hopper assembly configured to receive a salt and a solvent, the hopper assembly comprising a lower hopper having a shape in which sides of the lower hopper direct any solid contents of the lower hopper, under a force of gravity, towards an entry point of the single conveyor, the hopper assembly further comprising a solvent inlet arranged to spray the salt, wherein the solvent inlet is configured to create a brine solution from a spray of the solvent combined with the salt in the hopper assembly, and wherein the single conveyor is configured to remove debris from the hopper assembly at the entry point of the single conveyor. A novel sediment tank is also provided.