An automatic line for producing paints and the like wherein a dispensing of the bases and colorants is programmed so as to dispense in an order a first base, a dose of colorant and a second base inside a retail container, so that before mixing, the colorant is confined between two bases and there is no risk of part of the colorant adhering to an inner face of the lid without participating in the mixing.

A filling system for an electronic cigarette (10) is disclosed in which a nozzle (38) of a liquid dispenser (80) contains a plunger (62) which is biased by a spring (60) into a closed position in which liquid is prevented from flowing through the nozzle (38). In use the nozzle (38) is inserted into an open end (42) of a liquid reservoir (34) for an electronic cigarette containing an air tube (32). The plunger (62) engages with the end of the air tube (32) blocking the air tube (32) and opening the liquid flow path through the nozzle (38). The arrangement of the plunger (62) and nozzle (38) is such that operation of the plunger (62) only occurs when the nozzle (38) engaged within a liquid reservoir (32). A membrane (96) can be provided to prevent leakage from the liquid reservoir (34) when the nozzle (38) is disengaged.

A filling system for an electronic cigarette (10) is disclosed in which a nozzle (38) of a liquid dispenser (80) contains a plunger (62) which is biased by a spring (60) into a closed position in which liquid is prevented from flowing through the nozzle (38). In use the nozzle (38) is inserted into an open end (42) of a liquid reservoir (34) for an electronic cigarette containing an air tube (32). The plunger (62) engages with the end of the air tube (32) blocking the air tube (32) and opening the liquid flow path through the nozzle (38). The arrangement of the plunger (62) and nozzle (38) is such that operation of the plunger (62) only occurs when the nozzle (38) engaged within a liquid reservoir (32). A membrane (96) can be provided to prevent leakage from the liquid reservoir (34) when the nozzle (38) is disengaged.

A method of changing container sizes on a container filling carousel, the carousel and container supports thereon, which carousel has one or more pairs of side-by-side first and second container supports, each container support having a frame, a container support platform and at least one pair of container support arms above the container support platform. Each of said container supports is structured to accept a first small-sized container. The second container support is structured to accept a second larger-sized container, relative to said first small-sized container. The carousel includes a product filling head above each of said first and second container supports. The first container support can be radially retracted from a side of the second container support and from beneath its corresponding product filling head to allow the second container support to accommodate a larger-sized container.

A method of changing container sizes on a container filling carousel, the carousel and container supports thereon, which carousel has one or more pairs of side-by-side first and second container supports, each container support having a frame, a container support platform and at least one pair of container support arms above the container support platform. Each of said container supports is structured to accept a first small-sized container. The second container support is structured to accept a second larger-sized container, relative to said first small-sized container. The carousel includes a product filling head above each of said first and second container supports. The first container support can be radially retracted from a side of the second container support and from beneath its corresponding product filling head to allow the second container support to accommodate a larger-sized container.

An apparatus and method for distributing articles made by series production is configured to deliver articles to selected storage positions in side-by-side rows of adjacent storage positions for stacked articles in a storage compartment. After selection of a storage position, a transport platform movably mounted on a horizontally movable carriage above the rows is driven to a location above the selected storage position with the platform moved between two possible positions for dispensing articles into the respective rows, an article conveyor on the platform is actuated to transport the article off the platform into the underlying storage position, where it is stacked on top of any previously stacked articles, and the platform is driven back to a start position to receive the next article. The procedure is repeated to distribute subsequent articles to selected storage positions in the storage area.

An apparatus and method for distributing articles made by series production is configured to deliver articles to selected storage positions in side-by-side rows of adjacent storage positions for stacked articles in a storage compartment. After selection of a storage position, a transport platform movably mounted on a horizontally movable carriage above the rows is driven to a location above the selected storage position with the platform moved between two possible positions for dispensing articles into the respective rows, an article conveyor on the platform is actuated to transport the article off the platform into the underlying storage position, where it is stacked on top of any previously stacked articles, and the platform is driven back to a start position to receive the next article. The procedure is repeated to distribute subsequent articles to selected storage positions in the storage area.

A container lid for a container for holding liquid or paste-like products has a lid body, which can be fixed to a container housing of the container via a container opening. By a manually operable metering dispenser device a predefinable quantity of the product can be dispensed from the container housing through a product dispensing opening of the metering dispenser device when an actuating element of the metering dispenser device is actuated. A mixing device for the product located in the container has a displaceable mixing element, which is operatively connected to the actuating element of the metering dispenser device and which is displaced by an actuation of the actuating element. In a filling process, the container is filled with several product components and mixed in a mixing step with the aid of the mixing device located on the container lid before the container is sealed with the container lid.

A liquid pour tray provides a plurality of liquid retaining receptacles each having a proximal portion and a distal portion defining an open end, the distal portion having a width narrowing in a direction opposite the proximal portion toward the open end. A plurality of partitions are interposed between the plurality of liquid retaining receptacles and an overflow reservoir is in fluid communication with the plurality of liquid retaining receptacles.

A liquid pour tray provides a plurality of liquid retaining receptacles each having a proximal portion and a distal portion defining an open end, the distal portion having a width narrowing in a direction opposite the proximal portion toward the open end. A plurality of partitions are interposed between the plurality of liquid retaining receptacles and an overflow reservoir is in fluid communication with the plurality of liquid retaining receptacles.