An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the as collected condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples.

A cleaning system is disclosed for cleaning concrete residue from a concrete mixer truck. The cleaning system may include a water delivery system having one or more conduits configured to deliver pressurized water to one or more spray headers positioned at various back-end portions of the truck. The cleaning system further includes one or more valves configured to control the flow of pressurized water through the one or more conduits to the one or more spray headers. In various embodiments, the one or more valves are manually operable to control the release of water to the spray headers. In other embodiments, the one or more valves are controlled by a computing device through an electrical coupling such as a communication bus. The cleaning system may be configured to clean different portions of the truck using different sets of spray headers at different times as part of a washing protocol.

An easily assembled blender with an internal frame holding a cupholder elevator assembly, a mix motor assembly, a food preparation chamber, a water heater assembly and a steamer assembly. The water heater and steamer assemblies are preferably on modular trays that slide into the internal frame. The water heater preferably also serves as a hot water reservoir and, to avoid overheating, has its heating coil located near its bottom. To resist scale deposits, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tubing is preferably used to transport steam from the steamer to the food preparation chamber. To expedite manufacture, a spring-biased idler assembly with a drive belt for the cupholder elevator assembly preferably snaps into a lower receiving port on the internal frame. Crisscrossing infrared light beams are preferably placed at the entrance of the food preparation chamber to detect whether the cup entering the chamber is the correct size and detect whether any foreign object is below the food preparation chamber.

A food mixer comprises a container, a rotational shaft, an agitation member, a main packing, a collar, and a sub packing. The rotational shaft penetrates a wall of the container and is rotatably supported by the container. The agitation member is configured to agitate a work product in the container by rotating together with the rotational shaft. The main packing is disposed between the container and the rotational shaft. The collar is held at an outer periphery of the rotational shaft by a fixing member so that a space is formed between the main packing and the collar. The collar allows the space to be opened toward the container when the collar moves away from the fixed position after the fixing state is removed. The sub packing is provided between an outer periphery of the collar and a boss portion.

Wastewater treatment systems are disclosed. A wastewater treatment system includes a wastewater conduit disposed in a wastewater treatment vessel, a pump comprising an intake and an outlet connectable to the at least one opening of the wastewater conduit, and an adapter comprising a first end and a second end. The adapter is configured, in a treatment mode, to provide a flow path for wastewater from the wastewater treatment vessel through the adapter and pump to the wastewater conduit. The adapter is further configured to, in a backflush mode, provide a flow path for wastewater through the plurality of nozzles of the wastewater conduit and through the adapter and pump for discharge into the wastewater treatment vessel. Methods of treating wastewater using the system and adapter are disclosed. Methods of retrofitting a wastewater treatment system by providing the adapter are disclosed.

The invention relates to a method and equipment for the pressurised injection of air or other gases in a controlled manner into wine making tanks or similar for the purpose of efficiently breaking up the cap and extracting polyphenolic and aromatic compounds from the skins to the liquid portion (must) after the crushing of the grapes using the method for pumping over the grape harvest during the maceration thereof.

A method of cleaning a complex powder transfer system including providing a powder transfer system having a washing fluid source, a spray device valve in fluid communication with the washing fluid source, a backflush valve in fluid communication with the washing fluid source, a receiving device having an upper chamber, a lower chamber, and a membrane filter disposed between the upper and lower chambers. The method includes opening the backflush valve to initiate a backflush cycle, running the backflush cycle to wash the upper chamber with a fluid, and closing the backflush valve after the backflush cycle completes. The method includes opening the spray device valve to initiate a spray device cycle, running the spray device cycle to wash the lower chamber with fluid, and closing the spray device valve after the spray device cycle completes. The method includes opening a pressure valve to provide PCA to the receiving container.

A mixer, particularly a dual planetary mixer, for mixing a liquid with a dry material in a mixing vessel has improved fluid introduction. The mixer includes a drive shaft rotatable about a main axis of rotation and at least a first mixing element rotatable about a first mixing element axis. The mixer further includes drive means for driving the first mixing element about the first mixing element axis in response to rotation of the drive shaft about the main axis of rotation and at least one injection nozzle for injecting a liquid. A fluid path extends between a liquid inlet and the at least one injection nozzle. The fluid path extends longitudinally through the drive shaft.

A cleaning system is disclosed for cleaning concrete residue from a concrete mixer truck. The cleaning system may include a water delivery system having one or more conduits configured to deliver pressurized water to one or more spray headers positioned at various back-end portions of the truck. The cleaning system further includes one or more valves configured to control the flow of pressurized water through the one or more conduits to the one or more spray headers. In various embodiments, the one or more valves are manually operable to control the release of water to the spray headers. In other embodiments, the one or more valves are controlled by a computing device through an electrical coupling such as a communication bus. The cleaning system may be configured to clean different portions of the truck using different sets of spray headers at different times as part of a washing protocol.

One variation of a method for blending food products includes: receiving a cup containing food products; locating a lip of the cup on a lower seat of a cup plate; rotating a blend plate about a pivot axis from a blend position to a closed position to locate an upper seat of the blend plate against the lip of the cup; driving the cup plate, about the pivot axis, toward the blend position; driving the blend plate against the cup plate to seal the upper seat against the lip of the cup; activating a blender blade of the blend plate to blend food products in the cup; driving the cup plate against the blend plate to seal the upper seat against the lip of the cup; driving the blend plate toward the closed position; rotating the blend plate toward the blend position; and delivering the cup.