Provided herein are methods and systems of the invention that include the use of an automated solution dispenser to form a solution according to at least one target characteristic. A controller may be operatively connected to the automated solution dispenser, wherein the controller is programmed to direct mixing of one or more solids and one or more liquids to produce the solution. At least a portion of the solution can be dispensed into one or more containers.

A liquid-mixing apparatus used in a liquid-mixing method comprises a plurality of supply valves provided to a cylinder. The supply valves make it possible to individually supply a plurality of types of liquids into a retention chamber. Each of the supply valves is configured so as to be switchable between an open state, in which the interior of a supply channel via which a liquid is supplied and the interior of the retention chamber intercommunicate, and a closed state, in which communication between the supply channel and the retention chamber is blocked. A piston moves in the direction in which the volume of the retention chamber increases while at least one of the supply valves is in the open state, whereby a liquid is drawn into the storage chamber.

A painting system used in a painting method in which a plurality of colors of paint supplied from a paint supply device are mixed and toned with a mixing device and applied to a workpiece, the painting system comprising a storage unit that can store the paint that is mixed and toned with the mixing device, and a cleaning unit that can clean the mixing device. When applying the paint in the storage unit to the workpiece, the cleaning unit cleans the mixing device.

Apparatus for blending and applying plural substances including aggregate onto an environmental substrate is shown and described. The apparatus includes optionally a single power plant, plural pumps each fed by a respective hopper, and a blender blending pumped materials together. Dispensing ratios of the two pumps are mutually adjustable. An onboard air compressor delivers compressed air for atomizing blended materials as they are dispensed with the aggregate. Because materials may be curable or hardenable, flushing is enabled. The apparatus may be a free standing wheeled device.

An apparatus for mixing a liquid and a substance, including a housing with a liquid inlet and a substance inlet to a mixing chamber, an outlet for a mixture of liquid and substance, and a flow restrictor arranged in the housing, between the liquid inlet and the mixing chamber. The flow restrictor is controllable to switch between a first position providing a first through flow area configured to create a Venturi effect such that a flow of the liquid draws the substance into the mixing chamber, and a second position providing a second through flow area that is larger than the first through flow area to thereby decrease a pressure drop caused by the flow restrictor.

A blender has a mixing chamber for reception of materials to be blended. A mixing screw is mounted at a bottom of the mixing chamber for mixing materials within the mixing chamber and delivering mixed materials to an outlet feeding a processing line. The blender has a plurality of material handling compartments. One or more cleaning air jets are provided in each material handling compartment. The cleaning air jets are operable to direct material towards an outlet of the compartment. Each cleaning air jet is connected to a pressurised air supply through a valve which controls delivery of pressurised air to the cleaning air jet.

Apparatus for blending and applying plural substances including aggregate onto an environmental substrate is shown and described. The apparatus includes optionally a single power plant, plural pumps each fed by a respective hopper, and a blender blending pumped materials together. Dispensing ratios of the two pumps are mutually adjustable. An onboard air compressor delivers compressed air for atomizing blended materials as they are dispensed with the aggregate. Because materials may be curable or hardenable, flushing is enabled. The apparatus may be a free standing wheeled device.

The invention relates to a dispersion tool (4) that can be cleaned more easily. For this purpose, the dispersion rotor (8) is arranged on the dispersion tool (4) axially moveable between the working position in the shaft tube (5) and the cleaning position outside the shaft tube (5), the dispersion rotor (8), in the cleaning position, being preferably completely arranged outside the shaft tube (5) and therefore being more easily cleanable.

Provided herein are methods and systems of the invention that include the use of an automated solution dispenser to form a solution according to at least one target characteristic. A controller may be operatively connected to the automated solution dispenser, wherein the controller is programmed to direct mixing of one or more solids and one or more liquids to produce the solution. At least a portion of the solution can be dispensed into one or more containers.

The invention relates to a diffusor for adding of gases into water, said diffusor comprising a perforated tube (1) and at least one supply tube (2), said the at least one supply tube (2) is at one end coupled to a source for supplying gas and at the other end in fluid communication with the perforated tube (1), the gas is supplied to the perforated tube (1) through at least one inner supply tube (4; 5; 15) extending from the supply tube (2) to the perforated tube (1). The invention is distinctive in that at the least one inner supply tube (4; 5; 15) is a non-perforating tube and has at least one outlet (4a, 5a, 15a) situated at a free end of the at least one inner supply tube (4, 5, 15), said gas is adapted to be distributed into the perforated tube (1) through the at least one outlet (4a, 5a, 15a).