An appliance for producing a personal care product. The appliance includes a reaction chamber configured to receive one or more ingredients of a personal care product. The appliance also includes a cartridge, wherein the cartridge holds at least one of the one or more ingredients of the personal care product. The appliance further includes an output port configured to allow removal of the personal care product from the reaction chamber.

A mixing machine configured to receive a receiving device in order to form a mixing machine, the manufacturing apparatus comprising: a support defining a receiving housing, having a first receiving location configured to receive a first deformable capsule and a second receiving location configured to receive a second deformable capsule, the first and second capsules fluidly linked and respectively containing a first formulation and a second formulation, an actuation system movable relative to the support inside the receiving housing, comprising a first actuation member positioned on one side of the receiving housing and movable thereinside, in order to transmit a pressure force on the first capsule, along a first actuation stroke, a second actuation member positioned on another side, preferably an opposite side, of the receiving housing and movable thereinside, in order to transmit a pressure force on the second capsule, along a second actuation stroke, in which the first actuation stroke has a different length from the second actuation stroke.

A mixing pouch forms a packaging product that includes a first compartment containing a supply of a liquid ingredient and a second compartment that contains a supply of a powdered ingredient with a breakable seal between the two compartments to separate the two ingredients. Rupturing the breakable seal creates a common interior cavity and allows the mixing of the two ingredients to create a mixed product. One end of the mixing pouch is formed with a dispenser through which the mixed product is dispensed for use. An apparatus, such as a positionable clamp or an adhesive strip on the exterior of the mixing pouch, can reduce the size of the common interior cavity to facilitate the dispensing of the mixed product. Preferably, the mixing pouch is a flexible plastic member having a dispensing end formed with a channel closed by a tear-away portion.

A mixing machine, configured to receive a receiving device in order to form a manufacturing apparatus, the mixing machine comprising: a support defining a receiving housing, able to receive a first capsule and a second capsule both deformable and intended to be fluidly linked to each other, the first and second capsules containing respectively a first formulation and a second formulation, an actuation system, movable in rotation back-and-forth about a pivot axis, a cam movable in rotation along a cam axis of rotation not parallel to the actuation axis of rotation, the cam comprising a drive finger,
wherein the actuation system comprises a drive groove configured to receive said drive finger, so that the rotation of the cam causes a back-and-forth motion of the actuation system, wherein the link between the drive finger and the drive groove comprises a ball joint.

Systems and methods for preparing construction material mixtures. A container can include a flexible body having an interior for receiving and holding construction material mixture components to be mixed. The construction material mixture components can be mixed in the interior by rotating a mixing tool. The flexible body is collapsible for forcing the construction material mixture out of a mouth of the container. The flexible body can be everted to facilitate cleaning the interior of the flexible body. The system can also include a stand, a mixing tool, a funnel, and/or a measuring cup.

A specimen transfer device adapted to receive a blood sample is disclosed. The specimen transfer device includes a housing and an actuation member. A deformable material is disposed within the housing and is deformable from an initial position in which the material is adapted to hold the sample to a deformed position in which at least a portion of the sample is released from the material. A viscoelastic member is disposed within the housing between the material and the housing and between the material and the actuation member. The viscoelastic member is engaged with the actuation member and the material such that movement of the actuation member from a first position to a second position deforms the material from the initial position to the deformed position.

A specimen transfer device adapted to receive a blood sample is disclosed. The specimen transfer device includes a housing and an actuation member. A deformable material is disposed within the housing and is deformable from an initial position in which the material is adapted to hold the sample to a deformed position in which at least a portion of the sample is released from the material. A viscoelastic member is disposed within the housing between the material and the housing and between the material and the actuation member. The viscoelastic member is engaged with the actuation member and the material such that movement of the actuation member from a first position to a second position deforms the material from the initial position to the deformed position.

A manufacturing apparatus includes a mixing machine having a receiving housing with a first receiving location configured to receive a first deformable capsule and a second receiving location configured to receive a second deformable capsule, the first and second capsules intended to be fluidly linked to each other and containing respectively a first formulation and a second formulation. The mixing machine has at least an electrically motorized actuation system configured to transmit a pressure force to the first and second capsules to move the content of the first capsule in the second capsule, and vice versa, and an electrical heater element configured to heat at least one of the first and second capsules when the first and second capsules are received in the mixing machine, in which, in a preparation phase prior to bringing the two formulations into contact, the actuation system and the heater element are electrically supplied alternately.

Exemplary embodiments of dispensing systems for dispensing mixtures of multiple liquids, refill units and pumps for such refill units and dispensers are disclosed herein. One refill unit includes a first container and a second container. The refill unit includes a first pump chamber that is associated with the first container and a second pump chamber that is associated with the second container. The first and second pump chambers include a liquid inlet valve and a liquid outlet valve. Expanding the first and second pump chambers draws liquid into the first and second pump chambers through the liquid inlet valves and compressing the first and second pump chambers forces liquid through the liquid outlet valves into a mixing chamber located downstream of the liquid outlet valves. The mixing chamber is formed at least in part by a flexible membrane. The refill unit also includes an outlet nozzle for dispensing the mixture.

An appliance for producing a personal care product. The appliance includes a reaction chamber configured to receive one or more ingredients of a personal care product. The appliance also includes a cartridge, wherein the cartridge holds at least one of the one or more ingredients of the personal care product. The appliance further includes an output port configured to allow removal of the personal care product from the reaction chamber.