A system includes a dip tube, a feed line, and a check valve. The dip tube is inserted through an opening in a source of chemical precursor and into the chemical precursor in the source. A portion of the feed line is located in the dip tube. The feed line passes out of the dip tube. The chemical precursor is capable of flowing out of the source through the feed line in a downstream direction. The check valve is located in the portion of the feed line in the dip tube. The check valve permits the chemical precursor to pass substantially only in the downstream direction. The feed line is coupled to a transfer pump that draws the chemical precursor out of the source through the portion of the feed line in the dip tube.

A method for controlling drop collisions in a drop on demand printing apparatus, comprising discharging a first drop (101) from a first dispenser (111) to move along a first path (103) and discharging a second drop (102) from a second dispenser (112) to move along a second path (104) that crosses with the first path such that the drops are expected to collide and form a combined drop (105), characterized by: measuring the collision of the drops (101, 102); examining whether the collision was effected as expected; if the collision was not effected as expected, altering the parameters of dispensing of the drops (101, 102) from the dispensers (111, 112).

A “FirePOD” provides a self-contained, portable, standalone fire protection system that enables property owners, firefighters or others to mix and apply fire-protective gel or foam to entities such as structures, vehicles, vegetation, etc., to protect those entities from wildfire events or other external fire incidents. In various implementations, the FirePOD includes a recirculation-based mixing system for combining a mixture comprising a powder, liquid, or gel-based Thermal Protective Substance (TPS) with a volume of water or other liquid to produce the fire-protective gel or foam. By applying reconfigurable valves, one or more pumps are applied to both recirculate the mixture and, when sufficiently mixed, apply the resulting fire-protective gel or foam via one or more hoses or other dispensing mechanisms. In various implementations, the FirePOD is movable, and is manually or automatically propelled to locations suitable for applying the fire-protective gel or foam.

A powder mixing system and method improves productivity of a final product by reducing time required for completion of mixing. The powder mixing system includes a mixing vessel provided with a rotating shaft for mixing multiple kinds of powder, a rotating machine for rotating the mixing vessel by means of the rotating shaft, an image photographing device for acquiring an image of the powder in a mixing process, and a computer. The mixing vessel includes a window through which the image of the powder is photographed. The computer has a function of detecting that the mixing vessel is located at a predetermined position. The image photographing device acquires the image of the powder through the window of the mixing vessel located at the predetermined position. The computer estimates a mixing state of the powder based on the acquired image of the powder.

A blending system includes a blender base and a container. The blender base includes a housing that houses a motor. The container is attachable to the blender base. The blending system includes a user device that communicates with the blender base. The user device may communicate with a remote computing device. The user device generates instructions and recipes for the blender base.

Controllers and methods of bulk explosive loading systems are disclosed. A controller of a bulk explosive loading system includes a communication interface configured to communicate with a human-machine interface (HMI). The HMI is configured to execute a software program configured to enable the HMI to receive user inputs from a user. The controller also includes control outputs to output control signals to electrically controllable components. The controller further includes sensor inputs configured to receive sensor signals from sensors configured to monitor the bulk explosive loading system. The controller also includes a processor configured to process recipe information received from the HMI, generate the control signals based on the recipe information to control the electrically controllable components to blend the mixture, process the sensor signals received during blending of the mixture, and transmit blending information to the HMI device. The blending information includes information regarding the blending of the mixture.

A carbonated beverage maker includes a water reservoir, a carbon dioxide creation chamber, and a carbonation chamber. The water reservoir holds ice water and has a first impeller and a shroud surrounding the first impeller. The carbon dioxide creation chamber contains chemical elements and receives warm water. The chemical elements react with each other to create carbon dioxide when the warm water is introduced to the carbon dioxide creation chamber. The carbonation chamber is connected to the water reservoir and the carbon dioxide creation chamber. The carbonation chamber has a second impeller that includes a stem portion and blades. The stem portion and the blades define conduits therein. The blades create a low pressure region in a lower portion of the carbonation chamber such that carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide creation chamber flows through the conduits to the low pressure region.

Systems and methods for aeration and mixing processes are disclosed.

An apparatus and a method for providing active agent compositions from fluid is provided. The apparatus and method allow providing release agents, mold release agents, or lubricants in various compositions, for example anti-tack agents for compounds for the rubber manufacturing or processing industries. A mixing system for providing active agent compositions from fluid includes a mixing assembly and a control device, the mixing assembly including a conveyor and a plurality of pipe assemblies. The mixing assembly is controlled using the control device.

The present invention relates to a system for the preparation of a packaged food composition, wherein the system comprises a collecting unit, a weighting unit, a mixing unit, a filling unit, transferring units and a control unit.