A self-pressurizing pinch valve is disclosed which is suitable for controlling the flow of liquid in a filling machine for dispensing predetermined quantities of liquid. The pinch valve comprises a flexible hose for conveying the liquid, a chamber defined about at least a portion of the flexible hose, the flexible hose being adapted to be pinched in the chamber for valving the flow of liquid therethrough, and a valve arrangement responsive to movement of the flexible hose for controlling the pre...

An improved filling machine with tandem-operated diaphragm filling units is disclosed. The filling machine comprises a plurality of individual filling units operated in common from a common drive bar. Each of the filling units includes a cylinder, a flexible rolling diaphragm secured within the cylinder to delimit a working chamber in the cylinder on one side of the diaphragm, a piston arranged with clearance in the cylinder on the other side of the diaphragm for reciprocation in the cylinder, t...

A filling nozzle valve structure, with a first housing member provided with a chamber-like recess terminating in an outlet bore, an annular diaphragm member in the bottom of the recess, a valving member operable to engage with the diaphragm, and a second housing member operable to be screwed together with said first housing member and holding said valving member in place within the recess; the valving member is provided with a central bore extending therethrough and with two annular diaphragm-en...

Blocking apparatus and a blocking method allow precise alignment of an axis of a button with an axis of a block for blocking process of lens manufacturing. According to another aspect, the invention provides a blocking apparatus and a blocking method for automatically compensating variations in a button geometry without requiring complex adjustments during blocking process of lens manufacturing. According to yet another aspect, the invention provides a button holder that may flexibly float on a ...

A filling machine for supplying predetermined quantities of liquid is disclosed. The filling machine comprises a measuring chamber, a float positioned with clearance in the chamber and adapted to move up and down in at least a portion of the chamber with the level of liquid in the chamber, an abutment positioned in the chamber above the float for limiting the upper movement of the float in the chamber, and a seal adjacent the abutment for sealing against the chamber, the seal being arranged such...

According to one aspect, the invention provides a blocking apparatus and a blocking method for precisely aligning a button holder against a block during blocking process of lens manufacturing. According to another aspect, the invention provides an adjustable offset that enables pivotal movement of a button holder for precision alignment. According to yet another aspect, the invention provides a button holder that may flexibly float on a seat stage of a blocking apparatus, where the button holder...

According to one aspect, the invention provides a blocking apparatus and a blocking method for precisely aligning a button holder against a block during blocking process of lens manufacturing. According to another aspect, the invention provides a blocking apparatus a blocking method for automatically applying a wax material on a button. In one embodiment, the blocking apparatus includes an automatic wax delivery system having an automatic retractable dispensing nozzles for wax delivery.

A filling machine for filling containers with an accurately predetermined amount of a fluid product in which a flow meter for accurately measuring the flow rate of a fluid product fed to a filling nozzle is provided in the feed line leading to such nozzle which generates signals in its output indicative of the amount of flow; the signals are counted in a counter which causes the feed line to be shut off when a predetermined programmed number of pulses has been reached. The counter is reset autom...