Apparatus and method for filling containers

A method of filling a plurality of containers with predetermined amounts of flowable particulate or powder material, the method comprising placing the flowable particulate or powder material in a hopper, placing a plurality of containers, each of which has a cavity in which a predetermined quantity of the flowable particulate or powder material is to be received, in a configuration matching the configuration of a plurality of filling assembly channels located intermediate the containers and the hopper such that the first, entrance openings into the channels are connected with the hopper and the containers are aligned with a respective second, exit, opening of the channels and wherein a movement means cause relative movement between the channels and the containers between a first position and a second position and in the second position the second, exit, openings of the respective channels are located in a respective container cavity and flowable particulate or powder material moves from the hopper into the first, entrance opening of the channels and, under the influence of gravity, the flowable particulate or powder material moves into the channels so as to allow a predetermined quantity of the flowable particulate or powder material defined as the quantity which is contained in the channel, to pass under the influence of gravity through the channels and into the container cavity and moving the channels and containers apart once the predetermined quantity of flowable particulate or powder material has entered into the respective containers.

An apparatus for moving of a quantity of a flowable particulate or powder material into one or more containers, the one or more containers each having a cavity into which the quantity of flowable material is to be moved, said apparatus comprising:

• a location means for the one or more containers;
• a hopper adapted to hold the flowable particulate or powder material;
• a filling means including a channel through which the flowable particulate or powder material moves from said hopper into the cavity under the influence of gravity, wherein said filling means channel is located, during the movement of the flowable material, at least partially within the cavity;
• and
• a movement means that moves the container relative to said filling means once the flowable material quantity has been introduced into the cavity and during the dispensation of the said quantity of particulate or powder material.