Apparatus for precisely dispensing free flowing solids

An apparatus for dispensing free flowing solids comprising:

• (a) a container for holding free flowing solid to be dispensed;
• (b) a transporting means including a passage defined by a continuous closed surface for transporting particles of the free flowing solid through the passage, the transporting means having an inlet connected to the container and a discharge end located remote from the container, the passage having segments defining a transport angle having an apex greater than 90.degree. but less than 180.degree., the transport angle causing the particles disposed within the passage to form a bridge within the passage which functions to stop the flow through the passage under the influence of gravity when the transporting means is inclined at a vertical angle of inclination less than a vertical angle of inclination at which gravity causes free flow of particles through the passage;
• (c) means for selectively applying vibrations to the particles within the passage with an energy sufficient to cause the bridge to break apart to cause the particles to be free flowing from the container;
• and
• (d) the rate of flow of the particles through the passage being a linear function of the vertical angle of inclination of a segment of the passage between the discharge end and the apex of the transport angle when the discharge end is inclined with a downward slope from the apex of the transport angle to the discharge end.

An apparatus for dispensing free flowing solids comprisiing:

• (a) a container for holding a free flowing solids to be dispensed;
• (b) a transporting means including a passage defined by a continuous closed surface for transporting particles of the free flowing solid through the passage, the transporting means having an inlet connected to the container and a discharge end located remote from the container, the passage having a pair of intersecting segments defining a transport angle having an apex greater than 90.degree. but less than 180.degree., the transport angle causing the particles disposed within the passage to form a bridge within the passage which functions to stop the flow through the passage under the influence of gravity when the transporting means is inclined at a vertical angle of inclination less than an angle at which gravity causes free flow of the particles through the passage;
• (c) means for selectively applying vibrations to the transporting means at a point between the discharge end and the transport angle to cause the bridge to break apart to cause the particles to be free flowing from the container in response to the application of the vibrations;
• (d) means for varying the vertical angle of inclination of at least part of the transporting means with respect to a vertical reference to cause variation in the rate of flow of the particles through the passage as a function of vertical angle of inclination during the application of vibrations to the particles;
• and
• (e) the rate of flow of the particles through the passage being a linear function of the vertical angle of inclination of a segment of the passage between the discharge end and the apex of the transport angle when the discharge end is inclined with a downward slope from the apex of the transport angle to the discharge end.