Particulate product following system and method

A particulate product measuring and dispensing system for dispensing particulate product into containers to be filled, the system being disposed above a conveyor device for moving containers to be filled, and comprising:

• a particulate product measuring and dispensing machine comprising:
• an inlet for receiving particulate product;
• a measuring apparatus disposed adjacent to the inlet for measuring and isolating a discrete quantity of the particulate product;
• a discharge opening disposed adjacent the measuring apparatus for receiving the discrete quantity of particulate product and allowing it to drop therethrough;
• a following pocket disposed below the discharge opening and above the conveyor, the following pocket having a top opening, a bottom opening, a vertical axis, and an aperture formed between the top opening and the bottom opening and oriented generally parallel to the vertical axis, such that particulate product discharged from the discharge opening drops through the aperture in the process of dropping into the container, the following pocket being configured for moving below the discharge opening, the top opening being configured for alignment with the discharge opening throughout said motion;
• an actuator connected to the following pocket for selectively causing variable motion of the following pocket;
• and
• a controller connected to the conveyor, the particulate product measuring and dispensing machine, and the actuator, and configured for controlling the direction and timing of the motion of the following pocket independent of the motion of the container.

A method of filling a container with a controlled volume of particulate product comprising the steps of:

• (a) placing at least one container to be filled with a particulate product upon a linearly moving conveyor;
• (b) isolating and measuring a discrete quantity of particulate product by means of a particulate product measuring and dispensing machine having a discharge opening disposed above the conveyor;
• (c) sensing the location of the container to be filled relative to the discharge opening;
• (d) dropping the particulate product through the discharge opening approximately when the container to be filled is disposed therebelow;
• and
• (e) actuating a following pocket having independently adjustable direction and timing of motion relative to the motion of the container on the conveyor, and disposed below the discharge opening and above the container to cause the following pocket to move variably while the particulate product is falling therethrough and the container is therebelow.