Power filling apparatus and methods for their use

Apparatus for transporting a fine powder, comprising:

• a hopper having an opening therein, the hopper being adapted to receive the fine powder;
• at least one chamber which is movable to allow the chamber to be placed in close proximity to the opening;
• a vibratable member having a proximal end and a distal end, the vibratable member being positionable within the hopper such that the distal end is near the opening;
• a vibrator motor to vibrate the vibratable member when within the fine powder in an up and down motion;
• and
• a mechanism for moving the vibratable member over the chamber while the vibratable member is vibrating.

A system for transporting a fine powder, comprising:

• a plurality of rotatable members each having a row of chambers about their periphery;
• a hopper disposed above each rotatable member, wherein each hopper includes an opening;
• a vibratable element that is positionable within each of the hoppers, wherein each vibratable element has a distal end near the opening;
• a vibrator coupled to each vibratable element to vibrate the elements in an up and down motion;
• and
• a mechanism to translate each vibratable element along each of the hoppers while the elements are vibrating.