Dispensing small quantities of particles
AssigneeCapsugel Belgium BVBA
InventorsBruce MacMichael, Will Opie, Simon Bryant
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Abstract
An apparatus for dispensing small quantities of particles, the apparatus comprising a hopper (20) provided with a sieve at a bottom portion thereof, the hopper defining a powder-containing zone above the sieve which in use contains powder to be dispensed therefrom through the sieve, a support (25) for the hopper, the support holding a portion of the hopper so that the hopper can in use be held above a container into which the dispensed powder is to be received, at least one actuator (30) for delivering impact energy to the hopper for causing powder to be dispensed through the sieve when the hopper receives the impact energy, and an element which is adapted to permit controlled vertical movement of the hopper relative to the support.
Claims22
A method of dispensing small quantities of particles, the method comprising the steps of:
- disposing in a hopper provided with a sieve at a bottom portion thereof a powder to be dispensed therefrom through the sieve;
- supporting the hopper by holding a portion of the hopper with a support so that the hopper is held above a container into which the dispensed powder is to be received, providing an element which is adapted to permit controlled vertical movement of the hopper relative to the support, wherein the element comprises a clamp for clamping the hopper to the support, the clamp being configured to permit the hopper to move vertically in the clamped configuration over a particular distance;
- and delivering impact energy to the hopper by at least one actuator thereby to cause powder to be dispensed through the sieve when the hopper receives the impact energy and to permit controlled vertical movement of the hopper relative to the support.
An apparatus for dispensing small quantities of particles, the apparatus comprising a hopper provided with a sieve at a bottom portion thereof, the hopper defining a powder-containing zone above the sieve which in use contains powder to be dispensed therefrom through the sieve, a support for the hopper, the support holding a portion of the hopper so that the hopper can in use be held above a container into which the dispensed powder is to be received, at least one actuator for delivering impact energy to the hopper for causing powder to be dispensed through the sieve when the hopper receives the impact energy, and an element which is adapted to permit controlled vertical movement of the hopper relative to the support, wherein the element comprises a clamp for clamping the hopper to the support, the clamp being configured to permit the hopper to move vertically in the clamped configuration over a particular distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.