Methods and apparatus for dispensing solid articles

An apparatus for dispensing solid articles, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing defining a hopper chamber to hold the articles and a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber, the dispensing channel having an inlet and an outlet defining a dispensing flow path therebetween;
• and
• at least one vacuum source adapted to provide a vacuum pressure and induce a gas flow in the housing;
• wherein the apparatus is configured to generate a forward drive gas flow from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow, and the forward drive gas flow conveys articles through the dispensing channel along the dispensing flow path in a direction from the inlet to the outlet to dispense the articles;
• wherein the apparatus is configured to generate an agitation gas flow from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow, wherein the agitation gas flow agitates articles in the hopper chamber;
• wherein the apparatus is configured to generate the agitation gas flow and the forward drive gas flow simultaneously using vacuum pressure and induced gas flow from the same vacuum source via a common exit port of the housing;
• and
• wherein the apparatus is configured such that a portion of the agitation gas flow does not pass through the dispensing channel and flows to the vacuum source as an agitation return flow through the common exit port.