Dispensing small quantities of powder

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing small quantities of powder into a receptacle, the apparatus comprising a hopper ( 1 ), the hopper in use containing powder to be dispensed therefrom, a support for the hopper whereby the hopper can in use be held above a receptacle ( 8 ) 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 therefrom and powder compaction means for enhancing the compaction of at least some of the powder in the receptacle.

1 . An apparatus for dispensing. small quantities of powder into a receptacle, the apparatus comprising a hopper, the hopper in use containing powder to be dispensed therefrom, a support for the hopper whereby the hopper can in use be held above a receptacle 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 therefrom and powder compaction means for enhancing the compaction of at least some of the powder in the receptacle. 
   
   
       2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the powder compaction means comprises a device for compacting the powder after the powder has been dispensed into the receptacle. 
   
   
       3 . An apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the compacting device comprises at least one tapping element for tapping the receptacle. 
   
   
       4 . An apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein the at least one tapping element is adapted to tap the receptacle directly. 
   
   
       5 . An apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein the at least one tapping element comprises a part of the hopper. 
   
   
       6 . An apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein the tapping element is adapted to tap the receptacle indirectly by tapping a carrier for the receptacle. 
   
   
       7 . An apparatus according to  claim 3  further comprising a control means for controlling the operation of the at least one tapping element and the at least one actuator. 
   
   
       8 . An apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the control means is adapted alternately to operate the at least one tapping element and the at least one actuator. 
   
   
       9 . An apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the compacting device comprises a vibrator device for vibrating the receptacle. 
   
   
       10 . An apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the vibrator device comprises a source of ultrasonic radiation which is located remote from the receptacle. 
   
   
       11 . An apparatus according  claim 9  further comprising a control means for controlling the at least one actuator and the source of ultrasonic radiation in synchronism. 
   
   
       12 . An apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the powder compaction means comprises a reciprocable element for pushing downwardly onto the powder dispensed into the receptacle. 
   
   
       13 . An apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein the reciprocable element comprises a plunger. 
   
   
       14 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the powder compaction means comprises a powder compacting device for compacting powder before the powder has been dispensed into the receptacle, and further comprising a dispensing device for dispensing compacted powder into the receptacle prior to dispensing of the powder into the receptacle from the hopper. 
   
   
       15 . An apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the powder compacting device and the dispensing device together comprise a common device for forming and depositing into the receptacle a volumetrically measured amount of compacted powder. 
   
   
       16 . An apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the common device comprises a tube having a bottom open end and reciprocable piston disposed in the tube. 
   
   
       17 . An apparatus according to  claim 14  further comprising a receptacle transfer mechanism for selectively moving the receptacle from a first position at which the receptacle is located to receive compacted powder from the dispensing device to a second position at which the container is disposed on a weigh scale and at which the receptacle is located for dispensing of powder thereinto from the hopper. 
   
   
       18 . An apparatus according to  claim 14  further comprising first and second moving devices for respectively moving the hopper and the dispensing device between respective first and second positions above and remote from a receptacle carried on a weigh scale. 
   
   
       19 . An apparatus according to  claim 14  further comprising first and second weigh scales and a transfer mechanism which is adapted to transfer a succession of receptacles onto the first weigh scale, from the first weigh scale onto the second weigh stale, and away from the second weigh scale. 
   
   
       20 . An apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein the powder compaction means is adapted to dispense pre-compacted powder into a receptacle when that receptacle is on the first weigh scale. 
   
   
       21 . An apparatus according to  claim 20  wherein the hopper is adapted to dispense powder into a receptacle when that receptacle is on the second weigh scale. 
   
   
       22 . An apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein the transfer mechanism is adapted to transfer successive receptacles in synchronism. 
   
   
       23 . An apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein the first and second weigh scales are adapted to weigh respective receptacles in synchronism. 
   
   
       24 . A method of dispensing small quantities of powder into a receptacle, the method comprising the steps of: disposing in a hopper a powder to be dispensed therefrom; supporting the hopper above a receptacle into which the dispensed powder is to be received; delivering impact energy to the hopper by at least one actuator thereby to cause powder to be dispensed therefrom into the receptacle; and, at any stage in the method, compacting at least some of the powder thereby to enhance the compaction of the powder in the receptacle. 
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 24  comprising compacting the powder after the powder has been dispensed into the receptacle. 
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 25  wherein the compacting step comprises tapping the receptacle thereby to settle the powder in the receptacle. 
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 26  comprising tapping the receptacle directly. 
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 27  wherein a part of the hopper taps the receptacle. 
   
   
       29 . A method according to  claim 26  comprising tapping the receptacle indirectly by tapping a carrier for the receptacle. 
   
   
       30 . A method according to  claim 25  further comprising alternately tapping the receptacle and dispensing powder from the hopper. 
   
   
       31 . A method according to  claim 25  wherein the compacting step comprises vibrating the receptacle. 
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein the receptacle is vibrated by ultrasonic radiation. 
   
   
       33 . A method according  claim 32  wherein the delivery of impact energy to the hopper and the vibration by ultrasonic radiation are in synchronism. 
   
   
       34 . A method according to  claim 25  wherein the powder is compacted by pushing downwardly onto the powder dispensed into the receptacle. 
   
   
       35 . A method according to  claim 24  comprising compacting the powder before the powder has been dispensed into the receptacle, and dispensing the compacted powder into the receptacle from a dispensing device prior to dispensing of the powder into the receptacle from the hopper. 
   
   
       36 . A method according to  claim 35  comprising forming and depositing into the receptacle a volumetrically measure amount of compacted powder. 
   
   
       37 . A method according to  claim 35  further comprising selectively moving the receptacle from a first position at which the receptacle is located to receive compacted powder from the dispensing device to a second position at which the receptacle is disposed on a weigh scale and at which the receptacle is located for dispensing of powder thereinto from the hopper. 
   
   
       38 . A method according to  claim 35  further comprising respectively moving the hopper and the dispensing device between respective first and second positions above and remote from a receptacle carried on a weigh scale. 
   
   
       39 . A method according to  claim 35  further comprising transferring a succession of receptacles onto first weigh scale, from the first weigh scale onto the second weigh scale, and away from the second weigh scale, dispensing pre-compacted powder into a receptacle from the dispensing device when that receptacle is on the first weigh scale, and dispensing powder from the hopper into a partially filled receptacle when that receptacle is on the second weigh scale. 
   
   
       40 . A method according to  claim 39  comprising transferring successive receptacles in synchronism. 
   
   
       41 . A method according to  claim 39  comprising weighing respective receptacles in synchronism on the first and second weigh scales. 
   
   
       42 . An apparatus for dispensing small quantities of powder into a receptacle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
   
   
       43 . A method of dispensing small quantities of powder into a receptacle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.