Patent ID: 9550629
Date: 2017-01-24
CPC Classifications: B65G,F26B

Claim:
1. A method comprising: introducing material into an inlet opening of a dispensing apparatus comprising a housing; dispensing the material from the dispensing apparatus through a perforated cover of the dispensing apparatus by rotating a first rotor within the housing, wherein the first rotor comprises a shaft and a plurality of brushes that brush the material against the perforated cover as the first rotor is rotated; rotating a second rotor within the housing, wherein the second rotor is located above the first rotor and comprises a shaft and a plurality of radially extending blades, and rotation of the second rotor causes the material to pass through the housing from the second rotor toward the first rotor at a predetermined rate; and rotating a third rotor within the housing, wherein the third rotor comprises a shaft and a plurality of radially extending blades, wherein the third rotor is positioned below the second rotor and above the first rotor and along a path along which the material flows from the second rotor to the first rotor; wherein a rotational speed of the third rotor is greater than a rotational speed of the second rotor; wherein the first, second, and third rotors are rotated by first, second, and third motors, respectively, and selecting the rotational speeds of the rotors comprises controlling the rotational speeds of the motors.