Patent ID: 6612347
Filing Date: 2003-09-02
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
A cup filler for volumetrically metering, weighing, and dispensing particulate material, comprising:a hopper having an inlet and first and second outlets that is configured to receive and distribute the material through the outlets; a top plate disposed horizontally and fixed to a shaft to rotate with the shaft about a vertical axis and having first, second, and third passages extending through the top plate; a cup holder plate disposed horizontally and fixed to the shaft to rotate with the shaft about a vertical axis and having first, second, and third openings extending through the cup holder plate; first, second and third cups extending vertically and fixed between the first, second and third openings of the top and cup holder plates; a bottom plate abutting the cup holder plate and having first and second passages therethrough; and a motor drive unit drivingly coupled to the shaft to rotate the top plate, and the cups with respect to the bottom plate, wherein the first and second outlets of the hopper, the first, second and third cups and the first and second passages through the bottom plate are angularly disposed with respect to each other such that when the top plate, cups and cup holder plate are rotated by the motor drive unit, the cups empty in an alternating sequence and the hopper fills the cups in an alternating sequence.