Patent ID: 8833614
Filing Date: 2014-09-16
Classification: G01F

Abstract:
1. A dispensing apparatus comprising: a frame; a container coupled to the frame, the container containing a granular or powdered material and having a closure that selectively dispenses the material from the container via rotation of at least a portion of the closure, the closure having a cap, a first rotor, and a second rotor, the cap is received on the container and has an inside face, an outside face, and an aperture extending from the inside face to the outside face through the cap to allow materials within the container to be dispensed, the first rotor is positioned adjacent the inside face of the cap to selectively block the aperture in the cap, the first rotor being rotatable between a first position in which the aperture is blocked and a second position in which the aperture is not blocked, the second rotor is positioned adjacent the outside face of the cap to selectively block the aperture in the cap, the second rotor is rotatable between a first position in which the aperture is blocked and a second position in which the aperture is not blocked, rotation of the first rotor and the second rotor is sequenced such that at least one of the rotors is always blocking the aperture; a drive member coupled to the frame and actuatable to rotate a portion of the closure relative to the frame; a receptacle positioned to receive material dispensed from the cap and having an opening through which material from the cap is dispensed into the receptacle, the opening substantially facing the cap in all positions of the first and second rotors; a sensor operable to sense the rotational position of the first and second rotors relative to the aperture of the cap and stop the drive member only when the sensor determines a rotational position of at least one of the first and second rotors.