Patent ID: 7625602
Filing Date: 2009-12-01
Classification: C23C

Abstract:
1. In a method for metering thermally sensitive powdered or granular material onto or in close proximity to a heated surface to vaporize such material, comprising: (a) providing a feeding location and a perforated member at the feeding location that is in proximity to but not touching the heated surface and that provides agitation or fluidization to the powdered or granular material; (b) providing a thermally conductive path from the perforated member at the feeding location to a heat sink; (c) providing an auger enclosure and a rotatable auger, whose terminus is at the feeding location, disposed in material receiving relationship for receiving powdered or granular material, and as the rotatable auger rotates such rotating rotatable auger translates such powdered or granular material to the feeding location such that the thermally conductive path reduces thermal exposure of the material and thereby improves the material lifetime within the auger enclosure; (d) providing openings in the perforated member such that the pressure produced by the rotating rotatable auger at the feeding location causes the powdered or granular material to be forced through the openings in the perforated member onto the heated surface in a controllable manner, and (e) agitating or fluidizing the powdered or granular material in proximity to the feeding location by the perforated member in cooperation with the rotatable auger so as to facilitate the flow of powdered or granular material through the openings in the perforated member to the heated surface where the powdered or granular material is flash evaporated.