Patent ID: 8499967
Filing Date: 2013-08-06
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for dispensing solid articles, the apparatus comprising: a housing defining a hopper chamber to hold the articles and a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber, the dispensing channel having an inlet and an outlet defining a dispensing flow path therebetween; and at least one vacuum source adapted to provide a vacuum pressure and induce a gas flow in the housing; wherein the apparatus is configured to generate a forward drive gas flow from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow, and the forward drive gas flow conveys articles through the dispensing channel along the dispensing flow path in a direction from the inlet to the outlet to dispense the articles; wherein the apparatus is configured such that the forward drive gas flow flows along the dispensing flow path from the outlet to the vacuum source after passing through the dispensing channel; and wherein the apparatus is configured to generate an agitation gas flow from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow, wherein the agitation gas flow agitates articles in the hopper chamber.