Patent ID: 6640845
Filing Date: 2003-11-04
Classification: B65B,G03G

Abstract:
In a powder filling apparatus including a hopper, a rotatable auger for moving powder material from said hopper towards a container to be filled, anti-dribbling nozzle device including a nozzle member for inserting into the container, and means for applying positive and negative air pressure to a wall of said nozzle member, a method of cleanly cutting off filling of the container from a filling cycle without post-cutoff dribbling of powder, the method comprising:(a) stopping rotation of said auger for moving powder material from said hopper, and application of uniform continuous positive pressure to said wall of said anti-dribbling nozzle; (b) applying negative pressure to said wall of said anti-dribbling nozzle device; (c) applying increased short bursts of positive air pressure through slanted air discharge ports in said wall for forcibly removing any powder from the nozzle wall; and (d) applying negative pressure again to said wall of said anti-dribbling nozzle device following said step of applying increased short bursts of positive air pressure, thereby enabling cleanly cutting off filling of the container without post-cutoff dribbling of powder.