Patent ID: 6805175
Filing Date: 2004-10-19
Classification: B01F,B65B

Abstract:
Apparatus for aspirating and dispensing powder, comprisinga hopper having one or more powder transfer ports and one or more suction ports adapted for connection to one or more sources of suction to establish an upward flow of air or other gas through the one or more transfer ports, and a gas flow control system for varying said upward flow through the one or more transfer ports to have different velocities greater than 0.0 m/s, including an aspirating velocity for aspirating powder into the hopper through at least one of said one or more transfer ports to form a fluidized bed of powder in the hopper above said at least one transfer port, and a dispensing velocity less than said aspirating velocity but sufficient to maintain fluidization of the bed while allowing powder from the bed to gravitate through at least one of said one or more transfer ports for dispensing into one or more destination receptacles.