Patent ID: 6347650
Filing Date: 2002-02-19
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
An apparatus for dispensing particulate material into a container, the apparatus comprising:a frame; a probe movably disposed on the frame, the probe comprising an inner tube disposed within an outer tube, each tube having a distal end, the distal ends being spaced apart to define a loading volume, wherein the distal end of the inner tube has a filter having a pore size smaller than the particulate material; a vacuum source connected to the inner tube for drawing particulate material into the loading volume; a supply of particulate material disposed at a location accessible by the distal end of the outer tube, the supply being substantially continuous; a container holder disposed at a loading position for holding the container; a translator for moving the probe between a hopper to the container in the container holder; an actuator for effecting vertical movement of the outer tube and the inner tube; a controller for controlling activation of at least one of the probe, container holder, actuator, and translator; and wherein the inner tube is axially movable relative to the outer tube for adjusting volume in response to activation of the actuator to expel particulate material contained within the loading volume; and the inner tube is connected to an upper block and the outer tube is connected to a lower block, further comprising an adjustable measurement device for adjusting a separation between the upper block and the lower block.