Patent ID: 7665488
Filing Date: 2010-02-23
Classification: G01F,G03G

Abstract:
1. A method of dispensing particles, said method comprising: providing a vertically oriented conduit having a conduit hollow, a conduit top and a conduit bottom, said conduit bottom defining an outlet, said conduit being arranged so that particles supplied to said conduit top flow through said outlet, said conduit hollow including one or more conduit hollow elements disposed therein, said conduit having a detector electrically connected to said conduit and separately electrically connected to said conduit hollow elements, said conduit having a plurality of first electrical contact points electrically connecting said detector and said conduit, and said conduit having a plurality of second electrical contact points electrically connecting said detector and said conduit hollow elements; filling said conduit hollow with particles; flowing said particles through said outlet to be received by one or more included containers; and using said detector to determine a resistance that is based on a spacing between said conduit hollow elements and said conduit hollow.