Patent ID: 6148636
Filing Date: 2000-11-21
Classification: C01B

Abstract:
An apparatus for dispensing a metered volume of dry ice, the apparatus comprising:a dry ice source for supplying dry ice, the dry ice source defining at least one metering channel opening;a carriage slide assembly positioned below the dry ice source, extending alonga carriage axis, the carriage slide assembly comprising:a pair of guide walls extending along the carriage axis, each guide wall having a top portion and a bottom portion; anda closed floor portion between the guide walls and connected to the bottom portion of the guide walls wherein the closed floor portion defines at least one discharge opening for each of the at least one metering channel openings;a metering carriage for receiving the metered volume of dry ice from the dry ice source and delivering the metered volume of dry ice to the discharge opening, the metering carriage slidably received between the pair of guide walls for translational movement along the carriage axis, the metering carriage having a height and defining at least one metering channel for each of the at least one metering channel openings for receiving a metered volume of dry ice when the at least one metering channel is in registration with the at least one metering channel opening of the dry ice source, wherein the at least one metering channel extends along a metering channel axis and spans the height of the carriage assembly, and wherein the metering carriage has a length sufficient to close the at least one metering opening when the at least one metering channels are in registration with the at least one discharge opening; andat least one receiving well positioned below the at least one discharge opening of the carriage slide assembly for receiving the metered amount of dry ice from the metering carriage when the at least one metering channel is in registration with the at least one discharge opening of the carriage slide assembly.