Patent ID: 10288473

Abstract:
A suspended hopper apparatus is adapted to dispense a flowable product. Three supports, a vessel, and a valve mechanism are provided. One of the three supports is a scale-support, and the other two supports are pivot-supports. A scale-support is a support which comprises a scale, wherein the scale is of a type which resists translation in only one direction, and does not resist translation in any lateral direction and wherein the direction is vertically-upward, and resists by providing upward support with respect to the vessel. The pivot-supports are supports which comprise pivots, the pivots resisting translation and are arranged to resist forces that are applied to the apparatus in the lateral direction. The pivots define a common axis of rotation, the axis extends in a horizontal direction and the pivots do not resist rotation about their axis. The vessel has centerline that is offset laterally from its axis and the product has a product centerline that is offset laterally from its axis. The apparatus is arranged such that the valve mechanism does not generate a moment about the axis by its center of mass being located in a vertical plane passing through the axis.