Patent ID: 7942173

Claim:
A powder filling apparatus comprising a funnel ( 2 ) which contains powder, a circular-cylindrical metering portion ( 3 ) provided at a lower end portion of the funnel ( 2 ), an auger screw ( 4 ) arranged vertically and having a lower end provided with a screw portion ( 18 ), and a support means ( 5 ) which supports the auger screw ( 4 ) rotatably around an axis of rotation ( 4 a ), the screw portion ( 18 ) being arranged within the metering portion ( 3 ), upon the rotation of the screw portion ( 18 ), a predetermined amount of the powder being fed out of the metering portion ( 3 ) and filled into a container ( 7 ) disposed therebelow, wherein the funnel ( 2 ) is suspended from the support means ( 5 ) and supported thereto and the metering portion ( 3 ) has its center axis ( 3 a ) made substantially coincident with the rotation axis ( 4 a ) of the auger screw ( 4 ), wherein the funnel ( 2 ) is provided with a closure portion ( 19 ), the closure portion ( 19 ) being connected to the support means ( 5 ) and having an under surface to which the funnel ( 2 ) is removably fixed, and wherein the closure portion ( 19 ) comprises an inner closure member ( 19 a ) which covers an upper surface within the funnel ( 2 ) and a closure frame ( 19 b ) disposed above the inner closure member ( 19 a ), the closure frame ( 19 b ) being connected to the support means ( 5 ).