Patent ID: 7575779

Claim:
A method of applying moisture-absorbent powder on cable elements, comprising the following steps: providing an applicator having a hopper, the hopper including: a conical portion and a bottom portion and having an opening therein; a mesh ( 9 ) closing off the opening of the hopper ( 2 ); and a mechanical powder stirrer located inside the hopper ( 2 ), the stirrer being placed in the hopper ( 2 ) so as to be able to make the powder ( 20 ) flow through the mesh under gravity and having a bottom end, wherein the bottom end ( 8 ) of the stirrer located in the same side as the opening in the hopper ( 2 ) is moveable relative to the mesh ( 9 ) and in contact therewith so as to be able to scrape the mesh ( 9 ) and thereby help the powder pass through the mesh ( 9 ) under gravity, wherein the stirrer is able to rotate relative to the hopper ( 2 ) about a rotation axis ( 10 ), wherein the stirrer comprises a first part and a second part, the first part including a solid plate located at the bottom end of the stirrer and moveable relative to the mesh ( 9 ) and in contact therewith so as to be able to scrape the mesh ( 9 ) and thereby help the powder pass through the mesh ( 9 ) under gravity, and the second part located in said conical portion of the hopper and including a trapezoidal-shaped plate which is received in the conical portion and has a complimentary shape, said trapezoidal-shaped plate having perforations therein; placing a powder in the hopper ( 2 ); conveying the cable elements below the opening in the hopper; and rotating the mechanical stiffer in the hopper ( 2 ) of the applicator relative to the mesh and in contact therewith such that the powder ( 20 ) contained in the hopper ( 2 ) flows under gravity as far as the mesh ( 9 ) located in the bottom part of the hopper ( 2 ), being stirred by the stirrer ( 9 ), passes through the mesh and continues to flow under gravity until coming into contact with the cable elements ( 5 ).