Patent ID: 7617849

Claim:
Dispensing apparatus for dispensing a substance, into a container, said apparatus comprising: a weighing device with a load receiver; a holder device which is attached to the load receiver and serves to receive a container and loosely hold the container while a substance is dispensed into the container; a dispensing device for dispensing said substance into the container while the container is seated in the holder device; and a clamping device for firmly gripping and immobilizing the container to receive a cap on the container or to remove the cap from the container while the container is seated in the holder device, the apparatus being configured as a compact module with a housing inside of which at least the weighing device, the clamping device and the holder device are arranged in such a manner that only a top of the holder device and a top portion of a container seated in the holder device protrude through a window opening in a top surface of the housing; wherein the holder device has lateral window openings and the clamping device has jaws that contact and grip the container through said lateral window openings while a capping device or a robot arm puts the cap on the container or removes the cap from the container.