Patent ID: 8074835

Claim:
A method of dispensing small quantities of particles, the method comprising the steps of: disposing in a hopper provided with a sieve at a bottom portion thereof a powder to be dispensed therefrom through the sieve; supporting the hopper by holding a portion of the hopper with a support so that the hopper is held above a container into which the dispensed powder is to be received, providing an element which is adapted to permit controlled vertical movement of the hopper relative to the support, wherein the element comprises a clamp for clamping the hopper to the support, the clamp being configured to permit the hopper to move vertically in the clamped configuration over a particular distance; and delivering impact energy to the hopper by at least one actuator thereby to cause powder to be dispensed through the sieve when the hopper receives the impact energy and to permit controlled vertical movement of the hopper relative to the support.