Patent ID: 6863094

Claim:
A bag filling apparatus for filing a bag with particulate matter, comprising: a fill channel having an open end and an interior sized to hold a predetermined amount of particulate matter, said fill channel being moveable along a fixed path from a first position exterior of said bag to a second position wherein at least a portion of said fill channel is positioned within the interior of said bag; and a metering device adapted to deposit said predetermined amount of particulate matter through said open end and into said interior of said fill channel wherein said metering device comprises a moveable tray having a bottom member, said bottom member having at least one opening and a plate member substantially covering said at least one opening when said moveable tray is in a first position, said moveable tray being moveable relative to said plate member to a second position in which said at least one opening is positioned at least partially over said open end and at least a portion of said at least one opening is no longer covered by said plate member.