Patent ID: 7712634

Claim:
An apparatus comprising a hopper provided with a sieve at a bottom portion thereof, the hopper in use containing powder to be dispensed therefrom through the sieve, a support for the hopper, the support holding a portion of the hopper so that the hopper can in use be held above a container into which the dispensed powder is to be received, and at least one actuator for delivering taps to the hopper for causing a discrete amount of the powder to be dispensed through the sieve when the hopper receives each tap, wherein the at least one actuator is arranged to deliver the taps to the hopper from different directions and/or at different locations on the hopper; wherein one said actuator is provided which is mounted on the support and is adapted to deliver the taps to the hopper alternately in two opposing directions; and wherein the actuator is a solenoid having an armature which is adapted to impact two opposed parts of the support.