Feed device and method for supplying free-flowing material to a container

Claim 2

1 o A feed device for supplying free-flowing material to a container comprising means for supporting the feed device for angular movement about an axis, and at least one feed chamber having a feed outlet for supplying free-flowing material to a container moving in synchronism with the feed device, the device being characterised in that, in use, the feed outlet passes into the container, and material is dispensed from the feed chamber only when the feed outlet is disposed within the container.

Claim 3

A feed device according to claim 1 characterised in that the feed outlet is arranged so as to provide a feed direction which is transverse to a radius extending from the axis of the feed device to the feed outlet.

Claim 4

A feed device according to claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the feed device comprises a plurality of substantially radially projecting feed chambers equally spaced about the axis of the device.

Claim 5

A feed device according to claim 1 wherein the feed device is supported upon a fulcrum device enabling the feed device to pivot in the event of possible jamming.

Claim 6

A feed device according to claim 2 wherein a feed chamber comprises a generally radially extending chamber wall or walls having a leading side and trailing side with respect to the direction of rotation of the feed device, a first end wall extending inwardly from the trailing side of the chamber wall, a second end wall extending inwardly from the leading side of the chamber wall and having a portion thereof radially outward of the first end wall so as to define said transverse feed direction.

Claim 9

A method according to claim 5 characterised in that material is dispensed from the feed outlet in a feed direction transverse to a radius extending between the axis of the feed device and the feed outlet whereby material is not supplied to the container until the feed outlet is disposed within the container.

Claim 10

A method of supplying free-flowing material to a container according to claim 5 characterised in that dispensing of the free-flowing material is not begun until a radius extending between the axis of rotation of the feed device and the feed outlet is substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the container.

Claim 11

A method of supplying free-flowing material to a container according to claim 5, 6 or 7 comprising the additional step of extracting dust from the feed device.

Claim 12

Apparatus for filling a plurality of containers with a free-flowing material comprising a feed device for the material supported for rotation about an axis, a plurality of substantially radially extending feed chambers equally spaced about the axis, means for supplying free-flowing material to the feed chambers, a feed outlet at the free end of each feed chamber, a conveyor for passing a plurality of containers below the feed device, and means to synchronise the movement of the conveyor and the rotation of the feed device, characterised in that the feed outlets define a feed direction for material transverse to the radial axis of the respective feed chamber, and the feed device and the conveyor are so mutually arranged that, in use, rotation of the feed device sequentially causes the feed chambers to pass in turn into containers carried by the conveyor and to deliver free-flowing material thereto only when the feed chambers are disposed within the respective containers.

Claim 13

Apparatus for filling a plurality of containers with a free-flowing material comprising a feed device for the material supported for rotation about an axis, a plurality of substantially radially extending feed chambers equally spaced about the axis, means for supplying free-flowing material to the feed chambers, a feed outlet at the free end of each feed chamber, a conveyor for passing a plurality of containers below the feed device, and means to synchronise the movement of the conveyor and the rotation of the feed device, characterised in that the feed outlets define a feed direction for material transverse to the radial axis of the respective feed chamber, and the feed device and the conveyor are so mutually arranged that, in use, rotation of the feed device sequentially causes the feed chambers to pass in turn into containers carried by the conveyor and to deliver free-flowing material thereto only when the feed chambers are disposed within the respective containers.