Powder dispensing apparatus having a predictable, controlled flow rate

Claim 2

Apparatus for dispensing powder at a predictable, controlled flow rate, said apparatus being adapted to receive powder and a plurality of loose balls and comprising: a. a powder and ball receiving hopper having a bottom wall and at least first and second opposed side wall portions connected to said bottom wall, said second side wall portion sloping outwardly and upwardly from said hopper bottom wall; b. said bottom wall including means defining a plurality of powder dispensing orifices; and c. means for moving said hopper in a manner which provides a plurality of loose balls disposed in said hopper i. vertical acceleration forces on said balls which increase in magnitude from said first to said second wall portions across the width of said hopper, and ii. horizontal acceleration forces on said balls across said hopper to and from said first to said second side wall portions, said acceleration forces causing, in combination, said balls to describe a circulating pattern in said hopper during which said balls sweep across said dispensing orifices formed in said bottom wall and then move upwardly along said second wall portion and then away from said second wall portion so that under the influence of gravity, said balls return to proximity with said bottom wall to effect a predictable, controlled flow rate of powder from said dispensing orifices in said bottom wall.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for moving includes resilient means for coupling said apparatus to at least one fixed point, said resilient means being resiliently deformable along and about both its major and minor axes.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said resilient means comprises a pair of coil springs, connected at one end to said apparatus and at the other end to the fixed point.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said coil springs have relatively different spring constants along their respective major axes.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the coil spring having the lower spring constant is placed furthest from the center of gravity of said apparatus.

Claim 7

Apparatus for dispensing powder at a predictable, controlled flow rate, said apparauts being adapted to receive powder and a plurality of loose balls and comprising: a. a housing for storing powder to be dispensed; b. a powder and ball hopper fixedly mounted to said housing at a position furthest from the center of gravity of said apparatus, said hopper having a bottom and at least two opposing first and second side wall portions converging toward said hopper bottom; c. said hopper bottom including means defining a plurality of powder dispensing orifices; d. a plurality of loose balls disposed in said hopper e. mounting means for resiliently coupling said housing to at least one fixed point; and f. means for moving said hopper in a manner which provides i. vertical acceleration forces on said balls which increasE in magnitude from said first to said second side wall portions across the width of said hopper, and ii. horizontal acceleration forces on said balls across said hopper to and from said first to said second side wall portions, said acceleration forces causing, in combination, said balls to describe a circulating pattern in said hopper during which said balls sweep across said dispensing orifices formed in said bottom wall and then move upwardly along said second wall portion and then away from said second wall portion so that under the influence of gravity, said balls return to proximity with said bottom wall to effect a predictable, controlled flow rate of powder from said dispensing orifices in said bottom wall.

Claim 8

Apparatus for dispensing powder at a predictable, controlled flow rate, said apparauts being adapted to receive powder and a plurality of loose balls and comprising: a. a housing for storing powder to be dispensed; b. a powder and ball hopper fixedly mounted to said housing at a position furthest from the center of gravity of said apparatus, said hopper having a bottom and at least two opposing first and second side wall portions converging toward said hopper bottom; c. said hopper bottom including means defining a plurality of powder dispensing orifices; d. a plurality of loose balls disposed in said hopper e. mounting means for resiliently coupling said housing to at least one fixed point; and f. means for moving said hopper in a manner which provides i. vertical acceleration forces on said balls which increasE in magnitude from said first to said second side wall portions across the width of said hopper, and ii. horizontal acceleration forces on said balls across said hopper to and from said first to said second side wall portions, said acceleration forces causing, in combination, said balls to describe a circulating pattern in said hopper during which said balls sweep across said dispensing orifices formed in said bottom wall and then move upwardly along said second wall portion and then away from said second wall portion so that under the influence of gravity, said balls return to proximity with said bottom wall to effect a predictable, controlled flow rate of powder from said dispensing orifices in said bottom wall.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said mounting means includes resilient means resiliently deformable in response to said moving means along and about both its major and minor axes.

Claim 10

The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said resilient means comprises a pair of coil springs, connected to one end to said housing and at the other end to the fixed point.

Claim 11

The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said coil springs have relatively different spring constants along their respective major axes.

Claim 12

The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the coil spring having the lower spring constant is placed furthest from the center of gravity of said apparatus.