Powder filling apparatus and a method for filling a container with powder

Claim 1

A powder filling apparatus, comprising: a rotary filling device for filling a container with powder, including a plurality of work units arranged to move around along the same circumference, wherein a container is carried into each of said work units during the movement of the work units, both the inside and the outside of the container are equally evacuated, and powder is dropped into the container while the pressure outside the container is raised; a carrying-in device for carrying a container into each of said work units moving around successively; a powder dispenser for dispensing and supplying a predetermined amount of powder to each of said work units moving around successively; and a carrying-out device for carrying the container filled with powder from each of the work units successively during the moving around of said work units, wherein each of said work units includes: a hopper for storing a predetermined amount of powder required for filling the container dispensed and supplied thereto; a nozzle portion having a bottom opening, said nozzle portion being connected to the bottom end of said hopper for allowing the powder stored in said hopper to drop through said bottom opening; a valve element vertically movable relative to said nozzle portion, said valve element fitting into said bottom opening of said nozzle portion to close said opening when lifted, and to release said opening when lowered; a valve drive shaft with said valve element attached to the bottom end thereof, said valve drive shaft extending through the axial centers of said hopper and said nozzle portion slidably in the vertical direction; a table vertically moveable relative to the nozzle portion, said table receiving the container placed thereon with a powder inlet of the container facing upward, wherein said powder inlet of the container is fitted to said nozzle portion when said table is lifted; a cylindrical capsule vertically movable relative to said nozzle portion, said capsule surrounding said nozzle portion and said container placed on said table when said capsule is lifted; a capsule lifting mechanism disposed outside said capsule for driving the lifting and lowering of said capsule; a cover plate effecting an airtight contact with the top end of said capsule when said capsule is lifted so that the inside of the capsule is evacuated; and a table lifting mechanism disposed below said capsule when said capsule is lifted and sealed, for lifting and lowering said table inside said capsule while keeping the airtight condition of said capsule.