A fine grain powder metering unit for fine-grained powders combines the volumetric metering mode with the weighing mode, using for pre-metering 95-99% of the required quantity a volumetric drawer which is then emptied into the tray of a precision scale where a low-flow feeder feeds the powder for metering the final 1-5%, so as to combine the advantages of both metering modes and quickly achieve a metering with high accuracy and repeatability, automatically and with a simple and reliable structure.

A fine grain powder metering unit for fine-grained powders combines the volumetric metering mode with the weighing mode, using for pre-metering 95-99% of the required quantity a volumetric drawer which is then emptied into the tray of a precision scale where a low-flow feeder feeds the powder for metering the final 1-5%, so as to combine the advantages of both metering modes and quickly achieve a metering with high accuracy and repeatability, automatically and with a simple and reliable structure.

There is disclosed a dispenser 10 for dispensing product objects, comprising: a main chamber 20 for storing product objects; and a portion dispensing mechanism for dispensing a portion comprising a plurality of project objects 40. The portion dispensing mechanism comprises a gate arrangement 36 and a collection chamber 24 which are configured for relative linear movement between a loading configuration and a dispensing configuration. In the loading configuration a plurality of product objects 40 within the main chamber 20 collect within the collection chamber 24 and the gate arrangement 36 prevents product objects 40 from being dispensed from the collection chamber 24. In the dispensing configuration the gate arrangement 36 prevents product objects within the main chamber 20 from entering the collection chamber 24 and a plurality of product objects are dispensed from the collection chamber.

A flavouring dispenser for dispensing doses of flavouring is provided. The flavouring dispenser comprises a flavouring chamber for containing flavouring; a dosing plate having an aperture therethrough; and a dispense opening. The dosing plate is movable relative to the dispense opening between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the aperture communicates with the flavouring chamber for receiving a predetermined dose of flavouring, and in the second position the aperture communicates with the dispense opening for dispensing the dose of flavouring.

A flavouring dispenser for dispensing doses of flavouring is provided. The flavouring dispenser comprises a flavouring chamber for containing flavouring; a dosing plate having an aperture therethrough; and a dispense opening. The dosing plate is movable relative to the dispense opening between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the aperture communicates with the flavouring chamber for receiving a predetermined dose of flavouring, and in the second position the aperture communicates with the dispense opening for dispensing the dose of flavouring.

An additive manufacturing system can include a powder dispenser; a gate adjacent to the powder dispenser; a recoater blade system; and a control operable to move the gate with respect to the powder dispenser to selectively dispense powder from the powder dispenser.

An additive manufacturing system can include a powder dispenser; a gate adjacent to the powder dispenser; a recoater blade system; and a control operable to move the gate with respect to the powder dispenser to selectively dispense powder from the powder dispenser.

A drawer based dispensing system includes a drawer with receptacle moveable along a drawer guide between open and closed positions. During usage, a fill hole allows material from a container to enter the receptacle on a side of the drawer that faces an interior of the container when the drawer is positioned in the closed position. A dispensing hole allows material to exit the receptacle on an opposite side of the receptacle away from the interior of the container when the drawer is positioned in the open position. The dispensing system may be integrated into a lid of the container, which is flipped to sit lid-side-down by a user. A funnel may direct material into the fill hole. The drawer may extend to outside the container through an opening to expose the dispensing hole or the dispensing hole below the receptacle may align with a dispensing hole on the container.

An additive manufacturing system can include a powder dispenser; a gate adjacent to the powder dispenser; a recoater blade system; and a control operable to move the gate with respect to the powder dispenser to selectively dispense powder from the powder dispenser.

An additive manufacturing system can include a powder dispenser; a gate adjacent to the powder dispenser; a recoater blade system; and a control operable to move the gate with respect to the powder dispenser to selectively dispense powder from the powder dispenser.