A product distribution device shown as an agricultural air seeder in which product distribution can be selective stopped and started in sections of the machine width. The functioning of the section control system is monitored by sensors that directly detect the control member position as opposed to sensing the commanded position of the control member. Likewise, in generating a map of the area covered, the actual detected position of the control member is used instead of the commanded position of the control member. An operator is notified of inconsistencies between the commended position of the control member and the sensed position.

A product distribution device shown as an agricultural air seeder in which product distribution can be selective stopped and started in sections of the machine width. The functioning of the section control system is monitored by sensors that directly detect the control member position as opposed to sensing the commanded position of the control member. Likewise, in generating a map of the area covered, the actual detected position of the control member is used instead of the commanded position of the control member. An operator is notified of inconsistencies between the commended position of the control member and the sensed position.

A portioning device for chemical granular material, in particular fertilizer, having an inlet opening for granules, an outlet opening for discharging granule portions produced from the granules and at least one rotationally drivable conveying element which is designed to combine granules fed to the portioning device to give granule portions during a rotational movement.

A portioning device for chemical granular material, in particular fertilizer, having an inlet opening for granules, an outlet opening for discharging granule portions produced from the granules and at least one rotationally drivable conveying element which is designed to combine granules fed to the portioning device to give granule portions during a rotational movement.

A 3D printing system build material supply unit includes a tray with an opening that defines a spreading plane in which a recoater spreads build material. A double vane is rotatably mounted inside the tray with the rotation axis extending along the tray below the spreading plane and with each vane having convex front and rear sides. A controller controls rotation of the double vane such as to supply a dose of build material with the front side of one vane to the spreading plane by rotating the double vane into a trimming position in which the front side of the one vane approaches the spreading plane such that the dose of build material is enclosed between the front side of the vane and the spreading plane. Excess build material to be trimmed by the recoater accumulates on the other vane rear side and is lowered into the tray.

Provided is an apparatus for dosaging a particulate material. The particulate material includes, at least in operation, a cavity having an inlet opening facing upwardly for receiving the material from an external source, an outlet opening facing downwardly, for disposing therethrough dosages of the material and a dosage feeder located inside the cavity and having at least one dosage recess.

Provided is an apparatus for dosaging a particulate material. The particulate material includes, at least in operation, a cavity having an inlet opening facing upwardly for receiving the material from an external source, an outlet opening facing downwardly, for disposing therethrough dosages of the material and a dosage feeder located inside the cavity and having at least one dosage recess.

A measured powder dispenser has a hopper feeding powder down into a measured dispensing mechanism. The measured dispensing mechanism has an inlet and an outlet and a measuring container operable therebetween. The measuring container is rotatably engaged about a rotation axis generally orthogonal to an inlet axis of the inlet such that an exterior surface thereof moves across the inlet when the measuring container rotates. The measuring container has an interior volume adjustable measurement chamber recessed within the exterior surface such that, in use, at a first rotational position, the measurement chamber aligns with the inlet to accept a measured amount of powder therein from the power container and, when rotated to a second rotational position, the exterior surface seals across the inlet and the measurement chamber aligns with the outlet to dispense the measured amount of powder therefrom.

A measured powder dispenser has a hopper feeding powder down into a measured dispensing mechanism. The measured dispensing mechanism has an inlet and an outlet and a measuring container operable therebetween. The measuring container is rotatably engaged about a rotation axis generally orthogonal to an inlet axis of the inlet such that an exterior surface thereof moves across the inlet when the measuring container rotates. The measuring container has an interior volume adjustable measurement chamber recessed within the exterior surface such that, in use, at a first rotational position, the measurement chamber aligns with the inlet to accept a measured amount of powder therein from the power container and, when rotated to a second rotational position, the exterior surface seals across the inlet and the measurement chamber aligns with the outlet to dispense the measured amount of powder therefrom.

A dispenser (100, 500, 900) for granules is disclosed herein. In a specific embodiment, the dispenser comprises a granular reservoir (1); a selector disk comprising (a) a feeder disk (2, 22, 52) comprising at least one protruding member (3, 23); and (b) a dispensing disk (8, 58) arranged to rotate in concert with the feeder disk (2, 22, 52). The dispensing disk further comprises at least one dispensing aperture (9) and a non-dispensing portion (103), the at least one dispensing aperture (9) being in registration with the at least one protruding member (3, 23). The dispenser (100, 500, 900) further comprises a holding disk (4, 94) comprising at least one through-hole (5) sandwiched between the feeder disk (2, 22, 52) and the dispensing disk (8, 58) and fixedly mounted with respect to the granular reservoir (1), wherein the selector disk is rotatable relative to the holding disk (4, 94) and the granular reservoir (1) between a first position in which the at least one protruding member (3, 23) is offset from the at least one through-hole (5) to allow a granule to be received from the granular reservoir and held within the at least one through-hole (5) by the non-dispensing portion (103) of the dispensing disk (8, 58) and a second position in which the at least one protruding member (3, 23) occludes the at least one through-hole (5) to allow the granule held in the at least one through-hole to dispense through the at least one dispensing aperture (9). Methods of dispensing granules using the dispenser (100, 500, 900) are also disclosed.