A system for transferring a particulate material from a first container to a second container including an upper portion, a lower portion and a sieve. The upper portion having a housing and a high frequency vibrator, the housing having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a gasket positioned adjacent the first end. The lower portion having a collector funnel, a low frequency vibrator and a collar securing the low frequency vibrator to the collector funnel. The sieve having a mesh size, a perimeter and a gasket positioned adjacent the perimeter. The upper portion is releasably secured to the first container and the sieve is releasably secured between the second end of the upper portion and the lower portion.

A powder trickier is provided. The trickier includes a hopper for containing powder in bulk. A dispensing tube has a portion thereof in flow communication with the hopper. A vibrator is associated with the dispensing tube to induce powder flow from the hopper into and through the tube for dispensing powder from a tube outlet.

A powder trickier is provided. The trickier includes a hopper for containing powder in bulk. A dispensing tube has a portion thereof in flow communication with the hopper. A vibrator is associated with the dispensing tube to induce powder flow from the hopper into and through the tube for dispensing powder from a tube outlet.

A multi-blade dosing valve comprising the following elements: a valve body provided with a central opening; a plurality of shafts, each provided with a respective blade, which extend transversely to the central opening; the blades being able to close, at least partially, the central opening; a motor unit which causes the opening/closing of the blades; and vibrators to set in vibration the shafts and the blades. The multi-blade dosing valve comprises an independent vibrator for each shaft.

A multi-blade dosing valve comprising the following elements: a valve body provided with a central opening; a plurality of shafts, each provided with a respective blade, which extend transversely to the central opening; the blades being able to close, at least partially, the central opening; a motor unit which causes the opening/closing of the blades; and vibrators to set in vibration the shafts and the blades. The multi-blade dosing valve comprises an independent vibrator for each shaft.

Filling apparatus (10) and method for automatically filling containers (100) for smoking articles with an incoherent material (M) of a smokable type. The apparatus (10) comprises delivery devices (22) comprising metering means (40, 41) configured to deliver a determinate quantity of incoherent material in each container (100). Each delivery device (22) comprises a funnel-shaped conveying member (52) which is configured to be made to vibrate during the delivery of the incoherent material (M) so as to prevent the incoherent material (M) which has been delivered by said metering means (40, 41) from accidentally remaining inside the conveying member (52).

Filling apparatus (10) and method for automatically filling containers (100) for smoking articles with an incoherent material (M) of a smokable type. The apparatus (10) comprises delivery devices (22) comprising metering means (40, 41) configured to deliver a determinate quantity of incoherent material in each container (100). Each delivery device (22) comprises a funnel-shaped conveying member (52) which is configured to be made to vibrate during the delivery of the incoherent material (M) so as to prevent the incoherent material (M) which has been delivered by said metering means (40, 41) from accidentally remaining inside the conveying member (52).

A method for filling a container with a pyrotechnic charge using a filling system, said method including, when the powder is conveyed, a step of regulating the powder flow rate in which at least one powder conveyor device is brought to vibrate according to a vibration frequency control sequence, the vibration frequency being inversely proportional to the filling ratio of the container of the pyrotechnic charge.

A method for filling a container with a pyrotechnic charge using a filling system, said method including, when the powder is conveyed, a step of regulating the powder flow rate in which at least one powder conveyor device is brought to vibrate according to a vibration frequency control sequence, the vibration frequency being inversely proportional to the filling ratio of the container of the pyrotechnic charge.

The dispenser disclosed herein serves a single serving of a powdered nutrient contained within a container having multi-servings of the powdered nutrient. The dispenser has a metering device that operates as a ball valve or guillotine to dispense a single serving of the powdered nutrient into a water container. The dispenser also has a support surface that can be lowered and raised back up in order to fit a water container under the metering device and a distal tip of the metering device into a mouth of the water container so that no powdered nutrient spills out of the water container during transfer of the powdered nutrient from the metering device to the water container.