An apparatus for filling and packing particulate material into elongated containers is provided and improves consistency of the quantity and density (degree of compaction) of particulate material in each container. The apparatus may include a compressed gas assembly for providing a stream of compressed gas for increasing the velocity of flowing particulate material being provided to the containers. The apparatus may include a centrifuge assembly for providing centrifugal force which increases compaction of particulate material in each container. The apparatus may include both a compressed gas assembly and a centrifuge assembly. A method for filling and packing particulate material into elongated containers is provided and involves increasing the compaction of particulate material in each container. Such compaction may be increased by providing a compressed gas to the flow path of a stream of flowing particulate material, or by applying centrifugal force to particulate material disposed in the containers, or both.

An apparatus includes a fixed assembly and a reciprocating assembly. The fixed assembly includes a hopper, a first gas manifold, and a dispensing chamber, and the reciprocating assembly includes a channel assembly defining a channel conduit, a shield plate vertically aligned therewith, and a second gas manifold. The reciprocating assembly may move, in relation to the fixed assembly, to a first position to enable the channel conduit to be filled with bulk compressible material from the hopper, a second position to enable compressible material to be pushed from the channel conduit to the dispensing conduit and to be compressed in the dispensing chamber according to a first gas directed through the channel conduit by the first gas manifold, and a third position to enable the compressed material to be pushed out of the dispensing conduit according to a second gas directed through the dispensing conduit by the second gas manifold.

An apparatus includes a fixed assembly and a reciprocating assembly. The fixed assembly includes a hopper, a first gas manifold, and a dispensing chamber, and the reciprocating assembly includes a channel assembly defining a channel conduit, a shield plate vertically aligned therewith, and a second gas manifold. The reciprocating assembly may move, in relation to the fixed assembly, to a first position to enable the channel conduit to be filled with bulk compressible material from the hopper, a second position to enable compressible material to be pushed from the channel conduit to the dispensing conduit and to be compressed in the dispensing chamber according to a first gas directed through the channel conduit by the first gas manifold, and a third position to enable the compressed material to be pushed out of the dispensing conduit according to a second gas directed through the dispensing conduit by the second gas manifold.

The abstract of the application is being replaced with a new abstract which meets the requirements of the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. No new matter is being added and all changes are fully supported by the application and the application from which it claims priority. A clean copy of the abstract is included with this filing.

The abstract of the application is being replaced with a new abstract which meets the requirements of the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. No new matter is being added and all changes are fully supported by the application and the application from which it claims priority. A clean copy of the abstract is included with this filing.

The invention relates to a dosator which comprises a tapered elongate cavity; a stationary plunger disposed within the cavity; a removable mesh screen disposed between the stationary plunger and the bottom of the dosator; a dosator chamber defined between the mesh screen and the bottom of the dosator for receiving powder from a powder source and holding the powder until it is expelled into the capsule; at least one vacuum pump operably linked to the dosator and capable of drawing dry powder into the dosator chamber from a powder source, compacting the powder into a slug of powder having a predetermined bulk density; and at least one source of positive pressure operably linked to the dosator and capable of providing positive pressure to expel the powder slug from the dosator and methods of filling capsules.

The invention relates to a dosator which comprises a tapered elongate cavity; a stationary plunger disposed within the cavity; a removable mesh screen disposed between the stationary plunger and the bottom of the dosator; a dosator chamber defined between the mesh screen and the bottom of the dosator for receiving powder from a powder source and holding the powder until it is expelled into the capsule; at least one vacuum pump operably linked to the dosator and capable of drawing dry powder into the dosator chamber from a powder source, compacting the powder into a slug of powder having a predetermined bulk density; and at least one source of positive pressure operably linked to the dosator and capable of providing positive pressure to expel the powder slug from the dosator and methods of filling capsules.

A toner filling apparatus includes a filling tank, a toner filling path forming member, a toner fluidizing unit, a filling path opening/closing unit and a container room sucking unit. The toner filling path forming member is in communication with the filling tank and forms a toner filling path connected to the toner container. The container room sucking unit sucks air from the toner container through a filter member which is impermeable to the toner but permeable to air. When the toner fluidizing unit fluidizes the toner in the filling tank and the filling path opening/closing unit opens the toner filling path so as to load the toner to the toner container, the container room sucking unit reduces a pressure in the toner container to a negative pressure so as to draw in the toner into the toner container.

An apparatus includes a fixed assembly and a reciprocating assembly. The fixed assembly includes a hopper, a first gas manifold, and a dispensing chamber, and the reciprocating assembly includes a channel assembly defining a channel conduit, a shield plate vertically aligned therewith, and a second gas manifold. The reciprocating assembly may move, in relation to the fixed assembly, to a first position to enable the channel conduit to be filled with bulk compressible material from the hopper, a second position to enable compressible material to be pushed from the channel conduit to the dispensing conduit and to be compressed in the dispensing chamber according to a first gas directed through the channel conduit by the first gas manifold, and a third position to enable the compressed material to be pushed out of the dispensing conduit according to a second gas directed through the dispensing conduit by the second gas manifold.

An apparatus includes a fixed assembly and a reciprocating assembly. The fixed assembly includes a hopper, a first gas manifold, and a dispensing chamber, and the reciprocating assembly includes a channel assembly defining a channel conduit, a shield plate vertically aligned therewith, and a second gas manifold. The reciprocating assembly may move, in relation to the fixed assembly, to a first position to enable the channel conduit to be filled with bulk compressible material from the hopper, a second position to enable compressible material to be pushed from the channel conduit to the dispensing conduit and to be compressed in the dispensing chamber according to a first gas directed through the channel conduit by the first gas manifold, and a third position to enable the compressed material to be pushed out of the dispensing conduit according to a second gas directed through the dispensing conduit by the second gas manifold.