A weighing assembly supplies a predetermined amount of food product based on weight using a weighing machine having a plurality of weigh hoppers. A circular dispersion table having a dome shape distributes pieces of the product across the table by gravity to the weigh hoppers. A diverter chute is located above the dispersion table and includes multiple gates, with each gate configured to change a flow of the pieces of product over a portion of the dispersion table. The diverter chute further comprises an actuator for each gate for opening the gate as directed by a controller. Each actuator includes a piston and a lever arm connected to the piston and connected to a respective gate. An input conveyor drops pieces of food through the diversion chute to the dispersion table.

A weighing assembly supplies a predetermined amount of food product based on weight using a weighing machine having a plurality of weigh hoppers. A circular dispersion table having a dome shape distributes pieces of the product across the table by gravity to the weigh hoppers. A diverter chute is located above the dispersion table and includes multiple gates, with each gate configured to change a flow of the pieces of product over a portion of the dispersion table. The diverter chute further comprises an actuator for each gate for opening the gate as directed by a controller. Each actuator includes a piston and a lever arm connected to the piston and connected to a respective gate. An input conveyor drops pieces of food through the diversion chute to the dispersion table.

A system enables management of dispensable units by supporting functions such as retrieval, scheduled distribution, analysis, and notifications. To this end, a dispensable retrieval mechanism may be programmed to carry out blind retrievals of dispensable units using a retrieval strategy with a predetermined sequence of retrieval attempts (e.g., fixed or varying two-dimensional retrieval patterns), which may be open loop or closed loop. Techniques may also include the identification of dispensable units through optical sensors and weight measurement devices that can detect, e.g., a texture, a shape, and a size of dispensable units. Such identification can be used to program retrieval attempts by a retrieval robot and in the formulation of the retrieval pattern. Additionally, networked notification systems for dispensable units can be used for updating rules or schedules related to the dispensable units, or alerting users and remote resources of any potential misuse or hazards of the dispensable units.

A powder handling device is provided, along with apparatus and methods of its use. The powder handling device includes a mounting portion defining a plane and comprising a mounting interface; a fixture device configured to mount the mounting portion over an opening of a powder container at a mounting interface; and a powder suction unit attached to the mounting portion and passing through the plane. The powder suction unit is movable relative to the mounting portion with at least one degree of freedom. The powder handling device may be mounted onto an opening of a powder container.

A system enables management of dispensable units by supporting functions such as retrieval, scheduled distribution, analysis, and notifications. To this end, a dispensable retrieval mechanism may be programmed to carry out blind retrievals of dispensable units using a retrieval strategy with a predetermined sequence of retrieval attempts (e.g., fixed or varying two-dimensional retrieval patterns), which may be open loop or closed loop. Techniques may also include the identification of dispensable units through optical sensors and weight measurement devices that can detect, e.g., a texture, a shape, and a size of dispensable units. Such identification can be used to program retrieval attempts by a retrieval robot and in the formulation of the retrieval pattern. Additionally, networked notification systems for dispensable units can be used for updating rules or schedules related to the dispensable units, or alerting users and remote resources of any potential misuse or hazards of the dispensable units.

An emptying system for emptying paste-like material from barrel-type containers having a container follower platewhich preferably can be lowered like a plunger into the interior of the containerand which includes a removal opening having a pump in operative connection with the removal opening for extracting material enclosed in the collection chamber between the container bottom and the container follower plate, wherein in the collection chamber at least one agitator is provided, which imposes on the material contained in the collection chamber a motion in relation to the container follower plate.

Embodiments of product handling systems facilitate transfer of individual product items from incoming bulk form into dedicated trays for inspection, sorting, selection, and packaging. Inspection may comprise interrogation of product items within a tray by electromagnetic (e.g., optical, hyperspectral) or other (e.g., physical, acoustic, gas sensing, etc.) techniques. Prior to packaging, product items disposed within the tray may be stored in a moveable carousel responsible for controlling environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, illumination, ambient gases, product-to-product interactions, and/or others. Movement of product items from a carousel's transfer station to an outside staging position may be accomplished using robots and/or conveyor belts. Embodiments may allow rapid, low-cost consumer selection of specific individual product items based upon their accompanying metadata (e.g., source, identifier), in combination with the results of inspection (e.g., visual appearance). Embodiments may receive product items pre-packaged in tray format to expedite inspection, sorting, selection, and packaging.

A powder handling device is provided, along with apparatus and methods of its use. The powder handling device includes a mounting portion defining a plane and comprising a mounting interface; a fixture device configured to mount the mounting portion over an opening of a powder container at a mounting interface; and a powder suction unit attached to the mounting portion and passing through the plane. The powder suction unit is movable relative to the mounting portion with at least one degree of freedom. The powder handling device may be mounted onto an opening of a powder container.