The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 03, 1998
Filed:
Nov. 09, 1995
Haim Kedar, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Robert M Gavin, San Jose, CA (US);
Jeffrey H Sugarman, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Donald T Roth, Mountain View, CA (US);
Glaxo Group Limited, Greenford, GB;
Abstract
The invention provides methods and apparatus for transporting articles held within a liquid medium from one location to another. Apparatus according to the invention comprise a hopper having a top end, a bottom end, and at least one side wall extending therebetween. The bottom end includes an opening therein, and the hopper is adapted to receive the articles and the liquid medium. A means is provided for injecting an amount of the liquid medium into the hopper to fluidize the articles while held within the liquid medium. The apparatus further includes a container which may be aligned with the opening at the bottom end of the hopper. The container is sized to receive a known quantity of at least one of the articles.