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:
May. 11, 2010
Filed:
Sep. 20, 2002
Donald Bruce Atherton Macmichael, Ickleford, GB;
William Robert Charles Opie, Bonn-Bevel, DE;
Simon Mark Bryant, Hertford, GB;
Imogen Gill, Nr. Royston, GB;
Donald Bruce Atherton MacMichael, Ickleford, GB;
William Robert Charles Opie, Bonn-Bevel, DE;
Simon Mark Bryant, Hertford, GB;
Imogen Gill, Nr. Royston, GB;
Pfizer Limited, Sandwich, Kent, GB;
Abstract
An apparatus for dispensing small quantities of particles, the apparatus comprises a hopper provided with a sieve at a bottom portion thereof, the hopper in use containing powder to be dispensed therefrom through the sieve, a support for the hopper, the support holding a portion of the hopper so that the hopper can in use be held above a container into which the dispensed powder is to be received, and at least one actuator for delivering impact energy to the hopper for causing powder to be dispensed through the sieve when the hopper receives the impact energy, wherein the at least one actuator is arranged to deliver impact energy to the hopper from different directions and/or at different locations on the hopper. There is also provided a method of dispensing small quantities of particles.