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. 25, 2014
Filed:
Aug. 03, 2011
Edwin Jackson Little, Denver, CO (US);
Edwin Jackson Little, Denver, CO (US);
First Solar, Inc., Tempe, AZ (US);
Abstract
A metering mechanism is configured for transferring measured doses of a granular material from a first location to a second location, and is particularly suited for metering source material in a vapor deposition apparatus. A receiver is disposed to receive the granular material from the first location. A discharge port is axially offset from an outlet of the receiver. A reciprocating delivery member having a passage defined therethrough is moved in a reciprocating path by a controllable drive device between a load position wherein the passage is aligned with the receiver outlet and a discharge position wherein the passage is aligned with the discharge port. The amount of granular material transferred from the first location to the second location is a function of the volume of the passage and the reciprocating rate of the delivery member.