Claims
- 1. Apparatus for filling spaced apart cavities with particulate material comprising:a transport for moving the cavities along a path of travel; a first filling station for partially filling the cavities including an upstream applicator wheel with spaced apart pockets on the periphery thereof; a first supply of particulate material adjacent the upstream applicator wheel for depositing the material into the pockets; first transfer means for transferring the particulate material from the pockets to partially fill the cavities including the application of vacuum underneath the cavity being partially filled at a point of transfer of the particulate material from the pockets into the cavities; a second filling station for completely filling the partially filled cavities including a downstream applicator wheel with spaced apart pockets on the periphery thereof; a second supply of particulate material adjacent the downstream applicator wheel for depositing the material from the second supply into the pockets; and second transfer means for transferring the particulate material from the pockets of the downstream applicator wheel into the cavities including the application of vacuum to the upper sides of the cavity being filled at a point of transfer of the particulate material from the pockets of the downstream applicator wheel into the cavities.
- 2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the particulate material in the first supply and the second supply is the same.
- 3. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the first and second transfer means includes the application of relatively lower vacuum to the underside of the cavities immediately upstream of the points of transfer.
- 4. A method for filling spaced apart cavities with particulate material comprising the steps of:transporting spaced apart cavities along a path of travel; partially filling each cavity with particulate material while applying vacuum underneath each cavity during such filling; and completely filling each cavity with particulate material while applying vacuum to the upper sides of the cavity during such filling.
- 5. A method as in claim 4 wherein the cavities are partially and then completely filled with the same particulate material.
- 6. A method as in claim 4 wherein the cavities are partially filled with one particulate material and then completely filled with a different particulate material.
- 7. A method as in claim 4 further including the steps of:applying vacuum underneath the cavities immediately upstream of the partial filling step and the complete filling step.
Parent Case Info
This application claims benefits of Provisional Appl. 60/400,353 filed Jul. 31, 2002.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/400353 |
Jul 2002 |
US |