Patents by Inventor Will Opie

Will Opie has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Dispensing small quantities of particles
    Patent number: 8074835
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing small quantities of particles, the apparatus comprising a hopper (20) provided with a sieve at a bottom portion thereof, the hopper defining a powder-containing zone above the sieve which in use contains powder to be dispensed therefrom through the sieve, a support (25) 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, at least one actuator (30) for delivering impact energy to the hopper for causing powder to be dispensed through the sieve when the hopper receives the impact energy, and an element which is adapted to permit controlled vertical movement of the hopper relative to the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Capsugel Belgium BVBA
    Inventors: Bruce MacMichael, Will Opie, Simon Bryant
  • DISPENSING SMALL QUANTITIES OF POWDER
    Publication number: 20090014086
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing small quantities of powder into a receptacle, the apparatus comprising a hopper (1), the hopper in use containing powder to be dispensed therefrom, a support for the hopper whereby the hopper can in use be held above a receptacle (8) into which the dispensed powder is to be received, at least one actuator for delivering impact energy to the hopper for causing powder to be dispensed therefrom and powder compaction means for enhancing the compaction of at least some of the powder in the receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Bruce MacMichael, Will Opie, John Poley
  • Dispensing Small Quantities of Particles
    Publication number: 20080017669
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing small quantities of particles, the apparatus comprising a hopper (20) provided with a sieve at a bottom portion thereof, the hopper defining a powder-containing zone above the sieve which in use contains powder to be dispensed therefrom through the sieve, a support (25) 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, at least one actuator (30) for delivering impact energy to the hopper for causing powder to be dispensed through the sieve when the hopper receives the impact energy, and an element which is adapted to permit controlled vertical movement of the hopper relative to the support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Bruce MacMichael, Will Opie, Simon Bryant