Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a beverage dispensing system that controls the flow of beverage based on information acquisitioned from a marker associated with a vessel for the beverage. The system utilizes a switching apparatus located in the tap of the dispensing unit that can selectively enable mechanical connection between the hand lever of the tap and the stem based on the information acquisitioned. Some embodiments include a hand tilt device for automatically controlling the flow of beverage, and a vessel tilt device to adjusting the tilt of the vessel so as to achieve a preferred pour.

Abstract: A droplet generating method includes: providing a micro-pipe for dispensing a first liquid and a container containing a second liquid; providing a moving and locating device for positioning the micro-pipe over the container; providing a liquid driving device connecting to the micro-pipe through a connecting tube; providing a vibrating equipment connected to the micro-pipe for vibrating the micro-pipe; forming a relative periodic vibration between the micro-pipe and the container so that the outlet end of the micro-pipe is displaced to touch the second liquid in the container during a relative periodic vibration; and dispensing the first liquid in the micro-pipe out from the outlet end of the micro-pipe during the relative periodic vibration to generate a plurality of droplets of the first liquid in the second liquid which is induced by a force of the second liquid imposed on the first liquid at the outlet end.

Abstract: Described in detail herein is an automated paint mixing system. The paint mixing system includes a mobile device which can receive an input associated with a color of a paint. The mobile device can transmit the input associated with a color to a first computing system. The first computing system can receive the input associated with a color. The first computing system retrieve an identifier associated with the color based on the input. The first computing system can transmit the identifier associated with the color to a second computing system. The second computing system can instruct a paint dispenser to mix and generate a specified amount of paint of the requested color based on the received identifier. The second computing system can instruct a 3-D printer to fabricate a three-dimensional container configured to store the generated paint. The paint dispenser can deposit the generated paint in the three-dimensional container.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for the production of plastics material liquid containers (10) with a conveying device (2) which conveys the plastics material containers (10) along a pre-set conveying path (P), with a shaping device (4) which shapes plastics material pre-forms into the plastics material containers (10), with a first filling device (12) which is arranged downstream of the shaping device (4) along the conveying path and which fills the plastics material containers (10) with a liquid, and with a cooling device (8) which is arranged between the shaping device (4) and the first filling device (12) and which cools at least one area of the wall of the plastics material containers (10) by acting upon it with a flowable medium. According to the invention the cooling device has a second filling device (8) which fills a liquid into the container, which liquid is used for cooling a base area (10a) of the plastics material container (10).

Abstract: A stackable container system configured to carry material includes at least one container having a first end and a second end, a holding area for the material, the holding area extending from the first end to the second end, a first opening at the second end, the material controllably releasable from the holding area through the first opening, and a chute that passes through the holding area, the chute extending from the first end to the second end, a first end of the chute including a receiving portion having a larger area than a combined area of the first opening and a second end of the chute.

Abstract: Provided is a microvolume liquid dispensing method in which a variable capacity passage section of a liquid passage in a microvolume liquid dispenser is pressurized from the outside and shrunk in a direction that reduces the internal capacity thereof so that a liquid that is within the variable capacity passage section is pushed toward both a downstream passage section and an up stream passage section. A microvolume of the liquid is pushed toward the downstream passage section as a result of the downstream passage section having a much larger liquid passage resistance than the upstream passage section. It is thus possible to precisely drip a microvolume liquid of a picoliter order from the tip opening of a nozzle by simple control.

Abstract: A filling valve system configured to discharge a predetermined volume of liquid product to individual packages is provided. The system comprises at least one filling valve; a controller configured to open the at least one filling valve thus allowing liquid product to be discharged and configured to close the at least one filling valve; and a flow meter configured to measure the amount of liquid product being discharged through the at least one filling valve. The system further comprises a pressure sensor configured to determine a pressure upstream of the at least one filling valve, wherein the controller is further configured to calculate an estimated discharge volume during a closing sequence of the at least one filling valve based on the determined pressure, and to initiate the closing sequence based on the estimated discharge volume.

Abstract: A filling element includes a housing that forms a first dispensing opening. The first dispensing opening and a second dispensing opening provide corresponding filling jets. These jets combine to create a new jet for entry into a container to be filled. The first dispensing opening is offset outward radially opposite the second dispensing opening.

Abstract: An adapter of a tire cement dispenser has an adapting seat, an air valve mounted in the adapting seat, a flow direction switching device mounted in the adapting seat, a connector mounted on the adapting seat to hold the flow direction switching device in the adapting seat, and a switching button connected to the flow direction switching device. The adapting seat has an air inlet tube for connecting to an air pumping device, and an outlet tube for connecting to a tire. The adapter can be switched to allow the air pumping device to selectively inflate the tire and extrude tire cement for patching the tire. Since the adapter, the air pumping device, and the tire do not have to be connected to or disconnected from each other repeatedly, the tire cement dispenser with the adapter is convenient and time-saving for patching and inflating the tire.

Abstract: Method for monitoring and controlling a loading rate of a transport section with one or several individually speed-controlled consecutive partial sections (T1, T2, T3) in a filling line, including detecting a container loading over a certain region at an incoming region (E1) of the transport section; simulating a container flow in real time using the detected container loading in the incoming region of the transport section and a transport speed, the simulation including: entering the detected value for the container loading into a shift register (SR1); and synchronizing a shift register clock with the transport speed, so that the shift register content (DW0, DW1, . . . ) represents the container loading on the transport section.

Abstract: Method for monitoring and controlling a loading rate of a transport section with one or several individually speed-controlled consecutive partial sections (T1, T2, T3) in a filling line, including detecting a container loading over a certain region at an incoming region (E1) of the transport section; simulating a container flow in real time using the detected container loading in the incoming region of the transport section and a transport speed, the simulation including: entering the detected value for the container loading into a shift register (SR1); and synchronizing a shift register clock with the transport speed, so that the shift register content (DW0, DW1, . . . ) represents the container loading on the transport section.

Abstract: Methods and systems for pharmaceutical compounding are described. In one embodiment a system comprises a solution of a pharmaceutical in an injection vehicle, the solution being contained in a vessel. The system also includes one or more tubes, a filter, and one or more valves. The system presents a sterile environment for compounding the solution.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a liquid crystal dropping device, including: a container for containing liquid crystal and being provided with at least one nozzle on an end thereof for ejecting liquid crystal from the container; a driver connected to the container for driving the liquid crystal to eject from the container; at least two dropping heads connected to the at least one nozzle; and at least one corrosion-resistant connecting pipe arranged between the at least one nozzle and the at least two dropping heads for communicating the at least one nozzle with the at least two dropping heads. The dropping device of the present disclosure is capable of shortening the time of manufacturing the liquid crystal panel, improving the efficiency of manufacturing the liquid crystal panel, and avoiding uneven arrangement of the liquid crystal.

Abstract: A solid chemical product is dispensed to prepare a requested amount of a use solution having a requested concentration of the chemical product. In some examples, a target amount of a diluent and a target amount of the chemical product required to prepare the requested use solution are determined. The target amount of the diluent is dispensed into a container. At least some of the diluent in the container is applied to the solid chemical product to create a resultant use solution, which is directed back into the container. The diluent from the container is applied to the chemical product until the amount of the use solution in the container satisfies the requested amount. In some examples, the target amount of the diluent and the target amount of the chemical product are measured by weight.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for filling containers (3) with a filling material consisting of at least two components that are introduced separately into the respective container (3), with the aid of a filling element (1, 1a).

Abstract: A brine generating system is disclosed for use with an underground storage tank, the system including a main salt delivery channel that branches into two horizontal feed lines through a reducer to deliver salt under pressure to the bottom of the storage tank in a generally equal distribution along the tank floor. The salt distribution system can be combined with a water distribution system to ensure delivery of water at the location of the salt deposits along the tank floor.

Abstract: The inventive method for filling a pressure gas container from a gas source pressure with a high pressure for a predetermined filling time selected or calculated prior to filling and at a determined temperature consists in forming a connection in the form of a fluid passage between the source and container, in carrying out a plurality of the passage opening-closing sequences during predetermined sub-intervals of the predetermined filling time, wherein the curve of a current pressure in the container follows, according to a time, a theoretical straight line linking the pressure measured prior to filling and after thereof during the filling time, the predetermined filling time is subdivided into a number of the time sub-intervals ranging from two to several hundreds and having respective determined duration, preferably ranging from 5 and 20 seconds.

Abstract: A paint dispenser for dispensing paint components such as colorants and possibly base into 5 gallon and 1 gallon containers is disclosed. The paint dispenser includes a cabinet for accommodating a plurality of colorant and optionally base canisters in communication with a common dispense outlet. The canisters may be connected to individual pumps which, in turn, are connected to a dispense outlet. A container shelf unit is disposed in front of the cabinet and below the dispense outlet. The shelf unit includes a base including a plurality of rollers particularly suitable for supporting and moving 5 gallon pails of paint. The base is disposed below the dispense outlet a first vertical distance sufficient to permit the 5 gallon cylindrical containers to be disposed on top of the rollers and below the dispense outlet without engaging the dispense outlet. The shelf unit further a pivoting shelf being pivotally connected to the cabinet above the base.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for filling a container (7), particularly an open bag, with a powdery product has the following features” a net scale (1) situated above a tube arrangement and/or hopper arrangement (2), which terminates in a filler neck (6) above the container (7) to be filled while preferably projecting into this container. An intermediate chamber (3) is arranged downstream of the net scale and upstream of the container (7) to temporarily hold at least a portion of the product released by the net scale, and a compacting device (8, 9) is provided for compacting the product placed inside the container (7).

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring, at high speed and in a very effective and accurate manner, particulate material from a feeder into reservoirs of a moving endless surface, e.g. a drum, by use of a pressure means, e.g. a specific three-dimensional plate, for applying pressure onto said particulate material present between said plate and said moving endless surface, and then transferring the particulate material with said moving endless surface with reservoirs to a substrate; the apparatus and method being particularly useful for the production of absorbent structures for absorbent articles.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for filling a container (7), particularly an open bag, with a powdery product has the following features” a net scale (1) situated above a tube arrangement and/or hopper arrangement (2), which terminates in a filler neck (6) above the container (7) to be filled while preferably projecting into this container. An intermediate chamber (3) is arranged downstream of the net scale and upstream of the container (7) to temporarily hold at least a portion of the product released by the net scale, and a compacting device (8, 9) is provided for compacting the product placed inside the container (7).

Abstract: A holding rack (101, 201, 301, 401) has individual positions or compartments for dosage units (102, 102?, 202, 302). Each of the dosage units has a supply receptacle (104, 104?, 204, 304) and a dispensing head (103, 103?, 203, 303) that are connected to each other. The holding rack (101, 201, 301, 401) is equipped with a means for active user guidance (105, 105?, 210, 305) which, in a process of dispensing measured substance quantities from the different dosage units into a receiving container (411), directs the user in taking out and returning the different dosage units that are seated in the holding rack.

Abstract: A viscous material metering system comprises a cutting apparatus comprising a tensioning fork having a main body diverging into extending tines; a cutting wire tensioned between the tines of the fork; and a driving mechanism operatively connected to the tensioning fork to drive the fork and tensioned cutting wire; and a controller controllably connected to the driving mechanism and having a set of instructions to control the driving mechanism to drive the fork to cut a continuous viscous material into portions of a predetermined size or weight for metering to a viscous material compounding system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dispensing system and method for on-demand dispensing of spoonable or drinkable food products in a container. Single servings or larger portions of these products can be dispensed. The system and method achieve dispensing of the product with a visual differentiation of the components in the container. The container may be translucent or transparent so that the consumer can view the visually differentiated product therein. The products form yet another embodiment of the invention.

Abstract: A discrete object dispensing system and method dispenses any selected number of objects, up to a maximum number, without a substantial delay associated with counting all of the tablets. A preset number of objects are counted and stored in dedicated primary chambers. Furthermore, an overflow chamber is provided for temporarily storing and then dispensing tablets which are fed to the primary chamber after the primary chambers are filled with their respective number of tablets. In addition, a direct feed channel is provided for dispensing individually counted tablets. The chambers and direct feed channel can together dispense the selected number. It is also preferable that the chambers have subchambers, and that more than one subchamber be capable of being emptied during a single dispensing operation.

Abstract: A method of loading a granulated solid into a vessel having a containment zone for the granulated solid. The method comprises providing in a bottom portion of the containment zone a first substantially vertical rigid columnar portion having a horizontal cross section large enough to accommodate an operative's body. Support means is associated with the substantially vertical rigid columnar portion. Granulated solid is charged into the containment zone under control of the operative so as to distribute granulated solid around the substantially vertical rigid columnar portion. A further substantially vertical rigid columnar portion having a similar horizontal cross section to that of the first columnar portion is positioned on top of the first columnar portion. These steps are repeated a sufficient number of times until the desired amount of granulated solid has been charged to the containment zone.

Abstract: A container filling apparatus for topping off receiving containers that are partially filled with an initial amount of a solution of a concentrate and a diluent includes a dispenser for discharging additional concentrate into the receiving container, the dispenser being connected to a source of the concentrate. A controller is connected to the concentrate dispenser, the controller being programmed to determine the amount of the solution initially in the partially filled receiving container, and to discharge concentrate into the receiving container in an amount sufficient to provide a desired concentration of solution for a full receiving container of the solution.

Abstract: A paintball hopper refill apparatus or loading apparatus is disclosed, which includes a body, an interior, a neck and a dispensing portion where the body is made of a flexible material, the interior is designed to be filled with a plurality of paintballs and the dispensing portion is designed to be opened either by pulling a pull string or by squeezing allowing the paintballs to flow from the loading apparatus to the hopper. A method for filling a hopper using the loading apparatus of this invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved tablet feeder includes a rotating body defining multiple chambers that are arranged in fluid communication with one another in a serial manner. Tablets flow through the multiple chambers for discharge from the tablet feeder. The rotating body has a rotational axis that is oriented at an inclination angle less than 60 degrees from horizontal. The chambers preferably include a primary chamber that holds a large number of tablets, a secondary chamber (which may have a frusto-conical sector or wedge shape) that is disposed at a position offset from the rotational axis, and a third chamber and exit tube disposed along the rotational axis. The device may be adapted to provide for singular and/or non-singular discharge of tablets from the exit tube during rotation of the rotating body.

Abstract: Information management systems and methods can be used with at least one pharmaceutical compounding device. The systems and methods comprise a controller coupled to the compounding device. A compounding control manager resides on the controller to receive compounding order input and generate control commands to the compounding device based, at least in part, upon the compounding order input. An order process control manager is in data communication with the compounding control manager to communicate compounding order input to the compounding control manager. The order entry process manager includes an order function for receiving entry of compounding order input through a browser-based interface. The browser-based interface can include an order entry workstation separate from the compounding device, or a network of order entry workstations separate from the compounding device, or can reside on the controller.

Abstract: A method of dispensing a liquid material from a source container which includes a blend of fluids of a first composition that normally fractionate upon boiling. A material of a second composition (different than that of the first composition) and capable of maintaining the first composition of the material remaining in the source container is added to the source container during the transfer of liquid from the source container. This addition of a material of a second composition to the supply container during the transfer can minimize and/or even eliminate fractionation of the liquid in the source tank.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for sealing inflatable objects, especially tires, consisting of a container that contains sealing agents and has a gas inlet which can be connected to a gas pressure source and an outlet that can be coupled to an object that is to be sealed. The gas inlet and the outlet are connected to each other via the interior of the container. The gas inlet and the outlet are embodied in a discharge unit that is detachably connected to the container and is preferably screwed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing protein-containing materials, such as, for example, pastes, gels, lipidic cubic phases, lipidic mesophases, and mixtures of the foregoing into containers, e.g., wells of assay trays. The invention further provides a method for preparing the aforementioned containers for various experiments involving soluble proteins or membrane proteins or both types of proteins. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes (a) a gel dispenser assembly for dispensing small quantities of gels; (b) a pipette probe for dispensing fluids; (c) an actuator for moving the gel dispenser assembly vertically relative to the pipette probe; (d) a liquid-handling robot having a robot arm for moving the pipette probe and the gel dispenser assembly vertically and horizontally relative to containers, e.g.

Abstract: Disclosed are a type of institutional or hospital network system of personal, portable hand cleaning agent dispensers and a method to record and report their specific usage by healthcare workers and patients of the institution or hospital through a dispenser control apparatus having a computer processor memory. In one form, each dispenser has an identifier unique to it and shared with no other dispenser. Each dispenser contains hand cleaning fluid agent in an amount sufficient to provide multiple shots of predetermined amount (or unit dose size) upon pressing a pad on the dispenser to dispense one shot per press. Each worker has an identifier unique to that worker.

Abstract: A method and system for food preparation and processing that determines the bulk density of food particulate matter input into particulate packaging machinery and performs bulk density feedback of packaged food particulate matter. The feedback mechanism inputs bulk density values into a controller that are referred against acceptable values. Where the input values of bulk density are outside the acceptable range the controller automatically alters the food preparation and packaging process to obtain acceptable bulk density values. The method system are applicable to any food manufacturing process, although they are particularly well suited to the manufacture of food in flake, chip, puffed or extruded form.

Abstract: Liquid crystal dropping apparatus and method for dropping liquid crystal discharged from discharging ports of a liquid crystal dropping head on a planned drop region, wherein the liquid crystal is discharged only from one or some of discharging ports located in correspondence with the planned drop region among a plurality of discharging ports of the liquid crystal dropping head.

Abstract: A system and for creating multiple mixtures is disclosed. The illustrative system described herein includes dispensing elements that are moved into alignment with various receivers (or vice versa) to deliver ingredients. In some embodiments, the system requires only one dispensing element (e.g., valve, nozzle, orifice, etc.) per ingredient dispensed, irrespective of the number of receivers in the system. In accordance with the principles of this invention, the system is operated such that a plurality of ingredients are incrementally added to the receivers. Incremental addition is performed in such a way that, from the “perspective” of the mixture being formed, the ingredients are added quasi-continuously (i.e., a near-continuous flow of an ingredient) or quasi-simultaneously (i.e., all ingredients are added at nearly the same time), or both.

Abstract: A device serving for sealing and inflating an inflatable object provided with an inflation valve, for example a tire. The device is of the kind that includes a pressure gas source and a container containing a sealing agent. In addition, the device includes a reversing valve for opening a first connection between the pressure gas source and the inflation valve of the object in a first position and a second connection between the pressure gas source and the container and further between this container and the inflation valve of the object in a second position. In one mode of operation, the device can be used for inflating an object having gone flat to a specified pressure, while in a second mode of operation, it can be used for sealing and inflating a punctured object. Thereby, the heavy and bulky spare wheel which drivers conventionally have in the car is rendered dispensable.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for delivering liquid precursors to semi-conductor processing apparatus. The liquid precursor delivery system is generally indicated at (10) and includes a source (11), an inlet tube (12), a two-way valve (13), a pump assembly (14), an outlet tube (15), a shut-off valve (16) and a flash evaporator (17). The pump assembly (14) is in the form of a syringe or variable volume pump and is controlled by a combination of a step motor (27) and a linear encoder (30). The arrangement is such that unused liquid precursor can be returned to the source.

Abstract: A metering and packaging device includes several cups fixed to rotate about a shaft. These cups are positioned under hopper outlets during a portion of their rotation to receive bulk material, and over passages through a bottom plate during another portion of their rotation to dump bulk material into weigh buckets. The outlets, cups and passages through the bottom plat are angularly displaced from one another such that the cups drop measured portions of bulk material in an alternating fashion into the weigh buckets, and the weigh buckets drop the portions into a packaging machine in an alternating fashion into a packaging machine which separately packages each successive and alternately dropped portion.

Abstract: Liquid crystal dropping apparatus and method for dropping liquid crystal discharged from discharging ports of a liquid crystal dropping head on a planned drop region, wherein the liquid crystal is discharged only from one or some of discharging ports located in correspondence with the planned drop region among a plurality of discharging ports of the liquid crystal dropping head.

Abstract: An inflatable device with a liquid-powered air pump includes a pump housing a liquid chamber and an air chamber, each having an input port and an output port. A turbine axle extends between the liquid chamber and the air chamber. The end of the turbine axle, residing in the liquid chamber, includes a number of liquid turbine blades while the end of the turbine axle, residing in the air chamber, includes a number of air turbine blades. A nozzle, which is preferably adjustable, is connected to the input port to the liquid chamber. Introduction of liquid into the liquid input port turns the liquid turbine blades and thus the air turbine blades via the axle. Air is drawn from the air input port and forced through the air output port. The pump assembly may be connected to or integrated with an inflatable device to simultaneously fill a liquid container and a separate air bladder of the inflatable device.

Abstract: A method and device for storing and dispensing specified subsets from a collection of tens, hundreds or thousands of different reagents to specified locations within microtitre trays or microarray substrates or the like. The reagents of interest are stored in racks of syringe-like dispensers. These dispensers and/or substrates and/or actuators are controllably moved by automated means to a dispensing position where a single action, vibration and weighing system transfers a controlled quantity to a specified location in a microtitre tray or the like. Deficits of the prior art, such as evaporation, cross-contamination, oxidation, waste of reagents and lab-ware, and human operator non-reliability are overcome.

Abstract: A work station for simultaneously performing multiple assays includes a base structure, a receptacle rack assembly received within a receptacle rack well formed in the base structure, a pipette tip rack assembly received within a pipette tip rack well formed in the base structure, a multiple conduit substance transfer device, and substance transfer device positioning structure. The receptacle rack assembly holds a plurality of receptacles in which a plurality of individual assays are performed, and the pipette tip rack assembly holds a plurality of contamination limiting pipette tips. The substance transfer device is capable of simultaneously dispensing substances into two or more receptacles or simultaneously removing substances from two or more receptacles. Alternatively, the substance transfer device is capable of simultaneously dispensing substances into two or more receptacles, and, at about the same time, simultaneously removing substances from two or more receptacles.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a dispensing system for a fuel additive. This dispensing system comprises two subsystems, one being located in a vehicle and the other located in a fuel pump. The dispensing system of the present disclosure dispenses a liquid fuel additive into a fuel additive storage container of a vehicle at the time the vehicle is fueled at a fuel pump. According to the present disclosure, the fuel additive is a solution of urea, water and a monohydric or polyhydric alcohol. A gasoline performance enhancer may also be used as a fuel additive in the dispensing systems of the present disclosure.

Abstract: A device for maintaining ingredients separately within a bottle container of the type having a removable container cap has a sub-container body formed with squeezable plastic outer walls and inner divider walls forming multiple compartments having respective orifices for dispensing the ingredients contained therein. Each compartment can be separately opened (by removing a sealing element) and its ingredient can be dispensed into the container by squeezing on corresponding portions of the outer walls. In different embodiments, the device may be formed with the sub-container body in a cylindrical shape, the divider wall aligned with the cylinder axis or transverse to the cylinder axis, and the cylinder body snap-fitted to the underside of the cap or fixed to a collar which is held on the container neck by the cap.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for series cultivation of organisms which is particularly suitable for providing organisms to be cultivated with a culture medium that has a toxic effect on said organisms at a high dosage, but when applied in appropriate dosage, said device determines the amount of substrate required to enable organisms to produce substances microbially in optimum conditions. According to the invention, a dosing schedule is predefined and the amount of substrate in the flask is adjusted according to actual requirements. In order to avoid underdosage, filling of the shaking flask no longer occurs according to a fixed predefined sequence.

Abstract: A device for filling a pharmaceutical fluid into vials has a product container, which is connected to a distributor by way of a first line. Filling lines branch from the distributor and have filling valves for the individual vials. In order to improve the filling precision, particularly with fluids that have a very temperature-dependent flow behavior, the invention discloses cooling the distributor via a coolant so that during the filling procedures, the fluid has a substantially constant temperature. That substantially constant temperature then forms the basis underlying the calculation of the triggering time of the filling valves by a control unit with greater precision than is shown in the prior art.

Abstract: A closure including an integral chamber for storing a fluid separately from a beverage stored in a container to which the closure is attached is provided with a pre-formed court or aperture and a valve, the valve being operable to an open position when intended to allow release of the fluid in the chamber to mix with beverage in the container, the apparatus being particularly suitable for carbonating or recarbonating beverages.

Abstract: A multi-compartment container is charged with a plurality of doses of powdered medicament so that the volume of each dose is than that of the respective compartments in which it is contained. A respective protuberance is inserted into each respective compartment, which is then filled with medicament and the protuberance is then removed. The container may take the form of an apertured plate, in which case the filling step can be achieved by placing the container on a porous bed and in communication with a reservoir of particulate material, and then passing gas through the reservoir, the apertures in the container and the bed. There is also shown apparatus for performing the method, the apparatus comprising a reservoir for the particulate material and a conduit for relaying particulate material from the reservoir to the compartments, the conduit including protuberances which are insertable into the compartments to reduce the available volume of the latter.