IE87366B1

IE87366B1 - A dispenser

Info

Publication number: IE87366B1
Application number: IE20160265A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Cashman William
Original assignee: Cashman Engineering Products Ltd
Priority date: 2015-11-25
Filing date: 2016-11-25
Publication date: 2023-02-15
Also published as: IES20160266A2; GB2546596B; IE20160265A1; GB2546596A; GB201619986D0; IES86799B2

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a dispenser (100, 400) and more specifically to a metering device (104) for use with an associated hopper (102, 402). The dispenser (100, 400) comprises the hopper (102) which is located above the metering device (104). The metering device (104) dispenses preset amounts of granular material from the hopper (102). The amount of granular material dispensed from the dispenser (100, 400), through the metering device (104), is preset and may be altered. The metering device (104) comprises a chamber (110) and a rotatable dispensing bucket (114, 404A, 404B), whereby granular material from the hopper (102, 402) flows through the chamber (110) and into the rotatable dispensing bucket (114, 404A, 404B). The dispensing bucket (114) rotates about an axle from a filling position to a dispensing position in order to dispense the preset amount of granular material. The chamber (110) comprises a chamber opening (115), such that granular material which enters into the chamber (110) will be urged through the chamber opening (115) by virtue of a sloped floor (112, 408) in the chamber (110). The chamber opening (115) can be enlarged or reduced so as to alter the preset amount of granular material which is allowed through the chamber opening (115).

Description

“A dispenser” Introduction This invention relates to a dispenser. In particular, the present invention is directed towards a dispenser for dispensing preset amounts of granular material from a hopper Throughout this speciﬁcation, the term “granular material” shall be understood to encompass any type of pellets or grains or similar types of dry particles which will flow under gravity. Examples of granular material include, inter alia, grain, diary nuts, pulp nuts, rice, sugar, crushed stone and the like.

Dispensers such as those encompassed by the present invention are used in a variety of uses, such as dispensing animal feed. Animal feed is an example of the type of granular material which the dispenser of the present invention is designed to operate with.

Many different types of animal feed dispensing apparatuses are known from the prior art. Typically, such prior art dispensing apparatuses are provided for dispensing animal feed to cattle, cows and other types of livestock. The prior art dispensers comprise a multitude of different designs and constructions.

Generally speaking, it is important that the livestock receive the correct amount of feed which is sufficient for their growth but not too much feed such that the animal becomes unhealthy and/or such that the economic cost-to-beneﬁt ratio is affected. The amount of feed which an animal requires over their growth cycle can vary and various complicated designs for rationing feed to animals have been considered over the years.

Given the environments which these dispensers have to operate in, it is felt that simpler apparatuses are more preferable as there are less components which can malfunction and break, requiring replacement.

An example of a prior art dispenser is disclosed in the Applicant’s own U.K.

Patent Application Number GB 9213994.8; U.K. Patent Publication Number GB 2 266 878 (CASHMAN). The dispenser shown in this prior art uses a metering device beneath a hopper to dispense preset amount of granular material. The metering device is a rotatable and comprises an acutely angled floor. A portion of the floor is moveable so as to alter the amount of granular material that is preset to ﬁll into the metering device. By altering the angle of one portion of the floor, relative to the other portion of the ﬂoor of the metering device, more granular material or less granular material will be encouraged to flow into the metering device for subsequent dispensing. This complicated design construction requires a moveable ﬁrst partition wall, a disc means, a locking means, an adjustment lever and guide channel to operate together so as to provide the moveable portion of the ﬂoor. A further disadvantage of the design which comprises a hinged section on the floor of the metering device is that the hinged section can become clogged with granular material and restrict or entirely prohibit the movement of the portion of floor which is supposed to be moveable. Regular cleaning and maintenance is required which is costly and onerous to the user.

It is a goal of the present invention to provide an apparatus that overcomes at least one of the above mentioned problems through the provision of a metering device, and/or a dispenser incorporating such a metering device, which is more robust and of a simpler constructions than the dispensers and metering devices which are known form the prior art.

Summag of the Invention The present invention is directed to a dispenser comprising a hopper located above a metering device, the metering device being used to dispense preset amounts of granular material from the hopper; the metering device comprising a chamber and a rotatable dispensing bucket, whereby granular material from the hopper flows through the chamber and into the rotatable dispensing bucket; the chamber is formed by sidewalls, a rear wall, a sloped floor and a slidable plate acting as a front wall, said slidable plate extending downwardly from the hopper and terminating above the sloped floor so as to create a chamber opening, such that granular material which enters into the chamber will be urged through the chamber opening by virtue of the sloped floor; the rotatable dispensing bucket rotates about an axle from a filling position to a dispensing position, the axle being offset relative to a central point of the floor of the rotatable dispensing bucket so that the rotatable dispensing bucket is urged and biased towards the ﬁlling position; whereby, when the rotatable dispensing bucket is in the filing position, the granular material which flows through the chamber opening will enter into the rotatable dispensing bucket, and, when the rotatable dispensing bucket is transitioned to the dispensing position, the granular material which entered the rotatable dispensing bucket through the chamber opening will be dispensed as the preset amount of granular material; wherein, the size of the chamber opening can be altered by moving the slidable plate and thus alter the preset amount of granular material that will flow from the chamber into the rotatable dispensing bucket for subsequent dispensing.

The advantage of providing the slidable plate is that the size of the chamber opening can be changed to modify the amount of granular material that ﬂows to ﬁll up the rotatable dispensing bucket during a ﬁlling event, when the rotatable dispensing bucket is in the ﬁlling position. In this way a design which comprises a relatively simple construction will permit different preset amounts of granular material to be delivered from the hopper. As just a single moving part is used to alter the amount of preset granular material, the design is considered to be relatively robust when compared with those of the prior art. This is important as the environment in which the dispensers are typically found may be on farms and on sheds where sensitive equipment is less likely to continue to function without trouble. The simple design is seen to be a low maintenance design as it comprises only one moving part, which is a sliding plate, and which is believed to be quite robust and suitable for the environment where it may have to operate.

The present invention is directed to a metering device which is used to dispense preset amounts of granular material from an associated hopper; the metering device comprising a chamber and a rotatable dispensing bucket, whereby granular material from the associated hopper flows through the chamber and into the rotatable dispensing bucket; the chamber is formed by sidewalls, a rear wall, a sloped floor and a slidable plate acting as a front wall, said slidable plate extending downwardly from the hopper and terminating above the sloped floor so as to create a chamber opening, such that granular material which enters into the chamber will be urged through the chamber opening by virtue of the sloped floor; the rotatable dispensing bucket rotates about an axle from a ﬁlling position to a dispensing position; whereby, when the rotatable dispensing bucket is in the filing position, the granular material which flows through the chamber opening will enter into the rotatable dispensing bucket, and, when the rotatable dispensing bucket is transitioned to the dispensing position, the granular material which entered the rotatable dispensing bucket through the chamber opening will be dispensed as the preset amount of granular material; wherein, the size of the chamber opening can be altered by moving the slidable plate and thus alter the preset amount of granular material that will flow from the chamber into the rotatable dispensing bucket for subsequent dispensing.

The advantage of providing the slidable plate is that the size of the chamber opening can be changed to modify the amount of granular material that ﬂows to ﬁll up the rotatable dispensing bucket during a ﬁlling event, when the rotatable dispensing bucket is in the ﬁlling position. As above, the simple design is considered to be robust and easy to maintain.

Further embodiments of the present invention when directed towards the dispenser and/or the metering device alone are now considered.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, a planar floor forms part of the rotatable dispensing bucket. In a further embodiment of the present invention, a single piece, monobloc floor form part of the rotatable dispensing bucket. As the floor of the rotatable dispensing bucket will not contain any hinge, as is the case with the closest prior art, the device cannot become clogged with material as was the case with the prior art. This obviates all of the issues that arise through clogging a part of the dispensing device, such as maintenance needs and costs, device down-time, and reduction in operational lifespan.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, a ram or a piston may be used to transition the rotatable dispensing bucket form the filling position to the dispensing position.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, two rotatable dispensing buckets form part of the metering device and create a double dispensing apparatus.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the slidable plate can be locked at different positions to form different pre-determined chamber openings. This may be useful for pre-determining preset feed amounts for different animals, different feed types for the same animal, different ages of the same animal and/or any combination thereof.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, Iug stoppers are provided within the metering device to restrict the angle of rotation of the rotatable dispensing bucket.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, a filling position Iug stopper and a dispensing position lug stopper are provided.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the angle of rotation of the rotatable dispensing bucket intermediate the filling position and the dispensing position is in the range of 40° to 110°. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the angle of rotation of the rotatable dispensing bucket intermediate the filling position and the dispensing position is in the range of 60° to 85°. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the angle of rotation of the rotatable dispensing bucket intermediate the filling position and the dispensing position is approximately 70°. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the angle of rotation of the rotatable dispensing bucket intermediate the filling position and the 1O dispensing position is 70°.

The present invention is directed to a dispenser comprising a hopper located above a metering device, the metering device being used for dispensing preset amounts of granular material from the hopper; the metering device comprising a chamber formed by sidewalls, a rear wall, a sloped floor and a slidable plate acting as a front wall, said slidable plate extending downwardly from the hopper and terminating above the sloped floor so as to create a chamber opening through which granular material can ﬂow; the metering device further comprises a rotatable dispensing bucket which rotates about an axle, from a filling position to a dispensing position, whereby in the filing position granular material is capable of flowing from the hopper into the chamber and from the chamber, through the chamber opening into the rotatable dispensing bucket; such that the size of the chamber opening can be altered by moving the slidable plate and altering the preset amount of granular material that will be dispensed on each occasion that the rotatable dispensing bucket is rotated from the filling position to the dispensing position.

The advantage of providing the slidable plate is that the size of the chamber opening can be changed to modify the amount of granular material that ﬂows to ﬁll up the rotatable dispensing bucket during a ﬁlling event, when the rotatable dispensing bucket is in the ﬁlling position.

Detailed Descrip_tion of Embodiments The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic cut-through side view of a dispenser in accordance with the present invention, with a dispensing bucket in the ﬁlling position; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic cut-through side view of the dispenser of Figure 1, with the dispensing bucket in the dispensing position; 1O Figure 3a is a diagrammatic cut-through side view of the dispenser of Figure 1, showing granular particles ﬂowing into the dispensing bucket in the ﬁlling position from a hopper; Figure 3b is a diagrammatic cut-through side view of the dispenser of Figure 1, showing granular particles ﬂowing out the dispensing bucket in the dispensing position; Figure 4 is a partially cut-through perspective View of a dispenser in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, comprising two dispensing buckets; Figure 5a is a top down perspective view of a dispensing bucket as used in the present invention; and, Figure 5b is a bottom up perspective view of the dispensing bucket of Figure Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is provided a dispenser indicated generally by reference numeral 100. The dispenser 100 comprises a hopper 102 which is located above a metering device indicated generally by reference numeral 104.

The metering device 104 is used to dispense preset amounts of granular material (not shown) from the hopper 102. The hopper 102 converges and narrows towards an outlet indicated generally by reference numeral 106 which is positioned at a lowermost part of the hopper 102. The granular material which ﬂows out through the outlet 106 enters a the metering device 104 which comprises a chamber indicated generally by reference number 110. The chamber 110 comprises a rear wall 111, a sloped ﬂoor 112, side walls 113 (only one of which is shown), and, a slidable plate 108 which forms a front wall and which is slidably connected to a wall of the hopper 102. The slidable plate 108 does not extend fully down to abut with the sloped ﬂoor 112, but rather terminates above the sloped ﬂoor 112 and thus a chamber opening indicated generally by reference numeral 115 is created adjacent the sloped ﬂoor 112. Granular 1O material which ﬂows from the hopper 102 and into the chamber 112 will be urged through the chamber opening 115 by virtue of the sloped ﬂoor 112. As described supra, the chamber 110 comprises a chamber opening 115, such that granular material which enters into the chamber 110 will be urged through the chamber opening 115 by virtue of a sloped ﬂoor 112 in the chamber 110 although alternative means for urging the granular material out of the chamber 110 are also considered to be within the scope of the present invention, such as vibrating plates and the like. The chamber opening 115 may be enlarged or reduced so as to alter the preset amount of granular material which is allowed through the chamber opening 115 and onward to a rotatable dispensing bucket indicated generally by reference numeral 114.

The rotatable dispensing bucket 114 is mounted within the metering device 104. The rotatable dispensing bucket 114 rotates about an axle 120, intermediate a ﬁlling position and a dispensing position. The axle 120 is journaled on the side walls 113 of the chamber 110 of the metering device 104 so as to permit the rotatable dispensing bucket 114 to transition between the ﬁling positon and the dispensing position.

The rotatable dispensing bucket 114 is shown in the ﬁlling position in Figure 1 and the dispensing position in Figure 2.

The rotatable dispensing bucket 114 comprises a substantially planar monobloc ﬂoor 116. The axle 120 is positioned beneath the ﬂoor and is offset from a central point along the length of the ﬂoor such that the rotatable dispensing bucket 114 is biased toward the ﬁlling position (of Figure 1). The rotatable dispensing bucket 114 comprises arched sidewalls 118 and a curved rear wall 124. The planar monobloc ﬂoor 116 extends between the arched sidewalls 118, and, the curved rear wall 124 extends between the arched sidewalls 118, thus forming a bucketed space to receive granular material. The construction of the rotatable dispensing bucket 114 is best seen in Figures 5a and 5b. Returning to Figures 1 and 2, a lug stopper 122 is used to restrict the angle of rotation of the rotatable dispensing bucket 114 as the lug stopper 122 will abut against an underside of the rotatable dispensing bucket 114 when the rotatable dispensing bucket 114 has rotated backward into its ﬁlling position to a fullest extent.

The angle of rotation from the ﬁlling position to the dispensing position is approximately 70°. It will also be understood that in alternative embodiments the angle 1O of rotation from the ﬁlling position to the dispensing position may be in the range of 40° to 110°. It will be further understood that in different embodiments of the present invention, the angle of rotation from the ﬁlling position to the dispensing position may be in the range of 60° to 85°.

The rotatable dispensing bucket 114 does not comprise any front wall intermediate the arched side walls 118 and thus a mouth indicated generally by reference numeral 126 is provided in the rotatable dispensing bucket 114 so that granular material can be dispensed from the rotatable dispensing bucket 114 when the rotatable dispensing bucket 114 is rotated into the dispensing position (as in Figure 2). Reference arrow A shows the direction in which the granular material is dispensed from the rotatable dispensing bucket 114. A wall 128 forming part of the metering device 104 is provided to direct the granular material dispensed out of the rotatable dispensing bucket 114 down towards the outlet 130 of the metering device 104. An important aspect of the present invention is that the curved rear wall 124 will rise up, by virtue of the rotation of the rotatable dispensing bucket 114, and block off the chamber opening 115 such that no granular material will ﬂow out of the chamber 110 when the rotatable dispensing bucket 114 is in the dispensing position.

Once the rotatable dispensing bucket 114 has been emptied, it is rotated back to the ﬁlling position. As the rotatable dispensing bucket 114 is biased towards the ﬁlling position, a ram or piston may only be required to rotate the rotatable dispensing bucket 114 from the ﬁlling position to the dispensing position. It is foreseen to use a ram or piston to also rotate the rotatable dispensing bucket 114 from the dispensing position back to the ﬁlling position.

Figures 3a and 3b are provided to show the ﬂow of granular material when the rotatable dispensing bucket 114 is in the ﬁlling position and the dispensing position respectively. In Figure 3a, the granular material 300 is stored in the hopper 102 and a preset amount of granular material 302 ﬂows under gravity through the chamber opening 115 into the rotatable dispensing bucket 114. The rotatable dispensing bucket 114 can be manually rotated, although it is more likely to be automatically rotated by ram or piston or motor (not shown). When rotated to the dispensing position as shown in Figure 3b, the preset amount of granular material 302 ﬂows out of the rotatable dispensing bucket 114. The curved rear wall 124 blocks off the chamber opening 115 and prevents any spillage of granular material 300 from the hopper 102 and/or chamber 110 when the preset amount of granular material 302 is being dispensed from the rotatable dispensing bucket 114.

Referring now to Figure 4, wherein like parts previously discussed have been accorded the same reference numeral, there is provided a double dispenser apparatus indicated generally by reference numeral 400. A hopper 402 narrows towards an outlet indicated generally by reference numeral 406. The side walls of the metering device, which houses the double dispensers, have been removed to aid the understanding of the double dispenser apparatus 400.

A slidable plate 108 is provided and functions as with the embodiment discussed hereinbefore so that a preset amount of granular material can be delivered from the hopper into the dispensers which are formed by two rotatable dispensing buckets 404A, 4048. An inverted vee-shaped ﬂoor 408 urges the granular material which flows out of the outlet 406 to either of the rotatable dispensing buckets 404A, 4043 through the chamber openings formed between a lowermost edge of the slidable plate 108 (only one of which is shown) and the inverted vee-shaped ﬂoor 408. It will be understood that an important aspect of the present invention is the simplicity with which the preset amount of granular material can be selected by movement of the slidable plate 108. The construction of the rotatable dispensing buckets 404A, 4048 is as previously described and will not be repeated here.

It will be noted that in addition to the ﬁlling position lug stoppers 122, dispensing position lug stoppers 414 are also provided in this embodiment. It will be readily understood that the dispensing position lug stoppers 414 stop any further rotation of the rotatable dispensing buckets 404A, 4048 once they have reached their dispensing position. It will be understood that the dispensing position lug stoppers may also be used in the earlier described embodiments of the present invention.

Outlet chutes 410A, 4108 are provided to direct the granular material as it is dispensed from the rotatable dispensing buckets 404A, 4048. Catch trays 412 are positioned beneath the inverted vee-shaped ﬂoor 408 and the rotatable diSpensing buckets 404A, 4048 to catch any granular material which falls out of the metering device.

The double dispensers can operate in tandem so that both rotate from the ﬁlling position to the dispensing positions at the same time, or they can operate alternatively such that as one rotates from the ﬁlling position into the dispensing position, the other will rotate back towards the ﬁlling position from the dispensing position.

The terms “comprise” and “include”, and any variations thereof required for grammatical reasons, are to be considered as interchangeable and accorded the widest possible interpretation.

It will be understood that the components shown in any of the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and, like parts shown in several drawings are designated the same reference numerals.

It will be further understood that features from any of the embodiments may be combined with alternative described embodiments, even if such a combination is not explicitly recited hereinbefore but would be understood to be technically feasible by the person skilled in the art.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims

1.A dispenser (100, 400) comprising a hopper (102) located above a metering device (104), the metering device (104) being used to dispense preset amounts of granular material from the hopper (102); the metering device (104) comprising a chamber (110) and a rotatable dispensing bucket (114), whereby granular material from the hopper (102) flows through the chamber (110) and into the rotatable dispensing bucket (114); the chamber (110) is formed by sidewalls (113), a rear wall (111), a sloped floor (112) and a slidable plate (108) acting as a front wall, said slidable plate (108) extending downwardly from the hopper (102) and terminating above the sloped floor (112) so as to create a chamber opening (115), such that granular material which enters into the chamber (110) will be urged through the chamber opening (115) by virtue of the sloped floor (112); the rotatable dispensing bucket (114) rotates about an axle from a ﬁlling position to a dispensing position, the axle being offset relative to a central point of the floor (106) of the rotatable dispensing bucket (114) so that the rotatable dispensing bucket (114) is urged and biased towards the filling position; whereby, when the rotatable dispensing bucket (114) is in the filing position, the granular material which flows through the chamber opening (115) will enter into the rotatable dispensing bucket (114), and, when the rotatable dispensing bucket (114) is transitioned to the dispensing position, the granular material which entered the rotatable dispensing bucket (114) through the chamber opening (115) will be dispensed as the preset amount of granular material; wherein the size of the chamber opening (115) may be altered by moving the slidable plate (108) and thus alter the preset amount of granular material that will flow from the chamber (110) into the rotatable dispensing bucket (114) for subsequent dispensing.

2.A dispenser (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, a planar ﬂoor (106) forms part of the rotatable dispensing bucket (114).

3.A dispenser (100) as claimed in any of claims 1 or 2, wherein, a single piece, monobloc floor (106) forms part of the rotatable dispensing bucket (114).

4.A dispenser (100) as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein, a ram or a piston may be used to transition the rotatable dispensing bucket (114) form the ﬁlling position to the dispensing position.

5.A dispenser (100) as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein, two rotatable dispensing buckets (404A, 4048) form part of the metering device and create a double dispensing apparatus (400).

6.A dispenser (100) as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein, the slidable plate (108) can be locked at different positions to form different pre- determined chamber openings (115).

7.A dispenser (100) as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein, lug stoppers (122, 414) are provided within the metering device to restrict the angle of rotation of the rotatable dispensing bucket (114, 404A, 4048).

8.A dispenser (100) as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein, a filling position lug stopper (122) and a dispensing position lug stopper (414) are provided.

9.A dispenser (100) as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein, the angle of rotation of the rotatable dispensing bucket (114) intermediate the filling position and the dispensing position is in the range of 40° to 110°.

10.A dispenser (100) as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein, the angle of rotation of the rotatable dispensing bucket (114) intermediate the filling position and the dispensing position is in the range of 60° to 85°.

11.A dispenser (100) as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein, the angle of rotation of the rotatable dispensing bucket (114) intermediate the filling position and the dispensing position is approximately 70°.

12.A dispenser (100) as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein, the angle of rotation of the rotatable dispensing bucket (114) intermediate the filling position and the dispensing position is 70°.

13.A metering device (104) which is used to dispense preset amounts of granular material from an associated hopper (102); the metering device (104) comprising a chamber (110) and a rotatable dispensing bucket (114), whereby granular material from the associated hopper (102) flows through the chamber (110) and into the rotatable dispensing bucket (114); the chamber (110) is formed by sidewalls (113), a rear wall (111), a sloped floor (112) and a slidable plate (108) acting as a front wall, said slidable plate (108) extending downwardly from the hopper (102) and terminating above the sloped floor (112) so as to create a chamber opening (115), such that granular material which enters into the chamber (110) will be urged through the chamber opening (115) by virtue of the sloped floor (112); the rotatable dispensing bucket (114) rotates about an axle from a filling position to a dispensing position, the axle being offset relative to a central point of the floor (106) of the rotatable dispensing bucket (114) so that the rotatable dispensing bucket (114) is urged and biased towards the filling position; whereby, when the rotatable dispensing bucket (114) is in the filing position, the granular material which flows through the chamber opening (115) will enter into the rotatable dispensing bucket (114), and, when the rotatable dispensing bucket (114) is transitioned to the dispensing position, the granular material which entered the rotatable dispensing bucket (114) through the chamber opening (115) will be dispensed as the preset amount of granular material; wherein, the size of the chamber opening (115) can be altered by moving the slidable plate (108) and thus alter the preset amount of granular material that will flow from the chamber (110) into the rotatable dispensing bucket (114) for subsequent dispensing.

14.A metering device (104) as claimed in claim 13, wherein, a planar floor (106) forms part of the rotatable dispensing bucket (114).

15.A metering device (104) as claimed in claims 13 or 14, wherein, a single piece, monobloc floor (114) forms part of the rotatable dispensing bucket (114).

16.A metering device (104) as claimed in any of claims 13 to 15, wherein, a ram or a piston may be used to transition the rotatable dispensing bucket (114) form the filling position to the dispensing position.

17.A metering device (104) as claimed in any of claims 13 to 16, wherein, two rotatable dispensing buckets (404A, 4048) form part of the metering device and create a double dispensing apparatus (400).

18.A metering device (104) as claimed in any of claims 13 to 17, wherein, the slidable plate (108) can be locked at different positions to form different pre- determined chamber openings (115).

19.A metering device (104) as claimed in any of claims 13 to 18, wherein, lug stoppers (122, 414) are provided within the metering device (102) to restrict the angle of rotation of the rotatable dispensing bucket (114).

20.A metering device (104) as claimed in any of claims 13 to 19, wherein, a filling position lug stopper (122) and a dispensing position lug stopper (414) are provided.

21.A metering device (104) as claimed in any of claims 13 to 20, wherein, the angle of rotation of the rotatable dispensing bucket (114) intermediate the filling position and the dispensing position is in the range of 40° to 110°.

22.A metering device (104) as claimed in any of claims 13 to 21, wherein, the angle of rotation of the rotatable dispensing bucket (114) intermediate the filling position and the dispensing position is in the range of 60° to 85°.

23.A metering device (104) as claimed in any of claims 13 to 22, wherein, the angle of rotation of the rotatable dispensing bucket (114) intermediate the filling position and the dispensing position is approximately 70°.

24.A metering device (104) as claimed in any of claims 13 to 23, wherein, the angle of rotation of the rotatable dispensing bucket (114) intermediate the filling position and the dispensing position is 70°.