WO2009135525A1

WO2009135525A1 - Controlled-release dispenser and controlled-release dispensing container for dispensing a solid component

Info

Publication number: WO2009135525A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/055567
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel Schuepbach
Original assignee: Contexa Sa
Priority date: 2008-05-06
Filing date: 2008-05-06
Publication date: 2009-11-12

Abstract

Controlled-release dispensing container (1) comprising a holder (2), a movable controlled-release element (3) situated beneath the holder (2) and comprising at least one controlled-release compartment (30), it being possible to move the controlled-release compartment (30) between at least one filling position (31) to receive a solid component contained in the holder (2), and an emptying position (32) to expel the solid component from the controlled-release dispensing container (1), a controlled-release gate (5) to at least partially open the controlled-release compartment (30) when it is in the emptying position (32), and an expulsion mechanism (4) for pushing at least part of the solid component out of the controlled-release compartment (30) when it is in the emptying position (32), the expulsion mechanism (4) being configurable to push out of the controlled-release compartment a volume of solid component corresponding to the volume of the controlled-release compartment (30) uncovered by the partial opening of the controlled-release gate (5).

Description

DOSER AND DOSING POT FOR DISTRIBUTING A SOLID COMPONENT

The present invention relates to a dosing pot and an automatic doser using such a pot. The present invention relates in particular to a dosing jar for the metering of variable and precise quantities of solid components, for example powders, crystals and pastes involved in the manufacture of perfumes and flavors.

The production of a perfume or aroma, whether in the laboratory or in the industrial production phase, requires an extremely precise dosage of the elements that compose it, since very small variations in proportions between these components can substantially modify the impression. olfactory or taste that emerges.

The elements usually used in the composition of a perfume or aroma are generally in liquid form or in solid form. Solid components can be of very different natures. They include powders, crystals or pastes, with very different physical properties. Some powders have a fine granularity, while others have larger grains. Some powders are very fluid, while others agglomerate easily. The crystals, for example the menthol crystals, may be very variable in size and some may represent a larger quantity of material than that to be included in the composition of the mixture; they must then be broken before being dosed.

Generally, the liquid components of a perfume or aroma are accurately metered in a fully automated manner, while the solid components are added manually, especially when accurately dosing very small amounts, for example example when developing a new perfume or aroma in the laboratory. In production, the accuracy of the dosage being less critical because of the quantities, some powders can be dosed using automatic dispensers. The prior art powder metering devices, however, are often not very precise, and only one type of powder to which they are specifically adapted. The majority of powders therefore continue to be dosed manually during the manufacture of perfumes and flavors.

An object of the invention is to provide a solid component doser for automatically dosing variable and precise amounts of solid components.

Another object of the invention is to provide a solid component doser that can automatically distribute a maximum of different solid components, in particular a maximum of solid components among those usually used in the composition of perfumes and flavors.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for the automatic dosing of variable and very precise amounts of solid components.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for the automatic determination of a maximum of different solid components, in particular a maximum of solid components among those usually used in the composition of perfumes and flavors.

These objects are achieved by means of a dosing pot, a powder dispenser and a method for dosing powders according to the corresponding independent claims.

These objects are attained in particular by means of a dosing jar comprising a reservoir, a movable metering element arranged under the reservoir and comprising at least one dosing compartment, the dosing compartment being able to be moved between at least one filling position to receive the component solid content in the tank, and at least one emptying position to expel the solid component out of the dosing pot, a metering valve for at least partially opening the metering compartment when in the emptying position, a d expulsion for urging at least a portion of the solid component out of the dosing compartment when in the emptying position, the expulsion mechanism being configurable to push out of the dosing compartment a quantity of solid component corresponding to the volume of the metering compartment discovered by the partial opening of the metering valve.

These goals are also achieved by a solid component doser for automatically dosing a fixed quantity of solid component, comprising at least one dosing pot described above, a motor block for actuating the metering element, the metering valve and the mechanism. expulsion of the dosing pot, a controller to control the automatic operation of the motor block. These objects are also achieved by means of a method for the automatic dosing and dispensing of a fixed quantity of solid component, comprising the steps of filling a dosing compartment with a solid component, of at least partial opening of the compartment of dosage, expulsion of the solid component in a volume of the metering compartment discovered by the opening of the metering compartment.

With the active expulsion, using a mechanism configurable according to the opening of the metering compartment, the amount of solid component in the volume of the compartment released by the opening of the metering valve, the amount of solid component dispensed corresponds precisely to the desired amount. The dosing pot and the dosing device of solid components of the invention are furthermore suitable for practically any type of solid component, since even a material that is easily agglomerating and therefore hardly falls under the sole effect of gravity is expelled out of the compartment. precise quantity dispenser thanks to the configurable expulsion mechanism. Similarly, any crystals of some solid components are broken by the expulsion mechanism that expels only the portion in the open volume of the metering compartment.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description below illustrated by the figures, in which: FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a measuring cup at rest, according to a preferred version of the invention, FIG. 2 is a section of the measuring cup of FIG. 1 when dispensing a determined quantity of a solid component. FIG. 3 is a front view of a metering wheel according to a preferred version of the invention, FIG. 4 is a section of the dosing wheel of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a view of the bottom of the metering pot of FIG. FIG. 1 when dispensing a determined quantity of a solid component, FIG. 6 is a partial view from below of the expulsion mechanism of the measuring jug of FIG. 1, FIG. 7 is a general view of a metering device of solid components according to a preferred version of the invention.

The solid component doser of the invention comprises one or more measuring cups, each measuring cup may contain a different component.

According to a preferred version of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1, the doser 1 comprises a reservoir 2 which can contain a certain quantity of a solid component, for example a powder, crystals or a paste. Under the tank 2 is disposed a movable measuring element 3 comprising at least one metering compartment 30. The metering element 3 is for example a metering wheel 3 held in the dosing pot 1 in rotation about its center in a horizontal plane.

An example of a metering wheel 3 is shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a front view of the metering wheel 3, while FIG. 4 is a section along the IV-IV axis of the metering wheel 3. In this version, the metering wheel 3 comprises ten metering compartments 30 regularly distributed around its center. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the metering compartments 30 are windows formed in the metering wheel. 3. They are therefore open on the two opposite sides of the metering wheel 3, thus having an upper opening 301 and a lower opening 302.

The walls of each metering compartment 30 preferably form a slight offset from the upper opening 301 to the lower opening 302 to facilitate the emptying of the metering compartment 30. The section of the lower opening 302 is therefore of similar shape but slightly larger than the section of the upper opening 301.

According to a preferred version of the invention, each metering compartment 30 is of triangular section or the like in the plane of rotation of the metering wheel 3 and of triangular section or the like in a plane perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the metering wheel 3, the tips of the two triangles being oriented towards the center of the dosing wheel 3, and their bases towards its periphery. Each metering compartment 30 is thus in a generally pyramidal shape whose tip is oriented towards the center of the wheel and the base towards its periphery. The volume of each metering compartment 30 is therefore relatively small towards the center of the metering wheel 3 and increases rapidly around the periphery of the latter.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the metering wheel 3 is movable and kept rotating about its axis under the reservoir 2. Each metering compartment 30 can thus pass successively from at least one filling position 31 to at least one position emptying 32 by rotation of the dosing wheel 3.

In the filling position 31, the metering compartment 30 is located in the lower part of the tank 2 and its upper opening is free, thus allowing the introduction into the metering compartment 30 of a certain quantity of the solid component not shown lying in the tank 2. The lower opening of the dosing compartment 30 is closed by the bottom 10 of the dosing pot 1 which prevents the material introduced into the dosing compartment 30 from leaving, thus ensuring the filling of the dosing compartment 30. Depending on the nature of the solid component in the reservoir 2, the metering compartment 30 is essentially filled under the effect of gravity, the solid component in the reservoir 2 falling by itself into any open metering compartment 30 and empty located in the bottom of the tank 2.

Certain solid components, in particular certain easily aggregating powders or certain relatively viscous pastes, nevertheless require the assistance of mechanical elements to facilitate the filling of the metering compartment 30. The dosing pot 1 of the invention thus preferably comprises a mixing claw not shown, on the one hand to break the bridges or blocks that could form the solid component in the upper part of the tank 2, and on the other hand to push in the metering compartment 30 a certain amount of the solid component located in the lower part of the reservoir 2. The stirring claw is for example maintained in rotation about an axis coinciding with the axis of rotation of the metering wheel 3 and performs reciprocating movements allowing a at least part of its mechanical elements to come and go over the or metering compartments 30 being in the filling position 31 Preferably, the lower part of the tank 2 comprises a not shown profile, adapted to the upper profile of the metering wheel 3 to smooth the contents of the metering compartment 30 when the latter leaves the filling position 31. The smoothing of the contents of the compartment 30 ensures that the amount of solid component in each metering compartment 30 after filling is more or less constant and corresponds to the volume of the metering compartment 30. The profile is further preferably adapted to break possible crystals or blocks of powder emerging from the dosing compartment after filling. The variations in the amount of material in each metering compartment after filling, however, will depend on the nature of the solid component being dosed, in particular its granularity and fluidity. In the emptying position, the lower opening of the metering compartment is opposite an expulsion opening 6 made in the bottom 10 of the dosing pot, as illustrated by way of example in FIG. 5.

When the measuring pot is at rest, the expulsion opening 6 is closed by a metering valve 5, so that the solid component contained in the metering compartment can not leave.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the metering valve 5 is held in the metering pot 1 so as to be able to slide under the metering wheel 3 along a substantially radial axis relative to the latter. To allow the dispensing of a determined quantity of the solid component in the metering compartment 30, the metering valve 5 is displaced towards the outside of the metering wheel 3 so as to at least partially discover the opening of the Expulsion, and therefore the lower opening of the metering compartment 30. The metering valve 5 is withdrawn in a controlled manner until a volume of the metering compartment 30 corresponding to the desired amount of material is found.

The upper opening of the metering compartment 30 located in emptying position 32 is facing an expulsion mechanism 4 for pushing out of the metering compartment 30 the material in the volume released by the partial opening of the metering valve 5. The expulsion mechanism 4 preferably comprises one or more rigid elements 41 which are introduced into the open portion of the metering compartment 30. According to the invention, the expulsion mechanism 4 is configurable according to the degree of opening of the metering valve 5, so that the rigid element (s) 41 only push the material and all the material in the open part of the metering compartment 30. The dimensions and / or the number of the rigid element (s) 41 introduced in the metering compartment 30 are therefore configured at each emptying operation as a function of the partial opening of the metering valve 5. According to a preferential version illustrated in the figures, the expulsion mechanism 4 comprises a series of rigid rods 41, or fingers, oriented vertically above the metering compartment 30. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the sections of the fingers 41 of the The expulsion mechanism and their distribution are preferably selected and arranged to correspond as closely as possible to the section of the upper opening of the metering compartment.

In the illustrated example, the fingers 41 of the expulsion mechanism are rigid elements of circular section. Other forms of fingers are, however, conceivable within the scope of the invention. For example, at least some of the fingers may be of triangular and / or trapezoidal section in order to conform more closely to the contours of the metering compartment. Other forms of fingers are also possible, depending for example on a particular form of the metering compartments. Preferably, the fingers 41 of the expulsion mechanism are aligned in rows perpendicular to the axis of translation of the metering valve, corresponding for example to different predefined degrees of opening of the latter.

The expulsion mechanism 4 may however comprise other elements to push the solid component in the volume of the metering compartment released by the partial opening of the metering valve. According to one variant, these elements comprise, for example, semi-rigid rods introduced horizontally into the dosing pot above the emptying position, then bent in order to enter the dosing compartment vertically. According to another variant, these elements comprise a device whose section may be varied, for example by inflation, depending on the degree of opening of the metering valve.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the expulsion mechanism 4 is configurable at each partial emptying of a metering compartment 30 in emptying position 32, so that only the material that is in the volume opened by the partial opening the metering valve 5 is actively expelled. According to the illustrated version, the configuration of the expulsion mechanism 4 comprises the determination of the number of fingers 41, or rows of fingers, introduced into the metering compartment 30 to push the material therein, as illustrated for example in Figure 2. This configuration is done using a blocking rod 40 held in the dosing pot 1 and can be moved along an axis parallel to the axis of opening of the metering valve 5. When the doser 1 is at rest, the locking rod 40 preferably blocks all the fingers 41 of the expulsion mechanism 4. The number of rows of fingers unlocked at each expulsion depends on the withdrawal distance of the locking rod 40 from its rest position. The finger or fingers 41 of the row or rows released are then pushed down by a not shown actuator, so as to expel all the amount of solid component still in the open volume of the metering compartment 30. Preferably, the The fingers 41 are pushed down at least to the height of the lower opening of the metering compartment 30 so that the entire volume of desired material is actively expelled. Active expulsion of the solid component out of the dosing compartment

30 by the expulsion mechanism 4 allows the distribution of virtually any type of solid component by the dosing pot of the invention, even for example the distribution of very compact powders or easily agglomerating and which would fall easily under the sole effect of the gravity during the opening of the metering valve 5. In addition, the rigid elements 41 of the expulsion mechanism 4 are preferably rigid enough to break any crystals or blocks of powder that would straddle between the open part and the closed portion of the metering compartment 30, only a portion of which should be expelled. According to a preferred version, the metering wheel 3 comprises ten discrete positions including a emptying position 32 and nine filling positions 31. In fact, the metering wheel is placed directly in the bottom of the tank 2 and its upper part is completely covered by the expulsion mechanism 4 in emptying position 32. The metering compartments 30 in the other positions can therefore be filled with the solid component in the tank 2 under the effect of gravity and / or brewing mechanism. Other configurations are however possible within the scope of the invention. In particular, the measuring pot 1 may comprise only one filling position 31 and a single emptying position 32. The dosing pot 1 may also comprise several emptying positions 31, separated from one another by one or more filling positions32, thus allowing, for example, the simultaneous distribution of several quantities of solid component from the same measuring cup 1.

The measuring pot 1 according to the invention is preferably actuated by a doser of solid components controlling its operation automatically. The solid component doser controls and synchronizes in particular the movements of the metering element 3, the metering valve 5, the expulsion mechanism 4 and the stirring mechanism.

Referring to Figure 7, the solid component doser 9 comprises a conveyor 90 on which can accommodate one or more metering pots 1 according to the invention, each metering pot 1 containing for example a different solid component. The conveyor 90 is for example a conveyor belt, a circular conveyor or a table xy having several locations 900 each for receiving a dosing pot 1. The conveyor 90 allows to automatically bring a dosing pot 1 determined in a dispensing position 99 in which it can be activated by the doser 9.

The solid component doser 9 according to the invention comprises a motor block 91 for the activation of the doser 1 in the dispensing position 99. The motorization unit 91 comprises for example a first actuator not shown to move the element metering device, a second actuator not shown to open at least partially the metering valve and preferably simultaneously configure the expulsion mechanism, a third actuator not shown to activate the expulsion mechanism and a fourth actuator not shown to activate the mechanism of brewing.

The actuator for moving the metering element is for example a rotary engine whose controlled movements make it possible to turn the wheel step metering system. The rotary motor drives the metering wheel for example by means of a gear comprising a first gear wheel connected directly or indirectly to the axis of the rotary motor, and a second gear wheel formed on the periphery of the metering wheel or connected thereto. . When the dispenser is in the dispensing position, the first gear meshes with the second gear to allow the rotary motor to turn the metering wheel. Preferably, the metering wheel is rotated at each step by an angle corresponding to the angle between the centers of two adjacent metering compartments relative to the center of the metering wheel, so that the metering compartments successively stop at the filling position, respectively at the expulsion position of the powder. According to the illustrated example, the metering wheel is turned one-tenth of a turn, or 36 °, at each step.

The actuator for opening the metering valve and configuring the expulsion mechanism is for example a linear actuator, for example a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, acting on the metering valve and the locking rod via gripping elements removably attaching to the end of the metering valve and the blocking rod when the dosing pot is in the dispensing position. The actuator can thus pull and push the metering valve and the locking rod in a controlled and simultaneous manner.

The third actuator for actuating the expulsion mechanism is for example a linear actuator pressing vertically on the fingers via a semi-rigid element, for example by means of a series of springs, thereby lowering the fingers released by the blocking rod and damping the force exerted on the blocked fingers which then remain motionless.

The fourth actuator actuating the stirring mechanism is for example a rotary motor performing continuous reciprocating movements and driving the stirring mechanism by means of gears similar to those driving the metering wheel, or gears connected to each other by a chain or a drive belt. The motorization unit 91 described above is given by way of example. The type and number of actuators, as well as the type of mechanisms allowing the actuators to actuate the elements of the dosing pot can in particular be chosen differently. The solid component doser 9 according to the invention further comprises a controller 92 for controlling the motor unit 91 and, where appropriate, the conveyor 90, and thus to control the automatic operation of the solid component doser 9. The controller 92 is typically an industrial computer comprising an electronic memory for storing a computer program, a processor for interpreting the commands of the program, and one or more interfaces for sending control signals to the different elements of the metering device 9 and for receiving and processing information from these elements.

The controller may for example receive and process signals from sensors indicating the presence or absence of a container 7 under the measuring cup 1 in the dispensing position 99, a scale 93 for measuring the weight variations of the container 7 and therefore calculate the weight of solid component dispensed, etc. This information is then processed by the controller 92 to adjust the dosage and solid component distribution according to the method described below.

According to the invention, a container 7 is brought, for example by means of an external automatic conveyor 8, under the dispensing position 99 of the solid component dispenser 9 in order to receive the solid component (s) which will be dosed and dispensed. for the manufacture of a particular mixture. The container 7 is for example intended to receive the elements used in the composition of a certain perfume or aroma, and for example already contains one or more liquid components of the preparation.

The container 7 is for example automatically placed on a balance 93 to determine the initial weight of the container 7 and its contents. The measuring pot 1 containing the first solid component, a precise quantity of which must be added to the preparation, is automatically brought into the dispensing position 99 by the conveyor 90 of the solid components doser 9. The dosing element of the dosing pot 1, for example the metering wheel, is actuated by means of the motor unit 91 to bring a full metering compartment to the emptying position inside the dosing pot 1.

The dosing flap of the dosing jar 1 is then automatically opened in order to discover a volume of the dosing compartment corresponding as closely as possible to the desired amount of solid component. Preferably, the degree of opening of the metering valve is in steps corresponding to predefined volumes. The metering valve is thus open until the last step releasing a quantity of solid component immediately below the desired amount.

The expulsion mechanism is preferably configured simultaneously with the opening of the metering valve, as explained above, and then actuated to push out of the metering compartment all the amount of the solid component in the volume discovered by the opening. of the dosing valve.

The weight of the container 7 and its contents after distribution of the solid component is measured and then compared to the initial weight to determine the actually dispensed amount. The difference between the desired solid component weight and the distributed weight is calculated and used by the controller 92 to automatically determine, if necessary, a remaining amount to be dispensed. If this remaining amount is larger than the smallest amount of this solid component that can be dispensed using the solid component metering device 9 according to the invention, the above steps are repeated until the desired result is achieved.

Thanks to the very fine tip of the dosing compartments 30 as illustrated by way of example in FIGS. 3 and 4, the dosing accuracy for most of the solid components used in the composition of perfumes and aromas is of the order of ten milligrams. Different levels of precision, more suitable for example for other applications, are attainable by forming dosing compartments of different size and / or shape.

Once the amount of solid components dispensed is sufficiently accurate to the desired amount, the above steps are optionally repeated for the metering and dispensing of another solid component involved in the same preparation. The measuring pot 1 containing this other solid component is then automatically brought into the dispensing position 99 by the controller 92 of the solid components doser 9 using the conveyor 90. Once all the solid components involved in the composition of the preparation and can be dispensed by the doser solid components 9 of the invention were, the container 7 is carried by the outer conveyor 8 and possibly replaced by another container for the preparation of the same mixture again, or a another mixture requiring for example the distribution of different amounts of one or more other solid components.

Preferably, the solid component dispenser 9 according to the invention is calibrated so as to determine for each different solid component the weight of solid component dispensed as a function of the degree of opening of the dosing valve, that is to say according to the volume of the metering compartment discovered during this opening. The calibration data are stored by the controller 92 and used by the latter to then determine at each distribution, for a given solid component, the necessary opening of the metering valve for the distribution of the desired quantity. According to the preferred version of the invention described above, the solid component doser 9 comprises one or more dosing pots 1 removable and each comprising only a part of the mechanical elements for the distribution of the desired volume of material. The rest of the mechanical elements, the actuators and the controller for the dosing and automatic dispensing of one or more solid components being integral with the metering device 9. Among other advantages, this makes it possible to maintain the production cost of each dosing pot 1 relatively low, and easily configure the doser 9 for the distribution of other solid components by simply replacing the doser pots 1, thus avoiding the cleaning dosing pots 1 with each change of solid components. Other embodiments are however possible within the scope of the invention. It is for example possible to envisage a doser comprising a single dosing pot. It is also possible to envisage a metering device comprising one or more fixed metering pots. Or a metering unit, each measuring pot, fixed or removable, comprises all the mechanical elements, one or more actuators and / or a controller allowing an automatic and autonomous dosing and dispensing of the solid component that it contains.

The dosing pot, the solid component dosing device and the solid component dosing method of the invention are described here by way of example in the production of perfumes and flavorings which require precise dosing of varying amounts of solid components of very diverse natures. It is understood that the dosing pot, the dosing device of solid components and the assay method of the invention can be used in other areas of application requiring a more or less accurate dosage of solid components, for example for the assay pigments and other dyes involved in the preparation of paints and / or inks, for the determination of solid components involved in the preparation of pharmaceutical products, etc.

Claims

claims

1. Measuring pot (1) for dispensing a solid component comprising: a reservoir (2), a metering element (3) movable disposed under the reservoir (2) and comprising at least one metering compartment (30), said at least one metering compartment (30) displaceable between at least one filling position (31) for receiving a solid component contained in the reservoir (2), and at least one emptying position (32) for expelling at least one part of said solid component out of the dosing pot (1), a metering valve (5) for at least partially opening said at least one metering compartment (30) when said at least one metering compartment (30) is in said at least one metering compartment (30). least one emptying position (32), an expulsion mechanism (4) for urging at least a portion of the solid component out of said at least one metering compartment (30) when said at least one metering compartment (30) is located in said at least one dump position (32), said mechanism e expulsion (4) being configurable to push out of said at least one dosing compartment (30) a volume of solid component corresponding to the volume of said at least one metering compartment (30) discovered by the at least partial opening of said valve dosing (5).

2. Measuring pot (1) according to claim 1, said metering element (3) being a metering wheel rotated about its center in a horizontal plane.

3. dosing pot (1) according to one of the preceding claims, said at least one dosing compartment (30) having a generally triangular section in the horizontal plane and a generally triangular section in the vertical plane, the tips of said triangular sections being oriented in the same direction.

4. Measuring pot (1) according to one of the preceding claims, said expulsion mechanism (4) comprising a plurality of rigid elements (41) mobile can be inserted inside said at least one metering compartment (30) when said at least one metering compartment (30) is located in the at least one emptying position (32).

5. Measuring pot (1) according to the preceding claim comprising a locking element (40) for locking at least a portion of said rigid elements (41).

6. Solid component dosing device (9) for dosing and automatically dispensing a determined quantity of a solid component, comprising: at least one measuring cup (1) according to one of the preceding claims, a motorization block (91) for operating said metering element

(3), said metering valve (5) and said expulsion mechanism (4) of said at least one metering pot (1), a controller (92) for controlling the automatic operation of said motor unit (91).

7. solid component doser according to the preceding claim, further comprising a balance for weighing a container receiving a quantity of solid component dosed by said metering device.

8. solid component doser (9) according to one of claims 6 or 7 further comprising a conveyor (90) for receiving a plurality of measuring cups (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, said conveyor (90) can bringing one of said plurality of measuring cups (1) into a dispensing position (99).

9. A method for the automatic determination of a fixed quantity of solid component, comprising the following steps: filling of a metering compartment (30) with a solid component, at least partial opening of said metering compartment (30), expulsion by an expulsion mechanism (4) of the amount of solid component in a volume of said metering compartment (30) uncovered by the opening of said metering compartment (30).

10. Method according to the preceding claim further comprising the preliminary step of selecting a dosing pot (1) containing the desired solid component.

11. Method according to one of claims 9 or 10, further comprising a preliminary calibration step for determining the weight of solid component dispensed according to said volume discovered by said opening of the metering compartment (30).