Method of packing a container with powder and apparatus for the same

1. A method of packing a container including a powder inlet and an air outlet with powder, said method comprising the steps of:

(A) connecting a powder outlet of a hopper capable of storing the powder to the powder inlet, attaching a suction pipe to the air outlet, and then introducing said powder stored in said hopper into the container; and

(B) discharging air existing between particles of the powder introduced into the container via said suction pipe to which vacuum is fed;

wherein an end portion of said suction pipe to be positioned at least in the container after attachment to said container and constituting an air separating portion comprises at least one tubular filter extending from the end portion of said suction pipe such that said end portion of said suction pipe does not extend inside of said tubular filter, and

wherein each of said at least one tubular filter includes an intermediate layer sandwiched between inner and outer layers, the inner and outer layers have relatively large mesh size compared with the intermediate layer, and each of the inner layer, the intermediate layer and the outer layer is cylindrical.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one tubular filter comprises a laminate of three filters.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the laminate of three tubular filters includes an intermediate layer sandwiched between inner and outer layers.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the inner and outer layers have relatively large mesh size compared with the intermediate layer.

5. An apparatus for packing a container including a powder inlet and an air outlet with powder, said apparatus comprising:

a hopper connectable to the powder inlet and capable of storing the powder; and

a suction pipe attachable to the air outlet;

wherein an end portion of said suction pipe to be positioned at least in the container after attachment to said container and constituting an air separating portion comprises at least one tubular filter extending from the end portion of said suction pipe such that said end portion of said suction pipe does not extend inside of said tubular filter, and

wherein each of said at least one tubular filter includes an intermediate layer sandwiched between inner and outer layers, the inner and outer layers have relatively large mesh size compared with the intermediate layer, and each of the inner layer, the intermediate layer and the outer layer is cylindrical.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one tubular filter comprises a laminate of three filters.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6 , wherein the laminate of three tubular filters includes an intermediate layer sandwiched between inner and outer layers.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 , wherein the inner and outer layers have relatively large mesh size compared with the intermediate layer.

9. A pipe for separating and discharging air existing between particles of powder packed in a container, at least an end portion of said pipe comprises at least one tubular filter extending from the end portion of said pipe such that said end portion of said pipe does not extend inside of said tubular filter,

wherein each of said at least one tubular filter includes an intermediate layer sandwiched between inner and outer layers, the inner and outer layers have relatively large mesh size compared with the intermediate layer, and each of the inner layer, the intermediate layer and the outer layer is cylindrical.

10. The pipe as recited in claim 9 , wherein the at least one tubular filter comprises a laminate of three filters.

11. The pipe as recited in claim, 10 , wherein the laminate of three tubular filters includes an intermediate layer sandwiched between inner and outer layers.

12. The pipe as recited in claim 11 , wherein the inner and outer layers have relatively large mesh size compared with the intermediate layer.