the powder dispensing device 10 shown in fig1 for dosing and dispensing powder into hard gelatine capsules 1 or the like has a product container 11 . the product container 1 is formed by a jacket 12 , a cap 13 , and a dispensing disk 14 . at the level of the dispensing disk 14 , the product container 11 is surrounded by a ring 15 , which serves to receive upper parts 2 of capsules . below the ring 15 segments 17 are provided which are correspondingly embodied to receive lower parts 3 of capsules . the segments 17 are each supported pivotably about a bolt , not shown , that is secured in the ring 15 , and upon circulating through a fixed curve 20 , via a curve roller 21 , are moved inward , that is , below bores 22 in the dispensing disk 14 , or outward , that is , beyond the circumference of the ring 15 , depending on requirements . the dispensing disk 14 is secured to a shaft 23 that is coupled to the drive of the device 10 and that rotates the dispensing disk 14 in increments of one angular amount each . for fastening the curve 20 , a second ring 24 is provided , which in turn is fastened to the tabletop 25 of the device 10 . between the curve 20 and the dispensing disk 14 , an intermediate ring 26 is provided , which can be pressed by adjusting means , not shown , against the underside of the dispensing disk 14 . this intermediate ring 26 serves to seal off the bores 22 in the dispensing disk 14 in the region where the powder is dispensed . as fig1 also shows , above the product container 11 is a holder 28 , which is movable up and down by means of columns 27 and in each case executes a defined stroke . along an arc of the holder 28 , a plurality of stuffing die holders 29 , for instance three stuffing die holders 29 , are disposed at equal angular spacings , and in each of them five stuffing dies 30 are guided that penetrate the cap 13 of the product container 11 in corresponding bores . expulsion dies or transfer dies 31 are also located on the holder 28 and are connected , in a height - adjustable manner , to a mount 32 disposed on the holder 28 . the transfer dies 31 are surrounded inside the product container 11 by a powder - repellent body 33 . a sensor 35 is disposed in the tip of the transfer die 31 , for detecting such product parameters as the active ingredient proportion , quantitative active ingredient quantity , or product quantity . the sensor 35 is preferably embodied optically ( infrared ). a fiber - optical line 37 is disposed in a recess in the transfer die 31 , so as to deliver the optical signal of the sensor 35 to a signal evaluator 39 . the device 10 described above functions as follows : for forming the compacts in the bores 22 from the powder located in the product container 11 , the dispensing disk 14 is rotated clockwise in increments , in each case beneath the stuffing dies 30 of one stuffing die holder 29 . next , the stuffing dies 30 , upon a downward motion of the holder 28 , penetrate the bores 22 of the dispensing disk 14 , and the powder located in the bore 22 is compacted . during the compacting or pressing of the powder , the intermediate ring 26 forms a counterpart bearing for the stuffing dies 30 or powder . next , the stuffing dies 30 are moved back out of the bores 22 of the dispensing disk 14 by means of the holder 28 , whereupon the dispensing disk 14 is rotated into the vicinity of the next stuffing die holder 29 . after the final pressing operation , the thus - formed compacts reach the vicinity of the transfer dies 31 , where they are inserted into the lower capsule parts 3 furnished by means of the segments 17 . next , the lower capsule parts 3 are rejoined to the upper capsule parts 2 . in fig2 , a powder dispensing device based on the tubule principle , with a sensor array , is shown as an example . the stuffing die 30 , comprising a cylinder 40 ( or tubule ) and a piston 36 , is lowered into a rotary container 38 as far as the level of the product , this level being set ( manually or by means of an actuator ), via the segment containers . next , the cylinder 40 is lowered into the product layer , while the piston 36 maintains its own position and forms the dosage chamber 42 , set simultaneously beforehand to all dosages . the thus - set dispenser is lowered to the bottom of the rotary container 38 , until the dosage chamber 42 is full . if necessary for the product in question , the desired compacting can now be done via the setting of the special cam ( manually or by means of an actuator ). the sensing can then preferably be done for further evaluation and determination of the product parameters of interest . after that , the piston 36 moves upward and is raised somewhat from the blank or compact . next , the dispenser is raised above the rotary container 38 again and is oriented vertically with the lower capsule parts in the bushes . next , the piston is lowered , and the product is introduced into the lower capsule part 3 . this is followed by a new dispensing cycle . fig3 in a more precise view now shows the basic construction of the sensing apparatus in section . in the stuffing die 30 or transfer die 31 , the powder repellant body 33 is preferably a cylindrical recess provided in the middle thereof which extends in the direction of the axis of the die 30 , 31 and ends in an opening in the tip of the die 30 , 31 . two fiber - optical cables 37 are disposed in the recess . one fiber - optical cable 37 is connected to an optical transmitter 43 ; the other fiber - optical cable 37 is connected to an optical receiver 45 . the optical transmitter 43 and optical receiver 45 are integrated in a signal detector 39 , which is preferably equipped with triggering electronics and a triggering unit . the signal detector 39 is preferably located at a point remote from the dies 30 , 31 . the fiber - optical cables 37 conduct optical radiation into the product and receive the radiation , reflected by the product , via a lens 41 . the lens 41 is preferably disposed in or at the opening in the die 30 , 31 . as the lens 41 , a convex lens is preferably employed . this produces a focal point 47 that is located inside the compact but not on its surface . as a result , dirt on the lens 41 does not in principle impair the quality of signal detection . the signal detector 39 initiates a measurement operation when the die 30 , 31 reaches a defined position within a processing step . the optical transmitter 43 is then triggered in such a way that for a defined length of time , it outputs optical radiation to one of the glass fibers 37 . this radiation , via the fiber - optical cables 37 and the lens 41 , penetrates the product , such as the powder metal compact . the product reflects a portion of the introduced radiation . via the lens 41 and the second fiber - optical cables 37 , the reflected radiation reaches the optical receiver 45 , which converts the optical signals into electrical signals . the signal detector 39 now assesses the signals received , as a function of the signals transmitted . known methods of spectral analysis are employed , in which the wave spectra of the radiation received are evaluated . qualitative conclusions about such product parameters as the active ingredient proportion , quantitative active ingredient quantity , or product quantity are thus made possible . preferably , radiation in the infrared range is emitted . instead of carrying signals in and out by means of fiber - optical cables 37 , transmitters 43 and receivers 45 could already be disposed in the die 30 , 31 , and the signals could be exchanged with the signal processor 39 in some other way , for instance electrically or in wireless fashion . the foregoing relates to the preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention , it being understood that other variants and embodiments thereof are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention , the latter being defined by the appended claims .