Or a hopper placed next to a dropper could drop the item out immediately when it's being pumped into the dropper

Hate to break it too you but this is a bad idea. I can see where you are coming from but it would break countless redstone contraptions and be very unfitting with the way redstone works. Instead just make something like this: https://youtu.be/UPQbq9bkD6o
Or any basic comparator clock.

Hate to break it too you but this is a bad idea. I can see where you are coming from but it would break countless redstone contraptions and be very unfitting with the way redstone works. Instead just make something like this: https://youtu.be/UPQbq9bkD6o
Or any basic comparator clock.

atfter some thinking I have to admit that you are right, but the main idea behind it is to make a thing that drops item out directly beneath it, like a bottom-less container.
This idea really needs more refine.

I don't see that idea as being particularly helpful, but the best way I can image to do it is, whenever a Hopper runs it's check for containers to enter if it finds a bell in the output direction it selects it's first item slot and puts one into item entity form directly underneath that bell.

I don't see that idea as being particularly helpful, but the best way I can image to do it is, whenever a Hopper runs it's check for containers to enter if it finds a bell in the output direction it selects it's first item slot and puts one into item entity form directly underneath that bell.

hmm it sounds ok