Powder distribution system and method

Abstract

Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with material deposition for obtaining controllable mass flow and uniform deposition while preventing blockage and mitigating segregation of material deposited. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a funnel, the funnel comprising of at least one wall extending in a longitudinal direction, and a rotatable shaft, the rotatable shaft positioned below the funnel and extending in the longitudinal direction beyond the distal ends of the at least one wall. The example apparatus may also include at least one restoring means provided on a distal end of the rotatable shaft, and the funnel may be centrally positioned between the distal ends of the rotatable shaft to uniformly distribute material placed in the funnel across a surface of the rotatable shaft.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.