Method and apparatus for deagglomerating powder

A method for deagglomerating powder comprising:

• depositing said powder through an opening and into a deagglomerating apparatus comprising a housing;
• passing said powder past first and second adjustable baffle means in said apparatus and onto a sieve means mounted in said housing beneath said opening, said first and second baffle means regulating the flow of said powder onto said sieve means;
• causing a sweeping means mounted in said housing above said sieve means to sweep said powder through said sieve means and thereby deagglomerate said powder, said sweeping means being of sufficient length to move in close proximity with the top of said sieve means;
• and
• adjusting the angle of each of said first and second baffle means with respect to the other so as to be capable of forming a plurality of flow paths for said powder through said apparatus, from which a desired flow path is selected.

An apparatus for deagglomerating and pressing powder comprising:

• a first housing having an opening for depositing powder into said apparatus;
• a sieve means mounted in said first housing beneath said opening;
• at least one sweeping means mounted in said first housing above said sieve means, said sweeping means being constructed and arranged so that it is movable within close proximity to the top of said sieve means;
• means for moving said sweeping means so as to cause said sweeping means to sweep said powder through said sieve means and thereby deagglomerate said powder;
• first and second adjustable baffle means, said first and second baffle means being mounted to said housing above said sweeping means such that said first and second baffle means do not contact said sweeping means, wherein the angle of each of said baffle means is separately adjustable with respect to the other baffle means so as to be capable of forming a plurality of flow paths for said powder through said apparatus, from which a desired flow path is selected;
• and
• a powder pressing machine comprising a hopper into which deagglomerated powder flows, a second housing for holding said powder which has passed through said hopper and a pressing means for pressing said powder held in said second housing;
• said powder pressing machine being mounted beneath said sieve means, such that said powder flows from said sieve means through said hopper and into said second housing.