Patent ID: 7114533

Claim:
An apparatus for increasing the bulk density of a powder, comprising: a container for containing said powder under pressure, said container having an internal area containing said powder, a first end and a second end opposing said first end; and pressurization means associated with the internal area of said container containing said powder, said pressurization means injects a pressurized gas into the internal area to rapidly increase internal gas pressure in the internal area of said container containing said powder to a level above atmospheric pressure and thereby compacting said powder, other than by decreasing the volume of the internal area of the container containing said powder, at a rate sufficient to cause said powder to compact before a substantial portion of the gas in the internal area of said container containing said powder diffuses into said powder, wherein said powder is compacted by the rapid increase of internal gas pressure without the use of any mechanical device applied to said powder; said container having a first end including an inlet for allowing said powder to be added to said container and a second end opposing said first end, said second end including an outlet for depressurizing said container and for removing said powder from said container, said container comprising a first valve for opening and closing said inlet and a second valve for opening and closing said outlet, whereby depressurization of said container and gravity expels said powder from said container through said outlet of said container.