Abstract: An elongated treating chamber in the form of a cylindrical metallic barrel is rotatable about an inclined longitudinal axis. The food material to be processed is introduced into the inlet or higher end of the barrel through the agency of a rotary valve and is removed or discharged through a nozzle at the other or lower end. In one embodiment two solenoid-type induction coils encircle longitudinal portions of the barrel, being energized with alternating current power so as to inductively heat the barrel. The heat is induced throughout the thickness of the wall of the barrel and is then transmitted into the food material as the food material passes therethrough. The temperature of the barrel's outer surface is sensed at two longitudinally spaced locations as the barrel rotates and each of the two induction coils is individually controlled in accordance with the temperature that is desired.

Abstract: A selected number of troughs containing small plants therein are placed in a parallel relation with each other at one end of a soilless growth chamber. Tubular screw sections having helical grooves therein are employed for advancing the troughs from the loading end of the chamber to the unloading end thereof, the helical or screw pitch being considerably greater at the unloading or harvesting end in order to accommodate for the increased size of the plants as they reach maturity. In other words, the pitch of the helix is correlated with the rate at which the plants mature. Tubular screw sections having different pitches can be substituted when the growth rate differs from one species to another.

Abstract: The food material to be processed is alternately transferred from two sources to an elongated treating chamber. The apparatus for carrying out the method includes rotary valve means employing two pocket areas, each pocket area including a plurality of pockets with each pair of diametrically located pockets having an interconnecting passage. The pockets of one area are angularly displaced or out-of-phase with the pockets of the other area. Owing to the out-of-phase relationship, the food material to be processed is alternately received by one pocket of one area, then by the next pocket of the other area and so on through each revolution of the valve means in which the pockets are contained, the material being discharged in the same out-of-phase relationship through the interconnecting passages and diametrically disposed pockets into the inlet of a pressurized elongated treating chamber.

Abstract: A doll or other toy animal has a permanent magnet concealed where its heart should be. A toy stethoscope includes a probe containing therein a normally open reed switch which is closed to produce a heartbeat-like sound when the probe is near the magnet.