Abstract: An apparatus for roasting coffee beans or the like includes a controlled spinning bed or fluid bed roaster in combination with a cyclone separator for removing chaff from the heating medium. The cyclone separator is disposed above and in coaxial and abutting relationship with the roaster. The separator has a generally cylindrical shape with a plate having a plurality of louvers in the base thereof. The louvers impart rotational movement as the heating medium passes therethrough so that the chaff can be removed therefrom. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a second centrifugal separator which is relatively small with respect to the first separator is disposed adjacent the first separator for making a final separation and returning the heated medium to the roaster.

Abstract: An apparatus for roasting coffee beans or the like includes a controlled spinning bed or fluid bed roaster in combination with a cyclone separator for removing chaff from the heating medium. The cyclone separator is disposed above and in coaxial and abutting relationship with the roaster. The separator has a generally cylindrical shape with a plate having a plurality of louvers in the base thereof. The louvers impart rotational movement as the heating medium passes therethrough so that the chaff can be removed therefrom. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a second centrifugal separator which is relatively small with respect to the first separator is disposed adjacent the first separator for making a final separation and returning the heated medium to the roaster.

Abstract: A controlled spinning bed of particulate material such as coffee beans or the like is formed and maintained in a stationay chamber, the particulate material is mixed and uniformly conditioned. For example, coffee beans are uniformly roasted within a relatively short time and cooled in a similar but separate chamber with or without an intermediate quench. A movable bean spill which is movable upwardly or downwardly into engagement with the spinning bed is provided for directing a portion of the beans out of the bed inwardly and downwardly to increase the mixing of the beans. The movable beam spill includes a compound surface defined by a two-dimensional surface.

Abstract: A controlled spinning bed of particulate material such as coffee beans or the like is formed and maintained in a stationary chamber, the particulate material is mixed nd uniformly conditioned. For example, coffee beans are uniformly roasted within a relatively short time and coolded in a similar but separate chamber with or without an intermediate quench.

Abstract: A controlled spinning bed of particulate material such as coffee beans or the like is formed and maintained in a stationary chamber, the particulate material is mixed and uniformly conditioned. For example, coffee beans are uniformly roasted within a relatively short time and cooled in a similar but separate chamber with or without an intermediate quench.