Abstract: A device for sequentially introducing sheets placed in a stack into the nips of a pair of introduction rollers comprising at least one linear member having ends secured to a control pulley or roller and passing around a return pulley or roller which is adjacent the nips of the introduction rollers. A plurality of cams mounted on rotating shafts for engaging a run of the linear member to shift it from a retracted position to a position for engaging a bottom sheet in a stack disposed above the linear member, a vacuum chamber disposed along each linear member for holding the sheet on the members as they engage the sheet and carry it toward the nips.

Abstract: The invention relates to contact-making between a gas phase, at least one liquid phase, and at least one comminuted solid phase.The process uses a cell or compartment provided with at least one deflecting means such as the sloping wall 3 designed to impart an overall circulatory motion to the solid phase and with gas phase distributor 1, supplying this compartment with solid products, supplying this compartment with a liquid phase so as to cover entirely the solid when at rest, and feeding the compartment with the gas phase through the distributor 1 for the purpose of generating in said compartment a periodic pulsing stage consisting of gas-phase decompressions and layer contractions.The invention permits achieving an intimate contact between three distinct phases for the purpose of transfer(s) or of reaction(s) between these phases.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process and a device for roasting an agro-food product in the form of grains.The process consists of fluidizing an auxiliary body in the form of fine solid particles in an enclosure 1, and putting the grains of the product to be roasted in flotation in the fluidized bed of particles of which the temperature is adapted to roasting, to generate the roasting by the effect of the shocks of the fine particles of the auxiliary body with the grains of the product.The invention can be applied particularly for the roasting of grains of a product such as coffee, cocoa, etc.

Abstract: A method for freeze drying a previously frozen product by placing the product in a fluidized bed of a finely divided solid purticulate water vapor adsorbent and adjusting the partial pressure of water vapor to a level at which frozen water in the product will sublime.

Abstract: A process for fluidizing a particulate solid and wherein the process uses an apparatus having a chamber with a fluid distributor at its base and containing at least one elementary compartment formed by a conduit having a cross-section "S", at least one obstacle at its base arranged symmetrically in relation to the axis of the conduit, each such compartment being fed with a quantity of the particulate product and with an upwardly flowing fluid, the particulate material being of at least 1 mm granulometry, the obstacle or obstacles of each cell being adapted to define an open inlet section "s" at its base for the fluid of a dimension given by 0.12.ltoreq.s/S.ltoreq.0.