Abstract: A ball mill for the manufacture of goods such as chocolate, formed by the suspension of solid particles in a fatty carrier. The ball mill is arranged so as to execute different processing operations at the same time in order to achieve high productivity and goods of high quality with limited capital goods investment. The ball mill (2) includes a rotating shaft (34) containing a central conduit (38) and having arms provided with fluid-distributing conduits (39) and openings (40). The goods are processed by injecting fluid into the mass as the solid suspended particles are crushed. In the case of chocolate, sterilized air, a neutral gas or lecithin can for example be injected. The ball mill can be utilized in the manufacture of food goods, inks or paints.

Abstract: An autoclave-type reaction vessel has a mechanism for stirring and recirculating the cocoa solution, the mechanism having a greater mechanical performance which allows for an increase in the efficiency of the various processing steps, in particular via an increase in the water content of the solution. In a closed vat (1), stirring elements (32 to 35) are mounted on a hollow rotatable shaft (6) driven by a back-geared motor (7). Some of the solution is drawn off at the bottom of the vat by an external pump (36) which delivers it up the inside of the hollow shaft (6) to a spraying head (41). Processing fluids (48, 49) such as neutral gases and alkaline solutions may be added to the solution before it reaches the pump (36).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuous weighing of divided products being transported along a conveyor belt is provided, wherein a unit of linear displacement for the belt of the conveyor is defined, called a unit of belt space, and a variable called a belt space variable is associated with theoretical reference points on said belt. An instantaneous measurement of the weight of the belt and/or of the products transported is obtained by means of at least three weighing stations disposed along the belt, weight data furnished by the weighing stations is stored in memory, and the weight data is compared to determine a mean weight.