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 paddle type rotary dryer includes a hollow shaft and a plurality of tubular members for interconnecting the interior of a shaft with the interior of each of the paddles. The tubular members extend inwardly into the shaft and prevent the flow of condensate from the shaft into the paddles when the paddles are below the shaft. The tubular members also extend outwardly into the hollow portion of each of the paddles for directing steam into the paddles and define an open passageway or slot so that liquid condensate is drained from the paddles and into the shaft when the vanes are disposed above the shaft, and a fluid conduit is adapted to maintain the level of liquid condensate in the shaft at a height which is less than the height of the inwardly directed tubular member.