Abstract: A conveyor for use in a reaction chamber comprises a shaft having discs mounted therealong to provide a plurality of separate treatment zones between the discs. An opening is provided in the upstream disc of each zone and a transfer blade is associated with each opening to urge material therethrough as the conveyor is rotated. In one embodiment, the upstream disc of the second zone is provided with an additional opening such that a dose of material ejected from the first zone will be spread across the second and third zones for treatment therein and will be subsequently recombined in the fourth zone.

Abstract: An oscillating deck for treatment of a product such as peanuts is mounted on a main frame by air mounts. The deck is driven in linear oscillation by a pair of vibration motors. The deck supports a cascade of conveying surfaces which deliver the product to treatment stages such as rollers and debris removal devices; the treatment stages being mounted independently of the deck.

Abstract: Apparatus for heat treating a particulate commodity comprising an enclosure having a lower wall in the form of a concave, perforate deck, supply means for supplying pressurized fluid at a controlled temperature through the deck to fluidize and heat treat a bed of particles in the enclosure and transfer means for controlledly moving the particles continuously or stepwise along the deck. A method of heat treating the particulate commodity comprising supporting said commodity in a fluidized bed above a concave, perforate deck, supplying pressurized fluid at a controlled temperature through the deck to fluidize and heat treat the commodity, controlling the residence time of the commodity in the enclosure by controlledly moving the commodity along the deck using transfer means, and enhancing fluidization of the bed by reducing segregation within the bed using said transfer means. The commodity e.g. a food product such as peanuts is heat-treated uniformly under precisely controlled conditions.