Abstract: Rice or like small objects is milled in a machine comprising a rotating vertical drum having an endless abrasive belt. Chambers are spaced about the drum so that the belt acts as a floor to the chambers with a slight gap in between. The objects are passed vertically downwards and abraded by the belt, surface material removed from the objects passing through the gap and falls out via a subsidiary outlet alongside the main outlet of each chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for use and a method of abrading small objects to remove surface material from such small objects, the apparatus including a chamber and an abrasive moving bottom that passes under a transverse wall of the chamber having an inlet and outlet for the abraded objects, recirculating the objects in the chamber and a lid for applying pressure on the recirculating objects to press them adjacent the bottom against the bottom; with the method comprising supplying the small objects to the chamber, recirculating the objects and applying pressure against the objects adjacent the bottom against the bottom against the bottom of the chamber and removing the abraded objects from the chamber outlet.