Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing readily soluble granular substances from powdered materials such as, for example, coffee, milk and the like. The apparatus has a vertical outer hollow cylindrical body for allowing quantities of powdered material from a distributor to fall by gravity therethrough, and a vertical inner hollow cylindrical body of different length and diameter inside the outer cylindrical body. The two concentric cylindrical bodies partly overlap each other and define a circumferential gap therebetween extending along the overlapping portion. A pneumatic air supply is provided on the outer cylindrical body for introducing compressed air into the outer body and producing a whirling air stream in the gap so that the powdered material carried by the whirling air stream forms a thin, ring-like continuous curtain.

Abstract: An apparatus for topping a succession of regularly spaced pizzapie crusts on a conveyer with sliced topping material, such as cheese, comprising slicing means to cut blocks of the material on the conveyor into slices of appropriate shapes and sizes, and an automatic weighing means to supply appropriate amounts of the sliced material to the pizzapie crusts. The apparatus further includes an electrical control means which controls the operations of the above-mentioned means so that the operations will have a timed relationship with the movement of the pizzapie crusts, thereby placing each amount of sliced material on top of the corresponding pie crust with accuracy and without loss.