Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for producing a granular product from an admixture of a powdery material and a liquid binder. The apparatus comprises a casing, a rotor rotatably mounted therein and having a plurality of blades, an annular sleeve movable eccentrically relative to the casing and a plurality of shifters adapted to move the sleeve radially toward and away from the rotor across a spacing or gap circumferentially defined between the sleeve and the blades. The method essentially comprises varying the spacing or gap at selected circumferential areas over predetermined time intervals during operation of the apparatus so as to remove the admixture tending to deposit in the interior of the casing.

Abstract: A granulating apparatus for continuously producing granules from powdery particles. The granulation chamber of the granulator comprises a feeder for supplying powdery particles to the granulation chamber and a spray nozzle for ejecting a binder solution on the powdery particles held in the granulation chamber. Powdery particles-drying hot gas is supplied from the bottom of the granulation chamber so as to vortically flow upward through the granulation chamber. The centrifugal force of the vortically flowing hot gas causes fully grown granules having a larger diameter to be distributed toward the peripheral wall of the granulation chamber. The granules fully grown to a prescribed diameter are selectively and continuously conveyed to a drying chamber through an outlet port formed in the peripheral wall of the granulation chamber. The granules thus brought are thoroughly dried in the drying chamber.