Abstract: The unit has a conveyor belt (5) adapted to receive, transfer and cool the pellet elements, a cylindrical member (2) located above the conveyor belt and rotatable about an axis transverse to the feed direction of the conveyor belt, the peripheral speed of the cylindrical member substantially corresponding to the feed speed of the conveyor belt, at least a ring element (6) engaged in coaxial relation with and at the outside of the cylindrical member and exhibiting a number of projections (9) oriented radially apart from the cylindrical member (2), feed means (12) and dispensing means (14) adapted to distribute material to the fluid state onto the projections (9) and to form drop portions of the same thereon, each of the projections passing in the vicinity of the conveyor belt (5) so as to let one of the drop portions defining one of the pellet elements fall thereon.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a steel belt (5) extending according to an endless strap around two guide rollers (3, 4) driven in rotation according to horizontal axes. The upper part of the belt (5) defines a first going stretch (5a) onto which the product (6) in progress of working is laid, said product being transported due to the movement communicated to the belt as a result of the rotation of said guide rollers. Water is sprayed against the underneath surface of the first belt stretch for cooling the product through a heat exchange with the belt itself. The apparatus further comprises a heat exchange roller (14) rotatably supported according to the horizontal axis and arranged so that it comes in contact with the product (6) located on the first belt stretch (5a). Water circulation takes place within the heat exchange roller (14) and an additional cooling action is therefore accomplished on said product (6).