Abstract: To uniformly and economically disperse liquids, via sprays of droplets, on surfaces of particles, a method moving the particles involves their rotary lifting, followed by their free falling, with a spray of droplets originating from a central area of the overall motion path of the particles. In a preferred embodiment of the blending apparatus, a hollow drum is rotated about a near horizontal axis. Inside the drum, commencing at each end are cantilevered non-rotating shafts, each positioning one or more powered slightly conical discs selectively tiltable to ultimately disperse respective sprays of droplets from a central area.

Abstract: A press and method of operation for forming particle board wherein a fiber mat to be compressed is positioned between a pair of peripherally sealed platens through the upper one of which steam is injected when the platens are moved together to compress the fibrous mat and wherein, after a pre-determined time, steam is exhausted from between the two platens and the platens allowed to separate slightly while still compressing the mat to allow steam trapped in the mat to escape slowly before the platens are fully separated.