Abstract: A material treatment system for treatment of particulate material includes a transport conveyor including a transport surface for transporting particulate material through a treatment zone, conveying compartments attached to the transport surface, and foraminous cover structure travelling with and covering the conveying compartments. The system further includes a supply plenum above the treatment zone, a gas flow system for placing particles on the conveyor in fluidized condition as they move through the treatment zone, and exhaust structure for moving gases from the treatment zone upwardly away from the treatment zone. The conveying compartments and foraminous cover retain particulate material being fluidized and provide increased control of the position and movement of the particles passing through the treatment zone of the system.

Abstract: A system for thermally processing a strand of link food products includes structure defining an elongated treatment zone, and hook type conveyor structure for supporting a strand of encased food product links to be thermally treated in a series of depending loops. Each depending loop containing a plurality of links, for movement along a transport path through the treatment zone. The treatment zone is defined by parallel spaced pressure plenum structures, each pressure plenum structure having a vertical side wall and the hook type conveyor structure being disposed between the side walls. Each side wall has an array of generally horizontally extending nozzle tubes that are in communication with its corresponding pressure plenum structure.

Abstract: A multimode thermal treatment system includes a series of particle treatment zones. Perforate conveyer structure for supporting the particulate product to be thermally treated is disposed for movement through the series of treatment zones. Each treatment zone includes first (upper) distribution plenum structure disposed above the treatment zone and an array of nozzle tubes extending downwardly from the upper distribution plenum into the treatment zone to flow conditioned gas with substantial velocity into the treatment zone for thermal treatment of particulate material being transported by the conveyer structure through the treatment zone; and a second (lower) distribution plenum disposed below the treatment zone for pressurizing the region below the treatment zone and flowing conditioned gas upward through the conveyer structure and the particulate material on the conveyer.

Abstract: A thermal treatment system includes thermally insulated housing structure in which conditioning plenum structure and distribution plenum structure are disposed. The distribution plenum is disposed adjacent a treatment zone that extends through the housing, and the side of the distribution plenum adjacent the treatment zone defines an open port region that corresponds in dimension to the length and width of the treatment zone. Seal flange structure extends along the edges of the open port region. Conveyer structure for supporting product to be thermally treated is disposed in the treatment zone in juxtaposition to the open port region of the distribution plenum. A series of sealed chamber units, each of which includes an array of nozzle tubes that provide an array of spaced parallel flow passages through the sealed chamber, close the open port region so that the series of sealed chamber units defines a wall of the distribution plenum adjacent the treatment zone.