Abstract: Apparatus for pultruding thermoplastic, resin-impregnated, fibrous substructures heats the substructures to a temperature just below the melting temperature of the resin. The heated substructures are then simultaneously pulled through a passage to conform them to a desired cross section. At least a portion of the perimeter of this passage is formed by a wave guide. The wave guide is vibrated at ultrasonic frequency in a predetermined direction so as to direct the ultrasonic vibration into the substructures within the passage. The application of the ultrasonic vibration stimulates the flow of the resin in the heated substructures. Pressure is applied to the flowing substructures within the passage to consolidate them into an integral structure conforming to the chosen profile. The ultrasonic vibration at low power input does result in some heat transfer to the profile, but the flow rates of the resin exemplify an increase in flow far greater than expected in relation to the temperature increase.

Abstract: A system for making synthetic wood products from waste wood fiber and recycled plastic material by mixing waste wood fiber having a moisture content of less than about 15% with dry waste plastic material, including low density and/or high density polyethylene; heating and kneading the mixture to form a homogeneous mass; sizing the mass into discrete chunks suitable for use as an extruder feed material; extruding the material to form products having predetermined cross sections; and rolling and cooling the product to prevent deformation of the product shape.

Abstract: An apparatus and a proces for the manufacture, by the extrusion method, of roof covering plates having at their underside a transverse flange shaped thereto. At a filling station cavities in the pallets corresponding to the transverse flange, are first filled with a hardenable plastic material such as fresh concrete, and said material is then compacted at at least one compacting station. Thereafter, a continuous layer of the material is deposited at a depositing station. The material is finally processed to roof covering plates.

Abstract: In a process for mass producing optical storage sheets, an elongate film of a liquid crystalline material is fed lengthwise along a path through an aligning gate. The aligning gate applies to successive areas of the film a field which aligns the molecules. The field may be an electric field and/or a shear field. An aligning layer, such as a surfactant layer may also be used for alignment of the film areas. The aligned film may then be cut into pieces for use as microfiches or microfilms. The film material is preferably a liquid crystal polymer material.

Abstract: Apparatus for cooling and granulating extrusions of thermoplastic issuing from extrusion dies is provided with a pair of mirror image symmetric channels formed of guide plates arranged back to back. The upper ends of the channels are exposed to a cooling medium and the lower ends are directed to the entrance of a granulator having draw-in rollers. The guide plates are laterally separable from one another to provide increased tension in the extrusion being fed to the granulator.

Abstract: A pelletizer blade for use with an underwater extruder-pelletizer is disclosed which includes an impeller surface that keeps the water away form the die face when cutting to prevent uneven cooling of the die face and extruded material. The blade includes a solid rectangular body having an impeller surface extending therefrom and normal thereto. The impeller surface is at a slight angle in the direction of rotation and includes a cutting edge on the side mounted adjacent to the die face.

Abstract: An apparatus for dividing a mass of dough into a plurality of individual streams by means of a manifold and fine tuning the flow rate of the individual streams by weir type diaphragm valves so the streams have identical flow rates. Each of the individual streams of dough are simultaneously cut into identical dough pieces by a rotating driver by a four-bar link mechanism.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for making a honeycomb structure including a honeycomb core in which a plurality of preformed honeycomb core elements are moved through an extrusion machine, while a layer of a plastic material is simultaneously extruded over the opposite faces of the honeycomb core elements.

Abstract: Paste-form material is shaped into individual portions by an apparatus wherein a feed pipe provides a continuous supply of paste-form product under pressure to a distributor which is synchronized with a cutting device to produce the individual portions which are delivered to a support. Elements of the cutting device collect drops produced when cutting the distributed paste-form product, and the collected drops are removed from the cutting device such that the drops do not come in contact with the support.

Abstract: Apparatus for making food product comprising a closed outer shell and a filling is made from a coextruded body. The body advances through a reciprocating cutting head 3 driven by a reciprocating shaft 10. The shaft 10 rotates to drive, through cam means, blades within the head 3.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a strip of elastomeric material which is extruded onto a rotating roller where it is initially shaped by a die plate and then finally shaped by a calender roll positioned downstream from the die plate and in close proximity to the surface of the roller providing a finishing gap for finally shaping the strip of elastomeric material. The calender roll may be positioned on the opposite side of the roller from the position the elastomeric material is extruded onto the roller whereby the calender roll resists forces tending to bend the roller. The extruder screw may have a downstream end adjacent the roller for reducing the pressure and for self-cleaning the apparatus.

Abstract: The die essentially comprises a top chain and a bottom chain entrained between horizontal parallel axis gear wheels and having corresponding sliding portions contacting one another.The top chain defines at a central position, by inner and outer links thereof, substantially dihedral structures, forming open seats therealong can slide the two portions of a sugar drop forming die.The bottom chain, in turn, defines like dihedral structures the corner portions of which are adapted to cut a sugar bead, means being moreover provided for clamping the two portions of the die.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for making a cookie preform from a continuous cookie dough rope by inserting finger means into said rope in a direction generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of said rope and displacing at least selected ones of said finger means at a velocity relative to the velocity of said rope sufficient to stretch said rope to the breaking point to separate said portion from said rope, whereby said portion has at least one surface formed by said stretching action to have a coarse appearance.

Abstract: This invention discloses an apparatus for the formation of a shaped food product, and the apparatus adopts the helix disc cutters which make their self rotation and orbital revolution and according to the said rotating and revolving movement the passage is formed for opening and closing, wherein more than two kinds of food material are pushed from the extruder, and finally the desirable formation of a shaped food product is obtained after making the most of passage transformations caused by rotation and revolution of two pairs of helix disc cutters.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming discrete granules from a flow of molten plastic material is disclosed. The apparatus includes a tube having an end surface through which the molten material flows and a discharge plate having an opening therethrough disposed adjacent the tube. The discharge plate is movable with respect to the end surface of the tube. A pressure medium accumulating region is disposed adjacent the end surface of the tube. In operation, the molten material flows through the tube and into the opening of the discharge plate. The end surface of the tube and the discharge plate move into and out of contact on a periodic basis such that the tube and discharge plate function as a valve.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for producing polymerized plugs in which the polymerization starting materials are passed through heated reaction tubes by gravity feed. The polymerized rods so produced are cut into plugs and packaged for use. In an alternative embodiment, the polymerization starting materials are first encased within flexible sleeves, and the flexible sleeves are then passed through the heated tubes by gravity feed to form polymerized rods. Apparatus for performing the process includes at least one tube having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the outlet opening being at a lower elevation than the inlet opening to provide for gravity feed through the tube, and structure to heat the tube. A cutting device cuts the polymerized rods into plugs as they exit the outlet opening.

Abstract: A sensor controlled apparatus for making a thin strudel type pastry which mixes, spreads and conveys a thin strudel layer on a film through various process stages such as depositing oil, sugar, cinnamon and nuts filling so that the resultant product can be cut rolled and baked.

Abstract: The present invention presents a dual-textured pet food as well as a multi-orifice coextrusion apparatus and method for the use of the multi-orifice coextrusion apparatus for preparing the dual-textured pet food of the invention. The multi-orifice coextrusion apparatus of the present invention feeds a first extruded material through a plurality of inner openings, and a second extruded material through a plurality of outer, annular openings, the inner openings and the annular openings converging to enable formation of a center-filled extrudate at a plurality of extrusion orifices. The present invention also presents a means of configuring the orifices to maintain substantially uniform distribution and volumetric flow of the second extruded material about the first extruded material across the cross section of the orifices.

Abstract: An apparatus for the mixing and continuous extrusion of a plastic mass having a first stage in which an intermittently operating mixer receives the starting materials batchwise and a second stage having a screw extruder which is supplied at periodic intervals, with material from the intermittent mixer. In order to provide a simple, inexpensive apparatus for two-stage mixing and extruding in which the full output of the first stage can be used and, independently of the state of the intermediate product, a continuous feed of material into the screw extruder of the second stage is effected. The second stage has mixing and kneading blades continuously rotating within a trough and an extrusion screw which extends along the bottom of the trough into an extrusion cylinder. A continuous drive motor for the extrusion screw is controlled so that the trough is always filled at least to 25% of its volume.

Abstract: An apparatus for shaping and arraying spheroidal bodies is provided. The apparatus comprises a means for continuously supplying a cylindrical body comprising an outer material and a filler material, a cutter assembly having cutter members circumferentially disposed to form a central opening, and an arraying device having an endless belt for transferring a tray. The cutter members slide inwardly to close the opening, and thus the part of the cylindrical body inserted in the opening is shaped into a spheroidal body. An endless belt device is disposed beneath the cutter assembly and the belt is driven intermittently and forwardly and the frame of the endless belt device is moved back and forth in a transverse direction. By moving the belt and frame of the endless belt device so that predetermined positions of its belt are in turn moved to a position directly beneath the opening of the cutter assembly, the spheroidal bodies drop on each predetermined position on a tray placed on the belt.

Abstract: A pellet mill includes a conditioning section which mixes dry material, moisture in the form of water, and heat provided by a hot air system for the creation of a mash suitable for pelleting without the use of steam. The hot air section inputs heat by utilizing a blower which pressurizes air across a heat exchanger and into a plenum which interconnects an air duct with the conditioner. Moisture is input to the conditioner with a hot water system which modulates the flow of water and temperature of the water as it is sprayed onto the dry material. An automatic controller controls the process in accordance with temperature measurements made at various points in the pellet mill to select a desired operating temperature or in accordance with other control parameters previously developed.

Abstract: A method for producing frozen confections includes a plurality of metering pumps which equally divide a flow of semi-solid confectionary material into a like plurality of flows and delivers such flows to a like plurality of forming heads. The forming heads are reciprocated along a generally diagonal axis during formation of confectionary products and in the opposite direction upon completion of formulation. The speed of translation in one direction is preferably distinct from the speed in the other direction. If desired, such flows may be combined with other unidirectionally flowing material to form a layered product. A cutting wire severs the flows of combined confection material into a desired length product in timed relation to the reciprocation of the forming heads. The individual products are received on a moving conveyor which transports them to the next operating station.

Abstract: A polymeric lens material is cast within a mold body which includes a generally conical external surface portion, an annular wall portion defining a pocket in which the material is cast, and a base wall disposed of between the conical external surface portion and the annular wall portion. The base wall defines an optical surface at the bottom of the pocket for forming a surface of a contact lens. The conical external surface portion of the mold body is dimensioned to complement an internal conical surface portion of a collet for accurately positioning and aligning the mold within the collet for a machining operation.

Abstract: A machine is provided for manufacturing moulding trays. Each bed plate is connected between two parallel endless conveying chains such that each is downwardly turnable as it passes over rear chain wheels. Carrying rollers are fixed to the rear of each bed plate. A guiding means is arranged between upper and lower parts of the chains for guiding the rollers during the downward turning. A supporting track is provided beneath the lower part of the chains. Thus, the present invention conserves the space in the conveying direction while conveying the bed plates in the direction of the lower part of the chains by the connecting means and by the carrying rollers contacting the supporting track.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a cheese product uses an extrusion head having a plurality of extrusion apertures. Cheese is formed into a plurality of continuous ropes as the cheese passes through the extrusion apertures. To initially cool the cheese, each rope enters an extension upstream of each extrusion aperture. Each has an inside diameter equal to the diameter of its associated extrusion aperture. The cheese rope exits the extrusion aperture onto a canal table that is downwardly sloped from a feed end to an opposite discharge end. The canal table has a plurality of flumes extending between the ends, and each extruded rope of cheese is received in a flume. A brine solution is added at the feed end of the canal table to assist in cooling the cheese and moving the cheese to the discharge end. Sensors detect the position of the leading end of the cheese rope within each flume and independently activate knives to cut the cheese into the desired lengths.

Abstract: A catheter fabrication method and apparatus. Two rotating contact rollers define a nip to engage a mandrel used in fabricating an elongated tubular catheter. The rollers pull the mandrel from the catheter as a retaining block prevents the catheter from moving with the mandrel. The rollers rotate in opposite directions and are driven by a variable speed direct current motor.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming food materials into three dimensional shapes that may be made to duplicate the appearance of a variety of natural food products. The machine includes a dual rotary, matching forming cavity apparatus for producing, at continuous high speeds, food products in a variety of shapes. One embodiment of the invention employs a plurality of forming bars mounted in the dual rotary drums of the machine, the forming bars are easily removable and replacable with similar bars having different products forming cavities. Cam operated means are associated with the drums or the forming bars for ejecting formed products from the cavities.

Abstract: Method for the treatment of animal excrement material, particularly liquid manure and sewage sludges, in which the material containing a high percentage of liquid is mixed with a dry additive, preferably the re-circulated dry material, and after forming into briquettes which can be heaped is ripened in heaps penetrable by air, in which for the ripening process briquettes are employed having a volume predominantly between 30 and 50 cm.sup.3. The briquettes are conveniently formed in a worm press to have a diameter of between 30 and 40 mm. and a length of between 40 and 80 mm. For a larger diameter briquette, provision is made to form a hole in the briquette. The method is performed by using an extrusion press having a moulding die having at least two sections separated by a slit there being, in each case, hole sections extending outward from the slit and opposite to each other, said sections forming the die channel, the inputs to the slits and to the hole sections having an input angle less than 45.degree.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for machining dough that takes into account the different flow regimes exhibited by the dough during processing. As in conventional systems, the apparatus includes a hopper for extruding dough in a sheet and pairs of powered rollers for sizing the sheet. A computer controls the system. Mass flow rate is made constant throughout the system by establishing a master flow rate based upon predetermined criteria related to the product being produced, and the computer monitors the weight of the extruded sheet to maintain a constant input to the powered rollers. The flow rate is varied to remain constant by comparing the input to output, as measured by the sheet thickness at the cutter station. The gage rollers are controlled by setting a nominal roller speed, trimmed according to the tension present in the sheet upstream of the gage roll, as reflected in the position of a loop in the dough sheet between the gage roll and the pair of rolls immediately upstream of same.

Abstract: Lengthwise coextensively aligned jerky which has fibrous portions aligned generally parallel to the length of the jerky, and a procedure for preparing the lengthwise coextensively aligned jerky by extruding an alignable meat dough through a directional flow bar extruder under conditions such that fibers in the dough are coextensively aligned; further preparing the fiber-aligned dough into cuttable jerky, for example, by freezing, and cutting and/or slicing the cuttable jerky. The resulting lengthwise coextensively aligned jerky typically has a generally rugged, natural-like appearance and feel.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cutting mechanism and its method of operation in "cutting side-lock" portions from "green state" roofing tiles. The tiles are manufactured in a conventional concrete roofing tile making plant in which mortar fed to a hopper extruder (18) of conventional design is formed as a continuous ribbon (26) on a series of pallets (P) conveyed beneath the hopper extruder (18). The ribbon (26) is thereafter cut by a knife (3) into discrete tiles (T) on said pallets (P) with a "side-lock" portion of each tile being blanked out by extension portions (32) (34) of the knife (30). The blanked out portions are thereafter removed from the remainder of the tiles by a blade 90 of removal means 14 such that no damage is caused to the tiles (T) and little or not detritus remains on the tile or the conveyors of the tile making plant.

Abstract: The invention as disclosed herein relates to an apparatus for wrapping and sealing on the circumference of a solid state food material with one or two kinds of the clayish state food material in layer condition, thereby forming the same into globular shape. A gate is used to cause the clayish state material to envelope a solid state material as it exits a mould.

Abstract: A device for extruding cheese pieces; warm plastic cheese is extruded into a bore; a piston seals one end of the bore and a cheese working plate seals the other end; a mold is positioned below the bore, the mold top in sliding engagement with the cheese working plate, the mold bottom in sliding engagement with a mold support plate; holes in the cheese working plate, in the mold and in the support plate, align with the bore; the piston is forced through the bore, forcing the cheese in the bore, at high pressure, through the holes in the working plate, filling the mold holes with cheese; when the mold holes have filled, continued pressure by the piston forces a small amount of cheese out of the mold holes into small weeper holes; the piston is withdrawn to the top of the bore and the bore refilled with cheese; the filled mold is reciprocated under an ejector which forces the formed pieces out of the mold, into moving brine; in the best method, two molds are reciprocated between two bores and a single centrally

Abstract: A disclosure relates to an apparatus for extruding and forming blanks from a rubber or polymeric material comprising a pair of hydraulic ram operated extruders having outlets connected to a common delivery conduit. A screw extruder is also connected to the conduit and a control valve controls flow between the respective extruders and conduit such that in one position of the valve one of the ram operated extruders is connected to the conduit outlet delivery of extrudate and the other extruder is connected to the screw extruder to receive a fresh charge of extrudate. A closed hydraulic circuit links the hydraulic rams of the two ram extruders whereby filling of one of the extruders causes that ram to retract and pump the hydraulic fluid therefrom to the other extruder to cause that ram to extend and thereby discharge the extrudate therein and vice versa.

Abstract: A method serves to deposit a continuously extruded formation or string of an edible product, such as an ice cream formation upon a continuously driven conveyor for a plant for treating the product. In order to be able to deposit the formation discontinuously upon a conveyor consisting of trays, the formation is extruded upon an endless depositing band driven by means of a driving device with contant speed which is slower than the speed of the conveyor. The depositing band is driven around an end reversing location arranged above the container and the end reversing location is moved with respect to the driving device of the depositing band in the same direction as the direction of movement of the conveyor and with a speed which at least is equal to the speed with which the depositing band is driven by means of its driving device. Then the movement of the end reversing location is reversed with respect to the driving device of the depositing band and a formation portion is being deposited upon the conveyor.

Abstract: A device for granulating strands of thermoplastic materials that are discharged molten from several nozzles side by side, with a cutter roll acting on a counterknife and a feed device filled with cooling water located prior to the cutter roll. The feed device consists of the support face of the counterknife approximately radial to the cutter roll, which essentially completely fills up the space between the nozzle surface and the cutter roll and onto which the cooling water is sprayed.

Abstract: A mass of flowable food material is extruded to form a moving, continuous, flexible extrudate ribbon that is cured to form a continuous, semi-rigid ribbon. During curing, the ribbon is fed between a pair of pull rollers that pull the ribbon at a rate of speed that is faster than the extrusion rate of the ribbon, to thereby stretch the ribbon while being cured into semi-rigidity. The semi-rigid ribbon then is fed between a cutter roller and an opposing backup roller, the cutter roller including outwardly projecting, transversely mounted blades with edges that bias against an outer support surface of the backup roller during cutting. The opposing cutter and backup rollers rotate at substantially the same speed as the pull rollers to cut the semi-rigid ribbon with cuts that are substantially perpendicular to the direction of ribbon travel, thereby forming individual food pieces having substantially planar cut faces.

Abstract: Pellets which are formed by extruding and cutting may be squashed in the latter operation. Squashing is reduced by passing a strand of extruded material downwardly under the influence of gravity and cutting the strand horizontally with a blade, preferably supporting the strand against the cutting blade by blowing gas against it when cutting.

Abstract: An equipment for portioning out pieces of a doughy product, which pieces have a weight, which, to a great accuracy, is equivalent to a certain desired, predetermined weight. The equipment includes a pump having a feeding device and a discharge duct as well as means in a feeding unit to feed said doughy product through said feeding duct into said pump. The equipment also includes means to cut off said pieces of the product, which is discharged by the pump through said discharge duct. The pump is a lobe rotor pump. The doughy product is fed to the lobe rotor pump by a device, which provides a flow, which is somewhat larger than the discharge flow of the pump, a certain amount of the product being recirculated in said feeding unit.

Abstract: A reconstituted banana product, which is formed primarily of banana puree with the addition of ice cream ingredients, is extruded by a horizontal extruder. As the extrudate stream is deposited on a moving product plate of a conveyor, which moves in the same direction as the extrudate stream, the extruder is moved transversely of the direction of movement of the extrudate stream and conveyor. After a product of the desired length is deposited on a product plate, a hot wire cutoff device slices the extrudate stream into separate products which by virtue of the transverse movement, are arcuate. In order to simulate the appearance of banana seeds, an auxiliary nozzle tube, within and centered in the main nozzle of the extruder, extrudes an extrudate of a darker color. The auxiliary nozzle tube has a closed end and slots extending from the closed end. Baffles at the base of the slots deflect the extrucate from the main extruder as the extrudate of darker color is extruded.

Abstract: An apparatus for making an embossed gypsum panel on a conveyor including an embossing device mounted on a movable device such that the embossing device can be moved to the optimum location for embossing.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming frogs in the sides of a slipformed concrete element, especially a hollow-core slab is disclosed. In accordance with the invention, the frogs are formed in the sides of the element by removing cast material from the sides by a reciprocative scraping action. The reciprocative movement parallel to the side of the element is effected with a drive motor and a lever assembly. By the method, it is possible to obtain a desired frog shape and depth without damaging the side surfaces.

Abstract: A positive pressure dough divider comprising a hopper for dough, and a pair of rotatable sheeting rolls which carry the dough from said hopper into a transfer passage leading to a volumetric measuring chamber inside a rotating body which is adapted to stop or rotate for periods at reduced speed, such that, while the measuring chamber is being charged with dough from the said rolls, a maximum possible charging time is provided, and to move at greater speeds at other times to provide minimum possible delay between charging operations. The rolls are of sufficiently large diameter, and rotate in opposite directions at such a speed, as to produce or maintain a dough of good gas retaining properties while providing a positive pressure rise along the direction of flow in the passage between the rolls sufficient to charge the measuring chamber or chambers.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously producing an elongated strip-like fastener member is disclosed which facilitates highly efficient formation of the fastener member with a great multiplicity of resiliently flexible hook-like projections. The method comprises the formation of an extrusion of plastic material which is shaped between a pair of coacting first and second rollers of the apparatus. Notably, one of the rollers is formed of a series of plates and defines a plurality of hook-forming cavities about its periphery within which the hook projections of the fastener member are formed. The forming roller is suitably cooled so as to effect substantial reduction in the temperature of the molten plastic extrusion form which the fastener member is formed. In this manner, the fastener member may be removed or stripped from the forming roller without opening of the hook-forming cavities, thus promoting highly efficient formation of the fastener member without resort to unduly complex equipment or processes.

Abstract: A method of making a soap comprising the steps of passing the soap through an orifice plate to form an extrudate while passing the extrudate in a first portion generally parallel to the extrudate and permitting expansion in a second outwardly tapered portion, and trimming an outer portion of the extrudate to form a well compacted residue and desired surface characteristics of the soap.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming discrete, shaped interlayer blanks comprises, in combination, an extrusion die containing a slot for forming a sheet from thermoplastic melt, means associated with the die for causing a portion of the melt to exit the slot at a greater mass flow rate than that of the remainder of the melt exiting the slot, means adjacent the die for quenching the sheet immediately after forming and frusto-conical pull rolls for forwardly shaping the sheet into arcuate form, the surfaces of said rolls adjacent the edges of greatest circumference positioned to contact the portion of the sheet formed from the melt exiting the slot at the greater mass flow rate.

Abstract: In order to compound organic materials which are crystalline under standard conditions, these materials, in the pulverulent and/or molten state, are processed in a self-purging, twin-screw extruder in which the screws rotate in the same direction, ejected through one or more narrow passages into a low pressure zone, cooled and comminuted to give particles. In order to improve the pourability and shelf life, the materials are completely crystallized by the time they reach the end of the screws, and are heated during discharge through the narrow passage, in order to form a melt film. Dust-free granules havig a smooth surface can be produced in this manner.

Abstract: An automatic control for an extruder has a temperature sensor which monitors the exit temperature of the extrudate and several pressure transducers which monitor the pressure within the extruder to control the cooking of the mash inside the extruder to ensure production of high quality extrudate. The controller monitors and controls the temperature and moisture content of the mash in the extruder by controlling the input of various ingredients and also the cooling or heating of the mash near the exit of the extruder through a heat exchanger.

Abstract: An apparatus for shaping a cylindrical body consisting of a dough crust and a filling into a spherical body consisting of a dough crust and a filling, comprising at least three slidable members adapted to slide on each other so as to constrict the cylindrical body. Each of the members has tapered portions (2 and 2'), with slopes (7) comprising a steep gradient portion (4) and a gentle gradient portion (6), to minimize the area of contact between the cylindrical body and the members to bring the dough to the portion at which the body is to be cut and to minimize the likelihood of the dough adhering to the members.

Abstract: Apparatus for cooling thermoplastic strands issuing from an extrusion die, the apparatus including a cooling trough between the extrusion nozzle and the granulator. The trough has two coolant drainage regions, a first being connected to a gravity drain and a second having means applying air downward through apertures in the trough. A conical separator for granulate is provided following the granulator.