METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOISTURIZING SEEDLIKE FRUIT SUCH AS GRAIN

摘要

A method and apparatus is disclosed for moisturizing seedlike fruit such as grain. The moisturized material is brought to an inlet end of a cylindrical chamber and brought into the state of a turbulent layer spread on the inside, cylindric wall of the chamber, by the action of a rotor extension across the chamber. The rotor has a large number of impact members which assist in maintaining the said layer and which also provide impacts to individual kernels to maintain the turbulence of the layer in order to achieve a uniform distribution of moisturizing water on the kernels, the water being introduced at the grain inlet of the apparatus. A second water or additive inlet is also disclosed together with various shapes of the impact members and different speed of the rotor for different applications. The apparatus provides for a surprisingly more uniform distribution of moisture content, compared with the known auger-type moisturizing devices.