Patent ID: 7284665
Filing Date: 2007-10-23
Classification: A23N

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for processing articles, comprising a hollow drum having permeable walls, at one end an inlet for receiving articles onto an inside surface of the permeable walls; at the other end an outlet for discharging articles from the drum; means for rotating the drum about an axis having at least a horizontal component at such speed that centrifugal force acting on the articles is sufficient to overcome the gravity acting on the articles, and progressing means for applying a first jet of fluid to the articles through the permeable wall, to displace the articles from the inside surface and in a direction away from the inlet towards the outlet, the apparatus further including rejection means for selectively applying a second jet of fluid to project rejected articles into means for removing rejected articles from the drum; inspection means directed at a surface of the permeable wall, and control means responsive to output from said inspection means to reject articles according to predetermined criteria and to operate said rejection means to apply said second jet of fluid selectively to remove the rejected articles.