Patent ID: 8444931

Claim:
An apparatus for the heat treatment of a product, comprising: a heating unit to apply heat and pressure to bring the product from ambient towards a heat treatment temperature and pressure, said heating unit having an outlet; a retort unit to apply a heat treatment to the product; a cooling unit to allow the product to be brought down from said heat treatment temperature and pressure towards ambient, said cooling unit having an inlet; and at least one conveyor to pass the product through said units; wherein each of said units is selectably sealable from the other of said units and from ambient conditions; and wherein said retort unit comprises a retort chamber enclosing a volume and having at least one mounting means orbitally mounted about a longitudinal axis of said retort chamber so that said at least one mounting means is movable at least between a first position wherein said mounting means is aligned with said outlet of said heating unit whereby the product can be loaded onto said mounting means, and a second position wherein said mounting means is aligned with said inlet of said cooling unit whereby the product can be unloaded from said mounting means; and wherein said mounting means receives a demountably mounted magazine; and said magazine retains the product passing through said units, said magazine being axially mounted within said units and said mounting means, enabling rotation of the product about the longitudinal axis of said units and said mounting means.