Processing apparatus and methods

Abstract

The invention relates to processing apparatus and methods and in particular, but not exclusively, to an apparatus that may be used to process a wide variety of feed materials by one or more of milling or grinding, mixing, blending, separation, drying and sterilisation. In a preferred embodiment there is provided a feed material processing apparatus ( 1 ) comprising: a chamber ( 2 ); at least one inlet ( 4 ) in flow communication to an upper region of the chamber ( 2 ); a rotor ( 3 ) located within the chamber ( 2 ) that is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis by a rotation drive ( 11 ), wherein the rotor ( 3 ) promotes a circulatory flow of feed material and/or gas within the chamber ( 2 ); at least one outlet ( 5 ) in flow communication from a lower region of the chamber ( 2 ). Preferably the apparatus ( 1 ) comprises at least one feature located laterally on the rotor ( 3 ) to promote the circulatory flow.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A feed material processing apparatus comprising:
 a chamber;   at least one inlet in flow communication to an upper region of the chamber for receiving feed material;   at least one outlet in flow communication to a lower region of the chamber for collecting processed feed material;   a rotor located within the chamber so that there is an annular gap between an inner chamber wall and an outer surface of the rotor, the annular gap being less than the diameter of the rotor to promote classification of the feed material;   at least one projection extending from the rotor to promote circulatory flow of feed material within the chamber to subject particles of the feed stream to interparticulate collisions to reduce the feed stream particle size such that the feed stream particle size reduces as the feed stream travels from the upper region to the lower region of the chamber; and   one or more screens or ledges that narrow the diameter of the chamber towards the base to deflect circulating feed material above the screen(s) or ledge(s) to increase feed material residence time in the chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein an upper edge of the rotor is bevelled. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein an upper edge of at least one projection is bevelled. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein an upper edge of said rotor is formed from or coated with one or more of hardened steel, carbon tungsten, zirconia or diamond. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more surfaces of the chamber, the rotor and projection is/are coated with a non-stick material such as polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  including outlets at varying vertical positions of the chamber to allow removal from the chamber of feed material particles of graded size or mass. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  including at least one recirculation circuit between an outlet and an inlet to allow return of feed material from a lower region to an upper region of the chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  comprising a ledge, shelf or screen within the chamber adjacent to the at least one outlet to direct feed material particles to the outlet and/or to promote grading of feed material particle size or mass. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one projection includes at least one row of spikes and nodules. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one projection includes a plurality of depressions. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  comprising a motor driveably engaged to a drive shaft that is in turn driveably engaged to the rotor through a central axis thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11  comprising a positive pressure scroll within the chamber to reduce ingress of feed material to drive shaft associated bearings. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the motor is a variable speed electric motor. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the drive shaft enters the chamber from above. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the drive shaft enters the chamber from below. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein an inlet is located substantially centrally within a roof of the chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one outlet is in flow communication with one or more of a cyclonic extractor, a filter, a baghouse, a gas collector and a condenser. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , including thermal insulation to minimize heat loss during operation or a heat exchanger to control processing temperature. 
     
     
         19 . A method of processing a feed material comprising:
 introducing the feed material into a chamber through at least one inlet that is in flow communication with an upper region of the chamber and recovering processed feed material through at least one outlet that is in flow communication from a lower region of the chamber;   imparting circulatory flow on the feed material and resultant processing of the feed material within the chamber as the feed material flows downwardly from the inlet to the outlet by rotating a rotor having at least one projection that promotes circulatory flow and processing of the feed material;   with the feed material being processed by undergoing at least one of milling, mixing, blending, separation, drying and sterilisation; and   causing deflection of circulating feed particles in the lower region of the chamber to increase the residence time of the feed material in the chamber to further facilitate processing of the feed material.   
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , including the step of recovering at least two graded streams of processed feed material having particles of different size or mass.