Drum cooker

Abstract

A drum cooker for cooking granular products comprises a vessel mounted to rotate about an axis. At least two nozzle groups are provided opening into said vessel. One of said nozzle groups is arranged in that it opens into a first area of said vessel covered by that granular product. A second nozzle group opens into a second area of said vessel not covered by said granular product. For enhancing the quality of the cooking process, a control means is provided for supplying said gaseous heat-carrying medium at any time to said nozzle group only that opens into that first area covered by said product.

1. A drum cooker for cooking granular products, comprising:
 a vessel mounted to rotate about an axis;  
 at least two nozzle groups opening into said vessel;  
 each of said nozzle groups being connected to supply lines;  
 a gaseous heat-carrying medium is feedable via said supply line and said nozzle group into said vessel;  
 said at least two nozzle groups are arranged circumferentially distributed one to another, in a manner that a first nozzle group opens into a first area of said vessel covered by said granular product contained in said vessel,  
 while a second nozzle group opens into a second area of said vessel not covered by said granular product contained in said vessel, 
 wherein  
 a control means is provided for supplying said gaseous heat-carrying medium at any time to that nozzle group only that opens into said first area covered by the product.  
 
 
     
     
       2. The drum cooker of  claim 1 , wherein said control means is designed in that said vessel an be vented via said second nozzle group opening into said second area not covered by the product. 
     
     
       3. The drum cooker of  claim 1 , wherein said at least two nozzle groups are arranged diametrically opposite one to another. 
     
     
       4. The drum cooker of  claim 1 , wherein each nozzle group has a plurality of nozzles arranged along a direction of said axis of rotation of said vessel. 
     
     
       5. The drum cooker of  claim 1 , wherein said control means comprises a multiple line distribution through which media can be separately guided into and out of said vessel. 
     
     
       6. The drum cooker of  claim 1 , wherein said granular product are corn grits for the production of cornflakes.