Vacuum chamber apparatus with single roller for rotating container

An apparatus for dehydrating organic material, comprising:

• (a) container for holding the organic material, the container being rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof, the container having spur gear teeth extending along an outer circumferential surface thereof;
• (b) a vacuum chamber having an input end for introduction of the container and a discharge end for removal of the container;
• (c) a roller extending within the vacuum chamber between an input zone proximate to the input end and a discharge zone proximate to the discharge end, the roller having spur gear teeth extending along an outer circumferential surface thereof, the roller being positioned within the vacuum chamber to support the container, with the spur gear teeth of the roller meshing with the spur gear teeth of the container;
• (d) means for rotating the roller about a longitudinal axis thereof and thereby rotating the container;
• (e) means for holding the rotating container on the roller;
• (f) means for moving the rotating container through the vacuum chamber along the roller from the input end to the discharge end;
• (g) a microwave generator arranged for transmission of microwave radiation into the vacuum chamber;
• and
• (h) means for reducing pressure inside the vacuum chamber.