Mixing and granulating apparatus

Apparatus for mixing and granulating a finely divided solid material which comprises:

• a closed elongated mixing drum having a tiltable axis of rotation and separate means for periodic introduction and removal of said solid material being treated;
• including a drum discharge opening arranged approximately tangential to the lowermost inner wall line extending axially of the drum and a tubular discharge housing fastened over said discharge opening externally of the drum and in an inclined position with reference to the drum axis, a cylindrical screening communicating with said discharge opening and means being mounted concentrically within said tubular discharge housing above a discharge outlet in said housing and an independently rotatable discharging means being mounted inside of said screen means to press solid material flowing through said discharge opening outwardly through said screen means and said discharge outlet;
• a rotatably driven shaft mounted along the drum axis with means to rotatably drive said shaft in a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction;
• conveyance means including at least one helical blade mounted on said shaft for mixing and stirring said finely divided solid material and extending over the length of the drum and up to the drum wall so as to reversibly convey said solid material in a direction parallel to the drum axis upon rotation of the shaft;
• and
• a rotatable support for said drum including means to adjustably tilt and lock said drum in either positions above or below a normally horizontal position of the drum axis such that the force of gravity may work either with or against the conveying action of said helical blade.