Quasi-continuous treatment of particulate materials with cleansing nozzle system

Apparatus for the batchwise, quasi-continuous, treatment of a particulate material, comprising the following units:

• a first container for receiving premixed material and having an outlet,
• a conveyor system connected to said outlet of the container and containing a metering device and a weigher device,
• a mixing and stirring means comprising a feed pipe and a discharge pipe, which means are connected in a process direction to the conveyor system,
• a homogenizing device downstream of the mixing and stirring means,
• a fluidized-bed apparatus having at least two containers for at least one of drying, granulation and coating of the material, said fluidized-bed apparatus having an outlet,
• a product separator connected to said outlet of the fluidized-bed apparatus and
• a second container for receiving the end product,
• wherein all said units are water-tight and comprise a wall bounding the corresponding interior, wherein a cleaning system which permits cleaning of the entire apparatus without opening of any of said units of the apparatus is present, for which purpose
• in the feed pipe and discharge pipe of the mixing and stirring means,
• in the homogenizing device,
• in the containers of the fluidized-bed apparatus,
• in the product separator and
• in the end product container,
• at least one cleaning nozzle connected to a central cleaning system is arranged and wherein these cleaning nozzles are formed in such a way that during cleaning of the apparatus, they can be extended into the interior of the corresponding unit of the apparatus and, during treatment of the material, can be completely retracted into the wall bounding said interior.