Importance

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Abstract

An improved vacuum tumble mixer (10) is provided, the mixer having a horizontal drum (11) with a cylindrical mid-section (12), frusto-conical or dished entry and discharge ends (13, 14), and entry and discharge openings (16, 17) axially into the ends, the drum (11) being rotatable in one direction to tumble products therein and rotatable in the other direction to discharge the contents from the dischage opening. A plurality of primary vanes (26) are secured helically to the interior of the mid-section (12) of the drum, the primary vanes having radial tumbling surfaces (27) to tumble the product and to move the product gently towards the entry end of the drum, the vanes (26) having opposed channel-shaped discharge surfaces (28) which progressively increase in height to convey the products in the drum to discharge chutes (31) that extend helically along the discharge end (14) of the drum to the discharge opening (17). A chilling system (50) can be provided with one or more CO.sub.2 snowhorns (61) positioned at one of the ends (13, 14) to discharge CO.sub.2 snow into the rotating drum (11) for mixing with the products after vacuum tumbling. The CO.sub.2 snow is produced in repeated bursts with the on-and-off time of the repeated bursts being chosen to match the rate of production of CO.sub.2 snow to the rate such snow can be mixed with the product.

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First Claim