Fluid bed particle coating apparatus

A fluid-bed particle coater (10) having a dual-jet and spray arrangement and including an upstanding column (15) which has an upper cylindrical section (15a), a tapered intermediate section (15b) and lower cylindrical section (15c). Depending from the lower cylindrical section (15c) is a cylindrical chamber (30) which is inner-connected to tubular sections (31,37) adapted for introducing multiple air streams via separately controlled inlet openings (32,36,38). The dual-jet and spray construction includes an upwardly-facing spray nozzle (40) positioned in coaxial relationship to the tubular sections (31,37) and a draft tube (50) and downwardly facing spray nozzle (25) contained within a fountain tube (20) which is disposed above the draft tube (50). The fountain and draft tubes (20,50) concentrically intersect about the intermediate section of the column in an opened telescopic arrangement. The dual-jet and spray particle coater provides multiple coating and drying zones and is conveniently adapted with a completely integrated computer control system (200) that provides for automatic and continuous monitoring and control of all fluid flow rates, temperatures and critical pressure measurements throughout the fluidized coating system.