Granule coating apparatus and method

A coating machine having an improved liquid atomizing array for applying a liquid coating on the granules, comprising a housing having a flow collar at one end for controlling an influx of the granule material. A rotatable granule-distributing disc is disposed below the flow collar for producing a cylindrical curtain of granule material falling through the housing. A scraper assembly is attached below the granule-distributing disk to rotatably engage an inner surface of the housing. An array of liquid atomizing discs is disposed along the longitudinal axis of the housing and below the rotatable granule-distributing disc. Each of the discs is generally circular in plan form and having a serrated peripheral edge defining a lineal circumference greater than that of a circle having a diameter equal to that of the disc. A drive system below the housing is interconnected to the plurality of liquid atomizing discs to rotate the discs at a speed in excess of two thousand revolutions per minute. A liquid dispenser coaxial with said rotatable granule-distributing disc dispenses the liquid coating onto the spinning discs. A discharge chute is provided at the bottom of the housing for gathering the liquid-coated granule material for transport to another location.