GB300537A - Improvements in or relating to the manufacture of flour - Google Patents

Abstract

300,537. Fisher, E. A., and Jones, C. R. June 10, 1927. Divided on 300,291. Treating with air; treatment by damping.- Flour is passed at a known rate from a conveyer a down a shoot b on to a rotating disc c by which it is broken up and thrown centrifugally into a thin cloud. A stream of heated and humidified air entering at the lower end e of the chamber is driven upwards past the disc c at such a velocity as to carry the flour through a duct f into an expansion chamber g similar to a cyclone dust collector. The temperature of the flour is thus raised to and maintained approximately within the limits of 130' and 180' F. without substantial loss of moisture. The flour is deposited in the chamber g and is carried by a conveyer k to a heat insulated box or bin where it lies, if necessary, till the treatment is complete. The air passes out through textile fabric and over a series of baffle plates j and may then be recirculated. The humidity -of the leaving air should be preferably over 90 per cent relative humidity. As an example, after treating a low grade flour the temperature of the air leaving the expansion chamber was 140‹ F. and its relative humidity 90 per cent; the flour was passed once through the plant and subjected to ten minutes lying in the bin. The temperature reached by the flour was 140‹ F. and its moisture content was substantially unaltered. After leaving the bin the flour may be cooled in a second machine by blowing humidified air through it, or it may be led into a second chamber where it may be cooled and moistened by spraying with cold air and finely atomized water, or it may be cooled in any other manner. The treatment may be applied to finished flour, to intermediate products such as semolina, middlings, and dunst, or to any or all of the various "divides." Specification 300,291 is referred to.