GB310125A - Improvements relating to the treatment of flour and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

310,125. Hall, J. A., and George, W. F. C. Feb. 18, 1928. Treatment by steaming; treatment by heating; treating with air; treatment under reduced pressure. - Flour, semolina, and middlings from wheat maize and like cereals are fed from a hopper a to a steam-jacketed tube b along which they are carried at a slow rate by a conveyer c that also acts as an agitator. Steam is delivered by one or more jets d into a current of hot air forced from a heater g by a fan f, the hot air being introduced into the flour stream at h. The flour in its passage through the tube b is heated to and maintained at a temperature of between 170‹ and 200‹ F., preferably about 180‹ F. The period of heat treatment is from five to twenty minutes. Air is exhausted from the tube b through the pipe i The flour is delivered to a chamber j where it remains for fifteen to twenty minutes'. It is carried through and from the chamber j by a conveyer j<1> and enters a second tube k with a conveyer and agitator m therein. Cold air is admitted to the flour as it enters this tube and a pipe o leads from the tube to the general mill exhausting system. The flour then passes to a detacher p, to break up lumps, and a centrifuge q before being collected in sacks r. In a modification baffles are provided in the tubes b, k, and some of the blades of the conveyer are arranged to check the forward travel of the flour. The treated flour is mixed with ordinary flour in the proportion of from one to three per cent.