Abstract: A disk device includes a top cover and a disk medium with a recording surface. The top cover includes a center horizontal portion having a surface which extends from a center point of the disk medium along the recording surface to an outer peripheral portion, a curved portion having a surface which extends from the outer peripheral portion of the center horizontal portion in a direction away from the recording surface, and an outer horizontal portion having a surface which extends from the curved portion in a direction away from the center point and along the recording surface. The recording surface includes a first zone in which data is set to be written, and a second zone in which data is set not to be written, the second zone being disposed adjacent to the first zone on an outer edge side of the disk medium from the first zone.

Abstract: Disclosed are grain crushing apparatuses and processes for processing grain. In one embodiment, a grain crushing apparatus includes a first and second sidewall spaced apart from one another a throat dimension in a first direction, and a first and second support shaft positioned transverse to the first and sidewall. The grain crushing apparatus also includes a first and second grain crushing roller. The grain crushing rollers are intermeshed with one another and maintained at positions spaced apart from one another such that they overlap by a distance less than the tooth height. The process is a method for the grown and harvested grain to be shelled, cleaned, stored and then incrementally or iteratively crushed by the shown apparatus or an equal type such that the crushed grain of various sizes may be separated by a sieve and remain as crushed grain with the germ protected uncut, unruptured and intact.

Abstract: A grinding arrangement for producing flour from cereal grain has at least one grinding mechanism designed as a stock-bed roller mill. The grinding mechanism has at least one feed opening and at least one dispensing opening. The grinding arrangement has at least one separating stage for separating ground products into finer ground product and coarser ground product, and returns at least some of the coarser ground product into the feed opening of the grinding mechanism.

Abstract: A process for simplified production of a reference milling for determining the milling quality of wheat, includes: a first crushing of a wheat sample; a first sieving of the crushed product into three distinct levels of particle size; a second crushing of oversize particles resulting from the first crushing; a second sieving of the oversize particles thus crushed; a mixing of coarse semolina resulting from the sievings; a third crushing of the mixture of the coarse semolina; a third sieving of the mixture of the coarse semolina thus crushed into two distinct levels of particle size; a mixing of fine semolina resulting from each of the three sievings; a fourth crushing of the mixture of fine semolina; a fourth sieving of the mixture of the fine semolina thus crushed into a single level of particle size; a mixing of the flours resulting from sievings, the mixture constituting the desired milling.

Abstract: Disclosed are grain crushing apparatuses and processes for processing grain. In one embodiment, a grain crushing apparatus includes a first and second sidewall spaced apart from one another a throat dimension in a first direction, and a first and second support shaft positioned transverse to the first and sidewall. The grain crushing apparatus also includes a first and second grain crushing roller. The grain crushing rollers are intermeshed with one another and maintained at positions spaced apart from one another such that they overlap by a distance less than the tooth height. The process is a method for the grown and harvested grain to be shelled, cleaned, stored and then incrementally or iteratively crushed by the shown apparatus or an equal type such that the crushed grain of various sizes may be separated by a sieve and remain as crushed grain with the germ protected uncut, unruptured and intact.

Abstract: An oats processing equipment comprises at least two groups of awners and at least two groups of oat grinders, with awners within the same group being connected in parallel or in series, and oat grinders within the same group being connected in parallel or in series, preferably 3 to 4 groups of awners and oat grinders are included. An oat processing method comprises steps of: (S00) classifying oats subjected to surface processing according to grain sizes; (S10) feeding oats of a certain class into a plurality of groups of awners for more than two stages of awn removing; and (S20) feeding the oats subjected to the awn removing into a plurality of groups of oat grinders for more than three stages of grinding. The inputted load of a single awner and an oat grinder is limited, thus achieving the technical effect of grinding oats gently and separating the oats finely.

Abstract: Whole grain flour is produced from a cereal grain such as wheat by removing an outer layer of the grain, and also some of the endosperm. The removed outer layer comprises 5% to 40% of the original weight of the grain. The removed parts of the grain are comminuted during the removal of the outer layer. Both the grain and the comminuted removed outer layer are then conveyed into a milling device and are milled to form whole grain flour.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of plant breeding and concerns a method for determining the point at which a plant starts to flower. More specifically, the invention concerns a method for determining the start of flowering on an individual plant basis by measuring the reproductive structures of plants from digital images of these structures and deducing the start of flowering from the measurements and average growth rates. The invention also concerns apparatus for determining the start of flowering in plants, particularly in a high-throughput manner.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of plant breeding and concerns a method for determining the point at which a plant starts to flower. More specifically, the invention concerns a method for determining the start of flowering on an individual plant basis by measuring the reproductive structures of plants from digital images of these structures and deducing the start of flowering from the measurements and average growth rates. The invention also concerns apparatus for determining the start of flowering in plants, particularly in a high-throughput manner.

Abstract: There are provided a first belt-clutch mechanism switching power transmission to a first large-diameter pulley, and, at the same time, a second belt clutch mechanism switching power transmission to a second large-diameter pulley, and a first and a second belt clutch mechanism are provided with a first and a second arm members, tension clutch pulleys installed at point portions of these arm members, and actuators which rotate a first and a second arm members in such a way that a position at which a first no-end belt is wound on the first large-diameter pulley is switched to a position at which winding is avoided, and, at the same time, a position at which a second no-end belt is wound on a second large-diameter pulley is switched to a position at which winding is avoided.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to an improved plant breeding system. More particularly, this invention relates to a method for automated, high throughput analysis of plant phenotype and plant genotype in a breeding program.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dry treatment of grain comprises a grain peeler for mechanically treating pre-cleaned grain to remove flour bran and coarse bran to a peeling depth of about 4% to 9% with simultaneous separating of the flour bran; an aspiration separator separating coarse bran based on particle velocity and size; a grain mill; and sieve separator separating the husk bran of between 2%-3% of the grain kernel mass from endosperm flour by differences in particle size. An apparatus and method for mash preparation from the endosperm flour comprises mixing tank for mixing endosperm flour with water, enzymes, etc; a colloid mill for processing the batch using mechano-activation with oscillation frequencies between 1 and 200 kHz and with impulse duration of between 0.05 and 1.0 seconds and for 2 to 20 processing cycles, coarse particle sifter for separation of the coarse batch particles form the mash.

Abstract: A process for the production of wheat flour or semolina, comprising the steps of a) wetting the caryopses of wheat with such and amount of water as to bring their moisture content to at least 15%, subjecting them to intense vibrations; b) subjecting the wet caryopses to a conditioning step; c) subjecting the conditioned caryopses to operations of decortication, to take off the outer layers of bran; d) milling the conditioned and decorticated caryopses.

Abstract: A method of corn fractionation wherein the resulting high starch concentration endosperm is subsequently used for ethanol production or dry milling is described. The method includes: providing substantially cleaned corn kernels, tempering the corn; screen processing to properly size the com fractions; density separation of the primary fractions; rolling and/or screening the products to produce three main fractions consisting of high starch Endosperm, high oil Germ and high fiber Bran.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a guar gum powder, the method comprising the steps of: (a) flaking undehusked guar splits; and (b) grinding the flaked, undehusked guar splits to obtain guar gum powder. According to another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, the method comprises the steps of: (a) forming a treatment fluid, wherein the treatment fluid comprises: (i) an aqueous fluid; and (ii) a guar gum powder comprising at least 70% by weight gum material and at least 15% by weight husk material; and (b) introducing the treatment fluid into the subterranean formation through the wellbore, According to yet another aspect of the invention, the product of the method for producing a guar gum powder is used in the method for treating a subterranean formation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a shredder, where the shredder is provided with an illuminating module neighboring a control panel or paper inlet thereof. The illuminating module is electrically connected to an activating circuit of the shredder motor, such that illuminators of the illuminating module are illuminated at the same time of activating a motor for driving the paper shredding cutter, and turned off at the same of deactivating the motor after completing the shredding, so as to feature the shredding operation with playful interest.

Abstract: An improved nutcracker and shelling process use centrifugal force to accelerate nuts so that their shells shatter upon impacting a target surface. The nutcracker includes an impeller having an intake for receiving nuts and an outlet for discharging the nuts. During operation, the impeller is spun so that the nuts received at the intake are accelerated as they pass through the impeller. The nuts reach a sufficiently fast speed so that their shells fracture upon hitting the target surface after being thrown from the impeller.

Abstract: The present invention is a short flow milling process wherein finished product is rapidly isolated and removed from the milling process flow regime at early stages. The minimization of handling and the minimization or elimination of intermixing streams of various size gradations prevents size contamination that otherwise necessitates further sifting. Component parts are eliminated along with the accompanying handling and transfer equipment to create a compact and efficient milling regime. The size reductions enable the invention to be practiced in a mobile form. Therefore, the present invention relates also to a method for providing a mobile mill process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process to remove the germ from the endosperm of a corn kernel. The apparatus of the present invention comprises frictional cylindrical rollers, each roller rotating about an axis, the axis of the rollers substantially parallel, and the direction of rotation being opposing. The roller bodies having a rubberized covering, rotate with differing surface velocities and are tensioned such as to impart low-impact friction forces to corn kernels drawn between the roller covers. The process of the present invention includes a tempering step comprising adding an amount of moisture to the corn by wetting and soaking the corn; a polishing step for removing bran layers from the corn; a second tempering step comprising adding an additional amount of moisture to the corn by wetting and soaking the corn; and a friction step to remove germ from the endosperm.

Abstract: The invention provides novel methods of processing grain, such as corn and soybeans, utilizing thioredoxin and/or thioredoxin reductase to enhance extractability and recovery of starch and protein. The invention further provides novel transgenic plants expressing thermostable thioredoxin and/or thioredoxin reductase.

Abstract: A coffee grinder assembly with a housing containing a pair of hoppers for containing coffee beans with a pair of hopper outlet chutes, or grinding chamber inlet chutes for feeding beans into a grinding chamber where the beans are ground by powered grinding discs or blades and then passed to a removable brew basket via an outlet chute with an outlet end that is in communication with a negative ion generator that ionizes the air in the outlet chute through which the ground coffee and chaff pass on their way to the brew basket to electrically neutralize the chaff to reduce chaff dispersion due to electrostatic repulsion of positively charged chaff.

Abstract: A method for producing pure guar meal and the use of hydroxy propyl trimethyl ammonium chloride—guar meal obtained according to the method in clear aqueous cosmetic formulations which are intended to be applied on hair and/or skin and which can be washed out or rinsed off as conditioning agents or depositing agents to dilute cosmetic formulations.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing polished cereal to obtain no-bran cereal having a reduced size. The apparatus comprises a polished cereal processing section for removing bran remaining on surfaces of polished cereal by mixing granular material with the polished cereal so that the remaining bran is captured by the granular material, and separating the polished cereal with bran removed and the granular material with bran captured; and a granular material reprocessing section for reprocessing the granular material with bran captured and feeding back the reprocessed granular material to the polished cereal processing section for recycling the granular material. The granular material reprocessing section includes a screen tube for separating the granular material within a predetermined granularity range and a removing roller arranged to rotate in the screen tube for removing the bran captured on surfaces of the granular material fed into the screen tube.

Abstract: A mobile system for processing raw ears of corn includes a first mobile processing trailer for receiving raw unhusked ears of corn, holding the ears and disbursing them to a husker for removing corn husks and corn silk from the ears. A conveyer takes the husked ears of corn to a second trailer for further processing. The second mobile processing trailer includes multiple cutting machines to remove the corn kernels from the cob and a saw to slice the fresh ears of corn into mini cobs. A conveyer takes the sliced cobs to a holding bin for transportation to a cannery while a second conveyer removes the corn kernels from the second trailer to a third trailer for washing and cooling. The third trailer includes a pair of rotating sieves and a cooling tank to clean and chill the corn kernels. The chilled kernels are then transported via a conveyer to transportation receptacle for transportation to a cannery for further processing.

Abstract: A table separator is provided, wherein the table separator comprises a plurality of solid-bottomed trays and a plurality of dimples for facilitating separation of degerminated corn into endosperm and germ fraction, the dimples being aligned in linear juxtaposition on the surface of the trays and having a center portion raised with respect to the perimeter of the dimples.

Abstract: A grain processing apparatus is used in one embodiment for debranning grain to remove the bran. In another embodiment, it is used as a mill for milling flour. The processor includes a cylindrical drum with an internal rotor having a set of impeller rods. The grain is loaded into the drum and is withdrawn as debranned kernels or flour as treatment proceeds. Bran removed from the grain is withdrawn through a vacuum discharge at the top of the apparatus. The grain is either discharged through a grain discharge or, where it is to be milled, it is withdrawn through the vacuum discharge as flour. The relatively coarse bran can be separated from the flour using a sifter. The air flow withdrawing the flour from the drum is drawn into the drum at the bottom, through a venturi and a valving arrangement. This cools the inlet air and maintains the temperature of the drum at an acceptable temperature.

Abstract: A dehusking apparatus is provided having a fixed cage like housing and a conveyor within the housing for transporting produce from an inlet to an outlet. The conveyor has helical flights with an intermediate portion being covered by a flexible covering between which and the inside of the cage the produce may travel to be dehusked as the produce is conveyed through the apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating kenaf into fiber and core uses a modified stick machine conventionally used in the cotton industry for removing trash from unginned cotton. Lengths of kenaf are delivered onto the periphery of a saw cylinder so the toothed wheels snag the fiber and draw the kenaf across a grate. Core is detached from the fiber, passes through the grate and is delivered to a core outlet. Fiber on the toothed wheels are removed by a doffing wheel and delivered to a fiber outlet. Multiple saw cylinder/doffing wheel assemblies are provided.

Abstract: A mobile system for processing raw ears of corn includes a first mobile processing trailer for receiving raw unhusked ears of corn, holding the ears and disbursing the ears to a first conveyor. The first conveyor transports the ears to a second mobile trailer for further processing. The second mobile trailer includes a husker for removing corn husks and corn silk from the ears, a cutting mechanism for removing kernels from the ears after the husks and silk are removed, and a second conveyor for transporting the corn husks, corn silk, and corn cobs from the second trailer. A third conveyor transports the kernels to a third mobile trailer for further processing. The third mobile trailer includes a cooling tank for chilling the kernels and a conveyor for transporting the kernels to transportation receptacles for transportation to a cannery for further processing.

Abstract: Rice or like small objects is milled in a machine comprising a rotating vertical drum having an endless abrasive belt. Chambers are spaced about the drum so that the belt acts as a floor to the chambers with a slight gap in between. The objects are passed vertically downwards and abraded by the belt, surface material removed from the objects passing through the gap and falls out via a subsidiary outlet alongside the main outlet of each chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing hulls from milo berries is provided. The apparatus includes a first cylindrical shaped chamber having a plurality of abrasive grinding stones mounted on a shaft extending through the chamber. The outlet to the first chamber is connected by a suitable conduit to the inlet of a second, cylindrical shaped chamber having a plurality of wire brushes mounted on a rotor extending through the chamber. An aspiration system connected to the chambers removes hull particles that have been separated from the milo berries. As the milo berries sequentially pass through the chambers, the stones and brushes remove the hulls from the berries.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing hulls from milo berries is provided. The apparatus includes a first cylindrical shaped chamber having a plurality of abrasive grinding stones mounted on a shaft extending through the chamber. The outlet to the first chamber is connected by a suitable conduit to the inlet of a second, cylindrical shaped chamber having a plurality of wire brushes mounted on a rotor extending through the chamber. An aspiration system connected to the chambers removes hull particles that have been separated from the milo berries. As the milo berries sequentially pass through the chambers, the stones and brushes remove the hulls from the berries.

Abstract: Grain is fed from a hopper to a horizontally oriented adjustable speed steam heated auger driven by a variable speed drive. The auger is long enough (approximately twenty inches) that temperature controlled steam fed to a plurality of inlets along the auger as related to the rate of grain movement through the auger heats the gain therein to approximately three hundred degrees Fahrenheit. Then it is dropped through a grain outlet opening into a high velocity cold air stream temperature shocking the hot grain causing a sudden contraction of grain outer layers causing them to crack and loosen from the grain core. The grain is then fed through tubes to space between a rotatable internally rubber (or soft plastic) sheet layer sheathed inner surface outer mill member fitted to and rotatable about a truncated cone member having outer surface metal channel members angled approximately forty five degrees adjacent at the top and diverging at the bottom.

Abstract: For cleaning foodstuffs in the form of a bulk material, such as cereal grains, rice grains, soybeans, sunflower seeds, coffee beans, and the like, there is provided an optical sorting device (24, 24a, 24a') subsequent to a precleaning system (6), which enables sorting on the basis of color and/or size and/or shape. Each particle of the bulk material is allocated to a particle class determined by parameters and conveyed on a supporting surface transporting the bulk material to a reception area (43, 44, 45) for the respective particle class. To clean the bulk material, impurities and bad particles are sorted out of the product, with the product being partitioned into classes, if required.

Abstract: An apparatus for dehulling grass seed utilizing a vibrated housing having an elongated chamber. The interior of the chamber is accessible through openings or ports that provide a plurality of entries and exits for the processing of grass seed. Grass seed is dehulled by a housing mounted pneumatic accelerator that removes the hulls from the seeds. Hulls and seeds are then directed into the interior of the chamber wherein separation of seeds from hulls and hulls containing seeds occurs. Seeds are discharged from the chamber and the hulls containing seeds are returned to the pneumatic accelerator for repeating the dehulling process.

Abstract: A process for the processing of whole-wheat cereals in which: the grains are subject to a shower wash using only little more water than is necessary to enclose the surface of the grains; counterflowing air is conducted past the grains to remove excess water; and the grains are exposed to a collision turbulence process.

Abstract: Reforestation of cut forest regions is effected by broadcasting comminuted slash or cone-bearing roadside logging residue from delimbing of freshly-cut trees over the region from which the trees are cut. By comminuting the slash live seeds are released from cones contained in the slash and are returned to the forested area. In this way, an inexpensive reforestation procedure is provided and biodiversity is retained.

Abstract: An apparatus for use and a method of abrading small objects to remove surface material from such small objects, the apparatus including a chamber and an abrasive moving bottom that passes under a transverse wall of the chamber having an inlet and outlet for the abraded objects, recirculating the objects in the chamber and a lid for applying pressure on the recirculating objects to press them adjacent the bottom against the bottom; with the method comprising supplying the small objects to the chamber, recirculating the objects and applying pressure against the objects adjacent the bottom against the bottom against the bottom of the chamber and removing the abraded objects from the chamber outlet.

Abstract: The subject invention provides, for the first time, an efficient method for obtaining high quality essentially pure starch from legumes. The method involves milling dehulled legumes to obtain a powder followed by wet separating (centrifugation) the small particle size fraction of said powder to separate pure starch from a protein concentrate. The invention is specifically exemplified with respect to garbanzo beans.

Abstract: A flour milling method and system therefor comprising the steps of separating foreign materials from raw wheat, humidifying the raw wheat, polishing the raw wheat, and conditioning the polished wheat, further comprises a step of cleaning the polished wheat at a subsequent step of the polishing the raw wheat. The flour milling method and system therefor may further comprises a step of stirring the cleaned polished wheat at a subsequent step of the cleaning step of the polished wheat. The bran powder which has been entered into the creases of the polished wheat at the polishing step, absorbs cleaning water and then flows out from the creases with the cleaning water. Since the bran powders in the creases of the polished wheat can be removed effectively, the milling efficiency is improved.

Abstract: A degerminating process wherein the grain kernels are crushed from the thin edges toward the center while avoiding crushing of the relatively flat side surfaces. The crushing force fractures the endosperm under and around the germ and squeezes the germ away from the endosperm in a whole condition. A machine for carrying out the degermination includes relatively rotating discs having the corrugations in their facing surfaces in which the kernels are caught and crushed from the thin edges toward the center. An alternative degerminator machine includes a single rotating disc having curved guide vanes on its upper surface for guiding the kernels as they are propelled outwardly by centrifugal force. The vanes orient each kernel with its top or bottom edge in position to impinge upon flat impact surfaces which results in a crushing force applied from the thin edge toward the center of the kernel.

Abstract: Processes for dehusking psyllium seeds to obtain high yields of high purity psyllium seed husk. These processes comprise milling intact psyllium seeds in a mill which causes the husk to be fragmented by collision under conditions whereby the husk is fractured and separated from the non-husk portion of the psyllium seed without substantial breakage and size reduction of the non-husk portion. Preferred milling utilizes impact speeds within the range of from about 5 m/sec to about 40 m/sec.

Abstract: A milling system for cereal grains such as wheat includes one or more bran removal machines which removes a substantial fraction of the bran of the incoming wheat to form a pearled wheat. The pearled wheat is then supplied as a feed stock to a disc mill in the first break position. The bran removal machines preferably include inner and outer abrasive elements, wherein the outer abrasive elements extend over a cumulative arc of at least about 250 degrees. Because a substantial portion of the bran is removed prior to the first break position, prior art problems associated with bran fragmentation in a disc mill are reduced.

Abstract: A grain grinding system includes a polishing machine for polishing grains, and roll mills and sifters for repeatedly mill and sift the polished grains to provide a flour having a desired mesh size. A moisture adding device is provided for adding moisture to the grains milled in at least one of the roll mills, thereby maintaining the grains in a suitably moistened condition during the milling operation.

Abstract: A process for the removal of agricultural chemicals from seed grain kernels. The process includes removal of chemicals adsorbed to the surface of the seed by abrasion and removal of chemicals absorbed into the seed by extraction with organic solvents. Removal of such chemicals to a level of less than 1.0 ppm is possible.

Abstract: Processes for dehusking psyllium seeds to obtain high yields of high purity psyllium seed husk. These processes comprise milling intact psyllium seeds in a mill which causes the husk to be fragmented by collision under conditions whereby the husk is fractured and separated from the non-husk portion of the psyllium seed without substantial breakage and size reduction of the non-husk portion. Preferred milling utilizes impact speeds within the range of from about 5 m/sec to about 40 m/sec.

Abstract: A process for producing corn fiber having a high total dietary fiber content. A dilute aqueous slurry of the corn fiber obtained from the corn wet-millng process is separated by means of a hydroclone to give a fiber fraction of enhanced total dietary fiber content. This fiber fraction may then be passed into a centrifual paddle screen to give a product of even higher total dietary fiber content.

Abstract: A discoid element (7, 8) for a helical screw or worm arrangement comprising, on each side, identical shallow depressions (20); each depression having an open end (21) adjacent the periphery and a closed end (22) adjacent a central bore (23). The depressions (20) in one side of the discoid element are staggered with respect to those of the other side. The discoid element may also contain radial ribs (24, 25, 26, 27) constituting the sidewalls of the shallow depressions. The discoid elements may suitably be used in apparatus for dehusking grain.

Abstract: High purity mucilage from Plantago psyllium seeds may be obtained by grinding the integral Plantago psyllium seeds by subjecting the same to pure impact grinding action without any rubbing, with an impact speed of from approximately 30 to approximately 40 meters per second and with a flow rate of the integral seed suitable to maintain the individual seeds spaced so that the impact strength is maintained constant for each seed, whereby the husk is removed from the core of the seed without fracturing said cores, in order to avoid contamination of said husk with particles of the core of the seeds.

Abstract: A process for producing a high total dietary corn fiber. Undried corn fiber obtained from the corn wet-milling process is separated by means of a sifter to give a coarse fiber fraction of enhanced total dietary fiber content. The coarse fiber fraction is then passed through a roller mill to give a product of even higher total dietary fiber content.