Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for winnowing. In one aspect, a method includes loading an initial material into a winnowing system via a feed member; feeding the material into a fluidically accelerated winnowing cavity, where the initial material impacts at least one plate member to yield chaff material and processed material, and where the processed material and the chaff material circulate in the winnowing cavity; and separating the chaff material and the processed from the winnowing cavity based on density. Other aspects include yielding intermediate material, where the intermediate material reimpacts the at least one plate member until yielding chaff material and processed material, preprocessing the initial material, controlling the flow of initial material into the winnowing cavity with a feed gate, where the chaff material egresses the winnowing cavity via a chaff chute, where the chaff material collects in a collection cavity, and/or more.

Abstract: An agitator for a product peel removal system, the agitator comprising: a central axle having a plurality of outwardly projecting arms; and a product lifter at the distal end of at least one of said outwardly projecting arms; and an apparatus for product peel removal comprising: a drum having an inlet for receiving product, an outlet for dispensing of product; and a plurality of perforations through which removed peel may pass; at least one agitator arranged within said drum and rotatable relative to said drum for agitating the product passing between said inlet and outlet; and means for controlling the retention time of product within the rotatable drum independently from the rotation speed of the agitator.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a device for dehulling beans, a method of dehulling beans, an apparatus for making soymilk and a method of making soymilk. The device for dehulling beans may comprise a driving motor (110); a controller (120) electrically coupled to the driving motor (110) for controlling the driving motor; and a first unit (130) coupled to and driven by the driving motor (110) to stir the beans soaked in water so as to generate a mixture containing hulls and dehulled beans. With the present invention, the beans can be dehulled before the blending process for soymilk making, so the size of particles contained in the soymilk and hence the quantity of the residue is substantially reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating objects with a treatment gas comprises a treatment chamber, a chamber input through which objects enter the treatment chamber, and a chamber output (which may be the same as the chamber input) through which the objects leave the treatment chamber. The treatment chamber encloses the treatment gas, which can be steam. The chamber output and/or the chamber input include an intermediate medium, such as a liquid, through which the objects pass. The intermediate medium prevents escape of the treatment gas from the treatment chamber and the ingress of external gases into the treatment chamber, while facilitating input of the objects to the chamber, and output of the objects from the chamber.

Abstract: A system providing for on-site reclamation and re-use of reclaimed antimicrobial solution includes a dispenser, at least one receptacle, piping, and at least one pump. The dispenser sprays antimicrobial solution toward moving raw food products. Unspent antimicrobial solution that did not contact the moving raw food products and rebound antimicrobial solution that did contact the raw food products combine to form a reclaimed antimicrobial solution. The reclaimed antimicrobial solution is collected in the receptacle and is pumped through the piping to a location for reuse.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for dehusking grains, in particular for removing the spelts and/or the seed coat and the germ bud of grains and/or of malted grains and its processing in the brewing industry. The outer layers/shells are removed from cleaned and malted distiller's grains in a husking machine (20).

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing no-bran cereal such as no-bran rice which require no washing before cooking. With the apparatus, bran stuck on a surface of a grain of the polished cereal is easily removed without imparting any damage on the surface, and further moisture in the grain is maintained to increase taste of the cereal. Moisture is added to the polished cereal and granular material is mixed and stirred with the moistened polished cereal to polish a surface of each grain of the polished cereal and remove bran stuck on the surface of the polished cereal. Then, the polished cereal is separated from the granular material to obtain the no-bran rice.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of removing the fibrous shells from cereal grains. This method according to the invention comprises a pretreatment step, wherein the moisture content of the cereal grains is increased, e.g. in the case of corn grains from 16 to more than 20% by weight, followed by the step of exposure of the pretreated grains to a thermal shock by means of a cryogenic medium and thereafter mechanical treatment step thereof.

Abstract: Raw wheat grains are polished after being subjected to a first water addition and being tempered, and the polished wheat grains are ground after being subjected to a second water addition and being tempered. The first water addition is to cause the raw wheat grains to have a water content of 12-14%. The tempering of the raw wheat grains is performed for 16-36 hours so that the water sufficiently penetrate into the inside of the raw wheat grains. The method of flouring includes the steps of measuring a water content of the flour obtained by the grinding of the grains, comparing the amount of the measured water content with a predetermined target water content of the flour, and adjusting the amount of water to be added during the second water addition if there is a difference between the measured water content and the predetermined target water content.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for splitting closed pistachio nuts in a controlled manner such that the longitudinal sutures of the nuts will be cracked open. The apparatus includes a cylindrical housing wih a mandrel mounted for rotation therein to provide an annulus into which nuts can be introduced. According to various features of the apparatus, the pistachio nuts are rotated, oriented and then split along their sutures in the annulus and subsequently discharged through an opening in the housing. There is also provided a continuous process of treating closed shell pistachio nuts which includes the step of removing the denser foreign particles from the closed shell nuts by flotation; and a soaking step so that the shells of the unopened pistachio nuts will be saturated with water to provide a degree of shell flexibility such that when pressure is applied to the suture of the shell to effect splitting, the shell will flex rather than crack.

Abstract: A method for husking sesame seeds, characterized by the fact that the sesame seeds, previously freed from their impurities, are introduced into an attrition apparatus. By carrying out a simultaneous water and water steam injection in a proportion such that the seed water content is of about 15%, a swelling of the seeds occurs and at least 95% of the husk is removed. After sieving, the seeds thus almost husked are introducing in a drying assembly at the inlet of which they receive a complementary injection of water steam so that their water content be of the order of 14% to 18%. The drying operation is carried out for 1 hour to 2 hours at a temperature of 120.degree. to 130.degree. C., so that at the outlet of the drying apparatus the remaining husk is separated from the kernels and dessicated.

Abstract: During processing the soybeans are heated-up in a first of two successively arranged fluidized beds with a rapidity such that the hulls loosen or detach from the seeds and there is obtained a honogeneous heating of all of the soybeans. The heated-up soybeans may be directly conveyed into the second fludized bed where they are maintained in a heated condition and from which location they are infed in a heated state to a breaking or cracking mill where they are crushed or cracked and then to a flaking device for the subsequent flaking thereof. It is also possible to undertake along the conveying path from the first fluidized bed to the second fluidized bed a mechanical dehulling operation at the soybeans where the hulls are separated from the seeds and the seed portions are delivered into the second fluidized bed.

Abstract: A batch seed dehuller for seed testing purposes is provided and includes an upright cylindrical chamber merging downwardly into the upper major diameter end of an inverted frusto-conical chamber which in turn merges downwardly into a downwardly opening generally cylindrical passage of smaller diameter than the cylindrical chamber. An annular top wall closes the outer peripheral portion of the upper end of the cylindrical chamber and includes an inner periphery downwardly from which a tubular vortex finder extends to a level spaced above the frusto-conical chamber. The cylindrical passage includes a small diameter generally radially inwardly opening compressed air inlet intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof and a lateral airflow outlet of greater cross-sectional area than the inlet opening generally radially outwardly of the cylindrical passage substantially diametrically opposite the inlet.

Abstract: A method of producing rice of superhigh gloss wherein rice grains which have been polished to a yield of below 96% with respect to brown rice are cooled below 25.degree. C. by supplying to the rice grains a current of cooling and humidifying air of a humidity capable of maintaining the rice grains at an equilibrium moisture content, and then the rice grains are polished while being humidified and exposed to an air current. An apparatus for producing rice of superhigh gloss comprising rice grain cooling and humidifying means, and rice polishing means connected to the rice grain cooling and humidifying means for polishing the rice grains by rubbing while humidifying and applying air current to the rice grains.

Abstract: A vertical soak tank wherein a downwardly moving compact bed of solids is contacted with liquid which floods the bed, includes mechanical components to level the solids and assure that they are maintained in a first-in first-out basis by an incoming materials distributor having inverted cones and rotating levelling rods and bars. The tank has a unique seal between a rotating bottom disc and the side walls, as well as improved means for access to the internal components. The tank also has a weighing system utilizing an external load cell to weigh the solids independently of the liquid in the tank.

Abstract: A rice mill comprising grain feed means, grain husking means connected to said grain feed means, paddy removing means connected to said grain husking means, first grain elevating means connected to said paddy removing means, grain polishing and whitening means connected to said first grain elevating means, second grain elevating means connected to said polishing and whitening means, grain classifying means connected to said second grain elevating means, bin means connected to said grain classifying means, and pneumatic cyclonic separating means for removing light materials from said paddy removing means, said grain husking means, said polishing and whitening means, and said grain classifying means, is rendered capable of full pneumatic conveyance of the grain by the provision of first, second and third grain decelerating and abrading sifter means at the entrances of said grain husking means, said grain polishing and whitening means and said grain classifying means, respectively, and sieve means between each s

Abstract: A rice pearling apparatus of the type including a pearling chamber formed by a pearling roll and a multiple-holed debranning-pearling cylinder surrounding the roll, and a device for feeding rice to the pealing cylinder, further comprises a device for supplying water to the pearling chamber, flow meters for measuring and indicating the rates of rice and water flow into the chamber, and a device for regulating the respective flow rates of rice and water.

Abstract: A rice pearling apparatus with a humidifier includes a humidifying section comprising a humidifying line open into an essential part of one of pearling chambers in a series of pearling units, and perforated walls for debranning-pearling cylinders provided in the pearling units before and after the humidifying section. The quotient of the total perforated wall surface area of the frictional pearling chambers after the humidifying section divided by the product of the pearling ratio multiplied by the rise flow rate is not less than one time as much as the quotient of the total perforated wall surface area of the frictional pearling chambers before the humidifying section divided by the same product as above.

Abstract: Blanching apparatus comprising a sealed compartment having steam manifold spaced throughout and a conveyor system therein for transporting produce such as vegetables from one end to the other for exposure to the steam. Sealed portals permit the entry and withdrawal of the produce while allowing the produce to be treated at a pressure above atmospheric with little escape of steam from the sealed chamber. Pressure relief means are provided in the wall of the container to protect the compartment seals in the event of rapid decompression sometimes resulting from the condensation of the steam.

Abstract: Soybean dehulling, blanching and grinding apparatus is provided for preparation of a relatively coarse ground slurry consisting of water and approximately 12% by weight of bean tissue. Soybeans having a moisture content of approximately 13% are dehulled in a rapid and efficient manner and without crushing or grinding the cotyledons. After separation from the hulls, the whole cotyledons are blanched by dropping the same in boiling water without prior soaking. The blanching apparatus blanches the cotyledons rapidly and without producing excessive foaming. The blanched soybeans are then mixed with water and ground in a horizontally positioned grinding tube by means of a series of blades which also move the product along the tube while providing a uniform mixture of bean tissue and water. A screen is provided at the end of the tube which prevents the issuance of material until the solids have a desired size, as determined by the perforations in the screen.