Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for the production of Graphene and similar atomic scale laminar materials by the delamination of a bulk laminar material, such as graphite; the apparatus comprising: a pump (112) for pumping a fluid, the fluid being a suspension of solid particles of the bulk laminar material, at a pressure of greater than 1 MPa, along a fluid conduit (12) and against; an impact head (16) having an impact face perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the trajectory of the incoming fluid, so as to form a narrow and variable gap (20) and wherein that variation is mediated by means of a pneumatic pressure directly or indirectly in opposition to the force applied to the impact head along the principle axis by, in use, the pressure applied by the pumped fluid. This apparatus provides a self-unblocking delamination apparatus whilst maintaining high product quality and consistency.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for the production of Graphene and similar atomic scale laminar materials by the delamination of a bulk laminar material, such as graphite; the apparatus comprising a pump (112) for pumping a fluid, the fluid being a suspension of solid particles of the bulk laminar material, at a pressure of greater than 1 MPa, along a fluid conduit (12) and against an impact head (16) having an impact face perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the trajectory of the incoming fluid, being the principal axis relative to the proximal end of the conduit (24) so as to form a narrow and variable gap (20) and where in the impact head is symmetric about a longitudinal axis which is in line with the principal axis and such that the symmetry allows rotation of the head. This apparatus provides prolonged head life and avoids catastrophic head wear in an isolated region. Overall product quality over time is better maintained.

Abstract: A foodstuff sieve station includes a hopper to pour floury foodstuff and an electrically-operated sifting assembly to sift it for separating impurities from still-usable foodstuff. The sifting assembly includes a hopper-shaped with bell-shaped, rotatable sieve housed/recessed inside the casing. The sieve has-an axis tilted with respect to the vertical and an upward mouth underneath an outlet of the hopper to receive foodstuff therefrom. An electric motor assembly rotates the sieve about the axis. The sieve prevents the foodstuff having a grain size higher that a threshold value to flow through, and has an inwardly protruding assembly that projects from the inner surface and extends on a helical-shaped path from the bottom of the sieve to the mouth of the sieve.

Abstract: A whitish whole-wheat flour and a process for producing the flour are described wherein the wheat bran is separated into a fine bran and a coarse bran fraction and the course bran is pulverized to a smaller size and mixed into the flour.

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: A system for grinding comprises a first grinding apparatus and a sifting apparatus to receive particles from the first grinding apparatus and to remove and divert particles having a size less than a threshold size from a particle path to an output stream such that the particles are not subjected to further grinding. The sifting apparatus comprises a first particle removal stage configured to remove grain particles of a first size and larger, and a second particle removal stage configured to remove grain particles of a second size and larger from the grain path. A second grinding apparatus may be configured to grind grain exiting the sifting apparatus and to output to the sifting apparatus. A method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Generally, a dry-wet grain fractionation system which provides a dry mill process (26) for the production of grain fractions (14) (15) (16) and a wet mill process (18) for the production of purified bran (19), endosperm (20) and germ (21) from the mixture of grain particles in a grain fraction (14) (15) or (16) or combinations thereof. Specifically, a dry-wet grain fractionation system for production of corn germ (21) having increased protein and oil content and an endosperm (20) having increased starch and sugar content.

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: 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 flour milling method and a flour milling system are provided, in which a plurality of milling steps whose milling degrees are different from one another are performed sequentially from an upperstream to a downstream, each of the milling steps including a breaking step and a grading step. The steps are carried out by sorting the raw wheat grains into regular wheat grains and material other than the regular wheat grains, forwarding the sorted regular wheat grains to the uppermost-stream milling step, and forwarding the sorted material other than the regular wheat grains to at least one of downstream milling steps at a downstream of the uppermost-stream milling step. The method and the system enable the production of wheat flour of better quality with better yield than that conventionally produced.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a new method for producing milled grain products such as flour, semolina, middlings, etc., wherein the material is repeatedly ground by means of rolls and sifted with the system of advanced milling. It is suggested that the material be guided again at least twice via double-roll grinding stages with sifting between the double grindings, wherein the material is sifted in each instance following the double grinding. In an especially preferred manner, a corresponding new mill with at least two double-grinding passes is preferably constructed as an 8-roll mechanism (70). In an especially preferred manner. the new mill comprises a combination of eight- (70) and four-roll mechanisms (142, 151). A screening surface which is at least 20 to 50% larger is used for the double grinding.

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: The invention is directed to a new method for producing milled grain products such as flour, semolina, middlings, etc., wherein the material is repeatedly ground by means of rolls and sifted with the system of advanced milling. It is suggested that the material be guided again at least twice via double-roll grinding stages with sifting between the double grindings, wherein the material is sifted in each instance following the double grinding. In an especially preferred manner, a corresponding new mill with at least two double-grinding passes is preferably constructed as an 8-roll mechanism (70). In an especially preferred manner, the new mill comprises a combination of eight- (70) and four-roll mechanisms (142, 151). A screening surface which is at least 20 to 50 % larger is used for the double grinding.

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: A method for cleaning a cereal grain such as wheat includes the steps of separating a quantity of incoming wheat into a light fraction and a heavy fraction. The light fraction is then cleaned by passing it through a vertically oriented treatment chamber defined between inner and outer chamber walls. The inner chamber wall includes a set of inner abrasive elements and the outer chamber wall includes a set of outer abrasive elements and a screen. One of the sets of abrasive elements is rotated with respect to the other and a gas is forced through the treatment chamber. In this way, a substantial fraction of any oats in the cereal grain is fragmented. The light fraction is aspirated after it is passed through the treatment chamber to clean the light fraction further. Conventional scouring and tempering steps can then be used.

Abstract: The invention relates to improvements in flour, and pasta produced therefrom, wherein the flour is produced by milling of grains and legumes previously tempered in the presence of a reducing agent. The reducing agent can be, for example, sodium metabisulfite, organic acids, SO.sub.2, cysteine, thioglycolic acid, glutathione, or hydrogen sulfide. The presence of the reducing agent in the tempering solution produces an improvement in color retention of the resulting flour, and allows the shorts to separate from the semolina to be remilled to produce flour of color and quality acceptable for use in pasta production.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of sterilized plant matter consisting of the steps of; treating coarse chopped plant matter with heat to achieve dehydration, compression filling airtight fiber reinforced plastic bags with dehydrated plant matter, injecting high pressure steam into the dehydrated plant matter while in the bag and sealing the bag. A product consisting of steam sterilized coarse chopped plant matter under vacuum in air tight fiber reinforced plastic bags.

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.

Abstract: Whole ears of corn are converted to a desired particulate feed material in a machine which first preconditions the whole ear by breaking it into several smaller pieces before its cob and kernels are separated from one another and respectively ground and cracked in other operative units of the machine, and then recombined into the desired feed material composed of the parts of the whole ear.

Abstract: A gun-target apparatus and method for producing silicon seed particles from silicon feed particles comprising accelerating silicon feed particles from a container and propelling them into a silicon target in a target chamber. The target is movable within said chamber so that a different portion of the silicon target is exposed to the oncoming seeds. The seeds are accumulated in a receiver and separated from silicon dust and larger feed particles.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is disclosed for milling cereal in a milling plant having a control device, such as a computer device, for controlling various process elements of the plant and the operative parameters of those process elements, in which the characteristics of the material to be milled are established together with the characteristics of the required finished product and from those characteristics desired operating parameter values for one or more selected process elements are determined bearing in mind the characteristics of the process elements of the plant, and those parameter values are stored in the control device to be used as control signals for the process elements, and in which such control signals are determined and stored in groups associated with required combinations of material and finished product characteristics, and an appropriate group of parameter values is selected by means of the control device to provide process control signals for controlling the operative parameters of said pro