Foraminous Mixing Chamber Patents (Class 366/234)
  • Patent number: 11898260
    Abstract: An electroforming system and method for electroforming a component that includes a first housing and a second housing, where the second housing can define a conformable electroforming reservoir with a base structure that defines a fluid passage. The first housing can include a dissolution reservoir containing an electrolytic fluid that is fluidly coupled to the fluid passage of the second housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Unison Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Ashwini Sameer Wadhavkar, Dattu Guru Venkata Jonnalagadda, Rajapriyan Rajendran, Gordon C. Tajiri, Udaya Bhaskar Pamidimarri
  • Patent number: 10550361
    Abstract: A biogas plant is provided comprising a fermentation container for receiving fermentation material to be fermented. The fermentation container comprises a lower wall part and an upper wall part where the upper wall part is positioned above the lower wall part. Further, the biogas plant comprises a support and a hinge wherein the hinge hingedly connects the fermentation container to the support and wherein the hinge defines a pivot axis about which the upper wall part and the lower wall part are pivotable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: THÖNI INDUSTRIEBETRIEBE GMBH
    Inventor: Thomas Köll
  • Publication number: 20140169123
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for dispersing a nanocomposite material. That apparatus includes an inner chamber in which a metal powder, a nanocomposite material and inner pellets are charged. The inner chamber also includes a plurality of apertures each having a smaller diameter than that of each inner pellet. Furthermore, the apparatus includes an outer chamber that surrounds the inner chamber and includes outer pellets in a space between a wall of the inner chamber and a wall of the outer chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Jong Kook Lee
  • Patent number: 7625749
    Abstract: A garden composter has a longitudinally extending cylindrical drum which is mounted to a support frame and can be rotated relative to the support frame about an axis of rotation of the drum. The drum has at least two load openings formed in a cylindrical wall portion between two end wall portions and removable closure caps for selectively closing the load openings. At least one partition divides the drum into a number of chambers disposed side by side along the longitudinal axis. Each chamber communicates with a respective load opening. The partition has a fixed portion coupled to the drum and a relatively movable portion. Each portion has at least one flow control partition opening and the movable portion can be moved so that its associated flow control partition opening may be selectively brought into and out of registration with corresponding flow control partition openings in the fixed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Sun-Mar Corporation
    Inventor: Henric Sundberg
  • Patent number: 7204636
    Abstract: A rotary drum configured for the efficient blending, cooling, and screening of granular products having an outer cylindrical shell, an intake end, and an exit or discharge end. The rotary drum is normally rotated at a predetermined speed by a conventional drive package. Disposed on an inner surface of the cylindrical shell is a plurality of compound helical flights and scoops or lifts, configured to blend granular product as it cascades from the intake end to the discharge or exit end of the rotary drum. A coaxially disposed cylindrical air passage adjacent the discharge end of the rotary drum, comprising an inner cylinder, that directs a counter flow of cooling air through the rotary drum towards the intake end, for cooling the cascading granular product as it approaches the screening segment of the rotary drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Didion Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Charles J. Didion
  • Patent number: 7078003
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the transfer between a solid matter and a liquid, comprising an outer drum and a perforated inner drum, means for commonly rotating the drums, and means situated inside the inner drum for moving the solid matter. In between the two drums, a number of troughs are formed which, during the rotation of the drums, bring up liquid and pour it out higher up through the inner drum. Along the front rim of each trough, the drum is provided with a drain opening, opposite to which means are provided for preventing, when the drain opening, during the rotation of the drums, is at the bottom, the penetration of solid matter through said opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: De Smet Engineering naamloze vennootschap
    Inventors: Jean Baie, Fédérico Lopez, Etienne Le Clef
  • Publication number: 20020172091
    Abstract: A combined centrifugal force (X+Y) is produced in a container (8) when the container on a distal end of an arm (3) circles around a main rotary shaft (2) of the arm and simultaneously rotates on its own rotary shaft (6) in harmony with the circling motion thereof. The starting ingredients for a food/beverage product are received in the container and subjected to the combined centrifugal force, so that the ingredients are processed into the food/beverage product. Various types of elements such as a sieve-like capsule member (10) detachably mounted in the container (8), a small concave-convex portion provided in an appropriate inner surface of the container (8), and/or a raised floor member (15) provided with a pair of a radial blade (12) and its corresponding radial slot (14) detachably mounted in the container are used to enhance the processing operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventor: Kouichi Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 6217209
    Abstract: A material processor having an enclosure with an ingress to receive material into the enclosure, and a discharge to remove material from the enclosure. A spindle is located in the enclosure, has a longitudinal spindle axis, and is rotatable about the spindle axis. A drive is operatively connected with the spindle to rotate the spindle about the spindle axis. A centrifugal sieve is located in the enclosure and coupled with the spindle. The ingress feeds material into the sieve. A conveyor is connected with the discharge to transfer material from the enclosure. The conveyor further has a generally cylindrical tube with a tube diameter, two opposing ends, and a tube axis extending through the ends. A helical blade extends along the tube axis between the two ends and is rotated about the tube axis. More particularly, the helical blade may have a series of blade tips that are spaced along the tube axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Inventors: Ernst R. Muller, Michael R. Muller, Steve J. Cencich
  • Patent number: 6142095
    Abstract: A machine for coating particulate material is provided with a housing and a cylindrical drum rotatably mounted within the housing. The drum includes a frame having opposite end rings and rails extending longitudinal between the end rings. A plurality of screen panels are slidably mounted on the rails to form a perforated drum side wall for holding particulate material. One or more spray nozzles are positioned within the drum for spraying a liquid solution onto the particulate material. An air inlet and outlet is provided to supply heated air for drying the solution on the particulate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Coating Machinery Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard L. Long
  • Patent number: 6105533
    Abstract: A drum for holding, moving and treating a particulate material is rotatable about its axis and has a metallic wall enclosing the axis and provided with perforation holes. A wire fabric has wires sintered to one another, rests essentially with its entire outer surface against the inner surface of the wall, is sintered essentially over its entire outer surface to the wall and separates the perforation holes thereof from the free interior space of the drum. Since the wire fabric rests essentially with its entire outer surface against the wall, no particulate material can enter between the wall and the wire fabric. The wire fabric is durable and can be cleaned rapidly and readily together with the rest of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Glatt Maschinen- und Apparatebau AG
    Inventor: Gunther Boos
  • Patent number: 6095035
    Abstract: A food processing apparatus is disclosed that has a tank with an inlet end and an outlet end. The apparatus has at least two rotary drums received within an interior chamber of the tank, each communicating with the inlet end for urging a food product from the inlet end simultaneously through the drums to the outlet end. A liquid is held at a desired level within the interior chamber. Each of the rotary drums is submerged in the liquid to a predetermined depth. The food processor of the present invention is particularly well suited for increasing the food product volume capacity for particular foods which can only be passed through the drums at a relatively low product level within each drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Lyco Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Zittel, Steven W. Hughes
  • Patent number: 6015228
    Abstract: A material processor having an enclosure with an ingress to receive material into the enclosure, and a discharge to remove homogenous material from the enclosure. A spindle is located in the enclosure, has a longitudinal spindle axis, and is rotatable about the spindle axis. A drive is operatively connected with the spindle to rotate the spindle about the spindle axis. A centrifugal sieve is located in the enclosure and coupled with the spindle. The ingress feeds material into the sieve. A conveyor is connected with the discharge to transfer mixed material from the enclosure. The conveyor further has a generally cylindrical tube with a tube diameter, two opposing ends, and a tube axis extending through the ends. A helical blade extends along the tube axis between the two ends and is rotated about the tube axis. More particularly, the helical blade may have a series of blade tips that are spaced along the tube axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Inventors: Ernst R. Muller, Michael R. Muller, Steve J. Cencich
  • Patent number: 5927186
    Abstract: A food breading apparatus for breading food components with a breading mixture includes a breading drum rotatable about its longitudinal axis wherein the longitudinal axis is inclined from horizontal. The drum includes an inlet opening located in an upper end, an outlet opening located in a lower end, and a plurality of openings located proximal to the lower end of a sidewall. The openings are sized to allow surplus breading mixture and lumps of breading mixture to pass therethrough but retain the breaded food product in the rotating breading drum. An inlet conveyor provides food components to be breaded to the inlet opening of the breading drum. A recirculating breading mixture conveyor provides the breading mixture to the inlet opening. A takeout conveyor moves the breaded food components from the outlet opening of the breading drum. A lump removal conveyor is positioned below the plurality of openings in the sidewall of the breading drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Dallas A.C. Horn & Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Harold Herrick, IV
  • Patent number: 5855165
    Abstract: A food breading apparatus for breading food components with a breading mixture includes a breading drum rotatable about its longitudinal axis wherein the longitudinal axis is inclined from horizontal. The drum includes an inlet opening located in an upper end, an outlet opening located in a lower end, and a plurality of perforations located proximal to the lower end and through a sidewall of the drum. The perforations are sized to allow surplus breading mixture and lumps of breading mixture to pass therethrough but to retain the breaded food product in the rotating breading drum. An inlet conveyor provides food products to be breaded to the inlet opening of the breading drum. A recirculating breading mixture conveyor provides the breading mixture to the inlet opening. A takeout conveyor moves the breaded food products from the outlet opening of the breading drum. A lump removal conveyor is positioned below the plurality of perforations in the sidewall of the breading drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Dallas A.C. Horn & Co.
    Inventor: Harold Herrick, IV
  • Patent number: 5778769
    Abstract: A new rice rinsing system for cleaning natural grown rice without having to get hands wet. The inventive device includes a cylindrical water bowl having an open upper end, a closed lower end and a cylindrical side wall therebetween. A cylindrical shaft extends upwardly from the closed lower end. A cylindrical rice holder is provided having an open upper end, a closed lower end and a cylindrical side wall therebetween. The closed lower end and the cylindrical side wall of the rice holder are perforated. A hollow cylindrical sleeve extends upwardly from the closed lower end of the rice holder. The cylindrical sleeve has an open lower end for receiving the cylindrical shaft of the water bowl therein when the rice holder is positioned within the water bowl. A water bowl lid is dimensioned for covering the open upper end of the water bowl. The water bowl lid has a centrally disposed aperture therethrough with a cylindrical collar extending upwardly therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Inventor: Albert A. Dodson
  • Patent number: 5733040
    Abstract: A rotatable barrel assembly, generally referred to as a metal finishing barrel, includes a latch assembly that selectively secures or latches the door during a portion of the barrel rotation. In a preferred arrangement, a latch member of the assembly is weighted so that a latch finger prevents movement of the door from its open position. As rotation of the barrel continues, the weighted latch member then pivots to a second position where the door is free to open and allow unloading of the contents of the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Singleton Corporation
    Inventors: Boris Zuk, Raymund Singleton
  • Patent number: 5704281
    Abstract: A washing container using water and a rotatable brush for washing various granular food, and is especially applicable for medium and small size granular fruits. It is comprised of: a receiving barrel, a rotatable brush and an upper cover. Food is put in from a throw-in port and falls down in the receiving barrel filed with water, and the rotatable brush is rotated. The food to be cleaned is brushed and washed. Air containing ozone or ozone/anion is generated in a base of the receiving barrel and is injected into the receiving barrel to form bubbles to eliminate dirt and pesticide on the surfaces of the food, so as to keep the freshness of the food and to also clean the food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Inventor: Huo-Tu Huang
  • Patent number: 5669288
    Abstract: A blancher or cooler has a drum made up of a plurality of stainless steel perforated panels. The drum is rotatably mounted within a water tank, and has an auger for progressing food products from an inlet to an outlet. The panels are bolted between C-channels which are welded to end plates to define the drum, and steel angle brackets clamp the panels in place. The angle brackets have slots with enlarged openings at one end. For periodic cleaning the nuts which clamp the brackets to the C-channels are loosened part way, the brackets are removed by passing the bolt heads through the enlarged openings, and the unclamped panels are allowed to hang freely on the C-channels. In this condition all regions of the panels are accessible to cleaning spray as the drum is rotated. The brackets are rapidly replaced and the nuts fully tightened to return the apparatus to service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Lyco Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Zittel, Steven B. Malchow
  • Patent number: 5664489
    Abstract: A food breading apparatus for breading food components with a breading mixture includes a breading drum rotatable about its longitudinal axis wherein the longitudinal axis is inclined from horizontal. The drum includes an inlet opening located in an upper end, an outlet opening located in a lower end, and a plurality of openings located proximal to the lower end of a sidewall. The openings are sized to allow surplus breading mixture and lumps of breading mixture to pass therethrough but retain the breaded food product in the rotating breading drum. An inlet conveyor provides food components to be breaded to the inlet opening of the breading drum. A recirculating breading mixture conveyor provides the breading mixture to the inlet opening. A takeout conveyor moves the breaded food components from the outlet opening of the breading drum. A lump removal conveyor is positioned below the plurality of openings in the sidewall of the breading drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Dallas A.C. Horn & Co.
    Inventor: Harold Herrick, IV
  • Patent number: 5632195
    Abstract: A food processing apparatus having a tank with an inlet and an outlet, a liquid bath received therein, a rotary auger having a plurality of spaced apart flights for urging food product toward the outlet, and a baffle between a pair of adjacent auger flights for lifting and/or agitating (1) food product and (2) the liquid for increasing heat transfer between the liquid and food product, with the baffle being of substantially non-straight construction for minimizing the force of impact between food product and the baffle. Each baffle has a leading portion and a trailing portion with at least one of the portions being of non-straight construction. Preferably, each baffle has at least one bend or curve for minimizing impact force. The bend or curve is adjacent the leading portion of the baffle, which is that portion of the baffle that typically first comes into contact with food product during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Inventor: David R. Zittel
  • Patent number: 5613774
    Abstract: A cooking pot enclosing a rotatable spherical chamber includes a pot body. A cover is provided on an open top of the pot body to define an enclosed space. A removable, spherical chamber assembly is rotatably suspended within the pot body by a pair of opposite shafts. One shaft end is driven by a mating gear connected to a gear train and motor located external to the pot body. Food is placed in the spherical chamber assembly, which is then placed in the pot body. The pot body is filled with several inches of water, and placed on a stove or other heating element. The spherical chamber assembly is suspended above the boiling water, and is rotated by the motor and gear train, which causes the food to tumble and therefore cook evenly and quickly. Baffles affixed to the interior side walls of the spherical chamber assembly further enhance the mixing action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Naveen Chandra
    Inventors: Naveen Chandra, Kenneth Tarlow
  • Patent number: 5592869
    Abstract: A blancher having a tank and an elongate generally cylindrical and hollow perforate drum rotatably received in the tank with the drum including an inlet end plate with a food product inlet opening adjacent an end of a support core that is spaced from the inlet opening by at least two braces of non-straight construction to allow food product to enter the drum without being obstructed adjacent the inlet opening. The braces increase the structural rigidity of the drum enabling blanchers to be constructed having axial lengths greater than 24 feet and drum diameters greater than 72 inches while also being of open throat construction and having an inlet opening diameter greater than the outer diameter of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Lyco Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventor: David R. Zittel
  • Patent number: 5538630
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for refining waste water. The apparatus includes a housing having an inlet for receiving the waste water and an outlet for delivery of refined water; a cylindrical drum member rotatably mounted in the housing, the drum member having a radial thickness t between inside and outside surfaces thereof, a multiplicity of circularly cylindrical passages being formed in the drum member, the passages having a passage diameter d of approximately 0.75 inch, at least a portion of each passage terminating with the outside surface at a corner radius r of not more than approximately 0.002 inch; a vent for admitting air into the housing; and a drive for rotating the drum to a peripheral speed of at least 1000 feet per second, whereby molecules of the waste water are physically separated from the contaminants for forming the refined water, the refined water flowing from the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Inventor: James L. Burns
  • Patent number: 5531826
    Abstract: The rotary drum has a cylindrical portion (tubular body portion) formed therein with vent holes. An annular duct is disposed at the outside of the cylindrical portion of the rotary drum in a manner to surround the cylindrical portion. This annular duct is provided with a gas supply duct and an exhaust duct. In the annular duct, partition walls define a vent path, in which the drying gas which has been supplied from the gas supply duct flows through an accumulated layer, and thereafter, flows to the exhaust duct. The direction of flow of the drying gas in the vent path is changed over by gas supply-exhaust changeover dampers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Freund Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasutoyo Fusejima, Tsugutoshi Yamada, Shuri Yamada, Narimichi Takei
  • Patent number: 5427015
    Abstract: A cylindrical drum is rotatably mounted within a covered blancher or cooler water tank. The loads of the drum are supported entirely on an exterior frame formed of an inlet end plate and a discharge end plate and a plurality of linear support members which extend between and are welded to the two end plates. A helical auger is welded to and supported by the support members and defines an axially aligned central cavity which is substantially unobstructed between the inlet opening and the discharge opening. A perforated cylinder of screen material surrounds the dram and retains food product therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Lyco Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: David R. Zittel
  • Patent number: 5403395
    Abstract: An arrangement for the application of topical substances to base products. A rotatable star-shaped reel structure is rotated, in which a flowable base product is tumbled while being coated with the topical substance so as to ensure an appropriate uniform distribution of the topical substance on the surfaces of the base product while inhibiting the formation of clump-like agglomerates of coated base product on the internal surfaces of the reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Kraft General Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Nancy J. McCullough, Kenneth A. Seymour, Harold F. Yother
  • Patent number: 5346305
    Abstract: A rotary drum-type composting apparatus is disclosed, in which the drum is of circular cross section and is supported for rotation about a horizontal axis by means of external support wheels. An access opening is provided in the sidewall of the drum for loading of compostable material, and a removable flexible, waterproof cover is applied over perforated sidewalls of the drum, enabling the interior of the drum to be closed off so that the composting processes can occur. The drum is mounted as close to the ground or supporting surface as practicable, to facilitate manual loading of compostable materials. A clearing bar is installed on the outer surface of the drum, preferably on a removable door panel provided for closing the access opening. The clearing bar operates between the outer surface of the drum and the support wheels and their mounting shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Inventor: Francis B. Chester
  • Patent number: 5341729
    Abstract: A discharge chute extends between an auger and the discharge end plate of a perforated cylinder which rotates within a water-filled tank in a food processing apparatus such as a blancher or a cooler. The chute is fixed to the cylinder to rotate with the cylinder and has an inlet within the cylinder and an outlet which communicates with the exterior of the apparatus. A lifting flight extends between the perforated side wall of the cylinder and the discharge chute and is fixed to the discharge chute, such that food product advanced to the discharge end of the tank by an auger fixed to the cylinder, is engaged by the lifting flight and elevated to discharge into the chute discharge opening and then along an inclined surface within the chute to be discharged from the apparatus. The discharge assembly thus avoids any pinching of food product between rotating and nonrotating parts of the apparatus. Food product contained in pouches is protected from rupture at the discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: Lyco Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: David R. Zittel
  • Patent number: 5329842
    Abstract: A water tank is divided into a heated compartment and a cooled compartment by an insulated baffle. A perforated cylinder is mounted within the tank and has a first segment which extends within the heated tank compartment and a second segment which extends within the cooled tank compartment. Portions of a helical auger extend within each cylinder segment. Heated water is supplied to the heated compartment by a heated water manifold, and cooled water is supplied to the cooled compartment by a cooled water manifold. Mixing of the heated and cooled water is prevented by the insulating baffle. Food product is caused to traverse the length of the heated compartment by the auger, and is transferred over the baffle into the cooled compartment by a lifting flight which elevates food product from the water into a chute which discharges into the cooled compartment. A single, self-contained apparatus thus blanches and cools food product in a continuous process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Lyco Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: David R. Zittel
  • Patent number: 5327817
    Abstract: A food processing apparatus such as a cooler, blancher, or cooker, has a water tank with a perforated wall drum cylinder mounted to rotate within the tank. Loose or pouch-packaged food product is introduced into the rotating cylinder and is advanced by the generally helical auger to the discharge end of the tank. The auger has radially extending folds or depressions which project axially from the auger helical surface, such that food product conveyed by the rotating auger is engaged by the projecting portions and is thereby agitated in an axial direction as it is conveyed from the tank inlet to the tank outlet. In a preferred embodiment, the depressions are disposed at 90 degrees from one another along the entire length of the auger, alternately projecting toward the inlet and the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Lyco Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: David R. Zittel
  • Patent number: 5301605
    Abstract: The curd ripening apparatus comprises two perforated, semicylindrical baskets (12, 30), rotatably supported on a common horizontal axis, one within the other. Curds are poured into the inside basket, and the outside basket is then rotated of 180.degree. with respect to the other and is latched with latching means (26, 28, 40) to make it integral with the other basket (12, 24) in an angular position opposite to it, so that a closed barrel is formed. One or two motors (36, 38; 136, 138) can rotate both baskets together, so that the curds are rolled until ripe. The inside basket is preferably provided with internal, parallel, transverse blades (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: CMT Construzioni Meccaniche e Technologia SpA
    Inventor: Stefano Tomatis
  • Patent number: 5265525
    Abstract: The invention is an automatic breader/sifter unit used to facilitate the application of a breading material to a food product. The unit includes a rotatable, horizontally-oriented drum that has an octagonal shape. The sidewalls of the drum include a large number of apertures so that when breading material is within the drum, the material contacts the drum and is sifted as the drum rotates. The drum is motor-driven and is at least partially surrounded by an exterior housing. The housing prevents the sifted breading material from escaping from the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Inventor: Frank Stewart
  • Patent number: 5226354
    Abstract: The invention is an automatic breader/sifter unit used to facilitate the application of a breading material to a food product. The unit includes a rotatable, horizontally-oriented drum that has an octagonal shape. The sidewalls of the drum include a large number of apertures so that when breading material is within the drum, the material contacts the drum and is sifted as the drum rotates. The drum is motor driven and is partially surrounded by an exterior housing. The housing prevents the sifted breading material from escaping from the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Inventor: Frank Stewart
  • Patent number: 5193444
    Abstract: A forced air oven for and a method of heating, cooking or roasting granular food, such as nuts, seeds and coffee beans. The apparatus houses a hollow cylindrical drum into which food is placed. A heated gaseous stream is forced through the inside of the drum with sufficient force to blow the food away from the inside surface of the drum. In addition, perforations in the drum are positioned such that the heated gaseous stream blows the food toward a rear end of the drum and causes the food to churn. This churning allows the heated air to envelope the outside surface of the food and provides an even transmission of heat to the food. In addition, the drum is provided with a helical fin that pushes the food toward a front end of the drum. A wire mesh is also provided for collecting particles that are dislodged from the food, and an exhaust system is provided for venting the gasses created during the heating, cooking or roasting of food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Rair Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Shlomo Bar-Sheshet
  • Patent number: 5184544
    Abstract: A device for cleaning rice or vegetable such as beans in a tank containing cleaning water is provided. The cleaning water is manually agitated. A removable basket having a perforated bottom is rotatably positioned in the tank. An agitator static with respect to the tank is removably positioned in the basket. Filter screens are mounted to the perforated bottom of the basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Assignee: Chien-Jen Wang
    Inventor: Lin H. Ling
  • Patent number: 5146841
    Abstract: A stainless steel tank has a hinged cover which closes over a cylindrical drum which is rotatably mounted within the tank. The drum has a stiff support structure with an inlet end plate and a discharge end plate and a plurality of linear support members extending between and rigidly fastened to the two end plates. A helical auger is welded to and supported by the support members and is positioned within the drum by a central core tube. The auger and core tube are not connected to the inlet end plate leaving an unobstructed open-throat which allows the free flow of food product into the drum. A perforated cylinder of screen material surrounds the drum and retains food product therein. An infeed flight attachment extends from the auger to the inlet end plate and has a curved portion which extends beneath the water level to avoid contact with the food product above the water level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Inventor: David R. Zittel
  • Patent number: 5119721
    Abstract: A washed rice producing apparatus includes a frame; a first tubular member, arranged within the frame, for defining a rice-washing chamber therein for washing polished rice introduced therein from one end thereof, the rice-washing chamber having a discharge end portion; an agitating member, arranged in the first tubular member, for agitating the polished rice in the rice-washing chamber; a spiral member supported on the frame to be rotatable about an axis thereof for transporting washed, polished rice discharged from the discharge end portion of the rice-washing chamber while dewatering the washed polished rice; and a second tubular member provided in the frame to be rotatable about the axis and to externally surround the spiral member for defining a dewatering chamber in cooperation with the spiral member, the second tubular member including a circumferential wall having many penetrating holes formed therethrough for draining off water separated from the washed polished rice transported by the spiral member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: Satake Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Satake, Satoru Satake, Katsuyuki Kumamoto, Shigeru Ariji
  • Patent number: 5050528
    Abstract: A granulating and coating method featuring that a coating liquid and a binder liquid are fed into a rotary drum so as to carry out granulating and coating of a powdery and/or granular material, wherein the coating is performed while a gas is blown out to the rear of the rotating direction of the drum relative to a nozzle unit for feeding the coating liquid of an aqueous type including an emulsion and a suspension into the drum. A granulating and coating apparatus featuring that a nozzle unit for feeding at least one of a coating liquid and a binder liquid into a rotary drum is provided, wherein a gas blow-out portion of a duct is provided near the nozzle unit and the direction of the blow-out is adjustable relative to the nozzle unit. Further the apparatus is provided with a perforated ventilating member over a gas blow-out opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Freund Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuri Yamada, Goro Nagami
  • Patent number: 4856909
    Abstract: Standardized tests of the dissolution rates of pharmacologic dosage units such as salicylic acid tablets, for example, are conducted by placing the dosage unit in a liquid-permeable cylindrical wire basket and rotating the basket in the solvent about two different axes, preferably one vertical axis and one horizontal axis. The apparatus comprises an outer vertical tube to which the basket is mounted off center from the vertical axis of the tube so that it orbits around the vertical axis when the vertical outer tube is rotated; the basket is mounted on a horizontal shaft which can rotate about its horizontal axis. An inner shaft extends vertically through the outer vertical shaft, and bevel gears are provided between the horizontal shaft and the inner vertical shaft so that relative rotation of the upper ends of the inner and outer vertical shafts with respect to each other about their axes causes the basket to rotate about the horizontal shaft axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Rorer Pharmaceutical Corporation
    Inventors: Gunvant N. Mehta, Dennis J. Wertan, Wayne M. Grim
  • Patent number: 4264741
    Abstract: A tiltable fermentor includes a hollow perforated drum rotating within a generally cylindrical jacketed pressure vessel. The drum is cantilever-mounted and supported at one driven end by a shaft for rotation which is indirectly motor driven by means of an adjustable pulley and belt. The other end of the drum has no central bearing but is circumferentially supported by bearing strips affixed to the inner surface of the outer pressure vessel. A hinged headplate on the pressure vessel, swings open to expose the open undriven end of the inner drum, thereby facilitating loading and unloading. The entire fermentor assembly, that is, vessel, drum and drive, is pivotably mounted so that the rotational axis of the drum may be horizontal or tilted about a transverse axis to a 45 degree angle, with the hinged headplate being either up or down. The drum can rotate at any orientation, and the absence of a drum bearing at the undriven end permits rotational operation even when the headplate is swung open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1981
    Assignee: New Brunswick Scientific Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Morton R. Friedman, Thomas E. Stinnett
  • Patent number: 4183292
    Abstract: A system for controlling the moisture content of moisture absorbing fruit products to achieve a uniform moisture content of the product. The continuous flow of raw product in chip, diced, extruded or comminuted form initially enters a rotating reel where the product is tumbled and exposed to a high-humidity environment for increasing the moisture content beyond a target value. The added humidity can be in the form of steam or water spray. The product continuously flows from the reel wherein moisture is added to a drying reel which reduces the moisture content of the product to specific target values. Although the original moisture content of raw fruit product entering the system may vary considerably, contact between product during mixing in the moisture adding and drying reels causes the final product to assume uniform and consistent characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1980
    Assignee: Tree Top, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth A. Banks
  • Patent number: 4154538
    Abstract: A loading and unloading station for the chemical and/or electro-chemical treatment of mass-produced parts contained in a rotatable drum, the rotatable drum having a cover which is displaceable in a direction parallel to its axis in a controlled, pre-determined, angular position by means of a pressure cylinder, to open or close a filling aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1979
    Assignee: Firma Wilhelm Linnhoff oHG
    Inventors: Paul Linnhoff, Eduard Kaluza
  • Patent number: 4141957
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for producing high molecular weight polymers by the two-phase interfacial method comprising bringing two liquid phases containing polymerizable reactants continuously into contact with one another in a predetermined quantitative ratio to one another and passing the resulting mixture through one mixing stage or a plurality of serially connected mixing stages, the mixture being divided into a plurality of partial streams in each mixing stage, and causing the partial streams together with their flow boundaries to move transversely to their main directions of flow at mean speeds higher than 5 meters per second and to pass into a mixing chamber which has at least one outlet duct and in which the kinetic energy of the mixture is reduced from the highest value attained in the mixing to a value which is low in relation to said highest value, the portions of the mixture flowing in the mixing chamber being subjected to flow conditions which substantially vary at least periodically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1979
    Assignee: Isovolta Osterreichische Isolierstoffwerke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Otto Szabolcs, Hans Schuller
  • Patent number: 4081346
    Abstract: An improved barrel-type treating apparatus comprising a framework, a foraminous treating barrel having an elongated opening supported at its ends on the framework, and a drive mechanism including a shaft on the framework having a driven gear at one end drivingly coupled to the barrel, a drive gear at the opposite end coupled to the shaft through a slip clutch and a stop arm on the shaft for engaging an abutment at a treating station to limit oscillating movement of the barrel between an angularity of preferably at least about 180.degree. up to an angularity below that at which workpieces are inadvertently discharged from the barrel opening. The gear on the barrel is preferably provided with coacting means to prevent loss of synchronization between the barrel and drive assembly. A secondary drive assembly is also preferably provided for oscillating the barrel through a controlled angularity while in an elevated position above a treating station to facilitate drainage of treating solution from the workpieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1978
    Assignee: Oxy Metal Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Denis S. Fogo, Roy W. Skaggs, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4051773
    Abstract: A milling roll for use in a rice milling machine for removing the bran coating from the exterior surface of the rice kernels, in which the rice kernels are caused to rub or roll against each other rather than between relatively moving surfaces. The milling roll is generally cylindrical in construction with spaced baffles oriented at particular angular positions so that rice kernels will enter the milling roll between certain of the adjacent baffles from the periphery of the rotating roll toward the center thereof where the rice kernels will be caused to rub against each other as they work in and out and are ultimately discharged between adjacent baffles peripherally of the milling roll for discharge from the rice milling machine through the usual rice outlet or discharge spout past the usual pressure plate control mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1977
    Inventor: Lynn D. Staton