Process and apparatus for treating sucrose bearing materials

Claim 2

A process as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of mechanically working the material includes shredding the material within a hammermill-type shredder.

Claim 3

A process as defined in claim 3 including the step of pressing the material prior to said shredding for removing a portion of the juice from the material so that the maceration liquid effectively penetrates the ruptured cells.

Claim 4

A process as defined in claim 1 including the step of collecting the worked material within a bin having means for retaining said maceration liquid for steeping the material, and conveying a uniform bed of material from said bin to said press.

Claim 5

A process as defined in claim 5 including the step of introducing hot fluid into the material within said bin for heating the material, and directing at least a portion of the juice from said press into said bed of material fed into said press to assure saturation of the ruptured cells with maceration liquid.

Claim 6

An improved process for treating sucrose bearing cellular fibrous material such as raw sugar cane or sugar cane bagasse to remove a high percentage of juice therefrom, comprising the steps of mechanically working the material with a shredder to rupture cells in the material, pressing the material within a mechanical press including a pressing surface having a substantial number of drainage openings to provide for immediate release of the juice as the material is pressed, and introducing maceration liquid into the material causing the liquid to be present within said shredder immediately when the cells are ruptured to provide quick penetration of the maceration liquid into the cells.

Claim 7

The process as defined in claim 1 wherein the saturated material fed into said press includes maceration liquid substantially in excess of thirty percent of the fibrous material by weight.

Claim 8

An improved process for treating sucrose beAring cellular fibrous material such as raw sugar cane or sugar cane bagasse to remove a high percentage of juice therefrom, comprising the steps of mechanically working the material to rupture the cells of the material, feeding the worked material onto an endless conveyor before the material is pressed, forming the material on said conveyor into a bed of generally uniform thickness, conveying the bed of material to a mechanical press including a pressing surface having a substantial number of drainage openings, directing a flow of maceration liquid through the bed of material on said conveyor to effect penetration of the maceration liquid into the ruptured cells and substantial saturation of the material, pressing the saturated material within the press for releasing juice combined with maceration liquid immediately as the material is compressed, and recirculating at least a portion of the juice extracted by said press directly back and through the bed of material on said conveyor and received by said press.

Claim 9

A process as defined in claim 9 wherein the step of mechanically working the material comprises shredding the material, and including the step of introducing maceration liquid into the material causing the liquid to be present within said shredder when the cells are ruptured to effect quick penetration of the liquid into the cells.

Claim 10

A process as defined in claim 9 including the step of collecting the worked material within a bin before forming said bed of material, and steeping the material with heated maceration liquid within said bin.

Claim 11

A process as defined in claim 9 including the step of directing the bed of material upwardly with said conveyor as the material is being conveyed to said press, and directing a second flow of maceration liquid downwardly through the bed at an elevation above the first flow of maceration liquid.

Claim 12

A process as defined in claim 9 including the step of forming the material discharged from said press into a bed of substantially uniform thickness, conveying the bed of material to a second said press, and substantially saturating the bed of material being conveyed to the second said press by directing a flow of maceration liquid comprising recirculated juice from said second press through said bed of material.

Claim 13

A process as defined in claim 9 including the step of directing a second flow of maceration liquid through said bed after substantially saturating the material with the first said flow displacing maceration liquid having a higher concentration of juice prior to pressing the material.

Claim 14

A process as defined in claim 13 including the step of directing a second flow of maceration liquid comprising fresh water through said bed of material conveyed to said second press for displacing said recirculated juice prior to pressing the material within said second press.

Claim 15

A process as defined in claim 13 including the steps of collecting the excess maceration liquid which filters through said bed conveyed to said second press, directing said excess liquid through the bed conveyed to said first press after said bed is saturated, and collecting the excess maceration liquid which filters through said bed conveyed to said first press from the first said flow of maceration liquid to provide for removing sucrose from the liquid having the highest concentration of juice while also providing for substantially saturating the material conveyed to each said press.