Method of and apparatus for processing garlic

Claim 2

Apparatus for processing garlic from which the epidermis has been removed leaving whole uncut garlic cloves for obtaining the solid and volatile components thereof, comprising a cylindrical closed container, a tubular shaped perforated wall means disposed coaxially within and spaced inwardly from said container forming an annular space therebetween for holding the garlic to be processed and a central space defined within said wall means into which the volatile components of the garlic flow from said annular space, heating means located exteriorly of and adjacent the surface of said container for supplying heat thereto for indirectly heating the garlic within said annular space in said container, means for rotating said container about the central axis of said annular space for attaining uniform heating of the garlic in said annular space, duct means in communication with the central space in said container for removing the volatile components of the garlic therefrom, a vacuum pump connected to said duct means at a position spaced from said container for establishing a vacuum within said container and duct means for assisting in the removal of the volatile components from said central space, a condenser located in said duct means and disposed in communication with said vacuum pump for receiving and condensing the volatile components from said central space, means positioned in advance of said condenser for filtering the volatile components removed from said central space, and a vessel in communication with said vacuum pump and arranged to receive the condensed volatile components from said condenser and to separate the condensed volatile components into a gaseous fraction and a liquid fraction.

Claim 3

Apparatus for processing garlic, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said Vessel having a liquid outlet and a gaseous outlet, a dust collector in communication with said vacuum pump is connected to the gaseous outlet from said vessel for receiving the gaseous fraction of the volatile components of garlic for removing dust from the gaseous fraction.

Claim 4

Apparatus for processing garlic, as set forth in claim 3, wherein a hollow rotating shaft is secured to said container in alignment with the central axis of said annular space, said shaft is disposed in communication with the central space within said container and with said duct means for withdrawing the volatile components from the central space and delivering them into said duct means, an electric motor operatively arranged to rotate said hollow shaft, and a filter disposed across the end of said hollow shaft communicating with the central space in said container for filtering the volatile component of the garlic as they are withdrawn from the container.