US3615670A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heated surface agglomeration
Assignee: General Foods Corp
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Filing: 1969-03-27
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Granted: 1971-10-26
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Expires: 1989-03-27
Abstract
Abstract A process for agglomeration wherein particles to be agglomerated are wetted and spread onto a solid surface carrier. The carrier is passed over a heated zone in order to raise the temperature of the particles to their fusion point and dry the fused agglomerates. The particles are then carried over a second zone where the temperature of the particles is reduced rapidly to about room temperature. The agglomeration process of this invention eliminates the need for large drying towers and avoids the necessity of costly product pretreatment required in many conventional agglomeration processes.
Inventors
- 👤 Boleslaw Sienkiewicz
- 👤 William J Meyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 10:09
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23F; A23F5/00; A23F5/24; A23F5/36; A23F5/38; A23P; A23P10/00; A23P10/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the particles are soluble coffee particles and the surface moisture is sufficient to raise the overall moisture content of the particles to form 4 to 8 percent by weight of the dry solids.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the particles are prewetted by steam as they fall past a steam nozzle, contacting the wetted particles with one another in order to form clusters, said clusters being spread out on the solid surface carrier.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the particles are soluble coffee particles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the particles are unground spray dried coffee particles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the solid surface carrier is a continuous belt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 6 wherein heating is accomplished by contacting the lower surface of the belt with a heat exchange fluid.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-25 | 1975-04-26 | 1975-10-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-25 | 1979-04-26 | 1979-10-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-25 | 1983-04-26 | 1983-10-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |