US3617030A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mixing equipment for dry vegetables
Assignee: Unilever Bestfoods North America
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Filing: 1969-07-15
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Granted: 1971-11-02
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Expires: 1989-07-15
Abstract
Abstract Covers a method and apparatus for mixing dry vegetables without breakage. The vegetables are placed within a cylindrical drum that is rotatable about a horizontal axis. This drum is closed at both of its ends, and its cylindrical wall is formed with many openings or perforations. A stream of air is passed upwardly through the bore of the drum, as it is rotated. The air enters the drum bore through an exposed lower section of the surface of the drum wall, and discharges through an upper section of the drum wall. The air has a sufficient velocity to fluidize the vegetables. A plurality of mixing blades are mounted on the interior surface of the drum wall, and extend radially inwardly and axially (longitudinally) of the drum. These blades coact with the airstream, upon rotation of the drum, to cause a gentle mixing action. Treating material may be added to the airflow prior to its entry into the mixing drum. The openings in the drum wall permit dust and small broken pieces, that become entrained in the airflow, to be removed from the mixer. Air flowing out of the drum is passed through a cyclone separator to permit settling of entrained material, and the air is then recirculated.
Inventors
- 👤 Pelopida Tironi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:13
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23B; A23B7/00; A23B7/02; A23B7/0215; B; B01; B01J; B01J8/00; B01J8/08; B01J8/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
An apparatus for mixing together relatively fragile particulate material, such as pieces of different dehydrated vegetables, comprising: a foraminous drum that is mounted for rotation about a generally horizontal axis; means for establishing and maintaining within the bore of said drum a fluid-suspended bed of the particulate material; said foraminous drum formed with openings that permit the passAge of suspending fluid therethrough but that retain the particulate material therein in said fluid-suspended bed to permit admixture thereof, and mechanical means mounted to project within the bore of said drum and into said bed, and movable upon rotation of the drum, to transfer successive portions of the bed from one location in the bore of the drum to a remote location therein, thereby to effect mixing of the material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
128 words
An apparatus for mixing together relatively fragile particulate material, such as pieces of different dehydrated vegetables, comprising: a foraminous drum that is mounted for rotation about a generally horizontal axis; means for establishing and maintaining within the bore of said drum a fluid-suspended bed of the particulate material; said foraminous drum formed with openings that permit the passAge of suspending fluid therethrough but that retain the particulate material therein in said fluid-suspended bed to permit admixture thereof, and mechanical means mounted to project within the bore of said drum and into said bed, and movable upon rotation of the drum, to transfer successive portions of the bed from one location in the bore of the drum to a remote location therein, thereby to effect mixing of the material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for establishing and maintaining the fluid-suspended bed comprises: means for delivering a flow of air to a lower section of the surface of the drum for upward flow through the bore of the drum, and means for permitting discharge of the air from an upper section of the surface of the drum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said mechanical means comprises a plurality of blades that are mounted on the interior surface of the drum to extend generally axially of the drum and that project generally radially inwardly of the drum for projection into said bed and that are disposed at angularly spaced locations respectively within the drum, and that are mounted for rotary movement with the drum upon rotation of the drum.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
283 words
An apparatus for mixing together relatively fragile particulate material, such as pieces of several different dehydrated vegetables, comprising: a chamber that is formed with an opening at its lower end and an opening at its upper end; a drum that is mounted within said chamber for rotation about a generally horizontal axis and that is formed with closed ends and with a generally cylindrical wall that is formed with a plurality of perforations that are disposed in a pattern therein; a plurality of bearing means mounted in said chamber and engaging said drum to permit rotation of said drum thereon and to prevent the passage of air about said drum; means for supplying air to the lower opening of said chamber for passage upwardly through the perforations in the portion of the drum wall confronting said opening and through the bore of said drum, to establish and maintain within bore of said drum a fluid-suspended bed of the particulate material, and for discharge through perforations in an upper section of the drum wall, and through the upper opening of the chamber; said drum being formed with perforations of such size and that are disposed in such a pattern as to permit the passage of suspending fluid therethrough but to retain the particulate material therein in said fluid-suspended bed to permit admixture thereof, and at least one blade that is mounted on the interior surface of the drum to project into the bed and to undergo rotary movement with the drum upon rotation of the drum, to transfer successive portions of the bed from one location in the bore of the drum to a remote location therein, thereby to effect mixing of the material.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
283 words
An apparatus for mixing together relatively fragile particulate material, such as pieces of several different dehydrated vegetables, comprising: a chamber that is formed with an opening at its lower end and an opening at its upper end; a drum that is mounted within said chamber for rotation about a generally horizontal axis and that is formed with closed ends and with a generally cylindrical wall that is formed with a plurality of perforations that are disposed in a pattern therein; a plurality of bearing means mounted in said chamber and engaging said drum to permit rotation of said drum thereon and to prevent the passage of air about said drum; means for supplying air to the lower opening of said chamber for passage upwardly through the perforations in the portion of the drum wall confronting said opening and through the bore of said drum, to establish and maintain within bore of said drum a fluid-suspended bed of the particulate material, and for discharge through perforations in an upper section of the drum wall, and through the upper opening of the chamber; said drum being formed with perforations of such size and that are disposed in such a pattern as to permit the passage of suspending fluid therethrough but to retain the particulate material therein in said fluid-suspended bed to permit admixture thereof, and at least one blade that is mounted on the interior surface of the drum to project into the bed and to undergo rotary movement with the drum upon rotation of the drum, to transfer successive portions of the bed from one location in the bore of the drum to a remote location therein, thereby to effect mixing of the material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, including a plurality of blades that are mounted on the interior surface of the drum to extend axially of the drum and to project generally radially inwardly of the drum and into said bed, and that are disposed at angularly spaced locations respectively within the drum, and that are mounted for rotary movement with the drum upon rotation of the drum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein the perforations in the drum are of a size to permit the discharge from the drum, along with the discharged air, of solids of less than a preselected size that are entrained in the airflow.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
129 words
A process for mixing fragile pieces of several different dehydrated vegetables to provide a substantially uniform mixture suitable for packaging in unit serving packages, comprising: placing batches of pieces of the several different dehydrated vegetables in substantially the desired proportions in a confined mixing zone; suspending the pieces in said zone in a fluid to form a fluid-suspended bed of said pieces; mechanically separating succeSsive portions of said bed from a lower region of the bed and transferring them to a remote upper portion of the bed, to effect mixing of the pieces of the different dehydrated vegetable while they remain in said zone and substantially protected against breakage by being suspended in said bed, and recovering a substantially uniform mixture of the dehydrated vegetable pieces from said zone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
129 words
A process for mixing fragile pieces of several different dehydrated vegetables to provide a substantially uniform mixture suitable for packaging in unit serving packages, comprising: placing batches of pieces of the several different dehydrated vegetables in substantially the desired proportions in a confined mixing zone; suspending the pieces in said zone in a fluid to form a fluid-suspended bed of said pieces; mechanically separating succeSsive portions of said bed from a lower region of the bed and transferring them to a remote upper portion of the bed, to effect mixing of the pieces of the different dehydrated vegetable while they remain in said zone and substantially protected against breakage by being suspended in said bed, and recovering a substantially uniform mixture of the dehydrated vegetable pieces from said zone.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-01 | 1975-05-03 | 1975-11-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-01 | 1979-05-03 | 1979-11-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-01 | 1983-05-03 | 1983-11-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |