US3680473A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and process of puffing
Assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
•
Filing: 1970-09-30
•
Granted: 1972-08-01
•
Expires: 1990-09-30
Abstract
Abstract Ready-to-eat breakfast cereals are puffed by contact with a bed of heated granular material for a uniform length of time. Unpuffed cereal particles are deposited in an unheated zone and thereafter conveyed through a heated granular material-containing puffing zone whereby the heat from the granular material causes a puffing of the cereal particles. As the cereal particles are being conveyed, the major portion of the granular material is continuously separated therefrom. The remaining portion of granular material is screened out from the puffed flakes during the later phase of the conveying process and is separately conveyed back into the puffing zone. The puffed cereal particles when discharged from the continuous conveying operation are granular material-free and uniformly puffed. The invention also relates to a preferred puffing apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 William T Bedenk
- 👤 Lawrence Grabel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:46
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23P; A23P30/00; A23P30/30; A23P30/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A continuous puffing apparatus comprising an inclined rotary puffing receptacle suitable for containing a granular heat transfer material and having a discharge end and a partially enclosed end opposite the discharge end, heat means for heating the granular material, means for feeding unpuffed cereal particles into the partially enclosed end of the receptacle, a screw conveyor having solid flights and perforated flights mounted in the receptacle and movable therewith for mixing and advancing the heat transfer material and particles toward the discharge end, a separating screen mounted in tapering fashion adjacent the discharge end for separating the granular material from the particles, means mounted on walls of the receptacle beneath the screen for collecting and lifting the granular material, and means mounted in the central portion of the receptacle for receiving the lifted granular material and conveying it back towards the partially enclosed end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A continuous puffing apparatus comprising an inclined rotary puffing receptacle suitable for containing a granular heat transfer material and having a discharge end and a partially enclosed end opposite the discharge end, heat means for heating the granular material, means for feeding unpuffed cereal particles into the partially enclosed end of the receptacle, a screw conveyor having solid flights and perforated flights mounted in the receptacle and movable therewith for mixing and advancing the heat transfer material and particles toward the discharge end, a separating screen mounted in tapering fashion adjacent the discharge end for separating the granular material from the particles, means mounted on walls of the receptacle beneath the screen for collecting and lifting the granular material, and means mounted in the central portion of the receptacle for receiving the lifted granular material and conveying it back towards the partially enclosed end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the solid flights of the screw conveyor are located adjacent the partially enclosed end and form with the partially enclosed end of the cylinder a deposition zone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a vibrator attached to the means mounted in the central portion of the chamber for aiding in the conveyance of the granular material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a temperature indicating device mounted in the means for receiving the lifted granular material and so as to measure the temperature of the granular material being conveyed therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising baffles mounted in the puffing chamber for aiding in the intimate mixing of the cereal particles and granular material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1975-08-01 | 1976-01-31 | 1976-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-01 | 1980-01-31 | 1980-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-01 | 1984-01-31 | 1984-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |