US3886856A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Continuous cooker
Assignee: Nestle Purina PetCare Co
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Filing: 1973-02-16
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Granted: 1975-06-03
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Expires: 1993-02-16
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for continuously cooking food materials and particularly grain under pressure is disclosed. The apparatus utilizes a conveyor belt having a plurality of conveying members thereon, and a pair of restriction members are provided about the conveyor to establish fluid pressure seals with the conveying members at predetermined locations on the path of travel of the conveyor. A grain cooker is connected to the conveyor intermediate or between the restriction members so that grain may be brought to the cooker by the conveying members and discharged from the cooker by the conveying members without loss of pressure from the cooker. Food or raw grain materials are metered to the conveyor which forms conveying compartments for the materials between the plurality of conveying members. The materials such as raw grains are then conveyed through one of the restriction members and discharged into the cooker which for grain operates at a temperature of about 240* - 300* F. and in a pressure range of about 10 - 50 psig while the moisture is maintained in the range of 25 - 40%. Other operating parameters may be utilized for cooking materials other than raw grains. The materials are then received in the compartments formed by the conveying members, passed through the second restriction member and discharged from the conveyor in a cooked condition without loss of pressure in the cooker.
Inventors
- 👤 George W Paugh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 05:23
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23B; A23B2/00; A23B2/40; A23B2/42; A23B2/46; A23B2/465; A23B2/425; A23L; A23L7/00; A23L7/10; A23L7/197; A23L7/1975
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
Apparatus for continuously cooking foods under pressure comprising a frame, a driven endless conveyor on said frame, said endless conveyor having a plurality of conveying members thereon, a food inlet and outlet portion on said conveyor, a pair of restriction means about said conveyor between said inlet and outlet, cooking means connected to said frame and having an inlet and an outlet connected to said endless conveyor between said restrictor means, said cooking means including conveying means for moving the food from the inlet to the outlet thereof as the food is cooked under pressure and each restriction means including means for forming a fluid pressure seal with said conveying members as they are moved therethrough to maintain a predetermined pressure within said cooking means as the food is supplied to and discharged therefrom.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
Apparatus for continuously cooking foods under pressure comprising a frame, a driven endless conveyor on said frame, said endless conveyor having a plurality of conveying members thereon, a food inlet and outlet portion on said conveyor, a pair of restriction means about said conveyor between said inlet and outlet, cooking means connected to said frame and having an inlet and an outlet connected to said endless conveyor between said restrictor means, said cooking means including conveying means for moving the food from the inlet to the outlet thereof as the food is cooked under pressure and each restriction means including means for forming a fluid pressure seal with said conveying members as they are moved therethrough to maintain a predetermined pressure within said cooking means as the food is supplied to and discharged therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 including a conveyor housing extending between said restriction means and surrounding said endless conveyor to prevent the loss of pressure from about said conveyor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said restriction means comprises a housing through which said endless conveyor passes, and forms a fluid pressure sealing engagement with the conveying members on said endless conveyor as they are passed therethrough.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the cooking means comprises a housing on said frame having an inlet and outlet connected to said endless conveyor, a rotatable shaft axially aligned within said housing, said shaft having a plurality of openings thereiN adapted to permit the injection of steam therefrom into the housing, and a plurality of angled paddles on said shaft adapted to move the food from the inlet to the outlet as it is cooked.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the endless conveyor comprises a conveyor housing extending from the food inlet to the food outlet, said conveying members comprising a plurality of disc members which pass in close proximity to said conveyor housing to form compartments therebetween for receiving the food and said disc members being engaged by said restriction means to form the fluid pressure seal therebetween.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
190 words
The apparatus for continuously cooking grain under pressure comprising a frame, an endless conveyor on said frame, said endless conveyor having a plurality of conveying members thereon, a grain inlet on said frame for supplying grain to said endless conveyor, restrictor means on said frame about said endless conveyor for forming a fluid pressure seal with said conveying members, cooking means on said frame having an inlet and an outlet, said endless conveyor being adapted to deliver the grain to the inlet of said cooking means after the passage through said restrictor means, said cooking means including means for transporting the grain from the inlet to the outlet as the grain is cooked under pressure, the outlet of said cooking means connecting with a portion of said endless conveyor, other restrictor means on said frame about said endless conveyor for forming a fluid pressure seal with said conveying means after receipt of the cooked grain by said endless conveyor, the fluid pressure seals being effective to maintain a predetermined pressure in said cooking means as the grain is delivered to and removed therefrom and a grain discharge on said frame.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
190 words
The apparatus for continuously cooking grain under pressure comprising a frame, an endless conveyor on said frame, said endless conveyor having a plurality of conveying members thereon, a grain inlet on said frame for supplying grain to said endless conveyor, restrictor means on said frame about said endless conveyor for forming a fluid pressure seal with said conveying members, cooking means on said frame having an inlet and an outlet, said endless conveyor being adapted to deliver the grain to the inlet of said cooking means after the passage through said restrictor means, said cooking means including means for transporting the grain from the inlet to the outlet as the grain is cooked under pressure, the outlet of said cooking means connecting with a portion of said endless conveyor, other restrictor means on said frame about said endless conveyor for forming a fluid pressure seal with said conveying means after receipt of the cooked grain by said endless conveyor, the fluid pressure seals being effective to maintain a predetermined pressure in said cooking means as the grain is delivered to and removed therefrom and a grain discharge on said frame.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said endless conveyor comprises a conveyor housing on said frame extending from said grain inlet to said grain discharge, said conveying members comprising a plurality of disc members on said endless conveyor which pass in close proximity to said conveyor housing to form therebetween and with said housing a plurality of conveying compartments.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said first named and other restrictor means comprises a housing through which said endless conveyor passes, and forms a fluid pressure sealing engagement with said disc members as they are passed therethrough.
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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) | 1978-06-02 | 1978-12-02 | 1979-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-02 | 1982-12-02 | 1983-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-02 | 1986-12-02 | 1987-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |