Method for treating whole kernels of feed grain

Claim 2

A process for treating whole kernels of feed grain, comprising the steps of: introducing whole kernels of feed grain into a treating area with said kernels having plasticized hulls enclosing interior portions; contacting said whole kernels of feed grain at said treating area with blunt projections on a first movable element to loosen portions of the hulls from the interior portions of the kernels to cause the hulls to blister; thereafter contacting said kernels that have been blistered by contact with the blunt projections on said first movable element with cutting members on a second movable element to open said blisters to perforate the hulls substantially without shattering the kernels and substantially without removing the hulls; and discharging treated kernels from said treating area.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein said kernels have a low moisture content, which includes, as a first step, moistening the exterior of the kernels prior to loosening the hulls, so as to render portions of the hulls plastic to promote blistering thereof.

Claim 4

The process of claim 1 wherein said kernels have a low moisture content which comprises the step of applying moisture to the interior of the kernels through said perforations.

Claim 5

The process of claim 2 which comprises the step of applying moisture to the interior of the kernels through said perforations.

Claim 6

The process of claim 1 wherein said kernels have a high moisture content, which includes the step of drying the perforated kernels.

Claim 7

The process of claim 5 which includes the step of moistening the exterior of the kernels prior to loosening the hulls, to render portions of the hulls plastic to promote blistering thereof.

Claim 8

The process of claim 3 which includes storing the processed grain in the absence of air.

Claim 9

The process of claim 2 which includes subjecting the moistened kernels to a series of impacts to loosen and blister the hulls thereof.

Claim 10

The process of claim 8 which includes subjecting the kernels having blistered hulls to a series of contacts by said cutting members to open the blisters.

Claim 11

The process of claim 4 wherein said moisture is in the form of water.

Claim 12

The process of claim 10 wherein said water contains an antibiotic substance in solution.

Claim 13

The process of claim 10 wherein the water contains a food supplement in solution.

Claim 14

The process of claim 4 wherein the total amount of moisture added to the kernels is such as to increase the moisture content of the kernels to a percentage in the range of 22% to 40% by weight.

Claim 15

The process of claim 4 wherein the total amount of moisture added to the kernels is such as to increase the moisture content of the kernels to substantially 36% by weight.

Claim 16

The process of claim 13 wherein the amount of moisture applied to the exterior of the kernels is approximately 15% by weight, of the total amount of moisture to be added to the grain and that applied through the perforations is approximately 85% of said total amount.

Claim 17

A process for treating whole kernels of feed grain, said process comprising: providing a treating area; introducing whole kernels of feed grain into said treating area; supplying water to said whole kernels of feed grain introduced into said treating area so that said kernels having water supplied thereto have plasticized hulls enclosing interior portions when in said treating area; contacting said whole kernels of feed grain in said treating area with blunt projections on a first movable element to loosen portions of the hull from the interior portions of the kernels to cause the hulls to blister; thereafter contacting said kernels that have been blistered by contact with the blunt projections on said first movable element with cutting members on a second movable element to open said blisters to thereby perforate the hulls substantially without shattering the kernels and substantially without removing the hulls; applying water to said interior portions of said kernels of feed grain through said perforated blisters therein; and removing said kernels with said perforated hulls from said treating area.

Claim 18

A process for treating whole kernels of feed grain, said process comprising: providing a treating area; introducing whole kernels of feed grain into said treating area; supplying water to said whole kernels of feed grain introduced into said treating area so that said kernels having water supplied thereto have plasticized hulls enclosing interior portions when in said treating area; contacting said whole kernels of feed grain in said treating area with blunt projections on a first movable element to loosen portions of the hull from the interior portions of the kernels to cause the hulls to blister; thereafter contacting said kernels that have been blistered by contact with the blunt projections on said first movable element with cutting members on a second movable element to open said blisters to thereby perforate the hulls substantially without shattering the kernels and substantially without removing the hulls; applying water to said interior portions of said kernels of feed grain through said perforated blisters therein; and removing said kernels with said perforated hulls from said treating area.

Claim 19

The process of claim 16 wherein said portions of the hulls are loosened from the interior portions of the kernels by impacting the kernels with blunt elements.

Claim 20

The process of claim 16 wherein said blisters are opened to perforate the hulls by impacting the kernels with scarifying elements.

Claim 21

The process of claim 16 wherein said kernels are directed within said treating area so that the steps of blistering the hulls and perforating the same are repeatedly carried out in successive steps.

Claim 22

A process for treating whole kernels of feed grain, said process comprising: introducing kernels of feed grain into a treating area; applying water to the exterior of said hulls of kernels within said treating area to plasticize said hulls so that said kernels have plasticized hulls enclosing interior portions when in said treating area; loosening portions of the hulls that have been plasticized from the interior portions by repeatedly impacting said hulls with blunt elements at said treating area to cause blistering of said hulls; perforating said blisters on said hulls by repeatedly impacting said blistered hulls with scarifying elements at said treating area substantially without shattering the hulls and substantially without removing the hulls; supplying water to said interior portions of said kernels of feed grain through said perforated blisters therein, said water supplied to said whole kernels of feed grain and supplied to said interior portions of said kernels of feed grain being supplied from a source that is adjustable with respect to total rate of flow and so that the total weight of water supplied per unit of time is equal to the difference between the total weight of water intended to be contained in the fully treated kernels delivered from the treating area during such unit time and the total weight of water contained in the untreated kernels which are introduced into the treating area during such unit of time; and removing said kernels from said treating area after the hulls have been blistered, the blisters perforated, and water applied.

Claim 23

A process for treating whole kernels of feed grain, said process comprising: introducing kernels of feed grain into a treating area; applying water to the exterior of said hulls of kernels within said treating area to plasticize said hulls so that said kernels have plasticized hulls enclosing interior portions when in said treating area; loosening portions of the hulls that have been plasticized from the interior portions by repeatedly impacting said hulls with blunt elements at said treating area to cause blistering of said hulls; perforating said blisters on said hulls by repeatedly impacting said blistered hulls with scarifying elements at said treating area substantially without shattering the hulls and substantially without removing the hulls; supplying water to said interior portions of said kernels of feed grain through said perforated blisters therein, said water supplied to said whole kernels of feed grain and supplied to said interior portions of said kernels of feed grain being supplied from a source that is adjustable with respect to total rate of flow and so that the total weight of water supplied per unit of time is equal to the difference between the total weight of water intended to be contained in the fully treated kernels delivered from the treating area during such unit time and the total weight of water contained in the untreated kernels which are introduced into the treating area during such unit of time; and removing said kernels from said treating area after the hulls have been blistered, the blisters perforated, and water applied.