Method for producing agglomerated powders and apparatus for performing the method

Claim 3

A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the disc is axially symmetric.

Claim 4

A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the raw materials are uniformly distributed across the cross section of the moistening zone.

Claim 5

A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein preheated water is used as the aqueous moistening agent.

Claim 6

A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein water having a solid matter content of the same material as the raw materials is used as the moistening agent.

Claim 7

A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein: i. the raw materials are powdered coffee and ii. an aqueous coffee extract is used as the moistening agent.

Claim 8

A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein an aqueous coffee extract having a solid matter content of 10-50% is used.

Claim 9

A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the aqueous moistening agent is supplied in such a quantity that the raw materials are moistened to a moisture content of 6-12% by weight.

Claim 10

A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the moistening agent is supplied in such a quantity that the raw materials are moistened to a moisture content of 6.5-10% by weight.

Claim 11

A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the disc is rotated at 200-3000 rpm.

Claim 12

A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the disc is rotated at 600-1300 rpm.

Claim 13

A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the raw materials are dropped on the disc at a rate of 0.2-5.3 kg/m 2 sec.

Claim 14

A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the raw materials are dropped on the disc at a rate of 0.4-2.4 kg/m 2 sec.

Claim 15

Apparatus for producing agglomerated hygroscopic soluble powder products of coffee or coffee substitutes from a powder of the raw materials, said apparatus comprising: a. a chamber; b. means defining an inlet for the raw materials located in said chamber; c. means for moistening the raw materials i. with an aqueous moistening agent ii. as they drop into said chamber from said inlet iii. by an amount sufficient to cause agglomeration of the raw materials; d. a disc i. located vertically below said inlet by a distance sufficient to permit moistening of the raw materials as they fall in an unobstructed movement from said inlet ii. shaped so that the motion of the raw materials as they are thrown off the disc by centrifugal force is unobstructed; e. means for rotating said disc with sufficient speed to cause the moistened raw materials to be thrown off said disc by centrifugal force; and f. means for causing the raw materials to have a uniform distribution across the cross-section of the moistening zone.

Claim 16

Apparatus for producing agglomerated hygroscopic soluble powder products of coffee or coffee substitutes from a powder of the raw materials, said apparatus comprising: a. a chamber; b. means defining an inlet for the raw materials located in said chamber; c. means for moistening the raw materials i. with an aqueous moistening agent ii. as they drop into said chamber from said inlet iii. by an amount sufficient to cause agglomeration of the raw materials; d. a disc i. located vertically below said inlet by a distance sufficient to permit moistening of the raw materials as they fall in an unobstructed movement from said inlet ii. shaped so that the motion of the raw materials as they are thrown off the disc by centrifugal force is unobstructed; e. means for rotating said disc with sufficient speed to cause the moistened raw materials to be thrown off said disc by centrifugal force; and f. means for causing the raw materials to have a uniform distribution across the cross-section of the moistening zone.

Claim 17

An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said means for moistening the raw materials is a multi-fluid nozzle with an inlet duct for an aqueous moistening agent and an inlet duct for an atomizing agent such as air or vapour or a mixture thereof.

Claim 18

An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said means defining an inlet and said disc are axially symmetric.

Claim 19

An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the diameter of said disc is 1 to 10 times the diameter of said means defining an inlet.

Claim 20

An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein the diameter of said disc is 3 to 5 times the diameter of said means defining an inlet.

Claim 21

An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein the distance from said means defining an inlet to said disc is 1 to 10 times the diameter of said means defining an inlet.

Claim 22

An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein the distance from said means defining an inlet to said disc is 4 to 7 times the diameter of said means defining an inlet.

Claim 23

An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, a. further comprising a tube i. for the introduction of raw materials into said chamber ii. operatively connected to said means defining an inlet and b. wherein said means for moistening the raw materials is a nozzle mounted at a distance inside said tube such that the atomizing cone of the nozzle clears the rim of said tube.

Claim 24

An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said disc is planar.

Claim 25

An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said disc has a slightly conical shape with the point facing said means defining an inlet.

Claim 26

An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said disc is provided with a coating of polytetrafluorethylene.

Claim 27

Apparatus for producing agglomerated hygroscopic soluble powder products of coffee or coffee substitutes from a powder of the raw materials, said apparatus comprising: a. a chamber; b. means defining an inlet for the raw materials located in said chamber; c. means for moistening the raw materials i. with an aqueous moistening agent ii. as they drop into said chamber from said inlet iii. by an amount sufficient to cause agglomeration of the raw materials; d. a disc i. located vertically below said inlet by a distance sufficient to permit moistening of the raw materials as they fall in an unobstructed movement from said inlet ii. shaped so that the motion of the raw materials as they are thrown off the disc by centrifugal force is unobstructed; e. means for rotating said disc with sufficient speed to cause the moistened raw materials to be thrown off said disc by centrifugal force; and f. means for adjusting the distance between said disc and said means defining an inlet.

Claim 28

Apparatus for producing agglomerated hygroscopic soluble powder products of coffee or coffee substitutes from a powder of the raw materials, said apparatus comprising: a. a chamber; b. means defining an inlet for the raw materials located in said chamber; c. means for moistening the raw materials i. with an aqueous moistening agent ii. as they drop into said chamber from said inlet iii. by an amount sufficient to cause agglomeration of the raw materials; d. a disc i. located vertically below said inlet by a distance sufficient to permit moistening of the raw materials as they fall in an unobstructed movement from said inlet ii. shaped so that the motion of the raw materials as they are thrown off the disc by centrifugal force is unobstructed; e. means for rotating said disc with sufficient speed to cause the moistened raw materials to be thrown off said disc by centrifugal force; and f. means for adjusting the distance between said disc and said means defining an inlet.

Claim 29

Apparatus for producing agglomerated hygroscopic soluble powder products of coffee or coffee substitutes from a powder of the raw materials, said apparatus comprising: a. a chamber; b. means defining an inlet for the raw materials located in said chamber; c. means for moistening the raw materials i. with an aqueous moistening agent ii. as they drop into said chamber from said inlet iii. by an amount sufficient to cause agglomeration of the raw materials; d. a disc i. located vertically below said inlet by a distance sufficient to permit moistening of the raw materials as they fall in an unobstructed movement from said inlet ii. shaped so that the motion of the raw materials as they are thrown off the disc by centrifugal force is unobstructed; e. means for rotating said disc with sufficient speed to cause the moistened raw materials to be thrown off said disc by centrifugal force; and f. means for introducing a drying gas into said chamber.

Claim 30

Apparatus for producing agglomerated hygroscopic soluble powder products of coffee or coffee substitutes from a powder of the raw materials, said apparatus comprising: a. a chamber; b. means defining an inlet for the raw materials located in said chamber; c. means for moistening the raw materials i. with an aqueous moistening agent ii. as they drop into said chamber from said inlet iii. by an amount sufficient to cause agglomeration of the raw materials; d. a disc i. located vertically below said inlet by a distance sufficient to permit moistening of the raw materials as they fall in an unobstructed movement from said inlet ii. shaped so that the motion of the raw materials as they are thrown off the disc by centrifugal force is unobstructed; e. means for rotating said disc with sufficient speed to cause the moistened raw materials to be thrown off said disc by centrifugal force; and f. means for introducing a drying gas into said chamber.