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US3979375A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Fractionation of the whole wheat kernel by pin milling

Assignee: FARMLAND AGRI-SERVICES Inc A CORP OF Co
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Filing: 1974-05-07
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Granted: 1976-09-07
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Expires: 1994-05-07
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Abstract

Abstract A process for fractionating the whole wheat kernel into its bran, germ and endosperm components includes the steps of tempering the wheat kernel in water, pin milling the wheat kernel, sifting the milled kernal to separate the germ and bran components from the endosperm, hydrating and agitating the endosperm to just saturate it and to form a thick, dough-like mass and mechanically working, by kneading, cutting and stretching, the dough-like mass while continuously washing it with water to separate the non-gluten endosperm components from the gluten. The bran and germ components can be separated from each other by conventional gravity table techniques.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ganta V. Rao
  • 👤 Wayne E. Henry
  • 👤 David L. Hammond

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 22:55
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23J; A23J1/00; A23J1/12; B; B02; B02B; B02B1/00; B02B1/08; B02C; B02C9/00; B02C9/04; C; C08; C08B; C08B30/00; C08B30/04; C08B30/042; C08B30/046

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 143 words
A process for fractionating the whole wheat kernel into its components comprising the steps of: a. tempering whole wheat kernels in water to a moisture content, by weight, in the range from 14 to 22%; b. pin milling the tempered whole wheat kernels into bran, germ and endosperm particles, said bran and germ particles being larger than said endosperm particles; c. separating the bran and germ particles from the endosperm particles; d. hydrating said separated endosperm particles in an additional quantity of water ranging from 65 to 75% by weight of said endosperm particles to be hydrated and in an amount just sufficient to achieve a saturation moisture content and agitating the endosperm particles and water to form a thick, dough-like mass; and e. mechanically working the dough-like mass in the presence of water to wash the non-gluten endosperm components for the gluten.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 143 words
A process for fractionating the whole wheat kernel into its components comprising the steps of: a. tempering whole wheat kernels in water to a moisture content, by weight, in the range from 14 to 22%; b. pin milling the tempered whole wheat kernels into bran, germ and endosperm particles, said bran and germ particles being larger than said endosperm particles; c. separating the bran and germ particles from the endosperm particles; d. hydrating said separated endosperm particles in an additional quantity of water ranging from 65 to 75% by weight of said endosperm particles to be hydrated and in an amount just sufficient to achieve a saturation moisture content and agitating the endosperm particles and water to form a thick, dough-like mass; and e. mechanically working the dough-like mass in the presence of water to wash the non-gluten endosperm components for the gluten.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
A process, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wheat kernels are tempered to a moisture content of from 14 to 18% by weight.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
A process, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said wheat kernels are tempered to a moisture content of from 15 to 17% by weight.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
A process, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mechanical working is accomplished by kneading, stretching and cutting said mass.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 37 words
A process, as claimed in claim 4, wherein said mechanical working is accomplished in two distinct steps, the first step comprising kneading said dough-like mass and the second step comprising continuously cutting and stretching said dough-like mass.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
A process, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dough-like mass is subjected to a continuous flow of water during mechanical working.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
A process, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said non-gluten endosperm components are retained in the wash water and are separated from the gluten by filtration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 16 words
A process, as claimed in claim 7, wherein said non-gluten endosperm components consist essentially of starch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 23 words
A process, as claimed in claim 1, including the additional step of drying the gluten after separation thereof from the non-gluten endosperm components.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 20 words
A process, as claimed in claim 1, including the additional step of separating said germ particles from said bran particles.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 21 words
A process, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bran and germ particles are separated from said endosperm particles by sifting.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 23 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said non-gluten endosperm components in the wash water are continuously transferred away from said gluten.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 174 words
A process for fractionating the whole wheat kernel into its bran, germ and endosperm components comprising the steps of: a. tempering whole wheat kernels in water at a temperature from 70°-90°F., to a moisture content, by weight, in the range from 14 to 22%; b. pin milling the tempered whole wheat kernels to particulate form, the resulting bran and germ particles being larger than the resulting endosperm particles; c. sifting said particles to separate the bran and germ particles from the endosperm particles; d. hydrating said separated endosperm particles in a quantity of water ranging from 65 to 75% by weight of the particles to be hydrated and in an amount just sufficient to achieve a saturation moisture content and agitating the particles and water to hydrate the endosperm and to form a thick, dough-like mass; and e. mechanically manipulating said mass while washing said mass with water at a temperature in the range 60°-90°F. to separate the non-gluten endosperm components from the gluten and continuously leading said wash water away from said gluten.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 174 words
A process for fractionating the whole wheat kernel into its bran, germ and endosperm components comprising the steps of: a. tempering whole wheat kernels in water at a temperature from 70°-90°F., to a moisture content, by weight, in the range from 14 to 22%; b. pin milling the tempered whole wheat kernels to particulate form, the resulting bran and germ particles being larger than the resulting endosperm particles; c. sifting said particles to separate the bran and germ particles from the endosperm particles; d. hydrating said separated endosperm particles in a quantity of water ranging from 65 to 75% by weight of the particles to be hydrated and in an amount just sufficient to achieve a saturation moisture content and agitating the particles and water to hydrate the endosperm and to form a thick, dough-like mass; and e. mechanically manipulating said mass while washing said mass with water at a temperature in the range 60°-90°F. to separate the non-gluten endosperm components from the gluten and continuously leading said wash water away from said gluten.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 19 words
A process, as claimed in claim 13, wherein said mechanical manipulating comprises kneading, cutting and stretching said dough-like mass.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 20 words
A process, as claimed in claim 13, including the additional step of separating said germ particles from said bran particles.

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) 1979-09-07 1980-03-08 1980-09-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1983-09-07 1984-03-08 1984-09-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1987-09-07 1988-03-08 1988-09-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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