US4473593A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for preparing quick-cooking food products
Assignee: Proctor and Schwartz Ltd
•
Filing: 1982-03-15
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Granted: 1984-09-25
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Expires: 2002-03-15
Abstract
Abstract A process for preparing "quick-cooking" food products which comprises introducing particulate food material selected from the group consisting of rice, cereal, grain, pasta, or mixtures thereof into a fluidized bed; fluidizing said particulate food material utilizing steam as the fluidizing medium until the moisture content of said particulate food material is increased to a first predetermined level; drying said particulate food materials until a second predetermined moisture level is achieved, said second predetermined moisture level being effective to render said food material stable and nonfermenting during subsequent storage.
Inventors
- 👤 Lloyd F. Sturgeon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 23:56
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23B; A23B9/00; A23B9/02; A23B9/025; A23L; A23L7/00; A23L7/10; A23L7/109; A23L7/197; A23L7/1975
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A continuous process for preparing quick-cooking food products which comprises: continuously introducing particulate food material selected from the group consisting of grain, vegetables, pasta, or mixtures thereof into a fluidized bed chamber, fluidizing said particulate food material in said chamber utilizing steam as the fluidizing medium at a predetermined fluidizing velocity, moving said material through said chamber at a controlled rate closely controlling the residence time of the food material in said chamber so that the moisture content of said particulate food material is increased uniformly to a first predetermined level, thereby cooking the food material, continuously removing said material from said chamber, cooling and subsequently drying said particulate food materials until a second predetermined moisture level is achieved, said second predetermined moisture level being effective to render said food material stable and nonfermenting during subsequent storage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A continuous process for preparing quick-cooking food products which comprises: continuously introducing particulate food material selected from the group consisting of grain, vegetables, pasta, or mixtures thereof into a fluidized bed chamber, fluidizing said particulate food material in said chamber utilizing steam as the fluidizing medium at a predetermined fluidizing velocity, moving said material through said chamber at a controlled rate closely controlling the residence time of the food material in said chamber so that the moisture content of said particulate food material is increased uniformly to a first predetermined level, thereby cooking the food material, continuously removing said material from said chamber, cooling and subsequently drying said particulate food materials until a second predetermined moisture level is achieved, said second predetermined moisture level being effective to render said food material stable and nonfermenting during subsequent storage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the particulate food material is advanced through said fluidized bed chamber at a controlled rate by conveyor means to control the residence time of said food material in the bed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said drying occurs in a fluidized bed utilizing air as the fluidizing medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said cooking and said drying occur in zones sealed from each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
10 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said grain is rice.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said particulate food material is pasta.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said particulate food material is combined with water prior to said introducing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 6 wherein said particulate food material is partially precooked prior to said introducing.
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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) | 1987-09-25 | 1988-03-26 | 1988-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-09-25 | 1992-03-26 | 1992-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-09-25 | 1996-03-26 | 1996-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |