Method of incorporating fatty matter into granulated products
US6136353A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 16, 1998 |
| Grant date | Oct 24, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 16, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S426/805
- WIPO fieldFood chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method and apparatus for incorporating fatty matter into granulated feed products such as extrudates, pellets and expander pellets with a fat-supplying liquid. Pellets produced in the extruder or expander of press (4) are dried in a dryer (5) and pass through an intermediate container (10) into a mixer (12). Using a metering pump (18) a predetermined amount of fat-supplying liquid is added to the mixer (12) and spread on the surface of product pieces through the mixing process. After a predetermined period of time a vacuum pump (20) generates a negative pressure in the mixer so as to evacuate the air from capillaries or pores of the product pieces. The negative pressure in the mixer is then relieve through an expansion valve (21) so that the air entering into the mixer and into the pores or capillaries of the product pieces transports the fat-supplying liquid on the surface of the product pieces as well as additional fat-supplying liquid into the pores and capillaries, thereby filling them to the extend that a high proportion of approximately 30% fat-supplying liquid is incorporated in the pores of capillaries of the product pieces.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.