# US 11,432,564 B2 · Progressive hydration system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,432,564 B2 - Document ID: US11432564B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/518,568 - Filed: 2021-11-03 - Published: 2022-06-23 - Granted: 2022-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2020-12-23 - Assignees: Seattle Food Tech, Inc. - Applicants: Seattle Food Tech, Inc. - Inventors: Christie Lagally; Julia O'Donnell; Chloe Grubb - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11432564B2 ## CPC - A23J 3/227: {Meat-like textured foods (meat extenders A23L13/00)} - A23J 3/26: using extrusion or expansion - A23J 3/14: Vegetable proteins - A23L 27/88: {Taste or flavour enhancing agents} - A23L 29/212: Starch; Modified starch; Starch derivatives, e.g. esters or ethers (containing starch hydrolysates, e.g. dextrin, A23L29/30) - B01F 23/511: {characterised by the composition of the liquids or solids} - B01F 23/53: using driven stirrers - B01F 23/59: {Mixing systems, i.e. flow charts or diagrams} - B01F 27/112: with arms, paddles, vanes or blades - B01F 27/17: Stirrers with additional elements mounted on the stirrer, for purposes other than mixing - B01F 27/50: Pipe mixers, i.e. mixers wherein the materials to be mixed flow continuously through pipes, e.g. column mixers - B01F 27/62: {comprising liquid feeding, e.g. spraying means} - B01F 27/70: with paddles, blades or arms - B01F 31/445: performing an oscillatory movement about an axis - B01F 35/92: for heating the outside of the receptacle, e.g. heated jackets or burners - A23V 2002/00: Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs - B01F 23/565: {by introducing liquids in solid material, e.g. to obtain slurries} - B01F 2035/98: {Cooling} - B01F 2101/06: Mixing of food ingredients - A23J: PROTEIN COMPOSITIONS FOR FOODSTUFFS; WORKING-UP PROTEINS FOR FOODSTUFFS; PHOSPHATIDE COMPOSITIONS FOR FOODSTUFFS - A23L: FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF (preservation thereof A23B) - B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06) - A23V: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND LACTIC OR PROPIONIC ACID BACTERIA USED IN FOODSTUFFS OR FOOD PREPARATION ## Abstract Systems and methods describe continuously and progressively hydrating material, such as food material for meat analogue products. First, material is provided to be conveyed through a material passage between an exterior tube and a rotating inner shaft, with the rotating inner shaft including one or more agitation and/or progression features. The progression features could be, e.g., a series of imbricated protruding filled paddles arranged in a helical pattern, while the agitation features could take the form of, e.g., unfilled hoops, hooks, or paddles. Concurrent to conveying and hydrating the material through the material passage, a number of lumps, clumps, and/or unhydrated pieces of the material are broken up via one or more agitation features configured to produce uniform hydration and consistent dispersal of the material. Also concurrently or subsequently, water is continuously and/or progressively provided to the material to produce hydrated material particles. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for continuously and progressively hydrating and dispensing material, the method comprising: providing material to be conveyed through a material passage between an exterior tube and a rotating inner shaft, wherein the inner shaft includes a plurality of differently shaped protrusions extending therefrom, the plurality of differently shaped protrusions including at least one hook; conveying the material through the material passage, wherein the conveying is at least partially facilitated by at least a portion of the plurality of differently shaped protrusions; concurrent to conveying the material through the material passage, continuously and/or progressively providing water to the material to produce a plurality of hydrated material particles; and concurrent to conveying the material through the material passage, breaking up a plurality of lumps, clumps, and/or unhydrated pieces of the material via at least a portion of the plurality of differently shaped protrusions that are configured to agitate the material to produce uniform hydration and consistent dispersal of the material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the material is precisely expelled from the material passage after the conveying and hydrating of the material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein continuously and/or progressively providing water to the material particles comprises hydrating newly exposed surface areas of the material particles due to the agitation of the material or rotation during conveyance. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of differently shaped protrusions include one or more unfilled hoops, hooks, and paddles. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of differently shaped protrusions further include one or more filled paddles. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more filled paddles are arranged in a helical pattern. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more filled paddles protrude from the inner shaft in an imbricated fashion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the material is one or more of: textured vegetable protein (TVP), starch, mushroom protein, and/or powdered plant-based protein. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the exterior tube comprises one or more inlets, and wherein the water is provided in metered fashion via the one or more inlets. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the water is provided in metered fashion based on predefined absorption and hydration curves. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the material is provided via at least one of the inlets. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the material comprises seasoning, powdered flavor particles, or both. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein one or more components are insulated and/or provided with a jacket chiller system, such that the material is chilled as the material is conveyed through the material passage. ### Claim 14 An apparatus configured to continuously and/or progressively hydrate material, the apparatus comprising: a material passage configured to convey material between an exterior tube and a rotating and/or oscillating inner shaft, wherein the inner shaft includes a plurality of differently shaped protrusions extending therefrom, the plurality of differently shaped protrusions including at least one hook; and one or more inlets configured to accept the material in continuous or buffered doses, and configured to accept water continuously and/or progressively to hydrate the material to produce a plurality of hydrated material particles while the material is concurrently agitated via at least a portion of the plurality of differently shaped protrusions to break up a plurality of lumps, clumps, and/or unhydrated pieces of the material to produce uniform hydration and consistent dispersal of the material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising one or more hydrating sections which provide the water continuously and/or progressively. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the water is provided in metered amounts or with a metered continuous flow rate to hydrate the material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the inner shaft is configured to rotate at a predefined or adjustable speed profile to provide just-in-time hydration of the material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the inner shaft is configured for intermittent pulse rotation and/or oscillatory rotation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the rotation of the shaft corresponds to one or more of: the rate of hydration of the material, and the rate of progression of the material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the plurality of differently shaped protrusions include one or more unfilled hoops, hooks, and paddles.