# US 2021/0329950 A1 · Method and device for processing flour

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- Number: US 2021/0329950 A1
- Document ID: US20210329950A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/286,832
- Filed: 2019-12-19
- Published: 2021-10-28
- Earliest claimed: 2018-12-28
- Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
- Applicants: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
- Inventors: Xiaoyun KUI; Ming LI; Guangming SU
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210329950A1

## CPC

- A23L 5/13: {using water or steam}
- A23L 7/10: Cereal-derived products
- A21D 8/025: {Treating dough with gases}
- A23L 7/109: Types of pasta, e.g. macaroni or noodles
- A47J 27/04: for cooking food in steam; Devices for extracting fruit juice by means of steam {; Vacuum cooking vessels (steam-heated vessels for hotels, restaurants or canteens A47J27/16)}
- A47J 2027/043: {for cooking food in steam}
- A23L: FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF (preservation thereof A23B)
- A21D: TREATMENT OF FLOUR OR DOUGH FOR BAKING, e.g. BY ADDITION OF MATERIALS; BAKING; BAKERY PRODUCTS (preservation of flour or dough before baking A23B40/00; preservation of bakery products A23B45/00)
- A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES

## Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method and a device for processing flour. The method comprises: adding water to the flour to increase the moisture rate of the flour; generating superheated steam; and subjecting the moistened flour to the superheated steam for a predetermined period of time. With the inventive method, superheated steam is used for processing the flour, and the flour can be treated in an easy way and in much less time.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for processing flour, comprising:
adding water to the flour to increase a moisture rate of the flour;
generating superheated steam; and
maintaining the moistened flour in the superheated steam for a predetermined period of time.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the added water is in gaseous form.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, wherein the temperature of the added water is lower than the gelatinization temperature of the flour, and a difference between the temperature of the added water and the gelatinization temperature of the flour is below a threshold value.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the moisture rate of the flour after adding water is in the range of 15˜35%, such as in the range of 25˜30%.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of the superheated steam is within a range of 120° C.˜170° C., such as in the range of 130° C.˜160° C., and more particularly about 140° C.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the length of the period of time is within a range of 5˜20 minutes.

### Claim 7

A device for processing flour, comprising:
a container for holding the flour,
a cover for the container, and
a superheated steam generator coupled with the container for generating superheated steam,
wherein the superheated steam generator is configured to provide the container with the superheated steam for a predetermined period of time when the device is in operation.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The device according to claim 7, further comprising a water-adding device coupled with the container to provide water to the container so as to moisten the flour.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The device according to claim 8, wherein the water-adding device comprises a water nozzle, which is configured to spray water toward the flour, or an evaporator which is configured to provide water in gaseous form to the container.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The device according to claim 8, further comprising a temperature-control device configured to control the temperature of the water added to the container to be below the gelatinization temperature of the flour.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The device according to claim 7, further comprising a weighing meter configured to control the amount of water provided to the container and/or a timer to control the time duration of the water-adding step.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The device according to claim 7, wherein the container comprises a stirrer configured to stir the flour.

### Claim 13 (depends on 7)

The device according to claim 7, wherein the superheated steam generator comprises a heater attached to or near the container and configured to heat water in gaseous form.

### Claim 14 (depends on 7)

The device according to claim 7, further comprising a temperature sensor to sense the temperature of the superheated steam and a controller to keep the temperature of the superheated steam to be within a range of 120° C.˜170° C., such as in the range of 130° C.˜160° C., and more particularly about 140° C., based on a signal from the temperature sensor.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

A flour processing apparatus, comprising a device for processing flour, and at least one processor configured to perform the method according to claim 1.