US 3,945,148 A · Method and apparatus for growing bean sprouts

Abstract

A method of growing high quality bean sprouts on a mass production basis which consists briefly of placing a relatively large quantity of mung beans in a container, leveling and covering the quantity of beans with a substantially opaque receptacle cover for temporarily holding a quantity of water, the cover being formed with openings for the immediate distributed passage of water therethrough, initially covering the quantity of germinated beans with warm water and immediately draining the water from the container and thereafter periodically wetting said sprouts, draining off all water in the container, injecting warm air at a low pressure in a reverse direction to the drainage flow, and repeating the watering, drainage, and presurizing steps at intervals until the bean sprouts have matured. The apparatus consists briefly of a container having vertical side walls, bottom walls sloping at a slight angle to a central drain and a screen covering the drain area. A substantially opaque receptacle cover with perforations to permit the even distribution of water to the container is slideably mounted within the container to rise as the sprouts develop and fill the container. A pressure pump and an optional vacuum pump are connected to the container through the water drain.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method of growing germinated bean sprouts comprising the steps of:

a. placing a quantity of germinated beans to a uniform depth in a container having substantially vertical side walls, an open top, a drain opening in the bottom wall and the bottom wall having a gently sloping floor in the direction of the drain;
b. placing over said beans a substantially opaque relatively rigid cover having a plurality of openings adapted for admitting water and air therethrough and slideably mounted in said container to rise with the growth of said sprouts;
c. periodically introducing a pre-selected amount of water onto said cover for distribution thereby onto said beans;
d. draining the water immediately from said beans through said drain opening;
and
e. periodically flowing air through said growing bean sprouts at a selected pressure which will not disturb the orientation of said sprouts, in a direction opposite to the flow of water through said container, and after each introduction of water for a pre-selected duration until there is a substantial change of air within the container.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for growing bean sprouts

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for growing bean sprouts

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15