Method of degerming maize
AssigneeGebrueder Buehler AG
InventorRoman Muller
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Abstract
A method for degerming maize is disclosed. The maize is introduced into a cylindrical, perforated working housing in which is mounted a rapidly rotating rotor which drives the maize along an annular working chamber between the rotor and housing. The rotor carries a large number of blades having edges which detach the germ from the endosperm. A collecting chamber surrounds the working housing, and the working housing is provided with an outlet aperture for oversize particles.
Claims17
The method of degerming maize which comprises the steps of:
- (a) introducing maize into one end of a generally annular working chamber which is defined by a spinning rotor which is contained within a perforated housing;
- (b) subjecting the maize to the whirling action of not less than about 60 blades carried by the rotor, the blades having two sides which extend along the blades from the vicinity of the housing in the direction of the rotor and having a flattened profile at their outer end and of sufficient thickness to provide two degerming edges on each side of the blade;
- (c) allowing the maize to remain in the annular working chamber for a time sufficient to permit the blades to separate the germ from the endosperm of at least a portion of the maize, wherein the separated germ passes out of the working chamber through the perforated housing;
- and
- (d) recovering the degermed maize and the remaining portion of the maize which was not degermed in the annular working chamber at the other end of the working chamber.
A method according to 8 wherein the maize in the form of entire cleaned grains is subjected to a preliminary treatment by water and steam, and during its passage along the annular chamber is formed into a loosely moving layer and degermed and husked.
A method according to step 1, further comprising allowing the maize to remain in the annular working chamber for a time sufficient to permit the blades to separate the germ from the endosperm of at least about 60% of the maize.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.