US 5,069,923 AGranted

Apparatus and process for expanding raw amaranth

AssigneeAmerican Amaranth, Inc.

InventorsEdward S. Hubbard, Terry J. Guanella

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Abstract

An apparatus and process are disclosed for expanding raw, wholeseed amaranth and extruded half products of cereal grains. Amaranth (for example), after tempering to a predetermined moisture content, is fed at a steady rate to a cylindrical popping drum having perforations sufficiently small to contain both raw and expanded amaranth. Popping is accomplished with air heated to a temperature of from 450 to 500 degrees F., forced into the popping drum from below to provide a fluid bed for supporting the amaranth. An auger in the popping container is rotated to move the amaranth through the container as it is being popped, further agitating the amaranth. Following expansion, the expanded amaranth is separated from unexpanded amaranth and other unwanted matter, either in a perforated, revolving separating drum, or on an inclined, vibrating screen.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An apparatus for expanding amaranth and half products of cereal grains, including:

a first container for receiving a food product suitable for expanding, said food product including one of the following:
raw, wholeseed amaranth and extruded half products of cereal grains:
a second container having a wall defining a chamber for the food product, said wall having multiple perforations therethrough, substantially uniform in size, and sufficiently small to prevent passage of the unexpanded food product therethrough;
a transfer means for moving the food product from the first container to the second container at a uniform feed rate;
an agitation means in the second container for agitating the food product contained in the chamber;
a means outside of and proximate the second container for supplying heated air to the chamber through the perforations, to expand the product as it is being agitated in the chamber;
and
a separating means, receiving the output of the second container following the expanding, for separating the expanded food product from the unexpanded product and other matter.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.