Pneumatic cereal rope conveying and conditioning method
AssigneeGeneral Mills, Inc.
InventorsJames N. Weinstein, Craig E. Zimmermann
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Abstract
An apparatus for pneumatically conveying a plurality of continuous ropes (20) of cooked cereal dough (20), e.g., from the diehead (24) of a cereal ingredients cooker extruder (22) to a cereal piece forming apparatus. The apparatus (10) includes a plurality of conveyance tubes (12, 14, 16, 18) each comprising a telescoping, flared inlet member (30) for adjustably connecting to the diehead (24) to facilitate start-up; a means for supplying conditioned air to cool and/or dry the rope during conveyance (36); a venturi eductor (40) to provide pneumatic conveyance; and an elongated conveyance tube (48). In preferred embodiments, the apparatus further includes a motive air supply system for multiple adjustable venturis but employing a single air compressor.
Claims10
A method for pneumatically conveying and conditioning a cooked dough rope, comprising the steps of:
- A. providing a continuous cooked cereal dough rope having
- about 12% to 30% moisture,
- a temperature of about 212.degree. F. to 270.degree. F. (100.degree. to 132.degree. C.),
- a linear velocity of about 50 to 250 m/min., and
- a diameter of about 0.10 to 1.50 in.;
- B. continuously pneumatically conveying the dough rope to a piece forming apparatus;
- and
- C. forming the rope into individual shaped and sized pieces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.