# US 5,352,471 A · Process for drying and pulverizing food raw materials

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- Number: US 5,352,471 A
- Document ID: US5352471A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/025,286
- Filed: 1993-03-02
- Granted: 1994-10-04
- Earliest claimed: 1992-03-02
- Assignees: Mitsui Kouzan Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Keigo Kusano; Osamu Matsunaga; Naomasa Hayashida
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5352471A

## CPC

- A23B 2/91: with addition of chemicals before or during drying
- A23B 2/90: by drying or kilning; Subsequent reconstitution
- A23L 13/10: Meat meal or powder; Granules, agglomerates or flakes
- A23L 17/10: Fish meal or powder; Granules, agglomerates or flakes
- A23L 19/01: {Instant products; Powders; Flakes; Granules (A23L19/10 – A23L19/12 take precedence)}
- A23L 19/105: {Sweet potatoes}
- Y10S 241/14: Grinding in inert, controlled atmosphere
- A23B: PRESERVATION OF FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES
- A23L: FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF (preservation thereof A23B)
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

A process for dry pulverization of food raw materials, charactrized by the process steps, which comprises placing the food raw material in a closed vessel, evacuating the vessel to a vacuum and effecting therein the processing operations, which comprises cutting the raw material, drying the so-disintegrated material and crushing the dried and disintegrated mass into powder, successively.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for dry pulverization of food raw materials, characterized by the process steps, comprising
placing the food raw material in a closed vessel,
evacuating the vessel to a vacuum and
effecting therein the processing operations, which comprises cutting the raw material, drying the cut raw material and crushing the dried and cut material mass into powder, successively.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A process as claimed in claim 1, comprising placing the food raw material in a closed vessel, effecting therein the processing operations, which comprises cutting the raw material, effecting a first drying of the so-disintegrated material, crushing the dried and disintegrated mass into powder, spraying thereonto a liquid additive, effecting a second drying of the resulting mass and dispersingly mixing the so-dried mass.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the food raw material in its substantially original form is placed in the vessel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the food raw material is charged in the vessel after it has been subjected preliminarily to slicing and/or drying and/or moisture-controlling.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein an inert gas is injected into the vessel during the period from the cutting to the crushing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said crushing is realized under incorporation of cooling of the processed material by preliminarily cooling the dried mass.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vessel is equipped with mixing blades and a heating means.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drying operation is effected under rotation of a mixing blade at a circumferential velocity of 10-20 m/sec at a heat source temperature of 25.degree.-50.degree. C. and at a food raw material temperature of 25.degree.-35.degree. C.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A process as claimed in claim 8, wherein said circumferential velocity of a mixing blade is different in accordance with each process step of cutting, drying or crushing.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vessel is provided with a means for selectively regulating the revolution rate of a mixing blade, degree of vacuum and heating temperature.