Pneumatic cereal rope conveying and conditioning apparatus
AssigneeGeneral Mills, Inc.
InventorsJames N. Weinstein, Craig E. Zimmermann
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims14
An apparatus for pneumatically conveying cooked cereal dough in rope form, comprising in combination:
- a first pneumatic conveying tube (12) comprising a longitudinally extending tubular receiving member (34) having a flared orifice (32) and an adjustable length;
- an air operable venturi eductor (40) having a product receiving inlet (57) operatively to the adjustable receiving member (34), a product discharge outlet (59) and a motive air supply inlet (61);
- an elongated conveyance tube (48) having an inlet and discharge operatively connected at its inlet to the eductor product discharge outlet (59);
- a means for supplying motive air (44) to the venturi eductor motive air inlet (57);
- and
- means for supporting the conveyance tube (19).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.