# US 5,700,505 A · Method of improving head rice yield > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,700,505 A - Document ID: US5700505A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/580,471 - Filed: 1995-12-28 - Granted: 1997-12-23 - Earliest claimed: 1995-12-28 - Assignees: MEI Research, Ltd. - Inventors: William D. Hurst - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5700505A ## CPC - B02B 3/00: Hulling; Husking; Decorticating (decorticating textile fibres D01B1/14); Polishing; Removing the awns (in threshing machines A01F12/42); Degerming - A23L 7/196: Products in which the original granular shape is maintained, e.g. parboiled rice - B02B 1/00: Preparing grain for milling or like processes (hulling, husking, decorticating, polishing, removing the awns, or degerming B02B3/00) - B02B: PREPARING GRAIN FOR MILLING; REFINING GRANULAR FRUIT TO COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS BY WORKING THE SURFACE (making dough from cereals directly A21C; preservation or sterilisation of cereals A23B; cleaning fruit A23N; preparation of malt C12C) - A23L: FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF (preservation thereof A23B) ## Abstract Dehulled brown unmilled rice is exposed to ozone gas in an ozone and air gas mixture. The exposed brown rice is stored for at least a day to sufficiently affect the bran before subjecting the exposed rice to a typical milling process. The milling of the exposed brown rice results in reduced breakage and thus increased head rice yield to economically attractive levels. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for pre-treating dehulled brown rice having a bran coat for producing head rice, the method comprising the steps of: generating ozone gas; providing dehulled brown rice having a bran coat thereon; exposing the dehulled rice to an atmosphere of the generated ozone gas greater than that found in ambient air; and storing the ozone-exposed rice for a period of time such that the generated ozone gas interacts with the brown rice to effect loosening of the bran coat prior to milling the bran coat from the dehulled rice. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the rice exposing step comprises the steps of: monitoring the exposure; and controlling the rice exposure for permitting the interaction of the ozone gas with the rice. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the storing step comprises the time period for storing the exposed rice for at least one day prior to milling. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a container and wherein the storing step further comprises the step of sealing the exposed rice within a container. ### Claim 5 A method for protecting dehulled brown rice for enhancing head rice yield, the method comprising the steps of: providing a container; storing a quantity of brown rice in the container for exposing the rice contained therein to ozone; injecting an atmosphere of generated ozone gas greater than found in ambient air into the container for exposing a substantial portion of the brown rice to the atmosphere of ozone gas; and storing the exposed brown rice for a period of time sufficient to effect a loosening of the bran coat for enhancing head rice yield resulting from milling the exposed brown rice when compared to the same milling of dehulled rice not exposed to the generated ozone gas. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising the step of milling the exposed rice after the exposed rice storing step wherein sufficient pressure is placed on the rice to mechanically remove the bran. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the ozone gas injecting step comprises the step of injecting the ozone gas at a container portion for permitting the ozone gas to diffuse through the rice contained therein. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising the steps of: generating the ozone gas for injection into the container; monitoring the quantity of ozone injected into the container; controlling the ozone gas injecting step for providing an amount of ozone gas sufficient for loosening the bran to be removed from the brown rice. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the controlling step comprises the steps of: directing ozone gas flow through a flow meter for providing a constant gas flow; directing the constant gas flow through a control valve; and controlling valve operation for permitting the constant flow through the valve for a preselected time period. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the controlling step comprises the steps of: holding a predetermined quantity of ozone gas within a container; and conveying the brown rice through the container for a predetermined amount of time. ### Claim 11 A method for milling, the method useful for enhancing head rice yield from milling, the method comprising the steps of: generating an atmosphere having a concentration of ozone gas greater than that found in ambient air; exposing brown rice having a bran layer to the atmosphere for providing an ozone exposure level sufficient for an ozone gas interaction with the bran layer to be removed in milling; storing the exposed rice for a time prior to milling, the storing time sufficient for permitting any interaction between the ozone and the brownrice to affect loosening of the rice bran layer; and milling the exposed rice with a sufficient degree of milling for removing the covering layer, the exposing, storing, and the degree of milling of the exposed rice improving head rice yield when compared to the same milling of rice not exposed to the generated ozone gas. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the exposed rice storing step provides a delay between the rice exposing step and rice milling sufficient for reducing rice breakage when compared to breakage during the same milling of unexposed brown rice. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising the step of providing a generally closed container for exposing a substantial portion of the rice to the ozone gas, the container having an inlet for receiving the ozone gas atmosphere and an outlet for venting any ozone gas atmosphere not interacting with the brown rice. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the storing step comprises the step of maintaining the exposed rice at a constant temperature. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the storing step comprises the step of storing the exposed rice in a sealed contained. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the exposing step comprises the steps of: delivering unexposed brown rice through an enclosed conveyor for the exposing of the rice to the ozone gas atmosphere; maintaining a predetermined amount of ozone gas within the conveyor; and passing the rice through the conveyor for a predetermined time period. ### Claim 17 A method for pre-treating dehulled grains which still retain their bran coats, the method comprising the sequential steps of: generating ozone gas; exposing dehulled grain having a bran coat thereon to an atmosphere containing a concentration of the ozone gas greater than that found in ambient air; storing the ozone exposed grain for a period of time such that the ozone interacts with the exposed grain to effect loosening of the bran coat; and then milling the exposed grain to remove the bran coat from the exposed grain, wherein the amount of ozone gas, the exposure time of the exposed grain to the ozone gas, and the storage time of the exposed grain prior to milling all being in an amount sufficient to provide an increased yield of unbroken grain when compared to the same milling step employed on grain that has not been exposed to the concentration of ozone and that has not been stored for the time period after exposure and before milling to remove the bran coat. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the dehulled grain is brown rice. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the time period for the stored grain after exposure is at least one day. ### Claim 20 A method for pretreating dehulled grains which still retain their bran coats, the method comprising the sequential steps of: generating ozone gas; exposing dehulled grain having a bran coat thereon to an atmosphere containing a concentration of the generated ozone gas greater than that found in ambient air; and storing the ozone exposed grain for a period of time such that the ozone interacts with the exposed grain to effect loosening of the bran coat, wherein the amount of ozone gas, the exposure time of the exposed grain to the ozone gas, and the storage time of the exposed grain prior to milling of the grain all being in an amount sufficient to provide an increased yield of unbroken grain when compared to the same milling employed on grain that has not been exposed to the concentration of ozone and that has not been stored for the time period after exposure and before milling to remove the bran coat. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method as recited in claim 20, further comprising the step of milling the exposed grain for removing the bran coat from the exposed grain. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the grain comprises dehulled brown rice. ### Claim 23 A method for pretreating dehulled grains which still retain their bran coats, the method comprising the sequential steps of: exposing dehulled grain having a bran coat thereon to an atmosphere containing a concentration of ozone gas greater than that found in ambient air; storing the ozone exposed grain for a period of time such that the ozone interacts with the exposed grain to effect loosening of the bran coat; and then milling the exposed grain to remove the bran coat from the exposed grain, wherein the amount of ozone gas, the exposure time of the exposed grain to the ozone gas, and the storage time of the exposed grain prior to milling all being in an amount sufficient to provide an increased yield of unbroken grain when compared to the same milling step employed on grain that has not been exposed to the concentration of ozone and that has not been stored for the time period after exposure and before milling to remove the bran coat. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method as recited in claim 23, further comprising the step of generating the ozone gas for use in the exposing step. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the grain is rice. ### Claim 26 A method for pretreating dehulled grains which still retain their bran coats, the method comprising the sequential steps of: exposing dehulled grain having a bran coat thereon to an atmosphere containing a concentration of generated ozone gas greater than that found in ambient air; and storing the ozone exposed grain for a period of time such that the ozone interacts with the exposed grain to effect loosening of the bran coat for milling of the exposed grain to remove the bran coat from the exposed grain, wherein the amount of ozone gas, the exposure time of the exposed grain to the ozone gas, and the storage time of the exposed grain prior to milling all being in an amount sufficient to provide an increased yield of unbroken grain when compared to the same milling step employed on grain that has not been exposed to the concentration of ozone and that has not been stored for the time period after exposure and before milling to remove the bran coat. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method as recited in claim 26, further comprising the step of generating the ozone gas for the exposing step. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of milling the exposed grain for removing the bran coat from the exposed grain. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The method as recited in claim 26, wherein the dehulled grain is brown rice. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The method as recited in claim 26, wherein the time period for the storing step is at least one day.