Patent ID: 7794134
Filing Date: 2010-09-14
Classification: A23N,A23P,B01F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method of starting up a preconditioner including an elongated housing presenting an inlet and an outlet, at least one elongated, axially rotatable shaft within said housing between said inlet and said outlet with a plurality of outwardly extending mixing elements on the shaft, a gate adjacent said outlet and movable between a closed position substantially preventing flow of material from the housing, an open operating position permitting flow of material from the housing, and at least one intermediate position between the closed and open operating positions, said outlet configured to deliver preconditioned ingredients to a downstream processing device, said startup method comprising the steps of: moving said gate to said closed position; initiating rotation of said shaft, delivering starting ingredients to said housing through said inlet, and adding steam to said starting ingredients at an initial steam injection rate; monitoring at least one parameter of the preconditioner until a corresponding predetermined operating set point is achieved, said parameter selected from the group consisting of the temperature of the moisturized ingredients within said housing, and the weight of the moisturized ingredients within said housing, or a combination thereof; when said predetermined set point is achieved, changing said steam injection rate to a process steam injection rate, and moving said gate to an intermediate position in order to deliver preconditioned ingredients to the processing device at an initial delivery rate; and thereafter moving said gate to said open operating position in order to deliver preconditioned ingredients to the processing device at a preconditioner process delivery rate.