Patent ID: 7553507
Filing Date: 2009-06-30
Classification: B02B

Abstract:
1. A process for debranning and de-germinating corn kernels, said corn kernels each having bran, an endosperm and germ, said corn kernel having sides and thickness, said endosperm having a surface, an inside edge, said germ having an outer edge, comprising, in the sequence indicated: a first tempering step; a debranning step, said debranning step comprising inducing said corn kernels to rub against one another with sufficient force to rub a substantial portion of said bran from the surface of said endosperm a second tempering step; and a degerminating step, said degerminating step comprising applying force to opposing sides of each of said kernels, said force applied by drawing each of said corn kernels between at least one pair of two spaced-apart counter-rotating rollers, each of said two spaced-apart counter-rotating rollers having a surface with a sufficient co-efficient of friction to draw said corn kernel from one side of said two spaced-apart counter-rotating rollers to the other side of said two spaced-apart counter-rotating rollers, said two spaced-apart counter-rotating rollers spaced less than one corn kernel thickness apart, whereby said endosperm of said kernel is fractured about said germ, substantially freeing said germ from said endosperm by application of force between said inside edge of said endosperm and said outer edge of said germ.