Patent ID: 7906166
Filing Date: 2011-03-15
Classification: B01F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. In a method of preconditioning a food or feed mixture including respective quantities of protein and starch and comprising the steps of passing the mixture into and through a preconditioning vessel equipped with a pair of elongated, axially rotatable shafts each having a plurality of outwardly extending mixing elements with the mixing elements of the shafts being axially offset and intercalated, and rotating said shafts during said passage of said material through the vessel, the improvement which comprises the step ofprocessing the mixture to achieve a specific mechanical energy (SME) imparted to said food or feed mixture of from 1.7-5.0 kW-Hr/Ton of said food or feed mixture, said processing step comprising the steps of rotating said shafts at different speeds respectively, with the rotational speed differential between the shafts ranging from 3:1 to 18:1, and heating the food or feed mixture within the vessel to a temperature of from about 100-212° F.