Improvements in and relating to the Degerming of Maize or other? Cereals.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 31st. Dec:, 1895.
Complete Specification Left, 4th Sept:, 1896-Accepted, 17th Oct., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
f
Improvements in and relating to the Degerming of Maize or other?
Cereals.
We, WILLIAM MUIR MACKEAN, JAMES ANDERSON DUNLOP MAOKEAN,
and NORMAN MACGREGOR MACKEAN all of Saint Mirrens Works Paisley,
Renfrewshire, Starch Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of our invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved method of obtaining germs from maize or
other cereals either for that purpose only or in the processes' preliminary to the
production of starch, flour or other derivatives of grain....
In practising the invention in the case of maize or Indian corn (which may
be taken as typical of other cereals), the grain is first steeped in warm water
at a suitable temperature as usually practised in the. manufacture of maize
starch..
It is secondly ground between rollers or millstones so 'adjusted as to disintegrate
the grain without destroying the structure of the germs...
Thirdly, the resulting grist or inagma is thrown upon a sieve having a revolving
or reciprocating motion and lixiviated with water to wash out any starch particles
which may have been disengaged in the process of grinding.
Fourthly, the grist is subjected to pressure by being conveyed on a travelling
band and passed between rollers or is treated in centrifugal machines to deprive it!
of surplus moisture.
Fifthly, the grist is mingled with water the specific gravity of which has
been increased to a suitable density by the addition of salt or other soluble
ingredient.
Sixthly, the mixture is passed into a suitable tank or separator provided with an
apparatus for gently agitating the contents, whereupon the germs rise to the
surface and are floated off.
Seventhly, the germs are thrown upon a sieve and lixiviated with water while
the grist is subjected to pressure between rollers: or is treated in centrifugal
machines for. removal of the surplus moisture.
Eighthly, the germs after having been washed, are deprived of surplus moisture
in same manner as the grist and are thereafter dried. Any bran or other particles.
of grain which may adhere to the germs may be removed by contact with rotatory
brushes in a cylinder and separated by sieving or other meansin.
The dried and purified germs are then ready for sale or may be treated by
pressure to extract the oil they contain, the resulting cakes being suitable for
cattle feeding...
Ninthly, the grist after having been deprived of surplus brine may be ground
between millstones and used for the production of maize' starch while the brine®
may flow to a reservoir for employment again in the separator.
Dad 20th December 1805..
W. R. M. THOMSON &-Co.,
96 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.

page_text: OF CRITICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Degerming of Maize or other
Cereals.
We, WILLIAM MUIR MACKEAN, JAMES ANDERSON DUNLOP MACKEAN,
and NORMAN MACGREGOR MACKEAN, all of Saint Mirren Works, Paisley,
Renfrewshire, Starch Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of our
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement in writing that is
to say :-
This invention relates to an improved method of obtaining germs from maize or
other cereals either for that purpose only or in the processes preliminary to the
production of starch, flour or other derivatives of grain.
In practising the invention in the case of maize or Indian corn (which may
be taken as typical of other cereals) the grain is first steeped in warm water
at a suitable temperature as usually practised in the manufacture of maize
starch.
It is secondly ground between rollers or millstones so adjusted as to disintegrate
the grain without destroying the structure of the germs.
Thirdly, the resulting grist or magma is thrown upon a sieve having a revolving
or reciprocating motion and lixiviated with water to wash out any starch particles
which may have been disengaged in the process of disintegration.
Fourthly, the grist is subjected to pressure by being conveyed on a travelling
band and passed between rollers or is treated in centrifugal machines to deprive
of surplus moisture.
Fifthly, the grist is mingled with water the specific gravity of which has
been increased to a suitable density such as fifteen to twenty degrees Twaddle by
the addition of salt or other soluble ingredient.
Sixthly, the mixture is passed into a suitable tank or separator provided with an
apparatus for gently agitating the contents such as an Archimedean screw where-
upon the germs rise to the surface and are floated off, while the remainder of
the grist is conveyed by the screw to the end of the tank and removed by an
elevator.
Seventhly, the germs are thrown upon a sieve and lixiviated with water while
the grist is subjected to pressure between rollers or is treated in centrifugal
machines for removal of the surplus moisture.
Eighthly, the germs after having been washed, are deprived of surplus moisture
in same manner as the grist and are thereafter dried. Any bran or other particles
of grain which may adhere to the germs may be removed by contact with rotary
brushes in a cylinder and separated by sieving or other means.
The dried and purified germs are then ready for sale or may be treated by
pressure to extract the oil they contain, the resulting cakes being suitable for
cattle feeding.
Ninthly, the grist after having been deprived of surplus brine may be ground
between millstones and used for the production of maize starch while the brine
may flow to a reservoir for employment again in the separator.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. The method herein described of obtaining germs from maize or other
cereals, substantially as set forth.
Second. In a method of degerming maize or other cereals the preparation of the

page_text: grist by washing away the starch particles disengaged in the process of disintegra-
tion substantially as set forth.
Third. In a method of degerming maize or other cereals, the further prepara-
tion of the grist by depriving it of surplus moisture before conveying it to the
separator substantially as set forth.
Fourth. In a method of degerming maize or other cereals, the use of water in
the separator the density of which has been increased by the addition of salt or
other soluble ingredient, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The combination of the three steps set forth in Claims 2 to 4 in the
process of degerming maize or other cereals substantially as set forth.
Dated the 3rd day of September 1896.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.