Year: 1887

page_text: I, JOSEPH FRANKLIN GENT, of the Town of Columbus, in the County of Bar-
tholomew, in the State of Indiana, one of the United States of America, Miller,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
My present invention relates to the manufacture of flakes from the cereal known
by the names of corn, maize and indian corn, and is an improvement on the invention
patented to me in the United States of America by Letters Patent No. 223,847
granted January 27th 1880.
My invention has for its object the more perfect breaking down and disintegration
of the starch cells and the more thorough intermixing and blending of the starchy
particles aud the gluten of which the material acted upon is mainly composed. My
present invention consists more particularly in certain changes in the third step of
my said patented process whereby the above stated result is accomplished and it is
clearly set forth in the following description and particularly pointed out in the
claims.
In my said patent I have described a node of procedure for obtaining flakes of the
cereal mentioned herein, consisting of three steps the first step of which consists in
the separation of the hulls and impurities from the kernels of corn by subjecting the
corn to a dry chipping and cracking operation and by separating the bulls and im-
purities from the granulated portions. This step is the same in my present process
and may be accomplished in any desired manner which will effectually secure the
result.
The second step described in my former patent consists in steaming the purified
product of the first step for the purpose of softening and toughening the granules
without cooking the saine. This step is the same in my present process and may be
accomplished by any preferred means.
The third step of my present invention consists in subjecting the softened and
toughened granules produced by the first and second steps to successive and

page_text: progressive pressings to thoroughly break down and disintegrate the starch cells
and to blend and mix together the starchy particles and the gluten of the said
granules.
In carrying out this portion of my present process, the softened and toughened
granules are first passed between heated rollers reducing, compressing and drying
the granules a certain degree, the flattened granules or flakes are then subjected to the
action of other rollers having a higher degree of heat, which rollers are set nearer
together than the first so that they are further compressed and heated. The granules
or flakes are in this manner successively and progressively reduced and heated or dried
until the desired result is accomplished. It is to be understood that any equivalent
apparatus may be employed in effecting this compression and reduction of the
softened granules and I do not desire to limit myself to the use of rollers in effecting
such result.
The flaked product resulting from the operation of my process may, if found desirable
or deemed expedient, be further dried before storing the same and to ensure the
preservation of the product when stored.
The flaked product resulting from the operation of my process is readily distin-
guishable from the product of my former process by reason of the extreme attenuation
of the sheets and the enlarged surfaces of the same.
The operation serves to completely break or rupture the starch cells and thoroughly
mixes and commingles the gluten and starch particles rendering the product more
easily digested when used as food.
The product is also more quickly and completety manipulated in other modes of
treatment, thereby saving time in such processes, cheapening them and rendering them
more economical and profitable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The process of producing flaked cereals consisting in first crushing or grinding
the kernels in a dry state and separating the hulls and impurities therefrom; second,
steaming the purified granular material and third in subjecting the steamed material
to successive and progressive compression and heating, substantially as described.
2. As an improved article of manufacture, the herein described product from corn
consisting of compressed attenuated flakes of purified corn material having large
surfaces for the purposes set forth.
Dated the 35th day of Dotahan 1007