Patent ID: 8720804

Claim:
A system for grinding grain into particles, the system defining a grain path with an input for receiving grain to form a grain stream and an output stream for ground grain particles, the system comprising: a first grinding apparatus configured to grind grain in the grain stream moving along the grain path into grain particles, the first grinding apparatus having a first output; a sifting apparatus configured to receive ground grain particles from the first output of the first grinding apparatus and to remove grain particles having a size less than a threshold size from the grain path, the sifting apparatus diverting the ground grain particles less than the threshold size from the grain path to the output stream such that the ground grain particles of the output stream are not subjected to further grinding; wherein the sifting apparatus comprises a first particle removal stage configured to remove grain particles of a first size and larger from the grain path as grain particles smaller than the first size continue along the grain path, the first particle removal stage diverting grain particles of the first size and greater to a first diversion path by a first outlet; and wherein the sifting apparatus comprises a second particle removal stage configured to remove grain particles of a second size and larger from the grain path after the grain particles have passed through the first particle removal stage and as grain particles smaller than the second size continue along the grain path, the second particle removal stage diverting grain particles of the second size and greater to a second diversion path by a second outlet; and a second grinding apparatus configured to grind grain exiting the sifting apparatus on the first diversion path by the first outlet, the second grinding apparatus having a second output in communication with the sifting apparatus such that ground grain particles exiting the second grinding apparatus through the second output are directed to the sifting apparatus.