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(11) | EP 0 295 774 A3 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Method and apparatus for the treatment of wheat kernels |
| (57) Significant improvements to the milling of wheat kernels are possible by sequentially
removing the bran layers of the kernels prior to processing in general accordance
with conventional milling principles. The wheat kernels are preprocessed by means
of a number of friction and abrasion operations to peel or strip the various layers
of bran from the kernels. A series of friction machines (208,215,218) followed by
abrasion machines (224,230) progressively remove the bran layers and separate the
same into generally pre-identified bran layer mixtures. Up to about 75% of the bran
can be removed with the remaining bran being essentially confined to the kernel crease
and removed during the conventional milling operation. Such preprocessed kernels,
when milled in the conventional manner, have higher yields due to less bran contamination.
This selective removal of the bran layers also facilitates low cost production of
speciality bran products or selective reintroduction of bran layers to flour after,
or during, further milling. |