GB1382628A - Self-clearing nozzle for continuous puffing gun - Google Patents

Abstract

1382628 Texturising particulate protein material GENERAL MILLS INC 8 Aug 1972 37002/72 Heading A2B [Also in Division C3] A method of treating particulate protein material, e.g. as a food product, includes feeding particulate material to be treated to a gaseous fluid pressurised elongate treating chamber having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end, subjecting the material to a gaseous fluid flow of sufficient force to propel the material through the chamber and varying the aperture of an outlet orifice to maintain fluid pressure within the chamber whilst allowing each particle of material to pass therethrough. An apparatus (Fig. 1) suitable for texturising particulate protein material comprises a gaseous fluid pressurizable chamber 14 having at one end inlet feeding means 12 and means for applying a gaseous fluid flow force to particulate material to force the material through the chamber, and the chamber having at an opposite end outlet means 59 arranged to maintain a gaseous fluid pressure within the chamber but defining an outlet orifice of variable size which opens sufficiently wide against the pressure of particulate material forced through the chamber to allow the particulate material to pass through the outlet means without causing blockage.