Union Process International, Inc.

Union Process, Inc.

Andrew Szegvari

An agitated-media mill of the batch, circulation, or continuous types in which the elements of a comminuting media randomly interact in response to an agitator having motion relative to the comminuting media to comminute the process mixture. In one embodiment the agitated-media mill includes a baffle adjacent the inner wall of the comminuting vessel and arranged transversely with respect to the flow of the process mixture. The baffle redirects the comminuting elements to increase the random interaction of the elements throughout the vessel and also opposes the solid body rotation of the process mixture to provide improved comminution of the mixture. The cross-sectional shape and general configuration of the baffle is chosen with respect to, the particular type and application of the agitated-media will aid in complete comminution of the process mixture and to retard accumulation of particles on the baffle and adjacent surfaces. A plurality of baffles can be located at various circumferential locations about the vessel, and can be permanently or removably attached to the vessel inner wall. In another embodiment, the radial members of the agitator are non-circular and are disposed to operate as baffles that establish vertically oscillating flow of the mixture to increase the random interaction of the elements and improve comminution of the mixture.

Agitated-media mill with a baffled inner wall

A method is provided for making chocolate and chocolate flavored materials. A pump means repeatedly circulates a liquid continuum containing chocolate solids through conducting means to comminuting means formed of a bed of agitated grinding elements where the solids are comminuted, and through conducting means back to the pump means at a rate of at least about 30 and preferably between 50 and 500 volumes of liquid continuum containing solids in the comminuting means per hour. Chocolate and chocolate flavored materials having substantially greater particle size uniformity and other superior and unique properties are thus produced. Also in processing, the temperature is controlled during processing to liberate undesirable components, such as acetic acid, from the composition while retaining other desired components.

Method for making chocolate and chocolate flavored materials

Apparatus and method are provided for grinding particulate solids in a liquid media. A pump means repeatedly circulates the liquid containing solids through conducting means to comminuting means, such as agitated-media mill, through the comminuting means and through conducting means back to the pump means at a rate of at least about 30 and preferably between 50 and 300 volumes of liquid continuum containing solids in the comminuting means per hour. Particulate solid materials having substantially greater particle size uniformity and other superior and unique properties are thus produced.

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Akron, OH, United States of America

Andrew Szegvari