The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 03, 2005
Filed:
May. 03, 2002
Steven J. Leusner, Sudbury, MA (US);
John G. Roufs, Maple Grove, MN (US);
Steven J. Leusner, Sudbury, MA (US);
John G. Roufs, Maple Grove, MN (US);
General Mills, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A method of milling grain, comprising, prior to milling, heating a quantity of grain kernels to at least a glass transition onset temperature to form heated softened grain kernels is disclosed. With this method, it has surprisingly been found that moisture tempering, in most instances, is no longer required as a conditioning step for milling. Depending on the temperature to which the grain is heated, the texture of the grain kernel can be moved to a variety of textures, including, but not limited to, a more leathery or rubbery texture. In an alternative embodiment, the heat tempering step is preceded by a moisture tempering step. The method increases overall yield and improves control of the milling process.