Inventors:
Charles E. Langley - Jennings LA
Stanley Finelt - The Woodlands TX
Assignee:
Food Sciences, Inc. - Jennings LA
International Classification:
A23L 1015, C11B 108
Abstract:
The present invention pertains to a method of obtaining oil from grain materials such as rice bran, wheat mill feed, rapeseed, amaranth, and similar grains. The method includes an apparatus for use in extracting oil from vegetable matter, comprising: a horizontally extending pressure-tight container having an inlet end and an outlet end, a horizontally extending porous endless belt in said container having upper and lower runs, a belt driver for continuously moving the upper run of said belt from near the inlet end of the container to near said outlet end, a feed inlet near the inlet end of the container, positioned to deposit the vegetable matter feed on the belt near said inlet end, to create a continuously moving bed of vegetable material on the belt, a solvent vapor inlet positioned to allow solvent vapor to flow through said bed to extract oil from said vegetable matter, a condenser positioned to condense solvent vapor that passes through said bed and to allow said condensate to fall back onto said bed, a liquid applicator positioned to apply liquid solvent to said bed downstream of said solvent inlet, an outlet from said container for the vegetable matter from which the oil has been extracted, and an outlet from said container for extracted oil and solvent.