METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DRYING PLANT MATERIAL

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of processing plant material to provide products such as food products, dietary supplements, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and fertilizers. In particular, the invention relates to the processing of fruit and vegetable material to provide a product that can be used as a food source, dietary supplement or a pharmaceutical. Even more particularly, the invention relates to a method of drying fruit and vegetable material to provide a dried product that can be used as a food source, dietary supplement or a pharmaceutical.

Claims

1. A device for processing fruit or vegetables, the device comprising: (i) a first chamber having a first ingress for air, a second ingress for the fruit or vegetables, and a means for reducing the fruit or vegetables to small particles; and (ii) a second chamber connected to the first chamber, the second chamber having an ingress to receive fruit and vegetables from the first chamber and an egress for the processed fruit or vegetables, such that during operation of the device, fruit or vegetables is passed into the first chamber via the second ingress with concomitant passage of air into the first chamber via the first ingress with the air acting to dry the fruit or vegetables whilst the fruit or vegetables is reduced to small particles within the first chamber, and wherein the resultant dried fruit or vegetables passes from the first chamber to the second chamber for collection via the egress of the second chamber.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first chamber is in the form of a cylindrical drum.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first ingress for air is positioned towards the lowest region of the first chamber.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the second ingress for fruit or vegetables is positioned towards the uppermost region of the first chamber.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first ingress for air is positioned towards the uppermost region of the first chamber.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the second ingress for fruit or vegetables is positioned towards the lowest region of the first chamber.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the means for reducing the fruit or vegetables to small particles comprises at least one blade.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the means for reducing the fruit or vegetables to small particles comprises a series of blades.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the means for reducing the fruit or vegetables to small particles comprises a hammer mill.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the series of blades is connected to a rotating shaft.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein rotation of the shaft is controlled by air flow into the first chamber.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein rotation of the shaft is controlled by a motor.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the first chamber has an interior surface that is non-stick.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the means for reducing the fruit or vegetables to small particles comprises at least one scraper.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the means for reducing the fruit or vegetables to small particles comprises two scrapers, positioned 180° apart.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the first chamber has an interior surface comprising one or more shear teeth and/or ribbed plates.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the second ingress is provided with a seal that prevents air within the first chamber exiting the chamber via the second ingress.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the egress of the second chamber comprises a cyclone dryer.

18. A method of drying fruit or vegetables, the method comprising the following steps: (i) reducing the fruit or vegetables to small particles; and (ii) drying the small particles of fruit or vegetables, wherein steps (i) and (ii) are undertaken at the same time.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein steps (i) and (ii) are undertaken by utilizing a device comprising: (i) a first chamber having a first ingress for air, a second ingress for the fruit or vegetables, and a means for reducing the fruit or vegetables to small particles; and (ii) a second chamber connected to the first chamber, the second chamber having an ingress to receive fruit and vegetables from the first chamber and an egress for the processed fruit or vegetables, such that during operation of the device, fruit or vegetables is passed into the first chamber via the second ingress with concomitant passage of air into the first chamber via the first ingress with the air acting to dry the fruit or vegetables whilst the fruit or vegetables is reduced to small particles within the first chamber, and wherein the resultant dried fruit or vegetables passes from the first chamber to the second chamber for collection via the egress of the second chamber.

20. A food product, or a nutritional supplement, comprising fruit or vegetables processed according to the method of claim 18.

21. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0082] Various embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0083] FIG. 1 is a side view schematic of a device according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0084] FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematic of the device shown in FIG. 1.

[0085] FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematic of agitation blades in combination with a scraper bar according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0086] FIG. 4 is a side view schematic of a device according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0087] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a side view schematic of a device 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. The device 10 comprises a first chamber 12, the first chamber 12 having a first ingress 14 for air and a second ingress 16 for fruit or vegetables. The device 10 further comprises a series of blades 18 attached to a central shaft 20. The tips of the blades 18 comprise a scraper bar 22.

[0088] The blades 18 can rotate in a clockwise manner, or the blades 18 can rotate in an anticlockwise manner. In particular embodiments, it can be desirable for the blades 18 to rotate in a clockwise manner for a period of time, and then change to rotate in an anticlockwise manner for a period of time. Changing the rotation of the blades 18 in this way can provide further agitation to assist with drying of the fruit or vegetables in the first chamber 12.

[0089] The device 10 further comprises a second chamber 24. The second chamber 24 has an ingress 26 for receiving fruit and vegetables from the first chamber 12 and an egress 28 for the processed fruit or vegetables. The second chamber 24 additionally has a control flap 30 which is used to control exit of dried material from the second chamber 24. The control flap 30 can be regulated to adjust the residence time of the fruit or vegetables in the second chamber.

[0090] Additionally, the device 10 can comprise further control flaps (shown as 30′ in FIG. 2) that can be regulated to adjust the residence time of the fruit or vegetables in the first chamber, and/or to control entry of fruit or vegetables from the first chamber 12, into the second chamber 24. The residence time of the fruit or vegetables in each chamber can thus be adjusted to ensure the resultant product is dry by the time it exits the second chamber 24.

[0091] A perspective view schematic of the device of FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 2, with like features numbered similarly.

[0092] A perspective view schematic of agitation blades 18 in combination with a scraper bar 22 according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 3. The agitation blades 18 are connected to a central shaft 20. The tips of the agitation blades 18 are adapted with a scraper bar 22. In use, the scraper bars 22 are positioned on the inside surface of the first chamber 12 and as the central shaft 20 rotates (whether due to the action of the air flow, or under the control of a motor), the agitation blades 18 act to reduce the size of the fruit or vegetables particles and the scraper bars 22 prevent fruit or vegetable matter from building up on the inside surface of the first chamber 12.

[0093] Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a side view schematic of a device 32 according to an embodiment of the invention. The device 32 comprises a first chamber 34, the first chamber 34 having a first ingress 36 for air and a second ingress 38 for fruit or vegetables. In this embodiment, the fruit and vegetables enter the first chamber 34 via the second ingress 38 which is positioned towards the bottom of the first chamber 34. The first ingress 36 for air is positioned towards the top of the first chamber 34. This embodiment is particularly useful for fruit or vegetable material that is heavy and has a high moisture content.

[0094] The device 32 further comprises a series of blades 40 attached to a central shaft 42. The tips of the blades 40 comprise a scraper bar 44.

[0095] The blades 40 can rotate in a clockwise manner, or in an anticlockwise manner. In particular embodiments, it can be desirable for the blades 40 to rotate in a clockwise manner for a period of time, and then change to rotate in an anticlockwise manner for a period of time. Changing the rotation of the blades 40 in this way can provide further agitation to assist with drying of the fruit or vegetables in the first chamber 34.

[0096] The device 32 further comprises a second chamber 46. The second chamber 46 has an ingress 48 for receiving fruit and vegetables from the first chamber 34 and an egress 50 for the processed fruit or vegetables.

[0097] The first chamber 34 has shear teeth 52 which assist with the break down of fruit or vegetables into smaller particles by acting in combination with the blades 40 break down the fruit or vegetables into smaller particles.

[0098] Additional shear teeth 52 can be positioned in the lower portion of the first chamber 34, as indicated by 54. Positioning additional shear teeth 52 in region 54 is particularly useful for product that is particularly difficult to dry and control, such as high fibre material.

[0099] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word ‘comprising’ and its derivatives including ‘comprises’ and ‘comprise’ include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

[0100] Reference throughout this specification to ‘one embodiment’ or ‘an embodiment’ means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases ‘in one embodiment’ or ‘in an embodiment’ in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

[0101] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.