EP0295774A2 - Procédé et appareil pour le traitement des grains de froment - Google Patents

Procédé et appareil pour le traitement des grains de froment Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0295774A2
EP0295774A2 EP88303769A EP88303769A EP0295774A2 EP 0295774 A2 EP0295774 A2 EP 0295774A2 EP 88303769 A EP88303769 A EP 88303769A EP 88303769 A EP88303769 A EP 88303769A EP 0295774 A2 EP0295774 A2 EP 0295774A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
bran
kernels
layers
friction
wheat
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP88303769A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0295774A3 (fr
Inventor
Joseph John Tkac
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TKAC and Timm Enterprises Ltd
Original Assignee
TKAC and Timm Enterprises Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by TKAC and Timm Enterprises Ltd filed Critical TKAC and Timm Enterprises Ltd
Publication of EP0295774A2 publication Critical patent/EP0295774A2/fr
Publication of EP0295774A3 publication Critical patent/EP0295774A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B02—CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING; PREPARATORY TREATMENT OF GRAIN FOR MILLING
    • B02B—PREPARING GRAIN FOR MILLING; REFINING GRANULAR FRUIT TO COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS BY WORKING THE SURFACE
    • B02B3/00—Hulling; Husking; Decorticating; Polishing; Removing the awns; Degerming
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B02—CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING; PREPARATORY TREATMENT OF GRAIN FOR MILLING
    • B02B—PREPARING GRAIN FOR MILLING; REFINING GRANULAR FRUIT TO COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS BY WORKING THE SURFACE
    • B02B1/00—Preparing grain for milling or like processes
    • B02B1/08—Conditioning grain with respect to temperature or water content

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the treatment of wheat kernels for use in the milling of flour.
  • the invention relates to a method and apparatus for the milling of flour which subjects the wheat kernels to additional process steps prior to subjecting the wheat kernels to the traditional tempering operation in preparation for milling.
  • the general objective of the milling process is to extract from the wheat kernel the maximum amount of endosperm in the purest form. This requires the efficient separation of the components of the wheat kernels, namely the bran, endosperm and germ. Bran and germ have a detrimental effect on the end milled products, flour or semolina for pasta production.
  • the wheat kernels are conditioned with water and/or steam and allowed to rest in temper bins for 4 to 20 hours (tempering) to toughen the bran coats of the wheat kernels and soften or mellow the endosperm. Tempering of the wheat kernels fuses the bran coats together and is an essential conditioning step of the kernels carried out prior to the conventional milling process to alter the physical state of the kernels in a desired manner. This preparation or change of the physical state of the kernels is undoubtedly the most important factor in determining the amount of endosperm produced from given wheat kernels and, therefore, great care is taken to appropriately alter the kernels prior to milling.
  • the tempering of the wheat kernels to toughen and fuse the bran coats unfortunately, also causes some fusion of the endosperm to the inner layers of bran whereby separation of these components is more difficult.
  • the conditioned kernels are then subjected to successive stages, each of which grind, separate and purify the product.
  • the first grinding operation open the tempered kernels to expose the endosperm and scrape a portion of the endosperm from the bran.
  • the coarsely ground mixture of bran, germ and endosperm particles is then sifted to classify the particles for further grinding, purification or sifting.
  • the finer classified particles which are a mixture of endosperm, bran and germ are then sent to the appropriate purification steps.
  • the coarse remainder consisting of bran and adhering endosperm, is sent to the next grinding step to remove more of the endosperm from the bran.
  • the breaking process is repeated up to 5 times in a conventional mill.
  • each grinding process produces fine bran particles (bran powder) and germ particles which have a tendency to be separated with the endosperm and are difficult, if not impossible, to remove from the endosperm.
  • Each grinding operation produces more and more bran powder, compounding the problem.
  • the wheat kernels are pre-processed to effectively remove the bran coat layers sequentially by passing them through various friction based operations followed by abrasion operations which peel, strip or otherwise remove the bran layers from the wheat kernels while the endosperm remains essentially integral.
  • the wheat kernels, processed according to the present process are not subjected to tempering initially, as this would fuse the various bran layers.
  • the kernels are processed to effectively strip these bran layers from the endosperm prior to tempering of wheat kernels.
  • the initial four layers of the bran coating are removed preferably by initially conditioning the outer bran layers with a small amount of water, normally less than 2% by weight. This water does not fuse the entire bran coating, but merely serves to condition the outer layers.
  • Timing between applying the water and stripping the layers is important and the wheat kernels are processed essentially immediately in contrast to the required several to many hours for tempering.
  • the conditioned kernels are passed through a friction machine to remove the outer bran layers.
  • the friction operations for stripping of the bran layers in some cases, can be enhanced by fogging of the remaining wheat kernels prior to processing in the last friction type operation. Fogging of the kernels is not to be confused with a tempering operation. Tempering fuses the various bran layers such that sequential removal of the individual layers is not possible, fogging only adds moisture which enhances separation of the layers. Abrasive operations follow the friction operations and are required to remove the nucellar layer and aleurone layers which tend to polish in friction apparatus.
  • the wheat kernel 2 generally shown in Figures 2 and 3, has a bran coating 4 made up of a host of different layers identified as 10 through 20. Interior to the bran coat is the endosperm 6 with the wheat germ generally identified as 8. In general, the bran layers collectively make up about 15% of the wheat kernel, whereas the germ represents about 2.5% and the endosperm represents about 83%.
  • the layers of bran from the outer to inner layer are: epidermis 20 hypodermis 16 cross cells 14 tube cells 12 seed coat 11 nucellar tissue 10 alleurone cells 9
  • a portion 5 of the seed coat 11 is located within the crease 7 of the wheat kernel 2. It should be noted that the bran layers do extend within the crease 7 and this bran is left substantially intact to be removed subsequently by the milling technique.
  • the alleurone layer is quite thick and acts as a tolerance zone for the last abrasion operation. It is desirable to leave some of the alleurone layer to thereby ensure the maximum amount of endosperm to be processed and thus maximize the yield.
  • the wheat kernel 2 generally shown in Fig. 2 is illustrated with the various layers of the bran partially peeled on the left side of the kernel and, the present process, seeks to peel away or remove these layers. It has been found that the use of a series of friction operations followed by a series of abrasion operations applied to the kernels prior to the tempering of the kernels will allow various layers of the bran coating 4 to be sequentially removed and separated from the wheat kernels. It is not essential that each layer be removed independently of an underlying layer and, in fact, the operations are such that often two layers are removed or partially removed at the same time. In effectively stripping or peeling of these layers from the wheat kernels, some of the underlying layer may also separate and therefore, although the operation as described with respect to the flow chart of Fig. 1 discusses removal of particular layers, some portions of other layers may also be removed.
  • the process for removing the bran layers is generally shown in Fig. 1. This process is upstream of the traditional milling process and, in particular, in advance of the tempering of the wheat kernels. Traditional steps for removing debris, dirt, etc. have already been completed.
  • the process begins by placing the dry, generally clean wheat kernels indicated as 200 into a dampening mixer 202 and adding water 204 in an amount equalling about 2% by weight of the kernels.
  • the mixer serves to ensure the kernels are fully brought into contact with the water and the outer layers of the bran coat effectively absorb most of the water.
  • the water penetrates to about the nucellar tissue layer 10 which repels the water to a certain extent, due to its higher fat content.
  • the repelled water serves to part the layers to assist in removal by friction.
  • the kernels are moved within 15 to 60 seconds from the dampening mixer 202 to a friction machine 208 which brings the kernels into friction contact with one another as well as friction contact with the machine or various moving surfaces of the machine.
  • the movement of the kernels from the dampening mixer 202 to the friction machine is indicated by arrow 206.
  • the friction machine 208 effectively strips the outer bran layers, namely the epidermis 20, the hypodermis 16, and some of the cross cells 14. These layers are removed from, or separated from, the remaining kernels and are discharged from the friction machine along the line indicated as 210.
  • the partially processed kernels are then transported, as indicated by line 212, to a second friction machine 215 which removes the remaining cross cells 14, the tube cells 12 and most of the seed coat 11. These removed layers are separated from the kernels as indicated by line 214, with the processed kernels being passed to a third friction machine 218 as indicated by line 216.
  • Friction machine 218 takes the processed kernels and removes the remaining seed coat 11 and a portion of the nucellar tissue layer 10.
  • a fogging of the kernels can be introduced in the friction machine 218 which may assist in separating of some of the layers.
  • These removed layers are again separated from the kernels as indicated by line 220, with the kernels being further transported, as indicated by 222, to the first abrasion machine 224.
  • Abrasion machine 224 removes the remaining nucellar layer and most of the outer alleurone cells 9 which are discharged as indicated by line 226.
  • the stripped kernels are passed, as indicated by 228, to a further abrasion machine 230 which removes the inner aleurone layer.
  • the separated aleurone layer is removed as indicated by line 232.
  • the bran coating has been substantially removed from the wheat kernels other than in the crease area and the preprocessed kernels are moved, as indicated by line 234, to the brushing apparatus indicated as 236.
  • This brushing operation removes bran powder from the crease of the wheat kernels and serves to loosen the germ of the wheat kernels.
  • Bran powder is removed as indicated by line 238 with the resulting kernel, which now is essentially the endosperm and germ being passed from the brush apparatus 236 to a combined impact and scour aspirator 240 along the line 242.
  • the combined impact and scour aspirator 240 serves to remove most of the germ before tempering and also removes further bran powder.
  • the kernels which leave the aspirator 240 as indicated by line 244 can now be processed in a more or less conventional manner in that most of the bran coating has been removed and most of the germ has been removed.
  • This product may now be conditioned and tempered and passed through the milling process. The tempering can take less time and less grinding, separating and purifying steps will be required to achieve the same or higher degree of flour purity.
  • the germ and endosperm, and particularly the endosperm remain integral during removal of the bran coats.
  • the preprocessing steps are carried out before tempering of the kernels which would have fused the bran layers and mellowed the endosperm.
  • the non-tempered endosperm is somewhat hard and acts as an interior support for the friction and abrasion operations.
  • One friction-type machine 100 for removing bran layers is shown in Figure 4, having a hopper 102 for receiving the wheat kernels to be processed.
  • the received wheat kernels are advanced by the screw feed 104 along the axis of the machine to a bran removing section 106.
  • a mill roll 108 is carried on hollow shaft 110 and causes the wheat kernels to be in friction contact with each other or friction contact with the mill roll 108 or the outer screen 112.
  • the mill roll 108 causes the kernels to move rotationally about the axis of the hollow shaft 110 as they are advanced through the length of the machine.
  • the wheat kernels are discharged from the machine at the discharge chute 114 having a control member 116 for varying the output rate.
  • the control member 116 is adjusted by the lever and weight arrangement 118.
  • the mill roll 108 cooperates with the outwardly disposed screen 120 which is appropriately sized to allow removed bran to pass therethrough.
  • air is introduced to the hollow shaft at 122 and passes along the hollow shaft to the mill roll 108.
  • the mill roll 108 has many vent holes 124 along its length and the air passing therethrough makes its way through the wheat kernels carrying removed bran to and through the screen. The bran is collected and suitably discharged from the machine separately.
  • the mill roll 108 and screen 112 are shown in vertical cross-section in Figure 5.
  • the abrasion machine 150 of Figure 6 and 7 is similar to the friction machine 100, however, in this case, an abrasive roller 152 cooperates with an outer concentrically disposed perforated steel cylinder 154.
  • the abrasive roller 152 includes a certain pitch thread for advancing the kernels as well as an abrasive grit surface. These characteristics can be adjusted, for example by having various abrasive rollers, to vary the action exerted on the kernels as they pass through the machine.
  • the machine includes an intake hopper 156 for receiving the partially processed wheat kernels, and the processed kernels are discharged at chute 158. Again, a control member 160 varies the opening of the discharge chute to thereby vary the back pressure.
  • Adjustment is made by means of the lever arm and weight arrangement 162. Air under pressure passes through the hollow shaft 164 and is axially discharged through the abrasive roller 152 to cool the wheat kernels and urge removed bran coats to pass through the perforated steel cylinder 154. The air also serves to clean the kernels of small bran particles. The removed bran layers or layer pass through the perforated steel cylinder, collect in cavity 161, and are discharged separately.
  • Both friction and abrasion machines preferably can be adjusted to provide satisfactory control of the bran layers removed, irregardless of the size of the kernels. Total control of the bran layers removed in each step is not required, however effective control of the last abrasion operation can increase the yield by assuring the endosperm remains essentially intact.
  • Both friction and abrasion machines utilize the non-tempered endosperm as an internal support for stripping the bran from the kernels.
  • This approach is in direct contradiction to the use of grinding apparatus in the conventional process which not only breaks the fused bran coat, but also breaks the endosperm.
  • some of the removed bran layers may be added back after the endosperm has been milled into flour. This will allow a greater degree of accuracy with respect to the actual type of fibres in the flour and the amount thereof.
  • the present process could be completed as a separate step and the processed kernels stored for later milling. Also, the processed kernels can be reintroduced to any of the friction and abrasion operations if for some reason they are not satisfactory.
  • the process as generally indicated in Fig. 1 is designed to allow separation of the bran layers in a sequential manner where the separated bran layers, if desired, can be used for specialized products. This separation cannot be accomplished with the conventional process in that the bran layers have been fused. By sequentially removing and separating the bran layers, more specialized and profitable products can be produced. Therefore, not only is the separating of the bran layers important with respect to milling of the endosperm, it is also important as valuable by-products are created.

Landscapes

  • Adjustment And Processing Of Grains (AREA)
  • Cereal-Derived Products (AREA)
  • Disintegrating Or Milling (AREA)
EP88303769A 1987-06-18 1988-04-27 Procédé et appareil pour le traitement des grains de froment Withdrawn EP0295774A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US6406787A 1987-06-18 1987-06-18
US64067 1987-06-18
CA540462A CA1321525C (fr) 1987-06-18 1987-06-24 Procede de mouture de la farine

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0295774A2 true EP0295774A2 (fr) 1988-12-21
EP0295774A3 EP0295774A3 (fr) 1989-12-20

Family

ID=25671391

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88303769A Withdrawn EP0295774A3 (fr) 1987-06-18 1988-04-27 Procédé et appareil pour le traitement des grains de froment

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0295774A3 (fr)
JP (1) JPS6418450A (fr)
CA (1) CA1321525C (fr)

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0373274A1 (fr) * 1988-12-16 1990-06-20 TKAC & TIMM ENTERPRISES LIMITED Procédé utilisé pour le broyage de la farine
US5089282A (en) * 1990-07-24 1992-02-18 Conagra Inc. Wheat milling process
US5104671A (en) * 1990-07-24 1992-04-14 Conagra, Inc. Wheat milling process
US5141764A (en) * 1990-07-24 1992-08-25 Conagra, Inc. Wheat milling process
US5186968A (en) * 1991-09-09 1993-02-16 Conagra, Inc. Process for milling cereal grains
US5194287A (en) * 1990-07-24 1993-03-16 Conagra, Inc. Wheat milling process and milled wheat product
US5211343A (en) * 1991-09-09 1993-05-18 Conagra, Inc. Cereal grain milling system with disc mill and improved bran removal machine
US5211982A (en) * 1990-07-24 1993-05-18 Conagra, Inc. Wheat milling process and milled wheat product
EP0810031A3 (fr) * 1996-05-31 1998-10-21 Satake Corporation Procédé de traitement préliminaire lors du broyage de la farine
WO2003080248A1 (fr) * 2002-03-25 2003-10-02 Council Of Scientific And Industrial Research Mil rouge decortique (eleusine coracana) et son procede de preparation
WO2005063048A1 (fr) * 2003-12-31 2005-07-14 Council Of Scientific & Industrial Research Procede de preparation de millet souffle
EP1450625A4 (fr) * 2001-12-04 2007-02-21 Satake Usa Inc Procede de degermage du mais
AP2146A (en) * 2003-12-31 2010-09-22 Council Scient Ind Res Process for preparation of expanded millet.
EP1800541B1 (fr) * 2005-12-23 2011-09-28 Barilla G. e R. Fratelli S.p.A. Farine de blé tendre à haute teneur en son, procédé pour sa fabrication et produits de boulangerie la contenant
US8771777B2 (en) 2005-11-11 2014-07-08 Barilla G. E R. Fratelli S.P.A. Durum wheat pasta with high alimentary bran content and process for the production thereof
WO2018091615A1 (fr) 2016-11-21 2018-05-24 Ambiente E Nutrizione S.R.L. Procédé de production de farine de grains entiers

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH04236604A (ja) * 1991-01-18 1992-08-25 Nitto Seiko Co Ltd ロボットの制御装置
DE10300295A1 (de) * 2003-01-02 2004-07-15 Bühler AG Verfahren und Anlage zur Reinigung von Getreide
BRPI0621620A2 (pt) * 2006-04-25 2011-12-13 Buehler Ag Geb processo e instalação para despeliculização de cereal

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR778710A (fr) * 1933-12-08 1935-03-22 Procédé, machine et installation pour décortiquer et conditionner le blé et autres céréales ou graines
JPS6044014B2 (ja) * 1977-04-01 1985-10-01 株式会社 サタケ 精米装置
CH640750A5 (en) * 1979-03-29 1984-01-31 Buehler Ag Geb Method for preparing and roller-milling cereal, and device for carrying out the method
US4474362A (en) * 1983-03-24 1984-10-02 Flo-Con Systems, Inc. Valve and method and components thereof
JPS6287250A (ja) * 1985-10-14 1987-04-21 株式会社　サタケ 小麦の製粉方法
CA1251428A (fr) * 1985-09-30 1989-03-21 Toshihiko Satake Systeme de pretraitement pour la monture du ble et procede de monture

Cited By (23)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0373274A1 (fr) * 1988-12-16 1990-06-20 TKAC & TIMM ENTERPRISES LIMITED Procédé utilisé pour le broyage de la farine
AU619230B2 (en) * 1988-12-16 1992-01-23 Tkac And Timm Enterprises Limited Process for removing bran layers from wheat kernels and products produced thereby
US5089282A (en) * 1990-07-24 1992-02-18 Conagra Inc. Wheat milling process
US5104671A (en) * 1990-07-24 1992-04-14 Conagra, Inc. Wheat milling process
US5141764A (en) * 1990-07-24 1992-08-25 Conagra, Inc. Wheat milling process
AU634668B2 (en) * 1990-07-24 1993-02-25 Conagra, Inc. Improved wheat milling process and milled wheat product
US5194287A (en) * 1990-07-24 1993-03-16 Conagra, Inc. Wheat milling process and milled wheat product
US5211982A (en) * 1990-07-24 1993-05-18 Conagra, Inc. Wheat milling process and milled wheat product
US5186968A (en) * 1991-09-09 1993-02-16 Conagra, Inc. Process for milling cereal grains
US5211343A (en) * 1991-09-09 1993-05-18 Conagra, Inc. Cereal grain milling system with disc mill and improved bran removal machine
EP0810031A3 (fr) * 1996-05-31 1998-10-21 Satake Corporation Procédé de traitement préliminaire lors du broyage de la farine
EP1450625A4 (fr) * 2001-12-04 2007-02-21 Satake Usa Inc Procede de degermage du mais
WO2003080248A1 (fr) * 2002-03-25 2003-10-02 Council Of Scientific And Industrial Research Mil rouge decortique (eleusine coracana) et son procede de preparation
WO2005063048A1 (fr) * 2003-12-31 2005-07-14 Council Of Scientific & Industrial Research Procede de preparation de millet souffle
GB2428959A (en) * 2003-12-31 2007-02-14 Council Scient Ind Res Process for preparation of expanded millet
GB2428959B (en) * 2003-12-31 2008-07-09 Council Scient Ind Res Process for preparation of expanded millet
AP2146A (en) * 2003-12-31 2010-09-22 Council Scient Ind Res Process for preparation of expanded millet.
US7871657B2 (en) 2003-12-31 2011-01-18 Council Of Scientific & Industrial Research Process for preparation of expanded millet
US8771777B2 (en) 2005-11-11 2014-07-08 Barilla G. E R. Fratelli S.P.A. Durum wheat pasta with high alimentary bran content and process for the production thereof
US8808782B2 (en) 2005-11-11 2014-08-19 Barilla G.E R. Fratelli S.P.A. Durum wheat pasta with high alimentary bran content and process for the production thereof
EP1800541B1 (fr) * 2005-12-23 2011-09-28 Barilla G. e R. Fratelli S.p.A. Farine de blé tendre à haute teneur en son, procédé pour sa fabrication et produits de boulangerie la contenant
US8043646B2 (en) 2005-12-23 2011-10-25 Barilla G. E R. Fratelli S.P.A. Soft wheat flour with high bran content, process for its production and bakery products containing it
WO2018091615A1 (fr) 2016-11-21 2018-05-24 Ambiente E Nutrizione S.R.L. Procédé de production de farine de grains entiers

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0295774A3 (fr) 1989-12-20
CA1321525C (fr) 1993-08-24
JPS6418450A (en) 1989-01-23

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0373274B1 (fr) Procédé utilisé pour le broyage de la farine
CA1321525C (fr) Procede de mouture de la farine
US6936294B2 (en) Corn degermination process
US3399839A (en) Dry milling corn process
US5650018A (en) Method and apparatus for the scoring of and the preparation for milling of cereal
DE1211901B (de) Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Vermahlung von Getreide und aehnlichen Koernerfruechten
US6394098B1 (en) Method and apparatus for processing tobacco
EP1554042B1 (fr) Procede de production de farine de ble
EP0994751B1 (fr) Procede et dispositif pour moudre des grains
US5387430A (en) By-product fractions from debranned wheat
US5240733A (en) Dietary fibre composition
US20040258814A1 (en) Process of forming corn flaking grits of improved quality with minimization of production of corn doubles
JPH0143544B2 (fr)
JP2001017107A (ja) 丸大豆を子葉と胚芽と皮に分離する方法
EP1578534B1 (fr) Procede et equipement pour monder des cereales
AU2020267254A1 (en) An integrated machine for processing nuts with hard or soft shells
RU2002134816A (ru) Способ помола зерна и семян, содержащих оболочку, ядро и зародыш, например, семян амаранта
US3088827A (en) Method of milling corn to simulate rice
US2460389A (en) Solvent extraction as step in milling process
DE19733424C2 (de) Verfahren zum Vermahlen von Körnerfrüchten
GB2268386A (en) A process for treating cereal grain prior to milling
EP3539667B1 (fr) Procédé de mouture amélioré
RU2227759C2 (ru) Способ производства муки из пшеницы
SE510964C2 (sv) Förfarande för bearbetning av spannmålskärnor
JPH02169045A (ja) 麦粒の加水精麦方法およびその装置

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

RHK1 Main classification (correction)

Ipc: B02B 3/04

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19900618

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19910612

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 19920225