891,289. Malting. DOMINION MALTING (ONTARIO) Ltd. Aug. 21, 1959 [Aug. 28, 1958], No. 27610/58. Class 14 (2). [Also in Group XXX] In the malting of grain, a bed of grain is continuously formed and moved in a predetermined path, the moving bed of grain is subjected to intermittent periods of water spray, periods of humid aeration, and intervening periods of rest, all at temperatures between 50‹ and 100‹ F., and finally the bed of grain is moved through a drying zone at elevated temperatures. In a preferred operation, the moving bed of grain may be sprayed with water for not more than five hours, aerated for not more than twelve hours, intermittently sprayed and aerated for not more than 22 hours, allowed to rest for a period of not more than four hours, drenched for not more than one hour, subjected to dry aeration for not more than four hours and then to moist aeration for not more than 21 hours, and, finally, moved through a drying zone at elevated temperatures; the moisture contents of the grain after spraying and before drying should preferably be 32-35% and 45-50% wet basis respectively. After drenching the grain may be subjected to a chemical treatment to inhibit new growth. Prior to the malting the grain may be wetted and washed by immersion in a tank and passage through an inclined, open screwconveyer in counterflow to water, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification (not shown). During malting the grain may be treated with sprayed water and air of the requisite humidity on a succession of variable-speed, foraminous conveyers 17, 21, 22, Fig. 9, turning of the grain -being accomplished by mechanical agitators 23. Air for grain on the conveyer 21, for instance, is introduced and withdrawn through duets 38, 39 respectively; flexible aprons 48 and sealing plates 45 connected to the conveyer, Fig. 10, (not shown, see Group XXX) are provided to avoid loss of air. According to the Provisional Specification, the grain may be uniformly spread to a desired depth on a foraminous conveyer by a swing belt loader, the conveyers, which may be inclined up to 38 degrees, may consist of perforated plates or trays, chambers with perforated bottoms or of wire mesh, and a bleaching or stabilizing agent such as sulphur dioxide may be added to the air employed in the malting.
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