Duane Stephen Rutherford, 9212707 Champion Forest Dr, Houston, TX 77066

5744184, Apr 28, 1998

Mar 8, 1996

8/610607

John Hugh Kendall - Sugar Land TX
Ranvir Biki Mohindra - Houston TX
Duane Stephen Rutherford - Houston TX
Satoru Satake - Tokyo, JP
Sigeharu Kanamoto - Mihara, JP
Katsuyuki Kumamoto - Mihara, JP

Riviana Foods, Inc. - Houston TX

A23L 1182

426506

Water is circulated in the processing of food products, such as rice, and in quantities sufficient to avoid undesirable clumping within processing machinery. Further, recycled water produced during the processing of food products is recirculated and reabsorbed by the food products. A portion of the water which contains cooked starch is drained off, and the remainder is recirculated in the processing of additional food products. In one application, a method and apparatus for recirculating water in the processing of rice is provided, whereby the ratio of the amount of water used and/or excreted in the processing of the rice as compared to the amount of cooked rice is less than or equal to about 3:1 by volume.

5613428, Mar 25, 1997

Jun 4, 1996

8/658980

John H. Kendall - Sugar Land TX
Ranvir B. Mohindra - Houston TX
Duane S. Rutherford - Houston TX
Satoru Satake - Tokyo, JP
Sigeharu Kanamoto - Mihara, JP
Katsuyuki Kumamoto - Mihara, JP

Riviana Foods, Inc. - Houston TX
Satake Corporation - Higashi-Hiroshima

A23B 408

99473

An apparatus and method are disclosed for cooking food products. In particular, cereal grains and rice products may be cooked pursuant to a multi-step process in which rice is first prewashed, presteamed, and then allowed to absorb water in a steeping step for a short time before being cooked in a steam cooker. The rice may be passed along to various dryers, and later dried and packaged for use by the consumer. Further, an apparatus and method are disclosed for using and recirculating water in a more efficient and economical manner in a food processing operation.

6082251, Jul 4, 2000

Mar 24, 1997

8/842324

John Hugh Kendall - Sugar Land TX
Banvir B. Mohindra - Houston TX
Duane Stephen Rutherford - Houston TX
Satoru Satake - Tokyo, JP
Sigeharu Kanamoto - Mihara, JP
Katsuyuki Kumamoto - Mihara, JP

Riviana Foods, Inc. - Houston TX
Satake Corp. - Higashi-Hiroshima

A23B 408

99473

An apparatus and method are disclosed for cooking food products. In particular, cereal grains and rice products may be cooked pursuant to a multi-step process in which rice is first prewashed, presteamed, and then allowed to absorb water in a steeping step for a short time before being cooked in a steam cooker. The rice may be passed along to various dryers, and later dried and packaged for use by the consumer. Further, an apparatus and method are disclosed for using and recirculating water in a more efficient and economical manner in a food processing operation.

5997930, Dec 7, 1999

Nov 26, 1997

8/979397

John Hugh Kendall - Sugar Land TX
Ranvir Biki Mohindra - Houston TX
Duane Stephen Rutherford - Houston TX
Satoru Satake - Tokyo, JP
Sigeharu Kanamoto - Mihara, JP
Katsuyuki Kumamoto - Mihara, JP

Riviana Foods, Inc. - Houston TX
USA/Higashi-Hiroshima

A23L 1025

426460

The field of the invention relates to a method for processing food products to prepare the food products for packaging. The methods involve presteaming, steeping, steam cooking, and then drying the food products. The method reveals pressure cooking with a pressure that is maintained below 15 psi, and in a steam vessel. Chemical additives may be added to the food products during processing. The apparatus includes a conveyor, steeping tanks as needed, and a water recirculation system. A dryer which includes a rotating barrel adapted for agitation of the food products during cooking is also included.

6125550, Oct 3, 2000

Apr 8, 1997

8/835512

John Hugh Kendall - Sugar Land TX
Ranvir Biki Mohindra - Houston TX
Duane Stephen Rutherford - Houston TX
Satoru Satake - Tokyo, JP
Sigeharu Kanamoto - Mihara, JP
Katsuyuki Kumamoto - Mihara, JP

Riviana Foods, Inc. - Houston TX
Satake Corporation

F26B 508

34316

The field of the invention is food drying apparatus and methods. In particular, the invention discloses a rotary dryer which dries food granules, such as rice, by rotation within a perforated cylindrical barrel, to prepare the rice for packaging. The dryer provides high velocity drying zones along its length, and high temperatures may be used.

5852882, Dec 29, 1998

Nov 25, 1996

8/756210

John Hugh Kendall - Sugar Land TX
Ranvir Biki Mohindra - Houston TX
Duane Stephen Rutherford - Houston TX
Satoru Satake - Tokyo, JP
Sigeharu Kanamoto - Mihara, JP
Katsuyuki Kumamoto - Mihara, JP

Riviana Foods, Inc. - Houston TX
Satake Corporation - Higashi-Hiroshima

F26B 1102

34599

The field of the invention is food drying apparatus and methods. In particular, the invention discloses a rotary dryer which dries food granules, such as rice, by rotation within a perforated cylindrical barrel, to prepare the rice for packaging. The dryer provides high velocity drying zones along its length, and high temperatures may be used.