Claims:What is claimed is:
1. A flour mill stone manufacturing process comprising steps of:
mixing grain and binder solution in predefined quantities for a predefined time period to obtain a mixture;
sieving the mixture;
pressing the sieved mixture with a load against a predefined mould structure to obtain a wheel shaped flour mill stone;
drying the wheel shaped flour mill stone;
heating the wheel shaped flour mill stone for a predefined heating cycle; and
processing the wheel stone to obtain a vitrified flour mill stone (10).

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the process further comprises stacking of more than one vitrified flour mill stone and fasten the stack to achieve a segmented type flour mill stone, wherein the segmented type flour mill stone is loaded in a mill stone machine for grinding pulses, rice, food grains, lentils, etc.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the grain is made from material comprising an aluminum oxide in combination of 2.4 to 4.3 grits.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the binder solution comprises a dextrin powder and ceramic mixture.

5. The process of claim1, wherein the wheel shaped flour mill stone is subjected to the predefined heating cycle in a temperature range between 1150 and 1300 degree Celsius.

6. The process of claim1, wherein the vitrified flour mill stone is suitably grooved (12, 14) to fine grind pulses, food grains, rice, lentils, etc. or like.

7. The process of claim 3, wherein the binder solution further comprises a mix of ceramic powder and epoxy resins.

8. The vitrified flour mill stone is obtained or manufactured by the method of claim1.

9. A flour mill stone comprising:
a grain and a binder solution, wherein the grain and the binder solution are mixed in a predefined quantity for predefined time period to obtain a mixture, wherein the mixture is sieved before pressing said mixture against a predefined mould structure to obtain a wheel shaped flour mill stone, wherein the wheel shaped flour mill stone is heated for a predefined heating cycle and processed to obtain a vitrified flour mill stone.

10. The flour mill stone of claim 9, wherein the flour mill stone further comprises a stack of more than one vitrified flour mill stone, wherein the stack is fastened to achieve a segmented type vitrified flour mill stone, wherein the segmented type vitrified flour mill stone is loaded in a mill stone machine for grinding pulses, rice, food grains, lentils, etc.

11. The flour mill stone of claim 9, wherein the grain is made from material comprising aluminum oxide in combination of 2.4 to 4.3 grits and the binder solution is made from material comprising a dextrin powder and ceramic mixture.

12. The flour mill stone of claim 9, wherein the wheel shaped flour mill stone is subjected to the predefined heating cycle in a temperature range between 1150 and 1300 degree Celsius. , Description:FORM 2
THE PATENT ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10 and rule 13)

“FLOUR MILL STONE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THEREOF”

APPLICANT: Sterling Abrasives Ltd
NATIONALITY: INDIAN
ADDRESS: 45, 46 G.I.D.C Odhav Road, Ahmedabad - 382415

PREAMBLE: The following complete specification describes the invention.

FLOUR MILL STONE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THEREOF

BACKGROUND
Technical field
The present invention relates to grinding flour mill stone, and more particularly to a grinding stone made from a vitrified technology using epoxy resins in the grinding wheel or grinding stone.
Description of the prior art
A grinding mill is the exposure of a mechanical force to a grain to overcome the interior bonding forces of the grain. The mechanical force causes the grain to break and pulverizes the grain into small pieces or into flour. Grinding food serves several purposes such as increasing the flavor, the texture, and nutritional value of the food.

The concept of grinding or milling food particles dates to prehistoric humans. Currently, there are several different types of grinding mills available. One very popular method of grinding utilizes mill stones. Grain or other food is placed between the two milling heads. As the mill stones rotate, the grain is shredded into smaller particles. In some applications, only one mill stone is rotating while the other mill stone remains stationary.

Grinding mills that utilize mill stones have several limitations. To control the texture and size of the final grain or flour, the user must control the compression force between the mill stones. If the compression force between the mill stones is too weak, the mill stones will not apply enough force to the grain and will not achieve the desired final product. However, if the compression force between the mill stones is too great, the mill stones will be destroyed or wear prematurely. The mill stones have a very short shelf life mainly due to wear and tear of the stones when subjected to long hours of flour grinding. This often results in frequent servicing or slotting of the mill stones to maintain the same and good quality of the powdered flour.

Recently, the flour mill stones are made through magnesite process which enhances the shelf life of the stones to some extent. However, the shelf life of the stone made through magnesite process is still less to meet the demands of the modern needs. These stones suffer from premature wear and tear and often require frequent maintenance such as slotting, cutting, etc. Also seasonal changes in the weather affect the performance of the stone, thereby, reducing the shelf life of the stones. Therefore, there is a need for a mill stone made from a new or novel method/process which increases the shelf life of the stones. The stone should also be less susceptible to frequent wear and tear and require less maintenance.

SUMMARY
In view of the foregoing, an embodiment herein provides a flour mill stone manufactured from vitrified technology using epoxy resins. The manufacturing process comprising steps of: mixing grain and binder solution in predefined quantities for a predefined time period to obtain a mixture, sieving the mixture, pressing the sieved mixture with a load against a predefined mould to obtain a wheel shaped flour mill stone, drying the wheel shaped flour mill stone, heating the wheel shaped flour mill stone for a predefined heating cycle, and processing the wheel stone to obtain a vitrified flour mill stone.

In an embodiment, the process further includes stacking of more than one vitrified flour mill stone and fasten the stack to achieve a segmented type flour mill stone. The segmented type flour mill stone may be then loaded in a mill stone machine for grinding pulses, rice, food grains, lentils, etc.

In an embodiment, the grain is made from material comprising aluminum oxide in combination of 2.4 to 4.3 grits and a vitrified bond. In an embodiment, the binder solution may be made from material comprising a dextrin powder. The wheel shaped flour mill stone may be subjected to a heating cycle in the temperature range between 1200 and 1300 degree Celsius. The vitrified flour mill stone is suitably grooved to powder pulses, rice, food grains, lentils, etc. or like.

In one embodiment, the vitrified bond comprises a mix of ceramic powder and epoxy resins. In another embodiment the flour mill stone includes a grain and a binder. The grain and the binder are mixed in a predefined quantity for predefined time period to obtain a mixture. The mixture may be then sieved before pressing the mixture against a predefined mould to obtain a wheel shaped flour mill stone. The wheel shaped flour mill stone may be heated for a predefined heating cycle and processed to obtain a vitrified flour mill stone.

These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in the accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in the context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments:

Figure 1 illustrates a vitrified flour mill stone in accordance with the present embodiment mentioned herein; and

Figure 2 illustrates a process of manufacturing the vitrified flour mill stone in accordance with the present embodiment mentioned herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

References in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” member that a particular feature, structure, characteristics, or function described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

As mentioned, there remains a need for a mill stone, which is made from a new or novel method or process and which increases the shelf life of the stones. The stone should also be less susceptible to frequent wear and tear and require less maintenance. The embodiments of the present disclosure provided herein tries to overcome the limitations of the previous technology or process for manufacturing flour mill stones. The embodiments herein provides a grinding stone made from a vitrified technology using epoxy resins in a grinding wheel or grinding stone. Now referring Fig. 1 through 2, the various embodiments of the present disclosure is explained in detail.

Figure 1 illustrates a vitrified flour mill stone 10 in accordance with the present embodiment. The vitrified flour mill stone includes a grain and a binder solution. The grain and the binder solution may be mixed in a predefined quantity for predefined time period to obtain a mixture. The mixture is then sieved before pressing the mixture against a predefined mould to obtain a wheel shaped flour mill stone. The wheel shaped flour mill stone may be heated for a predefined heating cycle and processed to obtain a vitrified flour mill stone 10.

In an embodiment, the flour mill stone further includes a stack of more than one vitrified flour mill stone, wherein the stack is fastened to achieve a segmented type vitrified flour mill stone, wherein the segmented type vitrified flour mill stone may be loaded in a mill stone machine for grinding pulses, rice, food grains, lentils, etc.
In an embodiment, the grain may be made from material which includes aluminum oxide in combination of 2.4 to 4.3 grits and a vitrified bond. The binder solution may be made from material which includes a dextrin powder.

The vitrified flour mill stone may be grooved on the surface. The grooved surface may include drop portion 12 and raised portion 14. The combination of the groves 12, 14 may facilitate fine grinding of pulses, grains, rice, etc. In one embodiment, the grooves may also be termed as “slots”. The slots might wear out in shape while in continuous operation for longer periods.

Figure 2 illustrates a process of manufacturing the vitrified flour mill stone 10 in accordance with the present embodiment mentioned herein. The complete process of manufacturing the vitrified flour mill stone 10 is explained with the help of following steps. In step 20, a grain and a binder solution may be mixed together may be in a predefined quantities for a predefined time period to obtain a mixture. In step 22, the mixture is then sieved. In step 24, the sieved mixture may be pressed with a load against a predefined mould structure to obtain a wheel shaped flour mill stone.

In step 26, the wheel shaped flour mill stone may be dried naturally. In one embodiment, the stones may be dried though an industrial process of drying. In step 28, heating the wheel shaped flour mill stone for a predefined heating cycle. In step 30, the wheel stone may be processed further to obtain a finished vitrified flour mill stone10. In an embodiment, the wheel shaped flour mill stone may be subjected to a heating cycle in the temperature range between 1200 and 1300 degree Celsius.
In an embodiment, the process further includes stacking of more than one vitrified flour mill stone and fasten the stack to achieve a segmented type flour mill stone. The segmented type flour mill stone may be then loaded in a mill stone machine for grinding pulses, rice, food grains, lentils, etc.

In an advantages embodiment, the vitrified flour mill stone doesn’t require frequent dressing to maintain the geometry of the stone. The overall weight of the stone is less due to high density of the therefore low electrical load to move the wheel 10 which results in higher output rate, electricity saving, etc. The low weight advantage works seamlessly well on variety of pulses, grains, etc. and provides better quality output.

In another advantages embodiment, the stone 10 has a longer shelf life, therefore, can be used for years together without the need for replacement. The stone 10 is free from any moisture or weather effects and may be used in all seasons. Thus, various embodiments of the present disclosure propose a novel method to increase the shelf life of the stones and are less susceptible to frequent wear and tear.

It will be apparent to one of the ordinary skill in the art that many modifications, improvements and sub-combinations of the various embodiments, adaptations and variations can be made to the invention without departing from the scope thereof as claimed in the following claims.