The Elephant mill is a type of mill that uses a group of four rollers to crush and grind grain. It was invented in the late 19th century and is still used today, particularly in the flour milling industry.
The mill gets its name from the fact that the rollers are shaped like elephant trunks, each of which is powered by a separate motor. The use of four rollers allows for greater precision and consistency in the milling process, resulting in a higher quality flour.
History of the Elephant Mill
The Elephant mill was invented in Budapest, Hungary in the late 19th century by the engineer Ganz Ábrahám. The mill was first exhibited at the Paris Exhibition in 1889, where it won a gold medal.
It quickly became popular in Europe and was soon exported to other countries, including the United States.
The Elephant mill was particularly useful for milling hard grains, such as durum wheat, which had previously been difficult to process using traditional mills.
The use of four rollers allowed for greater control over the grinding process, resulting in a finer and more consistent product.
How the Elephant Mill Works
The Elephant mill consists of four rollers, each of which is shaped like an elephant trunk. The rollers are mounted on a frame and are powered by separate motors, which allows for greater control over the milling process.
The grain is fed into the mill through a hopper and is guided between the rotating rollers. The rollers crush and grind the grain, separating the flour from the bran and germ.
The milling process can be adjusted to produce different grades of flour, depending on the desired end use.
For example, bread flour requires a higher protein content than pastry flour, and this can be achieved by adjusting the spacing between the rollers.
Advantages of the Elephant Mill
The Elephant mill offers several advantages over traditional milling methods. Firstly, the use of four rollers allows for greater precision and consistency in the grinding process, resulting in a higher quality flour.
Secondly, the use of separate motors for each roller means that the milling process can be adjusted more easily, allowing for greater flexibility in the types of flour produced. Finally, the Elephant mill is more efficient than traditional mills, as it requires less energy to produce the same amount of flour.
Applications of the Elephant Mill
The Elephant mill is widely used in the flour milling industry and is particularly useful for milling hard grains, such as durum wheat and rye. It is also used to produce specialty flours, such as gluten-free flour and organic flour.
In addition, the Elephant mill is used in the production of animal feed, as well as in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.
Conclusion
The Elephant mill is a type of mill that uses a group of four rollers to crush and grind grain. It was invented in the late 19th century and is still used today in the flour milling industry.
The use of four rollers allows for greater precision and consistency in the milling process, resulting in a higher quality flour. The Elephant mill is widely used in the production of bread flour, pastry flour, and specialty flours, as well as in the production of animal feed and in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.