Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01J—MANUFACTURE OF DAIRY PRODUCTS
  • A01J25/00—Cheese-making
  • A01J25/12—Forming the cheese
  • A01J25/15—Presses therefor

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an apparatus for shaping and pressing Grana cheese.
• the invention relates to a process for the production of Grana cheese using said apparatus.
• the invention concerns an apparatus of the above kind that allows the mechanisation of some steps of the production process for the Grana cheese.
• the caseous mass is lifted by a suitable shovel.
• the caseous mass obtained from a kier having a capacity of
• the form is placed on the inclined plane for the exctraction of the serum, wound by cloth and band, and covered by a wood disc (round) of 8 - 10 Kg.
• the known process is substantially a manual process, so that it is surely needed to automatize and mechanise, at least at a certain degree, the same process.
• the apparatus according to the present invention made up of a press for shaping and pressing a Grana form, eventually to be serially provide with others, in order to obtain limited daily productions that can be modified time by time in case of a not so big dairy.
• It is therefore a specific object of the present invention an apparatus for shaping and pressing Grana cheese comprising a support frame, a first container cylinder for the serum, opened at the top and at the bottom, a second container cylinder for the curd, having an apertured wall and opened at the top and at the bottom, provided concentric inside said first container cylinder, a bearing plate below said container cylinders, upon which the cheese form is leaned, means to upward and downward move said container cylinders with respect to said plate along said frame, means for making a seal between said first cylinder and said plate, means for shaping and pressing the curd within said second container cylinder, outlet means for making the serum coming out from said second container cylinder, ejection means of the obtained form on said bearing plate, and control means for actuating the various component.
• said outlet means for the serum are made up of an overflow provided upper on said first container cylinder, and of a lower exit, always provided on said first cylinder, provided with opening and closure means.
• a hopper can be provided below said plate in order to discharge the remaining serum.
• Said means to move said container cylinders along the support frame preferably comprises a pair of pneumatic, hydraulic, etc. pistons, laterally provided with respect to said container cylinders.
• said means for making the seal between said first cylinder and said plate comprises at least a pneumatic, hydraulic, etc. piston, provided above said first container cylinder.
• said curd shaping and pressing means comprises a pneumatic, hydraulic, etc. piston vertically acting from the above with respect to said second apertured container cylinder and at the bottom bearing a little plate, having a diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of said second apertured cylinder, so as to make a pressing and shaping action on the curd for a pre- established period time.
• the pressure applied on the curd can reach about 5 atm.
• said ejection means of the obtained form on said bearing plate are made up of a horizontal piston acting on said movable plate, displacing the form and bringing back the plate in position for the positioning of a new band.
• figure 1 is a side view of the apparatus according to the invention
• figure 2 is a front view of the apparatus of figure 1
• figure 3 is a section view taken along the line Ill-Ill figure 1
• figure 4 is a plan view of the apparatus of figure 1
• figure 5 is a section view taken along line V-V of figure 4
• figure 6 is a section view taken along the line VI-VI of figure 4.
• the cut and start of the extraction of the serum operations of the curd granules are started, said granules being subjected to the two traditional cooking at 44°C and 53°C, with an interval of stirred stop of about 6 - 15 minutes.
• the apparatus according to the invention is used.
• the apparatus 1 provides a support frame 2, supporting all the different parts of the same apparatus 1.
• a movable cylinder 3 containing the serum and a apertured cylinder 4 (see particularly figures 5 and 6) containing the curd are provided within said frame 2 .
• the cylinder 4 is provided coassially inside the cylinder 3.
• Said cylinders 3 and 4 are supported by a superior support 5, vertically movable by the vertical pistons 6.
• a pressing and shaping plate 7 actuated by the pressing vertical piston 8.
• pistons 9 are provided, that allows the seal with the lower plate 10 and the lifting for discharging the remaining serum.
• the cylinder 3 containing the serum can vertically slide with respect to the frame 2 along the sliding guides 11.
• the cylinder 3 is provided with two outlets, respectively upper
• the upper outlet 12 acts as overflow, while the lower outlet 13 discharges the serum.
• a movable base 16 bearing the cheese form and actuated by the piston 17 is provided.
• the control panel providing the manometers for the regulation of the different pistons, the control levers and all the necessary actuation members for the different parts of the apparatus according to the invention.
• the serum and the curd are introduced, by gravity or pumping, within the apparatus 1 according to the invention, said apparatus 1 comprising two cylinders: the outer one 3 realized with an integral sheet and the inner one 4 with a apertured sheet.
• the two cylinders 3 and 4 are provided in such a way to realise a perfect sealing with the lower plate 10, so as to avoid leakage during the rest time of the curd within the cylinder 4.
• the drainage of the excess serum at the end of the rest time occurs by the lower discharge 13, provided with a plug, and it is adjusted on the basis of the time pre-established of rest of the curd within the serum; during this time the selection and the growth of the lactic microflora begins.
• the hydraulic piston 8 makes a vertical pressure in order to better compact the caseous mass and improve the ejection of the serum.
• the value of the pressure varies on the basis of the kind of working to be performed, and can even reach 5 atm.
• the start of the working occurs with the two cylinders 3 and 4 lowered, the band, not shown in a position around the apertured cylinder 4, and the piston 8 with the plate 7 lifted.
• the pressing phase ends after 30 - 60 minutes and the form is released form the container cylinders 3 and 4.
• the serum By the hopper 15 and the discharge 14, the serum still remaining is eliminated.
• the hydraulic piston 17 By the hydraulic piston 17, the form already introduced within the band is thrusted outward, ready to reach a hot room where the maturation step starts until obtaining the final product.
• the pistons 9 allow to have a perfect lower sealing between the outer cylinder 3 and the lower plate 10 during the pressing and shaping step.

Landscapes

• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Husbandry (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Dairy Products (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=11402302

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Family Cites Families (2)

• 1994
  • 1994-03-02 IT ITRM940110A patent/IT1272953B/it active IP Right Grant
• 1995
  • 1995-02-24 EP EP95909949A patent/EP0742686A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1995-02-24 WO PCT/IT1995/000030 patent/WO1995023502A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1995-02-24 AU AU18230/95A patent/AU1823095A/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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