Apparatus for preparing a curd mass

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a curd mass by draining a mixture of whey and curds in an upright column consists of a permeable sleeve (1, 1') of circular or rectangular cross-section, one or more sleeves (1, 1') being surrounded, with some clearance, by a tube (2) mounted on a worktable (3). The apparatus further comprises means (4) at one end of the tube, above or under the worktable (3), for feeding the mixture of whey and curds and means at the other end of the sleeve (1, 1'), under or above the worktable (3), for receiving and discharging a drained and extruded curd mass. The free space between the sleeve (1) or sleeves (1') and the tube (2) is subdivided into various compartments (9), lying one above the other, with the aid of sealing partitions (10). Each compartment (9) is provided with inlet and outlet connections (11, 12) for whey or cleaning liquid. The sleeve or sleeves (1,1′) disposed inside the same tube (2) forms or form a fixed assembly (13) with the partitions (10) and with said tube. The assembly thus formed is detachably fastened on the worktable (3), while the connections (11,12) of the compartments (9) are also provided with detachable couplings.

Description: The invention relates to an apparatus for preparing a curd mass by draining a mixture of whey and curds, comprising an upright column consisting of at least one permeable sleeve and a tube surrounding the permeable sleeve or sleeves and leaving a free space between the tube and the sleeve or sleeves and further comprising means at one end of the column for feeding the mixture of whey and curds and means at the other end of the column for receiving and discharging a drained and extruded curd mass, the free space between the sleeve or sleeves and the tube being subdivided into various compartments, lying one above the other, with the aid of sealing partitions, while each compartment is provided with inlet and outlet connections for whey or cleaning liquid. Such an apparatus is known from NL-A-7315742. In cheese factories the column must from time to time be removed from the machine for inspection and cleaning purposes, or for replacement by another column. In the known apparatus the column is fixed. Removal of the column from the machine is very cumbersome and will take a long time. It is the object of the invention to obviate this drawback. This object is achieved by an apparatus of the abovementioned type which is characterized in that the sleeve or sleeves, the tube and the sealing partition are fixedly connected to one another so that the column constitutes an integral unit and in that the column is provided near the bottom rim of the tube with a flange which is detachably fastened on a worktable by means of clamp plates, while the outlet connections of the compartments are provided with quick-release couplings. As a result of these measures, the removal and replacement of the column can be carried out quickly and in an easy manner. WO-A-8807332 discloses an apparatus for forming blocks of cheese from prepared cheese curd comprising a hollow tower which is bolted to a hollow base. The tower is not detachable from the base in an easy manner. Moreover, the free space between the casing and the lining tube is not subdivided in compartments, which are provided inlet and outlet connections. A preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention is claimed in the dependent claim. The apparatus according to the invention will be described with reference to the drawing, which shows some variants of this apparatus. Figure 1 is a simplified side view of the apparatus. Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the line II-II in Figure 1, with a permeable sleeve of cylindrical shape. Figure 3 is a similar section to Figure 2 in the case where the tube contains in its interior three sleeves of rectangular shape. Figure 4 is a horizontal section on the line IV-IV in Figure 1, showing the window construction on a larger scale, partly in section and in elevation. Figure 5 shows on a considerably larger scale the detail V indicated in Figure 1. Figure 6 shows on a larger scale the locating peg which is visible in the right-hand top half of Figure 2. The apparatus shown in Figure 1 is composed of a permeable sleeve 1, which is contained, with some clearance, in a tube 2 mounted on a worktable 3. At the top end of the sleeve 1 and the tube 2, means 4 are provided for feeding a mixture of curds and whey. At the bottom end of the sleeve 1, in a region underneath the worktable 3, means 5 are provided for receiving and discharging a drained and extruded curd mass. As described in the related Netherlands Patent Application 88 02715, these means 5 consist of an auxiliary basket 6, a pusher member 7 and a plate 8. The free space between the sleeve 1 and the tube 2 is subdivided into various compartments 9, lying one above the other, with the aid of sealing partitions 10. Each compartment 9 is provided with connections 11, 12 for the admission and discharge of whey or cleaning liquid. The section in Figure 2 shows that a single cylindrical sleeve 1 may be disposed inside the tube 2, while in Figure 3 it can be seen that a plurality of sleeves 1', for example of rectangular shape, can be disposed inside the tube 2. The sleeve 1 or the sleeves 1' situated inside a single tube 2 form a column 13 with the partitions 10 and with said tube. The column thus formed is detachably fastened on the worktable 3, while the connections 11, 12 of the compartments 9 are also provided with detachable couplings (not shown), for example of the type customary for pipe couplings. For this purpose, each assembly 13 is provided, near a rim of the tube 2, with a flange 14. With the aid of a plurality of pressure members 15, also known as clamp plates, this flange can be fastened on the worktable 3 (see Figure 5). From Figures 1 and 5 it can be seen that the tube 2, which mainly lies above the worktable 3, also extends slightly underneath said table 3. For this purpose this table is provided with an opening 16, while the flange 14 has a downwardly directed thickened portion fitting into the opening 16. The correct position of the assembly 13, that is to say of the tube 2, on the worktable 3 is ensured by the presence on the worktable 3 of a locating peg 17, which can be seen in Figures 2 and 6 and which can be fitted into a recess 18 in the flange 14. Figure 2 shows the provision of four clamp plates 15, which are clamped with the aid of a nut 19 cooperating with a threaded pin 20. A window structure 21 removable from the outside is provided in the wall of the tube 2 in each compartment 9 (see Figure 1). This structure is shown in greater detail in Figure 4 and consists of a groove 22, for example of circular shape, which is provided in its interior with a glass plate 23 to which pressure can be applied by a ring 24. With this window structure it is possible to follow the progress of the draining of the column of whey and curds contained in the sleeve 1, while during a cleaning phase (via the inlet and outlet 11 and 12 respectively) it is also possible to judge the condition inside each compartment 9. The connections 11 and 12 in each compartment 9 lead out tangentially along the wall of the tube 2, this feature being of importance above all for the periodically required cleaning with the aid of sodium hydroxide solution or nitric acid. Cleaning of this kind is necessary in this type of machine because of the ever present threat of bacterial growth in dead corners and chinks in the compartments 9 in the column 13. The detachability of the column 13, as described with reference to Figure 5, is connected to the desire of the user of the machine to change or inspect the sleeve 1 or sleeves 1'. These sleeves are relatively vulnerable because of their slight thickness (for example 0.8 millimetre), while a Teflon lining is also frequently provided on the inner wall of the sleeve. Hitherto this sleeve could be removed from said tube 2 only in the upward direction, which made it necessary to have sufficient free space above said tube. This tube length is frequently 2 metres and sometimes even 3 metres, so that a very high ceiling or roof structure is required. With the aid of the present proposal this requirement is now eliminated, and the detachment of the clamp plates 15 and quick-release couplings at the connections 11, 12 enables the entire column 13 to be lifted off the worktable 3 and then worked on in any desired position. When it is required to install a new column 13 in the vacant position on the worktable 3, the thickened portion of the flange 14 can be inserted into the opening 16 while at the same time the recess 18 in the flange 14 is positioned on the pin 17. The clamp plates 15 are then placed in position and fastened in the manner illustrated in Figure 5 by tightening the nuts 19.

Claims: Apparatus for preparing a curd mass by draining a mixture of whey and curds, comprising an upright column (13) consisting of at least one permeable sleeve (1, 1') and a tube (2) surrounding the permeable sleeve or sleeves and leaving a free space between the tube and the sleeve or sleeves and further comprising means (4) at one end of the column for feeding the mixture of whey and curds and means (5) at the other end of the column for receiving and discharging a drained and extruded curd mass, the free space between the sleeve or sleeves and the tube being subdivided into various compartments (9), lying one above the other, with the aid of sealing partitions (10), while each compartment is provided with inlet and outlet connections (11, 12) for whey or cleaning liquid, characterized in that the sleeve or sleeves (1, 1'), the tube (2) and the sealing partitions (10) are fixedly connected to one another so that the column (13) constitutes an integral unit and in that the column (13) is provided near the bottom rim of the tube (2) with a flange (14) which is detachably fastened on a worktable (3) by means of clamp plates (15) while the outlet connections (11, 12) of the compartments (9) are provided with quick-release couplings. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the site of the tube flange (14) the worktable (3) is provided with a locating peg (17) which fits into a recess (18) in the flange (14).

Inventors: YNTEMA EVERARDUS GERHARD MARIA, YNTEMA, EVERARDUS GERHARD MARIA
Applicants: STORK HUBERT CHEESE SYSTEMS, HUBERT STORK CHEESE SYSTEMS B.V.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: A01J25
IPC codes: A01J25