APPARATUS FOR SHAPING AND PRESSING GRANA CHEESE

Abstract: This invention concerns an apparatus (1) for shaping and pressing Grana cheese comprising a support frame (2), a first container cylinder (3) for the serum, opened at the top and at the bottom, a second container cylinder (4) for the curd, having an apertured wall and opened at the top and at the bottom, provided concentric inside said first container cylinder (3), a bearing plate (10) below said container cylinders (3, 4), upon which the cheese form is leaned, means (6) to upward and downward move said container cylinders (3, 4) with respect ot said plate (10) along said frame (2), means for making a seal between said first cylinder (3) and said plate (10), means (7, 8) for shaping and pressing the curd within said second container cylinder (4), outlet means (12, 13, 14, 15) for making the serum coming out from said second container cylinder (4), ejection means (17) of the obtained form on said bearing plate (10), and control means (18) for actuating the various component.

Description: APPARATUS FORSHAPINGAND PRESSING GRANA CHEESE The present invention relates to an apparatus for shaping and pressing Grana cheese. Furthermore, the invention relates to a process for the production of Grana cheese using said apparatus. More particularly, the invention concerns an apparatus of the above kind that allows the mechanisation of some steps of the production process for the Grana cheese. As it is well known, at present the production of Grana cheese, either Parmiggiano Reggiano or Grana Padano, adopt a traditional technology deriving since Middle Ages. The known technology, providing the utilization of copper kiers, employs local partially skimmed milk, and provides a coagulation step along with curd and enrichment of the lactic microflora with serum-natural starter. The caseous mass, that while sedimenting conforms itself to the bottom of the kier, must be kept resting for 30 - 40 minutes, in such a way to spontaneously settle and structure. Once the step under serum is finished, the caseous mass is lifted by a suitable shovel. It is then collected within a cloth and suspended in an over- turned position, partially immersed in the serum. The caseous mass, obtained from a kier having a capacity of 10 q capacity, is then manually separated in two twin forms, that, always wound in a cloth, well settled and with the cut surface folded on itself, are placed within two suitable bands, at first a wood band and then a metal band, respectively with a right and rounded profile. 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. Within one hour from the introduction in the band, it is carried out the first turning over, substituting the original cloth with a new clean one, soaked in hot water and wrung; the second turning over is carried substituting the cloth, about after two hours from the first turning over, and the third one after two - three hours from the second. In order to facilitate the regular and uniform draining all over the surface and avoid stagnations of acid serum with the consequent defects on the crust, it is necessary to over turn the form at least 4 - 5 times within the first 10 hours. As it can be noted, 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. This need to reach the mechanisation of the production system obviously imposes the introduction of modifications to the original technology. In this situation can be included the solution proposed according to the present invention by which it is proposed a different motion and collection of the curd, expressly studied by the inventors. To this aim, it is proposed 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. Preferably, according to the invention, 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. Furthermore, according to the invention, 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. Still according to the invention, 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. Further, according to the invention, 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. Preferably, the pressure applied on the curd can reach about 5 atm. Still according to the invention, 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. The present invention will be now described for illustrative and not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, with particular reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein: 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; and figure 6 is a section view taken along the line VI-VI of figure 4. Before beginning to describe in detail the apparatus according to the invention, it is necessary to describe with greater detail the working steps for the Grana cheese occurring before the steps carried out by the apparatus. To the already partially skimmed milk (2.2 - 2.5 % fat), the serum - natural starter is added until obtaining an acidity of the mixture of 4.3 - 4.5 °SH/50 ml. It is then coagulated in a multivalent apparatus by the curd enzymes for a time of about 9 - 15 min. Once reached the most proper rheology of the curd (measured by a proper instrument), 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. At this stage of the production process, the apparatus according to the invention is used. Making now reference to all the figures of the enclosed drawings, it can be noted that the apparatus 1 according to the invention provides a support frame 2, supporting all the different parts of the same apparatus 1. Within said frame 2 a movable cylinder 3 containing the serum and a apertured cylinder 4 (see particularly figures 5 and 6) containing the curd are provided. 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. Above the two cylinders 3 and 4, it is provided a pressing and shaping plate 7, actuated by the pressing vertical piston 8. Between the support 5 and the cylinder containing the serum, 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 12 and lower 13. The upper outlet 12 acts as overflow, while the lower outlet 13 discharges the serum. Below said frame 2, a discharge for the exit of the serum remaining in the apparatus at the end of the process is provided. By the numerical reference 15, it is indicated the hopper to collect the serum. Always below the frame, a movable base 16, bearing the cheese form and actuated by the piston 17 is provided. By the numerical reference 18 it is instead indicated 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 serum filtrates through the apertured cylinder 4, and is collected in the gap between said two cylinders 3 and 4, allowing the keeping of the temperature of the caseous mass most suitable for the compacting technological step lasting 20 - 30 minutes. Through the overflow opening 12, a first elimination of the excess serum occurs. 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. Meanwhile, the hydraulic piston 8 makes a vertical pressure in order to better compact the caseous mass and improve the ejection of the serum. Obviously, 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 release of the form, after the end of the serum drainage step through the discharge 13 following the shaping and pressing step occurs lifting the two cylinders 3 and 4 by the pistons 6 and along the guide 11 so as to let the form free. By the hopper 15 and the discharge 14, the serum still remaining is eliminated. 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. The present invention has been described for illustrative, but no limitative purpose, according to its preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that changes and/or modifications could be introduced by those skilled in the art without departing from the relevant scope as defined by the enclosed claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for shaping and pressing Grana cheese characterized in that it comprises 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. 2. Apparatus for shaping and pressing Grana cheese according to claim 1 , characterized in that 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. 3. Apparatus for shaping and pressing Grana cheese according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a hopper is provided below said plate in order to discharge the remaining serum. 4. Apparatus for shaping and pressing Grana cheese according , to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means to move said container cylinders along the support frame comprises a pair of pneumatic, hydraulic, etc. pistons, laterally provided with respect to said container cylinders. 5. Apparatus for shaping and pressing Grana cheese according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that 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. 6. Apparatus for shaping and pressing Grana cheese according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that 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. 7. Apparatus for shaping and pressing Grana cheese according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure applied on the curd can reach about 5 atm. 8. Apparatus for shaping and pressing Grana cheese according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that 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. 9. Apparatus for shaping and pressing Grana cheese according to anyone of the preceding claims, substantially as illustrated and described.

Inventors: CARINI SANDRA, OLIVARI GIUSEPPE, CARINI, SANDRA, OLIVARI, GIUSEPPE
Applicants: CARINI SANDRA, ISTITUTO SPERIMENTALE LATTIERO, OLIVARI GIUSEPPE, CARINI, SANDRA, ISTITUTO SPERIMENTALE LATTIERO-CASEARIO, OLIVARI, GIUSEPPE
Application year: 1995
Main classification: A01J25
IPC codes: A01J25