Abstract:
A series of narrow and tall above-ground stainless steel tanks define independent brining cells into which cheese blocks are conveyed by common inlet and outlet flumes. Each cell has a removable conveyor assembly having a looped plastic link belt driven around a frame by an electric motor. Projecting plastic flights on the belt engage infed cheese blocks, and submerge a series of rows of blocks. An infeed flume delivers a stream of cheese blocks to a cell. Once a level below a flight is filled, the conveyor is actuated to submerge that level, and the next level is then filled until the tank is filled. After brining, the conveyor is incremented to discharge the cheeses flight by flight into an outlet flume.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    Not applicable.  
         STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not applicable.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The present invention relates to cheese brining apparatus in general, and in particular to automated cheese brining systems.  
           [0004]    The production of many types of cheese requires that after the cheese blocks or loafs have been formed, they be exposed to a salt solution for a period of hours. This brining process has been practiced for centuries, sometimes on individual loafs, and in more recent times on large quantities of cheeses in batch or continuous processing apparatus.  
           [0005]    In one widely used process, the molded cheese blocks, which usually have a density slightly less than the salt water in which they are floated, are advanced along brine filled flumes along a serpentine path. The submerged portions of the cheeses are thus exposed to brine, while the portions of the cheese which float above the fluid are subjected to a continuous spray of brine. One drawback to the use of brine sprays is the wide dispersion of the corrosive saltwater throughout the plant environment, imposing significant cleaning burdens, and creating an dificult work environment. In addition, to provide for a smooth flow of the blocks, a generous quantity of brine is required, imposing additional space and brine processing demands.  
           [0006]    Another common process advances the cheese blocks from the flume into a rack composed of multiple stacked porous shelves. The rack is suspended over a brine tank and positioned with the lowermost shelf to receive a series of cheeses. As each shelf is filled, the rack is indexed downward to receive additional cheese blocks, until all the shelves have been filled, at which point the rack is entirely submerged for a period of time until the desired brining has been achieved. The process is then reversed with the rack being elevated one shelf at a time until all the cheeses have been discharged. However, since the last cheeses loaded will be the first unloaded, this process does not yield complete uniformity of cheese residence time within the brine. Moreover, the rack systems are often raised and lowered by hydraulic actuators, which must be carefully maintained to avoid contamination of the food product.  
           [0007]    What is needed is a compact and easily maintained cheese brining apparatus which facilitates uniform brining of the cheese.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The cheese brining apparatus of the present invention has a series of narrow and tall above-ground stainless steel tanks which define independent brining cells into which cheese blocks are floated by common inlet and outlet flumes. Each cell receives a conveyor assembly having a looped belt formed of plastic links which is driven around a frame by an attached electric motor. The belt has evenly spaced outwardly protruding plastic flights. The infeed flume delivers a stream of cheese blocks to a cell. Once the entire length of the cell is filled, the belt is advanced one increment such that a belt flight engages the array of cheese blocks, causing them to submerge within the brine contained in the cell. The cell then receives another row of cheese blocks, and is again incremented, until all the submerged flights engage cheese blocks. The belt has a downward run which joins an upward run, such that the two runs diverge as the loop extends upwardly. The flights, which are approximately perpendicular to the belt itself, are thus always inclined downwardly, helping to retain the cheese blocks between the flight and the main body of the belt. The conveyor is halted once the cell is fully loaded, and gates are operated in the infeed flume to direct subsequent cheese blocks to another cell. After the desired residence time of a load of cheese blocks within a cell, the cell is opened to the outlet flume, a brine current is introduced and the conveyor is operated to successively bring each row of cheese blocks into position to be discharged.  
           [0009]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a cheese brining system in which the first cheese blocks into the brine tank are also the first cheese blocks out of the brine tank.  
           [0010]    It is also an object of the present invention to provide a cheese brining system which permits segregation of treatment of cheese blocks.  
           [0011]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a cheese brining system which permits tracking of individual cheese blocks.  
           [0012]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cheese brining system which may be entirely automated.  
           [0013]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a cheese brining system requiring reduced quantities of brine.  
           [0014]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cheese brining system which reduces opportunities for foreign material to enter the brine.  
           [0015]    It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a cheese brining system with high densities of cheese blocks.  
           [0016]    Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a fragmentary isometric view of the conveyorized cheese brining system of this invention, showing one conveyor assembly being removed from a brine tank for service.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the conveyorized cheese brining system of FIG. 1.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of two brine tanks of the system of FIG. 2 taken along section line  3 - 3 .  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the conveyor assembly of FIG. 3.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]    Referring more particularly to FIGS.  1 - 4 , wherein like numbers refer to similar parts, the conveyorized cheese brining system  20  of this invention is shown generally in FIG. 2. The system  20  has a sequence of aboveground brine tanks  22  which receive cheese blocks  24  from a common inlet flume  26  and which discharge the cheese blocks after brining to a common outlet flume  28 . Each brine tank  22  has a conveyor assembly  30  which operates independently of the other conveyor assemblies and which is driven by its own electric drive  32 .  
         [0022]    As shown in FIG. 1, the brine tanks  22  are preferably positioned side-by-side in pairs and are supported by a support structure  34 , shown schematically in FIG. 3, on the factory floor  36 . The dimensions of the assembly  20  described hereafter are for purposes of example, although it should be noted that installations of varying sizes and capacities may be formed depending upon the requirements of the particular cheese production facility. The brine tanks  22  have a semicylindrical bottom wall  38  with two upwardly extending side walls  40  which diverge as they extend upwardly to an opening of about 32 inches. The side walls  40  are preferably formed of T316 stainless steel. The side walls  40  will typically be reinforced with exterior bars or trusses, not shown, and may be insulated. The tanks may extend to about 12 feet above the factory floor  36 . The pairs of brine tanks  22  are preferably spaced about two feet apart to permit ready access to the tank exteriors for inspection, cleaning, and maintenance. Catwalks, not shown, are preferably supported between the tops of the tanks  22  to permit ready access to the tank interiors from above. The brine tanks  22  are preferably located in a sump type set up, that is, they are erected within a below grade excavated structure, but are not themselves submerged directly in the ground. This arrangement provides comfortable working and viewing height from the main floor. In addition, the sump configuration allows available ceiling height in the room to be used for an overhead crane  90 , described below.  
         [0023]    Each tank  22  has a drain pipe  42 , as shown in FIG. 1, and is provided with brine supply piping, not shown, which provides a motive force for discharging cheese blocks  24  as described more fully below. Each tank  22  receives a conveyor assembly  30  and, when filled with brine, defines a single cell  44  in the assembly  20 . As shown in FIG. 2 the common inlet flume  26  and common outlet flume  28  are parallel to one another, with the brine tanks  22  positioned between the two flumes, and generally perpendicular to the flumes. As shown in FIG. 1, the flumes  26 ,  28  are connected to the individual brine tanks at the upper levels of the tanks. The inlet flume  26  has curving inlet segments  46  which connect the flume to each of the brine tanks  22  at fluid inlets. Each inlet segment  46  may be provided with a controllable inlet gate  48  for selectively introducing a flow of cheese blocks  24  into a particular tank  22 . Similarly, outlet segments  50  extend from each brine tank  22  to the outlet flume  28  on an end opposite the inlet segments. The outlet segments  50  extend from fluid outlets in the tanks, and provide for the discharge of the cheese blocks. Outlet gates  52  may be provided in each outlet segment  50  for controlling discharge of cheese blocks  24  from the tanks  22 . The inlet gates and outlet gates preferably are provided with pneumatic actuators which allow a controller, such as a PLC, to operate the gates to control the flow of cheese blocks. The flumes  26 ,  28 , and inlet segments  46  and outlet segments  50  have a narrow design configuration to prohibit the turning of the blocks of cheese as they navigate the system. The blocks flow the sweet way, i.e., the long axis of each block is aligned with the direction of travel. Thus the width of the flumes  26 ,  28  is preferably less than the length of the cheese blocks to be handled by the system.  
         [0024]    The conveyor assembly  30  is substantially submerged within the brine within a tank. As shown in FIG. 3, each conveyor assembly  30  has a stainless steel tubular frame  54  to which a continuous looped belt  56  is mounted. The frame has end flanges  57  which extend outwardly over the tank, and engage against the upper lip of the tank to support the conveyor assembly  30 . The belt  56  may be a series  800  INTRALOX™ modular plastic belt having straight flights and EZ Clean sprockets available from Intralox, Inc., see www.intralox.com. The belt is preferably a flush grid type of the brine compatible variety. The frame  54  has upper end plates  58  on each end which are connected by upper struts  60  and which support two square axles  62  which turn in bearings, not shown. Sprockets  64  are fixed to the axles  62  along the length of the frame at regular intervals. One of the axles  62  is driven by an electric motor drive  32  which is mounted to the frame and which may extend exterior of the tank  22 . And it should be noted that although two spaced axles and sprockets are illustrated, a single axle with larger sprockets may be substituted. Because the INTRALOX™ sprockets are available only with even numbers of sprocket teeth, if two upper axles are employed, an odd number of links  74  should extend between the sprockets on the two upper axles. The frame  54  has lower end plates  66  which are connected by a lower strut  68  and which support a lower axle  70  to which sprockets  64  are mounted corresponding to the positions of the upper sprockets. The upper struts  60  are connected by a vertical struts  72  to the lower strut  68 .  
         [0025]    As shown in FIG. 4, the modular belt  56  forms a continuous loop which is assembled from the modular plastic components. Each plastic component is formed of some food grade material such as polypropylene or nylon. The belt  56  has rigid plastic links  74  which are pivotably connected to one another at interdigitating hinged knuckles and secured with plastic pins  76 . Flight links  78  are similar to the links  74 , but have a plastic flight  80  which projects outwardly from the body  82  of the flight link  78 . The flight  80  is a plastic barrier, shelf or protrusion, which extends approximately perpendicular to the body  82  of the flight link  78 , and which serves both to separate one row of cheese blocks from another, and also to urge the blocks downwards along the downward run of the conveyor, and to resist the upward buoyant forces on the cheese blocks along the upward run of the conveyor. The flights  80  may project about 6-8 inches from the body  82 , and are preferably provided with ribbed surfaces to minimize surface contact with the cheese blocks  24 . The flight links are evenly spaced from one another, for example being connected by three standard links. The belt  56  has numerous molded perforations or openings that allow brine to flow around the backside of the cheese blocks. A dedicated brine recirculation flow system with its own pump works to move fresh chilled brine through the brine cells. The flow of brine across the stationary cheese blocks enhances the heat rejection of the cheese. It should be noted that additional fittings or flow restriction panels could be incorporated in the tank walls and conveyor frame to create zoned cooling or brine densities within each tank.  
         [0026]    As shown in FIG. 3, the conveyor assembly  30  defines a downward run  84  where the flights  80  are moved toward the tank bottom wall  38 , and a subsequent upward run  86  where the flights  80  move away from the tank bottom wall. The downward run  84  of the belt converges towards the upward run  86  at the bottom of the tank  22 . Because of this convergence, each run of the belt is inclined from the vertical about 4.5 degrees. However, this inclination could be greater depending on the type, size, and style of the cheese.  
         [0027]    As a result, the plastic flights  80 , which extend perpendicular to the belt, are all angled downwardly. This downward angling of the flights  80  helps to urge the cheese blocks toward the belt and keep the blocks from jamming against the tank side walls  40 . As the belt progresses through the tank, the cheese blocks are restrained between the belt and one of the side walls. Because the belt loops around the frame, the cheese blocks are prevented from coming into contact with the frame. The operation of the conveyor assembly advances cheese blocks from the inlet of the tank to the outlet of the tank, over a circuitous route that passes beneath the conveyor assembly.  
         [0028]    The cheese brining system  20  is installed as part of a cheese manufacturing facility, such as one for the production of mozzarella cheese. Cheese blocks  24  from the facility&#39;s molding system discharge conveyor are dropped into the high flow capacity common brine inlet flume  26  as best shown in FIG. 2. A flow rate sufficient to motivate the cheese blocks  24  is generated by a sanitary centrifugal pump, not shown.  
         [0029]    The cheese blocks  24  may be of various sizes and weights, for example about 21 inches long, four inches tall, and 7½ inches wide. Such a block weighs about twenty pounds. A central controller, for example a PLC, not shown, controls the gates  48  with pneumatic actuators to divert the flow of cheese blocks into a designated cheese-brining cell  44 . The PLC may be a conventional Allen Bradley industrial controls, and will be provided with sensors and view panels. All brine contact areas, plumbing, and pumps should be T316 stainless steel with a passivated finish.  
         [0030]    A typical cheese brining system  20  may employ eight pairs of brine tanks  22  positioned parallel to one another. A row cavity for the reception of cheese blocks is defined between each pair of submerged belt flights  80 . In the illustrated conveyor assemblies  30 , each having thirty flights  80 , twenty-nine submerged row cavities are defined. For  20  pound cheese blocks, twelve blocks are received within each row cavity. Hence, about 348 cheese blocks may undergo brining within each brine tank  22 . Each tank  22  is filled with cheese blocks  24  one row cavity at a time. The belt  56  is advanced such that the topmost flight  80  is submerged within the brine within the tank below the level of the floating cheese blocks  24 .  
         [0031]    The cheese blocks  24  are then carried into the brine tank  22  above the submerged topmost flight  80  until such time as a full-load sensor determines that the maximum number of cheese blocks for that row cavity have entered. The full-load sensor may be a vision system, or an electric eye sensor detecting the passage of each cheese block into the tank, or an adjustable capacitance cell sensor which is able to detect the passage of a cheese block through the brine, and which permits the counting of cheese blocks entering the brine tank. Such sensors are described at http://www.ab.com/sensors/sensorstoday/capsensors.html and are available from Allen-Bradley.  
         [0032]    A signal from the full-load sensor is conveyed to the controller indicating that a particular row cavity is filled. The controller then actuates the drive  32  to advance the belt to bring the next flight  80  down on top of the cheese blocks  24  and to submerge them within the tank  22 . Once submerged, the cheese blocks  24  are trapped between the belt  56  on the inside, the side wall  40  on the outside, and a plastic flight  80  above and below. The advancement of the belt  56  to submerge the first row cavity opens up the surface of the tank to receive additional cheese blocks, and the loading is repeated until all the row cavities are filled.  
         [0033]    When the conveyor assembly  30  is halted, the flights  80  on the downward run of the belt and the flights on the upward run  86  of the belt are each restraining an array of cheese blocks. It should be noted that the loads imposed on the belt are fairly low, because a typical cheese block is about 2 percent buoyant. Therefore, on the downward run the force required to submerge the blocks is a small fraction of the weight of the blocks, and on the upward run a similar small force is resisted by the flights. It will be noted that, as the belt turns around the lower axle  70 , the cheese blocks move from being restrained on the underside of a downward run flight, to being restrained on the underside of an upward run flight, which was in its previous location the top side of a downward run flight.  
         [0034]    Once the controller detects that a particular cell  44  is fully loaded, the inlet gate into that brine tank  22  is closed and the subsequent incoming cheese blocks from the molder are diverted to the next available cheese-brining cell. The loading sequence is repeated until all available cells  44  are filled. Once the cheese blocks have resided within the brine tanks the required period of time, usually about four to eight hours, the controller operates the outlet gate  52  connecting the cell to the outlet flume  28 . The conveyor assembly is indexed to uncover the uppermost row cavity of cheese blocks on the upward run  86  allowing the cheese blocks to float on the surface of the tank. The floating cheese blocks are discharged from the tank  22  through the outlet segment  50  to the outlet flume  28 . Motivation flow is provided by a high flow pump plumbed through a manifold with valves controlled by the controller. If new green cheese blocks are available at the time of unloading, loading may occur simultaneously on the downward run as the upward run flights are unloaded. The loading and unloading cycles are then repeated for each cell throughout the day. It will be noted that the entire operation of the cheese brining system  20  may be carried out automatically without manual intervention.  
         [0035]    Cheese that has completed the brining sequence travels along the outlet flume  28  and to a discharge conveyor, not shown, which forwards the cheese blocks for processing and packaging.  
         [0036]    Each frame  54  has upwardly protruding hooks  88  which may be engaged by an overhead crane  90  for removal of a conveyor assembly  30  from a tank and displacement of the removed assembly to a clean-in-place tank  92 . The crane may be a small overhead gantry crane. The clean-in-place tank  92  may be similar in structure to one of the tanks  22 , and is provided with internal manifolds to discharge fresh water and cleaning solution onto the conveyor assembly that is disposed therein. The clean-in-place tank  92  is preferably positioned parallel to the other tanks  22 .  
         [0037]    The far downstream end of the assembly  20  has an exposed maintenance support structure  94  which may also receive from the crane a particular conveyor assembly  30  for convenient access. The maintenance support structure  94  may be as little as elevated brackets supported on vertical beams which support the conveyor assembly in the same fashion as it would be supported within a tank  22 , but which allow free access to conveyor assembly for maintenance. To minimize system downtime an additional conveyor assembly  30  may be kept on hand to be substituted into a tank when that tank&#39;s conveyor assembly is required to be cleaned or serviced.  
         [0038]    A level sensor is provided in the system  20  to allow for makeup brine to be added as cheese blocks are removed from the system, or for brine to be removed as cheese blocks are added to the system.  
         [0039]    The system  20  offers a number of advantages: The first cheese block into a tank is the first cheese block out of the tank, making possible consistent residency times. Because of the segregated brining cells, it is a simple matter to treat different batches of cheese differently. Preferably, each cell is sized to accommodate all the cheese blocks from a particular cheese batch. Moreover, this segregation permits the controller to track individual blocks and blocks from a particular vat and to notify packaging equipment of lot and vat identification. The narrow, tall tanks reduce the pumpage required to create high flow rates over the cheese and in the system. Because of the modular brining cells, it is possible to add additional capacity to the system with minimal downtime, since construction on additional tanks can be undertaken while continuing to operate some or all of the original installation, until the time comes to connect the flumes. In addition, if desired, the sump may be omitted, and the entire system may be erected above grade eliminating the need for excavation. Moreover, the system lends itself to modular prefabrication, reducing the construction time on site. Furthermore, because the brine tanks are not within the ground, the possibility of the leakage into the subsoil is minimized. In addition, the system requires less brine than prior art serpentine systems, reducing filtering, pasteurization, and refrigeration requirements. The system provides high storage density, eliminates overhead brine sprays, and thereby keeps the installation floors dry.  
         [0040]    If desired, the individual cells may be provided with covers to keep foreign objects out of the brine and to limit contamination of the brine and to protect the room. It should be noted that, although a single belt has been illustrated for each conveyor assembly, the frame may support multiple side by side belts. Moreover, although the frame may be supported entirely from above the belt, structure may be provided in the end walls of the brine tanks to engage with structure on the frame for additional support.  
         [0041]    The cheese units treated within the brining assembly of this invention have been referred to herein as cheese blocks. By such term is meant any discrete unit of cheese, of whatever exterior shape, and includes cheese loafs of any size and configuration.  
         [0042]    It should be noted that in place of two side-by-side brine tanks  22 , as illustrated, a single vessel may be formed with a divider in between which will receive two conveyor assemblies.  
         [0043]    It is understood that the invention is not limited to the particular construction room and arrangement of parts herein illustrated and described, but embraces all such modified forms thereof as come within the scope of the following claims.