Cheese press with a device for determining the mass flow of cheese curd grains and whey

Abstract

The invention relates to a cheese press with a device for determining the mass flow of cheese curd granules and whey, in particular in a stream of raw cheese mass flowing from a cheese maker into cheese molds of the cheese press.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for determining the mass flow of curd grains and whey, in particular in a flow of raw cheese mass flowing from a cheese maker into cheese molds of a cheese press.

[0002] To produce cheese, rennet is added to milk in a cheese vat, a cheese maker, and the milk is continuously stirred by means of stirring and cutting blades for the cheesemaking process. The resulting gelatinous cheese chunks are cut using the stirring and cutting blades, see, for example, DE 29812845 U1. During cutting, the curd is cut into curd grains, ideally of uniform size. Under the influence of the rennet and heat, the curd becomes solid, brittle, and fragile. This curd is therefore sensitive to mechanical stress, so the stirring process must be carried out gently. The whey must also be gently extracted to convert the curd grains into a stable, granular state. According to CH 537142 A, the whey is extracted by means of a draining device in which the whey is extracted through a whey collection chamber surrounded by a sieve jacket, which is connected to a drain line.The sieve jacket is intended to prevent curds from entering the whey collection chamber.

[0003] In order to determine the curd state of the raw cheese mass or curd during operation of the rotating agitator, it is already known to permanently install so-called curd probes in the container of the cheese maker. It is also known to determine the proportion of curd in a curd-whey mixture in a container using a tomograph. According to DE 102009036633 A1, at least one electrode of a tomography sensor is arranged in the container, which is coupled to an evaluation unit for determining a conductivity value. The container is a flow-through pipe or a tub. This utilizes the knowledge that the conductivities of whey and the curd-whey mixture are different.

[0004] Thus, the amount of mixture required for each cheese mold can always be taken from a buffer tank. Prior calibration with pure whey, depending on its origin (cow, goat, etc.), is required. Such a measuring device is complex and costly.

[0005] The invention is based on the object of providing a device for determining the mass flow of curd grains and whey, particularly in a raw cheese mass flow, that is inexpensive, accurate, and reliable. The raw cheese mass flow flows from a cheese vat into cheese molds, wherein the cheese molds are arranged, in particular, in a cheese press.

[0006] The problem is solved by the characterizing features of patent claim 1.

[0007] The inventive device for determining the mass flow of curd grains and whey is particularly suitable for use in a cheese press, especially a cassette press. The cheese press comprises at least one open trough and a distribution head with at least one dosing head for flushing in the raw cheese mass, wherein the distribution head is movable along the longitudinal sides of the trough. A flow meter (10) is arranged on the distribution head upstream of the at least one dosing head in the flow direction of the mass flow.

[0008] Usually, several dosing heads are arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the tub.

[0009] Preferred embodiments are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0010] Preferably, an actuator, advantageously a pinch valve, is assigned to the flow meter and thus the mass flow of the curd can be measured and also controlled.

[0011] The flow meter and the actuator can be arranged in a supply pipe of the distribution head. Alternatively, each dosing head can be equipped with a flow meter and an actuator.

[0012] The invention is described in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment. The drawing shows: Fig. 1: parts of a cassette press with the device according to the invention; Fig. 2: an inventive device according to Fig. 1; Fig. 3: the inventive device in a second embodiment; and Fig. 4: the inventive device according to Fig. 3.

[0013] In a cheese maker, as disclosed, for example, in US 10729095 B2 of the applicant, the cheese is stirred in a container (cheese kettle) until raw cheese mass is formed from whey and curd. The raw cheese mass is then extracted by suction and pumped through a feed line 7 into cheese molds 3 of a cheese press, in this example a cassette press 1 (Fig. 1).

[0014] In the example presented, a cassette press 1 comprises at least one tub 2 of the cassette press 1, which is rectangular in plan view and open at the top, with cassettes 2 which are rectangular in plan view and open at the top and are arranged next to one another in rows transversely to the longitudinal direction of the tub 2. Cheese molds 3 for receiving the raw cheese mass to be pressed are arranged in the cassettes, which in the example comprise a perforated shell, with one cassette in the example comprising eight cheese molds 3. It also comprises a filling device for flooding in the raw cheese mass, which is arranged on a portal carriage 4 which is motor-driven and can be moved along the long sides of the tub 2. The filling device comprises a distribution head 5 with a number of dosing heads 6 which is coordinated with the number of molds that can be arranged in a row in the tub 2.The distribution head 5 further comprises a distribution pipe 8 and a feed pipe 9 for feeding and distributing the raw cheese mass to the dosing heads 5 (Figs. 1, 2). A flow meter 10 is arranged in the feed pipe 9 of the distribution head 5, upstream of the dosing heads 6 in the flow direction. This flow meter 10 continuously measures the percentage solids content in the raw cheese mass during the pumping process.

[0015] The flow meter 10 is associated with an actuator, for example, a pinch valve 11 (Fig. 2). The pinch valve 11 is controlled by a differential pressure regulator and can change the pipe cross-section and thus the flow rate. Thus, the mass flow of the curd in the longitudinal direction of the tank 2 can be controlled. The process is based on an algorithm, which in turn forms the basis of the control loop.

[0016] In a second embodiment of the device, the mass flow of the curd is regulated in the transverse direction as well as the longitudinal direction. For this purpose, each dosing head 6 is equipped with a flow meter 10 and an actuator, a pinch valve 11. In this embodiment, no flow meter 10 is provided in the feed pipe 9.

[0017] In both embodiments, the flow meter 10 provides, on the one hand, the flow rate of the total mass flow of whey and curd, the total volume conveyed from the start of the measurement to a defined point in time, an equivalent to the density of the mass flow and an acoustic signal in %, which represents the measure of the solid content in the mass flow, the curd (curd grains). List of reference symbols

[0018] 1 Cassette press 2 Tub 3 Cheese mold 4 Portal trolley 5 Distribution head 6 Dosing head 7 Feed line 8 Distribution pipe 9 Feed pipe 10 Flow meter 11 Pinch valve

Claims

1. Device for determining the mass flow of cheese curd grains and whey, which is particularly suitable for use in a cheese press, wherein the cheese press comprises at least one open trough (2) and a distribution head (5) with at least one dosing head (6) for flushing in the raw cheese mass, which is movable along the long sides of the trough (2), characterized in that on the distribution head (5), which has at least one dosing head (6), a flow meter (10) is arranged upstream of the at least one dosing head (6) in the flow direction of the mass flow.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that an actuator is assigned to the flow meter (10).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the actuator is, for example, a pinch valve (11).

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that several dosing heads (6) are arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the tub (2).

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the flow measuring device (10) and actuator are arranged in a feed pipe (9) of the distribution head (5).

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each dosing head (6) is provided with a flow meter (10) and an actuator.

7. Method for determining the mass flow of curd grains and whey which is washed into cheese moulds (3), characterized in that the total mass flow in the longitudinal direction and / or transverse direction of a trough (2) of a cheese press is regulated or kept constant.