Hard Cheese Marking via Crust Scraping and Transparent Coating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for marking hard cheeses, such as Parmesan or grana cheeses, face challenges with deformation of casein labels during ripening, leading to unreadable codes and difficulties in automated tracking, as the labels tend to deform and lose visibility under the natural crust formation.

Innovation Solution

A process involving partial removal of the cheese crust to apply a durable marking code using inkjet printing or a casein label, followed by a layer of transparent material like vinyl acetate-based mix or edible emulsions to ensure the code remains readable and resistant to subsequent handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If a casein label is applied on the fresh cheese surface, then the marking code can be applied early in the process, but the label deforms during ripening causing the code to become unreadable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetiming of marking applicationVSAvoidreadability of marking code

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The crust is removed in advance from the predefined surface area before applying the marking code, preparing the surface beforehand to prevent deformation during ripening. This preliminary action ensures the marking surface remains stable throughout the ripening process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The crust removal is applied locally only to the predefined surface area where the marking code will be placed, rather than removing the entire crust. This localized treatment provides a stable marking surface while preserving the natural crust on the rest of the cheese wheel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of information

If a casein label is applied on the fresh cheese, then traceability can be established, but the label deformation makes automated reading difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraceability informationVSAvoidautomated code reading

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The crust is removed beforehand from the marking surface to prevent label deformation during ripening, ensuring the code remains readable for automated systems throughout the aging process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A transparent material layer is applied over the marking code to protect it from deformation and environmental factors, while maintaining the code's visibility and readability for automated detection systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If the crust is removed to apply the marking code, then the code becomes more readable, but the cheese surface is exposed to potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemarking code readabilityVSAvoidsurface exposure to damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Crust removal is limited to only the predefined surface area needed for marking, minimizing the exposed surface while ensuring adequate readability for the code.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

A transparent protective layer is applied over the marking code to shield the exposed cheese surface from harmful factors while maintaining code visibility and preventing further surface degradation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If a transparent material layer is applied over the marking code, then the code is protected from deformation, but an additional material application step is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedurability of markingVSAvoidnumber of process steps

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transparent material application is combined with the existing marking process workflow, integrating protection into the same operational sequence rather than requiring a separate, standalone process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

A thin transparent film or coating is applied that provides adequate protection against deformation and environmental factors while minimizing the thickness and material quantity required, reducing the impact on process complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides a reliable, durable, and easily readable marking on hard cheese wheels, maintaining traceability over time and through automated storage, while being resistant to handling operations and ripening processes without affecting the cheese's quality.

Implementation Method 1

a layer of transparent material applied on the marking code in order to preserve it

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP3387899B1Process for marking a food product and hard cheese's wheel

Publication Date: 2019.04.10 CANTARELLI

Figure 1~2

AI summary

Process for marking a food product (1) having a crust, in particular a hard cheese, comprising steps of: scraping the crust of said food product (1) from a predefined surface area (3); after having scraped, applying a marking code (2) on the predefined surface area (3); applying a layer of transparent material on the predefined surface area (3) after having applied the marking code (2).