Device for making cheese, other milk-derivatives and tofu
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dairy and food production processes for cheese, milk derivatives, and tofu require large, specialized equipment not suitable for household use, limiting their accessibility and versatility.
Innovation Solution
A compact machine with a dual-container system that integrates heating, stirring, and pressing functions, allowing for a range of dairy operations including cheese, tofu, and butter production, with interchangeable components and sensors for temperature and pH control, enabling efficient and versatile household production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional dairy equipment is used for cheese production, then production quality and functionality are maintained, but device size and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple dairy processing functions (heating, stirring, pressing, draining) into a single integrated device. The device merges the functions of a cooking pot, mixer, press, and draining system into one unified apparatus, enabling household users to perform complete cheese making operations without needing multiple specialized equipment pieces.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed to perform multiple dairy-related operations including cheese making, butter production, and tofu preparation. The universal design allows the same apparatus to handle different food materials and processing requirements through interchangeable components and adjustable parameters, making it suitable for various household dairy needs.
2Manufacturing precision
If specialized dairy machines are used for each production step, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs a nested structure where the pressing mechanism is positioned within the cooking chamber, and the draining system is integrated into the pressing assembly. The basket for draining whey is nested within the pressing chamber, allowing multiple functional components to occupy overlapping spatial volumes and reducing the overall footprint of the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing mechanism utilizes vertical movement along the z-axis to apply pressure, while the heating and stirring functions operate in the horizontal xy-plane. This dimensional separation allows independent operation of pressing and cooking functions without requiring additional horizontal workspace, effectively using the vertical dimension to resolve space constraints.
3Productivity
If manual processing methods are used for cheese making, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity and consistency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs preliminary actions automatically including pre-heating the milk to the coagulation temperature, maintaining consistent stirring during the coagulation process, and applying controlled pressure during pressing. These preliminary steps that would otherwise require manual monitoring and adjustment are executed automatically, ensuring consistent results and freeing the user for other tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates temperature sensing and control mechanisms that continuously monitor the milk temperature during heating and coagulation, adjusting the heating power to maintain the desired temperature range. This feedback control ensures consistent processing conditions without requiring manual temperature checks and adjustments, improving both productivity and product consistency.
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
Enables the production of various dairy products in a compact, reliable, and aesthetically pleasing manner, suitable for household use, with multifunctional operativity and ease of use, while maintaining product quality and consistency.
Implementation Method 1
a heating means that is adapted to heat said bottom wall and/or said wall
Implementation Method 2
said second container comprises a permeable basket having at least one conical surface
Implementation Method 3
The coupled first and second container are adapted to be integrally rotated, in order to be moved alternatively between a first position, where said basin is down and said basket is up, and a second position, where said basket is down and said basin is up
Implementation Method 4
a stirring means acting in said workspace
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~3A
AI summary
Compact machine for making cheese, other milk-derivatives and tofu comprising a shell (1) in which an impermeable basin (3) is inserted, a collecting container (2) in which a permeable basket (6) is inserted for collecting the product and a support structure comprising a lower base member (10) having two side arms (8). The machine comprises, furthermore, a motor (7) integral to the shell (1) for operating a stirring member (5), and heating means (4) adapted to heat to various temperature the content of the basin (3). The basin (3) and the permeable basket (6) are open and coupled with respect to each other, in a releasable way, one against the another. The coupled basin (3) and the permeable basket (6) are adapted to be integrally rotated, in order to be moved alternatively between a first position (A), where the basin (3) is down and the basket (6) is up, and a second position, where the basket (6) is down and the basin (3) is up. The cheese can be extracted from the basket (6) after a plurality of preparation steps.