Mozzarella Shredding Rollers With Adjustable Stainless Steel Teeth

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing apparatuses for shredding mozzarella suffer from inadequate performance, frequent downtime due to shredding issues and complex cleaning processes, and hygiene concerns, particularly with plastic rollers and manual hopper removal.

Innovation Solution

A mozzarella shredding apparatus with stainless steel cylindrical rollers featuring offset teeth and recesses, adjustable positioning, independent motor control, and a removable hopper system, facilitated by a programmable logic controller, ensures consistent shredding and easy cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If cheese is cut into small portions for distribution, then distribution and storage become easier, but the surface area increases leading to faster drying out and crust formation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedistribution convenienceVSAvoidmoisture content
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A foil wrapping material acts as an intermediary between the cheese portions and the surrounding environment. The foil wraps each individual cheese portion, creating a barrier that prevents moisture loss and protects from contamination, thus maintaining the cheese's composition stability while enabling easy distribution of small portions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs nested packaging where individual cheese portions are wrapped in foil (inner layer), and multiple wrapped portions are then placed together in a container (outer layer). This nested structure allows easy distribution of individual portions while collectively protecting all portions from drying out and contamination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If cheese is stored in a container for distribution, then organization and hygiene are improved, but the cheese dries out and forms a crust

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage organizationVSAvoidsurface moisture
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The foil wrapping serves as an intermediary protective layer between the cheese and the container environment. It prevents direct exposure to air in the container, thereby preventing drying out and crust formation while allowing the cheese to be neatly organized in the container for distribution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The foil wrapping provides continuous protection from the moment each cheese portion is cut until it is distributed. This continuous barrier prevents intermittent exposure to air that would cause drying, maintaining surface moisture throughout the storage period in the container

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Ease of operation

If cheese is left at room temperature for distribution, then accessibility is improved, but bacterial growth increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveaccessibilityVSAvoidbacterial contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The foil wrapping acts as a protective intermediary that allows the cheese to be stored at room temperature for distribution while preventing bacterial contamination. The foil barrier isolates the cheese from environmental contaminants while still permitting the cheese to remain accessible and ready for distribution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The foil wrapping provides beforehand protection against bacterial contamination before the cheese is distributed. By pre-wrapping each portion in foil, the system cushions against potential contamination that would occur during handling and distribution at room temperature

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP4531549B1Apparatus for processing semi-finished dairy products
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 MAROTTA EVOLUTION SRL
  • EP4531549B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4531549B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4531549B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing semi-finished dairy products, particularly for processing frayed and/or shredded mozzarella constituting one of the filling components of finished dairy products such as burrata. The apparatus is equipped with a pair of counter-rotating rollers, fed from above and driven by independent motors, capable of fraying and/or tearing and/or shredding the fed mozzarella to produce the shreds which, in turn are collected in a special drawer below the counter-rotating rollers.