Stretched-Curd Cheese Hardening via Segmented Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for processing stretched-curd cheeses face challenges in maintaining hygiene, controlling bacterial contamination, and preserving the aesthetic quality of the product, leading to increased installation and maintenance costs, as well as risks to consumer health and product integrity.

Innovation Solution

A method and plant for processing stretched-curd cheeses that involves stretching, forming, packaging, and hardening in a controlled temperature bath, where the packaged curd is protected from contamination by being sealed in packages with a protective liquid, eliminating the need for continuous water filtration and purification systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If conventional cooling tanks are used for hardening stretched-curd cheeses, then the products can be cooled and hardened, but the cooling water becomes contaminated with dispersed fat and increased bacterial load, requiring additional filtering and purification systems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling water temperatureVSAvoidbacterial load and fat contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The process is segmented into two distinct stages: first, cooling the packaged cheeses in a refrigerated environment (air or inert gas) to reduce temperature; second, immersing only the packaging containers in cooling water for hardening. This segmentation prevents direct contact between the cheese and contaminated water, eliminating the need for continuous filtration systems while maintaining effective cooling and hardening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If continuous water filtration and purification systems are implemented, then bacterial load is controlled and hygiene is maintained, but installation costs and maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehygiene controlVSAvoidfiltration and purification systems

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful element (cheese) is extracted from the cooling water environment by introducing it in packaged form. The packaging acts as a barrier that separates the cheese from the cooling medium, allowing the use of simple cooling water without filtration systems while maintaining hygiene standards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Temperature

If packaged portions are immersed directly in cooling water, then hardening is effective, but the products can rub and knock against each other or against metal walls, damaging their surfaces and dispersing fragments in the water

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardening temperatureVSAvoidsurface damage and fragmentation

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging container serves as an intermediary between the cheese and the cooling water environment. It provides mechanical protection during immersion, preventing surface damage and fragmentation while allowing effective heat transfer for hardening. The packaging absorbs mechanical stresses and prevents direct contact between the cheese and tank walls or other products.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Object-generated harmful factors

If packaged portions are cooled in a refrigerated environment before immersion, then the products are pre-cooled without contamination risk, but additional processing time is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination preventionVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling and hardening operations are merged into a single integrated process step. Packaged cheeses are immersed directly into the cooling water bath, which simultaneously performs both cooling (temperature reduction) and hardening (texture firming). This eliminates the need for separate pre-cooling and hardening stages, reducing total processing time while maintaining hygiene through packaging protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This approach ensures optimal hygiene, extends the product's shelf life, maintains its aesthetic appeal, and simplifies the production process while reducing costs and maintaining productivity.

Implementation Method 1

a step of hardening said packaged portions in a bath with a controlled temperature to obtain already packaged stretched-curd cheeses, wherein said hardening step comprises one or more cooling steps at a controlled temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3451824B1Method and plant for processing stretched-curd cheeses

Publication Date: 2020.09.16 EGIDIO GALBANI SRL

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AI summary

Method (100) for processing stretched-curd cheeses, comprising the following sequence of steps: - a step of stretching (101) the melted cheese to obtain stretched curd (F); - a step of forming (102) said stretched curd (F) to obtain portions (P) of stretched curd with predefined shape and weight; - a step of packaging (103) said portions (P) of stretched curd to obtain packaged portions (E); - a step of hardening (104) said packaged portions (E) in a bath with a controlled temperature to obtain already packaged stretched-curd cheeses (M).