Method and system for pressing out whey from curd
AssigneeTetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
InventorHarrie Spijkerman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for pressing out whey from curd is presented. The method includes receiving a closed casing holding a mold filled with curd, pumping out air from the closed casing such that a pressure force onto the curd can be formed, establishing a connection between a system controller and a casing controller provided in the casing, uploading instructions from the system controller to the casing controller on how to change the pressure during a pressing cycle by opening a valve on the casing, de-establishing the connection between the system controller and the casing controller, and storing the closed casing and executing the instructions uploaded to the closed casing such that whey is pressed out from the curd and a cheese is formed from the curd.
Claims19
A method for pressing out whey from curd, said method comprising;
- receiving a closed casing holding a mould filled with curd,
- pumping out air from said closed casing such that a pressure force onto said curd can be formed,
- establishing a connection between a system controller and a casing controller provided in said casing,
- uploading instructions from said system controller to said casing controller on how to change said pressure force during a pressing cycle by opening a valve on said casing,
- de-establishing said connection between said system controller and said casing controller,
- storing said closed casing and executing said instructions uploaded to said closed casing such that whey is pressed out from said curd and a cheese is formed from said curd,
- wherein said pressure force onto said curd is formed by having a first space between a lid placed on top of said curd and a movable element and a second space between said movable element and said casing, the movable element comprising two resiliently spaced apart plates, and
- wherein a pressure difference between said first space and said second space provides for said movable element to be pressed onto said lid such that in turn said pressure force is formed onto said curd.
A system configured to press out whey from curd, said system comprising:
- a casing holding a mould filled with curd, a first space, a second space and a movable element comprising two resiliently spaced apart plates disposed within an interior of said casing,
- wherein said casing is provided with at least one connection pipe such that air can be pumped out from said casing such that a pressure force onto said curd can be formed, a valve such that air can be let in to said casing, and a casing controller controlling said valve,
- a pump apparatus arranged to pump out air from said casing via said at least one connection pipe,
- a system controller arranged to process data, and
- a data transfer apparatus arranged to provide a connection between said casing controller and said system controller for uploading instructions from said system controller to said casing controller on how to change said pressure force by opening said valve on said casing,
- wherein said pressure force onto said curd is formed by having the first space between a lid placed on top of said curd and the movable element and the second space between said movable element and said casing, and
- wherein a pressure difference between said first space and said second space provides for said movable element being pressed onto said lid such that in turn said pressure force is formed onto said curd.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.