System for monitoring and displaying status of processing a dairy product
AssigneeTZero Research & Development LLC
InventorsStephen M. Wells, Nicholas A. Wells, Eli M. Hughes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for monitoring a cheesemaking process, and for identifying certain stages of the process, are disclosed. The system includes a sonic sensor, along with a processor that will receive, from the sonic sensor, a signal that is indicative of a speed of sound in a material that is being processed in the cheesemaking process. The processor will use the speed of sound to identify a cut point in the cheesemaking process. The processor will generate a signal when the cut point is reached. Optionally, before this happens the processor also may use the speed of sound to identify a flocculation point in the cheesemaking process.
Claims22
A system for monitoring a cheesemaking process, the system comprising:
- a sonic sensor that is configured to be installed in a container of the cheesemaking process;
- and
- a memory containing programming instructions that are configured to cause a processing device to, in response to receiving, from the sonic sensor, a signal that is indicative of a speed of sound in a material that is being processed in the cheesemaking process:
- use the speed of sound to identify a cut point in the cheesemaking process, and
- generate a signal when the cut point is reached,
- wherein the system is configured to cause a display device to output a graphic representation of a determined state of the cheesemaking process.
A method for monitoring a cheesemaking process, the method comprising, by a processor:
- receiving, from a sonic sensor, a signal that is indicative of a speed of sound in a material that is being processed in a container in the cheesemaking process, wherein the sonic sensor is installed at least partially inside of the container;
- using the speed of sound to identify a cut point in the cheesemaking process in the container;
- and
- generating a signal when the cut point is reached, and
- causing a display device to output a graphic representation of a determined state of the cheesemaking process.
A computer program product, comprising a memory that stores programming instructions that are configured to cause a processor to:
- upon receiving, from a sonic sensor that is at least partially installed in a container, a signal that is indicative of a speed of sound in a material that is being processed in a cheesemaking process in the container:
- use the speed of sound to identify a cut point in the cheesemaking process;
- generate a signal when the cut point is reached;
- and
- cause a display device to output a graphic representation of a determined state of the cheesemaking process.
A system for monitoring a cheesemaking process, the system comprising:
- a sonic sensor that is configured to be installed in a container of the cheesemaking process;
- and
- a memory containing programming instructions that are configured to cause a processing device to, in response to receiving, from the sonic sensor, a signal that is indicative of a speed of sound in a material that is being processed in the cheesemaking process:
- use the speed of sound to identify a cut point in the cheesemaking process,
- generate a signal when the cut point is reached, and
- use the signal to cause a cutting system to move a set of knives within the material to cut curds within the material.
A method for monitoring a cheesemaking process, the method comprising, by a processor:
- receiving, from a sonic sensor, a signal that is indicative of a speed of sound in a material that is being processed in a container in the cheesemaking process, wherein the sonic sensor is installed at least partially inside of the container;
- using the speed of sound to identify a cut point in the cheesemaking process in the container;
- generating a signal when the cut point is reached;
- and
- using the signal to cause a cutting system to move a set of knives within the material to cut curds within the material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.