US 3,946,113 A · Continuous separating and standardizing of milk

Abstract

In a continuous standardizing and blending system, a liquid (e.g. whole milk) having a known composition is introduced into a separator for separating the milk into components, e.g. a skim (fat-free) component and a high-fat component such as cream. The milk enters the separator through a conduit having a flow meter positioned therein for providing a electrical analog signal corresponding to the flow rate through the conduit. The separator has a skim outlet connected to a skim conduit and a cream outlet connected to a cream conduit. A similar flow meter in the cream conduit generates an output electrical analog signal corresponding to the flow rate through that conduit. A programmed analog control unit compares the signal from the milk flow meter with the signal from the cream flow meter and provides a control signal which regulates the setting of a throttling valve upstream from the cream flow meter. This setting controls the flow rate of cream through the cream conduit. By controlling the ratio between the raw or whole milk flow as it enters the separator and the cream flow as it leaves the separator, the system regulates the fat test of the cream. The skim and a controlled proportion of the cream flow can be recombined downstreaam to form milk products of predetermined fat content, e.g. 1, 2, 3.5%, etc. Various additives can also be blended with the standardized milk product. With this system, one need only know the initial fat content of the raw or whole milk and on-stream fat analysis is not necessary.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A method for treating milk comprising the steps of:

a. introducing milk into a centrifugal separator means;
b. measuring the flow rate of the milk introduced into said separator means and producing an electrical analog signal corresponding to said flow rate;
c. separating said milk into its skim and cream components within said separator means;
d. measuring the flow rate of the cream component exhausted from said separator means and producing an electrical analog signal corresponding to said flow rate;
e. transmitting electrical signals, obtained as a result of said steps (b) and (d), to a programmed analog logic control means and correlating said electrical signals to produce an electrical control signal;
and
f. controlling the flow rate of cream exhausted from said separator means responsive to said electrical control signal.

4 more elements

A system for obtaining cream of a predetermined fat content, comprising:

a. centrifugal separator means having an inlet and first and second outlet;
b. first conduit means connected to said inlet for conveying milk of a known fat test to said separator;
c. first flow meter means positioned in said first conduit means for determining the flow rate of said milk, said first flow meter means including means for producing an electrical analog signal proportional to the flow rate of said milk;
d. second conduit means connected to said first outlet in said separator for removing the cream component of said milk;
e. second flow meter means positioned in said second conduit means for determining the flow rate of said cream component and for producing an electrical analog signal proportional to said flow rate of said cream;
f. programmed analog logic control means for receiving electrical signals from said first and second flow meters and for producing an electrical control signal responsive to the flow rates within said first and second conduit means;
and
e. liquid flow control means positioned in said second conduit and electrically connected to said logic control means, said flow control means being controllable by said control signal for regulating the flow rate of cream through said second conduit means to obtain cream having a desired fat content.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Continuous separating and standardizing of milk

Life of this patent

Continuous separating and standardizing of milk

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13