Apparatus and methods for measuring milk coagulation time and rigidity in the manufacture of fermented dairy products

An apparatus for measuring milk rigidity in a vessel of coagulating milk during the manufacture of fermented dairy products, comprising:

• a disc-shaped probe which is substantially flat in a horizontal direction;
• a wire attached to said probe, said wire serving to suspend said probe into the vessel of coagulating milk such that the probe is substantially parallel to the upper surface of the milk in the vessel;
• means for reciprocating said wire in a vertical direction so at to impart a vertically reciprocating motion to the probe within said vessel;
• and
• means in communication with said wire for measuring the resistance to said probe as it reciprocates through the coagulating milk, the coagulating milk adhering to the exterior surface of the probe such that the coagulating milk moves with the probe as it reciprocates, the measured resistance thus providing a measurement of the rigidity of the coagulating milk.

An apparatus for measuring milk rigidity in a vessel of coagulating milk during the manufacture of cheese, comprising:

• a disc-shaped probe which is substantially flat in a horizontal direction;
• a wire attached to said probe, said wire serving to suspend said probe into the vessel of coagulating milk such that the probe is substantially parallel to the upper surface of the milk in the vessel;
• means for reciprocating said wire in a vertical direction so as to impart a vertically reciprocating motion to the probe within said vessel;
• and
• means in communication with said wire for measuring the resistance to said probe as it reciprocates through the coagulating milk, the coagulating milk adhering to the exterior surface of the probe such that the coagulating milk moves with the probe as it reciprocates, the measured resistance thus providing a measurement of the rigidity of the coagulating milk.

A method for measuring rheological parameters of coagulating milk, comprising the steps of:

• suspending a probe which is substantially flat in a horizontal direction into a vessel of coagulating milk;
• reciprocating the probe in a vertical direction within the vessel;
• and
• measuring the resistance to the probe as it reciprocates through the coagulating milk.

A method for measuring the rigidity of coagulating milk, comprising the steps of:

• suspending a substantially flat probe into a vessel of coagulating milk;
• reciprocating the probe in a vertical direction within the vessel;
• measuring the resistance to the probe as it reciprocates through the coagulating milk, the measured resistance to the probe being used to determine when a curd formed by the coagulating milk is to be cut;
• cutting the curd;
• allowing the cut curd to settle;
• determining when the cut curd should be agitated by observing the drift of the baseline of the measured resistance to the probe during settling of the cut curd.

A method for measuring milk rigidity in a vessel of coagulating milk during the manufacture of cheese, comprising:

• suspending a disc-shaped probe which is substantially flat in a horizontal direction into the vessel of coagulating milk;
• reciprocating the probe in a vertical direction within the vessel;
• and
• measuring the resistance to the probe as it reciprocates through the coagulating milk, the coagulating milk adhering to the exterior surface of the probe such that the coagulating milk moves with the probe as it reciprocates, the measured resistance thus providing a measurement of the rigidity of the coagulating milk.

A method for manufacturing fermented dairy products, comprising the steps of :

• introducing a lactic bacteria culture and a fermented dairy product-making enzyme into a vessel containing milk, the enzyme acting to coagulate the milk within the vessel;
• suspending a disc-shaped probe which is substantially flat in a horizontal direction into the coagulating milk within the vessel;
• reciprocating the probe in a vertical direction within the vessel;
• measuring the resistance to the probe as it reciprocates through the coagulating milk;
• and
• cutting a curd formed by the coagulating milk when the measured resistance reaches a predetermined value.

An apparatus for measuring rheological parameters of coagulating milk, comprising:

• a probe having a substantially flat, planar surface;
• means for suspending said probe into a vessel of coagulating milk;
• means for reciprocating said probe;
• and
• means for measuring the resistance to the probe as it reciprocates through the coagulating milk, the coagulating milk adhering to the exterior surface of the planar probe such that the coagulating milk moves with the probe as it reciprocates, the measured resistance thus providing a measurement of rheological parameters of the coagulating milk.