# US 5,701,810 A · Tofu making apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,701,810 A - Document ID: US5701810A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/559,421 - Filed: 1995-11-15 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1995-11-15 - Inventors: Gary T. Nakai - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5701810A ## CPC - A23L 11/45: Soy bean curds, e.g. tofu - A23L: FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF (preservation thereof A23B) ## Abstract The apparatus of the invention comprises three stages. The first stage extracts soy milk from soybean go, and comprises a cylindrical pot, a cylindrical filter for receiving go held within the pot, there being an annular gap between the filter and the pot, a wire cloth disk movable within the filter, the disk having a circumferential seal for sealing between the edges of the disk and the sides of the filter, and a press assembly for urging the disk downwardly within the filter, whereby soy milk is extracted from the go, passes through the filter and into the annular gap. The soy milk is cooked in the pot. A solidifier is added while a second stage of the apparatus of the invention creates a gentle turbulence within the soy milk. After the soybean curds are formed, the third stage of the invention compresses the curds into tofu. The third stage comprises a form having openings for escape of whey which fits within the pot. The press assembly is used to urge the form downwardly within the pot to compress the tofu curds and remove the whey. The single pot replaces prior art cauldron, curding barrel and settling box. Ladling of tofu curds from a curding barrel to a settling box is eliminated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for extracting soy milk from soybean go, comprising: an enclosure having side walls; a filter insertable into and removable from said enclosure, said filter having sides with a dimension smaller than an inner dimension of the side walls of said enclosure to form a gap between the sides of said filter and the side walls of said enclosure when said filter is inserted into said enclosure, said filter for receiving the soybean go; a pressing member extending between the sides of said filter and movable within said filter; and an elastomeric seal between said pressing member and said filter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said enclosure and said filter are cylindrical, said filter having a diameter smaller than said enclosure, whereby said gap comprises an annular gap between said filter and said enclosure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said pressing member comprises wire cloth having openings to allow the escape of soy milk. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said elastomeric seal is molded to said pressing member, said seal for sealing engaging the sides of said filter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising press means for forcing soy milk from said enclosure, wherein said press means comprises: a bridge extending over said filter; and a screw means held by said bridge and engaging said pressing member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus as in claim 5, said screw means comprising: a tube slidably held by said bridge, said tube having an internal thread; a threaded rod engaged with said tube, said rod extending downwardly to engage said press plate; and a handle secured to the upper end of said rod for rotating said rod. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a funnel, said funnel having a small end attached to the top of said filter and a large end conforming to the side walls of said enclosure when said filter is placed within said enclosure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus as in claim 1, for compressing soybean curds and extracting soybean whey, further comprising: a base extending between the side walls of said enclosure, said base being removable from said enclosure; a form insertable into and removable from said enclosure, said form conforming to the side walls of said enclosure, and said form being parallel to said base; means for moving said form toward said base; and outlet means in one or more of said enclosure, base or form for allowing the escape of soybean whey when said form is moved towards said base. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said form moving means, alternatively, engages said pressing member to move said pressing member downwardly within said filter or engages said form to move said form towards said base. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said outlet means comprises a multiplicity of openings in said form. ### Claim 11 An apparatus for extracting soybean milk from soybean go, utilizing a pot, the pot having a bottom and cylindrical side walls, comprising: a filter insertable into and removable from the pot, said filter having a smaller diameter than the pot to form an annular gap between the sides of said filter and the side walls of the pot when said filter is inserted into the pot, said filter for receiving the soybean go; a circular pressing member received and movable within said filter; an elastomeric seal held between said filter and said pressing member; and press means for moving said pressing member downwardly in said filter, whereby soy milk is forced through said filter into said annular gap. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus as in claim 11, for compressing soybean curds and extracting soybean whey, further comprising: a base extending between and conforming to the side walls of the pot, said base being removable from the pot; a form insertable into and removable from the pot, said form extending between and conforming to the side walls of the pot, and said form being parallel to said base; outlet means in one or more of the pot, said base or said form for allowing the escape of soybean whey when said form is moved towards said base; and said press means, alternatively, engaging said pressing member to move said pressing member downwardly within said filter or engaging said form to move said form towards said base. ### Claim 13 An apparatus for making tofu, comprising: a pot having side walls; a filter insertable into and removable from said pot, said filter having sides with a dimension smaller than an inner dimension of said pot to form a gap between the sides of said filter and the side walls of said pot when said filter is inserted into said pot; a pressing member insertable into, removable from and movable within said filter; a form insertable into, removable from and movable within said pot, said form extending between and conforming to the side walls of said pot, said form having openings therein to allow the escape of soybean whey; and press means for, alternatively, moving said pressing member downwardly through said filter, or moving said form downwardly within said pot. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus as in claim 13, wherein said press means comprises: a base insertable into and removable from said pot, said base conforming to the side walls of said pot; a bridge extending over said pot; and screw means held by said bridge and extending downwardly to engage said pressing member or said form. ### Claim 15 An apparatus for making tofu from a mixture of soybean curds and whey, comprising: side walls forming an enclosure; a flat, rigid base extending between and conforming to said side walls of said enclosure, said base being separate and removable from the side walls of said enclosure; a form insertable into, removable from and movable within said enclosure, said form extending between and conforming to said side walls, and said form being parallel to said base, said side walls, base and form defining a volume within which the mixture of soybean curds and whey are received; press means for moving said form towards said base; and outlet means in one or more of said side walls, base or form for allowing the escape of soybean whey when said form is moved towards said base. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said enclosure has a bottom wall integral with said side walls, and said base is insertable into said enclosure juxtaposed to the bottom wall of said enclosure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said enclosure is cylindrical, and said base and said form are circular. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said outlet means comprises a multiplicity of openings in said form. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The apparatus as in claim 15, further comprising a filter insertable into said enclosure, said filter having sides with a dimension smaller than an inner dimension of said side walls of said enclosure to form a gap between the said filter and said side walls of said enclosure when said filter is inserted into said enclosure; and a pressing member insertable in, removable from and movable within said filter, said pressing member sealing engaging said filter. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus as in claim 19, further comprising a funnel, said funnel having a small end attached to the top said filter and a large end conforming to said side walls of said enclosure. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The apparatus as in claim 19, further comprising an elastomeric seal held between said filter and said pressing member for said sealing engaging said filter. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The apparatus as in claim 19, wherein said press means comprises: a bridge extending over said enclosure; and a screw means held by said bridge and engaging said form. ### Claim 23 An apparatus for making tofu, comprising: a pot having cylindrical side walls for cooking soy milk, curdling soybean curds, and for settling soybean curds; a circular base insertable into and removable from said pot, said base having a diameter substantially the same as but smaller than said pot; a cylindrical filter insertable into and removable from said pot, said filter having sides with a diameter smaller than the pot to form an annular gap between the sides of said filter and the side walls of said pot when said filter is inserted into said pot; a funnel, said funnel having a small end attached to the top of said filter and a large end having a diameter substantially the same as said pot; a circular disk insertable into, removable from and movable within said filter, said disk having openings therein to allow soy milk to pass therethrough; an elastomeric seal molded to a circumferential edge of said disk for sealing between said disk and the sides of said filter; a form insertable into and removable from the pot, said form having a diameter substantially the same as but smaller than said pot; a frame attached to said base, said frame having a pair of spaced apart uprights extending upwardly from said base; a bridge attachable to and removable from said frame, said bridge bridging the span between said uprights; a press plate engagable, alternatively, with either said disk or said form; and a screw means held by said bridge and engaging said press plate, said screw means including a handle, whereby rotation of said handle causes said screw means to extend downwardly for, alternatively, moving said disk downwardly through said filter or moving said form downwardly towards said base. ### Claim 24 An apparatus for making tofu from a mixture of soybean curds and whey, comprising: a pot having side walls and a bottom; a base insertable into said pot when the same contains hot soybean milk, said base having a dimension smaller than said side walls whereby a turbulence in the soy milk is caused when the base is inserted into said pot; and a rod held to said base to facilitate insertion of said base into said pot. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The apparatus as in claim 24, further comprising a form insertable into, removable from and movable within said pot, said form extending between and conforming to the side walls of said pot, and said form being parallel to said base, said pot side walls, base and form defining a volume within which the mixture of soybean curds and whey are received, said form having openings therein to allow for the escape of whey.