Staging system for automated cheese processing equipment
AssigneeStainless Steel Fabricating, Inc.
InventorJoseph H. Abler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cheese processing system utilizes a liquid flume to convey blocks of cheese between two components of the system. A staging section is provided in the flume to accumulate cheese blocks into groups that are more easily handled by the component at the outlet of the flume. The staging section has a first movable stop mechanism against which the cheese blocks are detained. When a predefined amount of cheese blocks have accumulated, a second stop prevents additional cheese blocks from entering the staging section until the accumulated one can be released by the first movable stop mechanism. A unique flume structure is provided to direct the liquid flow into different channels to aid in rapidly forcing the detained blocks of cheese into and from the staging section.
Claims23
In cheese processing apparatus having a flume through which blocks of cheese are conveyed by flow of a liquid, a staging section in the flume comprising:
- a first stop mechanism having a first state which detains blocks of cheese in the staging section and having a second state in which blocks of cheese are able to travel in the flume from the staging section;
- a sensor for detecting how much cheese has been detained by the first stop mechanism;
- and
- a controller connected to the first stop mechanism and the sensor and responding to a predefined amount of cheese being detained by the first stop mechanism by placing the first stop mechanism into the second state to allow blocks of cheese to exit the staging section.
In cheese processing apparatus having a tank containing a liquid, receptacles to hold blocks of cheese in the tank, and a flume through which blocks of cheese are conveyed into the tank, a staging section in the flume comprising:
- a first stop mechanism movable between a first position in which blocks of cheese are prevented from traveling in the flume and a second position in which blocks of cheese are able to travel from the staging section;
- a second stop mechanism located upstream of the first stop mechanism, and having a first state in which blocks of cheese are prevented from traveling in the flume and a second state in which blocks of cheese are able to travel along the flume toward the first stop mechanism;
- a sensor for detecting an amount of blocks of cheese that has been detained by the first stop mechanism;
- and
- a controller connected to the first stop mechanism, the second stop mechanism and the sensor, and responding to a predefined amount of blocks of cheese having been detained by placing the first stop mechanism into the second position and placing the second stop mechanism into the first state.
A method of staging blocks of cheese traveling through a flume of a cheese processing apparatus, said method comprising:
- detaining blocks of cheese in a staging section formed behind a first stop mechanism;
- sensing how much cheese has been detained by the first stop mechanism;
- and
- determining when a predefined amount of cheese being detained by the first stop mechanism and in response thereto producing a control signal;
- and
- in response to the control signal, moving the first stop mechanism into a given position that allows blocks of cheese pass to exit the staging section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.