US 6,701,830 B2 · Cheese brining apparatus

Abstract

Above-ground tanks form brining cells into which cheese blocks are conveyed by common inlet and outlet flumes. Each cell has a removable conveyor assembly having a looped link belt driven around a frame by a motor. Perpendicular, tubular, or hinged segmented flights project from the belt to engage infed cheese blocks, and submerge a series of rows of blocks. An infeed flume delivers a stream of cheese blocks to a cell. Once a level below a flight is filled, the conveyor is actuated to submerge that level, and the next level is then filled until the tank is filled. After brining, the conveyor is incremented to discharge the cheeses flight by flight into an outlet flume. The flume may have a lower segment narrower than an upper segment, such that by draining the tank smaller cheese blocks may be better controlled.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A cheese block transporting flume comprising:

a base wall;
first side wall sections which extend upwardly from the base wall and which are spaced a first distance apart of an appropriate width for conveying cheese blocks of a first size;
and
second side wall sections which extend upwardly from the first side wall sections and are spaced a second distance apart which is substantially greater than the first distance spacing of the first side wall sections, the second distance being suited for conveying cheese blocks of a second size which is larger than the first size, such that first size cheese blocks are conveyed when the flume is filled with brine to a level below the second side wall sections, and second size cheese blocks are conveyed when the flume is filled with brine to a level above the first side wall sections.

1 more element

A cheese brining apparatus which is adaptable to treating cheese blocks of different dimensions, the apparatus comprising:

a tank having a first side wall, and an opposed second side wall, with a brining cell defined therebeween and having brine therein;
a frame supported on the tank and having portions which are submerged within the tank;
a continuous looped belt mounted to the frame and encircling the frame, the belt having a plurality of hinged segmented flights which project outwardly from the at least one belt away from the frame, wherein cheese blocks are engaged by the hinged segmented flights as the belt is moved in a continuous looped path through the brine within the tank, each hinged segmented flight having a first segment which projects from the belt toward a side wall, and a second segment hinged to the first segment, the second segment being pivotable between a first position lying adjacent the first segment, and positioned to engage a cheese block of a first size, and a second position extending generally perpendicular to the first segment for engaging a cheese block of a second size which is smaller than the first size;
a drive mounted to engage the belt to rotate it and to advance cheese blocks submerged within the brine in the tank along said path.

1 more element

A cheese brining apparatus comprising:

a tank having a fluid inlet, a first side wall, and an opposed second side wall, with a brining cell defined between said side walls, and having brine therein;
a frame supported on the tank and having portions which are submerged within the tank;
at least one continuous looped belt mounted to the frame and encircling the frame, the belt having a plurality of tubular flights which project outwardly from the at least one belt toward a tank side wall, wherein cheese blocks are engaged within each of said tubular flights as the at least one belt is moved in a continuous looped path through the brine within the tank;
a drive mounted to engage the at least one belt to rotate it and to advance cheese blocks submerged within the brine in the tank along said path;
a flume connected to the fluid inlet, the flume having a base wall with upwardly extending first side wall sections which are spaced a first distance apart of an appropriate width for conveying cheese blocks of a first size;
and second side wall sections extend upwardly from the first side wall sections and are spaced a second distance apart which is substantially greater than the first distance spacing of the first side wall sections, the second distance being suited for conveying cheese blocks of a second size which is larger than the first size, such that first size cheese blocks are conveyed when the flume is filled with brine to a level below the second side wall sections, and second size cheese blocks are conveyed when the flume is filled with brine to a level above the first side wall sections.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cheese brining apparatus

Life of this patent

Cheese brining apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15