CH710285A2 - Support for cheese wheel. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a cheese carrier in the form of a grinding wheel (20) of generally cylindrical shape and provided with two plane and substantially parallel faces and intended to be scraped to form chips by means of a device provided with a base. (10), a spindle (12) and a knife (14) for turning on the spindle (12). According to the invention, the support comprises a flat plate intended to receive, on one of its faces (22a), one of said faces of the grinding wheel, and whose other face comprises, in its central part, an element guide, intended to cooperate with said pin (12) to center the grinding wheel (20) on the device, whose orientation is perpendicular to the face (22a) intended to receive the grinding wheel, and at least one positioning member for cooperate with said base to prevent the support from rotating. The invention also relates to a package and a device for scraping cheese.

Description

The present invention relates to the food field and more particularly to the handling of cheeses. Some of them, half-hard type, are scraped to form a chip having the shape of a chanterelle. A cheese of this type, which is in the form of a small millstone, is called "monk's head".

The present invention relates more particularly to a cheese carrier in the form of a grinding wheel of generally cylindrical shape and provided with two flat faces and substantially parallel and intended to be scraped to form chips by means of a device provided with a base, a pin and a knife for turning on the spindle.

The scraping operation is carried out with a device of the type defined in the document CH 635 995 and which essentially comprises a plate, for example wooden, a vertical pin fixed to the plate and a knife rotatably mounted on the spindle. Protuberances are integral with the plate to hold the wheel in place when the knife scrapes the surface of the latter.

This mode enhances the flavor of this cheese, while allowing a particularly attractive presentation. However, it has two disadvantages making it difficult to use, which tends to limit the marketing of this product.

The establishment of the wheel on the base requires, indeed, some skill, because if it is poorly centered or inclined, the scraping of the cheese is problematic. Moreover, the rind of this type of cheese has a persistent odor, so that the handling of the wheel can be perceived as unpleasant by the person who must put it in place.

The object of the present invention is to provide means facilitating both the positioning and handling of the wheel during its implementation. This object is achieved thanks to the fact that the support according to the invention comprises a flat plate intended to receive, on one of its faces, one of said faces of the grinding wheel, and whose other face comprises, in its part central, a guide member for cooperating with said pin for centering the grinding wheel on the device, whose orientation is perpendicular to the face intended to receive the grinding wheel, and at least one positioning member for cooperating with said base for prevent the media from spinning.

In a first variant, the positioning member is formed of ribs disposed radially on the face opposite to that receiving the grinding wheel, and arranged to cooperate with pins that includes the base.

In a second variant, the positioning member is formed of a frame, of polygonal shape, disposed at the periphery of the face opposite to that intended to receive the grinding wheel.

In order to allow the positioning of the grinding wheel on the base of the device, the support is provided with slots intended to allow the engagement of pins that may comprise this base.

The present invention also relates to a device for scraping a face of a cheese wheel that can be disposed on a support provided with a frame and slots, having a base, a pin secured to the base. According to the invention, this device further comprises a flange intended to cooperate with this frame and provided with pins intended to be engaged in the grinding wheel paste through the slots of the support and a groove surrounding the spindle for receiving the guide member.

The present invention also relates to a cheese wheel package, comprising a support according to the invention. It is characterized in that it comprises, in addition, a bell fitted and fixed on the support.

Advantageously, the bell is pierced at its center with a hole for passing the pin of the device.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given by way of example and with reference to the drawing in which: <tb> Fig. 1 <SEP> represents a device for scraping a cheese wheel according to the state of the art; <tb> fig. 2 <SEP> shows a support according to the invention; <tb> fig. 3 <SEP> is a sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1, on which is disposed a cheese and its support; <tb> fig. 4 <SEP> illustrates a device according to the invention for receiving a cheese equipped with a support as shown in FIG. 5; <tb> fig. 6 <SEP> shows a package according to a first embodiment of the invention, incorporating a support as shown in FIG. 5; <tb> figs. 7 and 8 <SEP> represent, respectively, a package according to a second embodiment of the invention, ready to be installed on a device as shown in FIG. 1, and put in place on the device, likely to be stored in a cold room.

The device of FIG. 1 comprises, in known manner, a base 10, for example of wood or plastic, forming a cylindrical plate, provided with pins 11, a pin 12 concentric to the plate and a knife 14 equipped with a blade 15 in its middle part, a handle 16 at its outer end, and a ring 18 at its other end. The blade 15 extends substantially parallel to the plane of the base 10. The ring 18 is dimensioned so that it can be engaged and rotate on the pin 12.

A cheese wheel 20, of cylindrical shape, shown in dashed lines is disposed on the base 10, threaded onto the pin 12, the pins 11 being embedded in its paste. Its upper face is flat. By applying the knife 14 and rotating it with a slight pressure, a thin film of cheese is detached from the wheel 20 to form a mass whose shape resembles a chanterelle.

FIG. 2 represents a support 22 intended to receive a wheel such as that represented on the device of FIG. 1. It has a cylindrical plate shape, one face 22a, upper, is substantially flat and forms the surface for receiving the cheese. The support 22 comprises, in its central part, a tube portion 22b oriented perpendicularly to the flat face 22a. The periphery of the support 22 forms a cylindrical flange 22e. The support further comprises, in the space between the tube 22b and the flange 22d, substantially radial ribs 22e. In addition, the face 22a is provided with pins 22f for positioning the cheese on the support.

The cheese can be directly disposed on the support 22 at the outlet of the ripening cellar, and packaged with a suitable paper. To set up the cheese wheel 20 on the device, simply lift the paper in the portion with the support 22, to disengage its underside, the grinding wheel 20 being held by its packaging. The support 22 is then placed above the device, so that the tube 22b is in alignment with the pin 12. Under the effect of a pressure on the grinding wheel 20, the pin 12 then enters the tubular portion 22b passes through the flat portion of the support 22 and penetrates, guided by the cylindrical portion 22b in the grinding wheel perpendicular to its flat faces. The package can then be removed and the cheese is ready to be scraped, as can be seen in fig. 3. In this way, the cheese is perfectly positioned, without having to touch his skin.

Then put the knife 14 on the pin 12. By turning, the support 22 rotates until the ribs 22e come into contact with the pins 11 that includes the base 10. It is then blocked and the knife 14 can thus perform its function of producing the chanterelles in a conventional manner.

The device shown in FIG. 4 has a base 10 having a channel-shaped flange 24, at the center of which is the pin 12. This flange 24 is provided with lamella-shaped pins 26 arranged perpendicularly to its surface. We find the pin 12 arranged vertically in the base 10. The knife 14 is identical to that described above. The flange 24 is provided with a groove 28 around the spindle 12.

The support 22 shown in FIG. 5, for supporting a grinding wheel 20 and to be placed on the device as shown in FIG. 4, has a square base shape with a flat upper surface 22a. Its opposite face comprises, in its center, a tube portion 22b and at its periphery, a flange 22c. The edge 22e is dimensioned so that it marries the perimeter of the flange. Furthermore, its face carrying the cheese is pierced with slots 30 arranged so as to face the lamellae 26. In addition, the guide member 22b is dimensioned so that it can engage in the throat 28 surrounding the pin 12. In this embodiment, it is the slats 26 of the base 10 which ensure the positioning of the grinding wheel, and not the pins associated with the support 22. The hole of the guide member is shown closed by a thin film of plastic. The slots could be too.

The support 22 of FIG. 5 may form the base of a package as shown in FIG. 6. This package comprises, in addition to the support 22, a lid 32 in the shape of a bell, having a conical portion 32a in its central portion, aligned with the tube portion 22e of the support 22. The cheese 20 is housed in the chamber thus formed held by a fabric 34 covering the wheel 20 and clamped between the support 22 and the cover 32. The support 22 and the cover 32 are fixed to each other by means of a band 36 which can be torn off, for to dissociate them. This band 36 may be formed of a self-adhesive tape. The lower part of the support 22 is dimensioned such that the guide member 22b is positioned on the conical portion 32a and the flange on the upper periphery of the cover 32. In this way, the packages can be stacked easily. Furthermore, if both the slots 30 and the hole of the positioning member 22b are closed, the package can be sealed.

In this embodiment, the establishment of the wheel 20 on the base 10 is performed by bringing the tube portion of the positioning member 22b on the end of the pin 12. By pressing, this last crosses the thin wall of the support 22 and enters the cheese paste. Due to the conical portion 32a, the pressure exerted during the placement is automatically on the periphery of the cover 32. The grinding wheel 20 is retained in place by the fabric 34.

The cover 32 has a height sufficient so that it is not pierced by the pin 12 during the introduction. When the pin 12 has passed through the grinding wheel 20, it engages in the conical portion 32a, but without piercing the lid 32. The strip 36 can then be removed, the lid 32 raised and the fabric 34 removed. The wheel is then ready to be scraped, simply engage the knife 14 on the pin 12.

After use, the wheel 20 may be left on the device. Just remove the knife 14 and cover it with the cover 32, which is positioned on the support 22.

Finally, it will be noted that, by adjusting the shapes of the edge of the cover 32 and the edge 22a of the support 22, it is possible to stack the grinding wheels so that the lid of the lower box positions the support of the box upper, as shown in FIG. 6.

The package illustrated in FIG. 7 comprises a support 22 such as that of FIG. 2, and a bell 32, pierced with a central hole 32a. The bell 22 is disposed with its opening facing upwards, which is closed by the support 22. The latter and the bell 22 are welded or glued to each other at points 34, so as to make them integral. A grinding wheel 20 is housed in the space defined by the support 22 and the bell 32.

The package is prepared by applying a force on the support 22, which disengages from the bell 32, by breaking points 34. This has the effect of penetrating the pins 22f in the dough of the grinding wheel 20.

The thus prepared packaging is returned and the guide member disposed on the pin 12 of a device such as that illustrated in FIG. 1, applying a force on the bell 32. The pin 12 enters the paste of the wheel 20, the latter being guided by the guide member 22b. When the pin 12 comes out of the wheel 20, it can then enter the central hole 32a. Then simply remove the bell 32 and put in place the knife 14. By turning the latter, the ribs 22e come to bear against the pins 11 of the base 10 and the grinding wheel with its support go down slightly, until the latter comes to bear against the base 10. The scraping can then be performed.

After the wheel has been scraped, simply remove the knife 14 and put the bell 32 in place. The knife may, after being washed, then be put back on the spindle 12, turned over, as shown in FIG. 8. It is thus possible to prevent it from being lost.

It is obvious that the support that has just been described may be subject to many variants without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, in the first embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 2, the tube portion 22b could be reported, and the ribs 22e removed. In this way, during the establishment of the grinding wheel 20, the tube portion would be pushed back into the grinding wheel pulp 20 and the spikes 11 would pass through the support 22 to also penetrate the pulp and thus ensure the positioning of the grinding wheel 20. The pins 22f could then be deleted.

Thus, thanks to the particular structure of the support as just described, and accessories that may be associated with it, it is possible to facilitate the handling of cheeses such as the Tête de Moine, while avoiding direct contact with its rind.

Claims (7)

1. Support for cheese in the form of a grinding wheel (20) of generally cylindrical shape and provided with two plane and substantially parallel faces and intended to be scraped to form chips by means of a device provided with a base (10) , a pin (12) and a knife (14) intended to rotate on the pin (12), characterized in that it comprises a flat plate (22) intended to receive on one of its faces (22a), one of said faces of the grinding wheel, and whose other face comprises, in its central part, a guide member (22b) intended to cooperate with said spindle (12) to center the grinding wheel (20) on the device, whose orientation is perpendicular to the face (22a) for receiving the grinding wheel, and at least one positioning member for cooperating with said base to prevent the support from rotating. 2. Support according to claim 1, characterized in that said positioning member is formed of ribs (22e) arranged radially on the face opposite to that receiving said grinding wheel, and arranged to cooperate with pins (11) that includes said base . 3. Support according to claim 1, characterized in that said positioning member is formed of a frame (22e), of polygonal shape, disposed at the periphery of the face opposite to that intended to receive said grinding wheel (20). 4. Support according to claim 3, characterized in that said support is provided with slots (30). 5. Device for scraping a face of a cheese wheel that can be placed on a support according to claim 4, comprising a base (10), a pin (12) integral with the base (10), characterized in that further comprises a flange (24) for cooperating with said frame (22e), provided with pins (26) to be engaged in the paste of said grinding wheel (20) through said slots (30) and a groove (28) surrounding said pin (12) for receiving the guide member (22b). 6. Packaging for cheese wheel, comprising a support (22) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it further comprises a bell (32) adjusted and fixed on said support. 7. Packaging according to claim 6, characterized in that said bell (32) is pierced at its center with a hole (32a).