GB378376A - Improvements in or relating to machines for pasteurizing dairy or other plastic edible products - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for pasteurizing and homogenizing plastic dairy products such as cheese and butter or other plastic edible products consists of means for feeding the product along a predetermined path and means in said path for frictionally producing heat of pasteurization by acting on the product. In the construction described, the product, e.g. cheese, is fed from a receptacle 87 to a housing 15 where a screw conveyer 14<1> feeds it forward through an apertured plate 28, which comminutes it, into a cylindrical part 22 of a housing 20. The cheese is carried by a screw 38 to between a conical member 53 rotating with screw 38 and a fixed conical portion 23 of the housing 20 and is there subjected to pressure resulting in the frictional production of the heat required for pasteurization. The screw 38 and conical member 53 are carried by a shaft 39 which can be adjusted axially by screws 57, 61 operated by wheels 58, 65 and having lock nuts 59, 70, to allow the distance between the conical members to be altered, thus controlling the temperature to which the cheese is raised on passing therebetween. The portion 23 of the housing 20 has a jacket 80 provided with connections to a hot-water supply for warming the apparatus when beginning operations to take off the initial chill, and a cold-water supply for regulating and controlling the maximum temperature to which the cheese is raised. The housing 20 has a detachable end closure 47 with an annular channel 75 into which the pasteurized cheese is discharged with the aid of expelling members 72 attached to member 53. The cheese passes to an outlet spout 78 having <PICT:0378376/III/1> <PICT:0378376/III/2> <PICT:0378376/III/3> <PICT:0378376/III/4> a slidable or other adjustable closure 79 to control the flow therefrom, and a thermometer 86. The jacket 23 has a thermometer 85. The apparatus is actuated by an electric motor 92 which rotates through gears 94, 95, shaft 96, sprocket wheel 100, chain 101 and sprocket wheel 102 a shaft 39<1> which is detachably connected by a flanged hub 66, Fig. 6, locked thereto by a screw 67, and pins 68 to the screw 38. The pins 68 allow axial movement between the screw 38 and the shaft 39<1> during adjustment of the distance between the conical members but transmit rotary motion to the screw 38, and through it to the shaft 39 and member 53. The screw 14<1> is driven from shaft 39<1> through a chain 108 rotating a shaft 103 connected through gear 109, 110 to the shaft 14 of screw 14<1>. Water can be supplied to the material, e.g. to prevent scorching during treatment, from a tank 111 through a pipe 114 and valve 116. The apparatus is used in the process of Specification 378,374 and for obtaining the product of Specification 378,375. Specifications 278,653, [Class 49, Food &c.], and 327,808, [Class 81 (i), Disinfecting &c.], also are referred to.