WO1991001083A1

WO1991001083A1 - Girdle for use in cheese-making

Info

Publication number: WO1991001083A1
Application number: PCT/FR1990/000563
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michel Soubeyrat
Original assignee: Michel Soubeyrat
Priority date: 1989-07-25
Filing date: 1990-07-25
Publication date: 1991-02-07
Also published as: FR2650151B1; FR2650151A1

Abstract

A girdle to be used in cheese-making, particularly during acidification, brining or maturing the chesse, formed by a filtering band (2) surrounding the cheese, made from a porous, non-extending synthetic material, preferably a woven or non-woven material containing synthetic fibres, possibly with a support means (13) acting in its peripheral direction.

Description

BELT FOR USE DURING MANUFACTURE

The present invention relates to a belt intended to be used during the manufacture of cheeses. Patent FR-A-1 448 247 proposes a cheese belt, intended to be used just after the release of the curd, during its cooling. This known belt is constituted by a cylindrical polyester envelope molded around a metal cylinder, the surface of which is engraved according to the design which one wishes to obtain on the heel of the cheese, this belt being provided with a two-way closing loop. notches so that it can have two diameters.

Patent FR-A-2 524 259 also proposes a belt adapted to form a design on the heel of the cheese during its manufacture. This known belt, intended to be used during the acidification phase of the cheese which follows the molding-pressing phase, comprises a rigid frame whose internal face carries a rigid network structure.

These known belts ensuring the evacuation of residual serum at their lower peripheral edge, they in fact only respond to the problem of maintaining the heel of the treated cheese. However, the manufacture of a cheese, in particular hard cheese, which generally exhibits, after a pressing molding operation, an acidification phase, a brining phase and a ripening phase, poses many other problems than the belt according to the present invention also proposes to solve.

- In addition, "patent FR-A- 2,348,867 proposes a bottomless ring to constitute an individual dish for the production of fresh cheeses. This ring is made of a flexible material retaining the fresh cheese during the sewer operation - serum level.

Dripping of the serum occurs at the base of the ring.

Only to improve this drainage, the ring may have distributed perforations. The present invention particularly relates to a cheese belt which is mainly intended to be used during the acidification phase but which can also be used during the other phases.

The present invention particularly relates to a cheese belt which makes it possible to maintain the heel of the treated cheese.

The present invention particularly relates to a cheese belt. Which can adapt to variations in the size of the cheese during its manufacture.

The present invention relates in particular to a cheese belt which allows the drainage of the residual serum, the evacuation, gases as well as aeration of the heel of the cheese in order in particular to avoid the formation of molds and to allow the hardening of the cheese rind.

The present invention relates in particular to a cheese belt which, used in the brining phase, can let the brine through.

The present invention particularly relates to a cheese belt which is simple to manufacture and easy to use.

According to an object of the invention, the belt intended to be used during the manufacture of cheeses, in particular during acidification, brining or ripening of the latter, is formed by a filtering band, surrounding the cheese, in a porous and non-extensible synthetic material.

Said strip is preferably a woven or nonwoven thermally bonded with synthetic fibers, preferably a polyolefin or a polyester.

Said strip preferably has circumferential ends assembled by a connecting means.

According to another object of the invention, the belt comprises a band which has two circumferential end portions which overlap and which are fixed, by a connecting means, in two zones spaced apart in the peripheral direction, between which the length of the inner portion of the strip is greater than the length of the outer portion of the latter. According to another object of the invention, the belt comprises at least one holding means fixed or connected to said strip in two zones spaced in its peripheral direction. Said holding means can advantageously be, between the aforementioned spaced-apart fixing zones, elastically extensible in the peripheral direction of the strip.

Said holding means is ^" preferably formed by a plate or a sheet having perforations or slots giving it a structure which is elastically deformable in the peripheral direction of the strip.

The strip preferably has a portion which extends between its areas of attachment to said holding means and below the latter, the length of this circumferential portion of the strip being greater than the length of the holding means between the two areas. aforementioned fixing.

The holding means may advantageously comprise a plate or hanger sheet which extends in its ^peripheral direction, this plate presenting successively a zone in which it is fixed to one end of the strip by attachment means , a first slot and a second slot which extend perpendicular to its peripheral direction, the other end portion of the strip passing under the plate, passing outwards through its first slot and being folded back and engaged inward in its second slot to extend under the plate and protrude rearward beyond the latter.

The zone for fixing the end of the strip to the plate is preferably adjacent to the first slot of the latter.

Its aforementioned end part preferably has a width less than the rest of the strip so as to provide two lateral shoulders abutting against the plate.

The elastically deformable plate or sheet and the attachment plate or sheet can advantageously be in the extension of one another and are in one piece.

According to another object of the invention, at least one of the peripheral ends of said strip or of said sheet or plate has an extension extending outwards. Said extension preferably has a breaking line making it possible to detach its free end part. The aforementioned connecting means is preferably by heat sealing.

The heat seal is preferably peelable when a traction greater than a determined value is exerted, in particular by grasping the aforementioned extension.

Said holding means is preferably made of a plastic or synthetic material.

The two faces of said extension can advantageously be at least partially covered with a heat-sealed plastic film, this film preferably being a polyolefin.

Said strip and / or said holding means may possibly have a cross section, perpendicular to its peripheral direction, curved.

The present invention will be better understood from the study of cheese belts intended to be used during the manufacture of the latter, described by way of nonlimiting examples and illustrated by the drawing in which: FIG. 1 shows, in perspective, a first cheese belt according to the present invention; - Figure 2 shows a partial view in the peripheral direction of the cheese belt shown in Figure 1;

- Figure 3 shows a partial perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the cheese belt of Figure 1; - Figure 4 shows, in perspective, a second alternative embodiment of the cheese belt according to the present invention;

- Figure 5 shows, in enlarged view, a partial section in the peripheral direction of the cheese belt shown in Figure 4;

- Figure 6 shows, in section, an alternative embodiment of the cheese belt shown in Figure 4;

- Figure 7 shows, in section, another part of the cheese belt according to the variant of Figure 6; - Figure 8 shows, in perspective, a third alternative embodiment of the cheese belt according to the present invention; - Figure 9 shows an enlarged view of part of the cheese belt of Figure 8;

- Figure 10 shows, in partial view, a partial section in the peripheral direction of the cheese belt of Figure 8;

- Figure 11 shows, in perspective, a fourth alternative embodiment of the cheese belt according to the present invention.

- Figure 12 shows in perspective, a fifth alternative embodiment of the cheese belt according to the present invention, in its first position;

- Figure 13 shows the cheese belt of Figure 12, in its second position;

- Figure 14 shows, in perspective, a sixth alternative embodiment of the cheese belt according to the present invention, in its first position;

- And Figure 15 shows the cheese belt of Figure 14, in its second position.

The cheese belt shown in Figures 1 to 3 and generally identified by the reference 1 is formed from a rectangular piece of a flexible filter band 2 rolled so as to form a cylinder in which can be disposed the cheese to be processed. In one example, this cylinder can be 800 mm in diameter and 180 mm in height. This strip 2 is made of a porous and non-extensible synthetic material, preferably a thermally bonded nonwoven of polyester fibers having a mass preferably between 50 and 300 g / m ² , for example 120 g / m ² .

In the variant shown in Figures 1 and 2, the outer face of the peripheral end edge 3 of the strip 2 and the inner face of its peripheral end edge 4 overlap and are fixed by heat sealing.

In the variant shown in Figure 3, the inner faces of these peripheral end edges 3 and 4 overlap and are also fixed by theπnosoudage, these thermoεoudées edges extending outside. Alternatively, we could sew the edges 3 and 4. The strip 2 has an extension 5 which extends outside beyond the heat-sealed peripheral end edge

4, this extension 5 having a breaking line 6 formed for example by fine perforations, making it possible to detach its end part 7.

The cheese belt 1 described above, placed around a cheese to be treated later in the molding phase - pressing the curd, can fulfill the following functions.

First of all, it maintains the heel of the cheese, thus avoiding its creep and giving it its dimension.

^'Thanks to its porous structure, the residual serum oozing from the heel cheese can be discharged on its entire periphery. Indeed, the residual oozing serum crosses the strip 2 forming the cheese belt 1 and trickles onto its outer face. It can also occur over the entire surface of the cheese belt 1 an evacuation of the gases formed as well as a ventilation of the heel of the cheese, thus preventing the formation of mold and allowing the hardening of the crust of the heel of the cheese. The cheese belt 1 described above can therefore be used during the cheese acidification phase which follows the molding-pressing operation of the curd. It can however be maintained around the cheese to be treated during the subsequent brining phase. Thanks to its porous structure, the brine can reach the heel of the cheese over its entire peripheral surface by crossing the strip 2.

The cheese belt 1 described above can also be maintained during the subsequent ripening phase to fulfill the same functions as during the acidification phase. When it is desired to separate the cheese belt 1 from the cheese to be treated which it surrounds, for example at the end of the acidification phase, or at the end of the brining phase or even at the end of the phase d refining, take the extension 5 and pull strongly on the latter so as to tear off the heat-sealed connection formed between the peripheral end edges 3 and 4 of the cheese belt 1. Having taken care to write on the end part 7 of the extension 5 of the information relating to the treated cheese, this end part 7 can be separated by tearing the breaking line 6 and ensuring that this end part 7 is associated with the treated cheese , for example to the place of sale of the cheese.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, we see that there is shown a cheese belt identified, generally by the reference 8 which is formed in the same way as the cheese belt 1 described with reference to the figures 1 and 2. This cheese belt 8 has, as previously, a filter strip 9, the peripheral end edges 10 and 11 of which are heat sealed.

This cheese belt 8 is further provided with a holding member generally identified by the reference 12. This holding member 12 is constituted by a rectangular plate 13 which is applied against the outer face of the strip 9. The peripheral end edges 14 and 15 of the plate 13 are heat-sealed respectively on the peripheral end edges 10 and 11 of the strip 9 and on an area 16 of this strip spaced in the peripheral direction of these edges 10 and 11, so that between these peripheral end edges 10 and 11 and the connection zone 16, the strip 9 has a peripheral portion 17 folded, for example in accordion fashion.

The plate 13 has slots 18 which extend perpendicular to the peripheral direction of the belt so as to give it an elastically extensible structure in the peripheral direction. In the example, the plate 13 has three aligned central slots and, on each side, respectively two slots straddling the areas connecting the ends of these three central slots.

The plate 13 also has perforations 19 which are formed at the ends of the slots 18 so that the plate 13 does not constitute a barrier vis-à-vis the peripheral portion 17 of the strip 9. It also has, in the peripheral direction, an arcuate shape corresponding to the cylinder formed by the belt 8. In a variant, the plate 13 is made of plastic, for example polyolefin. The cheese belt 8 described above has the advantage of being able to follow the deformations or the variations in volume of the cheese to be treated which it surrounds. When the cheese belt 8 is placed around a cheese to be treated, the latter exerts on the strip 9 a radial pressure which stretches the plate 13 in the peripheral direction, lengthening the folded portion 17. The central structure elastic plate 13 is designed to balance the peripheral tensile force produced. If the processed cheese undergoes a variation in size, as is the case for example during the brining phase during which its diameter is reduced, the plate 13 makes it possible to compensate for this reduction so that the belt 8 always remains in contact with the heel of the treated cheese by exerting a certain pressure. The folded peripheral portion 17 of the strip 9 constitutes a stop determining the maximum elongation of the plate 13 when this portion is completely stretched. In addition, thanks to the slots 18 and the perforations 19 of the plate 13, the peripheral portion 17 of the strip 9 can fulfill its aforementioned functions, the plate 13 not being waterproof. Referring to Figures 6 and 7, we see that an alternative embodiment of the cheese belt 8 is shown according to which the strip 20 and the compensation plate 21 have a curved section so as to give the heel of the cheese treated a domed shape. Of course, the section could be curved in the other direction so as to give the heel of the treated cheese a hollow shape.

Referring now to Figures 8 to 10, we will describe a cheese belt generally identified by the reference 22 which is formed using a strip 23 made of the same material as the strip forming the belt cheese 1.

The cheese belt 22 comprises a holding member generally identified by the reference 24 which is constituted by a rectangular plastic hooking plate 25 which is arcuate in the peripheral direction. The peripheral end edge 26 of the strip 23 is heat-sealed on one of the interior peripheral edges of the plate 25. On its part located beyond the heat-sealed peripheral end edge 26, the plate 25 has two slots 27 and 28 which extend perpendicular to the peripheral direction of the strip 23 and which have a length less than the width of this strip, the slot 27 being adjacent to the thermo-welded end 26.

The other peripheral end edge 25 of the strip 23 has an extension 29 of smaller width so as to provide two lateral shoulders 30 and 31. The extension 26 extends below the plate

25, is engaged towards the outside in the slot 27 of the plate 25 closest to the heat-sealed end 24, is folded backwards then engaged from the outside towards the inside through the slot 28 of the plate 25, extends again under the plate to emerge towards the rear, opposite the thermo-welded end 24.

The extension 29 thus being engaged in the plate

26, its end is pulled so as to bring the shoulders 30 and 31 into contact with the inner face of the plate 26. The cheese belt 22 has, in this position, a determined circumferential dimension.

If it is necessary to increase its circumfé¬ rential dimension, it suffices to slightly loosen the extension 29 relative to the plate 25 to bring it to the desired adjustment position.

As seen in particular in Figure 9, the slot 28 is not made rectilinear but is formed so as to have teeth ensuring the maintenance of the extension 29. In addition, the plate 25 has perforations 32 distributed over its surface so as not to form an obstacle to the porosity of the strip 23.

In addition, it can be seen in FIG. 10 that the two faces of the extension 29 are covered with two films 33 and 34 of plastic material, for example in a polyolefin, heat-sealed on these faces so as to reinforce this extension 29 in traction. Referring now to Figure 11, we see that there is shown a cheese belt generally identified by the reference 35. This cheese belt 35 has the advantage of being provided with a holding member generally identified by the reference 36 which comprises, on a single plate 37 of plastic material, a part 38 equivalent to the holding member 12 elastically deformable in the peripheral direction of the cheese belt 8 shown in FIG. 4 and a part 39 equivalent to the holding and hooking member 25 of the cheese belt 22 shown in FIG. 8.

^' Thus its strip 40, made of the same material as that of the cheese belt 1 shown in Figure 1, includes a peripheral end edge 41 heat sealed substantially in the middle of the plate 37 and a zone heat-sealed 42 located at a distance from this peripheral end edge 41 between which it forms a peripheral portion 43 folded in an accordion opposite which part 38 of the plate 37 is extendable in the peripheral direction and that the strip 40 has, from its other peripheral end 44, an extension 45 which is engaged, as before, in two slots 46 and 47 of the part 39 of the plate 37 to be detachably assembled there. The peripheral end 41 of the strip 40 extends so as to be adjacent to the slot 46 of the plate 37.

This cheese belt 35 has the advantage of being adjustable in the peripheral direction and of being extensible thanks to its elastically deformable part 39.

Referring now to FIG. 12, it can be seen that a cheese belt has been shown generally identified by the reference 48 which differs from that described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 by the fact that the strip 49 which constitutes it has two peripheral end portions 50 and 51 which overlap and which are assembled by heat sealing on two zones 52 and 53 spaced apart by the peripheral direction.

Between these zones 52 and 53, the inner portion 50 has a length greater than the outer portion 51, the end of the latter having a free extension 54 extending outward. In this assembled position visible in FIG. 12, the belt 48 has a first circumference determined by the length of the outer portion 51.

By pulling outwards on the extension 54, it is possible to tear off the immediately adjacent heat-sealed connection 52

The belt 48 then has a second circumference determined by the extended inner portion 50, larger than the first circumference.

This second position is visible in FIG. 13. As in the example in FIG. 1, the belt 4 can be separated from the cheese by tearing off the heat-sealed connection 53.

The cheese belt 48 described above with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13 therefore makes it possible to ensure a first diameter of the cheese in a first part of its manufacturing process and a second diameter in a second part of its manufacturing process or during its storage.

Referring now to FIG. 14, we see that a cheese belt has been shown generally identified by the reference 55 which includes a band 56 similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Associated with a peripheral portion 57 of the band 56, the belt 55 is provided with a holding member 58 constituted by a sheet of the same material as the band 56. This sheet 58 has a peripheral portion 59 which covers the port 57. these the latter being assembled by heat-sealing on two zones 60 and 61 spaced apart in the peripheral direction so that the length of the interior portion 57 is greater than the length of the exterior portion 59.

Beyond its heat-sealed connection 60, the holding means 58 has a free extension 62.

In the assembled position shown in FIG. 14, the cheese belt 55 has a circumferential dimension determined by the length of the outer portion 59 of the holding member 58. By pulling on the extension 62, the heat-sealed connection 60 can be torn off. and possibly the heat-sealed bond 61 so that the cheese belt 55 has a new circumferential dimension greater than the previous one and determined by the length of. its circumferential portion 57 previously folded and extended, this position being shown in FIG. 15.

This cheese belt 55 has the same advantages as those of the belt 48.

Of course, the retaining member 58 of the belt 55 could be constituted, in another example, by a sheet of plastic or synthetic material provided with perforations giving it a structure which is elastically deformable in the peripheral direction. Before detachment of this holding member equivalent to the plate 12, this cheese belt would have all the advantages of the belt described with reference to FIG. 4.

Claims

1. Belt intended to be used during the manufacture of cheeses, in particular during acidification, brining or ripening thereof, characterized in that it is formed by a filtering band (2), surrounding the cheese, made of a porous and non-extensible synthetic material.

2. Belt according to claim 1, characterized in that said strip (2) is a woven or a nonwoven thermally bonded with synthetic fibers, preferably a polyolefin or a polyester.

3. Belt according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that said strip (2) has a mass between ^'50 and 300 g / m ^2'

4. Belt according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said strip (2) has circumferential ends assembled by a connecting means.

5. Belt according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said strip (49) has two circumferential end portions (50, 51) which overlap and which are fixed, by a connecting means, in two zones (52, 53) spaced apart in the peripheral direction, between which the length of the inner portion of the strip is greater than the length of the outer portion of the latter.

6. Belt according to any one of the preceding claims (12, 24, 58), characterized in that it comprises at least one holding means fixed or connected to said strip in two zones spaced in its peripheral direction.

7. Belt according to claim 6, characterized in that said holding means (12) is, between the aforementioned spaced fixing zones, elastically extensible in the peripheral direction of the strip.

8. Belt according to claim 7, characterized in that said holding means is formed by a plate or a sheet (12) having perforations or slots giving it a structure which is elastically deformable in the peripheral direction of the strip.

9. Belt according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the strip has a portion (17, 57) which extends between its areas of attachment to said holding means and below the latter, the length of this circumferential portion of the strip being greater than the length of the holding means between the two aforementioned fixing zones (10, 16; 60, 61).

10. Belt according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the holding means (24) comprises a plate or an attachment sheet (25) which extends in its peripheral direction, this plate having successively a zone ^" in which it is fixed to one of the ends (26) of the strip by a fixing means, a first slot (27) and a second slot (28) which extend perpendicular to its peripheral direction, the other end part (29) of the strip (23) passing under the plate, passing outward through its first slot (27) and being folded back and engaged inwardly into its second slot ( 28) to extend under the plate and protrude rearward beyond the latter.

11. Belt according to claim 10, characterized in that the fixing zone (26) of the end of the strip on the plate is adjacent to the first slot (27) of the latter.

12. Belt according to one of claims 10 and 11, characterized in that its aforementioned end portion

(29) has a width less than the rest of the strip so as to provide two lateral shoulders (30, 31) abutting against the plate (25).

13. Belt according to any one of claims 6 to 12, characterized in that the elastically deformable plate or sheet and the hooking plate or sheet (39) are in the extension of one another and are in one piece (37).

14. Belt according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the peripheral ends of said strip or of said sheet or plate has an extension (5, 29, 54, 62) extending outwards.

15. Belt according to claim 14, characterized in that said extension has a breaking line (6) for detaching its free end portion.

16. Belt according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforementioned connecting means consists of a heat seal.

17. Belt according to claim 16, characterized in that the heat seal is tearable when a higher traction has a determined value is exerted, in particular by grasping the aforementioned extension.

18. Belt according to any one of claims 10 to 17, characterized in that said holding means is made of plastic or synthetic material.

19. Belt according to claim 14, characterized in that the two faces of said extension are at least partly covered with a plastic film (33, 34) heat-sealed, this film preferably being a polyolefin.

20. Belt according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said strip (20) and / or said holding means (21) have a cross section, perpendicular to its peripheral direction, curved.