Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01J—MANUFACTURE OF DAIRY PRODUCTS
  • A01J25/00—Cheese-making
  • A01J25/12—Forming the cheese
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01J—MANUFACTURE OF DAIRY PRODUCTS
  • A01J27/00—After-treatment of cheese; Coating the cheese
  • A01J27/04—Milling or recasting cheese

Definitions

• the invention generally relates an apparatus and process for continuously casting food
• the invention relates to an improved casting plate and a method for
• Food products such as processed cheese may be difficult to cut or slice because, for example,
• the cheese tends to cling to the cutting surfaces. For this or other reasons, it may be preferable to
• a conventional cheese casting machine shown in FIGURE 1 uses a cooling belt, such as a stainless steel belt, driven by large drums. Pans may be
• controlled thickness may be mounted at the infeed end of the machine on top of the belts ("top-
• This equipment may, alternatively, be mounted at some position around the radius of the upper drum at the infeed end ("angle-cast").
• a gauge roller on a chill roll may be used
• the thin, cooled sheets may be slit into narrow strips
• the strips may then be stacked ⁇ cut to length for packaging, such as in slice or other forms.
• a positive displacement pump distributes the food product to the pressurized closed cavity of the manifold.
• the closed cavity receives the hot food product under pressure and distributes it uniformly along the full length of the manifold, which is oriented perpendicular to the length of the casting belt. Due to the closed cavity of the pressure manifold, when cooled food product such as sticky processed cheese must be cleaned out of the chamber as is periodically required, to clear out blocked ports, etc., it may be necessary to remove and disassemble the manifold. This can be a time consuming and laborious task.
• the pump has inherent variability associated with it, depending upon the pump controls as well as fluctuations in the temperature and viscosity in the food product.
• Pressure manifolds also typically employ PID (proportional, integral and derivative) controls to maintain pressure to the manifold.
• PID proportional, integral and derivative
• food product deposition onto the cooling belt must be accomplished rapidly and on a continuous basis to accommodate the high rate at which the product is discharged on the casting belt.
• the manifold should also provide a uniform and continuous discharge of the heated food product to the casting surface with appropriate adjustment means provided, as needed, to accommodate differences in product density and viscosity.
• Conventional pressure manifolds utilize plastic inserts or dividers to control the height of the manifold above the cooling belt. Multiple valve controls are also used to distribute the food product within the manifold. For cleaning, the manifold is typically removed using a hoist due to its weight (e.g., 300 pounds). Cumbersome and time-consuming removal and replacement of the
• Chill rolls may be 4-5 feet in
• gauge roll adjustable in height above the chill roll, for varying the product sheet thickness.
• a bubble of cheese is deposited upstream of the gauge roller, and proceeds downstream toward the gauge roller as the chill roll rotates.
• the gauge roll is chilled, typically using a cooling solution, which adds to the cost and complexity of the chill roll apparatus.
• the gauge roll is also machined to a given outer diameter, and the thickness of each ribbon across the width of the product sheet is not individually controllable using a gauge roll.
• objects of the present invention include: the provision of an economical,
• Casting blade means a device having a fixed edge, which may constitute a variety of shapes
• “Casting belt” means a conveyor belt or other means, which may be chilled or cooled,
• a lightweight, easily adjustable casting apparatus- is provided.
• the casting apparatus has an open cavity for accepting food product on an upstream side and for producing a cast sheet of the food product.
• a distribution system such as a pump and piping, may
• a moving support surface such as a casting belt or chill roll
• a mechanism such as a photoeye, may be used to measure the height of the food product being
• the casting apparatus includes a static casting blade located at a
• the casting apparatus may be of the top-cast or angle-cast variety.
• the height of the casting blade may be adjusted during the casting operation.
• adjustment such as a linear actuator, may be used to adjust the height of the entire casting blade
• Devices or mechanisms may be used to control the dimensions of the product sheet.
• the casting apparatus may include vertical plates inside its open cavity to adjust the puddle width.
• opposing side rails located along at least aportion
• the distance between the opposing side rails may be adjusted
• pressure is maintained within apredetermined range on the casting apparatus (not
• loaded tensioning members may be used.
• Such a lightweight assembly facilitates
• processed cheese and peanut butter for example, as well as less viscous and more fluid,
• gelatin-based food products for example.
• a process for casting a food product into a sheet also forms a part of the present invention.
• a moving support surface for the food product is provided.
• a puddle of molten food product may PCT/US03/12953
• the casting apparatus uses a casting blade to caste the food
• the height above the support surface of the casting blade, or of preselected portions of the casting blade, may be adjusting during use of the casting apparatus.
• FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a conventional cheese casting machine usirig a pressure
• FIGURE 2 is a perspective view from the upstream end of one preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a top-cast, open-cavitied casting apparatus in which a "puddle" of the food product has been discharged on the casting belt and on the upstream side of the casting
• FIGURE 3 is a planar perspective view of the casting apparatus of FIGURE 2;
• FIGURE 4 is a side sectional view of the casting apparatus of FIGURE 2;
• FIGURE 5 is a partial side sectional view of the casting apparatus of FIGURE 2;
• FIGURE 5a is perspective view of portions of the casting apparatus of FIGURE 2 in
• FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along sections lines 6-6 of FIGURE3;
• FIGURE 7 is a top sectional view of the casting apparatus taken along sections lines 7-7 of
• FIGURE6
• FIGURE 8 is an enlarged side, partial sectional view of the casting apparatus of FIGURE 2;
• FIGURE 9 is a sectional view of the casting apparatus of FIGURE 2.
• FIGURE 10 is a sectional view of the casting blade adjustment device for adjusting the height of the entire casting blade of the casting apparatus of FIGURE 2;
• FIGURE 11 is an enlarged view of the circled portion of FIGURE 10;
• FIGURE 12 is a sectional view of the casting blade adjustment device of the casting
• FIGURE 13 is an enlarged view of the circled portion of FIGURE 12;
• FIGURES 14 and 15 are planar side and downstream views, respectively, of an angle-cast
• FIGURES 16 and 17 are perspectives view of the casting apparatus in raised and lowered
• the present invention utilizes a static blade, preferably of stainless steel, as a fixed edge to
• the casting blade is located at a known distance
• a food product to be cast such as all types of processed cheese, gelatin-based
• the casting blade where it is distributed by gravity. As the casting belt moves, the product is pulled
• a food product distribution system 15 which may include an extrusion
• casting device 25 evenly distributes the food product into a sheet 27 having a controlled thickness
• a measuring device such as photo-eye 29, may be mounted
• casting device 25 may electronically communicate with the
• distribution system 15 to increase or decrease the speed of food product distribution in order to
• Piping 15 may be supported by Y-shaped
• FIGURES 3-5 a preferred embodiment of the casting apparatus of the
• Casting apparatus 25 is an open-cavitied
• Casting belt 20 rides over wear plate 40, which may be made
• plastic width adjustment plates 28 may be used to adjust the
• sliders 31, in conjunction with (e.g.) thumbscrews, not shown, may be used to allow plates 28 to be slid and then rigidly adjusted about the length of casting blade 37.
• plastic inserts 43 fit within brackets 59 (FIGURE 5a), which
• Inserts 43 are used to hold down casting belt 20 in a predetermined position on wear plate 40. Inserts 43 are used to hold down casting belt 20 in a predetermined position on wear plate 40. Inserts 43 are used to hold down casting belt 20 in a predetermined position on wear plate 40. Inserts 43 are used to hold down casting belt 20 in a predetermined position on wear plate 40. Inserts 43 are used to hold down casting belt 20 in a predetermined position on wear plate 40. Inserts 43 are used to hold down casting belt 20 in a predetermined position on wear plate 40. Inserts 43 are used to hold down casting belt 20 in a predetermined position on wear plate 40. Inserts 43 are used to hold down casting belt 20 in a predetermined position on wear plate 40. Inserts 43 are used to hold down casting belt 20 in a predetermined position on wear plate 40. Inserts 43 are used to hold down casting belt 20 in a predetermined position on wear plate 40. Inserts 43 are used to hold down casting belt 20 in a predetermined position on wear plate 40. Inserts 43 are used to hold down casting belt 20 in
• spring-loaded tensioners 53 mounted on fixed support 47, may
• a mechanical adjustment tool such as linear actuator 55, for
• Blade 37 is carried by side plates 71 (FIGURE 5a), contacting the
• Linear actuator 55 may include a knob 88 which may
• knob 88 may rotate shaft 91 and
• threaded rod 92 which functions as the linear actuation device for adjusting the height of the casting
• This casting blade height adjustment allows an operator to adjust
• portions of the casting blade 37 are provided, such as thumbscrews or turnbuckles, may be uniformly provided.
• FIGURES 14 and 15 illustrate a less-preferred, angle-cast embodiment of the present
• a plastic dam 70 may be used to retain puddle 17 of the food product and resist it from dropping down the upstream side of the casting blade under the influence of gravity.
• arm(s) 93 pivotally connecting the casting apparatus for rotation about support bar 80 may be used, as shown in FIGURES 14-17.
• Air cylinder 87 is rigidly mounted to support plate 56 and may be used to drive rotation of arm(s) 93 , as shown.
• Tap block 51 located below support plate 56 (FIGURE " 5 A), which
• the wear plate 40 may be oriented at a 2 ° angle, for example, may be used to ensure contact between wear plate 40 and casting belt 20. .
• a low viscosity food product such as spiced gelatin, described above, may be so fluid that, despite cooling, it will not retain its extruded dimensional characteristics. If such a fluid-like product is allowed to freely flow, the extruded width of the product may increase, and
• the sheet thickness may decrease, resulting in an inconsistent thickness across the width of the extrusion.
• the fluid-like product may travel 4-6 feet before it is cooled enough to begin retaining its geometrical shape.
• side rails 30 maybe located downstream of casting blade 37, on each U )
• the side rails may be vertical or turned 45 degrees relative to the plane of the casting belt surface.
• the side rails may be constructed from plastic or any other material that is not damaging to the side rails
• the ribbons may then be further cut into
• Valve controls and PID controls are also known as valve controls and PID controls.
• Casting apparatus 25 also need not be removed for changeovers. Due to its open cavity, food
• the casting apparatus may be easily raised and lowered for cleaning using, e.g., a pneumatic cylinder as shown in FIGURE 16. This also allows sheet height
• the food product puddle is deposited upstream of the casting apparatus, and the cohesive force between the food product and the casting belt pulls the food product underneath the casting blade, creating a product sheet of uniform thickness.
• the present invention can accommodate minor fluctuations in pump speed without affecting the desired dimensions of the food product sheet.

Landscapes

• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Husbandry (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Formation And Processing Of Food Products (AREA)
• Dairy Products (AREA)
• Fish Paste Products (AREA)
• General Preparation And Processing Of Foods (AREA)
• Confectionery (AREA)

Priority Applications (8)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=29399503

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (15)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (6)

Citations (6)

Family Cites Families (10)

• 2002
  • 2002-05-07 US US10/140,773 patent/US20030209027A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2003
  • 2003-04-25 JP JP2004502708A patent/JP2005524405A/ja active Pending
  • 2003-04-25 AU AU2003239179A patent/AU2003239179A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-04-25 AT AT03733895T patent/ATE345036T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2003-04-25 BR BRPI0309845-1A patent/BR0309845A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2003-04-25 WO PCT/US2003/012953 patent/WO2003094603A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2003-04-25 DE DE60309691T patent/DE60309691T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2003-04-25 RU RU2004132843/13A patent/RU2004132843A/ru not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2003-04-25 KR KR10-2004-7017840A patent/KR20050012740A/ko not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-04-25 PL PL03373362A patent/PL373362A1/xx not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2003-04-25 MX MXPA04010968A patent/MXPA04010968A/es unknown
  • 2003-04-25 EP EP03733895A patent/EP1501347B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-04-25 CN CNA038101556A patent/CN1649485A/zh active Pending
  • 2003-05-06 AR ARP030101597A patent/AR039792A1/es unknown
• 2004
  • 2004-10-29 ZA ZA200408782A patent/ZA200408782B/en unknown

Patent Citations (6)

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