WO2023175521A1

WO2023175521A1 - Milk curd stretching machine for the production of pasta filata cheeses

Info

Publication number: WO2023175521A1
Application number: PCT/IB2023/052501
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefano Tomatis; Simone RICCA
Original assignee: Cmt Costruzioni Meccaniche E Tecnologia Spa
Priority date: 2022-03-16
Filing date: 2023-03-15
Publication date: 2023-09-21
Also published as: IT202200005093A1

Abstract

A milk curd stretching machine (1) for the production of pasta filata cheeses, comprising: a stretching channel (2) having an inlet end (3) which is open to receive curd to be stretched and an outlet end (4) which is open to unload the curd. Transport means (5) accommodated in the stretching channel (2) make the curd advance from the inlet end (3) to the outlet end (4). A mixing chamber (6) arranged at the outlet end (4) receives the curd from the stretching channel (2). At least two mixing augers (8, 9) having parallel and counter-rotating axes which are oriented transversely with respect to the advancement direction of the curd in the stretching channel (2) are accommodated in the mixing chamber (6) to perform the final stretching of the curd.

Description

MILK CURD STRETCHING MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF

PASTA FILATA CHEESES

The present invention relates to a milk curd stretching machine for the production of spun curd or pulled curd or pasta filata cheeses.

As is known, in the production of pasta filata cheeses, the curd is rendered plastic or "stringy" by typically soaking it with hot water until it reaches a temperature of at least 60°C.

The stringy curd is then mixed to obtain a fibrous mix; this mix is then reduced into globoid or cylindrical shapes, which are then firmed up by cooling.

Stretching is usually performed by introducing the previously shredded curd into a mixing chamber, into which hot water is also fed.

Plunging arms operate in the mixing chamber and stir and stretch the pasta filata that is progressively generated by the mixing between curd and hot water.

As an alternative, shafts provided with two or three blades that rotate in the mixing chamber in contrast with two fixed abutments can be provided.

These solutions are not without drawbacks, which include the fact that the first solution, i.e., the one with plunging arms, has a mechanical fragility that leads to failures and that the second solution, i.e., the one with shafts with rotating blades, has a low mixing capacity.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a milk curd stretching machine for the production of pasta filata cheeses that allows to overcome the limitations and the drawbacks mentioned above.

Within the scope of this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a stretching machine that has a high mixing capacity and at the same time a high strength of its parts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stretching machine that is compact, with low manufacturing costs and limited energy consumption.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stretching machine that is capable of operating continuously, so as to maintain a high productivity and a high production yield.

This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a milk curd stretching machine having the characteristics described in claim 1 , while the dependent claims define other advantageous characteristics of the invention.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a milk curd stretching machine, illustrated by way of nonlimiting example with the aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic lateral elevation view of the stretching machine according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the stretching machine shown in Figure 1 and taken along the sectional plane II-II;

Figure 3 is a transversal sectional view of the stretching machine shown in Figure 2 and taken along the sectional plane III-III.

With particular reference to the figures, a milk curd stretching machine for the production of pasta filata cheeses, generally designed by the reference numeral 1, comprises: a stretching channel 2 having an inlet end 3 which is open to receive curd to be stretched and an outlet end 4 which is open to unload said curd; transport means 5 for the curd, which are accommodated in the stretching channel 2 for the advancement of the curd from the inlet end 3 to the outlet end 4; at least one mixing chamber 6, which is arranged at the outlet end 4 and is adapted to receive the curd from the stretching channel 2; and mixing means 7 for the curd, which are accommodated in the mixing chamber 6 and are adapted for the final stretching of said curd. The particularity of the invention resides in that the mixing means 7 comprise at least two mixing augers 8, 9 having parallel and counterrotating axes which are oriented transversely with respect to the advancement direction of the curd in the stretching channel 2.

Advantageously, the two mixing augers 8 and 9 are arranged at a relative axial distance that is lower than or equal to their diameter and can have independent motor drives for their actuation at variable rotation rates according to the chosen mixing strategy.

In a variation, not shown, of the proposed embodiment it is possible to provide a plurality of mixing augers with parallel axes, counter-rotating in pairs and oriented transversely with respect to the advancement direction of the curd in the stretching channel 2.

Conveniently, in this case also, said mixing augers can be arranged at a relative axial distance that is lower than or equal to their diameter.

As regards the transport means 5, they can comprise a transport auger 10 which is arranged in the stretching channel 2 and can be actuated to move the curd from the inlet end 3 to the outlet end 4.

Preferably, inside the stretching channel 2 it is possible to provide injectors (not shown) which are fed with steam or hot water in order to keep the curd at the desired temperature before entering the mixing chamber 6.

Advantageously, the pasta filata in output from the mixing chamber 6 is transferred toward the subsequent processes by an extraction auger 12, which is accommodated in a discharge channel 14 which is extended obliquely upwards from the mixing chamber 6 on the opposite side with respect to the stretching channel 2.

The operation of the stretching machine 1 according to the invention derives directly from what has been described above and, also in practice, it has been found that the stretching machine according to the present invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.

In fact, the described solution combines the advantages of the two solutions currently used in stretching machines of the known type, i.e.: a high mixing capacity; a high mechanical strength.

In other words, the stretching machine according to the invention is sturdier than machines with plunging arms of the known type and is capable of processing a larger amount of product than machines with rotating shafts, with a higher mixing quality.

The stretching machine thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the accompanying claims.

All the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102022000005093, from which this application claims priority, are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A milk curd stretching machine (1) for the production of pasta filata cheeses, comprising:

- a stretching channel (2) having an inlet end (3) which is open to receive curd to be stretched and an outlet end (4) which is open to unload said curd;

- transport means (5) for said curd, which are accommodated in said stretching channel (2) for advancing said curd from said inlet end (3) to said outlet end (4);

- at least one mixing chamber (6), which is arranged at said outlet end (4) and is adapted to receive said curd from said stretching channel (2);

- mixing means (7) for said curd, which are accommodated in said at least one mixing chamber (6) and are adapted to a final stretching of said curd; characterized in that said mixing means (7) comprise at least two mixing augers (8, 9) having parallel and counter-rotating axes which are oriented transversely with respect to the advancement direction of said curd in said stretching channel (2).

2. The stretching machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least two mixing augers (8, 9) are arranged at a relative axial distance that is smaller than or equal to their diameter.

3. The stretching machine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said at least two mixing augers (8, 9) have independent motor drives for their operation at rotation speeds which are variable depending on the chosen mixing strategy.

4. The stretching machine (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least two augers comprise a plurality of mixing augers with parallel axes which are counter-rotating in pairs and are oriented transversely to the advancement direction of said curd in said stretching channel (2), the augers of each pair of said mixing augers being arranged at a relative axial distance that is smaller than or equal to their diameter.

5. The stretching machine (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said transport means (5) comprise at least one transport auger (10) which is arranged in said stretching channel (2) and can be operated to move said curd from said inlet end (3) to said outlet end (4).

6. The stretching machine (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises an extraction auger (12) which is accommodated in a discharge channel (14) which obliquely extends upwards from said mixing chamber (6) on the opposite side with respect to said stretching channel (2), and is adapted to transfer the pasta filata in output from the mixing chamber (6) toward subsequent processes.