US3763769A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods of pressing cheese
Assignee: New Zealand Dairy Research Institute
•
Filing: 1971-06-28
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Granted: 1973-10-09
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Expires: 1991-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A method of pressing curd to form cheese in which prepared divided curd is first pre-pressed for a period of time and under pressure to reduce the moisture content of the curd to a desired level, with this level being substantially the same as the moisture content of the finished cheeses. The pre-pressing is effected in a suitably perforated tunnel with a constricted outlet and the arrangement is such that expressed moisture excapes through the perforations of the tunnel. This pre-pressed curd may then be redivided and passed through a second prepressing stage or, alternatively, passed directly to a final press chamber, with this pressure chamber being hermetically sealable and held under vacuum pressure for a period of time during which mechanical pressure is applied to the curd to facilitate cohesion between the divided curd to form cheese. The vacuum pressure is released, and the mechanical pressure sustained for a longer period, preferably, overnight.
Inventors
- 👤 R Bysouth
- 👤 Robertson P Struan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:24
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01J; A01J25/00; A01J25/12; A01J25/15
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of pressing curd to form cheese, comprising the steps of first pre-pressing prepared divided curd for a period of time and under a pressure to reduce the moisture content of the curd to a desired level, releasing the pre-pressed curd from such pressure, partially redividing the curd, passing the curd to a hermetically sealed press chamber, reducing the gaseous pressure within the chamber to below atmospheric pressure, applying mechanical pressure to the curd to a desired pressure to facilitate coherence between the divided curd to form cheese and, subsequently expressing the cheese from said hermetically sealed chamber so that the cheese has substantially the same moisture content as that of the pre-pressed curd from which it is formed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of pressing curd to form cheese, comprising the steps of first pre-pressing prepared divided curd for a period of time and under a pressure to reduce the moisture content of the curd to a desired level, releasing the pre-pressed curd from such pressure, partially redividing the curd, passing the curd to a hermetically sealed press chamber, reducing the gaseous pressure within the chamber to below atmospheric pressure, applying mechanical pressure to the curd to a desired pressure to facilitate coherence between the divided curd to form cheese and, subsequently expressing the cheese from said hermetically sealed chamber so that the cheese has substantially the same moisture content as that of the pre-pressed curd from which it is formed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of pressing curd to form cheese as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pre-pressing of the curd is effected by pressing the curd in a tunnel having slots for drainage, against the back pressure offered by a restricted discharge outlet causing moisture to be expressed from the curd into said drainage slots.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of pressing curd to form cheese as claimed in claim 1, including pressing the curd through a tunnel by a pressing ram, said tunnel having one or more walls diverging towards an opposite wall, so that the curd passes from a cross section of greater area to a cross section of lesser area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of pressing curd to form cheese as claimed in claim 1 including the steps of effecting said final pressing of the pre-pressed curd in a chamber, hermetically sealing said chamber, reducing the pressure within the chamber to below atmospheric pressure, and pressing the curd within the chamber by moving at least one wall of said chamber to form cheese.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 including the step of carrying out said pre-pressing in two stages.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the curd is at least partially redivided between said two stages.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of pressing curd to form cheese as claimed in claim 1, including pressing the curd through a tunnel by a pressing means, said tunnel having a movable wall diverging towards an opposite wall so that the curd passes from a cross section of greater area to a cross section of lesser area.
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Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-08 | 1977-04-09 | 1977-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-08 | 1981-04-09 | 1981-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-08 | 1985-04-09 | 1985-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |