US3772786A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for use in processing curd in the manufacture of cheese
Assignee: BELL BRYANT Pty Ltd
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Filing: 1971-07-23
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Granted: 1973-11-20
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Expires: 1991-07-23
Abstract
Abstract A cheese curd processing machine in which curd is fed over a screen to a first conveyor on which it forms a layer, the conveyor being operated in use at a speed so as to form a layer of curd of convenient depth for whey drainage purposes, and the layer being stirred by means of a series of rakes which are moved in succession along its length from the infeed to the outfeed end thereof at a speed greater than the speed of the conveyor. Curd from the layer may then be transferred to a second conveyor, the effective speed of which is less than the speed of the first conveyor so that the depth of curd on the second conveyor is greater to facilitate consolidation during the second conveying stage.
Inventors
- 👤 W Leonard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 04:17
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01J; A01J25/00; A01J25/11; A01J25/111; A01J25/114
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
Apparatus for use in processing curd in the manufacture of cheese comprising: a first conveyor arranged to convey a body of curd, and a plurality of curd sitting devices movable in succession along an elongated path which extends along the conveyor in the direction of movement of the body of curd, each of said devices extending toward the conveyor when each of said devices extend into the body of curd to stir it while moving along said path, said path extends forwardly of the first conveyor from an infeed end thereof, the speed of movement of eacH of said devices along said path is different than the speed of the curd in the same direction; and each of said devices includes a plurality of fingers spaced transversely of said path while being moved along it.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
Apparatus for use in processing curd in the manufacture of cheese comprising: a first conveyor arranged to convey a body of curd, and a plurality of curd sitting devices movable in succession along an elongated path which extends along the conveyor in the direction of movement of the body of curd, each of said devices extending toward the conveyor when each of said devices extend into the body of curd to stir it while moving along said path, said path extends forwardly of the first conveyor from an infeed end thereof, the speed of movement of eacH of said devices along said path is different than the speed of the curd in the same direction; and each of said devices includes a plurality of fingers spaced transversely of said path while being moved along it.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the speed of movement of each of said devices along said path is greater than the speed of the curd in the same direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a second conveyor means arranged such that curd from a layer of curd formed on the first conveyor can be transferred to the second conveyor means so as to form a body of curd thereon, the first conveyor and the second conveyor means being operable at different effective speeds so that the depth of the layer on the first conveyor can be made less than the depth of the body on the second conveyor means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the layer of curd formed on the first conveyor is continuous with a layer formed on the second conveyor means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein each of said devices are provided to stir the curd on the first conveyor so as to facilitate drainage of liquid therefrom.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-19 | 1977-05-21 | 1977-11-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-19 | 1981-05-21 | 1981-11-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-19 | 1985-05-21 | 1985-11-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |