US4194011A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Manufacture of cheese
Assignee: Nestec SA
•
Filing: 1977-07-29
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Granted: 1980-03-18
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Expires: 1997-07-29
Abstract
Abstract A process for the production of cheese which comprises preparing a starting material, the composition of which is that of the cheese which it is desired to produce, subjecting this material to a thermal pasteurization or sterilization treatment, packaging the pasteurized or sterilized material under heat in a hermetic container or containers while at the same time adding a fermentation agent to it and, finally, incubating the product thus packaged until fermentation is complete.
Inventors
- 👤 Rutilio Invernizzi
- 👤 Giovanni Prella
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:55
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23C; A23C19/00; A23C19/06; A23C19/068; A23C19/076; A23C19/02; A23C19/028; A23C19/0285; A23C19/061; A23C19/062; A23C19/08; A23C19/084
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A process for the production of cheese which comprises providing a starting material the composition of which is that of the cheese which it is desired to produce, subjecting this material to a thermal pasteurisation or sterilisation treatment, packaging the pasteurised or sterilised material under heat at a temperature equal to 55° C. or above in a hermetic container or containers whilst at the same time adding a lactic fermentation agent to it and, finally, incubating the product thus packaged until fermentation is complete, wherein no drainage takes place once the starting material is provided.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
A process for the production of cheese which comprises providing a starting material the composition of which is that of the cheese which it is desired to produce, subjecting this material to a thermal pasteurisation or sterilisation treatment, packaging the pasteurised or sterilised material under heat at a temperature equal to 55° C. or above in a hermetic container or containers whilst at the same time adding a lactic fermentation agent to it and, finally, incubating the product thus packaged until fermentation is complete, wherein no drainage takes place once the starting material is provided.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the starting material is a mixture consisting of ingredients selected from caseins, caseinates, milk and whey powders, milk, concentrated milk, ultrafiltered milk, whey and fats.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the starting material is subjected to a thermal pasteurisation treatment the starting material consists to a large extent at least of a retentate obtained by ultrafiltration of a milk at a pH of from 5.9 to 6.2.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process as claimed in claim 3, wherein the starting material consists to a large extent at least of a retentate obtained by ultrafiltration of a milk previously acidified to a pH of from 5.9 to 6.2.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A process as claimed in claim 4, wherein the starting material consists to a large extent at least of a retentate obtained by ultrafiltration of the previously acidified milk with at least partial dilution during ultrafiltration with an aqueous solution having a pH-value of from 5.9 to 6.2.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process as claimed in claim 5, wherein the aqueous solution is water acidified to a pH value of from 5.9 to 6.2.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as claimed in claim 5, wherein the aqueous solution is whey acidified to a pH-value of from 5.9 to 6.2.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process as claimed in claim 3, wherein the starting material consists at least partly of a retentate obtained by ultrafiltration of an ordinary milk so as to reach a pH-value of from 5.9 to 6.2.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as claimed in claim 3, wherein the milk is a skimmed milk.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as claimed in claim 4, wherein the milk is previously acidified by chemical means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as claimed in claim 4, wherein the milk is previously acidified by biological means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as claimed in claim 4, wherein the milk is previously acidified by the addition of chemically or biologically acidified whey.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process as claimed in claim 3, wherein the starting material is a mixture of a retentate obtained by ultrafiltration of a milk at a pH-value of from 5.9 to 6.2 and of a thermally concentrated milk.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the starting material consists at least partly of a curd.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as claimed in claim 14, wherein the curd is a curd of lactic character.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the starting material consists at least partly of a processed cheese.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fermentation agent consists of one or more cheese-grade strains of micro-organisms.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process as claimed in claim 17, wherein the fermentation agent consists of Streptococcus, Lactobacillus and Leuconostoc strains.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process as claimed in claim 17, wherein the fermentation agent contains rennet.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the packaged product is incubated at a temperature in the range from 18° to 55° C.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as claimed in claim 20, wherein the packaged product is incubated at a temperature of from 20° to 45° C.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the packaged product is incubated for between 6 and 48 hours.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
A cheese when produced by a process as claimed in claim 1.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
10 words
A processed cheese produced by the process of claim 1.
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) | 1983-03-18 | 1983-09-17 | 1984-03-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-03-18 | 1987-09-17 | 1988-03-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-03-18 | 1991-09-17 | 1992-03-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |