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US4663169A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for automatic measurement and control in curd making process

Assignee: Snow Brand Milk Products Co Ltd
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Filing: 1986-02-19
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Granted: 1987-05-05
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Expires: 2006-02-19
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Abstract

Abstract A method for automatic measurement and control in curd making process is provided wherein an electrical current is supplied to an electrical conductor thermally contactable with milk stored in a curd tank so as to be heated to result in sufficiently higher temperature of the said conductor than the surrounding milk, temperatures or electrical resistances of the electrical conductor are measured in relation to time lapse, an elapsed time starting from the commencement of curdling is measured on the basis of a change in temperature or electrical resistance of the electrical conductor, and the elapsed time is compared with a predetermined curdling progress time ranging from the commencement of curdling to curd cutting so as to automatically judge a curd cutting timing.

Inventors

  • 👤 Tomoshige Hori
  • 👤 Kensuke Itoh

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 23:15
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01J; A01J25/00; A01J25/06; A23; A23C; A23C19/00; A23C19/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim 143 words
A method for automatic measurement and control in a cheese curd making process comprising the steps of: supplying an electrical current to at least one electrical conductor thermally contactable with milk stored in a curd tank so that said conductor is electrially heated to a temperature which is higher than the temperature of the said milk: adding a curd producing material to said milk; measuring the resulting temperatures or electrical resistances of said electrical conductor in relation to the time lapse so as to detect the commencement of curdling; measuring an elapsed time starting from the commencement of curdling on the basis of a change in temperature or electrical resistance of said electrical conductor; and comparing the elapsed time with a predetermined curdling progress time ranging from the commencement of curdling to curd cutting so as to automatically judge a curd cutting timing.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 143 words
A method for automatic measurement and control in a cheese curd making process comprising the steps of: supplying an electrical current to at least one electrical conductor thermally contactable with milk stored in a curd tank so that said conductor is electrially heated to a temperature which is higher than the temperature of the said milk: adding a curd producing material to said milk; measuring the resulting temperatures or electrical resistances of said electrical conductor in relation to the time lapse so as to detect the commencement of curdling; measuring an elapsed time starting from the commencement of curdling on the basis of a change in temperature or electrical resistance of said electrical conductor; and comparing the elapsed time with a predetermined curdling progress time ranging from the commencement of curdling to curd cutting so as to automatically judge a curd cutting timing.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3718721A Cited
US3690002A Cited
US3713339A Cited
US4419021A Cited
US4492713A Cited
US4534982A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-05-04 1990-11-03 1991-05-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-05-04 1994-11-03 1995-05-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-05-04 1998-11-03 1999-05-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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