US5137738A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System and method for controlling butterfat content in standardized milk product using whole product sensor
Assignee: Wedgewood Analytical Inc
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Filing: 1991-04-17
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Granted: 1992-08-11
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Expires: 2011-04-17
Abstract
Abstract System and method for controlling the content of a fluid product such as milk. The entire product stream is monitored continuously, and the actual content of the stream is compared with the desired content. A correction signal which varies in accordance with the difference between the actual content and the desired content is provided, and in one disclosed embodiment the content of the product is adjusted in response to the correction signal by an amount which decreases as the content approaches the desired level. In another disclosed embodiment, the butterfat content of both the standardized milk product and an excess cream output are controlled. The correction signals are adapted to control valves which control flow to result in both the standardized milk product and excess cream output having the desired butterfat content.
Inventors
- 👤 William H. Wynn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 10:47
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23C; A23C9/00; A23C9/15; A23C9/1508; G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/02; G01N33/04; G01N33/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
In a system adapted to produce the butterfat content of a standardized milk product produced by combining low fat milk and high fat milk: means for providing a first reference signal corresponding to a desired butterfat content for the standardized milk product and a second reference signal corresponding to a desired butterfat content for the high fat milk, a sensor adapted to provide an output signal which varies in accordance with the butterfat content of milk monitored thereby, means for delivering all of the standardized milk product to the sensor so that the output signal varies in accordance with the butterfat content of the product, means for monitoring the high fat milk and providing a signal which varies in accordance with the butterfat content of the high fat milk, means including a valve responsive to the first reference signal and to the output signal from the sensor for combining a portion of the high fat milk with the low fat milk at a location upstream of the sensor to control the butterfat content of the standardized product, and valve means responsive to the second reference signal and to the butterfat content signal for the high fat milk for controlling delivery of the high fat milk to an output line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
In a system adapted to produce the butterfat content of a standardized milk product produced by combining low fat milk and high fat milk: means for providing a first reference signal corresponding to a desired butterfat content for the standardized milk product and a second reference signal corresponding to a desired butterfat content for the high fat milk, a sensor adapted to provide an output signal which varies in accordance with the butterfat content of milk monitored thereby, means for delivering all of the standardized milk product to the sensor so that the output signal varies in accordance with the butterfat content of the product, means for monitoring the high fat milk and providing a signal which varies in accordance with the butterfat content of the high fat milk, means including a valve responsive to the first reference signal and to the output signal from the sensor for combining a portion of the high fat milk with the low fat milk at a location upstream of the sensor to control the butterfat content of the standardized product, and valve means responsive to the second reference signal and to the butterfat content signal for the high fat milk for controlling delivery of the high fat milk to an output line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises an optical density sensor through which all of the product passes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the means for monitoring the high fat milk comprises an optical density sensor, and means for passing all of the high fat milk through the optical density sensor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
178 words
The a method of controlling the butterfat content of a standardized milk product produced by combining low fat milk and high fat milk, the steps of: providing a first reference signal corresponding to desired butterfat content for the standardized milk product and a second reference signal corresponding to the desired butterfat content for the high fat milk, delivering all of the standardized milk product to a sensor to provide an output signal which varies in accordance with the butterfat content of the product, monitoring the high fat milk and providing a signal which varies in accordance with the butterfat content of the high fat milk, combining a portion of the high fat milk with the low fat milk at a point upstream of the sensor in accordance with the first reference signal and the the output signal from the sensor to control the butterfat content of the standardized product, and controlling delivery of the high fat milk to an output line in accordance with the second reference signal and the butterfat content signal for the high fat milk.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
178 words
The a method of controlling the butterfat content of a standardized milk product produced by combining low fat milk and high fat milk, the steps of: providing a first reference signal corresponding to desired butterfat content for the standardized milk product and a second reference signal corresponding to the desired butterfat content for the high fat milk, delivering all of the standardized milk product to a sensor to provide an output signal which varies in accordance with the butterfat content of the product, monitoring the high fat milk and providing a signal which varies in accordance with the butterfat content of the high fat milk, combining a portion of the high fat milk with the low fat milk at a point upstream of the sensor in accordance with the first reference signal and the the output signal from the sensor to control the butterfat content of the standardized product, and controlling delivery of the high fat milk to an output line in accordance with the second reference signal and the butterfat content signal for the high fat milk.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 4 wherein all of the standardized milk product is passed through an optical density sensor to provide the output signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the high fat milk is monitored by passing all of the high fat milk through an optical density sensor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a system adapted to produce a standardized milk product having a desired butterfat content from a stream of raw milk: a separator for separating the raw milk into skim milk and a cream, a product line, means for delivering the skim milk to the product line, a cream return valve connected between the separator and the product line for recombining a controlled amount of cream with the skim milk to form the standardized milk product in the product line, means for monitoring the butterfat content of all of the standardized milk product in the product line at a location downstream of where the cream is recombined with the skim milk and controlling the cream return valve to maintain the butterfat content of the standardized product at a predetermined level, an excess cream valve controlling delivery of cream from the separator to a cream output line, and means for monitoring the butterfat content of the cream and controlling the excess cream valve to maintain the butterfat content of the cream in the output line at a desired level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a system adapted to produce a standardized milk product having a desired butterfat content from a stream of raw milk: a separator for separating the raw milk into skim milk and a cream, a product line, means for delivering the skim milk to the product line, a cream return valve connected between the separator and the product line for recombining a controlled amount of cream with the skim milk to form the standardized milk product in the product line, means for monitoring the butterfat content of all of the standardized milk product in the product line at a location downstream of where the cream is recombined with the skim milk and controlling the cream return valve to maintain the butterfat content of the standardized product at a predetermined level, an excess cream valve controlling delivery of cream from the separator to a cream output line, and means for monitoring the butterfat content of the cream and controlling the excess cream valve to maintain the butterfat content of the cream in the output line at a desired level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 7 wherein the means for monitoring the butterfat content of the standardized milk product comprises an optical density sensor connected to the product line so that all of the product in the product line passses through the sensor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 7 wherein the means for monitoring the butterfat content of the cream comprises an optical density sensor connected to the separator so that all of the cream from the separator passes through the sensor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
167 words
In a method of producing a standardized milk product having a desired butterfat content from a stream of raw milk, the steps of: separating the raw milk into skim milk and cream, delivering the skim milk to a product line, delivering a portion of the cream through a cream return valve to the product line for recombination with the skim milk to form the standardized milk product in the product line, monitoring the butterfat content of all of the standardized milk product in the product line at a location downstream of where the cream is delivered to the line and controlling the cream return valve to maintain the butterfat content of the standardized product in the line at a redetermined level, delivering the remainder of the cream through an excess cream valve to a cream output line, and monitoring the butterfat content of the cream and controlling the excess cream valve to maintain the butterfat content of the cream in the output line at a desired level.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
167 words
In a method of producing a standardized milk product having a desired butterfat content from a stream of raw milk, the steps of: separating the raw milk into skim milk and cream, delivering the skim milk to a product line, delivering a portion of the cream through a cream return valve to the product line for recombination with the skim milk to form the standardized milk product in the product line, monitoring the butterfat content of all of the standardized milk product in the product line at a location downstream of where the cream is delivered to the line and controlling the cream return valve to maintain the butterfat content of the standardized product in the line at a redetermined level, delivering the remainder of the cream through an excess cream valve to a cream output line, and monitoring the butterfat content of the cream and controlling the excess cream valve to maintain the butterfat content of the cream in the output line at a desired level.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the butterfat content of the standardized milk product is monitored by passing all of the product through an optical density sensor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the butterfat content of the cream is monitored by passing all of the cream from the separator through an optical density sensor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
205 words
In a system adapted to produce the butterfat content of a standardized milk product produced by combining low fat milk and high fat milk: means for providing a first reference signal corresponding to a desired butterfat content for the standardized milk product and a second reference signal corresponding to a desired butterfat content for the high fat milk, means for monitoring the milk product and providing an output signal which varies in accordance with the butterfat content of the milk product, a sensor adapted to provide a signal which varies in accordance with the butterfat content of milk monitored thereby, means for delivering all of the high fat milk to the sensor so that the signal provided by the sensor varies in accordance with the butterfat content of the high fat milk, means including a valve responsive to the first reference signal and to the output signal for combining a portion of the high fat milk with the low fat milk at a location upstream of the sensor to control the butterfat content of the standardized product, and valve means responsive to the second reference signal and to the signal from the sensor for controlling delivery of the high fat milk to an output line.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
205 words
In a system adapted to produce the butterfat content of a standardized milk product produced by combining low fat milk and high fat milk: means for providing a first reference signal corresponding to a desired butterfat content for the standardized milk product and a second reference signal corresponding to a desired butterfat content for the high fat milk, means for monitoring the milk product and providing an output signal which varies in accordance with the butterfat content of the milk product, a sensor adapted to provide a signal which varies in accordance with the butterfat content of milk monitored thereby, means for delivering all of the high fat milk to the sensor so that the signal provided by the sensor varies in accordance with the butterfat content of the high fat milk, means including a valve responsive to the first reference signal and to the output signal for combining a portion of the high fat milk with the low fat milk at a location upstream of the sensor to control the butterfat content of the standardized product, and valve means responsive to the second reference signal and to the signal from the sensor for controlling delivery of the high fat milk to an output line.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the sensor comprises an optical density sensor, and means for passing all of the high fat milk through the optical density sensor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
184 words
In a method of controlling the butterfat content of a standardized milk product produced by combining low fat milk and high fat milk, the steps of: providing a first reference signal corresponding to desired butterfat content for the standardized milk product and a second reference signal corresponding to the desired butterfat content for the high fat milk, monitoring the standardized milk product and providing a milk product signal which varies in accordance with the butterfat content of the standardized milk product, delivering all of the high fat milk to a second to provide an output signal which varies in accordance with the butterfat content of the high fat milk, combining a portion of the high fat milk with the low fat milk at a point upstream of where the standardized milk product is monitored in accordance with the first reference signal and the milk product signal to control the butterfat content of the standardized product, and controlling delivery of the high fat milk to an output line in accordance with the second reference signal and the butterfat content signal for the high fat milk.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
184 words
In a method of controlling the butterfat content of a standardized milk product produced by combining low fat milk and high fat milk, the steps of: providing a first reference signal corresponding to desired butterfat content for the standardized milk product and a second reference signal corresponding to the desired butterfat content for the high fat milk, monitoring the standardized milk product and providing a milk product signal which varies in accordance with the butterfat content of the standardized milk product, delivering all of the high fat milk to a second to provide an output signal which varies in accordance with the butterfat content of the high fat milk, combining a portion of the high fat milk with the low fat milk at a point upstream of where the standardized milk product is monitored in accordance with the first reference signal and the milk product signal to control the butterfat content of the standardized product, and controlling delivery of the high fat milk to an output line in accordance with the second reference signal and the butterfat content signal for the high fat milk.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 15 wherein all of the high fat milk is passed through an optical density sensor to provide the output signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
180 words
In a system adopted to produce a standardized milk product having a desired butterfat content from a stream of raw milk: a separator for separating the raw milk into skim milk and cream, a product line, means for delivering the skim milk to the product line, a cream return valve connected between the separator and the product line for recombining a controlled amount of cream with the skim milk to form the standardized milk product in the product line, means for monitoring the butterfat content of the standardized milk product in the product line at a location downstream of where the cream is recombined with the skim milk and controlling the cream return valve to maintain the butterfat content of the standardized product at a predetermined level, an excess cream valve controlling delivery of cream from the separator to a cream output line, and means for monitoring the butterfat content of all of the cream from the separator and controlling the excess cream valve to maintain the butterfat content of the cream in the output line at a desired level.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
180 words
In a system adopted to produce a standardized milk product having a desired butterfat content from a stream of raw milk: a separator for separating the raw milk into skim milk and cream, a product line, means for delivering the skim milk to the product line, a cream return valve connected between the separator and the product line for recombining a controlled amount of cream with the skim milk to form the standardized milk product in the product line, means for monitoring the butterfat content of the standardized milk product in the product line at a location downstream of where the cream is recombined with the skim milk and controlling the cream return valve to maintain the butterfat content of the standardized product at a predetermined level, an excess cream valve controlling delivery of cream from the separator to a cream output line, and means for monitoring the butterfat content of all of the cream from the separator and controlling the excess cream valve to maintain the butterfat content of the cream in the output line at a desired level.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 17 wherein the means for monitoring the butterfat content of the cream comprises an optical density sensor connected to the separator so that all of the cream from the separator passes through the sensor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
169 words
In a method of producing a standardized milk product having a desired butterfat content from a stream of raw milk, the steps of: separating the raw milk into skim milk and cream, delivering the skim milk to a product line, delivering a portion of the cream through a cream return valve to the product line for recombination with the skim milk to form the standardized milk product in the product line, monitoring the butterfat content of the standardized milk product in the product line at a location downstream of where the cream is delivered to the line and controlling the cream return valve to maintain the butterfat content of the standardized product in the line at a predetermined level, delivering the remainder of the cream through an excess cream valve to a cream output line, monitoring the butterfat content of all of the cream from the separator, and controlling the excess cream valve to maintain the butterfat content of the cream in the output line at a desired level.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
169 words
In a method of producing a standardized milk product having a desired butterfat content from a stream of raw milk, the steps of: separating the raw milk into skim milk and cream, delivering the skim milk to a product line, delivering a portion of the cream through a cream return valve to the product line for recombination with the skim milk to form the standardized milk product in the product line, monitoring the butterfat content of the standardized milk product in the product line at a location downstream of where the cream is delivered to the line and controlling the cream return valve to maintain the butterfat content of the standardized product in the line at a predetermined level, delivering the remainder of the cream through an excess cream valve to a cream output line, monitoring the butterfat content of all of the cream from the separator, and controlling the excess cream valve to maintain the butterfat content of the cream in the output line at a desired level.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the butterfat content of the cream from the separator is monitored by passing all of the cream from the separator through an optical density sensor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-08-11 | 1996-02-10 | 1996-08-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-08-11 | 2000-02-10 | 2000-08-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-08-11 | 2004-02-10 | 2004-08-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |