• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    The invention concerns a cutting device for cutting a block of cheese in a retail container in a horizontal plane so as to produce at least two vertically spaced cheese sections. The cutting device comprises a rotatable shaft (2) having a first knife for cutting the block of cheese in the horizontal plane. the first knife extends out from the shaft (2). The device further comprising a braking element (3) comprising a first braking member. The first braking member extends from the rotatable shaft in a first vertical plane defined by the rotatable shaft, the first braking member having a shape corresponding to at least a part of the intersection of the first vertical plane and a top-most cheese section. Finally, the braking element (3) is arranged above the first knife and configured for being maintained in a non rotatable position, relatively to the rotation of the shaft (2), while the rotatable shaft (2) is being rotated. The invention further concerns a method of producing cheese in a retail container.
    公开号:DK201770144A1
    申请号:DKP201770144
    申请日:2017-02-27
    公开日:2018-11-13
    发明作者:Henriksen Jørgen；Bang Gotthelf Finn；Henriksen Lars
    申请人:Primodan A/S；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    (19) DANMARK (10)
    DK 2017 70144 A1
    (12)
    PATENTANSØGNING
    Patent- og Varemærkestyrelsen (51) Int.CI.: A01J 27/00 (2006.01) B26D 3/28 (2006.01) (21) Ansøgningsnummer: PA 2017 70144 (22) Indleveringsdato: 2017-02-27 (24) Løbedag: 2017-02-27 (41) Aim. tilgængelig: 2018-08-28 (43) Publiceringsdato: 2018-11-13 (71) Ansøger:
    PRIMODAN A/S, Skimmedevej 10,4390 Vipperød, Danmark (72) Opfinder:
    Jørgen Henriksen, Kampevej 9,4330 Hvalsø, Danmark
    Finn Bang Gottheit, Sneglerupvej 26,4571 Grevinge, Danmark
    Lars Henriksen, Skolegade 15A, 4000 Roskilde, Danmark (74) Fuldmægtig:
    Plougmann Vingtoft A/S, Rued Langgaards Vej 8, 2300 København S, Danmark (54) Titel: A DEVICE FOR AND A METHOD OF CUTTING CHEESE (56) Fremdragne publikationer:
    US 2011/0239873 A1
    FR 2492305 A1 FR 2205842 A5 FR 2513850 A1 (57) Sammendrag:
    The invention concerns a cutting device for cutting a block of cheese in a retail container in a horizontal plane so as to produce at least two vertically spaced cheese sections. The cutting device comprises a rotatable shaft (2) having a first knife for cutting the block of cheese in the horizontal plane, the first knife extends out from the shaft (2). The device further comprising a braking element (3) comprising a first braking member. The first braking member extends from the rotatable shaft in a first vertical plane defined by the rotatable shaft, the first braking member having a shape corresponding to at least a part of the intersection of the first vertical plane and a top-most cheese section. Finally, the braking element (3) is arranged above the first knife and configured for being maintained in a non rotatable position, relatively to the rotation of the shaft (2), while the rotatable shaft (2) is being rotated. The invention further concerns a method of producing cheese in a retail container.
    Fortsættes...
    DK 2017 70144 A1
    FIG. 1a
    DK 2017 70144 A1 i
    A DEVICE FOR AND A METHOD OF CUTTING CHEESE
    FIELD OF THE INVENTION
    The present invention relates to the technical field of dairy production, in particular production of cast white cheeses.
    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
    Cast white cheeses in retail containers are becoming very popular. The containers can be plastic cups or metal cans. Plastic cups in Polystyrene or Polypropylene are used when shelflife of the product up to 4 months is acceptable. By adding oxygen and light barriers in the plastic sheet used in the cup forming process, shelflife can be extended up to approximately 9 months.
    Some producers prefer to use metal cans mainly for products to be exported as shelflife can be increased up to 12 months. Round cans are frequently used for cans containing from 250 to 1200 gram of cheese. The small size can is typically for cheese in one block, but the larger cans contains more layers of cheese blocks. A 1000 gram can will often have 4 layers of cheese and each layer cut in two or three sections this in order to facilitate extraction of the cheese blocks from the cans. Production of such a product with todays technology takes place as follows: Cans after cleaning and internal spraying with slip spray are brought to a filling station where first layer is cast in the can, the can is then moved on a coagulation conveyor for a period of approximately 20 minutes before returning for filling of a second layer,again a 20 minutes delay for coagulation,for each of the following layers. Vertical cutting in the can through all layers in the can takes place 20 minutes after the last filling.
    A can with 4 layers will have a processing time of 1 1/2 hour, 80 minutes for coagulation and 10 minutes for filling and cutting. During that time the cans are with open top exposed to contamination by yeast and mould from the ambient dairy atmosphere.
    Hence, an improved method of fabrication would be advantageous, and in particular a more efficient and/or reliable way of horizontally separating the layers of cheese during production would be advantageous.
    DK 2017 70144 A1
    OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
    An object of this invention is to provide an alternative to the prior art by introducing a device which will reduce the cost by speeding up the manufacturing process and minimizing the risk of contamination.
    A further object of the present invention is to provide an alternative to the prior art.
    SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
    Thus, the above described object and several other objects are intended to be obtained in a first aspect of the invention by providing a cutting device for cutting a block of cheese in a cylindrincal retail container in a horizontal plane so as to produce at least two vertically spaced cheese sections. The cutting device comprises a rotatable shaft having a first knife for cutting the block of cheese in the horizontal plane, the first knife extending out from the shaft. The cutting device further comprises a braking element that comprises a first braking member. The first braking member extends from the rotatable shaft in a first vertical plane defined by the rotatable shaft, the first braking member having a shape corresponding to at least a part of the intersection of the first vertical plane and a top-most cheese section. The braking element is arranged above the first knife and configured for being maintained in a non-rotatable position, relatively to the rotation of the shaft, while the rotatable shaft is being rotated. In this way, the block of cheese is kept from rotating by the braking member of the braking element while the first knife separates a bottom section of cheese from the topmost section of cheese. Thereby, the full mass of cheese to be packaged in the retail container may be filled into the container in a single filling, and subsequently be cut into multiple vertically spaced cheese sections (i.e. slices) after coagulation.
    Throughout this document, for ease of reading, the terms horizontal, vertical, top, bottom, etc. have been used in their conventional meaning to define relative directions in relationship to a retail container having an opening in the top, i.e. standing up in a vertical position. We note that in case the retail container is
    DK 2017 70144 A1 oriented differently, e.g. at an angle, the orientation of the cutting device will have to be changed accordingly.
    The retail container in the context of this invention is preferably a right circular cylindrical container, such as a can, designed to contain from about 250 grams to about 2000 grams of cheese.
    In an embodiment, the cutting device further comprises a second knife extending out from the shaft, the second knife being separated from the first knife by a vertical spacing, the vertical spacing being chosen to correspond to a desired vertical dimension of a cheese section. In this way, the block of cheese may cut into three or more vertical sections in a single step. Analogously, the number of knives may be further increased, i.e. for a total of 3, 4, 5, or more knives, so as to result in a container with 4, 5, 6, or more vertical cheese sections.
    In an embodiment, the first knife and the second knife extend from the shaft in a substantially identical direction. In this way, the cutting device may be inserted into the block of cheese without forming or requiring more than one vertical cut throughout the height of the block.
    In an embodiment, the first knife and the second knife extend from the shaft in diverging directions.
    In an embodiment, the cutting device further comprises a vertical sectioning knife, the vertical sectioning knife comprising two or more vertical sectioning knife members, each vertical sectioning knife member extending radially from a bottom-most end of the shaft. In this way, the block of cheese may be separated into two or more vertical sections as the cutting device is inserted into the container, whereafter when the cutting device is fully inserted in the container, the horizontal cutting may be performed by rotating the shaft as described above. In this way, both horizontal and vertical cutting may be performed in one step using a single cutting device.
    DK 2017 70144 A1
    The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, advantageous for obtaining method of producing cheese in a retail container. The method comprises filling a cheese curd into the retail container, and coagulating the cheese curd into a block of cheese. The method further comprises horizontally cutting the block of cheese with the cutting device according to any of the abovementioned embodiments. In this way, the speed of producing a full container of cheese is much improved since only one pass through the filling station is required. This also reduces the risk of contamination of the open container significantly.
    In an embodiment, the method further comprises the step of vertically cutting the block of cheese before the step of horizontally cutting the block of cheese. In this way, attractive, uniform pieces of cheese may be formed directly in the retail container. Such pieces are furthermore convenient to remove from the container for serving or further uses.
    The aspects of the present invention may each be combined with any of the other aspects. These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.
    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
    The cutting device according to the invention will now be described in more detail with regard to the accompanying figures, in which
    Figure la shows an embodiment of the cutting device according to the invention, and figure lb shows an example stack of cheese after cutting with the device,
    Figure 2a and 2b shows another embodiment of the cutting device and an example stack of cheese, respectively,
    Figures 3a and 3b show examples of tools for the optional step of vertically cutting the block of cheese, and
    Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of the cutting device.
    DK 2017 70144 A1
    The figures merely illustrates ways of implementing the present invention and are not to be construed as being limiting to other possible embodiments falling within the scope of the attached claim set. In the following description, cans are used as examples of the retail container. However, this is merely an example and not a limitation. The words retail container and can will be used interchangedly.
    DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT
    After cleaning and spraying with slip spray, the retail containers, are brought to a filling station where they are filled with the desired quantity of cheese curd. After about 20 minutes coagulation time in a sterile air zone they arrive to a cutting station to be cut into the desired shapes or patterns. The cheese may be cut into many different patterns as will be illustrated below.
    Figure la shows a cutting device 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The cutting device 100 as illustrated here is for cutting the block of cheese into four layers within the retail container 8 having a side wall 9 and a bottom 10. To achieve this, three knives 4, 5, and 6 are fitted to the shaft, and each knife extending to the side wall 9. At the cutting station, the cutting device 100 is inserted into the block of cheese until the knife reaches the desired depth of the topmost layer of cheese. Here, the shaft 2 with the knives 4, 5, and 6 is rotated for a full revolution (360 degrees) to separate the four layers of cheese from each other. In order to prevent that the cheese sections in the cans rotate during the cutting process, a braking element comprising braking members 3, here in the form of a plate with a height corresponding to the thickness of the upper layer cut in the cans, is attached to the shaft with the knife. The braking element is maintained stationary while the shaft 2 and thus the knives 4, 5, 6 are rotated. Due to the resiliency of the freshly coagulated cheese curd the final product will generally show no trace after the shaft in the cutting device, see Figs.lb and 2b. In the embodiment shown in the figure, the braking element comprises two braking members 3. This provides an improved rotational stability within the cheese curd during the cutting. Figure lb illustrates the final product after cutting with the cutting device 100, and after an optional step of vertical cutting has been performed into two sections each of about 180 degrees. It is seen that an attractive, uniform cheese product has resulted from these procedures.
    DK 2017 70144 A1
    For situations where the shape of the final cheese product is of less importance, a more simple embodiment of the cutting device may be used, which enables for cutting a simple pattern of cheese with only two layers in the retail container. Using the cutting device according to this embodiment (not illustrated), a bottom layer of cheese will be uniformly circular, while an upper layer will be circular with a single vertical slit cut when inserting and removing the cutting device. The cutting device comprises a shaft, one braking member, and one knife, and is operated in the same way as described above in connection with Fig. la.
    Figure 2a shows a cutting device 200 according to another embodiment of the invention. The embodiment corresponds to the ones shown in figures 1 and 2a, where like reference numbers refer to like parts. Therefore, only the differences between the embodiments are described here. This cutting device 200 is also for cutting the block of cheese into four layers within the retail container 8. In this case, it is desired to vertically cut the block of cheese into three wedges each of about 120 degrees. Therefore, the braking element is configured with three braking members 3, arranged in the same uniform pattern with intersection angles of about 120 degrees. Similarly, the knives 4, 5, 6 are arranged in diverging directions, also of about 120 degrees angles. In this way, the block of cheese may be cut uniformly into four layers of each three cheeses, as illustrated in Fig. 2b.
    Figure 3a show an example of a vertical cutting device 120 for performing the optional vertical cutting corresponding to the pattern of cheese illustrated in Fig. lb. The vertical cutting device 120 comprises a shaft 122 and a blade having blade members 124. In this case, the device 120 has two blade members 124, arranged as a single surface for cutting a straight cut in the block of cheese.
    Figure 3b shows another example of a vertical cutting device 220 for performing the optional vertical cutting corresponding to the pattern of cheese illustrated in Fig. 2b. The vertical cutting device 220 comprises a shaft 222 and a blade having blade members 224. In this case, the device 220 has three blade members 224, arranged vertically, with intersection under an angle of about 120 degrees. In this way, the block of cheese may be cut into three wedges.
    DK 2017 70144 A1
    Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment of the cutting device 300 according to the invention. This cutting device 300 comprises a shaft 2, a braking member 3, and a knife 4 extending from the shaft to the side wall 9. The device 300 further comprises an optional vertical sectioning knife 342, here comprising two vertical sectioning knife members 340 arranged in succession. When this cutting device 300 is inserted into the retail container to prepare for the step of horizontally cutting the cheese, the block of cheese is simultaneously cut in the vertical direction, to achieve a pattern similar to the one shown in Fig. lb, albeit having only two layers. Thus, the cutting device 300 is simply lowered all the way into the container, vertically cutting the cheese along the way, after which, the shaft, including the knife 4 and vertical sectioning knife 342 is rotated for one full revolution to horizontally cut the cheese. During this cutting, the braking element 3 is maintained in position to counter the cheese rotating. The skilled person will readily acknowledge that by adding an extra vertical sectioning knife member 340, this type of device may easily be configured to e.g. produce a pattern of cheese as shown in Fig. 2b.
    Although the present invention has been described in connection with the specified embodiments, it should not be construed as being in any way limited to the presented examples. The scope of the present invention is set out by the accompanying claim set. In the context of the claims, the terms comprising or comprises do not exclude other possible elements or steps. Also, the mentioning of references such as a or an etc. should not be construed as excluding a plurality. The use of reference signs in the claims with respect to elements indicated in the figures shall also not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Furthermore, individual features mentioned in different claims, may possibly be advantageously combined, and the mentioning of these features in different claims does not exclude that a combination of features is not possible and advantageous.
    LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS USED 100, 200, 300 cutting device shaft braking member
    DK 2017 70144 A1
    4knife8retail container9side wall10bottom5 120, 220vertical cutting device122, 222shaft (vertical cutting device)124, 224340blade membervertical sectioning knife member34210vertical sectioning knife
    DK 2017 70144 A1 i
    权利要求:
    Claims (8)
    [1] 1. A cutting device (100, 200, 300) for cutting a block of cheese in a cylindrical retail container in a horizontal plane so as to produce at least two vertically spaced cheese sections, the cutting device comprising:
    a rotatable shaft (2) having a first knife for cutting the block of cheese in the horizontal plane, the first knife extending out from the shaft (2), a braking element (3) comprising a first braking member, the first braking member extending from the rotatable shaft in a first vertical plane defined by the rotatable shaft, the first braking member having a shape corresponding to at least a part of the intersection of the first vertical plane and a top-most cheese section, wherein the braking element (3) is arranged above the first knife and configured for being maintained in a non-rotatable position, relatively to the rotation of the shaft (2), while the rotatable shaft (2) is being rotated.
    [2] 2. The cutting device according to claim 1, wherein the cutting device further comprises a second knife extending out from the shaft, the second knife being separated from the first knife by a vertical spacing, the vertical spacing being chosen to correspond to a desired vertical dimension of a cheese section.
    [3] 3. The cutting device according to claim 2, wherein the first knife and the second knife extend from the shaft in a substantially identical direction.
    [4] 4. The cutting device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the first knife and the second knife extend from the shaft in diverging directions.
    [5] 5. The cutting device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cutting device further comprises a vertical sectioning knife, the vertical sectioning knife comprising two or more vertical sectioning knife members, each vertical sectioning knife member extending radially from a bottom-most end of the shaft.
    DK 2017 70144 A1
    [6] 6. A method of producing cheese in a retail container, the method comprising:
    - filling a cheese curd into the retail container,
    5 - coagulating the cheese curd into a block of cheese, and
    - horizontally cutting the block of cheese with the cutting device according to any one of the preceeding claims.
    [7] 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the method further comprises the
    [8] 10 step of vertically cutting the block of cheese before the step of horizontally cutting the block of cheese.
    DK 2017 70144 A1
    1/4
    100

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    EP3585150B1|2021-04-14|
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    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    DE2213545C3|1972-03-21|1975-07-03|Deutsche Unilever Gmbh, 2000 Hamburg|Method and device for cutting thickly laid milk|
    法律状态:
    2018-11-13| PAT| Application published|Effective date: 20180828 |
    2018-11-14| PME| Patent granted|Effective date: 20181114 |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    DKPA201770144A|DK179464B1|2017-02-27|2017-02-27|A device for and a method of cutting cheese|DKPA201770144A| DK179464B1|2017-02-27|2017-02-27|A device for and a method of cutting cheese|
    EP18709256.4A| EP3585150B1|2017-02-27|2018-02-27|A device for and a method of cutting cheese|
    PCT/DK2018/050036| WO2018153422A1|2017-02-27|2018-02-27|A device for and a method of cutting cheese|
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