FIEUD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a novel chum, providing a batch or a continuous churning process for producing dairy products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Chums are used to produce butter by continuously agitating (e.g. stirring, beating) cream. Dairy cream comprises butterfat in microscopic globules which are surrounded by membranes composed of phospholipids and proteins, which prevent the globules from aggregating, thus contributing to the overall texture of the cream. Churning the cream by continuous agitation causes degradation of the molecular arrangements and release of the butterfat globules, thereby forming butter.

Different processes are known in the art for increasing the efficiency of churning. One process proposed to cut down the production time includes slightly souring the cream, before churning, to an acidity of pH 4. Some other processes utilize special and different types of chums. Historically, plunger chums and barrel chums have been used, wherein the barrel (or other chum shapes) was agitated, or turned continuously. However, currently paddle chums are widely used for homemade butter as well as industrial production. A paddle chum may comprise a vessel with a couple of paddles placed vertically in it. The paddles rotate and chum cream converts it to butter and buttermilk. Once the butter is formed the buttermilk is initially spilled out from the vessel, thereafter the butter is collected from the vessel. Typically churning time in batch processes is about 30-45 minutes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is a continuous need for a counter- top chum device which enables fast butter production, and which provides fresh butter at minimum energy input and with maximum ease. Additionally, there is a need for providing a chum enabling facile handling and manufacturing for providing butter with improved spreadability and organoleptic mouthfeel, as well as buttermilk rich with minerals and proteins.

The inventor of the technology disclosed herein has developed a unique horizontal chum unit which stmcture and operation are not only simplified, as compared to existing chum units of the art, but which is configured to produce high grade butter in a matter of several minutes. While the unit of the invention is designed for production of butter from relatively small quantities of cream, such as those used in a home kitchen, the unit of the invention may be scaled up to industrial sizes, meeting industrial volumes and efficiency requirements.

As known in the art, “ cream " is a dairy product composed of varying amounts of fat. The fat content in cream may vary from between about 10% in extra-light cream to about 60% fat in double-cream. Cream may be provided as a liquid cream or as a powder cream. For the purpose of churning, any type of fat-containing dairy product may be used according to the invention; cream being one example of such a product. The cream may be selected from cream used ice cream, whipped cream, light cream, single cream, double cream, half-and-half cream, thickened cream, sour cream, clotted cream, and others.

Notwithstanding the type of cream, cream is an emulsion which is stable as long as the fat globules contained in the cream are stabilized by phospholipids and proteins present in the cream. Once the cream is violently agitated to break down the fat globules, the fat coagulates into butter grains, while the fat content of the remaining liquid, the buttermilk, decreases. Eventually, the butter fully separates in an amount that is dependent on the cream fat content and the mechanical forces applied during the churning process.

As demonstrated herein, the inventor has established that utilizing a chum unit comprising a horizontally rotated dasher or blade, operated at a relatively low rotation force of 50-9,000 RPM, butter can be efficiently manufactured within a much shorter time then typically possible with commercial or known chum units, reducing the production time from dozens of minutes to several minutes, as further disclosed herein, thereby drastically reducing production costs associated with the butter production.

Thus, in its broadest scope, the invention contemplates a chum or a chum unit or device for separating fat or butter from a fat-containing dairy product, such as cream, the device being characterized by any one of the following:

-a vessel comprising a horizontally rotating dasher (or blade) or dasher assembly comprising one or more blades;

-a rotation speed of between 50-9,000 RPM;

-a dasher assembly that comprises one or more blades, optionally provided with one or a plurality of surface perforations or holes generating local turbulences upon rotation; and -one or more dashers rotating around an axis and positioned such that a rim surface of the dashers is in intimate contact with an inner surface of the unit vessel.

In a first of its aspects, the invention provides a device, or a unit device, or a chum, or a chum device, the device comprising: a vessel having an internal cavity equipped with a horizontally extending (driving) shaft mounted with at least one dasher (or blade), at least one of said the at least one dasher extending from said shaft to an intimate distance from the cavity inner wall surface; the at least one dasher having a contour substantially correlating or conforming to the cavity inner wall surface, and wherein the shaft with the at least one dasher is configured to rotate around a vessel horizontal axis at a speed between 50 and 9,000 RPM.

Also provided is a device comprising a chum unit, the chum unit comprising a vessel or a container (e.g., may be a metallic container, a polymeric container, a glass container or a container of any other suitable material) having an internal cavity defined by walls of said vessel, the vessel being equipped with a horizontally extending shaft mounted with at least one dasher, the at least one of said at least one dasher extending from said shaft to a distance of no more than between 0.2 and 2 cm from the cavity inner walls surface and having a contour substantially correlating to the cavity inner walls, wherein the shaft is configured to rotate around a vessel horizontal axis thereby causing rotation of the at least one dasher.

As used herein, the device of the invention is a chum unit, which comprises a vessel that is manually or electrically operated to cause rotation of a shaft element and thus the dasher that extends or that is associated therewith, around the shaft axis. Typically, the unit is electrically operated. The vessel is typically of an elongated round shape having an inner longest axis that is substantially horizontal (e.g., a horizontal axis extending from a right or left end of the device to its opposite left or right end). The horizontally positioned shaft extends along the vessel longest axis and is provided with one or more dashers or with a dasher assembly.

The dasher may be any blade stmcture or element capable of agitating a medium of the vessel upon rotation. The term “dasher” used interchangeable with a blade, may be a single such element, or may be in a form of a plurality of blades or an assembly of blades, which comprises one, two, three, four or more blades mounted on the shaft. At least one of the blades substantially extends away from the shaft to a distance from the cavity inner walls that is not a contact distance. The distance is a so-called intimate distance which may be of a few millimeters to a few centimeters. In some embodiments, the intimate distance is between 0.2 cm and 2 cm. In some embodiments, the distance may be between 0.2 and 1.5 cm, between 0.2 and 1.2 cm, between 0.2 and 1 cm, between 0.2 and 0.9 or 0.8 or 0.7 or 0.6 or 0.5 cm. In some embodiments, the distance may be between 5 mm and 10 mm.

As indicated, the dasher(s) extends from said elongated shaft to a “ distance of no more than between 0.2 and 2 cm from the cavity inner surface”. In other words, the length or size of the at least one dasher as measured from the elongated shaft does not reach a distance that is less than 0.2 and 2 cm from the inner walls of the vessel cavity in which the dashers rotate. As the one or more or the at least one dasher may be provided at any position along the length of the shaft, the length or size of the dasher is selected to meet the distance from the inner walls of the cavity.

Typically, the dasher(s) are positioned concentric with the shaft. In some cases, one or more dashers are distributed along the shaft such that their position and orientation define same plane, i.e., the dashers are not positioned at an angle to each other or are positioned such that they do not share same plane.

As indicated, the at least one dasher or blade has “a contour substantially correlating to the cavity walls” . In other words, the rim of one or more of the at least one dashers or blades has a contour that is identical or similar to the contour of the cavity inner walls against which the dashers rotate. Putting it differently, in some embodiments, any point along the rim of one or more of the at least one dasher is configured to maintain a constant distance from the cavity inner walls surface.

Superior butter production has been achieved when the dashers were configured or structured or selected to extend from the shaft to a distance of between 0.2 and 2 cm or 0.2 and 1 cm from the cavity inner walls surface, combined with a rotation speed of between 50 and 9,000 RPM.

The at least one dasher, being one or more dashes or blades mounted on or associated with or extending from the shaft element, may be of any size and shape. When two or more dashers or blades are provided, each may be of the same or different size and/or shape. Typically, to provide an effective churning process, the at least one dasher may be rounded at its rim. The dasher may additionally be provided with a hole pattern or one or more surface openings which distribution along the dasher surface may be selected to induce or modify turbulence formed during agitation of the vessel content.

In some embodiments, the at least one dasher is two or more dashers, each being mounted on the shaft and extending from the shaft to a distance that is no more than 0.2 and 2 cm from the inner surface of the cavity, and wherein one or more of the at least one dasher having a surface that is optionally provided with a hole pattern.

As used herein, the “hole pattern” is one or more holes that are formed in the dasher surface, wherein each of the holes extends the full thickness of the dasher. The distribution of the holes on the dasher surface defines the hole pattern. The distribution may be linear or substantially linear, or may follow the contour of the dashers’ rim, or may be random. The holes shapes and sizes may also be selected as disclosed herein. The holes may be round, oval or of any other shape and may be of any size.

The shaft mounted with the at least one dasher is configured to rotate with a rotation speed that is between 50 and 9,000 RPM, or between 50 and 8,000 or between 50 and 7,000 or between 50 and 6,000 or between 50 and 5,000 or between 50 and 4,000 or between 50 and 3,000 or between 50 and 2,000 or between 50 and 1,000 or between 50 and 900 or between 50 and 800 or between 50 and 700 or between 50 and 600 or between 50 and 500 or between 50 and 400 or between 50 and 300 or between 50 and 200 or between 50 and 100 RPM.

In some embodiments, the speed is between 50 and l,700RPM.

Surprisingly, despite the use of such relatively high speeds, butter may be obtained within few minutes, e.g., within 10 minutes. In some embodiments, butter may be obtained within 1-10 minutes. In some embodiments, butter may be obtained within 1-8 minutes; 1-6 minutes; 1-5 minutes; 2-10 minutes; 2-8 minutes; 2-6 minutes; 2-5 minutes;3-10 minutes;3-8 minutes; 3-6 minutes; 4-10 minutes; 4-8 minutes; 4-6 minutes; 5-10 minutes; 5-8 minutes; 6-10 minutes; 7-10 minutes, or less than 1 minute.

In some embodiments a device may comprises, a vessel having a volume of 0.050- 3.0 liter and configured to receive a fat-containing material in a volume amount below 50% relative to the volume of the vessel, and configured to operate at a temperature between 2 and 10°C, the vessel having an internal cavity equipped with a horizontally extending (driving) shaft mounted with at least one dasher, at least one of said the at least one dasher extending from said shaft to a distance of no more than between 0.2 and 2 cm from the cavity inner walls surface ; the at least one dasher having a contour substantially correlating or conforming to the cavity inner wall surface, and wherein the shaft with the at least one dasher is configured to rotate around a vessel horizontal axis at a speed between 50 and 9,000 RPM.

An exemplary device of the invention may be further described in reference to Fig. 1 herein. In this aspect, there is disclosed a device comprising a substantially ellipticalshaped vessel 100 having walls 110 defining an inner cavity 120 and a horizontal axis 130 having a length 150 defined by a distance that is longest between the walls 110 of the inner cavity 120. The inner cavity 120 being provided with a dasher assembly 140 provided on a shaft element 135 positioned along said horizontal axis 130, and provided with the one or more blades or dashers 140A and 140B that are securely associated therewith. Each of the blades is of the same or different shape and/or size, wherein at least one of said blades 140A and/or 140B, in this exemplary embodiment blade 140A, substantially extends the length of said shaft and having a contour substantially correlating with the contour of the walls defining the inner cavity 120. Each of the one or more blades 140A and 140B is configured to rotate with the shaft 135 around the vessel horizontal axis at an intimate distance 160 or 160A from the walls defining the inner cavity 120.

Thus, in such embodiments, a device of the invention may comprise a vessel having walls defining an inner cavity and a horizontal axis having a length defined by a distance that is longest between the walls of the inner cavity, the inner cavity being provided with a shaft element positioned along said horizontal axis, and provided with one or more blades that are securely associated therewith, each of the blades being of the same or different shape and/or size, wherein at least one of said blades substantially extends the length of said horizontal axis and having a contour substantially correlating with the contour of the walls defining the inner cavity, wherein the shaft mounted with each of the one or more blades is configured to rotate around the vessel horizontal axis such that a rim of at least one of the one or more blades is at an intimate distance from the walls defining the inner cavity. In some embodiments, at least one of the blades is provided with one or more or a plurality of holes extending the surface of the blade, e.g., the holes imposing local turbulences upon blade rotation, thereby enabling better mixing and churning capability, and, enhancing fast butter production.

In some embodiments, the one or more holes are randomly distributed on the blade surface, or distributed at even distances.

In some embodiments, a device of the invention may comprise a plurality of chum units, each as disclosed herein, operated under the same or different conditions. The varying conditions may include vessel volume, vessel temperature, rotation speed, type of fat-containing material and others.

In some embodiments, a device of the invention is a circular or an elliptical unit of a volume selected based on the volume of the fat to be separated or the volume of the dairy product to be used.

In some embodiments, for the purpose of allowing a continuous operation of the unit, the unit may be provided with one or more inlet valves and/or one or more outlet valves, wherein each valve may be automatically operated or manually operated. In some embodiments, the inlet valve(s) may be used to introduce a fat-containing product into the vessel.

In some embodiments, the inlet valve(s) may be positioned to permit inflow of materials, e.g., a dairy product during full operation, without needing to lower the rotational speed, or arrest or stop rotation of the dashers inside the vessel cavity.

In some embodiments, one or more outlet valves may be provided to enable removal of fat, i.e. butter, and/or buttermilk during operation of the device or after operation has stopped.

The outlet valve(s) may be adapted for removal of a solid mass (the butter) and removal of a liquid (the buttermilk). While the inlet valve(s) may be positioned at a top region of the vessel, the outlet valve(s) may be positioned at the bottom of the device, as for example depicted in Figs. 2 and 3.

In some embodiments, the vessel or chum may comprise a rotational speed control unit for controlling the rotational speed.

In some embodiments, extracting butter from chum or vessel is performed by substantially reducing the rotational speed and opening at least one outlet opening and/or opening valve of the device. For batch operation or for preparing butters of varying compositions and flavors, the inlet valve(s) may also be used to introduce into the unit flavors or additives that would stabilize or enrich the butter.

In some embodiments, the vessel comprises at least one opening for discharging a substance from the vessel, and wherein at least one blade comprises a protrusion having a width substantially correlating to the width of the opening.

In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a process for separating fat from a fat-containing dairy product, the process comprises

-causing rotation of at least one dasher in a device having a vessel provided with the at least one dasher and an amount of a fat-containing dairy product, said at least one dasher having a contour substantially correlating to the vessel inner walls such that a rim of the at least one dasher is at a distance of no more than 0.1 to 3 cm from the vessel inner walls surface and rotating at a speed of between 50 and 9,000 RPM, such that when the dasher hits the fat-containing dairy product, fat separates from the dairy product.

In some embodiments, the intimate distance is between 0.2 cm and 2 cm. In some embodiments, the distance may be between 0.2 and 1.5 cm, between 0.2 and 1.2 cm, between 0.2 and 1 cm, between 0.2 and 0.9 or 0.8 or 0.7 or 0.6 or 0.5 cm. In some embodiments, the distance may be between 5 mm and 10 mm.

In some embodiments, the process comprises utilizing a device according to the invention.

In some embodiments, the process comprises adding an amount of a fat-containing dairy product into a chum device, the chum device being optionally a device according to the invention. The amount of the product added may vary. Typically, the amount is sufficient to at least fill a space in the chum defined by the distance between the inner wall of the chum and the blade or dasher provided therein. In further embodiments, the process comprises inserting fat-containing dairy product into a chum device in a quantity that substantially does not exceed the height of the vessel horizontal axis.

The process above may be performed wherein the temperature of the fatcontaining dairy product is selected from 3-20 °C; 2-15°C; 5-15°C; 3-12°C; 3-8°C; 3.5- 4.5°C; 4°C; less than 8°C.

The process may be performed wherein the separation process is stopped within

0.5-10 minutes. The process may be performed wherein the fat-containing dairy product is dairy cream.

The process may be performed wherein the dairy cream comprises fat at a concentration of 25%- 60%.

The process may be performed further comprising removing the produced butter from the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be more clearly understood upon reading of the following detailed description of non-limiting exemplary embodiments thereof, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a device in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is depiction of a dasher in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a depiction of another dasher according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of another device in accordance with further embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a further device in accordance with further embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a side view of dasher in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, wherein the dasher comprises two extending blades, oriented along the same axis.

Fig. 7A is a side view of dasher in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, wherein the dasher comprises a pair of extending blades, oriented at an angle alpha with respect to each other. Fig. 7B depicts a dasher with three blades.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features/components of an actual implementation are necessarily described.

Fig. 1 presents a device comprising an elliptically-shaped vessel 100 having walls 110 defining an inner cavity 120 and a horizontal axis 130 having a length 150 defined by a distance that is longest between the walls 110 of the inner cavity 120. The inner cavity 120 is provided with a shat element 135 associated with or mounting a dasher assembly 140, wherein the shaft element is positioned along said horizontal axis 13O.The dasher assembly comprises one or more blades 140A and 140B (also separately depicted in Fig. 2) that are securely associated therewith and which are rotatable therewith, each of the blades being of the same or different shape and/or size, wherein at least one of said blades 140A and/or 140B, in this exemplary embodiment blade 140A, substantially extends the length of said shaft and having a contour substantially correlating with the contour of the walls defining the inner cavity 120. Each of the one or more blades 140A and 140B is configured to rotate with the shaft 135 on which they are mounted and around the vessel horizontal axis. Each of the blades extends from the shaft to a distance that is within an intimate distance 160 or 160A from the walls defining the inner cavity 120.

Fig. 2 presents a depiction of a dasher 140, as implemented in a device 100 of Fig. 1, the dasher comprising blades 140A and 140B, and a horizontal shaft element 135. According to the present embodiment, a plurality of holes 190 (also shown in Fig. 1) are provided on the blades 140A and/or 140B, having a distribution pattern and shapes that are differently than those depicted in Fig 1. Furthermore, holes 190 are uneven in size and shape.

According to some embodiments, vessel 100 shown in Fig. 1 may further comprise openings 170 and 180, that are positioned on the vessel walls, each optionally comprising or equipped with a lid, a valve, a sealing element, and the like, which when covering an opening, or alternatively, closed, may prevent discharge of substance from the vessel through an opening. Opening 170 may be used as an inlet for inserting substances (e.g. dairy cream) into the vessel, and opening 180 may be used for removing substances (e.g. dairy products) from vessel 100. According to some embodiments of the invention a vessel may comprise a single opening (e.g. used for inserting and removing of substance), or multiple openings. Some openings may be used for sampling and/or viewing the contents of a vessel. Thus, sampling may be by sensors sensing indicators relevant for a process performed in vessel 100 such as temperature of inner cavity 120, or temperature of substance within the vessel, additionally or alternatively sampling viscosity of a substance. Furthermore, sampling and/or viewing the contents of a vessel may be used to determine the state and/or the ingredients of substance within vessel 100 (e.g. indicating progress rate of a process, indicating the process has ended). According to some embodiments vessel 100, or part thereof, may be fabricated from seen through substance allowing to view the quantity initially inserted to vessel 100, and/or allowing to view the progress of a process (e.g. churning) within vessel 100. Thus, for example the quantity of dairy cream inserted to vessel 100 may be limited to a predefined quantity, e.g. indicated by dairy cream height within the vessel reaching to horizontal axis 130, or lower. Furthermore, and/or alternatively, enabling to view substance within vessel 100 provides information to observer whether the process (e.g. churning) has ended, or still should continue, and if so, for how long the process should continue.

Optionally designated tubes or conduits may be associated with openings located on vessel 100 enabling insertion and removal of substances from the vessel using said tubes or conduits. Inserting and removal of substances from a vessel may be done manually, or by a fully /partial automated device.

Monitoring and management of a process in a device comprising vessel 100 may be performed manually (e.g. directly viewing the texture of the substance) by a decision taken to stop a process within vessel 100, stopping the process, and thereafter removing the substance, or part thereof, from vessel 100 (e.g. manually or electrically operated). According to some embodiments monitoring and management of operating inserting, processing, and removing substances from a vessel may be partially, or fully, controllable by a computerized device comprising pre-set indicators and threshold requirements for a process within vessel 100. For example, optionally monitoring and controlling, set quantity of inserted/removed substances, process time, temperature of substances, as well as opaqueness, viscosity, and other indicative properties of substances within vessel 100. In other embodiments, sampling and/or viewing the contents of a vessel may be done by suitable sensors or sampling equipment placed on or within dasher assembly 140 and/or blades 140A; 140B.

Dasher assembly 140 and/or blades 140A; 140B within vessel 100 may be rotated manually or by a motor (not shown) providing rotational movement power to blades 140A and 140B. Rotational movement speed of blades 140A and 140B may be 50-9,000 RPM, or even above 9,000 RPM. A motor may comprise a speed control button for selecting and controlling the suitable rotational speed. Thus, according to one operating mode the rotational movement of blades 140A; 140B may be at any speed selected above 50 RPM, however, once it is desired to insert, or remove, a substance to/from vessel 100 the rotational speed may be controlled , accordingly, According to some operational embodiments of the invention, after initial inserting of substances (e.g. dairy cream) into a vessel a rotational speed of the dasher, or dashers, having at least one blade is selected to a defined speed within the range of 1,200- 1,700 RPM, or 1,300-1,600 RPM, 1,350-1,550 RPM, or 1,400-1,500 RPM. The selected rotational speed is maintained for a time period of 0.5 to 3 minutes, while the temperature of the substances in the vessel remains lower than 8° ^c , or lower than 9° ^c , or lower than 10° ^c . The temperature is controlled due to the initial temperature of the substances initially inserted to the vessel, and/or due to substances cooling (e.g., heat exchanger in contact with vessel externally, and/or placed within the vessel). Once butter has been produced, the buttermilk may be removed from the vessel by an outlet placed on the vessel (e.g. opening 180 in Fig. 1). prior to and/or after removal of buttermilk from the vessel, the rotational speed may be increased to a selectable speed within the range of 1,700-9,000 RPM for a relatively limited time period of 20 to 120 seconds. Increasing the speed for a limited time interval may assist concentrating the produced butter to the inner surface of the vessel. Thereafter, the butter may be removed manually from the vessel.

Blades 140A; 140B may be made of a metal, metal coated, polymer, or any other solid material capable of sustaining high rotation speeds.

According to some embodiments, vessel 100 is used as a chum for producing butter and buttermilk. Accordingly, the process comprising inserting dairy cream into vessel 100 using opening 170. Dairy cream inserted may be of any concentration of fat, however according to some embodiments the cream may comprise 25% fat or higher; 28% or higher; 32% or higher; 35% or higher; 38% or higher. Temperature of inserted dairy cream may be 3-20°C, according to some other embodiments the temperature of the cream may be of 3-20 °C; 2-15°C; 5-15°C; 3-12°C; 3-8°C; 3.5-4.5°C; 4°C; or below 8°C; or below 9°C; or below 10°C. According to some embodiments, dairy cream may be inserted at a temperature higher than any of the above listed temperature ranges, and a device may comprise a heat exchanger sub-system positioned adjacent to vessel 100 which cools the dairy cream within the vessel to a desired temperature (as listed here above). Other embodiments may provide that vessel 100 is inserted, or located within, a cooling device (e.g. refrigerator, heat exchanger), or the dairy cream is cooled by other means to the desired temperature prior to being processed (e.g. churning), or while churning within vessel 100. Dairy cream held within vessel 100 may be subject to continuous horizontal rotation of blades 140A; 140B as long as desired by an operator, or when an effective churning is completed. An effective churning may be defined as a stage that additional churning (i.e. rotational movement of dasher assembly 140) adds insignificant amount of butter in comparison to the butter already produced from the dairy cream within vessel 100; alternatively, additional churning does not add any butter to the overall butter within vessel 100; or alternatively, additional churning decreases the overall butter within vessel 100.

According to some embodiments the churning process may be proceed for a time period of 15 to 600 seconds, or more. According to some embodiments the time interval desired for completing effective churning is 30 to 300 seconds; 60 to 240 seconds; 120 to 180 seconds; or 100 to 150 seconds.

In some configurations, and as depicted in Figs. 1 and 2, blade 140A substantially extending the length of horizontal axis 130 and having a contour substantially correlating with the contour of the walls defining the inner cavity of vessel 100. Blade 140B extends from horizontal axis 130 and may be at the same plain as blade 140A, i.e. 180° with respect to 140A, or alternatively at a different angle with respect to blade 140A. Blade 140B comprises a contour correlating with only part of the walls of the inner cavity of vessel 100.

Blades 140A; 140B comprise holes 190. According to some embodiments, holes 190 enable better mixing and churning capability, thus, enhancing the churning process. Holes 190 may be randomly spread on any of the blades surface, or with substantially even distances between the holes. Holes may be distributed in high density, or low density. Furthermore, protrusions may be in different sizes and/or shapes. Thus, the holes may be round, square, oblong, or any other shape. Typically, the area of a single protrusion may vary from 1 through 45 square millimeters, or larger.

Fig. 3 depicts dasher 400 comprising blades 410A; 410B which are connected to a horizontal element positioned along axis 420. Blade 410A alone comprises holes 430 which are of different sizes and shapes. Dasher 400 may be placed in a vessel according to the present invention, and connected to a motor which may rotate dasher 400 in a selectable rotational speed. Both blade 410A and 410B are configured in an arch like shape. Though, both have resembling shapes, blades 410A; 410B are not the same size, blade 410A is smaller than blade 410B. In some embodiments a consideration for forming blades in different shapes, sizes, comprising variable number/sizes of holes, or no holes, may be the capability of a rotating dasher to create turbulent movement of substances within a vessel. The turbulent movement is followed by wide range exposure of substances meeting a forceful beating from a rotating blade. Said forceful beating of substances comprising cream enables forming butter. And a fast rotating dasher enables a speedy forming fresh delicates butter comprising refined taste and texture.

Fig. 4 provides another embodiment of the present invention wherein a device comprising vessel 200 having walls 250 which define an inner cavity 280, and a horizontal axis 290 defining a rotating element, having a length defined by a distance between opposing sides of walls 250 of inner cavity 280. Similarly to the device depicted in Fig. 1, the present device comprises a dasher assembly 210. Dasher assembly 210 is provided along said horizontal axis 290, however, dasher assembly 210 comprises two independently operable blades 210A and 210B which have substantially the same shape. Blades 210A; 210B may be on the same surface, or in an angle. Each of blades 210A; 210B have a contour substantially correlating with the contour of the walls defining the inner cavity 280. Furthermore, each of blades is configured to independently rotate around the vessel horizontal axis at an intimate distance 260; 270 from the walls defining the inner cavity 280. Intimate distances 260; 270 may be the same, or different from each other. According to some embodiments, vessel 200, and inner cavity 280 may form a substantial round vessel (e.g. substantially ball shape vessel) and blades 210A; 210B may be on the same plane, or at angle, and having the same dimensions. Thus, intimate distances 260; 270 may be substantially the same. Other examples may provide other shapes of vessels (e.g. egg shape; oval shape, box shape, a rhombus side section wherein the vertical axis is substantially perpendicular towards the ground) which may be symmetric, or asymmetric, and/or other dimensions of blades 210A; 210B. Accordingly, other embodiments the intimate distances 260; 270 may differ from each other. Additionally, in some embodiments of the present invention, a device comprises an asymmetric vessel such that the intimate distance of each horizontal rotating blade from the vessel’s walls may vary during the rotation. According to further embodiments, the horizontal rotating dasher assembly comprising one, or more, blades may not be positioned in the middle of a vessel of the device of the present invention.

Motor 220 illustrates a motor that may provide electric power to dasher assembly 210 enabling rotational speeds as indicated herein to blades 210A; 210B. The vessel 200 comprises insertion openings 230 enabling insertion of dairy cream, or other substances (e.g. taste flavors, food color), and discharge opening 240 allowing discharge from vessel 200 of substances (e.g. buttermilk, butter).

Discharge opening 240 may be provided with a lid for covering the opening, and which comprises further a slit, or slits that can be closed. Said slit, or slits configured to enable discharge of only liquids (e.g. buttermilk), and prevents solids discharge, or alternatively, substantially prevents easily discharge of solids (e.g. butter) from vessel 200. Additionally, discharge opening 240 may be initially only partially opened (e.g. discharging liquids), and later (e.g. after discharging substantially all liquids from vessel 200) opening 240 is fully opened, providing a wider opening enabling discharge of solids. Typically, opening 240 is positioned substantially at the bottom of vessel 200. Thus, according to one embodiment, once a lid, or part thereof, is removed (e.g. through a slit provided at the opening previously closed) from opening 240, gravitational discharge of buttermilk from the vessel is enabled, thereafter, extraction of butter (e.g. through a fully opened a lid covering opening 240 is enabled (e.g. by removing a lid over opening 240) either manually; gravitational force only; or alternatively, use of blades 210A; 210B in a substantially slow rotational speed (0-100 RPM; 0-50 RPM; 0-25 RPM; 0-10 RPM; 0-5 RPM; 0-3 RPM) with, or without, gravitation force.

Other embodiments may provide other devices comprising a vessel having more than two blades (e.g. 3, 4, 5, 6, or more). Each blade may have different shape, or the same shape, wherein each blade independently rotates around the vessel horizontal axis at an intimate distance from inner cavity of the walls of the vessel.

According to some embodiments of the invention the depth of a blade or blades (i.e. used in a dasher assembly) may vary from 0.01 cm - 5.0 cm; 0.05-1.0 cm. The height “h” is exemplified in view of blade 210B of presented in Fig. 2. Height h integrated along a blade substantially determines the surface area for beating a substance within a vessel during horizontal rotation of a blade. Height h of a blade in some embodiments may be the same or different along the blades, e.g. height h may be longer in a middle portion of a blade than on its sides, and/or have different h heights along the blades. The height h may be between 0.5 - 100 cm and it depends on the size of the vessel the blade is inserted in according to the invention. In some embodiments h may be 1-20 cm; 1-10 cm; 5-7 cm.

Fig. 5 provides an illustration of a similar device to that depicted in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 presents a side view of a dasher 500 according to some embodiments of the present invention. As presented blades 510A; 510B are on the same surface, and are connected to a common rotatable element 520. Thus, blades 510A; 510B form a 180° angle from each other. An alternative embodiment of a dasher according to the present invention is presented in Fig. 7A. Fig. 7A presents a side view of dasher 600 comprising blades 610A; 610B which are connected to a common rotatable element 620. Blades 610A; 610B form an angle athat may be between 20 and 180°.The size of a is not limited. Fig. 7B presents a side view of dasher 700 comprising three blades 710A; 710B; and 710C which are connected to a common rotatable element 720. Blades 710A; 710B form an angle P, while blades 710B; 710C form angle y, wherein angles P; and y may be selected to define the distance between the blades.

A device according to the present invention may be used for small scale processing (e.g. 50 cc, 100 cc, 1 liter, 2 liter, 3 liter, 10 liter). For example, a device according to any of the above mentioned embodiments may be used as kitchen ware, or counter top at a food store selling fast food. Thus, according to the example, a vessel may be in the range of mini or small size chums, medium and large size chum devices. Chum devices may have a vessel with a volume of 30-500 cc (cubic centimeters); 30-200 cc; 30-100 cc; SO- VO cc; or 30-50 cc, each chum comprising at least one suitable dasher assembly and blade (or blades), as well as an opening, one, or more, providing possible insertion and discharge of a substance (e.g. dairy cream, buttermilk, butter). Thus, instant butter production can be provided for a consumer, optionally providing fresh butter with an additive (e.g. herbs, spices, aromatic compounds) inserted to the chum before or during processing of the butter. Naturally, medium sizes 500-3000 cc, as well as large scale, and industrial production scale are may be accommodated for processing substances according to different embodiments of the present invention.

According to some embodiments of the invention all parts of the device may be replaceable. For example a dasher assembly and blades, as well as a vessels are detachable and can be replaced with similar, or different, type and sizes of blades, vessels, as well as other elements of the chum device. Thus, a particular blade, or blades, may be detachable and be replaced with another blade of the same shape, or different characteristics (e.g. different side section width, different shape, comprising/not comprising an extension). According to some embodiments of the invention the position of a horizontal axis in a vessel may be defined by a dasher assembly and its rotatable blade, or blades, wherein at least one blade comprises a contour substantially correlating to at least part of the surface region of the inner surface of the cavity. Thus, the dasher assembly is configured to rotate at a given speed around a horizontal axis, such that while in rotation the contour of the one or more blades enables maintaining an intimate distance at least from a surface region positioned at the lower part of the vessel. According to some embodiments of the invention a vessel may comprise two, or more insertion openings, and/or two, or more, discharge openings. Thus, one, or more, openings may be used for discharge of buttermilk, and other opening, one, or more, may be used for discharge of butter. In some embodiments insertion openings and/or discharge openings may be located on any side of a vessel (one, or more) of the present invention.