Description

CHEESE MANUFACTURE APPARATUS FOR SLICE VARIED WITH DIFFERENT COLOR PATTERN INEACH MILK

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing slice cheeses with a different colored pattern on each slice cheese, and more particularly, to an apparatus for manufacturing slice cheeses with a different colored pattern on each slice cheese, wherein pigments are added during a cheese manufacturing process so that when a chunk of finished cheese is cut into slices, the slice cheeses can exhibit visual effects due to various colors and patterns of the pigments at different locations on the respective sections of the slice cheeses.

[2]

Background Art

[3] Generally, cheese is a food that has affluent nutritive elements, good preservation and an excellent flavor and scent, and thus, has been manufactured in various regions of the world from old times. Cheese is one of important foods, which includes more than one thousand kinds of cheeses currently manufactured over the world depending on the kind of milk to be used as an ingredient, a manufacturing region, the type of lac- tobacillus to be used, and a manufacturing process.

[4] As described above, a chunk of finished cheese formed generally in a cylindrical or hexahedral shape is cut into slices in a rectangular shape. The slice cheeses are packaged one by one using vinyl packaging, and a predetermined number of slice cheeses are then put into a package container to be commercially available.

[5] However, cheese that is commercially available in a slice form as described above is configured to have a single color and a simple shape so that it cannot exhibit visual effects from its appearance, and thus, there is a limitation in that the shape of cheese cannot largely deviate from the conventional shape of cheese.

[6]

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[7] The present invention is conceived to solve the aforementioned problems in the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for manufacturing slice cheeses with a different colored pattern on each slice cheese, wherein certain colors and patterns are imparted during a cheese manufacturing process so that when a chunk of finished cheese is cut into slices, the slice cheeses can exhibit various colors and patterns at different locations on the respective sections of the slice cheeses.

[8]

Technical Solution

[9] An apparatus for manufacturing slice cheeses with a different colored pattern on each slice cheese according to the present invention comprises a boiler for generating hot water vapor; a melting unit for melting solid-state ingredients for cheese, water and butter with the hot water vapor to form a gel-state mixture thereof, wherein transfer pipes for transferring the hot water vapor generated from the boiler are connected to upper and side portions of the melting unit; a hopper for collecting the gel-state mixture obtained through melting in the melting unit into one place; a molding unit having a second hopper for collecting the mixture contained in the hopper at an upper portion of the molding unit, and a mold for molding the mixture collected in the second hopper, wherein the mold is connected to and communicates with a bottom surface of the second hopper; and a coloring unit for imparting a color to the mixture molded in the mold of the molding unit, wherein a pigment feeding line extends from a side portion of a pigment chamber for holding a vegetable extract to above a central portion of the second hopper of the molding unit so that the pigment feeding line can communicate with the pigment chamber and the second hopper, and wherein a nozzle provided at the other end of the pigment feeding line passes through the interior of the second hopper and is then positioned within the mold in a state where one end of the nozzle is connected to and communicates with the pigment feeding line.

[10] The melting unit may include an ingredient-receiving chamber for receiving the solid-state ingredients for cheese, the water and the butter therein, and a heating chamber for externally accommodating a portion of the ingredient-receiving chamber, and a space may be defined by a certain gap between an outer surface of the ingredient-receiving chamber and an inner surface of the heating chamber so that the hot water vapor of the boiler is fed to the space.

[11] A pigment contained in the pigment chamber may pass through the pigment feeding line and be then fed to the nozzle, and a pump may be installed at a certain position on the pigment feeding line so that the pigment is sprayed with pulsed pressure through the nozzle.

[12] The nozzle of the coloring unit may spray the pigment while being circularly rotated within the mold of the molding unit.

[13] The nozzle may have a polygonal or star-like cross section. The nozzle may be formed to have an outer surface provided with a plurality of holes or may be formed to be bent.

[14]

Advantageous Effects

[15] The apparatus for manufacturing slice cheeses with a different colored pattern on each slice cheese according to the present invention uses, as the pigment, the natural- colored vegetable extract obtained by extracting vegetables during a cheese manufacturing process, so that when a chunk of cheese to be manufactured later is cut into slices, the slice cheeses with color-imparted visual effects can be provided to consumers.

[16] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the nozzle is formed to have a polygonal or star-like cross section, or formed to be bent or to have an outer surface provided with a plurality of holes, so that various patterns of the pigment to be sprayed through the nozzle can be applied to a chunk of cheese to be manufactured later, thereby providing slice cheeses with various patterns of the pigment.

[17]

Brief Description of the Drawings

[18] Fig. 1 is a view showing a cheese manufacturing process according to the present invention.

[19] Figs. 2 and 3 are bottom views showing the shapes of cross sections of nozzles in accordance with the present invention.

[20] Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing holes provided in an outer surface of a nozzle in accordance with the present invention.

[21] Fig. 5 is a side view showing a bent nozzle in accordance with the present invention.

[22] Fig. 6 is a plan view illustrating a state where the nozzle is being rotated in accordance with the present invention.

[23] Figs. 7 and 8 are side views showing pigments represented in sections of slice cheeses upon cutting of a chunk of cheese manufactured according to the present invention.

[24]

[25] <Explanation of Reference Numerals for Main Portions in Drawings>

[26] 10: Boiler 12: Transfer pipe 20: Melting unit

[27] 22: Ingredient-receiving chamber 24: Heating chamber

[28] 30: Hopper 40: Molding unit 42: Second hopper

[29] 44: Mold 50: Coloring unit

[30] 52: Pigment chamber 54: Pigment feeding line

[31] 56: Nozzle C: Pigment

[32] H: Hole S: Slice cheese

[33] P: Pump

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[35] An apparatus for manufacturing slice cheeses with a different colored pattern on each slice cheese according to the present invention comprises a boiler for generating hot water vapor; a melting unit for melting solid-state ingredients for cheese, water and butter with the hot water vapor to form a gel-state mixture thereof, wherein transfer pipes for transferring the hot water vapor generated from the boiler are connected to upper and side portions of the melting unit; a hopper for collecting the gel-state mixture obtained through melting in the melting unit into one place; a molding unit having a second hopper for collecting the mixture contained in the hopper at an upper portion of the molding unit, and a mold for molding the mixture collected in the second hopper, wherein the mold is connected to and communicates with a bottom surface of the second hopper; and a coloring unit for imparting a color to the mixture molded in the mold of the molding unit, wherein a pigment feeding line extends from a side portion of a pigment chamber for holding a vegetable extract to above a central portion of the second hopper of the molding unit so that the pigment feeding line can communicate with the pigment chamber and the second hopper, and wherein a nozzle provided at the other end of the pigment feeding line passes through the interior of the second hopper and is then positioned within the mold in a state where one end of the nozzle is connected to and communicates with the pigment feeding line.

[36] The melting unit includes an ingredient-receiving chamber for receiving the solid- state ingredients for cheese, the water and the butter therein, and a heating chamber for externally accommodating a portion of the ingredient-receiving chamber, and a space is defined by a certain gap between an outer surface of the ingredient-receiving chamber and an inner surface of the heating chamber so that the hot water vapor of the boiler is fed to the space.

[37] A pigment contained in the pigment chamber passes through the pigment feeding line and be then fed to the nozzle, and a pump is installed at a certain position on the pigment feeding line so that the pigment is sprayed with pulsed pressure through the nozzle.

[38] The nozzle of the coloring unit sprays the pigment while being circularly rotated within the mold of the molding unit.

[39] The nozzle has a polygonal or star-like cross section. The nozzle is formed to have an outer surface provided with a plurality of holes or is formed to be bent.

[40] Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of an apparatus for manufacturing slice cheeses with a different colored pattern on each slice cheese according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[41] In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a view showing a cheese manufacturing

process according to the present invention, Figs. 2 and 3 are bottom views showing the shapes of cross sections of nozzles in accordance with the present invention, Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing holes provided in an outer surface of a nozzle in accordance with the present invention, Fig. 5 is a side view showing a bent nozzle in accordance with the present invention, Fig. 6 is a plan view illustrating a state where the nozzle is being rotated in accordance with the present invention, and Figs. 7 and 8 are side views showing pigments represented in sections of slice cheeses upon cutting of a chunk of cheese manufactured according to the present invention.

[42] As shown in Fig. 1, the apparatus for manufacturing slice cheeses with a different colored pattern on each slice cheese according to the present invention includes a boiler 10 for generating hot water vapor. Transfer pipes 12 for transferring the hot water vapor are formed to extend from upper and side portions of the boiler 10 such that one end of each of the transfer pipes can communicate with the boiler 10.

[43] The other ends of the transfer pipes 12 for transferring the hot water vapor generated from the boiler 10 are connected to and communicate with upper and side portions of the melting unit 20, respectively.

[44] The melting unit 20 includes an ingredient-receiving chamber 22 and a heating chamber 24. The ingredient-receiving chamber 22 receives solid-state ingredients for cheese, water and butter therein, and one of the transfer pipes 12 is connected to an upper portion of the ingredient-receiving chamber 22.

[45] Furthermore, the heating chamber 24 externally accommodates a portion of the ingredient-receiving chamber 22, and the ingredient-receiving chamber 22 is partially positioned within the heating chamber 24. A space is defined by a certain gap between an outer surface of the ingredient-receiving chamber 22 and an inner surface of the heating chamber 24, and the other of the transfer pipes 12 is connected to and communicates with the side portion of the heating chamber 24 so that the hot water vapor can be supplied to the space.

[46] Meanwhile, a hopper 30 for collecting a gel-state mixture obtained through melting in the melting unit into one place is provided.

[47] Further, a molding unit 40 is provided, wherein a second hopper 42 for collecting the mixture contained in the hopper 30 is provided at an upper portion of the molding unit 40, and a mold 44 for molding the mixture collected in the second hopper 42 is connected to and communicates with a bottom surface of the second hopper 42.

[48] Then, a coloring unit 50 is formed to impart certain colors to the mixture to be molded in the mold 44 of the molding unit 40.

[49] The coloring unit 50 has a pigment chamber 52 for holding a vegetable extract therein. A pigment feeding line 54 extends from a side portion of a pigment chamber 52 to a central portion of the second hopper 42 of the molding unit 40 so that the

pigment feeding line 54 can communicate with the pigment chamber 52 and the second hopper 42.

[50] Moreover, a nozzle 56 provided at the other end of the pigment feeding line 54 passes through the interior of the second hopper 42 and is positioned within the mold 44 while one end of the nozzle 56 is connected to and communicates with the pigment feeding line 54.

[51] At this time, a pigment C contained in the pigment chamber 52 passes through the pigment feeding line 54 to be fed to the nozzle 56, and a pump P is installed at a certain position on the pigment feeding line 54 so that when the fed pigment C is sprayed through the nozzle 56, the pigment can be sprayed with pulsed pressure.

[52] Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 6, the nozzle 56 sprays the pigment C while the nozzle 56 is circularly rotated within the mold 44 of the molding unit 40. The nozzle 56 may be formed to have a polygonal or star-like cross section. The nozzle 56 may be formed to be bent or to have an outer surface provided with a plurality of holes H.

[53] Next, the operation of the apparatus for manufacturing slice cheeses with a different colored pattern on each slice cheese as constructed above will be described below.

[54] First, the boiler 10 is operated in advance to generate hot water vapor.

[55] Then, when the hot water vapor generated according to the continuous operation of the boiler 10 is fed to the melting unit 20, the hot water vapor is fed through the respective transfer pipes 12 into the ingredient-receiving chamber 22 of the melting unit 20.

[56] At the same time, the hot water vapor fed through the transfer pipe 12 connected to the side portion of the heating chamber 24 that partially accommodates the ingredient- receiving chamber 22 is fed into the space between the outer surface of the ingredient- receiving chamber 22 and the inner surface of the heating chamber 24, thereby heating the outer surface of the ingredient-receiving chamber 22.

[57] Then, while the outer surface of the ingredient-receiving chamber 22 is heated due to the hot water vapor continuously fed into the space, and the interior of the ingredient-receiving chamber 22 is simultaneously heated due to the hot water vapor fed into the ingredient-receiving chamber 22 as described above, the solid-state ingredients for cheese, water and butter are put into the ingredient-receiving chamber 22 to obtain a gel-state mixture thereof.

[58] Then, the gel-state mixture obtained by the melting unit 20 is transferred to the hopper 30 and subsequently to the molding unit 40.

[59] When the mixture that has been transferred to the hopper 30 is subsequently transferred to the molding unit 40, the mixture is first collected in the second hopper 42 of the molding unit 40 and then transferred to the mold 44 that is provided below the second hopper 42.

[60] Furthermore, the vegetable extract stored in the pigment chamber 52 of the coloring unit 50 is simultaneously fed to the mold 44.

[61] The coloring unit 50 includes the pigment chamber 52, the pigment feeding line 54 and the nozzle 56. The pigment C is fed into the pigment chamber 52.

[62] The pigment C is a natural-colored extract that is obtained by extracting vegetables with various colors, such as paprika and carrot, in accordance with the present invention. The pigment C is used to impart a certain color to the interior of a chunk of finished cheese that will be manufactured finally.

[63] The other end of the pigment feeding line 54 that is connected to and communicates with the side portion of the pigment chamber 52 is positioned above the central portion of the second hopper 42 of the molding unit 40. In the state where the one end of the nozzle 56 is connected to and communicates with the other end of the pigment feeding line 54, the nozzle 56 passes through the interior of the second hopper 42 and is then positioned within the mold 44 of the molding unit 40.

[64] At this time, the nozzle 56 sprays the pigment C while being circularly rotated in one direction within the mold 44. The pigment C is sprayed in a pulsed manner due to pressure generated by the pump P installed at a certain position on the pigment feeding line 54.

[65] That is, when the pigment C contained in the pigment chamber 52 passes through the pigment feeding line 54 and is then fed to the nozzle 56, the pigment C passes through the pigment feeding line 54 and is introduced into the pump P. The pigment C introduced into the pump P is fed to the nozzle 56 along with the pressure generated by the pump P. When the pigment C is sprayed through the nozzle 56, the pigment C fed to the nozzle 56 is sprayed in the pulsed manner due to the pressure generated by the pump P.

[66] Then, as described above, the gel-state mixture is collected in the second hopper 42 of the molding unit 40. When the collected mixture is transferred to and molded in the mold 44, the pigment C stored in the pigment chamber 52 is simultaneously transferred through the pigment feeding line 54, and the transferred pigment C is transferred to the pump P. The pigment C transferred to the pump P is fed to the nozzle 56, which is positioned in the mold 44, along with the pressure generated by the pump P. The pigment C is sprayed in the pulsed manner by the nozzle 56. As a result, a chunk of finished cheese is manufactured in a state where the natural-colored pigment C is incorporated into the mixture molded in the mold 44.

[67] That is, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, when the chunk of finished cheese manufactured as described above is cut into slices, the natural-colored pigment C that has been molded and cured together with the mixture at certain positions in the sections of the respective slice cheeses S is shown. Thus, a new cheese with visual effects that are

different from that of a conventional cheese is manufactured.

[68] The nozzle 56 may be formed variously to have a cross section, i.e., a bottom face, in a polygonal or star-like shape, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that when the chunk of finished cheese manufactured as above is cut into the slices, the pigment C can be represented in various patterns in the sections of the slice cheeses.

[69] Furthermore, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the nozzle 56 may be formed to have an outer surface provided with a plurality of holes H such that the pigment C can be sprayed simultaneously and sporadically through the plurality of holes H or the nozzle 56 may be formed in a bent shape, so that when the chunk of finished cheese manufactured later is cut into slices, the positions of the pigment C in the sections of the respective slice cheeses S can be different from each other, thereby producing slice cheeses with various patterns.