Method and device for homogenizing a fibrous, viscous food mass

Abstract

A method and system for homogenizing a fibrous, viscous food mass 1, in particular pasta filata, such as mozzarella, for example, wherein a feed quantity of the food mass 1 is initially fed continuously to a homogenizing device comprising a container, wherein in a subsequent step the food mass 1 exiting an outlet gap of the container is fed to a shaping and/or cooling device disposed underneath the container, wherein the shaping and/or cooling device forms a filling gap between two rollers, each of which, in particular, is equipped with a belt, and shapes the food mass 1 into a food strip, wherein the outlet gap of the container is oriented at least substantially parallel to the filling gap, wherein the opening width of the outlet gap 5 and/or the feed quantity are set such that the food mass located in the container can settle for the purpose of homogenization, wherein the fibers of the food mass entering the filling gap are aligned substantially in the processing direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cheese product comprising a plurality of uniformly aligned fibers, wherein the plurality of uniformly aligned fibers are impressed in the cheese product by forming a molten cheese mass containing the plurality of uniformly aligned fibers into a cheese strip, wherein the cheese strip is cooled to retain a uniform alignment of the uniformly aligned fibers in the cheese product. 
     
     
         2 . The cheese product of  claim 1 , wherein the molten cheese mass is formed into the cheese strip by passing the molten cheese mass between a pair of oppositely-driven rollers or a pair of belts, wherein a thickness of the cheese strip is defined by a gap formed between the pair of oppositely-driven rollers or the pair of belts. 
     
     
         3 . The cheese product of  claim 1 , wherein the cheese product is a plurality of cheese cubes. 
     
     
         4 . The cheese product of  claim 3 , wherein the cheese cubes have smooth surfaces. 
     
     
         5 . The cheese product of  claim 3 , wherein the cheese cubes have clean cut edges. 
     
     
         6 . The cheese product of  claim 1 , wherein the cheese product comprises a pasta filata cheese. 
     
     
         7 . The cheese product of  claim 5 , wherein the pasta filata cheese comprises mozzarella cheese. 
     
     
         8 . The cheese product of  claim 1 , wherein the cheese product is formed by cutting the cheese strip transversely across the uniformly aligned fibers. 
     
     
         9 . The cheese product of  claim 2 , wherein the molten cheese mass that is introduced to the gap between the pair of oppositely-driven rollers or the pair of belts is homogeneous and has an aligned fiberous structure. 
     
     
         10 . The cheese product of  claim 2 , wherein the cheese strip is cooled on both sides that contact the pair of oppositely-driven rollers or the pair of belts. 
     
     
         11 . The cheese product of  claim 1 , wherein the uniformly aligned fibers are aligned in a processing direction of the cheese strip. 
     
     
         12 . A method of forming a cheese product, the method comprising:
 homogenizing a molten cheese mass to align a plurality of fibers in the cheese mass into a substantially uniform direction;   supplying the molten cheese mass to a gap formed by a pair of oppositely-driven rollers or a pair of belts, wherein the pair of oppositely driven rollers or the pair of belts impress the molten cheese mass into a cheese strip containing the plurality of uniformly aligned fibers;   cooling the cheese strip between the pair of oppositely driven rollers or the pair of belts to retain a uniform alignment of the plurality of uniformly aligned fibers in the cheese strip; and   forming the cheese strip into the cheese product.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the molten cheese mass passes through an outlet gap into the gap between the pair of oppositely-driven rollers or the pair of belts. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the outlet gap has an adjustable opening width and thickness that sets a width and thickness of the molten cheese mass introduced into the gap between the pair of oppositely-driven rollers or the pair of belts. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the forming of the cheese strip comprises cutting the cheese strip in a transverse direction to the plurality of uniformly aligned fibers. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the forming of the cheese strip comprises cutting the cheese strip in a direction along the plurality of uniformly aligned fibers. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the cheese product comprises cheese cubes. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the cheese cubes have smooth surfaces and clean cut edges. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the cheese product comprises a pasta filata cheese. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the pasta filata cheese comprises mozzarella cheese. 
     
     
         21 . A system to form a cheese product, the system comprising:
 a homogenizing device that supplies a molten cheese mass having a plurality of uniformly aligned fibers, wherein the plurality of uniformly aligned fibers are aligned in substantially the same direction;   a pair of oppositely-driven rollers or a pair of belts that form a gap between the pair of oppositely-driven rollers or the pair of belts, wherein the gap receives the molten cheese mass from the homogenizing device and forms the molten cheese mass into a cheese strip impressed with the plurality of uniformly aligned fibers;   a cooling system operable to cool the cheese strip as it makes contact with the pair of oppositely-driven rollers or the pair of belts; and   a cutting element that cuts the cheese strip into the cheese product.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the homogenization device comprises an outlet gap through which the molten cheese mass passes to reach the gap formed between the pair of oppositely-driven rollers or the pair of belts, and wherein the outlet gap has an adjustable width and thickness. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the cooling system cools the cheese strip on both sides of the cheese strip in contact with the pair of oppositely-driven rollers or the pair of belts. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the cutting element cuts the cheese strip transversely to the plurality of uniformly aligned fibers. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the cutting element cuts the cheese strip along the plurality of uniformly aligned fibers. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the system comprises the pair of oppositely-driven rollers. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the system comprises the pair of belts.