Patents by Inventor Richard R. Willits

Richard R. Willits has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6143334
    Abstract: An pasta filata method of making cheeses that is capable of producing traditional hard and semi-hard cheeses of the Swiss and Baby Swiss varieties is described. Pursuant to the method, cheese milk at between 84.degree. F.-96.degree. F. and 0%-4% milk fat is inoculated with a bacterial culture appropriate to the variety of cheese being made. A milk coagulant is added to the cheese milk to form curd, which is cut. The temperature of the curd and whey mixture is raised a total of between 0.degree. F.-18.degree. F. over a period of time ranging from 20 minutes to 60 minutes. A portion of whey is removed from the curd. When the pH of the curd and whey mixture drops to between pH 5.80-6.20 the remaining whey is removed and the pH of the curd is allowed to drop to between pH 5.10-5.30. The curd is washed with fresh water at 45.degree. F.-75.degree. F. and dry-salted. The curd is fed into a pasta filata cheeses mixer/molder and cooked under hot water, thereby raising the temperature of the curd to between 120.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Sargento Foods Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Reinbold, Richard R. Willits, Kim M. DeSmidt