Abstract:
A curd and whey mixture is drained of loose whey on a conveyor and the dry curd fed into the top of a tubular perforated column (48, 49) maintained under sub-atmospheric pressure to form a pillar of curd. A mass of curd severed from the lower end of the pillar is deposited in a mould (14) mounted on a turntable (13) rotatable to index the mould in succession at six pressing stations at each of which the curd is compressed for 45-120 seconds at a pressure of at least 4 bar in order to form a block of cheese with a rind firm enough to permit handling of the cheese block after ejection from the mould. At the first pressing station the curd is subjected to a sub-atmospheric pressure of -0.9 to -1.0 bar prior to compression. After the cheese block is ejected from the mould, the turntable returns the empty mould to the column for reception of another mass of curd.
Abstract:
Ce plateau (1) est utilisable avec d'autres plateaux similaires pour mécaniser la fabrication de fromages par empilement comprenant des blocs-moules (8) et des stores amovibles (12,13). Dans une pile, le cadre rigide du plateau (1) supporte le plateau immédiatement supérieur (17)et les plateaux s'emboîtent autour des blocs-moules (8). Les deux faces du plateau (1) sont utilisables de façon équivalente et l'empilement peut être retourné sans dépilage lors de l'affinage des fromages. Le cadre est muni d'ouvertures (5) permettant la ventilation et le passage de la saumure lors de l'égouttage, du salage et de l'affinage.
Abstract:
An apparatus for preparing a curd mass by draining a mixture of whey and curds in an upright column consists of a permeable sleeve (1, 1') of circular or rectangular cross-section, one or more sleeves (1, 1') being surrounded, with some clearance, by a tube (2) mounted on a worktable (3). The apparatus further comprises means (4) at one end of the tube, above or under the worktable (3), for feeding the mixture of whey and curds and means at the other end of the sleeve (1, 1'), under or above the worktable (3), for receiving and discharging a drained and extruded curd mass. The free space between the sleeve (1) or sleeves (1') and the tube (2) is subdivided into various compartments (9), lying one above the other, with the aid of sealing partitions (10). Each compartment (9) is provided with inlet and outlet connections (11, 12) for whey or cleaning liquid. The sleeve or sleeves (1,1′) disposed inside the same tube (2) forms or form a fixed assembly (13) with the partitions (10) and with said tube. The assembly thus formed is detachably fastened on the worktable (3), while the connections (11,12) of the compartments (9) are also provided with detachable couplings.
Abstract:
In the cyclic preparation of a length of curds by draining a mixture of whey and curds in an upright column, formed by a permeable casing (2), the preparation cycle consists of at least three parts: a thickening phase and an extrusion phase from the column and a lateral discharge phase of the length of curds. The mixture is supplied to one end of the casing (2) and a length of the thickened mass of curds is removed periodically at the other end of the casing (2). The whey/curds column inside the casing (2) is moved forwards at slow speed in the longitudinal direction of the casing (2) during the thickening phase of the preparation cycle, the thickening phase and the extrusion phase taking place at the same time. The discharge phase of the cycle takes place when the column is stationary, within a time span which is less than 20% of the thickening phase and extrusion phase.
Abstract:
Le dispositif de remplissage et de retournement automatique de moules contenant du caillé lors de la fabrication de fromages comprenant un poste de chargement (24) composé de tubes (48) d'alimentation et de moulage du caillé par gravité, munis de lames (52) de coupe et d'obturation disposées à leurs extrémités (50) des moules intermédiaires (44) et des moules définitifs (60) destinés à recevoir les portions de caillé venant respectivement des tubes de moulage et des moules intermédiaires, se caractérise en ce qu'il comprend des moyens de transport (32) se déplaçant suivant une boucle fermée orientée dans un plan vertical, sur lesquels sont fixés et régulièrement espacés les moules intermédiaires (44) et définissant deux brins horizontaux, supérieur et inférieur, un poste de mise en place des moules définitifs (26) vides disposé au-dessus du brin supérieur et un poste (28) de déchargement des moules définitifs (60) remplis disposé au-dessous du brin inférieur.
Abstract:
A method of producing soft cheese of the type of Italian cottage cheese is described which comprises the steps of introducing primary whey into at least one production tank (6) with the addition of a coagulant and steam whereby secondary curd and secondary whey are formed, drawing the secondary whey out of said at least one tank (6) to preheat the oncoming primary whey before it is introduced into said tank (6), discharging from said tank (6) the cottage cheese formed from said secondary curd together with residual secondary whey onto a draining blanket (30) by which the residual secondary whey is drained away, and transferring the cottage cheese to cottage cheese pick-up station.