Abstract:
A device for continuous distribution of cheese curd. The device consists of an inlet pipe (1) leading tangentially into the middle of the cylinder surface of a horizontal cylinder (2) containing a centrally orientated rotor (3) with baffle plates (5) which can rotate in the cylinder (2), which has a longitudinal outlet between a slide (6) and a screen (7) in its full length. The cylinder (2) can be succeeded by one or more cylinders (2a) which in all essentials is/are identical with the cylinder (2). The speed of the rotors (3) and (3a) is controlled by a gear motor (4) or a brake. Cheese curd is fed through the pipe (1) to the cylinder (2), where it is distributed along the baffle plates (5), as the peripheral speed of these is lower than the velocity of flow of the cheese curd in the pipe (1). In the construction shown the cheese curd leaves the device on the slide (6a) and is distributed on a perforated conveyor belt (8), in a conventional pre-pressing vat, a continuous cheese curd block shaper or a drainage belt for separation of whey and cheese grains. The cylinders (2) and (2a) can be provided with heat exchange jackets (11) and (11a) for cooling of the cheese curd before drainage.
Abstract:
A method for the preparation of prepressed cheese curd blocks (38), where a curd (2) comprising a mixture of curd grains (42) and whey is fed to a conveyor belt (19) and the curd grains (42) are collected and shaped during continuous movement of the belt by being subjected to prepressing means (27) and side-limiting walls (18). The resulting cheese body (30) is cut into suitably dimensioned blocks at a cutting station (37). The curd (2) is fed to the continuously moving conveyor belt (19) below the surface (40) of a whey pool (39) and during the movement of the conveyor belt (19) said curd is conveyed along an oblique path above the surface (40) of the whey pool (39) simultaneous with it being subjected to prepressing means (27). The whey pool is contained in an obliquely installed vat (7), the conveyor belt (19) being introduced at the bottom end of said vat and leaving it at its top end (20). Said top end (20) has no end wall, thus providing space for the cut blocks (38) to pass out of the vat (7) just before the top end (20).
Abstract:
An oblong, rectangular vat the bottom of which is provided with an endless, perforated conveyor belt (2) which can move a mat of curd (3). A transverse roller (6), the height of which is adjustable, is placed at a suitable distance from one end wall (the front) of the vat. The conveyor belt (2) is placed around a box (7), with an open bottom and can move towards the other end wall (the rear) of the vat. A smooth, transverse roller (8) is placed at a suitable distance from the roller (6), and said roller (8) rests on the surface of the mat of curd. A cutting device (14) can be placed after the roller (8). The sidewalls of the vat are provided with vertical channels (10), immediately followed by a smooth, transverse roller (13). The vat can form a sediment of curd grains below the surface of the whey, regulate its thickness and level it when producing cheese with a closed texture and round holes; said vat can drain, regulate the thickness of and level the layer of curd grains when producing cheese with an open and irregular texture and pasta filata.