A screen for a cheese blockformer is disclosed, the screen includes a metal sheet having a vertical orientation and a plurality of openings in the metal sheet. In certain examples, the openings each comprise a perforation. The screen can be constructed to be readily removable from the blockformer column and can be secured with an interlocking flange construction at the upstream end of the screen. Certain constructions are directed to a cheese blockformer comprising a tower having a plurality of walls, each wall having an interior side that faces an interior volume of the tower; a screen disposed inside the tower and a plurality of openings in the screen, each opening comprising a perforation and a dimple, the dimple being disposed on the exterior surface of the screen.

An apparatus for making cheese including a whey conduit, a milk conduit, and a heat exchange device between the whey conduit and the milk conduit. Preferably, the heat exchange device includes a heat transfer circuit including a heat transfer conduit, heat transfer medium in the heat transfer conduit, a whey heat exchanger between the whey conduit and the heat transfer conduit, and a milk heat exchanger between the heat transfer conduit and the milk conduit. A thermal storage device can be in thermal contact with the heat exchange device to allow heat energy from the whey to be accumulated and stored for future use in heating incoming milk. The thermal storage device includes a thermal storage conduit, a thermal storage heat exchanger between the heat exchange device and the thermal storage conduit, thermal storage medium in the thermal storage conduit, and a thermal storage tank.

An apparatus for making cheese including a whey conduit, a milk conduit, and a heat exchange device between the whey conduit and the milk conduit. Preferably, the heat exchange device includes a heat transfer circuit including a heat transfer conduit, heat transfer medium in the heat transfer conduit, a whey heat exchanger between the whey conduit and the heat transfer conduit, and a milk heat exchanger between the heat transfer conduit and the milk conduit. A thermal storage device can be in thermal contact with the heat exchange device to allow heat energy from the whey to be accumulated and stored for future use in heating incoming milk. The thermal storage device includes a thermal storage conduit, a thermal storage heat exchanger between the heat exchange device and the thermal storage conduit, thermal storage medium in the thermal storage conduit, and a thermal storage tank.

A device for filling cheese curd into a pressing mould comprising a curd distributor, having an inlet end through which cheese curd may be received, and an outlet end through the cheese curd may exit the curd distributor, a pressing-mould holder arranged below the outlet of the curd distributor, one or more drive units, configured to perform a relative motion between the curd distributor and the pressing mould holder in accordance with a selected number of motion patterns, a contra unit, configured to control the motion pattern based on input comprising an identifier of a pressing-mould configuration positioned b the pressing-mould holder.

A method for pressing out whey from curd is presented. The method comprises receiving a closed casing holding a mould filled with curd, pumping out air from the closed casing such that a pressure force onto the curd can be formed, establishing a connection between a system controller and a casing controller provided in the casing, uploading instructions from the system controller to the casing controller on how to change the pressure during a pressing cycle by opening a valve on the casing, de-establishing the connection between the system controller and the casing controller, and storing the closed casing and executing the instructions uploaded to the closed casing such that whey is pressed out from the curd and a cheese is formed from the curd.

A separator for separating a liquid from a solid is provided. The separator comprises a housing with a longitudinal central axis, the housing having a top and a bottom. The housing further comprises an inlet for a mixture of the liquid and solid at the top of the housing, a solid outlet arranged at the bottom of the housing, and a liquid outlet arranged at the bottom of the housing. A conical screen plate is arranged within the housing, the conical screen plate dividing the interior of the housing into a solid collecting chamber and a liquid collecting chamber, the inlet running into the solid collecting chamber and the solid outlet running out from the solid collecting chamber, and the liquid outlet running out from the liquid collecting chamber. The conical screen plate is suspended in the housing, such that the conical screen plate is rotatable around a longitudinal axis.

A novel and advantageous system and method for producing cheese is disclosed. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to a novel and advantageous system and method for producing cheese wherein coagulation occurs while milk is moving. The system may include a tube or pipe and a grinder. Milk mixed with coagulant is pushed through the coagulation tube. The milk coagulates during transfer through the coagulation tube. Cheese curd is expelled from the coagulation tube and directed for further processing.

A food container configured to store a foodstuff therein, the food container including an inner structural layer at least partially defining an internal volume in which the foodstuff may be positioned and an outer structural layer located outside the inner structural layer relative to the internal volume. Where the outer structural layer is adjustable between an installed position, in which the outer structural layer encompasses and provides structural support to the inner structural layer, and a detached position where the outer structural layer does not encompass and does not provide structural support to the inner structural layer, and where the outer structural layer is adjustable between the installed position and the detached position without having to remove the foodstuff from the internal volume.