An apparatus for fusing curd and a method for fusing curd. The curd is fused in the apparatus, which is configured to form a curd stack in a container that has a temperature comprised within a temperature range that favors acidification of the cheese curd in the curd stack. The formation of the curd stack compresses the cheese curd in the curd stack, which causes the curd stack to express whey as the acidification of the curd takes place and as the syneresis process takes place. The curd stack is subjected to a vacuum, which assists in the removal of air from the curd stack. The curd stack has a continuous casein matrix, which allows for a cheese block obtained from the curd stack to be milled into cheese curds, which have substantially similar dimensions and very few fines.

A cheese moulding device with an enhanced level of hygiene. The invention relates to a cheese moulding device (100) comprising: -at least one moulding drum (1) comprising a lower portion comprising a base (3) delimiting an open enclosure shaped to receive at least one cheese mould (13), -at least one mobile plate (12) configured to support the at least one cheese mould (13), the mobile plate (12) being shaped to seal the lower portion of the moulding drum (1) in a first so-called sealing position and to allow access to said cheese mould (13) in a second so-called retracted position, -at least one washing circuit configured to clean said moulding device (100), said washing circuit comprising at least one section of circuit (15) opening into the lower portion of the moulding drum (1), characterised in that the moulding device (100) further comprises at least one protective casing (4) positioned between the base (3) of the moulding cylinder (1) and the mobile plate (12), said protective casing (4) delimiting an enclosure that is sealed relative to the outside of the moulding device (100).

A cheese moulding device with an enhanced level of hygiene. The invention relates to a cheese moulding device (100) comprising: -at least one moulding drum (1) comprising a lower portion comprising a base (3) delimiting an open enclosure shaped to receive at least one cheese mould (13), -at least one mobile plate (12) configured to support the at least one cheese mould (13), the mobile plate (12) being shaped to seal the lower portion of the moulding drum (1) in a first so-called sealing position and to allow access to said cheese mould (13) in a second so-called retracted position, -at least one washing circuit configured to clean said moulding device (100), said washing circuit comprising at least one section of circuit (15) opening into the lower portion of the moulding drum (1), characterised in that the moulding device (100) further comprises at least one protective casing (4) positioned between the base (3) of the moulding cylinder (1) and the mobile plate (12), said protective casing (4) delimiting an enclosure that is sealed relative to the outside of the moulding device (100).

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.

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.

A method for producing herb cheese, in particular for producing hard cheese, which is enriched with herbs, spices or the like, with the herbs introduced by machine. For this purpose, raw cheese mass having about 80% milk removed is filled into cheese molds, which are preferably arranged in a vat of a cartridge press, and subsequently pressed. At the same time, respectively, herbs, spices or the like are introduced uniformly into the cheese molds parallel to the raw cheese mass.

A block former (1) for the production of blocks of cheese (19) includes an upright drainage column (2) having a feed opening (3) for curd particles (4) at an upper end (5) of the drainage column (2). The drainage column (2) includes an inner wall (6) having an interior surface (7) against which a pillar of curd (8) formed of the curd particles (4) slides as the pillar of curd (8) moves downwardly through the drainage column (2). The upright drainage column (2) is divided into an upper part (9) and a lower part (10). The interior surface (7) at the upper part (9) has a first finish and the interior surface (7) at the lower part (10) has a second finish that provides higher friction with the pillar of curd (8) relative to the first finish.

A method and apparatus for forming food product includes a plurality of links forming a generally continuous conveyor, the plurality of links each forming at least one cavity together with a longitudinally adjacent link wherein the longitudinally adjacent link includes a pivotable tongue that pivots through the cavity as the generally continuous conveyor reaches an end of its horizontal path.

A method and apparatus for forming food product includes a plurality of links forming a generally continuous conveyor, the plurality of links each forming at least one cavity together with a longitudinally adjacent link wherein the longitudinally adjacent link includes a pivotable tongue that pivots through the cavity as the generally continuous conveyor reaches an end of its horizontal path.

An apparatus for fusing curd provided and comprises a container to receive curd to form a curd stack, which has associated thereto a pressure parameter specifying a pressure required at the bottom of the curd stack to produce a curd block from a bottom portion of the curd stack. The apparatus also comprises a gas pressure system to apply a gas overpressure in the container when a pressure value at the bottom of the curd stack is below the pressure parameter. The gas overpressure has a value equal to or greater than a difference between the pressure required at the bottom of the curd stack and the pressure value at the bottom of the curd stack. A method for fusing curd is also provided and includes applying an overpressure to a curd stack to compensate for insufficient pressure at the bottom of the curd stack.