A crate (1) for a cheese, said crate (1) comprising a base (2), an open top (3) substantially parallel to the base (2), a peripheral wall (4), the peripheral wall (4) forming a closed contour and forming with the base (2) a space (8) intended to receive the cheese, the peripheral wall (4) comprising a medium portion (29) which is approximately at mid-height of the space (8) intended to receive the cheese and further having at least one through-hole (36, 60) formed therein.

The peripheral wall (4) comprises a solid strip (27) enclosing the space (8) intended to receive the cheese while being substantially parallel to the base (2), said solid strip (27) including the medium portion (29) of the peripheral wall (4) and having a minimum height which is at least 15% of the height of the space (8) intended to receive the cheese.

A system for filling molds with a curd/serum mixture includes a feeding device that allows a volume of curd and serum to be collected and distributed in order for same to be poured into a mold. The feeding device includes a hopper that tapers towards a bottom distribution base having distribution ports, molds into which the curd/serum mixture is to be poured, and a distribution plate perforated with orifices, downstream of which the molds are placed during the mold filling process. The feeding device is movable horizontally relative to the distribution plate in a direction of movement and the system is characterized in that the feeding device includes a connection plate which is disposed at least partly around the base of the hopper and is designed to be in contact with the distribution plate when the molds are filled with the curd/serum mixture.

A system for filling molds with a curd/serum mixture includes a feeding device that allows a volume of curd and serum to be collected and distributed in order for same to be poured into a mold. The feeding device includes a hopper that tapers towards a bottom distribution base having distribution ports, molds into which the curd/serum mixture is to be poured, and a distribution plate perforated with orifices, downstream of which the molds are placed during the mold filling process. The feeding device is movable horizontally relative to the distribution plate in a direction of movement and the system is characterized in that the feeding device includes a connection plate which is disposed at least partly around the base of the hopper and is designed to be in contact with the distribution plate when the molds are filled with the curd/serum mixture.

A facility for molding a mixture of curd/serum includes a supplying device allowing a volume of curd and serum for molding to be collected and distributed. The supplying device includes a hopper converging towards a lower distribution base provided with distribution openings, molds into which the curd/serum mixture is poured, and a distribution plate pierced with orifices in line with which the molds are arranged during the molding. The supplying device is horizontally movable in relation to the distribution plate in a direction of movement. The distribution plate is formed by at least one cassette pierced with the orifices in line with which the molds are arranged during the molding, and a frame arranged so as to surround the cassette around a periphery thereof. Also, the cassette and the frame include detachable cooperation structure such that the cassette and the frame are secured in a detachable manner.

A facility for molding a mixture of curd/serum includes a supplying device allowing a volume of curd and serum for molding to be collected and distributed. The supplying device includes a hopper converging towards a lower distribution base provided with distribution openings, molds into which the curd/serum mixture is poured, and a distribution plate pierced with orifices in line with which the molds are arranged during the molding. The supplying device is horizontally movable in relation to the distribution plate in a direction of movement. The distribution plate is formed by at least one cassette pierced with the orifices in line with which the molds are arranged during the molding, and a frame arranged so as to surround the cassette around a periphery thereof. Also, the cassette and the frame include detachable cooperation structure such that the cassette and the frame are secured in a detachable manner.

A tray that eliminates the need for wrapping or packaging edible food articles that are in a malleable form, such as when made or otherwise produced, with the tray formed with at least a plurality of pairs of article holding compartments each three dimensionally contoured so as to define an edible food article mold that shapes or forms an edible food article received therein that is in a formable or moldable state so as to substantially conform at least a portion of the edible food article to the shape of the three-dimensional contour of the mold of the compartment in which the article is received. A preferred embodiment of the tray has at least a plurality of pairs of elongate article holding compartments that are generally parallel with one another with the article shaping or forming mold defined by each compartment formed of a compartment sidewall that has a concavely curved cross-section that preferably is generally semicircular in a transverse cross-section. In a preferred embodiment, each compartment has a mouth through which an edible food article enters during the filling of the tray with the mouth preferably defined by opposed portions of the generally semicircular compartment sidewall that are generally parallel to one another and which preferably can be obtuse the angled relative to one another to define a guide chute that guides the article into a desired position and/or orientation in the mold of the compartment that optimizes forming or shaping of the article before it cools, dries, cures or otherwise hardens thereby setting or fixing its shape memory so as to substantially conform at least a part of the shape of the article disposed in contact with the sidewall with the mold of the compartment in which the article is received.

A tray that eliminates the need for wrapping or packaging edible food articles that are in a malleable form, such as when made or otherwise produced, with the tray formed with at least a plurality of pairs of article holding compartments each three dimensionally contoured so as to define an edible food article mold that shapes or forms an edible food article received therein that is in a formable or moldable state so as to substantially conform at least a portion of the edible food article to the shape of the three-dimensional contour of the mold of the compartment in which the article is received. A preferred embodiment of the tray has at least a plurality of pairs of elongate article holding compartments that are generally parallel with one another with the article shaping or forming mold defined by each compartment formed of a compartment sidewall that has a concavely curved cross-section that preferably is generally semicircular in a transverse cross-section. In a preferred embodiment, each compartment has a mouth through which an edible food article enters during the filling of the tray with the mouth preferably defined by opposed portions of the generally semicircular compartment sidewall that are generally parallel to one another and which preferably can be obtuse the angled relative to one another to define a guide chute that guides the article into a desired position and/or orientation in the mold of the compartment that optimizes forming or shaping of the article before it cools, dries, cures or otherwise hardens thereby setting or fixing its shape memory so as to substantially conform at least a part of the shape of the article disposed in contact with the sidewall with the mold of the compartment in which the article is received.

The invention relates to an apparatus for filling moulds with curd or a mixture of curd and milk of at least one production line having at least one trough (8) in which at least one mould (12) can be accommodated. The production line comprises: a) a loading station (3), which has a first means in order to insert the at least one mould into the at least one trough; b) a filling station (4) which has at least one feed line, by means of which curd or a mixture of curd and milk can be put into the at least one mould; c) a covering station (5), which has second means in order to lay a cover (19) onto the curd or the mixture of curd and milk put into the at least one mould; d) a pressing station (6), which has pressure application means by means of which the cover can be pressed onto the curd or the mixture of curd and milk put into the at least one mould with a predetermined pressure; e) a removal station (7), which has a third means in order to remove the at least one mould from the trough. The apparatus also has movement means, by means of which the at least one trough can be moved sequentially between the loading station, the filling station, the covering station, the pressing station, the removal station and back to the loading station of the at least one production line.

The invention relates to an apparatus for filling moulds with curd or a mixture of curd and milk of at least one production line having at least one trough (8) in which at least one mould (12) can be accommodated. The production line comprises: a) a loading station (3), which has a first means in order to insert the at least one mould into the at least one trough; b) a filling station (4) which has at least one feed line, by means of which curd or a mixture of curd and milk can be put into the at least one mould; c) a covering station (5), which has second means in order to lay a cover (19) onto the curd or the mixture of curd and milk put into the at least one mould; d) a pressing station (6), which has pressure application means by means of which the cover can be pressed onto the curd or the mixture of curd and milk put into the at least one mould with a predetermined pressure; e) a removal station (7), which has a third means in order to remove the at least one mould from the trough. The apparatus also has movement means, by means of which the at least one trough can be moved sequentially between the loading station, the filling station, the covering station, the pressing station, the removal station and back to the loading station of the at least one production line.

A method and device for handling cheese blocks. Compressed cheese curd is released from the inner wall of a mould and after a turning operation is evacuated from the mould, with the mould rotated, lowered and shaken or blown. A lifting gripper is guided as far as the stop on a pick-up device, and in the mould the cheese block is subjected to a shaking movement. The mould, that is to say, the cassette, is then raised, rotated and guided back into the cassette press, so that the cheese block can be fixed in position on the lifting gripper by a clamping means. The pick-up plunger with the cheese block is then lowered, that is to say, retracted, the lifting gripper is traversed towards a secondary mould for the cheese block, preferably downwards, the clamping means open, and the cheese block is positioned in a secondary mould.