A disassembleable, reusable plastic container that can be used for the manufacture, storage and transportation of cheese products. The container may utilize wrap-around interlocks. The endwalls of the container may be flexible to allow the container to undergo minimal deformation when filled with cheese products. The container may also have a recessed pressboard that allows for increased capacity in the container. The container may also utilize positive corner interlocks that minimize unintentional disengagement.

A disassembleable, reusable plastic container that can be used for the manufacture, storage and transportation of cheese products. The container may utilize wrap-around interlocks. The endwalls of the container may be flexible to allow the container to undergo minimal deformation when filled with cheese products. The container may also have a recessed pressboard that allows for increased capacity in the container. The container may also utilize positive corner interlocks that minimize unintentional disengagement.

A press cover corresponds to a cheese mould, in particular a cheese mould that is arranged in a cassette press or the like. The press cover has a simple construction, to withstand pressure and to meet high hygienic standards. The press cover is of one piece and comprises a single-walled perforated plate, and a ribbed structure integrally formed on the side of the perforated plate remote from the cheese mould. The ribbed structure comprises longitudinal ribs in the form of webs and annular cross ribs arranged crossing the latter.

A press cover corresponds to a cheese mould, in particular a cheese mould that is arranged in a cassette press or the like. The press cover has a simple construction, to withstand pressure and to meet high hygienic standards. The press cover is of one piece and comprises a single-walled perforated plate, and a ribbed structure integrally formed on the side of the perforated plate remote from the cheese mould. The ribbed structure comprises longitudinal ribs in the form of webs and annular cross ribs arranged crossing the latter.

An apparatus 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 method for adding ingredients to a mass of curd, comprises a step of separating whey from curd grains, a step of transferring curd grains from the separating step to a step of arranging the curd grains in a mould. A step of adding the ingredients is performed in the transferring step.

A method for adding ingredients to a mass of curd, comprises a step of separating whey from curd grains, a step of transferring curd grains from the separating step to a step of arranging the curd grains in a mould. A step of adding the ingredients is performed in the transferring step.

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.