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 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.

An auger assembly (1) for receiving and conveying cheese curd downstream along a cheese processing line (32) includes an auger housing (2), a first auger (3) having a first shaft (5) extending through the auger housing (2), a second auger (4) having a second shaft (6) extending through the auger housing (2) and arranged colinearly with the first shaft (5), a first bearing (9) mounted to the auger housing (2) and arranged at the end (7) of the first shaft (5), and a second bearing (10) mounted to the auger housing (2) and arranged at the end (8) of the second shaft (6). The first bearing (9) and second bearing (10) are colinear and facing each other. At least one slotted groove (11, 12) is formed the bearings (9, 10) to enable a cleaning fluid to contact a surface (13, 14) of the respective bearing (9, 10).

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 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 upper part (9) has an inner cross-sectional area that is less than an inner cross-sectional area of the lower part (10).

An auger assembly (1) for receiving and conveying cheese curd downstream along a cheese processing line (32) includes an auger housing (2), a first auger (3) having a first shaft (5) extending through the auger housing (2), a second auger (4) having a second shaft (6) extending through the auger housing (2) and arranged Dcolinearly with the first shaft (5), a first bearing (9) mounted to the auger housing (2) and arranged at the end (7) of the first shaft (5), and a second bearing (10) mounted to the auger housing (2) and arranged at the end (8) of the second shaft (6). The first bearing (9) and second bearing (10) are colinear and facing each other. At least one slotted groove (11, 12) is formed the bearings (9, 10) to enable a cleaning fluid to contact a surface (13, 14) of the respective bearing (9, 10).

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 control unit, configured to control the motion pattern based on input comprising an identifier of a pressing-mould configuration positioned by the pressing-mould holder.

An apparatus for draining and forming curd is presented. The apparatus comprises multiple, vertically arranged towers, a common curd distribution arrangement for distributing a curd and whey mixture into the multiple towers and a drainage section for draining whey from the curd and whey mixture. The drainage section forms a continuous space that extends horizontally over each of the multiple towers, each of the multiple towers having openings into the space formed by the drainage section for allowing whey to pass from the multiple towers and into the drainage section. A base unit beneath the multiple towers receives drained curd from the multiple towers and place the drained curd in moulds.

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 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.