A device (1) for continuously conveying and plasticising cheese curd includes a housing (2) having an elongate chamber (3) with inlet and openings (5, 6). At least one pair of oppositely-driven conveying shafts (4.1, 4.2) is arranged in the elongate chamber such the axes of rotation (18.1, 18.2) of the shafts extend in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the chamber. The conveying shafts have interleaved helical structures (19.1, 19.2) for axially conveying the cheese curd from the inlet opening to the outlet opening. A heating device (9.1, 17) heats at least part of the shaft(s) and at least part of an inner surface of the chamber. At least one entraining device is designed such that at least part of the cheese curd to be conveyed and plasticised is also transported around the two conveying shafts.

A base unit device for effective mixing and dispensing of a material, and for quick and efficient cleaning of all components. The base unit defines a base internal cavity, and a removable auger and a removable mixer each rotatably located in the base internal cavity. A mixer support ledge of the mixer can overlap an auger support ledge of the auger to prevent the auger from being withdrawn from the base unit when the mixer and the auger are operatively assembled with the base unit. The mixer can include a locking end featuring locking tabs that can engage with a surface of a sidewall of the base unit that defines a mixer bore, thereby locking the mixer and the auger in position during operation. The base unit can be utilized with a hopper defining a hopper internal cavity for storing the material and providing it to the base internal cavity.

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 device (1) for continuously conveying and plasticising cheese curd includes a housing (2) having an elongate chamber (3) with inlet and openings (5, 6). At least one pair of oppositely-driven conveying shafts (4.1, 4.2) is arranged in the elongate chamber such the axes of rotation (18.1, 18.2) of the shafts extend in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the chamber. The conveying shafts have interleaved helical structures (19.1, 19.2) for axially conveying the cheese curd from the inlet opening to the outlet opening. A heating device (9.1, 17) heats at least part of the shaft(s) and at least part of an inner surface of the chamber. At least one entraining device is designed such that at least part of the cheese curd to be conveyed and plasticised is also transported around the two conveying shafts.

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).

An apparatus for producing a food product is disclosed. The apparatus comprises: an enclosed vessel for holding the food product, the vessel having a first end wall, a second end wall opposite to the first end wall, and a side wall between the first and second end walls; a first agitator rotatably mounted to the first end wall, the first agitator extending inside the vessel towards the second end wall; and a second agitator rotatably mounted to the second end wall, the second agitator extending inside the vessel towards the first end wall. The first agitator is unsupported by the second end wall, and the second agitator is unsupported by the first end wall.