PRESS COVER

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A press cover of a cheese mould, a cross-section of the press cover corresponding to the internal cross-section of the cheese mould, wherein 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 facing away from the cheese mould, and wherein the ribbed structure comprises longitudinal ribs in the form of webs and annular transverse ribs arranged crossing the longitudinal ribs.

2. The press cover of claim 1, wherein the press cover is made of a food-approved plastic material.

3. The press cover of claim 1, wherein the webs are designed to extend over the centre of the press cover, preferably radially across the perforated plate up to the circumference of the perforated plate, and in so doing cross the transverse ribs, wherein a plurality of annular transverse ribs with different diameters can be provided, spaced apart from one another.

4. The press cover of claim 1, wherein the perforated plate is provided with a perforation pattern, except for the regions below the ribbed structure.

5. The press cover of claim 1, wherein the hole diameter of the individual holes of the perforation pattern is preferably 0.4-1.0 mm, and wherein the holes are arranged at a distance of 2-5 mm from one another.

6. The press cover of claim 1, wherein the perforated plate has a wall thickness of 3-5 mm.

7. A method for the production of a press cover of a cheese mould, which is made of a food-approved plastic and comprises a single-walled perforated plate and a ribbed structure, the method comprising: producing the press cover in one piece, wherein the ribbed structure is integrally formed onto the perforated plate with material bonding.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the press cover is milled out of a plastic plate.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the press cover is produced in a 3D-printer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] In what follows the invention will be described in more detail in an example of embodiment. In the figures:

[0026] FIG. 1: shows an inventive press cover;

[0027] FIG. 2: shows the press cover from FIG. 1 in a side view, and

[0028] FIG. 3: shows the press cover from FIG. 1 in a plan view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] An inventive press cover 1 (FIG. 1) made of PE, in the example of a round cheese mould, comprises a single-walled, circular perforated plate 10, the cross-section of which corresponds to the internal cross-section of the cheese mould (also circular).

[0030] On the perforated plate 10, on the side facing away from the cheese mould, a stiffening ribbed structure 12, 13 is integrally formed, which gives the press cover 1 the necessary stiffness for pressing out the whey. The ribbed structure 12, 13 comprises webs 13 (longitudinal ribs) and rings 12 (transverse ribs) arranged annularly. The webs 13 extend over the centre of the press cover, preferably radially from the centre or longitudinal axis of the cheese mould over the perforated plate 10 to the circumference of the perforated plate 10. They thereby cross the annularly arranged rings 12 and are connected to the latter at the crossing points, wherein a plurality of rings 12 with different diameters can be provided, spaced apart from each other.

[0031] In the example, the perforated plate has a wall thickness (thickness) of approx. 3 mm and is provided on the circumference with a rim 14 facing towards the cheese mould (FIG. 2). In the example, the said rim 14 is flexible and fits closely against the internal wall of the cheese mould when the whey is being pressed out. With the exception of the ribbed structure 12, 13, the perforated plate 10 is provided with a perforation pattern 11 (shown in an exemplary form in FIGS. 1 and 3). The regions below the ribbed structure 12, 13 remain non-perforated. The hole diameter is 0.4-1.0 mm. Smaller hole diameters can cause problems during cleaning; hole diameters larger than 1 mm are not necessary for a good whey outflow.

[0032] The rings 12 are provided with openings 16 between two webs 13 for the outflow of liquids.

[0033] In the example, three hooks 15 are also welded to the webs 13 for arrangement on a compression plunger.

[0034] The inventive press cover 1 is produced in one piece; in the example it is milled out of the solid from a plate of PE (or another food-approved plastic). The perforated plate 10 and the ribbed structure 12, 13 are thus connected to each other in a materially-bonded and form-fit manner, inseparably and without connecting elements. This ensures on the one hand a high dimensional stability, and on the other hand a very good cleanability. There are no gaps or similar in which cheese mass or dirt could collect.

[0035] No perforation pattern 11 is provided in the vicinity of the ribbed structures 12, 13, which further improves the hygiene of the press cover 1.

[0036] Instead of production of the press cover 1 by machining, the latter could also be produced in a 3D-printer from a plastic in one piece. However, the perforation pattern 11 would have to be introduced subsequently.

[0037] A round cheese mould, with which the inventive press cover 1 corresponds, and as disclosed by the applicant, for example, in EP 2845469 A1, comprises a cylindrical casing with an upper basket and a floor.

[0038] For cheese that is to be highly pressed, i.e. hard cheese, the casing wall and, if necessary, also the floor are made of Conidur? fine perforated sheet. As a result of the specific perforation pattern, the formation of hairs, such as occurs with plastic moulds, or normal, thicker perforated sheets, can be avoided.

[0039] When pressing soft cheese or semi-hard cheese, however, a conventional perforation pattern can be sufficient. The perforated plate below the basket can have a whey rim with a coarser perforation pattern than the rest of the casing, in particular for the production of hard cheese. In the case of softer cheese, a different perforation pattern for the casing is not mandatory.

[0040] The cheese moulds can in principle also consist of plastic.

[0041] The cheese moulds are used in cassette presses of known art, which are not shown. Such a cassette press serves, in a manner known per se, for the compression of curds with the reduction of liquid content, and comprises in particular: [0042] a tray that is rectangular in plan view and open at the top, with cassettes that are rectangular in plan view and open at the top, arranged side by side in rows transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tray, [0043] cheese moulds for the accommodation of the curds to be compressed; these are arranged in the cassettes and have at least a floor and a casing with at least one outlet for the liquid to be pressed out, wherein a cassette comprises at least one cheese mould, and at least the floor of the cheese mould can be provided with a ribbed structure, and wherein the cheese mould can be part of the cassette, [0044] a compression head mounted on end pillars and having a plurality of compression plungers aligned with the cheese moulds, with a press cover 1 located thereon, for compressing the curds, e.g. designed in accordance with the disclosure of EP 543899 B1, and, if required, hold-down means for releasing the compression head from the cassette, [0045] a pipe distribution system or a filling device for filling the curds into the cheese moulds, [0046] at least one manipulation device, which can be traversed along the longitudinal sides of the tray, for purposes of lifting, moving and depositing a cassette onto a conveyor device outside the tray, [0047] a device for rotating/turning the cassette, or row of cassettes, about its longitudinal axis.

[0048] The cassette press can also preferably be assigned a vibrator in the form of a clamping frame for the accommodation of a cassette; this is arranged horizontally above the conveyor device and is spring-mounted, and is provided with unbalance motors. The cheeses are only emptied onto the conveyor device after being vibrated.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0049] 1 Press cover [0050] 10 Perforated plate [0051] 11 Perforation pattern [0052] 12 Transverse rib, ring [0053] 13 Longitudinal rib, web [0054] 14 Rim [0055] 15 Hook, eyelet [0056] 16 Opening