GB812197A - Method of and apparatus for draining curds in the manufacture of cheese - Google Patents

Abstract

812,197. Cheese. GERVAIS S.A., C. Sept. 17, 1956 [Sept. 20, 1955 ; Nov. 5, 1955], No. 28307/56. Class 84. Apparatus for draining curds in the manufacture of cheese comprises a filtering layer 1 formed by an endless band of cloth or like absorbent material, one face of which receives the curds at 10, and a supplementary layer, (also of absorbent material, and formed from a number of endless bands 14) which is applied to the face of the filtering layer opposite the face receiving the curds, the supplementary layer absorbing by capillary action the moisture accumulating in the filter, this moisture being wrung out continually by rollers 17. Curds are supplied by a pipe 11 from a hopper 12, the hopper being supplied either with new curds or with curds having already circulated once through the apparatus. Each of the endless bands 14 is wound on rollers 15 and 16 and is driven by contact of rollers 15 with wringing roller 17, the latter roller being driven by pulley 20 geared on shaft 19 to a motor 23. Contact between supplementary and filtering layers causes the latter to be driven also and to transport the drained curds to the level of rollers 2<SP>111</SP>, after which they are discharged into a loop 27. The filtering layer is held at its edges by beads which engage behind each set of rollers 3 and 2, and 4 and 2. Both layers can be washed by spray devices 25 and 29 and a scraper 26 can be mounted inside loop 27. Moisture content in the drained curds is controlled by adjusting the curds supply rate or the speed of the supplementary layer.