Abstract: A continuous process for preparing low moisture filata cheese directly from cheese curd includes the following steps: (a) providing a jacketed kneading chamber with a hollow interior, with the chamber having inlet and outlet openings and a pair of hollow auger members rotatably mounted therein between the inlet and outlet openings; (b) passing a heated fluid through the jacket of the kneading chamber and through the hollow auger members; (c) supplying cheese curd with no additional liquid to the hollow interior of the jacketed kneading chamber via the inlet opening therein; (d) rotating the pair of hollow auger members to knead and melt the cheese curd, thereby producing a low moisture filata cheese while transporting the low moisture filata cheese from the inlet opening to the outlet opening of the jacketed kneading chamber; (e) removing the low moisture filata cheese from the jacketed kneading chamber via the outlet opening.

Abstract: A system for pressing and vacuum treatment of cheese solids is disclosed. The system includes a device for continuously treating loaded cheese solids containers with mechanical pressure and vacuum during movement of the containers in a circular path. Preferably, mechanical pressure and vacuum treatment are applied simultaneously to the loaded cheese solids containers.

Abstract: A three-way divert valve has a body assembly including first and second axially aligned ports and a third port extending generally perpendicularly to the first and second ports. A flow control member is slidably positioned for linear movement within the body assembly for selectively regulating flow through the first, second and third ports. The flow control member has a first structure for permitting normal flow between the first and second ports, and a second structure for diverting flow from the first port to the third port. The first structure is comprised of a generally cylindrical disc slidably mounted within the body assembly below the first and second ports during normal flow, and the second structure is comprised of a baffling surface extending downwardly from the disc and terminating at a lower portion of the body assembly.