Abstract: A method and apparatus for cheese block forming with vacuum separated tower sections is disclosed for use in producing large blocks of compressed cheese without having to halt delivery of cheese curd into the tower while discharging a block of cheese. The cheese block former has an upper tower section with an interior area for receiving a mixture of curd and whey under a negative pressure, and a lower tower section, also under a vacuum, for separating the whey from the mixture and pressing the remaining curd into a block of cheese. A vacuum separator is disposed between the upper and lower tower sections to allow the upper and lower sections to remain in fluid communication and, additionally, to allow different pressures therein. The vacuum separator thus provides for a continuous cheesemaking process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a plurality of two piece wear buttons that insert into the blade of a guillotine and protect the surface of the guillotine as it slide in U-shaped channels within a cheese block forming unit. Each wear button comprises a male portion and a female portion, each portion configured to fit into opposite sides of a through bore drilled in the surface of the guillotine blade. The male portion is provided with an outwardly tapered extension or neck which snaps into an inwardly tapered recess defined within a cylindrical member on the female portion of the button. Each portion is also provided with a lip such that when the male portion and the female portion are joined together within the through bore, the lips overlay the through bore and inhibits product from seeping into the through bore.

Abstract: Multiple columns of cheese curd are simultaneously compressed and cut into blocks of cheese by feeding curd into the top perforated tubular linings hanging freely within hollow towers, all towers positioned on a single, enclosed sanitary housing. A negative pressure is maintained in each tower to draw curd into the tower. Each pillar of curd is supported by a single guillotine blade closing off the bottom of all the towers and located within the sanitary housing. Each perforated, freely hanging lining is spaced apart from the wall of its tower to form a drainage passage for whey pressed out from the curd by the weight of the superimposed pillar. The guillotine blade is then withdrawn and each pillar of curd is lowered by an elevator into a cheese form positioned below each tower and within the housing. The guillotine blade is then returned to its closed position, so as to cut off a block of curd from each pillar.