Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing and packaging cheese in which cheese curd which has been milled and salted is fed into four columns mounted on an upright tubular trunk fitted at the lower end with a guillotine blade movable between a closed position in which it closes the bottom of the trunk and an open position in which the blade is wholly clear of the trunk. The columns are maintained at a sub-atmospheric pressure so that air in the curd is flashed off immediately the curd enters the columns. The curd in the columns flows into the trunk and merges with the curd from the other columns to form a pillar of curd supported on the guillotine blade. The walls of the columns are perforated for drainage of whey pressed out from the curd by the weight of superimposed curd. An elevator below the trunk lowers the pillar of curd when the guillotine blade is withdrawn, the blade being subsequently returned to cut off a block of cheese from the lower end of the pillar.

Abstract: A rotatable shaft extends from the interior of a receptacle through a wall thereof forming a closed chamber surrounding the shaft; and a first sealing ring surrounding the shaft is operable to prevent flow into the chamber from the receptacle interior but to allow flow in the opposite direction, a second sealing ring surrounding the shaft to prevent flow from the chamber in the axial direction away from the receptacle interior. Valve means are operable selectively to connect the chamber to either a cleaning liquid supply source or a draining passage or to disconnect the chamber simultaneously from both said source and passage.

Abstract: A curd-cutting tool is rotatable about an axis within an immobile curdling container, driving means being provided for rotating this tool in one direction around said axis to cut the cheese curd; and means are operatively connected to the driving means for causing interruptions in the rotation of the tool in said one direction during the cutting operation.

Abstract: An immobile container for the cheese curd is in the form of a body of revolution having a substantially horizontal axis; and a tool which is rotated by a drive shaft about the container axis is arranged to cut and stir curd situated above as well as below the container axis. The tool preferably has several side-by-side sections extending from the drive shaft to the surrounding wall of the container and forming an angle with each other, each section having spaced cutting members and also having swingable flaps movable to and from positions in which they cover at least parts of the interspaces between the spaced cutting members.