Abstract: With the use of a distributor unit, which is reciprocable over and along an oblong prepressing vat for cheese production, it has already been proposed that a uniform distribution of the whey/coagulum mixture can be achieved by a horizontal wing rotors in a transverse distributor container, such rotor or rotors being rotated to lift the mixture up to an overflowing edge of the container while isolating the mixture from the turbulent mixture receiving area of the container. However, it is experienced that coagulum lumps may build up on the overflowing edge and thus disturb an even overflow. To avoid this problem two interengaging wing rotors are mounted at the bottom of the container so as to sluice down the mixture along opposite, correspondingly arched bottom/side portions to a central lowermost outlet slot, whereby the risk of lump formations is practically eliminted without compromising the desired uniform distribution of the coagulum.

Abstract: A cheese press for a plurality of rows of cheese moulds is constituted by a plurality of individual cassette shaped pressing units (30) each adapted to receive a row of moulds or mould batteries and each ceilingwise provided with pressing means (68) for pressing the moulds. Each of these units can be made as a lightweight construction e.g. of stainless sheet steel and is preferably made as a heat insulated tube, which is endwise closable so as to be vacuum resistent. Especially the production of Cheddar cheese is highly accelerated when the pressing is effected under vacuum. The cassette units may be arranged in a conveyor system for consecutive cooperation with a loading and unloading station, or they may be arranged more or less stationarily for cooperation with means for transporting the moulds to and from the cassette units.