Abstract: A hopper is closed at its lower end by a scraper which is provided with two opposite edges that laterally delimit an elongated discharge opening, a motorized rotating shaft extends parallel to the elongated discharge opening in a scraping relationship with the opposite edges, and is provided with a plurality of blind receptacles that are adapted to receive doses of salt which is loaded into the hopper, and after passing the first edge in relation to the direction of rotation of the shaft, the salt is discharged by gravity.

Abstract: A kneading channel is provided with an inlet end which is open to receive curd to be kneaded and an outlet end which is open to dispense the curd; a pair of counter-rotating mutually opposite motorized augers, arranged side by side in the kneading channel, move the curd toward outlet end; steam injector elements are opened in the kneading channel; a kneading chamber, which receives the curd from the outlet of the kneading channel, accommodates a motorized spindle with a vertical axis which has rotating arms that cooperate with the fixed arms.

Abstract: A hopper is closed at its lower end by a scraper which is provided with two opposite edges that laterally delimit an elongated discharge opening, a motorized rotating shaft extends parallel to the elongated discharge opening in a scraping relationship with the opposite edges, and is provided with a plurality of blind receptacles that are adapted to receive doses of salt which is loaded into the hopper, and after passing the first edge in relation to the direction of rotation of the shaft, the salt is discharged by gravity.

Abstract: A forming machine for making pasta filata cheese sticks, comprising a motorized cylindrical drum with a horizontal axis, which has a series of mutually parallel grooves, a body provided with a concave surface with a profile shaped like a cylindrical sector that has the same diameter as the drum and is arranged adjacent thereto, the body having an elongated slit that leads onto the concave surface and is adapted to receive pasta filata under pressure; the grooves have a profile that is elongated along the longitudinal dimension of the drum and the slit is extended obliquely with respect to them.

Abstract: A molding unit comprises a chamber supplied with pasta-filata and having outlets A mold has two rows of channels opening on a first surface of the mold facing downwards and arranged adjacent to the outlets. Driving elements drive the mold with reciprocating motion between a first position and a second position. A consolidation tub is arranged below the molding unit. A first chute and a second chute are arranged between the molding unit and the consolidation tub. Each chute has an inlet end substantially parallel to the plane defined by the axes of the channels, and an outlet end slanting with respect to the horizontal plane by a delivery angle in the range 0° to 45°.

Abstract: A channel, which is slanted upwardly from a loading end thereof to an unloading end thereof by an angle in the range of 10° to 45°, accommodates a motorized screw feeder; a settling tank, defined above the loading end of the channel, has at least two areas which are separated by at least one filtering surface which is permeable to whey; a first area is adapted to receive curd to be drained, and is open toward the channel so that the curd can fall into the channel by gravity and be conveyed by the screw feeder toward the unloading end; the second area is adapted to receive the whey filtered through the filtering wall.

Abstract: A kneading channel is provided with an inlet end which is open to receive curd to be kneaded and an outlet end which is open to dispense the curd; a pair of counter-rotating mutually opposite motorized augers, arranged side by side in the kneading channel, move the curd toward outlet end; steam injector elements are opened in the kneading channel; a kneading chamber, which receives the curd from the outlet of the kneading channel, accommodates a motorized spindle with a vertical axis which has rotating arms that cooperate with the fixed arms.

Abstract: A moulding unit comprises a chamber supplied with pasta-filata and having outlets A mould has two rows of channels opening on a first surface of the mould facing downwards and arranged adjacent to the outlets. Driving elements drive the mould with reciprocating motion between a first position and a second position. A consolidation tub is arranged below the moulding unit. A first chute and a second chute are arranged between the moulding unit and the consolidation tub. Each chute has an inlet end substantially parallel to the plane defined by the axes of the channels, and an outlet end slanting with respect to the horizontal plane by a delivery angle in the range 0° to 45°.

Abstract: In order to avoid using anti-stick paints, based on polytetrafluoroethylene or the like, on parts of cheesemaking machines which are to be in contact with hot curds (pastafilata), their surfaces are sandblasted with preferably virgin white corundum powder having a granulometry of about 180 mesh. Surprisingly, surfaces so treated are non-stick for the purposes mentioned above.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a kneading channel slanting downwards from an upstream inlet end, which is open to receive curd to be kneaded, to a downstream outlet end, which is open to unload the curd. A pair of opposed augers are pivotally supported side-by-side in the kneading channel and are operatively connected to motor elements for rotating in opposite directions and moving the curd to the downstream end. First stem blowing elements are open to the kneading channel. A kneading chamber with plunger arms is arranged at the outlet end of the kneading channel for receiving the curd unloaded from the channel.

Abstract: In order to avoid using anti-stick paints, based on polytetrafluoroethylene or the like, on parts of cheesemaking machines which are to be in contact with hot curds (pastafilata), their surfaces are sandblasted with preferably virgin white corundum powder having a granulometry of about 180 mesh. Surprisingly, surfaces so treated are non-stick for the purposes mentioned above.

Abstract: Two disk-shaped pans are moulded with radial depressions each having a substantially V-shaped transverse profile, with a progressively increasing width and depth from the center of each pan to its border. Motor elements such as a four-bar linkage are arranged for rotating one of the pans around its axis with a reciprocating motion. The other pan can be pressed against the former to squeeze a lump of dough placed therebetween.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a frame, an oven having two pizza reception areas which are accessible through an inlet opening, and a pizza-holding arm hinged to the frame about a vertical axis and supporting a pizza-holding shover which is movable between a loading position outside the oven and an unloading position inserted in the oven, under control of first motor means. A second motor can rotate the arm at predetermined angular positions, in each of which the path of the shover is directed to a respective pizza reception area. A control unit controls both the first motor with different speeds in the two directions, whereby the shover slowly enters the oven while conveying a pizza and suddenly withdraws from the oven to unload the pizza, and the second motor for successively positioning the pizza-holding arm at such predetermined angular positions.

Abstract: The station comprises a tub suited to be filled with water and shaped to receive a user partially immersed therein, and a gymnastics device comprising a frame receivable within the tub and supporting a seat and a revolving pedal crank that is arranged in front of the seat. The pedal crank is pivotally supported on supports integral with the frame and provided with three hinge seats which are differently spaced from the seat and are selectively engageable by the pedal crank.

Abstract: A roll mould for pastafilata cheese, comprising a cylinder having a lateral surface carved with a plurality of narrow, elongated recesses, having substantially equal depths and widths, and communicating, via respective passages with elements for supplying pressurized water, which elements are arranged for momentary operation to eject the contents of the recesses. Preferably, the recesses extend longitudinally to the cylinder and are sized to produce cheesesticks of a weight less than 1 gram.

Abstract: An apparatus is described, for the characterisation of pigmented skin lesions, which includes an instrument for the acquisition of a plurality of images of the lesion, filmed with lighting at different wavelengths, a device designed to segment and parameterise each of the images, a device designed to extrapolate a data set from the images and input the data set into a neural network system, a device designed to compare the results processed by the neural network with the results obtained following similar processing of known cases, and a device designed to vary the weighting of each parameter supplied to the neural network on the basis of the results.

Abstract: A flattening roller (38) is supported on horizontal guides (32, 34) and rolls alternately in opposite directions along the guides. A tray (30) is arranged horizontally between the guides, and is progressively lifted to approach to the cylindrical surface of the roller. The tray turns by a quarter turn around a vertical axis at the end of each stroke of the roller along the guides. A lump of dough placed on the tray is progressively flattened to a thin, round shape.

Abstract: A substantially horizontal, flat shovel (30), made of thin, perforated metal plate, is integral with a slide (28) which is slidable on a guide (26), itself integral with a mounting (18). The shovel is driven by an actuator (20, 22, 24, 32, 34, 36) for moving forward and backward, while staying tangent to a facing rest shelf, at either of two speeds, a slow speed and a fast speed. The mounting (18) can move to different positions facing respective processing stations (42, 44).

Abstract: A flattening roller (38) is supported on horizontal guides (32, 34) and rolls alternately in opposite directions along the guides. A tray (30) is arranged horizontally between the guides, and is progressively lifted to approach to the cylindrical surface of the roller. The tray turns by a quarter turn around a vertical axis at the end of each stroke of the roller along the guides. A lump of dough placed on the tray is progressively flattened to a thin, round shape.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a horizontal, extensible shovel which is driven step by step through a predetermined path by motorized means; a distributor of dough loaves arranged for dropping loaves at a first stop in the shovel path; a pizza moulder arranged at a second stop in the shovel path, for pressing and spreading the loaf; several distributors of a dressing, placed at at least a third stop in the shovel path, for dropping metered portions of dressing on the pizza carried by the shovel; and an oven placed at a fourth stop in the shovel path, for receiving the pizza from the shovel.