Production and preparation device of goat cheese

Abstract

The invention provides a goat cheese production and preparation device, and relates to the technical field of cheese preparation, the goat cheese production and preparation device comprises a preparation box, the preparation box is provided with a movable plate and a filter frame which are controlled to vertically move, a working cavity is formed between the movable plate and the filter frame, the movable plate is provided with a feeding hopper, and a heater is installed in an inner cavity of the preparation box; a transmission cavity is formed in the preparation box, a liquid storage frame is arranged on the preparation box, the bottom of a filtering frame is tightly attached to the top of the liquid storage frame, a stirring assembly is arranged on a moving plate, and through cooperation of the moving plate, the filtering frame and the stirring assembly, the effect that stirring is conducted in the same reaction cavity is achieved; the functions of stirring and mixing, curd forming, whey in-situ separation and cheese block automatic forming are seamlessly connected, a stirring mechanism does not need to be disassembled or removed, the process period is remarkably shortened, material loss and personal errors are reduced, and the cheese structure uniformity and the product quality stability can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of cheese preparation technology, and more specifically to a production and preparation apparatus for goat cheese. Background Technology

[0002] Goat cheese is a fermented dairy product made primarily from goat milk through a series of standardized processes. Its core processes include: raw milk acceptance and pretreatment, pasteurization, temperature-controlled fermentation, rennet addition, curd formation and cutting, whey removal, shaping and pressing, salting, and maturation. Among these, heating and fermentation, as well as curd formation and cutting, are crucial steps determining the cheese's texture, flavor, and yield.

[0003] In traditional goat cheese production equipment, the process typically involves a step-by-step operation: First, goat milk is heated to 63–65°C using a pasteurization system and maintained for 30 minutes before being allowed to stand. Then, a measured amount of lactic acid bacteria starter is added, and the agitator is started for a short period at low speed to ensure uniform dispersion of the bacteria. The agitation is then stopped, and the mixture is kept warm for several hours to allow the lactic acid bacteria to metabolize and produce acid, thus acidifying the emulsion. Once the pH value has dropped to a suitable range, liquid rennet is added, and the mixture is stirred briefly again. After standing, a gel-like curd forms. Subsequently, the curd is manually or semi-automatically transferred to a dedicated cutting or forming device. During this process, the agitator must be stopped and removed to avoid disturbing the curd structure. The curd is then cut, the whey is separated, and the cheese granules are loaded into molds for extrusion and shaping.

[0004] In the above process, stirring, curd formation, whey separation and molding are in different stations and require multiple material transfers. The transfer process can easily cause damage to the curd structure and uneven whey residue, and increases the risk of manual intervention and cross-contamination. At the same time, the stirrer must be removed or lifted after curdling, which affects the continuity of the system.

[0005] To address the aforementioned technical issues, there is an urgent need to develop a goat cheese production and preparation device. The core objective is to seamlessly integrate the functions of stirring and mixing, curd formation, in-situ whey separation, and automatic cheese block forming within the same reaction chamber, without requiring disassembly or removal of the stirring mechanism. This would significantly shorten the process cycle, reduce material loss and human error, and improve the uniformity of cheese structure and the stability of product quality. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In response to the problems raised in the background art, the present invention provides a goat cheese production and preparation apparatus to solve them, and the present invention will be further described below.

[0007] A goat cheese production and preparation apparatus includes a preparation box, a controllable vertically movable plate and a filter frame on the preparation box, a working chamber formed between the movable plate and the filter frame, a feed hopper on the movable plate, a heater installed in the inner cavity of the preparation box, a transmission chamber on the preparation box, a liquid storage frame on the preparation box, the bottom of the filter frame being tightly fitted with the top of the liquid storage frame, and a stirring assembly on the movable plate.

[0008] Preferably, the stirring assembly includes a positioning column fixed to the top of the movable plate, a support rod on the positioning column, multiple stirring rods on the support rod, a drive motor mounted on the movable plate, a gear one keyed to the output shaft of the drive motor, a gear two sleeved on the outer periphery of the positioning column, and the gear two and the support rod connected by a key to achieve synchronous rotation. The gear one and the gear two mesh with each other to achieve the stirring function.

[0009] Preferably, the transmission cavity of the preparation box is provided with a support column, a lead screw is provided on the support column, a synchronous wheel is provided on the lead screw, and a movable sleeve is provided on the lead screw. The top of the movable sleeve is fixedly connected to the filter frame. The filter frame is driven to move by the rotation of the lead screw and the movable sleeve.

[0010] Preferably, the transmission cavity of the preparation box is connected to a connecting rod via a support. The connecting rod is equipped with a screw. The upper end of the screw is supported on the rear side of the top of the preparation box by a bearing. The screw is equipped with a movable part. The end of the movable part is fixedly connected to the support rod. The movable part is driven to move by the rotation of the screw, thereby driving the support rod to move.

[0011] Preferably, the movable plate is provided with a transmission rod, and the movable component is pressed and engaged with the transmission rod, thereby driving the transmission plate to move by moving the movable component.

[0012] Preferably, the transmission cavity of the preparation box is equipped with a servo motor. The output shaft of the servo motor is provided with synchronous pulley one and synchronous pulley three, and the connecting rod is provided with synchronous pulley two. Synchronous pulley four and synchronous pulley one are connected by synchronous belt one, and synchronous pulley two and synchronous pulley three are connected by synchronous belt two. The movement of the moving plate, support rod and filter frame is realized by the single power source of the servo motor.

[0013] Preferably, the support rod is connected to a connecting column via a spring, and the connecting column is provided with a connecting plate to prevent the support rod from completely detaching from the moving plate.

[0014] Preferably, the movable plate is provided with two follower rods, and the preparation box is provided with two guide structures. The follower rods are slidably connected to the guide structures, and a spring is provided between the follower rods and the guide structures to realize the automatic reset of the movable plate.

[0015] Preferably, the filter frame is provided with a grid frame, the grid frame is provided with a filter cloth, the filter frame is provided with a pressing frame, and the pressing frame and the corresponding side wall of the filter frame are provided with adsorption magnets. The filter frame is provided with a blocking block, the shape and size of which match the top opening of the liquid storage frame. The side wall of the liquid storage frame is provided with a drain port, which is connected to an external whey collection device through a pipe to realize the feeding and discharging of the liquid storage frame.

[0016] Preferably, the moving part is provided with an extrusion frame, the moving plate is provided with a fixed seat and a guide seat, the guide seat is provided with an L-shaped rod, a spring is provided between the L-shaped rod and the guide seat, one end of the L-shaped rod is fixedly connected to a sealing block, the sealing block is slidably connected to the inner cavity of the feed hopper; the other end of the L-shaped rod is provided with a groove, the fixed seat is provided with a lever, one end of the lever is slidably embedded in the groove of the L-shaped rod, and the other end of the lever is attached to the bottom surface of the extrusion frame, so as to realize the automatic sealing of the feed hopper during the extrusion stage.

[0017] Beneficial effects: Compared with existing technologies, this device achieves orderly, automatic, and integrated execution of four key actions—stirring, positioning, extrusion, and demolding—through a single servo motor drive, multi-stage synchronous belt transmission, differentiated transmission ratio design, and mechanical linkage triggering mechanism. This not only eliminates the need for disassembling the stirrer and transferring materials multiple times in traditional processes, significantly shortening the production cycle, but also improves the quality of cheese forming and the level of automation in equipment operation.

[0018] Through the structural design and elastic coordination of the support rod, spring, connecting column, and connecting plate, gaps formed under the moving plate due to component misalignment are eliminated, preventing deformation, breakage, or local leakage of cheese blocks during extrusion molding or lifting, thereby ensuring the quality of cheese molding and the reliability of demolding.

[0019] Through the structural design and coordination of the filter cloth, mesh frame, pressing frame, and adsorption magnet, the filter cloth can be easily replaced. At the same time, the efficient separation and convenient maintenance of the thirteen-layer filter structure comprehensively improve the process adaptability, operational stability, and ease of use of the goat cheese preparation device. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 : A three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 : A partial structural schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 : A schematic diagram of the structure of the anti-slip sleeve, pressure rod, telescopic rod, and other components of this invention;

[0023] Figure 4 : A schematic diagram of the structure of the first gear, the second gear, the screw, and other components of this invention;

[0024] Figure 5: A schematic diagram of the structure of the ratchet, pawl, torsion spring and other related components of this invention;

[0025] Figure 6 : A schematic diagram of the structure of the limiting arm, torsion spring II, ball bearings, and other components of this invention;

[0026] Figure 7 : A schematic diagram of the structure of the limiting frame, mounting frame, straight rod and other components of this invention;

[0027] In the diagram: 1-Preparation box, 11-Storage frame, 12-Filter frame, 13-Filter cloth, 14-Pressure frame, 15-Adsorption magnet, 16-Grid frame, 17-Heater, 18-Servo motor, 19-Synchronous pulley one, 110-Synchronous belt one, 111-Screw, 2-Moving plate, 201-Gear two, 202-Support column, 21-Gear one, 22-Support rod, 23-Feed hopper, 24-Moving component, 25-Screw, 26-Connecting rod. 27-Synchronous pulley two, 28-Synchronous pulley three, 29-Synchronous belt two, 210-Transmission rod, 211-Stirring rod, 212-Connecting disc, 213-Spring one, 214-Spring two, 215-Positioning column, 216-Synchronous pulley four, 217-Follower rod, 218-Connecting column, 219-Moving sleeve rod, 3-Blocking block, 31-Extrusion frame, 32-Lever, 33-Fixed seat, 34-Spring three, 35-Guide seat, 36-L-shaped rod. Detailed Implementation

[0028] Next, combine Figures 1-7 A specific embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below.

[0029] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 A goat cheese production and preparation device includes a preparation box 1. A controllable vertically moving moving plate 2 and a filter frame 12 are slidably connected to the preparation box 1. The moving plate 2 and the filter frame 12 are arranged vertically, and the sealed area formed between them serves as a multi-functional working chamber for completing the entire process from raw material stirring and coagulation reaction to whey separation and cheese shaping. The bottom of the preparation box 1 is provided with an independent transmission chamber to accommodate and protect the drive mechanism, preventing contact with materials and ensuring safe and hygienic operation. The top of the moving plate 2 is provided with a feeding hopper 23 to facilitate the quantitative addition of goat milk and other auxiliary materials such as fermentation agents and rennet. A heater 17 is installed in the inner cavity of the preparation box 1 to provide the temperature required for cheese fermentation.

[0030] refer to Figure 1The preparation box 1 has a liquid storage frame 11 fixedly installed in the middle of the inner cavity. The top of the frame has an opening for collecting and temporarily storing the separated whey. The bottom of the filter frame 12 is tightly attached to the top of the liquid storage frame 11, serving as both the lower boundary of the working chamber and a filtering function. During the extrusion stage, the whey can pass through the filter frame 12 into the liquid storage frame 11, while the curd particles are trapped in the working chamber.

[0031] refer to Figure 4 , Figure 6 , Figure 7 The movable plate 2 is equipped with a stirring assembly, which includes a positioning column 215 fixed to the top of the movable plate 2. The inner cavity of the positioning column 215 is equipped with a support rod 22 that moves vertically under control. Multiple stirring rods 211 are hinged to the outer wall of the support rod 22. In the initial state, the stirring rods 211 naturally retract under their own weight, forming a compact state, which facilitates material input and subsequent molding operations. A drive motor is installed on the top of the movable plate 2. A gear 21 is keyed to its output shaft. A gear 201 is sleeved on the outer periphery of the positioning column 215. The gear 201 and the support rod 22 are connected by a key to achieve synchronous rotation. The gear 21 and the gear 201 mesh with each other to form a speed reduction and torque amplification mechanism, which can output greater torque and ensure efficient stirring in high-viscosity milk. Compared with directly installing a micro motor on the support rod 22, it has better power performance and reliability.

[0032] During operation, goat milk, after pasteurization and cooling, is injected into the working chamber through the feed hopper 23. A measured amount of lactic acid bacteria starter is then added, and the drive motor is started. The gear transmission system drives the support rod 22 to rotate at high speed. Under centrifugal force, the stirring rod 211 automatically unfolds and rotates, uniformly stirring the milk and promoting the dispersion and acidification reaction of the starter. After acidification, liquid rennet is added, and the mixture is stirred briefly again to ensure uniform mixing before stirring is stopped. As the rotation speed decreases, the centrifugal force diminishes, and the stirring rod 211 gradually retracts and returns to its original position under gravity and structural constraints, avoiding interference with the subsequent coagulation process.

[0033] After standing for a period of time, the milk completes the curdling reaction, forming a mixture of solid curd and liquid whey. At this time, the filter frame 12 is driven to move upward, compressing the working chamber volume. Under pressure, the whey flows through the filter holes of the filter frame 12 into the liquid storage frame 11 below, achieving solid-liquid separation. At the same time, the curd is gradually compacted in the confined space, completing the initial extrusion molding.

[0034] After molding is completed, the control system synchronously drives the moving plate 2, support rod 22 and filter frame 12 to move upward as a whole, lifting the whole piece of cheese to the top of the preparation box 1 and exposing it to the outside, making it easy to pick up or put down manually or mechanically. Throughout the process, the stirring mechanism does not need to be disassembled or removed. Through structural linkage, the stirring, separation, molding and discharge are integrated into one operation, which greatly simplifies the process, reduces human intervention, and improves production efficiency and product hygiene standards.

[0035] To drive the movement of the moving plate 2, support rod 22 and filter frame 12, this device uses a single power source to drive multiple actuators to operate in sequence, achieving full-process automation. Specifically, the device's transmission system is integrated into a closed transmission cavity at the bottom of the preparation box 1 to ensure that the transmission components are not contaminated by milk and to improve operational safety.

[0036] refer to Figure 4 A vertically arranged support column 202 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the transmission cavity at the bottom of the preparation box 1. A vertically arranged lead screw 111 is rotatably connected to the top of the support column 202. A synchronous wheel 216 is keyed to the lead screw 111. The synchronous wheel 216 rotates synchronously with the lead screw 111. A movable sleeve 219 is threadedly connected to the outer circumference of the lead screw 111. The top of the movable sleeve 219 is fixedly connected to the filter frame 12. When the lead screw 111 rotates, it drives the movable sleeve 219 to rise and fall axially, thereby driving the filter frame 12 to move vertically within the preparation box 1, realizing the dynamic adjustment of the working cavity volume, completing the extrusion molding of cheese curd and the separation and discharge of whey. At the same time, the movable sleeve 219 protects the lead screw 111.

[0037] refer to Figure 3 Meanwhile, a vertically arranged connecting rod 26 is connected to the bottom of the transmission cavity of the preparation box 1 via a support. A screw 25 is keyed to the top of the connecting rod 26. The upper end of the screw 25 is supported by a bearing to the rear top of the preparation box 1 to ensure its stable rotation. A movable part 24 located on the rear side of the outer wall of the preparation box 1 is threadedly connected to the screw 25. The end of the movable part 24 is fixedly connected to the support rod 22.

[0038] To ensure that the moving part 24 moves only vertically and does not deflect, the device is equipped with a guide structure, which will not be described in detail here. When the screw 25 rotates, the moving part 24 rises, which drives the support rod 22 and the stirring rod 211 hinged to it to move upward as a whole, so as to realize the automatic avoidance of the stirring assembly after the stirring is completed, and avoid interfering with the subsequent extrusion and demolding operations.

[0039] refer to Figure 3 A transmission rod 210 is fixedly connected to the top of the movable plate 2. The working end of the transmission rod 210 is attached to the rear side of the outer wall of the preparation box 1. The movable part 24 is pressed and engaged with the working end of the transmission rod 210. When the movable part 24 moves up to the set height, its front end presses the transmission rod 210, thereby pushing the movable plate 2 to move up as a whole. Finally, the formed whole piece of cheese is lifted to the top of the preparation box 1 and completely exposed to the outside, which is convenient for manual or robotic arm to quickly pick up and put down, significantly improving work efficiency.

[0040] refer to Figure 2The transmission cavity at the bottom of the preparation box 1 is equipped with a servo motor 18. The output shaft of the servo motor 18 is keyed to a synchronous pulley 19 and a synchronous pulley 28. The connecting rod 26 is keyed to a synchronous pulley 27. The synchronous pulley 216 and the synchronous pulley 19 are connected by a synchronous belt 110. The synchronous pulley 27 and the synchronous pulley 28 are connected by a synchronous belt 29.

[0041] By precisely designing the transmission ratio of each synchronous pulley, it is ensured that after the servo motor 18 starts, the speed of the screw 25 is higher than that of the lead screw 111. That is, the stirring component completes the upward movement and avoids the position first, then the filter frame 12 completes the extrusion molding, and finally the moving plate 2 is lifted by linkage to complete the demolding. This timing control effectively avoids interference in the movement of the mechanism and ensures the logical rigor and operational safety of the process.

[0042] After the stirring process is completed, the stirring rod 211 naturally retracts and returns to its original position under gravity. Then, the servo motor 18 is started, driving the synchronous pulley 216 to rotate via the synchronous belt 110, which in turn drives the lead screw 111 to rotate. The lead screw 111 is threadedly engaged with the moving sleeve 219, causing the moving sleeve 219 to gradually move upward in the vertical direction, thereby driving the filter frame 12 to move upward synchronously. During this process, the volume of the working chamber gradually decreases, the curd is compressed, and the whey is discharged through the filter holes of the filter frame 12 under pressure and flows into the liquid storage frame 11 below, achieving efficient and continuous solid-liquid separation and preliminary extrusion molding of cheese.

[0043] At the same time, the servo motor 18 drives the connecting rod 26 to rotate via the synchronous belt 29, which in turn drives the screw 25 to rotate. The screw 25 is threadedly connected to the moving part 24, causing the moving part 24 to move upward synchronously in the vertical direction, and driving the support rod 22 and the stirring rod 211 hinged to it to move upward as a whole, ensuring that the stirring assembly completely leaves the working chamber before the extrusion molding stage ends, thus avoiding interference with the curd structure.

[0044] When the moving part 24 moves up to the preset height, its end contacts and pushes the transmission rod 210, which transmits the force to the moving plate 2, driving the moving plate 2 to move up synchronously. Finally, the moving plate 2 and the filter frame 12 together lift the whole piece of cheese that has been extruded to the top of the preparation box 1 and expose it to the outside, making it easy for manual or automated equipment to pick up and put down.

[0045] In summary, this device, through a single servo motor driven by 18 motors, multi-stage synchronous belt transmission, differentiated transmission ratio design, and mechanical linkage triggering mechanism, achieves orderly, automatic, and integrated execution of four key actions: stirring, positioning, extrusion, and demolding. This not only eliminates the need for disassembling the mixer and transferring materials multiple times in traditional processes, significantly shortening the production cycle, but also improves the quality of cheese forming and the level of automation in equipment operation.

[0046] refer to Figure 7 The bottom of the inner cavity of the support rod 22 is connected to a connecting post 218 via a spring 213. The spring 213 protects the inner cavity of the support rod 22, and a connecting plate 212 is fixedly installed at the bottom of the connecting post 218. In the initial state, the spring 213 is in a naturally extended state, so that the connecting plate 212 is stably positioned in a low position under the action of elastic force and directly adheres to the upper surface of the filter frame 12.

[0047] When the cheese lifting stage begins, the moving part 24 drives the support rod 22 to move upward as a whole. Since the support rod 22 and the moving plate 2 are not rigidly connected, but are driven by the screw 25 to achieve relative displacement, there may be a situation where the moving plate 2 reaches its upper limit of travel first, while the support rod 22 still needs to continue to move upward to complete the avoidance or lifting action. At this time, the spring 213 plays a buffering and linkage role: as the support rod 22 continues to move upward, the spring 213 deforms, driving the connecting column 218 and the connecting plate 212 to move upward synchronously, thereby preventing the connecting plate 212 from being stuck in the original position due to the travel limitation of the moving plate 2.

[0048] The core purpose of this elastic connection mechanism is twofold: firstly, to ensure that even when the moving plate 2 has risen to its limit position, the support rod 22 can continue to move upward under the continuous drive of the screw 25, thus achieving sufficient clearance; secondly, through the dynamic adjustment of the spring 213, the connecting plate 212 eventually moves upward until its bottom surface is flush with the lower surface of the moving plate 2, and the two together form a complete and continuous horizontal support plane. This structure effectively eliminates the gaps formed below the moving plate 2 due to component misalignment, preventing the cheese block from deforming, breaking, or leaking locally during extrusion molding or lifting, thereby ensuring the quality of cheese molding and the reliability of demolding.

[0049] refer to Figure 3 Two follower rods 217 are symmetrically fixedly connected to the top of the movable plate 2. Two symmetrically arranged guide mechanisms are provided on the side wall of the preparation box 1. The guide mechanisms correspond one-to-one with the follower rods 217. The follower rods 217 slide with the guide structure to form a vertical movement limiting and guiding mechanism, ensuring that the movable plate 2 runs smoothly and without swaying during the lifting process. A second spring 214 is provided between the follower rods 217 and the guide structure. One end of the second spring 214 is connected to the follower rods 217, and the other end is fixed to the guide structure.

[0050] When the servo motor 18 rotates forward to drive the moving part 24 to move upward, and pushes the moving plate 2 to rise synchronously through the transmission rod 210, the spring 214 deforms and stores energy. After the cheese is lifted to the top of the preparation box 1 and the material is picked up, the servo motor 18 reverses, driving the connecting rod 26 and the screw 25 to rotate in the opposite direction, so that the moving part 24 gradually moves downward. Once the moving part 24 is freed from the pushing action of the transmission rod 210, the moving plate 2 can automatically and smoothly reset to the initial low position under the drive of the spring 214, preparing for the next round of mixing and molding process. This reset mechanism does not require an additional power source, has a simple and reliable structure, and effectively improves the automation level of the equipment's cyclic operation.

[0051] Considering that goat milk fermentation requires the addition of various lactic acid bacteria and other fermentation agents, the differences in activity and reaction conditions among different bacterial strains can easily lead to uneven curd particle size and loose texture. If a conventional filter structure is used directly, small curd particles may pass through the filter or large pieces may cause blockage, affecting the separation effect. Therefore, referring to... Figure 5 A grid frame 16 is provided at the bottom of the filter frame 12. The grid frame 16 is a rigid support skeleton. A layer of highly permeable and corrosion-resistant filter cloth 13 is laid on the top of the grid frame 16. The filter cloth 13 only allows liquids such as whey to pass through smoothly, while effectively intercepting coagulated particles of various sizes, significantly improving the adaptability and efficiency of solid-liquid separation.

[0052] To facilitate regular replacement and maintenance of the filter cloth 13, a pressing frame 14 is provided around the top of the filter frame 12. (Refer to...) Figure 5 The pressing frame 14 has a rectangular frame structure, and its inner contour matches the upper edge of the filter frame 12. Adsorption magnets 15 are installed on the corresponding side walls of the pressing frame 14 and the filter frame 12. The pressing frame 14 and the filter frame 12 are locked to each other by adsorption magnets 15.

[0053] During installation, lay the edge of the filter cloth 13 flat on the upper edge of the mesh frame 16, cover it with the pressing frame 14, and the magnetic magnet 15 will automatically attract and lock it, firmly securing the edge of the filter cloth 13 and preventing wrinkles, displacement, or leakage during stirring or squeezing. For disassembly, overcome the magnetic attraction of the magnetic magnet 15 to remove the pressing frame 14, allowing for quick replacement of the filter cloth 13. The operation is simple and maintenance is efficient.

[0054] In summary, this design ensures the precise return of the moving plate through a guiding and elastic reset system, and achieves efficient separation and convenient maintenance through a modular magnetic filtration structure, thus comprehensively improving the process adaptability, operational stability and ease of use of the goat cheese preparation device.

[0055] The filter frame 12 has a raised blocking block in the middle of its bottom. The shape and size of this blocking block match the top opening of the storage frame 11 below. In the initial state, when goat milk is fed into the working chamber through the feed hopper 23, the filter frame 12 is in a low position, and the blocking block at its bottom tightly covers and completely seals the top opening of the storage frame 11. This design effectively prevents the raw milk, which has not been stirred, fermented, or coagulated, from directly passing through the filter structure and falling into the storage frame 11 at the moment of feeding. This avoids contaminating the separated whey with uncoagulated liquid or interfering with subsequent processes, ensuring the timing logic and process purity of the entire preparation process.

[0056] After the stirring, fermentation, and settling curdling processes are completed, the servo motor 18 starts, driving the filter frame 12 to move upwards. As the filter frame 12 rises, the blocking block at its bottom simultaneously disengages from the top opening of the storage frame 11, releasing the blockage. At this time, under the pressure of the curd block, the precipitated whey passes through the filter cloth 13 and the mesh frame 16 in sequence, and flows smoothly into the internal cavity of the opened storage frame 11, achieving efficient and controllable solid-liquid separation.

[0057] The structural linkage enables a fluid control logic of first sealing and then opening, which not only ensures the sealing integrity of the early process stages, but also automatically opens the drainage channel at the appropriate time without the need for additional valves or manual intervention, significantly improving the automation level and process reliability of the device.

[0058] refer to Figure 5 The storage box 11 is provided with a drain port on its side wall. This port is connected to an external whey collection device through a pipe, which facilitates the timely and efficient discharge of whey stored in the storage box 11 after solid-liquid separation, avoids liquid accumulation affecting the continuous operation of the equipment, and provides convenience for the recycling of whey.

[0059] To prevent the curd from overflowing from the feed hopper 23 due to increased internal pressure during the cheese extrusion stage, this device is designed with an automatic sealing mechanism. See details below. Figure 6 An extrusion frame 31 is fixedly connected to the top side wall of the moving part 24. The extrusion frame 31 rises and falls synchronously with the moving part 24. A fixed seat 33 and a guide seat 35 are provided on the top of the moving plate 2. A vertically arranged L-shaped rod 36 is slidably fitted in the guide seat 35. A spring 34 is provided between the L-shaped rod 36 and the guide seat 35 to provide a reset elastic force. A sealing block 3 is fixedly connected to one end of the L-shaped rod 36. The sealing block 3 is slidably connected in the inner cavity of the feed hopper 23. A transverse groove is provided at the other end of the L-shaped rod 36. A lever 32 is hinged on the fixed seat 33. One end of the lever 32 is slidably embedded in the groove of the L-shaped rod 36. The other end of the lever 32 is attached to the bottom surface of the extrusion frame 31.

[0060] In the initial state, i.e. the feeding and mixing stage, the moving plate 2 is in a low position, the extrusion frame 31 is located below the lever 32 and applies an upward pushing force to it, causing the lever 32 to rotate around the hinge point, and then pulls the L-shaped rod 36 through the slide groove to overcome the elastic force of the spring 34 and move it outward, driving the sealing block 3 to retreat to the edge of the feed hopper 23 (i.e.: exit the feed channel), ensuring that the feed hopper 23 is in a fully open state, so that goat milk can be smoothly put into the working chamber.

[0061] When the extrusion molding stage begins, the moving plate 2 moves upward, and the moving part 24 continues to rise, causing the extrusion frame 31 to gradually detach from the support of the lever 32. At this time, under the action of the spring 34, the L-shaped rod 36 retracts inward, and the lever 32 moves in coordination under the guidance of the slide groove, jointly driving the sealing block 3 to slide laterally into the central channel position of the feed hopper 23, thereby achieving a tight seal on the feed inlet.

[0062] This sealing action has a dual function: on the one hand, it effectively isolates external dust and impurities from entering the working chamber during the extrusion process, ensuring the hygienic quality of the cheese; on the other hand, it prevents the curd inside the chamber from being squeezed out of the feed hopper 23 due to pressure expansion, ensuring that the cheese block is formed intact and maintaining stable internal pressure of the system, thereby improving the extrusion density and the consistency of the finished product.

[0063] Given that goat cheese fermentation requires the addition of various bioactive fermenting agents such as lactic acid bacteria, and that the entire preparation environment is subjected to long-term high humidity, high fat, weak acidity, and salty corrosive conditions, this device has undergone systematic anti-corrosion and corrosion-resistant treatment on all components and transmission parts that come into contact with materials or are located near the working chamber. Corrosion-resistant coatings or inert polymer materials are applied to sliding surfaces and sealing areas; transmission components are equipped with splash guards and sealing rings to effectively isolate them from milk, whey, and steam erosion; simultaneously, drainage and ventilation designs are optimized in areas prone to liquid accumulation or moisture to prevent electrochemical corrosion or microbial growth caused by media retention. These comprehensive protection strategies significantly improve the equipment's operational stability, service life, and food safety compliance in complex fermentation environments, ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the device during long-term continuous operation.

[0064] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A goat cheese production and preparation apparatus, comprising a preparation chamber (1), characterized in that: The preparation box (1) is provided with a controllable vertically moving plate (2) and a filter frame (12), and a working cavity is formed between the moving plate (2) and the filter frame (12). The moving plate (2) is provided with a feed hopper (23). A heater (17) is installed in the inner cavity of the preparation box (1). The preparation box (1) is provided with a transmission cavity. The preparation box (1) is provided with a liquid storage frame (11). The bottom of the filter frame (12) is tightly attached to the top of the liquid storage frame (11). The moving plate (2) is provided with a stirring assembly.

2. The goat cheese production and preparation apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: The stirring assembly includes a positioning column (215) fixed to the top of the moving plate (2), a support rod (22) on the positioning column (215), multiple stirring rods (211) on the support rod (22), a drive motor installed on the moving plate (2), and a gear one (21) keyed to its output shaft. A gear two (201) is fitted around the outer periphery of the positioning column (215). The gear two (201) and the support rod (22) are connected by a key to achieve synchronous rotation. The gear one (21) and the gear two (201) mesh with each other.

3. The goat cheese production and preparation apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: The transmission cavity of the preparation box (1) is provided with a support column (202), the support column (202) is provided with a lead screw (111), the lead screw (111) is provided with a synchronous wheel (216), the lead screw (111) is provided with a movable sleeve (219), and the top of the movable sleeve (219) is fixedly connected to the filter frame (12).

4. The goat cheese production and preparation apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that: The transmission cavity of the preparation box (1) is connected to a connecting rod (26) via a support. A screw (25) is provided on the connecting rod (26). The upper end of the screw (25) is supported on the rear side of the top of the preparation box (1) by a bearing. A movable part (24) is provided on the screw (25). The end of the movable part (24) is fixedly connected to the support rod (22).

5. The goat cheese production and preparation apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that: The movable plate (2) is provided with a transmission rod (210), and the movable part (24) is pressed and engaged with the transmission rod (210).

6. The goat cheese production and preparation apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that: The transmission cavity of the preparation box (1) is equipped with a servo motor (18). The output shaft of the servo motor (18) is provided with a first synchronous wheel (19) and a third synchronous wheel (28). The connecting rod (26) is provided with a second synchronous wheel (27). The fourth synchronous wheel (216) and the first synchronous wheel (19) are connected by a first synchronous belt (110). The second synchronous wheel (27) and the third synchronous wheel (28) are connected by a second synchronous belt (29).

7. The goat cheese production and preparation apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that: The support rod (22) is connected to a connecting column (218) by a spring (213), and the connecting column (218) is provided with a connecting plate (212).

8. The goat cheese production and preparation apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that: The moving plate (2) is provided with two follower rods (217), and the preparation box (1) is provided with two guide structures. The follower rods (217) are slidably connected to the guide structures, and a spring (214) is provided between the follower rods (217) and the guide structures.

9. The goat cheese production and preparation apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that: A mesh frame (16) is provided on the filter frame (12), a filter cloth (13) is provided on the mesh frame (16), a pressing frame (14) is provided on the filter frame (12), and an adsorption magnet (15) is provided on the corresponding side wall of the pressing frame (14) and the filter frame (12). A blocking block is provided on the filter frame (12), and the shape and size of the blocking block match the top opening of the liquid storage frame (11). A drain port is provided on the side wall of the liquid storage frame (11), and the port is connected to an external whey collection device through a pipe.

10. The goat cheese production apparatus according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that: The moving part (24) is provided with an extrusion frame (31), the moving plate (2) is provided with a fixed seat (33) and a guide seat (35), the guide seat (35) is provided with an L-shaped rod (36), a spring three (34) is provided between the L-shaped rod (36) and the guide seat (35), one end of the L-shaped rod (36) is fixedly connected with a sealing block (3), the sealing block (3) slides in the inner cavity of the feed hopper (23), the other end of the L-shaped rod (36) is provided with a sliding groove, the fixed seat (33) is provided with a lever (32), one end of the lever (32) slides into the sliding groove of the L-shaped rod (36), and the other end of the lever (32) is attached to the bottom surface of the extrusion frame (31).

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