VACUUM CHEESE MOLDING DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a molding device (12) for cheese comprising a drawing bell (14) having an outer skirt (30) delimiting an open enclosure (26) for receiving a cheese mold (32) and an inner skirt (28) configured to penetrate inside the mold; at least one movable plate (20) configured to support the mold; the molding device being configured such that the movable plate is movable between a molding position; and a removal position; the device comprising a seal (38) secured to a first element among the outer skirt and the movable plate, the device being configured such that the seal is compressed against a second element among the movable plate and the outer skirt in the closing position, the seal having a convex contact face (44) coming against the second element in the closing position. (Abstract Figure: 2)

Description

Title of the invention: VACUUM CHEESE MOLDING DEVICE TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates, in general, to the technical field of the food industry and relates in particular to the processing of dairy products, for example to the manufacture of cheese.

[0002] The invention relates more specifically to a molding device, in particular for molding cheese, in particular devices allowing the vacuum molding of these cheeses and to an associated molding method. STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

[0003] From milk to ripening, cheese production involves a large number of processing steps. One of the first operations to be carried out concerns the coagulation of the milk. This coagulation step can be obtained in different ways such as by the action of an enzyme, i.e. rennet, or by fermentation caused by lactic bacteria, or as is often the case, by a combination of the two previous methods. These methods are of course not exhaustive.

[0004] The coagulated milk is then drained. This produces the curd and the whey. The curd is the main element that will produce the cheese; the whey is reintroduced with the curd depending on the cheese desired, or more rarely, can also be used directly.

[0005] Finally, a molding operation is carried out consisting of molding the mixture of curd and whey in molds, which mixture is then refined under predetermined conditions depending on the desired cheese.

[0006] For the rest of this article, we will focus mainly on the molding stage. This stage is carried out by an industrial machine, commonly called a vacuum drawing unit, after receiving the quantity of mixture required for molding. Such vacuum drawing units allow a variable number of cheeses to be molded in a single operation.

[0007] Document FR 3025976 A1 discloses a molding device conventionally comprising a drawing-off bell. The drawing-off bell comprises an inner skirt, penetrating the interior space of a cheese mold without contact with the cheese mold, and an outer skirt, coming into contact with a movable plate configured to support the cheese mold, closing the internal cavity. In addition, the drawing-off bell comprises three pipes, one configured to be used as a pipe for supplying a curd / whey mixture while the second piping is configured to create a vacuum in the withdrawal bell. A third piping is fitted to the withdrawal bell to ensure the recovery of the serum.

[0008] The principle of vacuum molding is described in detail in this document FR 3025976 A1. Thus, such a vacuum molding operation consists of transferring the curd / whey mixture from a manufacturing tank to the drawing-off bell. The curd then separates from the whey and is deposited inside the drawing-off bell and more precisely in a cheese mold. The whey is evacuated after decantation via a discharge pipe. Once the molding operation has been carried out, the mold is lowered and evacuated.

[0009] In order for the vacuum molding process to proceed properly, it is necessary for the internal cavity to be perfectly airtight, and therefore to have a perfect seal between the plate supporting the mold and the drawing bell. In practice, difficulties have been observed in obtaining a controlled seal at the junction between the movable plate and the outer skirt of the drawing bell.

[0010] A direct consequence of this uncontrolled sealing is that the inner skirt can come into contact with the cheese mold. This phenomenon damages the inner skirt and / or the cheese mold and does not allow the desired level of sealing to be obtained.

[0011] Other problems related to this sealing are also encountered. For example, there may be insufficient adhesion between the plate carrying the mold and the drawing bell, following air circulation at the junction between the inner skirt and the mold. This lack of adhesion can cause too large a space between the inner skirt and the bottom of the cheese mold, which results in curds escaping from the curd / whey mixture. Such a malfunction leads to a direct loss of curds and whey, and the need to clean the molding device more regularly. This also results in a curd / whey mixture in the cheese mold that has non-homogeneous proportions, implying a relatively large standard deviation in the mass of different cheeses of the same type made in the same mold. Statement of the invention

[0012] The invention aims to remedy the drawbacks of the state of the art and to propose a cheese molding device, in particular under vacuum, offering better control of the seal.

[0013] To this end, according to a first aspect of the invention, a cheese molding device is proposed, comprising: • at least one drawing bell comprising a lower part comprising an external skirt delimiting an open enclosure shaped to receive at least one cheese mold and an inner skirt coaxial with the outer skirt and configured to penetrate inside the cheese mold; • at least one movable tray configured to support the cheese mold; the molding device being configured so that the movable tray is movable between: • a molding position in which the movable plate closes the outer skirt of the lower part of the drawing bell and the inner skirt is housed inside the cheese mold, at a predetermined distance from the movable plate; and • a withdrawal position allowing access to said cheese mold; the molding device being characterized in that it comprises a seal secured to a first element among the outer skirt and the movable plate, the molding device being configured so that the seal is compressed against a second element among the movable plate and the outer skirt in the molding position at one face, the seal having a contact face intended to come to bear against the second element in the molding position, the contact face having, in a stable uncompressed state such as in the retracted position of the movable plate, a convex shape.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the first element comprises the outer skirt, preferably constituted by the outer skirt, and the second element comprises the movable plate, preferably constituted by the movable plate.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the contact face of the seal, in a stable uncompressed state, has a rounded section, preferably in an arc of a circle. The rounded section allows, as the seal is crushed against the second element, to extend the contact surface between the seal and the second element such as the plate, which improves the sealing of the device during molding.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the contact face of the seal, in a stable uncompressed state, has a rounded section in an arc of a circle having a radius of curvature greater than or equal to 2.4 mm, more preferably greater than or equal to 4 mm and / or less than or equal to 9 mm, more preferably less than or equal to 7.5 mm.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the radius of curvature is chosen so as to correspond, that is to say to be substantially equal, to half of a width, taken transversely, of the sealing joint. This produces a joint of which a distal end portion supporting the contact face has a semicircular section.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the seal is obtained by molding. Molding makes it possible to control the tolerances during the manufacture of the seal, and thus optimize the yield during its production.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the seal is based on polymer material(s), preferably made of polymer material(s), more preferably the polymer material is chosen from silicones. The silicone is preferably chosen to be resistant to cleaning products used in the food industry, to heat, and compatible with food contact.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the material constituting the seal has a Shore A hardness greater than or equal to 30, more preferably greater than or equal to 45 and / or less than or equal to 90, more preferably less than or equal to 60.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the seal has a shape delimiting a closed contour, the seal comprising a base configured to penetrate into a groove of the first element, preferably of the outer skirt. The base of the seal has a cross-section of a shape complementary to that of the groove so as to match the shape of the groove of the first element. Preferably, the base of the seal is configured so as to be inserted in a fitted manner into said groove and allow the seal to be fixedly secured to the first element.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the seal comprises a distal end portion, on the side of its contact face, elastically deformable configured to deform elastically in the molding position in a compressed state by forming a bead extending along a closed contour of the seal. The formation of the bead allows controlled sealing when the seal is crushed against the second element, preferably the movable plate.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the seal has a height, i.e. a distance separating the contact face of the distal end portion and a base, greater than or equal to 10 mm, more preferably greater than or equal to 15 mm and / or less than or equal to 30 mm, more preferably less than or equal to 25 mm, in a stable uncompressed state of the seal.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the seal has a width, measured between lateral surfaces, greater than or equal to 5 mm, more preferably greater than or equal to 8 mm and / or less than or equal to 20 mm, more preferably less than or equal to 18 mm, in a stable uncompressed state of the seal.

[0025] According to another aspect of the invention, it relates to a method of molding a forming by a molding device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one step of molding a curd / whey mixture in a mold, preferably a vacuum molding step. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0026] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the description which follows, with reference to the appended figures, which illustrate: • [Fig.l]: a schematic diagram of a vacuum drawing unit comprising a molding device and a manufacturing tank according to one embodiment; • [Fig.2]: a partial sectional view of a lower part of a drawing bell of the molding device, according to one embodiment, in a position of withdrawal from a movable plate; • [Fig.3]: a partial sectional view of the lower part of the drawing bell of the molding device of [Fig.2], in an intermediate position between the withdrawal position and the molding position when the movable plate comes into contact with a seal of the device; • [Fig.4]: a view similar to [Fig.3], simplified by removing the seal allowing a more detailed view of a groove configured to accommodate a seal base; • [Fig.5]: a partial sectional view of the lower part of the drawing bell of the molding device of [Fig.2], in the molding position, when the seal is in a compressed state.

[0027] For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs throughout the figures.

[0028] In the description and claims, to clarify the description and claims, the terminology longitudinal, transverse and vertical will be adopted without limitation with reference to the trihedron X, Y, Z indicated in the figures, DETAILED description of embodiments

[0029] In [Fig.l] a vacuum drawing assembly 10 is illustrated. Such a system makes it possible to draw a manufacturing vat (curd / whey mixture) into bells for filling cheese molds. Such a vacuum drawing assembly 10 is particularly suitable for molding large diameter cheeses such as Comté, Beaufort, Emmental, etc.

[0030] More specifically, the drawing-off assembly 10 comprises a main tank 22 configured to contain a mixture of curd and serum and connected to a molding device 12 by a transfer circuit 24 for transferring the curd / serum mixture to the molding device 12.

[0031] Since the curd, in pieces, is not soluble in the serum, the tank 22 is equipped with a stirring mechanism configured to stir the mixture it contains so that the latter is as homogeneous as possible.

[0032] The molding device 12 comprises a drawing bell 14 and a movable plate 20 having a horizontal bearing face for supporting a mold 32. The drawing bell 14 comprises an internal cavity 15 configured to be closed with the movable plate 20 in a molding position.

[0033] The drawing-off bell 14 comprises in particular a lower part comprising an outer skirt 30 delimiting an open enclosure 26 shaped to receive at least one cheese mold 32 and an inner skirt 28 coaxial with respect to the outer skirt 30 and configured to penetrate inside the cheese mold 32.

[0034] The movable tray 20 is configured to support the cheese mold 32.

[0035] The drawing bell 14 is connected to a vacuum pump by a pumping circuit 16 so as to apply a negative pressure in the interior space of the internal cavity 15 to obtain a vacuum in the internal cavity 15 closed by the movable plate. Preferably the vacuum obtained can be an industrial vacuum or a primary vacuum. The withdrawal bell 14 is kept sealed to maintain the vacuum in the internal cavity 15 by means of a seal 38 interposed between the withdrawal bell 14 and the movable plate 20 as well as valves provided for this purpose at the level of the pipes connected to the withdrawal bell 14 which allow control of the gas flows.

[0036] The molding device 12 comprises at least one actuator for moving the movable platen. In this embodiment, the movable platen 20 is mounted on a cylinder 19 forming an actuator. The cylinder can be of any type, for example pneumatic, hydraulic, or electric.

[0037] The molding device 12 is configured so that the movable plate is movable between two positions, in particular between: • a molding position in which the movable plate 20 closes the outer skirt of the lower part of the drawing bell 14 and the inner skirt is housed inside the cheese mold 32, at a predetermined distance from the movable plate 20; and • a retracted position allowing access to said cheese mold 32 by a user.

[0038] The molding device 12 comprises a vacuum gauge configured to measure the pressure inside the closed internal cavity 15 and control the desired vacuum level. A control unit makes it possible to regulate the vacuum process, including the starting and stopping of the vacuum pump, as well as the management of the pressure in the closed internal cavity 15 of the drawing bell 14.

[0039] The molding device 12 is mounted on a structure 18 located vertically under the drawing bell 14. This structure 18 supports the drawing bell 14 and makes it possible to vertically guide the movable plate 20 moved by the actuators provided for this purpose.

[0040] This structure 18 is designed and dimensioned in order to obtain maximum rigidity of the molding device 12. The structure 18 opposes the deformation stresses caused by the lifting action of the movable plate 20 supporting the cheese mold. 32, in order to obtain the seal necessary for creating and maintaining the vacuum for vacuum molding.

[0041] When the vacuum pump is actuated, the gas present in the drawing-off bell 14 is evacuated via the pumping circuit 16 and said drawing-off bell 14 is placed under vacuum. The curd / whey mixture is transferred into the drawing-off bell 14, from the tank 22, by the effect of the draft induced by the vacuum in the drawing-off bell 14. This transfer is carried out via the transfer circuit 24.

[0042] In [Fig. 2] is illustrated a partial sectional view of a molding device 12 according to one embodiment. The molding device 12 comprises the drawing bell 14. The drawing bell 14 comprises an upper part partially delimiting the internal cavity 15, and a lower part comprising a base formed by the outer skirt 30 delimiting an open enclosure 26 extending the internal cavity 15 of the upper part of the drawing bell 14.

[0043] The inner skirt 28 and the outer skirt 30 are coaxial, that is to say they form a cylindrical extension whose respective centers coincide. The wall of the inner skirt 28 is closer to the center than the wall of the outer skirt 30. In addition, the inner skirt 28 and the outer skirt 30 may be cylinders of different shapes, such as cylinders with a rectangular, circular or other base for example.

[0044] The inner skirt 28 is configured to penetrate inside a cheese mold 32, without coming into contact with a bottom of the cheese mold 32 in the molding position. The distal end, or lower end, of the inner skirt 28 comprises a retention portion 28', configured to retain a portion of the curd of the curd / whey mixture. The retention portion 28' extends in a lower extension of the wall of the inner skirt in the direction of a narrowing of its opening 50. In other words, the retention portion 28' has a locally frustoconical section, in the direction of a narrowing of the opening 50 towards the plate 20. The cheese mold 32 is configured to be arranged on the movable plate 20.

[0045] The open enclosure 26 extending the internal cavity 15 is delimited transversely by the inner skirt 28. By “transversely” is meant a direction orthogonal to a vertical reference axis Z, i.e. here in a horizontal direction. A space delimited transversely between the inner skirt 28 and the outer skirt 30 delimits an enclosure forming a peripheral corridor transversely surrounding the inner skirt 28 and open at the bottom, on the mold side. This peripheral enclosure delimits a drainage zone for the serum during the molding step. This peripheral drainage enclosure has an upper wall rigidly connecting the two inner 28 and outer 30 skirts. This upper wall vertically delimits the peripheral drainage enclosure 31 and has an opposite peripheral opening axially to the upper wall and configured to accommodate a side wall 32' of the cheese mold 32 during molding of the curd / whey mixture in the mold 32 provided for this purpose and supported by the movable plate 20.

[0046] The movable plate 20 is configured to be lowered or raised by the jack 19. In the so-called molding position, the movable plate 20 is raised to a maximum high position in which it closes the outer skirt 30 of the lower part of the drawing bell 14. In the so-called withdrawal position, the movable plate 20 is lowered vertically to a height lower than the high position, at a distance sufficiently far from the open enclosure 26 to allow a user access to the cheese mold 32. Whatever the vertical position of the movable plate 20 (molding position, withdrawal position, or any intermediate position), the cheese mold 32 is not in contact with the drawing bell 14.

[0047] [Fig. 3] illustrates a partial sectional view of the lower part of this drawing bell 14, in an intermediate position between the withdrawal position and the molding position when the movable plate 20 comes into contact with a sealing joint 38.

[0048] The embodiment described below comprises a molding device 12 of which the lower part of the drawing bell 14 is cylindrical with a circular base.

[0049] The seal 38 is integral with the outer skirt 30. The molding device 12 is configured so that the seal 38 is compressed against the movable platen 20 in the molding position.

[0050] The outer skirt 30 has on its lower end portion a peripheral groove 36 provided to house a part of the sealing gasket 38.

[0051] The peripheral groove 36 may have different configurations. For example, the groove 36 may be obtained by directly machining the peripheral groove 36 in a lower edge 34 of the outer skirt 30. In another configuration, the groove 36 may be molded during the manufacture of the outer skirt 30. In a configuration as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the peripheral groove 36 is obtained by fixing an insert 35 surrounding the lower end portion of the outer skirt 30 on the outer side and fixed to an outer face of said outer skirt 30.

[0052] It is understood that in this embodiment the lower end portion of the outer skirt 30 and the peripheral groove 36 are annular. However, this shape may vary according to use, for example by forming a closed contour of rectangular or square section, this depending on the shape of the outer skirt 30 of the lower part of the drawing bell 14.

[0053] The groove 36 is configured to accommodate the seal 38. The groove 36 has a rectangular or rounded section, in the shape of a “U”. The groove 36 is devoid of specific retention means such as a local constriction which can pinch locally the seal 38. The groove 36 is thus delimited by smooth interior faces.

[0054] The seal 38 is composed of a static base 40 housed in the peripheral groove 36. This base 40 is contained in the groove 36 so that it does not deform or deforms only slightly during the molding process when the seal 38 is compressed against the movable plate 20. The seal 38 also comprises an elastically deformable distal end portion 42, that is to say it is configured to deform during the molding process when the seal 38 is compressed against the movable plate 20.

[0055] The seal 38 has a contact face 44 carried by its distal end portion 42 and intended to come into contact and bear against a face of the movable plate 20 in the molding position.

[0056] The sealing gasket 38 is held integral with the outer skirt 30 of the lower part of the drawing bell 14 in a vertical position; the contact face 44 being oriented downwards or towards the movable plate 20.

[0057] The seal 38 extends horizontally along a closed contour, for example annular so as to surround the mold 32 without discontinuity. In a vertical sectional view, the seal 38 has a vertical reference axis Z' extending from its base 40 towards its contact face 44. Once positioned on the drawing bell 14, the seal 38 is oriented vertically downwards, that is to say that the contact face 44 is directed vertically towards the plate 20.

[0058] According to the invention, the contact face 44 has, in a stable, uncompressed state such as in the retracted position of the movable plate 20, a convex shape. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the contact face 44 of the sealing gasket 38 has a rounded section, in the shape of an arc of a circle.

[0059] The section of the base 40 of the seal 38, located axially opposite its contact face 44, is rectangular but could have a different shape, for example rounded or U-shaped. Preferably, the base 40 of the seal 38 and the groove 36 each have a complementary adjusted shape, so that the base 40 of the seal 38 matches the bottom of the groove 36.

[0060] The base 40 is configured to be fixedly inserted into the annular groove 36 thanks to its controlled geometry which matches the annular groove 36. This cooperation of adjusted complementary shapes, without any other dedicated fixing means, offers a simple structure making it possible to effectively maintain the seal 38, while facilitating its cleaning or its change during a possible maintenance operation and avoiding any premature wear of the seal 38 which could be caused by a projecting element of a dedicated fixing.

[0061] Thus, the seal 38 is integral with the outer skirt 30, and therefore with the drawing bell 14. The base 40, not having a fixing element, can be easily removed by hand in order to be cleaned, without being damaged or weakened. This characteristic makes it possible to extend the service life of the seal 38 without reducing the frequency of production and molding of cheese or cleaning according to the standards in force in the industry in question.

[0062] When the molding device 12 is operating, the movable plate 20 supporting the cheese mold 32 is raised. As the movable plate 20 rises: • the inner skirt 28 penetrates without contact inside the cheese mold 32, • the side wall 32' of the cheese mold 32 penetrating the peripheral drainage enclosure 31 delimited horizontally externally by the external skirt 30 and internally by the internal skirt 28.

[0063] The movable plate 20 comprises on its face supporting the mold 32, an area surrounding the mold 32 and forming a seal seat 21. The seal seat 21 extends around the mold and has a closed contour of a shape similar to that of the groove 36 which comes opposite the seal seat 21 in the molding position.

[0064] When the movable plate 20 is close to its maximum high position, the upper face of the movable plate 20 comes into contact with the contact face 44 of the distal end portion 42 of the seal 38. This contact is located on the upper face of the movable plate at the seal seat 21.

[0065] The contact face 44 of the seal 38 is convex in shape when the distal end portion 42 of the seal 38 is in its unstressed state, i.e. when it is not compressed against the movable plate 20.

[0066] This distal end portion 42 of the seal 38 being elastically deformable, is configured to elastically deform in the molding position in a compressed state by forming a bead 48 extending along a closed contour of the seal 38.

[0067] As the movable plate 20 continues to rise, the surface area of ​​the contact face 44 of the distal end portion 42 of the seal 38 expands to form a compressed contact against the seal seat 21 of the movable plate 20, as shown schematically in [Fig. 5]. Peripheral lateral bead portions 46 of the distal end portion 42 of the seal 38 are formed transversely on either side of the contact face 44, thus forming a generally annular bead 48. To ensure crushing providing an optimal sealing function, the seal 38 has, seen in section and in a stable uncompressed state, an axial symmetry with respect to its vertical reference axis Z'.

[0068] The fact that the contact face 44 has a convex shape at rest ensures, when the seal is crushed at this contact face 44, a surface contact without discontinuity between the sealing gasket 38 and the upper face of the plate 20. Such discontinuity zones form air cavities which can create a suction effect when the sealing gasket separates from the surface of the plate 20. Thanks to such a sealing gasket 38, the sealing gaskets 38 are prevented from falling unintentionally from the draw-off bells.

[0069] Such compressed contact of the contact face 44 against the seal seat 21 of the movable plate 20 thus makes it possible to guarantee a watertight seal between the outer skirt 30 and the movable plate 20.

[0070] This sealing makes it possible to control the crushing of the sealing gasket 38 against the seal seat 21 of the movable plate 20 and therefore to ensure a controlled dimension between the inner skirt 28, more precisely the retention portion 28', and the bottom of the cheese mold 32. The lower the dimension, the more the pieces of curd are retained in the cheese mold 32 while allowing the excess serum to escape between the inner skirt 28 and the side wall of the cheese mold 32, at the level of the peripheral drainage enclosure 31. The serum level between the side wall 32' of the cheese mold 32 and the inner skirt 28 rises during the cheese molding process, until it overflows over said side wall 32' of the cheese mold 32 and flows along the side wall 32', at the peripheral drainage enclosure 31, between said side wall 32' of the mold 32 and the outer skirt 30.The serum therefore accumulates at the level of the peripheral drainage enclosure 31, outside the mold 32, and against the movable plate 20, the sealing of which is then ensured by a seal 38. When the cheese molding process is finished, the movable plate 20 is lowered to its retracted position, allowing the excess serum evacuated and accumulated to flow into a recovery tank provided for this purpose. In addition or as an alternative, a serum extraction step can be implemented before the lowering of the movable plate 20, in particular thanks to suitable piping connected to the cavity. The recovery of the serum is then controlled.

[0071] If the crushing of the sealing gasket 38 were not controlled, there would be a risk that the retention portion 28' of the inner skirt 28 would come into contact with the bottom of the cheese mold 32, the inner skirt 28 and the cheese mold 32 would damage each other, which would initially prevent the evacuation of the excess serum, then would lead to losses of material including the curd in the long term. Furthermore, the vacuum seal would then no longer be ensured.

[0072] This sealing is controlled here thanks to a controlled crushing of the seal 38 against the seal seat 21 of the movable plate 20.

[0073] The distal end portion 42 of the seal 38, configured to form the bead 48 during crushing, allows the contact face 44 to crush and then separate from the movable plate 20 without a suction effect. This characteristic, in addition to the base 40 of the seal 38 of complementary shape and adjusted to the groove 36 of the outer skirt 30, makes it possible to prevent the seal 38 from falling when the movable plate 20 is lowered and therefore from the separation of said seal 38 from the seal seat 21 of the movable plate 20. The controlled sealing therefore makes it possible to reduce the number of washings of the molding device 12 as well as the number of stops in the production of cheese by molding following untimely falls of the seal 38.

[0074] The sealing gasket 38 is made of a material compatible with food use.

[0075] The seal 38 is made of silicone. The characteristic of this silicone allows the seal 38 to be compatible with food contact, which makes it possible to recycle the serum with which the seal 38 comes into contact during each cheese molding, during the drainage of the serum.

[0076] In addition, a silicone material allows the seal 38 to resist cleaning products used in automatic cleaning systems for existing cheese molding devices 12, said cleaning products possibly containing soda and / or acid. The cleanings are carried out at washing temperatures generally up to 85°.

[0077] The sealing gasket 38, thanks to the silicone that composes it, remains mechanically stable and does not relax during the cheese molding process which is carried out at a temperature generally higher than 40°, or even higher than 55°.

[0078] In this embodiment, the seal 38 has a height, i.e. the distance separating the contact face 44 of the distal end portion 42 and the base 40, greater than or equal to 15 mm and / or less than or equal to 20 mm in a stable, uncompressed state of the seal 38.

[0079] In this embodiment, the seal 38 has a width, i.e. the distance which separates the lateral surfaces 46 from the distal end portion 42 of the seal 38, greater than or equal to 5 mm and / or less than or equal to 15 mm, at rest, i.e. in a stable uncompressed state of the seal 38.

[0080] The sealing gasket 38 has a length along its periphery which is variable depending on the type of molded cheese as well as the dimension of the associated mold 32.

[0081] The sealing gasket 38 is molded in such a way that the geometric tolerances are perfectly controlled, which makes it very reliable in reproducibility and allows the base 40 to be fixedly secured to the groove 36 secured to the outer skirt 30 during the molding process.

[0082] The assembly composed of the groove 36 secured to the outer skirt 30 as well as the sealing joint 38 specially defined for controlled crushing makes it possible to have a reliable and repeatable solution, avoiding any production stoppage during untimely falls of the sealing joint 38 as well as any deterioration of the equipment following unexpected contact between the retention portion 28' of the inner skirt 28 and the bottom of the cheese mold 32.

[0083] Naturally, the invention is described in the above by way of example. It is understood that those skilled in the art are able to carry out different variant embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0084] For example, the seal may be carried by the movable plate, in particular in a groove of the movable plate, and come to be compressed against a bearing surface of the outer skirt.

[0085] It is emphasized that all features, as they emerge for a person skilled in the art from the present description, the drawings and the attached claims, even if concretely they have only been described in relation to other determined features, both individually and in any combinations, can be combined with other features or groups of features disclosed herein, provided that this has not been expressly excluded or that technical circumstances make such combinations impossible or meaningless.

Claims

Claims

1. A molding device (12) for cheese comprising: - at least one drawing bell (14) having a lower part having an outer skirt (30) delimiting an open enclosure (26) shaped to receive at least one cheese mold (32) and an inner skirt (28) coaxial with the outer skirt (30) and configured to penetrate inside the cheese mold (32); - at least one movable plate (20) configured to support the cheese mold (32); the molding device (12) being configured such that the movable plate (20) is movable between: - a molding position in which the movable plate (20) closes the outer skirt (30) of the lower part of the drawing bell (14) and the inner skirt (28) is housed inside the cheese mold (32), at a predetermined distance from the movable plate (20); and - a retracted position allowing access to said cheese mold (32);the molding device (12) being characterized in that it comprises a seal (38) integral with a first element among the outer skirt (30) and the movable plate (20), the molding device (12) being configured so that the seal (38) is compressed against a second element among the movable plate (20) and the outer skirt (30) in the molding position, the seal (38) having a contact face (44) intended to bear against the second element in the molding position, the contact face (44) having, in a stable uncompressed state such as in the retracted position of the movable plate (20), a convex shape.;

2. Molding device (12) according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact face (44) of the seal (38), in a stable uncompressed state, has a rounded section, preferably in an arc of a circle.

3. Molding device (12) according to claim 2, characterized in that the contact face (44) of the sealing gasket (38) has in a stable uncompressed state, a rounded section in an arc of a circle having a radius of curvature greater than or equal to 2.4 mm, more preferably greater than or equal to 4 mm and / or less than or equal to 9 mm, more preferably less than or equal to 7.5 mm.

4. Molding device (12) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the contact face (44) of the seal (38), in a stable uncompressed state, has a rounded section in an arc of a circle having a radius of curvature substantially equal to half a width of the seal.

5. Molding device (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seal (38) is obtained by molding.

6. Molding device (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seal (38) is based on polymer material(s), preferably made of polymer material(s), more preferably the polymer material is chosen from silicones.

7. Molding device (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material constituting the seal has a Shore A hardness greater than or equal to 30, more preferably greater than or equal to 45 and / or less than or equal to 90, more preferably less than or equal to 60.

8. Molding device (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seal (38) has a shape delimiting a closed contour, the seal (38) comprising a base (40) configured to penetrate into a groove (36) of the first element, preferably of the outer skirt (30).

9. Molding device (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seal comprises a distal end portion, on the side of its contact face (44), elastically deformable configured to deform elastically in the molding position in a compressed state by forming a bead (48) extending along a closed contour of the seal (38).

10. A method of molding a forming by a molding device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that it comprises at least one step of molding curd / whey in a mold, preferably a vacuum molding step.

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