Staging system for automated cheese processing equipment

摘要

A cheese processing system utilizes a liquid flume to convey blocks of cheese between two components of the system. A staging section is provided in the flume to accumulate cheese blocks into groups that are more easily handled by the component at the outlet of the flume. The staging section has a first movable stop mechanism against which the cheese blocks are detained. When a predefined amount of cheese blocks have accumulated, a second stop prevents additional cheese blocks from entering the staging section until the accumulated one can be released by the first movable stop mechanism. A unique flume structure is provided to direct the liquid flow into different channels to aid in rapidly forcing the detained blocks of cheese into and from the staging section.