Patent ID: 7552675

Claim:
A wine pressing apparatus, comprising: a tank capable of retaining liquid; a frame; a press plate affixed to the frame, the press plate including a pressing surface defining a plurality of apertures dispersed over a majority of the pressing surface, the press plate includes a mating lip on an outer circumference portion of the press plate, the mating lip creates a seal between an inner sidewall of the tank and the press plate when the press plate is in the tank to prevent excess solid material from flowing past the press plate; and a lifting mechanism mechanically coupled to the frame for lifting the tank such that the tank moves relative to the press plate and further such that the press plate is caused to enter the tank as the tank moves upward, the lifting mechanism includes a lifting platform for receiving the tank, wherein the frame includes a base frame supporting the lifting platform, a top member supporting the press plate, and a plurality of upright supports coupling the base frame to the top member.