US 12,134,752 B2
Apparatus for punching down a wine cap
Larry Joseph Meehan, Lincoln, CA (US)
Assigned to Larry Joseph Meehan, Lincoln, CA (US)
Filed by Larry Joseph Meehan, Lincoln, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 9, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/397,341.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/205,103, filed on Nov. 17, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0154115 A1, May 19, 2022
Int. Cl. C12G 1/032 (2006.01); C12G 3/02 (2019.01)
CPC C12G 1/0216 (2013.01) [C12G 3/02 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A punch down apparatus for punching a wine cap of a wine residing inside a fermentation bin, the punch down apparatus comprising:
a frame assembly having a frame coupled to a plurality of legs supporting the frame on a ground surface, wherein each of the plurality of legs is a telescopic leg adapted to adjust a height of the frame relative to the ground surface;
a track assembly supported on the frame and adapted to slide relative to the frame in a first direction;
a carriage assembly mounted on the track assembly and adapted to slide relative to the track assembly in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and
an actuator assembly attached to the carriage assembly and adapted to move along with the carriage assembly, the actuator assembly including
a punch plate arranged downwardly of the frame and adapted to contact and punch the wine cap, and
a linear actuator adapted to reciprocally move the punch plate in a vertical direction, wherein the linear actuator is an electric actuator.