Abstract: A method serves for treating liquid foodstuffs, in particular red grape mash. It comprises the steps of filling the mash (40) into the tank (10) from below until the upper level (43) of the mash is above a sieve (31) which is arranged in the upper portion of the tank (10), which fills the whole cross-sectional area thereof and which serves to retain pomace components (41) of the mash (40), and surrendering the mash (40) in this condition to fermentation for a pre-determined period of time. The sieve (31) used is rotatable about one horizontal axis (33) and the mash (40) is stirred at the end of a pre-determined period of time by rotation of the said sieve (31).

Abstract: An upright red wine fermentation tank has a substantially circular cross-section taken vertically to its cenhter plane (24). An agitator is arranged in the tank 10. The agitator can be rotated about at least one preferably horizontal shaft (20), and its agitator elements sweep at least through a substantially spherical volume.

Abstract: An agitator for grape mash comprising a rotary shaft and blade-shaped stirring wings having at least one first section inclined at an angle relative to the sense of rotation is characterized in that the said first section (19, 23) ends--viewed in at least one sense of rotation--in a second wing section (20, 21, 25, 26, 50, 51) inclined in the same direction but at an angle smaller than the angle of inclination of the said first section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tank-type container for the processing of wine grape must, particularly a fermentation tank for red wine must. The tank is equipped with a slowly rotating agitator having a plurality of longitudinally spaced blades disposed the full length of its shaft extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tank. The invention resides in at least one section, preferably an outward section, of the cross-sectional area of the agitator blades parallel to the agitator shaft being larger than the cross-sectional area which is normal to the agitator shaft. The pomace cap floating on the surface of the juice is disintegrated and punched down into the body of the juice by means of the flat wide blade sections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for agitating the contents of a large tank containing a liquid and solid matter, in particular to a fermentation tank for grape mash comprising a motor-driven agitator. The essence of the invention is that the agitator when switched on first carries out an oscillating motion and thus loosens up the solid matter, in particular the rape.

Abstract: The invention relates to a horizontal tank-type container, particularly for use in winemaking, the beverage industry and the preparation of alcohol. The upper portion of the container is of a substantially circular cylindrical shape. The invention resides in the container being pear-shaped or escutcheon-shaped in cross section normal to the longitudinal container axis, with the narrow portion pointing downward. This enables the container to be conveniently emptied and easily cleaned.