Curd producing apparatus

Claim 1

IN CURD PROCESSING APPARATUS INCLUDING A VAT HAVING A BOTTOM AND OPPOSITE ENDS AND SIDES, A COVER FOR THE VAT, AND AN AGITATOR FOR AGITATING THE CONTENTS OF THE VAT; OPERATING MEANS FOR THE AGITATOR COMPRISING A SINGLE RIGID BEAM HAVING ITS RESPECTIVE ENDS SUPPORTED BY THE RESPECTIVE ENDS OF THE VAT, A CARRIER VEHICULARLY MOUNTED ON SAID BEAM AND INCLUDING POWER MEANS FOR INDUCING TRAVEL OF SAID CARRIER BACK AND FORTH ALONG SAID BEAM WITHIN THE CONFINES OF SAID COVER WHEN THE COVER IS IN SEALED POSITION ON THE VAT, AND ROTATIVE MEANS ON SAID CARRIER DRIVINGLY CONNECTED TO SAID AGITATOR AND HAVING OPERATIVE CONNECTIONS WITH THE RESPECTIVE ENDS OF THE BEAM TO EFFECT ROTATION OF SAID ROTATIVE MEANS AS THE CARRIER IS DRAWN BACK AND FORTH ALONG THE BEAM AND A TERMINAL AGITATOR ADJACENT AT LEAST ONE END OF THE VAT HAVING DRIVE MEAN RESPONSIBLE TO MOVEMENTS OF THE CARRIER TOWARD THE END OF ITS TRAVEL, WHEREBY CURD PROCESSING IS CARRIED OUT THROUGH OUT THE LENGTH OF THE VAT IN A SEALED ENCLOSED CONDITION.