A dirt removal and piling machine is ideally suited for use in cleaning and piling individualized and non-uniformly shaped workpieces, preferably sugar beets but also potatoes, other tuber crops, and even with aggregate rocks for a tilting receiving station. A further aspect of the present machine includes a workpiece unloading or receiving station which can tip sideways after a dump truck unloads the workpieces and longitudinally drives therethrough. In another aspect, the machine also includes a cleaning station having rotatable rollers, an underlying dirt conveyor and a moveable dirt dumping conveyor, hopper or bucket adjacent an end of the dirt conveyor and external to the rollers. Furthermore, another aspect of the machine includes an automatic and/or robotic sampling arm which is operable to remove a tuber crop workpiece sample and automatically package the sample after the sample has moved through a cleaning station.

A treatment system, including a conveyor bed configured to transport a plurality of products; a brushing device located along the conveyor bed and having one or more brushes that include a first antimicrobial compound; a surface treatment device including a lamp configured to emit light of a peak wavelength directed toward a portion of the conveyor bed; and a coating device configured to deliver a coating mixture onto the plurality of products on the conveyor bed.

An apparatus includes a first production line configured to generate aqueous ozone with a first ozone concentration. The apparatus also includes an additional production line configured to generate aqueous ozone with an additional ozone concentration. The first production line and the additional production line include a flow switch, where fluid is configured to flow through the flow switch. The first production line and the additional production line include an ozone generator, where the ozone generator is configured to generate ozone when the fluid flows through the flow switch. The first production line and the additional production line include a fitting coupled to the flow switch and the ozone generator, where the fitting is configured to combine the generated ozone and the fluid to generate the aqueous ozone. The first production line is configured to generate aqueous ozone independently from the additional production line.

The invention discloses drying systems and drying processes, particularly designed to efficiently dry grains. The grain drying system of the invention comprises a machine consisting of a drying rotor characterized by containing thermal panels and having an efficient design that allows air circulation. Alternatively, the grain drying system is consisting of a drying rotor comprising thermal panels and an efficient air circulation system, together with a vacuum rest rotor for the grains. The invention also relates to a grain drying process comprising a stage in a drying rotor consisting of thermal panels and an efficient air circulation system, and optionally a second vacuum rest stage in a vacuum rest rotor, where the first and second stages alternate one, two, three or more times as required. In general, the systems and processes disclosed in the invention involve elements and stages that allow the grain to be dried by controlled heating of the grain by exposure to electromagnetic radiation and efficient air flow, or through multiple stages that comprise controlled heating of the grain by exposure to electromagnetic radiation and efficient air flow, the rest of the grains under vacuum, and a new stage of controlled heating of the grain by exposure to electromagnetic radiation and efficient air flow thus achieving high efficiency in drying times without altering the structure of the grains and without generating polluting emissions, since the system does not require fossil fuels for its operation.

The invention discloses drying systems and drying processes, particularly designed to efficiently dry grains. The grain drying system of the invention comprises a machine consisting of a drying rotor characterized by containing thermal panels and having an efficient design that allows air circulation. Alternatively, the grain drying system is consisting of a drying rotor comprising thermal panels and an efficient air circulation system, together with a vacuum rest rotor for the grains. The invention also relates to a grain drying process comprising a stage in a drying rotor consisting of thermal panels and an efficient air circulation system, and optionally a second vacuum rest stage in a vacuum rest rotor, where the first and second stages alternate one, two, three or more times as required. In general, the systems and processes disclosed in the invention involve elements and stages that allow the grain to be dried by controlled heating of the grain by exposure to electromagnetic radiation and efficient air flow, or through multiple stages that comprise controlled heating of the grain by exposure to electromagnetic radiation and efficient air flow, the rest of the grains under vacuum, and a new stage of controlled heating of the grain by exposure to electromagnetic radiation and efficient air flow thus achieving high efficiency in drying times without altering the structure of the grains and without generating polluting emissions, since the system does not require fossil fuels for its operation.

A apparatus (100) for roasting coffee beans is disclosed comprising a compartment (110) for holding coffee beans (10); a roasting element (140) for roasting the coffee beans in said compartment; and a processor (130) comprising a control unit (134) for controlling the roasting element. Wherein, the processor (130) is adapted to determine a weight loss rate of the coffee beans, and the control unit (134) is adapted to control the roasting element as a function of the determined weight loss rate. A coffee machine including such an apparatus and a method for roasting coffee beans are also disclosed.

The invention relates to a horizontal axis pressure washer that allows removing the mucilage from fermented coffee efficiently with a low consumption of water and power. The main characteristic of the pressure washer of the present invention is the rotor located horizontally in a circular basket, where said rotor comprises several rows with three types of fingers specialized in three tasks: cleaning, shaking and injecting water with pressure. Said combination of functionalities allows the complete elimination of mucilage from fermented coffee.

An apparatus includes a first production line configured to generate aqueous ozone with a first ozone concentration. The apparatus also includes an additional production line configured to generate aqueous ozone with an additional ozone concentration. The first production line and the additional production line include a flow switch, where fluid is configured to flow through the flow switch. The first production line and the additional production line include an ozone generator, where the ozone generator is configured to generate ozone when the fluid flows through the flow switch. The first production line and the additional production line include a fitting coupled to the flow switch and the ozone generator, where the fitting is configured to combine the generated ozone and the fluid to generate the aqueous ozone. The first production line is configured to generate aqueous ozone independently from the additional production line.

Disclosed are various embodiments of either self-contained, separate or combinations thereof of modular units for the processing of comestible products. The modular unit is configured with sections to create hygienic zoning of food to be processed. The modular unit is can contain components to process food from a raw state, such as an animal carcass or freshly harvested produce, through primary and (optionally) secondary processing. The modular unit can be utilized to process various types of food, and, therefore, the modular unit is provided in various embodiments depending on the food to be processed therein, and the types of processing that are desired. The modular unit is constructed and the sections therein are configured such that as the food undergoes processing, it flows through the sections of the modular unit in an orderly manner, which helps to minimize or prevent food safety problems, such as cross contamination.

Disclosed are various embodiments of either self-contained, separate or combinations thereof of modular units for the processing of comestible products. The modular unit is configured with sections to create hygienic zoning of food to be processed. The modular unit is can contain components to process food from a raw state, such as an animal carcass or freshly harvested produce, through primary and (optionally) secondary processing. The modular unit can be utilized to process various types of food, and, therefore, the modular unit is provided in various embodiments depending on the food to be processed therein, and the types of processing that are desired. The modular unit is constructed and the sections therein are configured such that as the food undergoes processing, it flows through the sections of the modular unit in an orderly manner, which helps to minimize or prevent food safety problems, such as cross contamination.