A thermal processing apparatus (20) includes a spiral conveyor system (22) configured into an ascending spiral stack (26). An air balance tunnel (40) includes a tunnel housing (76) positioned inside of a thermal processing chamber adjacent an outlet opening (36). A conveyor belt (24) travels through the housing on its way out of the processing chamber. An air pervious ejector assembly (78) is positioned within the housing at an elevation above the conveyor belt (24). An air pervious evacuation sheet (80) is located within the housing at a location beneath the conveyor belt (24). An air pervious cover assembly (150) is positioned over the conveyor belt (24) at a location just before the conveyor belt enters the air balance tunnel (40). The cover sheet (150) is connectable to the ejector assembly (78) so as to remove the ejector assembly from the tunnel housing (76) by manually moving the cover assembly (150).

A thermal processing apparatus (20) includes a spiral conveyor system (22) configured into an ascending spiral stack (26). An air balance tunnel (40) includes a tunnel housing (76) positioned inside of a thermal processing chamber adjacent an outlet opening (36). A conveyor belt (24) travels through the housing on its way out of the processing chamber. An air pervious ejector assembly (78) is positioned within the housing at an elevation above the conveyor belt (24). An air pervious evacuation sheet (80) is located within the housing at a location beneath the conveyor belt (24). An air pervious cover assembly (150) is positioned over the conveyor belt (24) at a location just before the conveyor belt enters the air balance tunnel (40). The cover sheet (150) is connectable to the ejector assembly (78) so as to remove the ejector assembly from the tunnel housing (76) by manually moving the cover assembly (150).

An agricultural vehicle feeder assembly having: a feeder housing, a shaft mounted to rotate relative to the feeder housing, first and second rotary drives mounted to rotate with the shaft at a first and second axial positions along the shaft, and an anti-wrap cover assembly extending an entire distance from the first rotary drive to the second rotary drive and at least partially surrounding the first rotary drive, the second rotary drive, and the shaft between the first rotary drive and the second rotary drive. The anti-wrap cover assembly is rotatably mounted the first rotary drive, the second rotary drive and/or the shaft. A connector joins the feeder housing to the anti-wrap cover assembly. The connector is configured to allow the anti-wrap cover assembly to move through a predetermined limited range of motion relative to the feeder housing.

An agricultural vehicle feeder assembly having: a feeder housing, a shaft mounted to rotate relative to the feeder housing, first and second rotary drives mounted to rotate with the shaft at a first and second axial positions along the shaft, and an anti-wrap cover assembly extending an entire distance from the first rotary drive to the second rotary drive and at least partially surrounding the first rotary drive, the second rotary drive, and the shaft between the first rotary drive and the second rotary drive. The anti-wrap cover assembly is rotatably mounted the first rotary drive, the second rotary drive and/or the shaft. A connector joins the feeder housing to the anti-wrap cover assembly. The connector is configured to allow the anti-wrap cover assembly to move through a predetermined limited range of motion relative to the feeder housing.

In a maceration conveyor assembly (10) a juice deflector (50) deflects juice around a return run of a conveyor into a trough (51). Preferably the juice deflector and trough are configured as opposed axially extending V-shaped stainless steel plates. The assembly (10) feeds into a first mill (11) of a milling tandem, and output from the mill (11) is delivered onto another conveyor and carried to the next mill in the tandem. Low pol maceration liquid is returned to the conveyor via return lines to respective distribution weirs (16) and (17). The conveyor assembly (10) includes an inlet end (20) and an outlet end (21) all supported on a supporting framework (22) so that the assembly is inclined from the inlet end (20) to the outlet end (22). An endless plate conveyor (25) comprises interconnected perforated plates (26) adapted to pivot relative to each other in chain like fashion.

In a maceration conveyor assembly (10) a juice deflector (50) deflects juice around a return run of a conveyor into a trough (51). Preferably the juice deflector and trough are configured as opposed axially extending V-shaped stainless steel plates. The assembly (10) feeds into a first mill (11) of a milling tandem, and output from the mill (11) is delivered onto another conveyor and carried to the next mill in the tandem. Low pol maceration liquid is returned to the conveyor via return lines to respective distribution weirs (16) and (17). The conveyor assembly (10) includes an inlet end (20) and an outlet end (21) all supported on a supporting framework (22) so that the assembly is inclined from the inlet end (20) to the outlet end (22). An endless plate conveyor (25) comprises interconnected perforated plates (26) adapted to pivot relative to each other in chain like fashion.

Food process-line coating apparatus for coating a stream of food product in a food process line are provided with the improvement of a permanently-installed internal cleaning-fluid circuit and a plurality cleaning-fluid distribution devices. The cleaning-fluid distribution devices are any of a rotary spray head, a spherical spray nozzle, a rotary frame or a tubular (cylindrical) rotary manifold. The rotary spray head optionally has a multitude of flat spray nozzles mounted along the arms. The spherical spray nozzle might be mounted on a columnar base, and a plurality of those might stand like pickets and aimed a laterally-extending target, like a conveyor belt's nose roller. The rotary frame might have a spaced pair of parallel manifold tubes that rotate about a common axis. The tubular (cylindrical) rotary manifold preferably has a multitude of ports or nozzles distributed at spaced locations on its outer sidewall.

Food process-line coating apparatus for coating a stream of food product in a food process line are provided with the improvement of a permanently-installed internal cleaning-fluid circuit and a plurality cleaning-fluid distribution devices. The cleaning-fluid distribution devices are any of a rotary spray head, a spherical spray nozzle, a rotary frame or a tubular (cylindrical) rotary manifold. The rotary spray head optionally has a multitude of flat spray nozzles mounted along the arms. The spherical spray nozzle might be mounted on a columnar base, and a plurality of those might stand like pickets and aimed a laterally-extending target, like a conveyor belt's nose roller. The rotary frame might have a spaced pair of parallel manifold tubes that rotate about a common axis. The tubular (cylindrical) rotary manifold preferably has a multitude of ports or nozzles distributed at spaced locations on its outer sidewall.

A cover shield system for a telescoping conveyor system and an associated telescoping conveyor are provided. The cover is extendable for covering a length of a telescoping portion of the conveyor system. A free end of the cover is connected to the telescoping portion at a far end. A shuttle assembly is biased to retract the cover for storage, for example by rolling the cover into the shuttle assembly under spring action. The shuttle assembly may be movably mounted to the telescoping portion of the conveyor system to allow relative movement of the shuttle assembly and the telescoping portion during telescopic extension/retraction of the conveyor system. The shuttle assembly is also anchored to the base portion at least during the telescopic extension. The cover may include reinforcement bars and/or connecting magnets. An idler roller may bias the cover toward the conveyor frame.

A cover shield system for a telescoping conveyor system and an associated telescoping conveyor are provided. The cover is extendable for covering a length of a telescoping portion of the conveyor system. A free end of the cover is connected to the telescoping portion at a far end. A shuttle assembly is biased to retract the cover for storage, for example by rolling the cover into the shuttle assembly under spring action. The shuttle assembly may be movably mounted to the telescoping portion of the conveyor system to allow relative movement of the shuttle assembly and the telescoping portion during telescopic extension/retraction of the conveyor system. The shuttle assembly is also anchored to the base portion at least during the telescopic extension. The cover may include reinforcement bars and/or connecting magnets. An idler roller may bias the cover toward the conveyor frame.