Abstract: Whole beets are graded by size and fed one at a time to a bank of beet cutting assemblies. The whole beets are cut into a cylindrical plug member and a plurality of segment members. The plug members and segment members are separated by a suitable grading mechanism. The segment members are removed from the apparatus for further processing. The plug members are transported to a beet plug heating apparatus wherein they are heated to approximately 160.degree. F. The heated beet plugs are transported to a beet slicing apparatus wherein they are sliced into circular disc-shaped slices. The slices are removed from the apparatus for further processing.

Abstract: A frame structure having a pre-dewatering unit fixedly mounted thereon and a final-dewatering and inspection table unit movably mounted thereon. The pre-dewatering unit includes a vertically extending receiving compartment through which the mixture of water and vegetables passes upwardly from bottom to top and a pre-dewatering chute adapted to receive the mixture flowing over the top of the receiving chamber. The pre-dewatering chute includes an upper chamber and a lower chamber separated by a screen member. The screen member is positioned at an angle to the horizontal so that the solid material in the mixture will pass over the top surface of the screen member and a substantial portion of the liquid material will pass through the screen member into the lower chamber. The final-dewatering and inspection table unit includes a final-dewatering section and an inspection table section, both of which are vibrated by a suitable vibratory means.