Abstract: An apparatus for filling a produce tray with agricultural produce includes a tray loading station with a fill hopper for receiving the agricultural produce, a produce compression station including at least one tuck finger platen, and a conveyer including a plurality of tray carriers for moving the produce tray from the tray loading station to the produce compression station. Some embodiments of the invention also include a split chute for transferring the agricultural produce from the fill hopper to the produce tray and a trolley for selectively positioning the split chute under the fill hopper or tuck finger platen. Another embodiment of the invention includes a tuck finger platen for compressing agricultural produce near the center of the tray less than agricultural produce near the interior walls of the produce tray. Yet another embodiment of the invention includes steps in a method for loading agricultural produce into a produce tray.

Abstract: A structural support beam having a top wall joined to a side wall at an angle substantially different from a right angle. When installed in a facility or machine with the side wall parallel to a vertical reference, no surface on the support beam is parallel to a horizontal reference, thereby providing for rapid and thorough draining of water deposited on any surface of the beam. Some beam embodiments place the top wall at an angle of about twenty degrees above a horizontal reference when the beam is installed. Alternatively, the top wall may be at an angle of about twenty degrees below the horizontal reference. Some beam embodiments have an open side. Alternatively, a bottom wall may be attached to a side wall to form a tubular support beam. A support beam may include a lower beam joined to an upper beam by a connector bar.

Abstract: A height adjustable support comprising a three-sided support channel, a cylindrical support post positioned within the support channel and at least one saddle brace positioned within the support channel and to partially surround the cylindrical support post. In the present invention, the downward force resulting from the weight of the equipment results in static friction between the saddle brace and the cylindrical support post that is sufficient to hold the equipment surface at a desired height. The height adjustable support may be implemented into hygienically designed food processing equipment to eliminate undesirable bacteria harboring surfaces and to improve height adjustability of the equipment.

Abstract: An effluent removal system comprising, a vacuum plenum to receive, at an inlet of the vacuum plenum, an effluent mixture comprising a gas and a liquid, a droplet separator having an inlet coupled to an outlet of the vacuum plenum, the droplet separator to substantially remove the liquid from the effluent mixture and a blower having an inlet coupled to a gas outlet of the droplet separator, the inlet of the blower to receive the gas of the effluent mixture after the liquid has been substantially removed from the effluent mixture by the droplet separator.

Abstract: A tubular support beam having a self-draining surface, comprising a first channel having a first channel side wall and a first channel bottom wall, wherein the first channel side wall forms a substantially 90° interior angle with the first channel bottom wall and a second channel having a second channel side wall and a second channel bottom wall, wherein the second channel side wall forms a substantially 90° interior angle with the second channel bottom wall. Either the first channel and/or the second channel having an angled or convex top wall, wherein the first channel and the second channel are joined to provide a self-draining surface for the tubular support beam. The self-draining tubular support beam may be implemented into hygienically designed food processing equipment to eliminate undesirable horizontal surfaces.

Abstract: A height adjustable support comprising a three-sided support channel, a cylindrical support post positioned within the support channel and at least one saddle brace positioned within the support channel and to partially surround the cylindrical support post. In the present invention, the downward force resulting from the weight of the equipment results in static friction between the saddle brace and the cylindrical support post that is sufficient to hold the equipment surface at a desired height. The height adjustable support may be implemented into hygienically designed food processing equipment to eliminate undesirable bacteria harboring surfaces and to improve height adjustability of the equipment.