Abstract: Embodiments herein provide a plenum separator for removing excess oil from fried food items, and then separating the oil from an air/oil mixture. A system for feeding fried food items with excess oil thereon may extend across and above the width of the plenum. A sink may be disposed at a bottom of the plenum. A blower typically draws air from the second end of the pipe, causing the air/oil mixture to be drawn into the slot and through the inner channel, with at least a portion of the air in the air/oil mixture passing through the opening in the pipe, with at least a portion of the oil in the air/oil mixture falling to the sink, and with at least a portion of the air/oil mixture passing from the inner channel to the outer channel and through the elongated aperture to be recirculated through the inner channel.

Abstract: Embodiments herein provide a plenum separator for removing excess oil from fried food items, and then separating the oil from an air/oil mixture. The separator may include a plenum defined by exterior walls, including a top wall with a slot therein, and having a width. An inner channel is typically disposed below the slot, the inner channel having a periphery defined by an exterior wall and an inner wall, the inner wall having a downwardly-extending portion and a curved portion, the curved portion having a turn of about 90 degrees defining a wall radius and terminating in an inner wall edge. A central pipe may be disposed within the plenum, generally above the inner wall edge, the central pipe having a pipe radius that is smaller than the wall radius, the pipe having an open portion extending substantially its entire length disposed at an upper quadrant thereof that faces away from the inner wall, the pipe being closed at a first end and open at a second end.

Abstract: Devices and methods for mechanically removing portions of individual pieces of produce may include a conveyor configured to transport pieces of produce from an upstream end portion to a downstream end portion on a plurality of spaced, elongate teeth, and a blade assembly disposed at the downstream end portion of the conveyor. The blade assembly may include a cutting edge configured to pass generally parallel to the elongate teeth at a selected distance such that a desired portion of each piece of the retained produce is removed by the cutting edge. The disclosed devices and methods may be particularly well suited for removing the stem or cap portions of strawberries.