Abstract: Popcorn making systems for use with a hybrid popping process are disclosed herein. The hybrid popping process can involve using air to preheat corn kernels, then heating the preheated corn kernels in oil to pop them. In some embodiments, a popcorn making system includes a feed assembly, a preheating assembly, and a popping assembly. The feed assembly can output corn kernels at a feed rate. The preheating assembly can include a drum, a moving device disposed inside the drum, and an air mover and a heater external to the drum. The air mover and the heater can preheat corn kernels moving through the drum. The popping assembly can receive the preheated corn kernels from the preheating assembly, and can heat and thereby pop the preheated corn kernels in cooking oil.

Abstract: Popcorn machines having angled paddles and/or fluid heated troughs, and associated systems and methods of operation are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a popcorn machine includes a trough, a shaft extending along the trough, and a paddle assembly coupled to the shaft. The paddle assembly includes both forward-facing paddles and backward-facing paddles that can continuously move ingredients back and forth in the trough without changing the rotation direction of the shaft. In some embodiments, a popcorn machine includes one or more heating units coupled to an external surface of a trough. Heat transfer fluid can be pumped through chambers defined by the heating units to provide heat to, without mixing with, ingredients in the trough. The temperature and the flow rate of the heat transfer fluid can be controlled to provide various heating profiles along a length of the trough.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sterilizing items, such as respirators, masks, and other personal protection equipment, using UV-C light are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, counter-top systems for providing 360-degree germicidal irradiation of respirators and other items are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the systems include one or more UV-C lamps positioned inside of a rotatable structure that supports items for sterilization, and one or more UV-C lamps positioned outside of the rotatable support structure.