Patents by Inventor Colin R. Hart
Colin R. Hart has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9687004Abstract: A device for removing skin from meat cuts of irregular thickness is presented. The device for removing skin from meat cuts includes an overhead roller having a drive roller and a pair of idler rollers rotatably mounted to a pair of support plates. The device further includes a belt extending around the driver roller and pair of idler rollers. A support shaft extends between the support plates within a loop of the belt. A plurality of resistive devices are attached to the hold down members to provide varying resistance when a meat product is lifted into contact with the belt.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2014Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: Marel Meat Processing Inc.Inventors: Colin R. Hart, Matthew A. Bergman, William A. Johnson
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Patent number: 9545115Abstract: An automatic skinning mechanism having an inlet conveyor, a take away conveyor, a skinning mechanism and a hold down mechanism that removes pressure form a food product as the skinning mechanism begins skinning food product.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2016Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Marvel Meat Processing Inc.Inventors: Matthew A. Bergman, Stephen H. Cate, Joseph A. Gross, Colin R. Hart, William A. Johnson, Ryan J. Rohe
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Publication number: 20160309727Abstract: An automatic skinning mechanism having an inlet conveyor, a take away conveyor, a skinning mechanism and a hold down mechanism that removes pressure form a food product as the skinning mechanism begins skinning food product.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2016Publication date: October 27, 2016Inventors: Matthew A. Bergman, Stephen H. Cate, Joseph A. Gross, Colin R. Hart, William A. Johnson, Ryan J. Rohe
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Patent number: 9365360Abstract: An apparatus and method of transporting food products to a loading station having a cooling conveyor that selectively drops food product into a distributor. The distributor separates product into at least two lanes and drops product onto a conveyor. A balancing and diverting conveyor monitors and counts product in each lane and diverts product selectively based upon the sensed product. An orienter transfers product from a loading conveyor to a buffer conveyor. The buffer conveyor transfers product to a main conveyor which transfers product to a loading head.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2015Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: Marel Meat Processing Inc.Inventors: David W. Alexander, Kevin J. Hansen, Colin R. Hart, Joshua W. Higgins
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Publication number: 20150251858Abstract: An apparatus and method of transporting food products to a loading station having a cooling conveyor that selectively drops food product into a distributor. The distributor separates product into at least two lanes and drops product onto a conveyor. A balancing and diverting conveyor monitors and counts product in each lane and diverts product selectively based upon the sensed product. An orienter transfers product from a loading conveyor to a buffer conveyor. The buffer conveyor transfers product to a main conveyor which transfers product to a loading head.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2015Publication date: September 10, 2015Inventors: David W. Alexander, Kevin J. Hansen, Colin R. Hart, Joshua W. Higgins
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Patent number: 9022202Abstract: An apparatus and method of transporting food products to a loading station having a cooling conveyor that selectively drops food product into a distributor. The distributor separates product into at least two lanes and drops product onto a conveyor. A balancing and diverting conveyor monitors and counts product in each lane and diverts product selectively based upon the sensed product. An orienter transfers product from a loading conveyor to a buffer conveyor. The buffer conveyor transfers product to a main conveyor which transfers product to a loading head.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2011Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Marel Meat Processing Inc.Inventors: David W. Alexander, Kevin J. Hansen, Colin R. Hart, Joshua W. Higgins
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Publication number: 20140378039Abstract: A device for removing skin from meat cuts of irregular thickness is presented. The device for removing skin from meat cuts includes an overhead roller having a drive roller and a pair of idler rollers rotatably mounted to a pair of support plates. The device further includes a belt extending around the driver roller and pair of idler rollers. A support shaft extends between the support plates within a loop of the belt. A plurality of resistive devices are attached to the hold down members to provide varying resistance when a meat product is lifted into contact with the belt.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2014Publication date: December 25, 2014Inventors: Colin R. Hart, Matthew A. Bergman, William A. Johnson
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Patent number: 8776991Abstract: An apparatus and method of transporting food products to a loading station having a cooling conveyor that selectively drops food product into a distributor. The distributor separates product into at least two lanes and drops product onto a conveyor. A balancing and diverting conveyor monitors and counts product in each lane and diverts product selectively based upon the sensed product. An orienter transfers product from a loading conveyor to a buffer conveyor. The buffer conveyor transfers product to a main conveyor which transfers product to a loading head.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2011Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Marel Meat Processing Inc.Inventors: David W. Alexander, Kevin J. Hansen, Colin R. Hart, Joshua W. Higgins
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Patent number: 8695782Abstract: A conveying system that corrects spacing inconsistencies between food products on transport conveyors. Sensor elements are used to determine the position of food products on a first conveyor. Displacement members then move the food products to a slower second conveyor and different locations to correct the position between the food products.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2012Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Marel Meat Processing Inc.Inventors: Brent M. Veldkamp, Andrew W. Maddux, Colin R. Hart, Kenneth L. Lebsack, Joshua W. Higgins, Craig A. Smiens
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Publication number: 20130277174Abstract: A conveying system that corrects spacing inconsistencies between food products on transport conveyors. Sensor elements are used to determine the position of food products on a first conveyor. Displacement members then move the food products to a slower second conveyor and different locations to correct the position between the food products.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2012Publication date: October 24, 2013Applicant: MAREL MEAT PROCESSING INC.Inventors: Brent M. Veldkamp, Andrew W. Maddux, Colin R. Hart, Kenneth L. Lebsack, Joshua W. Higgins, Craig A. Smiens
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Patent number: 8500523Abstract: A cutting system that conveys a meat product to the throat and blade of a saw. A positioning conveyor positions the meat product into a predetermined position. An adjustable laser is then used to locate a predetermined area of the meat product so that the saw blade can be adjusted to align with the laser beam before cutting of the meat product.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2012Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Marel Meat Processing Inc.Inventors: Colin R. Hart, Doug Bauer
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Patent number: 8453822Abstract: A loading head for use with food articles has a main conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of food articles, an indexing conveyor positioned beneath the main conveyor, and a transfer member positioned between the main conveyor and the indexing conveyor. The transfer member is adapted to transfer each food article from the main conveyor to the indexing conveyor. A buffering mechanism is adapted to move the transfer member between a first position and a variable second position. A pusher mechanism is associated with the indexing conveyor to raise and lower gates from an open position permitting food article transfer to a closed position prohibiting food article transfer. The pusher mechanism includes a cam operably associated with the gates to open and close the gates.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2012Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: F.R. Drake CompanyInventors: Colin R. Hart, Paul J. Joynt, David W. Braner, Joshua W. Higgins, David W. Alexander
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Patent number: 8434610Abstract: A loading head for use with food articles has a main conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of food articles, an indexing conveyor positioned beneath the main conveyor, and a transfer member positioned between the main conveyor and the indexing conveyor. The transfer member is adapted to transfer each food article from the main conveyor to the indexing conveyor. A buffering mechanism is adapted to move the transfer member between a first position and a variable second position. A pusher mechanism is associated with the indexing conveyor to raise and lower gates from an open position permitting food article transfer to a closed position prohibiting food article transfer. The pusher mechanism includes a cam operably associated with the gates to open and close the gates.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2008Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: F.R. Drake CompanyInventors: Colin R. Hart, Paul J. Joynt, David W. Braner, Joshua W. Higgins, David W. Alexander
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Patent number: 8418831Abstract: An apparatus and method of transporting food products to a loading station having a cooling conveyor that selectively drops food product into a distributor. The distributor separates product into at least two lanes and drops product onto a conveyor. A balancing and diverting conveyor monitors and counts product in each lane and diverts product selectively based upon the sensed product. An orienter transfers product from a loading conveyor to a buffer conveyor. The buffer conveyor transfers product to a main conveyor which transfers product to a loading head.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2012Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Marel Meat Processing Inc.Inventors: David W. Alexander, Kevin J. Hansen, Colin R. Hart, Joshua W. Higgins
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Patent number: 8342312Abstract: An apparatus and method of transporting food products to a loading station having a cooling conveyor that selectively drops food product into a distributor. The distributor separates product into at least two lanes and drops product onto a conveyor. A balancing and diverting conveyor monitors and counts product in each lane and diverts product selectively based upon the sensed product. An orienter transfers product from a loading conveyor to a buffer conveyor. The buffer conveyor transfers product to a main conveyor which transfers product to a loading head.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2011Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Marel Meat Processing Inc.Inventors: David W. Alexander, Kevin J. Hansen, Colin R. Hart, Joshua W. Higgins
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Patent number: 8322513Abstract: A loading head for use with food articles has a main conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of food articles, an indexing conveyor positioned beneath the main conveyor, and a transfer member positioned between the main conveyor and the indexing conveyor. The transfer member is adapted to transfer each food article from the main conveyor to the indexing conveyor. A buffering mechanism is adapted to move the transfer member between a first position and a variable second position. A pusher mechanism is associated with the indexing conveyor to raise and lower gates from an open position permitting food article transfer to a closed position prohibiting food article transfer. The pusher mechanism includes a cam operably associated with the gates to open and close the gates.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2011Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: F.R. Drake CompanyInventors: Colin R. Hart, Paul J. Joynt, David W. Braner, Joshua W. Higgins, David W. Alexander
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Publication number: 20120199441Abstract: An apparatus and method of transporting food products to a loading station having a cooling conveyor that selectively drops food product into a distributor. The distributor separates product into at least two lanes and drops product onto a conveyor. A balancing and diverting conveyor monitors and counts product in each lane and diverts product selectively based upon the sensed product. An orienter transfers product from a loading conveyor to a buffer conveyor. The buffer conveyor transfers product to a main conveyor which transfers product to a loading head.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2012Publication date: August 9, 2012Inventors: David W. Alexander, Vincent L. Basile, II, Kevin J. Hansen, Colin R. Hart, Joshua W. Higgins, Paul J. Joynt
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Patent number: 8220614Abstract: An apparatus and method of transporting food products to a loading station having a cooling conveyor that selectively drops food product into a distributor. The distributor separates product into at least two lanes and drops product onto a conveyor. A balancing and diverting conveyor monitors and counts product in each lane and diverts product selectively based upon the sensed product. An orienter transfers product from a loading conveyor to a buffer conveyor. The buffer conveyor transfers product to a main conveyor which transfers product to a loading head.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2011Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Marel Meat Processing Inc.Inventors: David W. Alexander, Kevin J. Hansen, Colin R. Hart, Joshua W. Higgins
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Publication number: 20110315515Abstract: A loading head for use with food articles has a main conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of food articles, an indexing conveyor positioned beneath the main conveyor, and a transfer member positioned between the main conveyor and the indexing conveyor. The transfer member is adapted to transfer each food article from the main conveyor to the indexing conveyor. A buffering mechanism is adapted to move the transfer member between a first position and a variable second position. A pusher mechanism is associated with the indexing conveyor to raise and lower gates from an open position permitting food article transfer to a closed position prohibiting food article transfer. The pusher mechanism includes a cam operably associated with the gates to open and close the gates.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2011Publication date: December 29, 2011Inventors: Colin R. HART, Paul J. Joynt, David W. Braner, Joshua W. Higgins, David W. Alexander
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Publication number: 20110272243Abstract: An apparatus and method of transporting food products to a loading station having a cooling conveyor that selectively drops food product into a distributor. The distributor separates product into at least two lanes and drops product onto a conveyor. A balancing and diverting conveyor monitors and counts product in each lane and diverts product selectively based upon the sensed product. An orienter transfers product from a loading conveyor to a buffer conveyor. The buffer conveyor transfers product to a main conveyor which transfers product to a loading head.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2011Publication date: November 10, 2011Inventors: David W. ALEXANDER, Kevin J. HANSEN, Colin R. HART, Joshua W. HIGGINS