Patents by Inventor Donald L. Cummins, deceased

Donald L. Cummins, deceased 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).

  • Patent number: 5731022
    Abstract: Dough intended for use in producing bakery products is homogenized and advanced to extrusion nozzles where it is cut into successive pieces that fall onto a moving conveyor. The pieces are of precisely uniform weight because a constant pressure is maintained on the dough as it is forwarded by a metering pump toward the nozzles. Apparatus for achieving such result includes an auger, a developer positioned downstream from the auger, and a transition chamber fed by the developer and located upstream from the metering pump. A pressure-measuring monitor serves to control the rotational speed of the auger, thereby maintaining the dough under constant pressure within the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Cummins Eagle, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald L. Cummins, deceased
  • Patent number: 5591472
    Abstract: Bakery dough continuously emergent from a dough-handling machine is cut into successive pieces of uniform weight by apparatus which involves a nozzle containing a downwardly directed extrusion orifice having a shape that is oblong about a line of elongation. A taut cutting wire aligned in a direction parallel to the line of elongation is caused to move in a reciprocating manner across the orifice in a path that is transverse to the line of elongation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Cummins Eagle, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald L. Cummins, deceased
  • Patent number: 5516272
    Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the flow of dough in a machine for advancing bakery dough through a single manifold that feeds parallel conduits includes a stem disposed upon the center axis of each conduit and adjustment means for axially positioning the stem. A moveable abutment plug of streamlined shape is positioned upon the stem adjacent its lowermost extremity. A stationary abutment shoulder is disposed within the conduit above the moveable abutment plug, and is adapted to make close-fitting contact with the upper portion of the moveable abutment plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Cummins Eagle, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald L. Cummins, deceased
  • Patent number: 5443854
    Abstract: Dough intended for use in producing bakery products is homogenized and advanced to extrusion nozzles where it is cut into successive pieces that fall onto a moving conveyor. The pieces are of precisely uniform weight because a constant pressure is maintained on the dough as it is forwarded by a metering pump toward the nozzles. Apparatus for achieving such result includes an auger, a developer positioned downstream from the auger, and a transition chamber fed by the developer and located upstream from the metering pump. A pressure-measuring monitor serves to control the rotational speed of the auger, thereby maintaining the dough under constant pressure within the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Cummins Eagle, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald L. Cummins, deceased
  • Patent number: D373503
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Cummins Eagle, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald L. Cummins, deceased
  • Patent number: D373507
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Cummins Eagle, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald L. Cummins, deceased