Patents by Inventor Gary R. Grano

Gary R. Grano 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).

  • Apparatus for dividing pastries and inserting dividers
    Patent number: 6860091
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting separate portions of a food product and inserting dividers between adjacent portions, in which a cutting blade is ultrasonically energized during a first cutting movement, the blade is withdrawn while a divider sheet is inserted between the blade and the food item, and then the blade is driven in a second cutting movement to fold the divider sheet and to insert the thus-folded divider sheet into the cut between the two now separate portions of the food item. A particular feature of the invention is a camming mechanism to provide precise support for and folding of the divider sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Foodtools, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary R. Grano
  • Apparatus for dividing pastries and inserting dividers
    Publication number: 20040231300
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting separate portions of a food product and inserting dividers between adjacent portions, in which a cutting blade is ultrasonically energized during a first cutting movement, the blade is withdrawn while a divider sheet is inserted between the blade and the food item, and then the blade is driven in a second cutting movement to fold the divider sheet and to insert the thus-folded divider sheet into the cut between the two now separate portions of the food item. A particular feature of the invention is a camming mechanism to provide precise support for and folding of the divider sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventor: Gary R. Grano
  • Ultrasonic method for dividing pastries and inserting dividers
    Patent number: 6662529
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cutting separate portions of a food product and inserting dividers between adjacent portions, in which a cutting blade is ultrasonically energized during a first cutting movement, the blade is withdrawn while a divider sheet is inserted between the blade and the food item, and then the blade is driven in a second cutting movement to fold the divider sheet and to insert the thus-folded divider sheet into the cut between the two now separate portions of the food item. A particular feature of the invention is a camming mechanism to provide precise support for and folding of the divider sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Foodtools, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary R. Grano
  • Ultrasonic method and apparatus for dividing pastries and inserting dividers
    Publication number: 20030097820
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cutting separate portions of a food product and inserting dividers between adjacent portions, in which a cutting blade is ultrasonically energized during a first cutting movement, the blade is withdrawn while a divider sheet is inserted between the blade and the food item, and then the blade is driven in a second cutting movement to fold the divider sheet and to insert the thus-folded divider sheet into the cut between the two now separate portions of the food item. A particular feature of the invention is a camming mechanism to provide precise support for and folding of the divider sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventor: Gary R. Grano