Patents by Inventor John J. Michels

John J. Michels 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: 6409461
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for stacking curved, triangular snack food chips, e.g., tortilla chips, for packaging in a sleeve-type container. The chips are fed into a first, U-shaped vibratory chute, which automatically causes the apex corners of the chips to extend beyond the opposing base edges of adjacent chips and which automatically orients the chips such that lines about which they are curved are oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction of the U-shaped chute. The chips are then fed into a W-shaped chute, with the chips facing in opposite directions falling automatically into opposite troughs of the W-shaped chute. The chips are then automatically reoriented by 120° such that their upturned apex corners point in the direction of travel, and the chips are stacked automatically as they slide up along one another in a shingled manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Recot, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick J. Bierschenk, Steven D. Braithwaite, John J. Michels
  • Publication number: 20020041803
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for stacking curved, triangular snack food chips, e.g., tortilla chips, for packaging in a sleeve-type container. The chips are fed into a first, U-shaped vibratory chute, which automatically causes the apex corners of the chips to extend beyond the opposing base edges of adjacent chips and which automatically orients the chips such that lines about which they are curved are oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction of the U-shaped chute. The chips are then fed into a W-shaped chute, with the chips facing in opposite directions falling automatically into opposite troughs of the W-shaped chute. The chips are then automatically reoriented by 120° such that their upturned apex corners point in the direction of travel, and the chips are stacked automatically as they slide up along one another in a shingled manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Applicant: RECOT, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick J. Bierschenk, Steven D. Braithwaite, John J. Michels
  • Patent number: 6338606
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for stacking curved, triangular snack food chips, e.g., tortilla chips, for packaging in a sleeve-type container. The chips are fed into a first, U-shaped vibratory chute, which automatically causes the apex corners of the chips to extend beyond the opposing base edges of adjacent chips and which automatically orients the chips such that lines about which they are curved are oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction of the U-shaped chute. The chips are then fed into a W-shaped chute, with the chips facing in opposite directions falling automatically into opposite troughs of the W-shaped chute. The chips are then automatically reoriented by 120° such that their upturned apex corners point in the direction of travel, and the chips are stacked automatically as they slide up along one another in a shingled manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Recot, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick J. Bierschenk, Steven D. Braithwaite, John J. Michels
  • Patent number: 4606454
    Abstract: The present invention is a protective packaging system for a plurality of containers (12) having a top protective cover (2) for engaging and protecting the top end closures (62) of the plurality of containers (12), and an enclosing material (14), such as shrink wrap (14), disposed about a plurality of containers (12) having the top protective cover (2) disposed thereon for maintaining the top protective cover (2) in contact with the top end closures (62) of the containers (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1986
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hambleton, Harold F. Tighe, Jr., John J. Michels