Patents by Inventor Joseph H. Abler
Joseph H. Abler 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: 6916500Abstract: An apparatus has a brine tank that is subdivided into cooling cells each having a vertical carousel for submerging blocks of cheese. The cheese blocks are carried through an inlet flume by a flow of brine and then sequentially diverted into the cooling cells where the cheese blocks are loaded into the respective vertical carousel. After the cheese has cooled sufficiently, the brine flow carries the blocks of cheese out of the respective cooling cell. Movement of the cheese blocks and the carousels is controlled automatically, without human intervention. A unique fluid circulation system transfers chilled brine through the tank from a cooling cell containing the coldest cheese to cooling cells with successively warmer cheese blocks.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2001Date of Patent: July 12, 2005Assignee: Stainless Steel Fabricating, Inc.Inventor: Joseph H. Abler
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Patent number: 6458397Abstract: A cheese processing system utilizes a liquid flume to convey blocks of cheese between two components of the system. A staging section is provided in the flume to accumulate cheese blocks into groups that are more easily handled by the component at the outlet of the flume. The staging section has a first movable stop mechanism against which the cheese blocks are detained. When a predefined amount of cheese blocks have accumulated, a second stop prevents additional cheese blocks from entering the staging section until the accumulated one can be released by the first movable stop mechanism. A unique flume structure is provided to direct the liquid flow into different channels to aid in rapidly forcing the detained blocks of cheese into and from the staging section.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2001Date of Patent: October 1, 2002Assignee: Stainless Steel Fabricating, Inc.Inventor: Joseph H. Abler
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Patent number: 6393976Abstract: An apparatus has a tank with a vertical carousel holding blocks of cheese. The carousel moves in a closed path which submerges and flips over the blocks of cheese in a chilled brine solution contained in the tank. The movement of the carrousel ensures that the cheese is cooled uniformly without deformation. While the cheese block are held in the carrousel a fluid circulation system forces chilled brine through the tank.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2002Date of Patent: May 28, 2002Assignee: Stainless Steel Febricating, Inc.Inventor: Joseph H. Abler
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Publication number: 20020056376Abstract: An apparatus has a tank with a vertical carousel holding blocks of cheese. The carousel moves in a closed path which submerges and flips over the blocks of cheese in a chilled brine solution contained in the tank. The movement of the carrousel ensures that the cheese is cooled uniformly without deformation. While the cheese block are held in the carrousel a fluid circulation system forces chilled brine through the tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2002Publication date: May 16, 2002Inventor: Joseph H. Abler
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Patent number: 6379734Abstract: An apparatus has a brine tank that is subdivided into cooling cells each having a vertical carousel for submerging blocks of cheese. The cheese blocks are carried through an inlet flume by a flow of brine and then sequentially diverted into the cooling cells where the cheese blocks are loaded into the respective vertical carousel. After the cheese has cooled sufficiently, the brine flow carries the blocks of cheese out of the respective cooling cell. Movement of the cheese blocks and the carousels is controlled automatically, without human intervention. A unique fluid circulation system transfers chilled brine through the tank from a cooling cell containing the coldest cheese to cooling cells with successively warmer cheese blocks.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2000Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: Stainless Steel Fabricating Inc.Inventor: Joseph H. Abler
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Publication number: 20020028279Abstract: An apparatus has a brine tank that is subdivided into cooling cells each having a vertical carousel for submerging blocks of cheese. The cheese blocks are carried through an inlet flume by a flow of brine and then sequentially diverted into the cooling cells where the cheese blocks are loaded into the respective vertical carousel. After the cheese has cooled sufficiently, the brine flow carries the blocks of cheese out of the respective cooling cell. Movement of the cheese blocks and the carousels is controlled automatically, without human intervention. A unique fluid circulation system transfers chilled brine through the tank from a cooling cell containing the coldest cheese to cooling cells with successively warmer cheese blocks.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2001Publication date: March 7, 2002Inventor: Joseph H. Abler
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Patent number: 6026740Abstract: An apparatus for producing cheese includes a dispenser for applying salt to the cheese at a rate which varies in response to a control signal. The cheese travels across a platform to which a first sensor is attached for measuring the weight of the cheese. A second sensor measures the linear amount of cheese traveling across the platform. A controller derives the rate of cheese production based on the weight and the linear amount of cheese. The controller utilizes the rate of cheese production to produce the control signal and thereby control application of salt to the cheese.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1999Date of Patent: February 22, 2000Assignee: Stainless Steel Fabricating, Inc.Inventor: Joseph H. Abler
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Patent number: 5988052Abstract: An apparatus for producing cheese includes a dispenser for applying salt to the cheese at a rate which varies in response to a control signal. The cheese travels across a platform to which a first sensor is attached for measuring the weight of the cheese. A second sensor measures the linear amount of cheese traveling across the platform. A controller derives the rate of cheese production based on the weight and the linear amount of cheese. The controller utilizes the rate of cheese production to produce the control signal and thereby control application of salt to the cheese.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 1998Date of Patent: November 23, 1999Assignee: Stainless Steel Fabricating, Inc.Inventor: Joseph H. Abler
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Patent number: 5792497Abstract: A cheese processing machine includes an extruder assembly for forming the cheese into a string. The disclosed assembly has two extruders each forcing a different type of cheese in a plastic state into separate chambers of an extrusion head. The extrusion head has a series of apertures with each one communicating with both the first and second chambers, wherein cheese from each chamber is extruded simultaneously through each aperture to produce a string with both types of cheese. The extruded cheese string travel along brine filled troughs while a tube over each trough directs a plurality of brine streams which strike each cheese string and apply a torque which twists the string lengthwise. The cheese cools as it moves along the trough fixing the twisted shape of the string.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 1997Date of Patent: August 11, 1998Assignee: Stainless Steel Fabricating, Inc.Inventors: Joseph H. Abler, Eva Heim
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Patent number: 5711976Abstract: A molds is filled with cheese by an apparatus that includes an extruder which injects cheese through the opening in the mold. A plunger is located adjacent to the mold and is contacted by moveable wall of the mold as cheese fills a mold cavity. An actuator may be provided to varying the position of the plunger in order to accommodate different size molds. A sensor coupled to the plunger measures the force exerted by the cheese against the moveable wall. Aa controller receives a force signal from the sensor and produces an output signal when the force reaches a predetermined level. The output signal activates a knife blade which cuts off further injection of cheese into the mold cavity.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 1996Date of Patent: January 27, 1998Assignee: Stainless Steel Fabricating, Inc.Inventor: Joseph H. Abler
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Patent number: 5450750Abstract: A chamber for determining the volume of a patient for tissue density calculations provides controlled and continuous volume changes in the chamber by means of increasing offset between connected tanks of water, one of which communicates to the chamber to withdraw air from the chamber as its water level falls. Continuous pressure and volume data is thereby obtained allowing rapid determination of the patient volume through an application of Boyle's law. The chamber includes a self-sealing design in which the reduced air pressure of the chamber holds its lid in place. The pressure difference is maintained by a patient's holding down of a handle closing a pressure release valve permitting rapid egress by the patient when the handle is raised.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1994Date of Patent: September 19, 1995Assignee: Abler Data SystemInventor: Joseph H. Abler