Patents by Inventor Kathryn Melissa Dove

Kathryn Melissa Dove 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: 7384658
    Abstract: Seasoning for use with snack chips can be recovered and recycled. A seasoning permeable conveyor transports snack chips through a seasoning application. The seasoning applicator deposits seasoning onto the snack chips. The conveyor allows the seasoning not adhered to the moving snack chips to substantially pass through and by toward a seasoning recoverer. The seasoning recoverer, which is positioned beneath the conveyor, collects the seasoning for purification and blending with fresh seasoning. After blending, the seasoning mixture is transported to the seasoning application for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kathryn Melissa Dove, Joseph H. Gold, Ponnattu Kurian Joseph, Ali Reza Peyrovi, Donald Joe Tatsch, Mehrnaz Vafaie, Tim Wilding
  • Patent number: 6962128
    Abstract: Seasoning for use with snack chips can be recovered and recycled. A seasoning permeable conveyor transports snack chips through a seasoning application. The seasoning applicator deposits seasoning onto the snack chips. The conveyor allows the seasoning not adhered to the moving snack chips to substantially pass through and by toward a seasoning recoverer. The seasoning recoverer, which is positioned beneath the conveyor, collects the seasoning for purification and blending with fresh seasoning. After blending, the seasoning mixture is transported to the seasoning application for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kathryn Melissa Dove, Joseph H. Gold, Ponnattu Kurian Joseph, Ali Reza Peyrovi, Donald Joe Tatsch, Mehrnaz Vafaie, Tim Wilding
  • Patent number: 6955255
    Abstract: A flipping apparatus for turning over product pieces such as potato crisps having a first conveyor and a second conveyor. A terminal portion of the first conveyor is nested within a concavity defined by an upturned and curved portion of the second conveyor. A channel is provided between the first conveyor and the curved portion of the second conveyor through which the product pieces can pass. Centrifugal force along the curved portion promotes a gentle and effective transfer of the product pieces from the first conveyor to the second conveyor. Thereby, the product pieces are turned over.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward L. Dickinson, Kathryn Melissa Dove, Joseph H. Gold, Ponnattu Kurian Joseph, Bruce LeDoyt
  • Patent number: 6953004
    Abstract: Seasoning for use with snack chips can be recovered and recycled. A seasoning permeable conveyor transports snack chips through a seasoning application. The seasoning applicator deposits seasoning onto the snack chips. The conveyor allows the seasoning not adhered to the moving snack chips to substantially pass through and by toward a seasoning recoverer. The seasoning recoverer, which is positioned beneath the conveyor, collects the seasoning for purification and blending with fresh seasoning. After blending, the seasoning mixture is transported to the seasoning application for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kathryn Melissa Dove, Ponnattu Kurian Joseph, Donald Joe Tatsch, Mehrnaz Vafaie
  • Patent number: 6875458
    Abstract: A mold form fryer utilizing a top conveyor that transports snack pieces through a constant velocity oil stream without the need of a bottom mating mold or conveyor. Herein, the form fryer is provided with a top conveyor disposed above a fryer oil pan positioned longitudinally through the fryer. Uncooked snack pieces are provided to the fryer oil pan by a bottom entrance conveyor. Snack pieces, once in oil within the fryer, meet with molding surfaces on the top conveyor. At the exit portion of the fryer, a bottom exit conveyor receives the cooked snack pieces from the top conveyor. As no continuous bottom conveyor is utilized, the fryer oil pan may be provided with a reduced volume segment situated between the bottom entrance and exit conveyors. Additionally, the molding surfaces may be selected to produce uniformly shaped snack pieces that are either convexly or concavely shaped when viewed upon the bottom exit conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kathryn Melissa Dove, William Douglas Henson, Ponnattu Kurian Joseph, Donald Joe Tatsch
  • Publication number: 20040139861
    Abstract: A mold form fryer utilizing a top conveyor that transports snack pieces through a constant velocity oil stream without the need of a bottom mating mold or conveyor. Herein, the form fryer is provided with a top conveyor disposed above a fryer oil pan positioned longitudinally through the fryer. Uncooked snack pieces are provided to the fryer oil pan by a bottom entrance conveyor. Snack pieces, once in oil within the fryer, meet with molding surfaces on the top conveyor. At the exit portion of the fryer, a bottom exit conveyor receives the cooked snack pieces from the top conveyor. As no continuous bottom conveyor is utilized, the fryer oil pan may be provided with a reduced volume segment situated between the bottom entrance and exit conveyors. Additionally, the molding surfaces may be selected to produce uniformly shaped snack pieces that are either convexly or concavely shaped when viewed upon the bottom exit conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Kathryn Melissa Dove, William Douglas Henson, Ponnattu Kurian Joseph, Donald Joe Tatsch
  • Publication number: 20040083901
    Abstract: Seasoning for use with snack chips can be recovered and recycled. A seasoning permeable conveyor transports snack chips through a seasoning application. The seasoning applicator deposits seasoning onto the snack chips. The conveyor allows the seasoning not adhered to the moving snack chips to substantially pass through and by toward a seasoning recoverer. The seasoning recoverer, which is positioned beneath the conveyor, collects the seasoning for purification and blending with fresh seasoning. After blending, the seasoning mixture is transported to the seasoning application for use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Kathryn Melissa Dove, Ponnattu Kurian Joseph, Donald Joe Tatsch, Mehrnaz Vafaie
  • Patent number: D493271
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ajay Rajeshwar Bhaskar, Kathryn Melissa Dove, William Douglas Henson