Patents by Inventor Michael H. Lago
Michael H. Lago 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: 7857910Abstract: The invention relates to a food product dispenser that includes a food delivery mechanism and a cleansing mechanism. The food delivery mechanism includes a food source, a food conduit associated with the food source for receiving a food component therefrom, and a dispensing mechanism configured to dispense servings of the food component from the conduit. The cleansing mechanism includes a cleansing conduit associated with the food delivery mechanism to direct a cleansing fluid along a fluid path in cleansing association with the food delivery mechanism under conditions for performing a cleansing operation on the food delivery mechanism. A controller can be provided for automatically conducting cleansing operations based on predetermined conditions. The controller, delivery mechanism and cleansing mechanism can be configured to switch between the dispensing of the servings and the cleansing operation at a plurality of intervals during a day without substantial intervention from an operator.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2003Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Nestec S.A.Inventors: Peter W. Carhuff, Takeshi Masu, Gene Clyde, Edward L. Dickinson, Andrew C. Harvey, Edward M. Kolvek, Michael H. Lago
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Patent number: 7401613Abstract: The invention relates to a method of in place cleaning of an automated food product dispenser comprising an interface connection configured to establish a supply of a milk-based fluid from a reservoir (for example, a container or a bag), a mixing device configured to receive the milk-based fluid and prepare a milk based product, a nozzle in fluid association with the mixing device for dispensing the milk based product, a product flowpath configured for directing the milk based product to flow from the interface connection through the mixing device to the nozzle, and a clean-in-place flowpath assembly located in the dispenser and comprising a supply of cleaning or sanitizing fluid and a flowpath which is configured to deliver the cleaning or sanitizing fluid to or through the product flowpath. The invention also relates to a machine readable program for controlling the automated food product dispenser of the invention and for cleaning the same in place.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2004Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Assignee: Nestec S.A.Inventors: Peter W. Carhuff, Takeshi Masu, Gene Clyde, Edward L. Dickinson, Andrew C. Harvey, Edward M. Kolvek, Michael H. Lago
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Patent number: 7325485Abstract: The invention relates to an automated food product dispenser comprising an interface connection configured to establish a supply of a milk-based fluid from a reservoir (for example, a container or a bag), a mixing device configured to receive the milk-based fluid and prepare a milk based product, a nozzle in fluid association with the mixing device for dispensing the milk based product, a product flowpath configured for directing the milk based product to flow from the interface connection through the mixing device to the nozzle, and a clean-in-place flowpath assembly located in the dispenser and comprising a supply of cleaning or sanitizing fluid and a flowpath which is configured to deliver the cleaning or sanitizing fluid to or through the product flowpath. The invention also relates to a method of using and machine readable program for controlling the automated food product dispenser of the invention.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2005Date of Patent: February 5, 2008Assignee: Nestec S.A.Inventors: Peter W. Carhuff, Takeshi Masu, Gene Clyde, Edward L. Dickinson, Andrew C. Harvey, Edward M. Kolvek, Michael H. Lago
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Patent number: 6977091Abstract: The invention relates to a method to improve the appearance and texture of froth on a liquid food product. The liquid food product is prepared in a receptacle with a froth layer above a liquid layer. Droplets of a liquid are sprayed on the froth layer to increase the homogeneity thereof.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2002Date of Patent: December 20, 2005Assignee: Nestec S.A.Inventors: Peter W. Carhuff, Takeshi Masu, Michael H. Lago
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Patent number: 6889603Abstract: The invention relates to an automated food product dispenser comprising an interface connection configured to establish a supply of a milk-based fluid from a reservoir (for example, a container or a bag), a mixing device configured to receive the milk-based fluid and prepare a milk based product, a nozzle in fluid association with the mixing device for dispensing the milk based product, a product flowpath configured for directing the milk based product to flow from the interface connection through the mixing device to the nozzle, and a clean-in-place flowpath assembly located in the dispenser and comprising a supply of cleaning or sanitizing fluid and a flowpath which is configured to deliver the cleaning or sanitizing fluid to or through the product flowpath. The invention also relates to a method of using and machine readable program for controlling the automated food product dispenser of the invention.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2002Date of Patent: May 10, 2005Assignee: Nestec S.A.Inventors: Peter W. Carhuff, Takeshi Masu, Gene Clyde, Edward L. Dickinson, Andrew C. Harvey, Edward M. Kolvek, Michael H. Lago
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Publication number: 20040194811Abstract: The invention relates to a method of in place cleaning of an automated food product dispenser comprising an interface connection configured to establish a supply of a milk-based fluid from a reservoir (for example, a container or a bag), a mixing device configured to receive the milk-based fluid and prepare a milk based product, a nozzle in fluid association with the mixing device for dispensing the milk based product, a product flowpath configured for directing the milk based product to flow from the interface connection through the mixing device to the nozzle, and a clean-in-place flowpath assembly located in the dispenser and comprising a supply of cleaning or sanitizing fluid and a flowpath which is configured to deliver the cleaning or sanitizing fluid to or through the product flowpath. The invention also relates to a machine readable program for controlling the automated food product dispenser of the invention and for cleaning the same in place.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2004Publication date: October 7, 2004Applicant: NESTEC SAInventors: Peter W. Carhuff, Takeshi Masu, Gene Clyde, Edward L. Dickinson, Andrew C. Harvey, Edward M. Kolvek, Michael H. Lago
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Publication number: 20040118291Abstract: The invention relates to an automated food product dispenser comprising an interface connection configured to establish a supply of a milk-based fluid from a reservoir (for example, a container or a bag), a mixing device configured to receive the milk-based fluid and prepare a milk based product, a nozzle in fluid association with the mixing device for dispensing the milk based product, a product flowpath configured for directing the milk based product to flow from the interface connection through the mixing device to the nozzle, and a clean-in-place flowpath assembly located in the dispenser and comprising a supply of cleaning or sanitizing fluid and a flowpath which is configured to deliver the cleaning or sanitizing fluid to or through the product flowpath. The invention also relates to a method of using and machine readable program for controlling the automated food product dispenser of the invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 24, 2002Publication date: June 24, 2004Inventors: Peter W. Carhuff, Takeshi Masu, Gene Clyde, Edward L. Dickinson, Andrew C. Harvey, Edward M. Kolvek, Michael H. Lago
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Publication number: 20040071841Abstract: The invention relates to a method to improve the appearance and texture of froth on a liquid food product. The liquid food product is prepared in a receptacle with a froth layer above a liquid layer. Droplets of a liquid are sprayed on the froth layer to increase the homogeneity thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2002Publication date: April 15, 2004Inventors: Peter W. Carhuff, Takeshi Masu, Michael H. Lago