Patents by Inventor Minoru Kasai

Minoru Kasai 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: 9107425
    Abstract: A sausage suspension member undergoes primary pivoting whereby an opening portion with an inner link of a sausage placed thereon is moved about a pivot axis laterally inwardly, and after the primary pivoting the sausage suspension member undergoes secondary pivoting whereby the opening portion with the inner link placed thereon is moved about the pivot axis laterally inwardly so as to move the opening portion with the inner link placed thereon laterally inwardly away from a stick in a state of being inserted between the inner link and an outer link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: HITEC Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Kasai, Tatsuo Nakamura, Takayuki Fujimaki
  • Publication number: 20150126103
    Abstract: A sausage suspension member undergoes primary pivoting whereby an opening portion with an inner link of a sausage placed thereon is moved about a pivot axis laterally inwardly, and after the primary pivoting the sausage suspension member undergoes secondary pivoting whereby the opening portion with the inner link placed thereon is moved about the pivot axis laterally inwardly so as to move the opening portion with the inner link placed thereon laterally inwardly away from a stick in a state of being inserted between the inner link and an outer link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Minoru Kasai, Tatsuo Nakamura, Takayuki Fujimaki
  • Patent number: 8151973
    Abstract: Provided herein are various suspension devices and associated methods and apparatus to open loops (or form opened loops) in a chain of linked products suspended from one or more suspension devices in a conveyor system. In one implementation, a suspension device for a chain of linked products includes a link support portion pivotally coupled to a conveyor, the link support portion configured to suspend a portion of the chain of linked products therefrom and comprising a lower portion downwardly extending from the link support portion. The lower portion is configured to engage a portion of a respective link of the chain upon a pivoting motion of the link support portion about a pivot axis in order to open a respective loop suspended from the link support portion to an unloading orientation for unloading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Global Brands LLC
    Inventors: Zbigniew S. Borkiewicz, Timothy J. Drebing, Kris K. Hulett, Tatsuo Nakamura, Minoru Kasai
  • Publication number: 20100243409
    Abstract: Provided herein are various suspension devices and associated methods and apparatus to open loops (or form opened loops) in a chain of linked products suspended from one or more suspension devices in a conveyor system. In one implementation, a suspension device for a chain of linked products includes a link support portion pivotally coupled to a conveyor, the link support portion configured to suspend a portion of the chain of linked products therefrom and comprising a lower portion downwardly extending from the link support portion. The lower portion is configured to engage a portion of a respective link of the chain upon a pivoting motion of the link support portion about a pivot axis in order to open a respective loop suspended from the link support portion to an unloading orientation for unloading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Kraft Foods Global Brands LLC
    Inventors: Zbigniew S. Borkiewicz, Timothy J. Drebing, Kris K. Hulett, Tatsuo Nakamura, Minoru Kasai
  • Patent number: 7735630
    Abstract: Provided herein are various suspension devices and associated methods and apparatus to open loops (or form opened loops) in a chain of linked products suspended from one or more suspension devices in a conveyor system. In one implementation, a suspension device for a chain of linked products includes a link support portion pivotally coupled to a conveyor, the link support portion configured to suspend a portion of the chain of linked products therefrom and comprising a lower portion downwardly extending from the link support portion. The lower portion is configured to engage a portion of a respective link of the chain upon a pivoting motion of the link support portion about a pivot axis in order to open a respective loop suspended from the link support portion to an unloading orientation for unloading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Global Brands LLC
    Inventors: Zbigniew S. Borkiewicz, Timothy J. Drebing, Kris K. Hulett, Tatsuo Nakamura, Minoru Kasai
  • Patent number: 7588485
    Abstract: An apparatus 1 for transferring a stick for suspending loops of sausages, includes: a stick supporting means 9 for supporting the stick 8 at a position 7 located downwardly of suspending portions 4 of hooks 5 each having the suspending portion 4 for suspending the loop 3 of the sausages 2; a first stick transferer 14 which is raised from a lowermost position 11 located downwardly of the stick 8 supported by the stick supporting means 9 to an upper position 13 located upwardly of the hooks 5 to raise the stick 8 moved onto the first stick transferer 14 from the stick supporting means 9, and which is subsequently lowered to the lowermost position 11; and a second stick transferer 15 which is provided at a position upwardly distant from the hooks 5 and which is raised to an uppermost position 17 located upwardly of the upper position 13 to raise the stick 8, which has been moved onto the second stick transferer 15 from the first stick transferer 14, to the uppermost position 17, and which is subsequently lowered
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: HITEC Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Nakamura, Minoru Kasai, Takayuki Fujimaki
  • Publication number: 20090127072
    Abstract: Provided herein are various suspension devices and associated methods and apparatus to open loops (or form opened loops) in a chain of linked products suspended from one or more suspension devices in a conveyor system. In one implementation, a suspension device for a chain of linked products includes a link support portion pivotally coupled to a conveyor, the link support portion configured to suspend a portion of the chain of linked products therefrom and comprising a lower portion downwardly extending from the link support portion. The lower portion is configured to engage a portion of a respective link of the chain upon a pivoting motion of the link support portion about a pivot axis in order to open a respective loop suspended from the link support portion to an unloading orientation for unloading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Kraft Foods Global Brands LLC
    Inventors: Zbigniew S. Borkiewicz, Timothy J. Drebing, Kris K. Hulett, Tatsuo Nakamura, Minoru Kasai
  • Patent number: 7464806
    Abstract: Provided herein are various suspension devices and associated methods and apparatus to open loops (or form opened loops) in a chain of linked products suspended from one or more suspension devices in a conveyor system. In one implementation, a suspension device for a chain of linked products includes a link support portion pivotally coupled to a conveyor, the link support portion configured to suspend a portion of the chain of linked products therefrom and comprising a lower portion downwardly extending from the link support portion. The lower portion is configured to engage a portion of a respective link of the chain upon a pivoting motion of the link support portion about a pivot axis in order to open a respective loop suspended from the link support portion to an unloading orientation for unloading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Global Brands LLC
    Inventors: Zbigniew S. Borkiewicz, Timothy J. Drebing, Kris K. Hulett, Tatsuo Nakamura, Minoru Kasai
  • Patent number: 7249997
    Abstract: An apparatus for suspending a sausage from a stick includes an endless circulating body provided with hooks; stick supporting members for supporting a stick at a position below the hooks; a pair of stick-supporting-member actuating devices for moving the stick supporting members toward or away from the stick; and a stick transferring device for transferring the sausage suspended from the hooks onto the stick while removing the stick from the stick supporting members, and for concurrently supplying an ensuing stick onto the stick supporting members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Hitec Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Minoru Kasai
  • Publication number: 20050263371
    Abstract: Provided herein are various suspension devices and associated methods and apparatus to open loops (or form opened loops) in a chain of linked products suspended from one or more suspension devices in a conveyor system. In one implementation, a suspension device for a chain of linked products includes a link support portion pivotally coupled to a conveyor, the link support portion configured to suspend a portion of the chain of linked products therefrom and comprising a lower portion downwardly extending from the link support portion. The lower portion is configured to engage a portion of a respective link of the chain upon a pivoting motion of the link support portion about a pivot axis in order to open a respective loop suspended from the link support portion to an unloading orientation for unloading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Applicant: Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Zbigniew Borkiewicz, Timothy Drebing, Kris Hulett, Tatsuo Nakamura, Minoru Kasai
  • Patent number: 6964605
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus (1) for manufacturing natural intestine sausages includes a stuffing tube (4), an intestine pushing member (6), an intestine-pushing-member driving device (7), an intestine receiving member (9), a braking member (10), a transporting device (11), a detecting device (13) for detecting the position of the intestine pushing member (6) with respect to the intestine receiving member (9), and a controlling device (15) for stopping the operation of a material supplying device (3). A distal end (4A) of the stuffing tube (4) is positioned in such a manner as to project from the braking member (10) toward the transporting device (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: HITEC Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Kasai, Minoru Nakamura, Hideaki Arai, Nobuo Kimura
  • Publication number: 20050159093
    Abstract: An apparatus for suspending a sausage from a stick includes an endless circulating body provided with hooks; stick supporting members for supporting a stick at a position below the hooks; a pair of stick-supporting-member actuating devices for moving the stick supporting members toward or away from the stick; and a stick transferring device for transferring the sausage suspended from the hooks onto the stick while removing the stick from the stick supporting members, and for concurrently supplying an ensuing stick onto the stick supporting members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Inventor: Minoru Kasai
  • Patent number: 6869353
    Abstract: An apparatus for suspending a sausage (6) from a stick (7) includes an endless circulating body (3) provided with hooks (4) stick supporting members (10) for supporting the stick at a position below the hooks, a pair of stick-supporting-member actuating devices (11) for moving the stick supporting members toward or away from the stick, and a stick transferring device (104) for transferring the sausage suspended from the hooks onto the stick while removing the stick from the stick supporting members, and for concurrently supplying an ensuing stick onto the stick supporting members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Hitec Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Minoru Kasai
  • Patent number: 6688959
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing linked food products having twisted portions includes a stuffing nozzle for discharging from its distal end a food product material supplied from its material inlet port, a hollow spindle for rotating the stuffing nozzle, a braking member for engaging the casing on the stuffing nozzle; a main body housing having a front plate provided uprightly in such a manner as to extend in the same direction as a direction in which the stuffing nozzle extends from the material inlet port toward the distal end, and a side plate extending perpendicularly to the front plate, a spindle housing attached to the front plate, and a braking-member supporting member disposed at a position opposing the side plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Hitec Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Kasai, Minoru Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20030096568
    Abstract: An apparatus for suspending a sausage from a stick includes: an endless circulating body provided with hooks; stick supporting members for supporting a stick at a position below the hooks; a pair of stick-supporting-member actuating devices for moving the stick supporting members toward or away from the stick; and a stick transferring device for transferring the sausage suspended from the hooks onto the stick while removing the stick from the stick supporting members, and for concurrently supplying an ensuing stick onto the stick supporting members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventor: Minoru Kasai
  • Patent number: 6482079
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing foodstuffs such as sausages includes: a stuffed-casing forming and rotating device for forming a stuffed casing by discharging meat emulsion or ground meat as a stuffing material into an unstuffed casing formed of a natural intestine, and for rotating the stuffed casing via the unstuffed casing in a direction R about an axis X; a stuffed-casing constriction-forming and conveying device for producing a twisted portion in the stuffed casing by causing the stuffed casing formed by the stuffed-casing forming and rotating device and rotating in the direction R to be consecutively squeezed and constricted at a predetermined interval, and for conveying the stuffed casing, in which the twisted portion has occurred, in a direction A; and a cutting device for consecutively separating at the twisted portions the stuffed casing which has been formed by the stuffed-casing constriction-forming and conveying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Hitec Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Nakamura, Minoru Kasai, Chiyoji Shibata, Hideaki Arai
  • Publication number: 20020137451
    Abstract: The object is to provide a method and an apparatus for manufacturing natural intestine sausages, which excel in sanitation and make it possible to reduce the waste of a natural intestine casing and a material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventors: Minoru Kasai, Minoru Nakamura, Hideaki Arai, Nobuo Kimura
  • Patent number: 6439990
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for manufacturing sausages as chain-like food products is comprised of: a stuffing nozzle (5) over which an unstuffed natural intestine casing (2) is fitted and which is adapted to continuously discharge a fixed amount of meat (M) as a stuffing material from a distal end (5a) into the unstuffed natural intestine casing (2) so as to form a stuffed natural intestine casing (4) forwardly of the distal end (5a), and is rotated so as to rotate the stuffed natural intestine casing (4) about an axis (X) in the direction of (A) by means of the fitted unstuffed natural intestine casing (2); and two pairs of pincher members (6a), (6b) and (7a), (7b) for consecutively pinching the stuffed natural intestine casing (4) in predetermined cycles and adapted to circulatingly move in the direction of (C) to move the pinched stuffed natural intestine casing (4) from a position forward of the distal end (5a) of the stuffing nozzle (5) further downstream (in the direction of (B)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: HiTec Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Kasai, Minoru Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20010028906
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing linked food products having twisted portions such as sausages includes: a stuffing nozzle for discharging from its distal end a food product material supplied from its material inlet port and for forming a stuffed casing stuffed with the food product material; a hollow spindle for rotating the stuffing nozzle; a braking member for engaging an outer surface of the casing on the stuffing nozzle; a main body housing having a front plate provided uprightly in such a manner as to extend in the same direction as a direction in which the stuffing nozzle extends from the material inlet port toward the distal end, and a side plate extending perpendicularly to the front plate from one edge in the direction of the front plate; a spindle housing attached to the front plate so as to rotatably support the hollow spindle; and a braking-member supporting member disposed at a position opposing the side plate so as to support the braking member at a predetermined position with respect to the stuf
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: Minoru Kasai, Minoru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6050888
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing chain-like food products such as sausages or the like includes a stuffing nozzle over which a natural intestine is fitted and a pinching device for pinching and conveying a stuffed natural intestine in the forward direction of the stuffing nozzle. A stuffing material is discharged from a distal end of the stuffing nozzle into a straightened natural intestine portion of the natural intestine to form a stuffed natural intestine portion. The stuffed natural intestine portion is nipped, and is pulled. The stuffed natural intestine portion being rotated and moved is pinched to form a twist. The discharge of the stuffing material into the straightened natural intestine portion is effected while the stuffed natural intestine portion and the straightened natural intestine portion are being moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Hitech Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Nakamura, Minoru Kasai