Patents by Inventor Stan Wijts

Stan Wijts 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: 9770838
    Abstract: A system for cutting a three-dimensional portion from a foodstuff includes a conveyor for carrying a foodstuff to be portioned, a scanner located adjacent to the conveyor for scanning the foodstuff, a computer coupled to the scanner for receiving scan information to determine one or more cutting paths for the foodstuff, and a cutter for portioning the foodstuff according to the determined cutting path(s). The computer performs generally four steps: (i) receiving scan information from the scanner; (ii) building a three-dimensional map of the foodstuff based on the received scan information; (iii) fitting at least one desired shape, which is stored in the memory of the computer, onto the built three-dimensional map; and (iv) determining one or more cutting paths for portioning the foodstuff to produce one or more portioned foodstuffs corresponding to the at least one desired shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: JOHN BEAN TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kwang S. Kim, Stan Wijts, Norman A. Rudy
  • Patent number: 8166856
    Abstract: A system for cutting a three-dimensional portion from a foodstuff. The system includes a scanner for scanning the foodstuff, a computer coupled to the scanner for receiving information from the scanner to determine one or more cutting paths for the foodstuff, and a cutter for portioning the foodstuff according to the one or more determined cutting paths. The computer is configured to perform generally four steps: (i) receiving scan information of the foodstuff from the scanner; (ii) building a three-dimensional map of the foodstuff based on the received scan information of the foodstuff; (iii) fitting at least one desired shape, which is stored in memory of the computer, onto the three-dimensional map in the memory of the computer; and (iv) determining one or more cutting paths to be used in portioning the foodstuff so as to produce one or more portioned foodstuffs corresponding to the at least one desired shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: John Bean Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kwang S. Kim, Stan Wijts, Norman A. Rudy
  • Publication number: 20120059500
    Abstract: A system is provided for cutting a three-dimensional portion from a foodstuff. The system includes a conveyor for carrying a foodstuff to be portioned, a scanner located adjacent to the conveyor for scanning the foodstuff, a computer coupled to the scanner for receiving scan information from the scanner to determine one or more cutting paths for the foodstuff, and a cutter for portioning the foodstuff according to the one or more determined cutting paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: JOHN BEAN TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kwang S. Kim, Stan Wijts, Norman A. Rudy
  • Patent number: 8025000
    Abstract: The portioning foodstuffs in three dimensions includes generating a three-dimensional map of the foodstuff, and then comparing the generated three-dimensional map of the foodstuff with the desired shape as stored in the memory of a computer. The computer determines the particular cutting path in three dimensions in order to arrive at the predetermined shape. This is followed by cutting in one direction to fix at least one dimension of the foodstuff, determining whether the foodstuff is within the tolerance limits or whether the foodstuff portion has moved during the first cutting operation. If so, the foodstuff is rescanned to generate a two-dimensional image of the foodstuff, followed by cutting the foodstuff to arrive at a portion trimmed along three dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: John Bean Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kwang S. Kim, Stan Wijts, Norman A. Rudy
  • Patent number: 7841264
    Abstract: A method for portioning foodstuffs in three dimensions includes scanning the foodstuff to be portion, generating a three-dimensional map of the foodstuff, then comparing the generated three-dimensional map of the foodstuff with the desired shape which is stored in the memory of a computer. A computer then determines a particular cutting path in three dimensions in order to arrive at the predetermined shape, followed by a cutting in one direction to fix at least one dimension of the foodstuff, then determining whether the foodstuff is within the tolerance limits. The foodstuff is thereafter cut along its other dimensions to arrive at a portion trimmed along three dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: John Bean Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kwang S. Kim, Stan Wijts, Norman A. Rudy
  • Publication number: 20090149986
    Abstract: A system is provided for cutting a three-dimensional portion from a foodstuff. The system includes a conveyor for carrying a foodstuff to be portioned, a scanner located adjacent to the conveyor for scanning the foodstuff, a computer coupled to the scanner for receiving scan information from the scanner to determine one or more cutting paths for the foodstuff, and a cutter for portioning the foodstuff according to the one or more determined cutting paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: John Bean Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kwang S. Kim, Stan Wijts, Norman A. Rudy
  • Publication number: 20070204735
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for portioning foodstuffs in three dimensions. A step in portioning according to the present invention includes scanning the foodstuff to be portion. Followed by a step of generating a three-dimensional map of the foodstuff. Followed by a step of comparing the generated three-dimensional map of the foodstuff with the desired shape which is stored in the memory of a computer. The computer will then be able to determine the particular cutting path in three dimensions in order to arrive at the predetermined shape. Followed by a step of cutting in one direction to fix at least one dimension of the foodstuff. Followed by a step of determining whether the foodstuff is within the tolerance limits or whether the foodstuff portion has moved during the first cutting operation. If the foodstuff portion has moved, the foodstuff will be rescanned. Followed by a step of generating a two-dimensional image of the foodstuff.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Applicant: FMC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kwang Kim, Stan Wijts, Norman Rudy
  • Publication number: 20030145699
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for portioning foodstuffs in three dimensions. A step in portioning according to the present invention includes scanning the foodstuff to be portion. Followed by a step of generating a three-dimensional map of the foodstuff. Followed by a step of comparing the generated three-dimensional map of the foodstuff with the desired shape which is stored in the memory of a computer. The computer will then be able to determine the particular cutting path in three dimensions in order to arrive at the predetermined shape. Followed by a step of cutting in one direction to fix at least one dimension of the foodstuff. Followed by a step of determining whether the foodstuff is within the tolerance limits or whether the foodstuff portion has moved during the first cutting operation. If the foodstuff portion has moved, the foodstuff will be rescanned. Followed by a step of generating a two-dimensional image of the foodstuff.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: FMC
    Inventors: Kwang S. Kim, Stan Wijts, Norman A. Rudy