Patents Assigned to Bellwether Coffee Co.
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Publication number: 20260114466Abstract: An apparatus includes a receptacle configured to receive a container containing a substance for processing. The container includes a readable tag having processing information associated with the substance. The apparatus also includes a processing chamber operably coupled to the receptacle and configured to receive the substance and process the substance. The apparatus further includes a controller operably coupled to the processing chamber and configured to generate one or more processing instructions based on the processing information in the readable tag and further based on additional processing information received from a remote device. The processing is also configured to process the substance based on the one or more processing instructions.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2025Publication date: April 30, 2026Applicant: Bellwether Coffee Co.Inventors: Jens Peter VOGES, Fong LIU, John LAIRD, Scott WHITMAN, Zachary Russell HEINEMAN, Dylan Hilmer BIRD, Nicholas Scott REIMNITZ
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Patent number: 12550927Abstract: A substance processing system includes a pressurizer configured to pressurize air and a processing chamber configured to process a substance. The system also includes a heat exchanger coupled between the pressurizer and the processing chamber. A nozzle is coupled to the processing chamber such that output from the nozzle comprises a substantially even pressure distribution.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2023Date of Patent: February 17, 2026Assignee: Bellwether Coffee Co.Inventors: Jens Peter Voges, Fong Liu, John Laird, Scott Whitman, Zachary Russell Heineman, Dylan Hilmer Bird, Nicholas Scott Reimnitz, Pietro Valsecchi
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Patent number: 12543768Abstract: A bean roasting system includes a roasting subsystem and an air handling subsystem. The roasting subsystem is configured to receive and to thermally roast a batch of beans. The air handling subsystem is coupled to the roasting subsystem and includes a blower, a cyclone separator, and a heater. The blower is configured to impart air motion. The air passes through the air handling subsystem. The cyclone separator is configured to remove particulates from the air handling subsystem. The heater is configured to heat the air passing through the air handling subsystem. The heater includes heater windings that are incorporated into the cyclone separator.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2021Date of Patent: February 10, 2026Assignee: Bellwether Coffee Co.Inventors: Stewart Schmehl, Peter Schmehl
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Patent number: 12520866Abstract: A bean roasting system includes a roasting drum, an air handling system, a bean cooler, and an air exit subsystem. The air exit subsystem is configured to receive and treat a first fluid stream from the air handling system and a second fluid stream from the bean cooler. The air exit subsystem includes a heat sink and a filter. The heat sink defines two parallel fluid paths including a first fluid path and a second fluid path. The air exit subsystem includes a metal body configured to receive heat from the first fluid path and the second fluid path. The first fluid path is fluidically coupled to receive the first fluid stream from the air handling system. The second fluid path is fluidically coupled to receive the second fluid stream from the bean cooler. The filter is fluidically coupled to the first and second air flow paths.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2021Date of Patent: January 13, 2026Assignee: Bellwether Coffee Co.Inventors: Peter Schmehl, Stewart Schmehl
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Patent number: 12349694Abstract: An apparatus includes a receptacle configured to receive a container containing a substance for processing. The container includes a readable tag having processing information associated with the substance. The apparatus also includes a processing chamber operably coupled to the receptacle and configured to receive the substance and process the substance. The apparatus further includes a controller operably coupled to the processing chamber and configured to generate one or more processing instructions based on the processing information in the readable tag and further based on additional processing information received from a remote device. The processing is also configured to process the substance based on the one or more processing instructions.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2022Date of Patent: July 8, 2025Assignee: Bellwether Coffee Co.Inventors: Jens Peter Voges, Fong Liu, John Laird, Scott Whitman, Zachary Russell Heineman, Dylan Hilmer Bird, Nicholas Scott Reimnitz
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Publication number: 20240298690Abstract: A substance processing system includes a pressurizer configured to pressurize air and a processing chamber configured to process a substance. The system also includes a heat exchanger coupled between the pressurizer and the processing chamber. A nozzle is coupled to the processing chamber such that output from the nozzle comprises a substantially even pressure distribution.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2023Publication date: September 12, 2024Applicant: Bellwether Coffee Co.Inventors: Jens Peter VOGES, Fong LIU, John LAIRD, Scott WHITMAN, Zachary Russell HEINEMAN, Dylan Hilmer BIRD, Nicholas Scott REIMNITZ, Pietro VALSECCHI
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Patent number: 12016364Abstract: A bean roasting system includes a roasting subsystem, a cooling subsystem, an air exit subsystem that is fluidically coupled to the cooling subsystem, and a controller. The cooling subsystem includes an outer housing containing a holding chamber, a cooling platform defining a lower bound of the holding chamber, a vibration actuator coupled to the cooling platform, and a platform actuator coupled to the cooling platform. The controller is configured to operate the air exit subsystem to maintain a flow of air up through the holding chamber, operate the roasting subsystem to transfer a batch of beans from the roasting subsystem to the holding chamber, operate the vibration actuator to vibrate the cooling platform, operate the air exit subsystem and operate the vibration actuator accelerates cooling of the batch of beans, and operate the platform actuator to transport the batch of beans out of the cooling subsystem.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2021Date of Patent: June 25, 2024Assignee: Bellwether Coffee Co.Inventors: Stewart Schmehl, John Sandhu, Ronald Kappesser, Peter Schmehl
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Patent number: 11918023Abstract: A bean roasting system includes a roasting chamber, a blower, a variable diverter and a controller. The roasting chamber, the blower and the variable diverter each is disposed at least partially within a recirculating gas flow path. The blower is configured to provide a flow stream of gas through the recirculating gas flow path. The variable diverter is configured to split the gas flow path into at least two flow paths including a treated flow path and a bypass flow path. The treated flow path includes a series arrangement of a gas heater and a catalytic converter. The variable diverter is configured to control a percentage of a flow stream of gas that is diverted into the bypass flow path. The controller is configured to activate different predetermined operating modes for the bean roasting system by controlling a state of the variable diverter and a state of the heater.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2019Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Bellwether Coffee Co.Inventors: John Sandhu, Arno Holschuh, Ricardo Lopez, Jeremiah Peevyhouse, Peter Schmehl, Neil Sandhu, Jeff Wyatt, Mose O'Griffin, Andrew Damele, Michael Shawver
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Patent number: 11839230Abstract: A substance processing system includes a pressurizer configured to pressurize air and a processing chamber configured to process a substance. The system also includes a heat exchanger coupled between the pressurizer and the processing chamber. A nozzle is coupled to the processing chamber such that output from the nozzle comprises a substantially even pressure distribution.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2019Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: Bellwether Coffee Co.Inventors: Jens Peter Voges, Fong Liu, John Laird, Scott Whitman, Zachary Russell Heineman, Dylan Hilmer Bird, Nicholas Scott Reimnitz, Pietro Valsecchi
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Publication number: 20230165267Abstract: An apparatus includes a receptacle configured to receive a container containing a substance for processing. The container includes a readable tag having processing information associated with the substance. The apparatus also includes a processing chamber operably coupled to the receptacle and configured to receive the substance and process the substance. The apparatus further includes a controller operably coupled to the processing chamber and configured to generate one or more processing instructions based on the processing information in the readable tag and further based on additional processing information received from a remote device. The processing is also configured to process the substance based on the one or more processing instructions.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2022Publication date: June 1, 2023Applicant: Bellwether Coffee Co.Inventors: Jens Peter VOGES, Fong LIU, John Laird, Scott Whitman, Zachary Russell Heineman, Dylan Hilmer Bird, Nicholas Scott Reimnitz
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Patent number: 11641870Abstract: A bean roasting system includes a roasting chamber, a blower, a variable diverter and a controller. The roasting chamber, the blower and the variable diverter each is disposed at least partially within a recirculating gas flow path. The blower is configured to provide a flow stream of gas through the recirculating gas flow path. The variable diverter is configured to split the gas flow path into at least two flow paths including a treated flow path and a bypass flow path. The treated flow path includes a series arrangement of a gas heater and a catalytic converter. The variable diverter is configured to control a percentage of a flow stream of gas that is diverted into the bypass flow path. The controller is configured to activate different predetermined operating modes for the bean roasting system by controlling a state of the variable diverter and a state of the heater.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2021Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: Bellwether Coffee Co.Inventors: Ricardo Lopez, John Sandhu, Arno Holschuh
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Patent number: 11510432Abstract: A bean roasting system includes a roasting drum, an agitator, and a door. The roasting drum has an inside surface extending from a back end to a front end. The agitator has blades mounted to an axial shaft. The axial shaft has an anterior end portion. The door is mounted rotationally relative to the roasting drum and includes a glass plate and a bearing assembly. The glass plate provides visual access to contents inside the roasting drum when the door is closed. The bearing assembly includes an outer housing and an inner bearing. The outer housing is mounted to the glass plate. The inner bearing defines a receiving hole that receives and supports the anterior end portion of the axial shaft when the door closed.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2021Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Bellwether Coffee Co.Inventors: John Sandhu, Arno Holschuh, Ricardo Lopez, Jeremiah Peevyhouse, Peter Schmehl, Neil Sandhu, Jeff Wyatt, Mose O'Griffin, Andrew Damele, Michael Shawver
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Patent number: 11439156Abstract: An apparatus includes a receptacle configured to receive a container containing a substance for processing. The container includes a readable tag having processing information associated with the substance. The apparatus also includes a processing chamber operably coupled to the receptacle and configured to receive the substance and process the substance. The apparatus further includes a controller operably coupled to the processing chamber and configured to generate one or more processing instructions based on the processing information in the readable tag and further based on additional processing information received from a remote device. The processing is also configured to process the substance based on the one or more processing instructions.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2017Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: Bellwether Coffee Co.Inventors: Jens Peter Voges, Fong Liu, John Laird, Scott Whitman, Zachary Russell Heineman, Dylan Hilmer Bird, Nicholas Scott Reimnitz
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Publication number: 20210386108Abstract: A bean roasting system includes a roasting chamber, a blower, a variable diverter and a controller. The roasting chamber, the blower and the variable diverter each is disposed at least partially within a recirculating gas flow path. The blower is configured to provide a flow stream of gas through the recirculating gas flow path. The variable diverter is configured to split the gas flow path into at least two flow paths including a treated flow path and a bypass flow path. The treated flow path includes a series arrangement of a gas heater and a catalytic converter. The variable diverter is configured to control a percentage of a flow stream of gas that is diverted into the bypass flow path. The controller is configured to activate different predetermined operating modes for the bean roasting system by controlling a state of the variable diverter and a state of the heater.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2021Publication date: December 16, 2021Applicant: Bellwether Coffee Co.Inventors: Ricardo LOPEZ, John SANDHU, Arno HOLSCHUH
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Publication number: 20210227871Abstract: A bean roasting system includes a roasting drum, an agitator, and a door. The roasting drum has an inside surface extending from a back end to a front end. The agitator has blades mounted to an axial shaft. The axial shaft has an anterior end portion. The door is mounted rotationally relative to the roasting drum and includes a glass plate and a bearing assembly. The glass plate provides visual access to contents inside the roasting drum when the door is closed. The bearing assembly includes an outer housing and an inner bearing. The outer housing is mounted to the glass plate. The inner bearing defines a receiving hole that receives and supports the anterior end portion of the axial shaft when the door closed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2021Publication date: July 29, 2021Applicant: Bellwether Coffee Co.Inventors: John SANDHU, Arno HOLSCHUH, Ricardo LOPEZ, Jeremiah PEEVYHOUSE, Peter SCHMEHL, Neil SANDHU, Jeff WYATT, Mose O'GRIFFIN, Andrew DAMELE, Michael SHAWVER
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Patent number: 11013253Abstract: A bean roasting system includes a roasting chamber, a blower, a variable diverter and a controller. The roasting chamber, the blower and the variable diverter each is disposed at least partially within a recirculating gas flow path. The blower is configured to provide a flow stream of gas through the recirculating gas flow path. The variable diverter is configured to split the gas flow path into at least two flow paths including a treated flow path and a bypass flow path. The treated flow path includes a series arrangement of a gas heater and a catalytic converter. The variable diverter is configured to control a percentage of a flow stream of gas that is diverted into the bypass flow path. The controller is configured to activate different predetermined operating modes for the bean roasting system by controlling a state of the variable diverter and a state of the heater.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2020Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Bellwether Coffee Co.Inventors: Ricardo Lopez, John Sandhu, Arno Holschuh
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Patent number: 10973253Abstract: A bean roasting system includes a roasting drum, an agitator, and a door. The roasting drum has an inside surface extending from a back end to a front end. The agitator has blades mounted to an axial shaft. The axial shaft has an anterior end portion. The door is mounted rotationally relative to the roasting drum and includes a glass plate and a bearing assembly. The glass plate provides visual access to contents inside the roasting drum when the door is closed. The bearing assembly includes an outer housing and an inner bearing. The outer housing is mounted to the glass plate. The inner bearing defines a receiving hole that receives and supports the anterior end portion of the axial shaft when the door closed.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2019Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: Bellwether Coffee Co.Inventors: John Sandhu, Arno Holschuh, Ricardo Lopez, Jeremiah Peevyhouse, Peter Schmehl, Neil Sandhu, Jeff Wyatt, Mose O'Griffin, Andrew Damele, Michael Shawver
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Publication number: 20200288765Abstract: A bean roasting system includes a roasting chamber, a blower, a variable diverter and a controller. The roasting chamber, the blower and the variable diverter each is disposed at least partially within a recirculating gas flow path. The blower is configured to provide a flow stream of gas through the recirculating gas flow path. The variable diverter is configured to split the gas flow path into at least two flow paths including a treated flow path and a bypass flow path. The treated flow path includes a series arrangement of a gas heater and a catalytic converter. The variable diverter is configured to control a percentage of a flow stream of gas that is diverted into the bypass flow path. The controller is configured to activate different predetermined operating modes for the bean roasting system by controlling a state of the variable diverter and a state of the heater.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2020Publication date: September 17, 2020Applicant: Bellwether Coffee Co.Inventors: Ricardo LOPEZ, John SANDHU, Arno HOLSCHUH
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Patent number: 10602764Abstract: A bean roasting system includes a roasting chamber, a blower, a variable diverter and a controller. The roasting chamber, the blower and the variable diverter each is disposed at least partially within a recirculating gas flow path. The blower is configured to provide a flow stream of gas through the recirculating gas flow path. The variable diverter is configured to split the gas flow path into at least two flow paths including a treated flow path and a bypass flow path. The treated flow path includes a series arrangement of a gas heater and a catalytic converter. The variable diverter is configured to control a percentage of a flow stream of gas that is diverted into the bypass flow path. The controller is configured to activate different predetermined operating modes for the bean roasting system by controlling a state of the variable diverter and a state of the heater.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2019Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: Bellwether Coffee Co.Inventors: Ricardo Lopez, John Sandhu, Arno Holschuh
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Patent number: D970957Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2020Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Bellwether Coffee Co.Inventors: Adam Reineck, Kimberly Noon, Ricardo Lopez, John Sandhu, John Bennett Stoelting