Patents Assigned to ConAgra Foods, Inc.
-
Publication number: 20100297306Abstract: A preferred oil/fat material for use in packaged microwaveable popcorn products is provided. The oil/fat material has a Mettler drop point of at least 90° F. (32.2° C.) and no greater than 145° F. (62.8° C.). It includes a first oil/fat component comprising at least 90% by weight of an oil/fat material as described. Typical compositions and package arrangements are shown and described.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2005Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: CONAGRA FOODS , INC.Inventors: Jody Shands, Jamie Sloneker Halgerson, Turiddu A. Pelloso, Tim Puhek, Lance Schilmoeller
-
Publication number: 20080268106Abstract: A microwaveable popcorn bag arrangement is provided. The bag includes a multi-ply construction, wherein one or more of the plies, comprises non-fluorocarbon treated paper. A preferred two-ply arrangement is provided, with a preferred porosity of non-fluorocarbon treated paper used as the inner and outer ply. Techniques of folding the bag arrangement providing a desirable configuration, are provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2005Publication date: October 30, 2008Applicant: Conagra Foods, Inc.Inventors: Eric Craig Jackson, Denise Ellen Hanson, James W. Montealegre, Lance Bernard Schilmoeller
-
Patent number: 7428962Abstract: Commercial production transport systems, mechanisms, and guides for food processing are configured so as to automate food transport. The system can direct food to travel serially over side-by-side predetermined travel lanes using one or more of a pick-up mechanism and/or router guide channels to pick-up and/or laterally translate the food product form the first travel lane to the second travel lane so that it travels greater than one, and typically a plurality, of revolutions about a tier or level in a vertically stacked food processing unit before moving to the next tier. Associated methods redirect and/or laterally translate food being transported in an automated food processing system.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2006Date of Patent: September 30, 2008Assignee: ConAgra Foods, Inc.Inventors: Sarid M. Shefet, John Michael Phillips, Frank Michael Horvath, Jr., Lawrence Alan Chandler, Richard Rodeheaver Hawkins, Larry Jones
-
Publication number: 20080175959Abstract: A microwavable food product includes a susceptor and a foodstuff. The foodstuff is positioned on the susceptor in an open-faced configuration. The susceptor includes at least one fold positioned at an intermediate region of the foodstuff for allowing the foodstuff to be folded from the open-faced configuration to a closed-faced configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2008Publication date: July 24, 2008Applicant: CONAGRA FOODS, INC.Inventors: Rodney Hill, Richard Charpentier, Bradley Erickson Heath, Melissa Kay Patterson
-
Patent number: 7195551Abstract: Systems, methods, and associated devices for casingless production of food products include: (a) moving at least one flexible cover member having a predetermined length with primary surface and opposing lateral edge portions along a predetermined travel path; (b) introducing a flowable food emulsion onto the primary surface of the flexible cover member; (c) wrapping the at least one flexible cover member about the food emulsion during the moving step; (d) advancing the wrapped emulsion into at least one forming tube having sufficient structural rigidity to be substantially non-deformable and having a preformed internal cavity space of predetermined size and shape; and (e) exposing the wrapped emulsion to predetermined processing conditions that convert the flowable emulsion to a non-flowable food product having substantially the molded shape of the forming tube as the wrapped emulsion advances through the at least one forming tube.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2002Date of Patent: March 27, 2007Assignee: ConAgra Foods, Inc.Inventor: Sarid M. Shefet
-
Patent number: 7182683Abstract: Systems, methods, and associated devices for casingless production of food products include: (a) providing a series of shells, the shells having sufficient structural rigidity to define an enclosed cavity space of predetermined substantially constant size and shape; (b) injecting a quantity of flowable food emulsion into the shells in serial order; (c) moving the shells forward along a predetermined travel path with the emulsion in the enclosed cavities; (d) exposing the emulsion in the shells to predetermined processing conditions that alter the emulsion held in the respective shells to a non-flowable edible food product having the molded shape of their respective shell cavities; and then (e) releasing the non-flowable food products from their respective shells.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2006Date of Patent: February 27, 2007Assignee: ConAgra Foods, Inc.Inventor: Sarid M. Shefet
-
Patent number: 7165670Abstract: Commercial production transport systems, mechanisms, and guides for food processing are configured so as to automate food transport. The system can direct food to travel serially over side-by-side predetermined travel lanes using one or more of a pick-up mechanism and/or router guide channels to pick-up and/or laterally translate the food product form the first travel lane to the second travel lane so that it travels greater than one, and typically a plurality, of revolutions about a tier or level in a vertically stacked food processing unit before moving to the next tier. Associated methods redirect and/or laterally translate food being transported in an automated food processing system.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2005Date of Patent: January 23, 2007Assignee: ConAgra Foods, Inc.Inventors: Sarid M. Shefet, John Michael Phillips, Frank Michael Horvath, Jr., Lawrence Alan Chandler, Richard Rodeheaver Hawkins, Larry Jones
-
Patent number: 7131904Abstract: Commercial production transport systems, mechanisms, and guides for food processing are configured so as to automate food handling and/or transport. The systems employ fingers that can be inserted to gap spaces in a carrier surface so as to dislodge, guide and/or route food to travel over predetermined travel lanes. Associated methods can angularly translate food being transported in an automated food processing system in a longitudinally offset direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2006Date of Patent: November 7, 2006Assignee: ConAgra Foods, Inc.Inventors: Sarid M. Shefet, Lawrence Alan Chandler
-
Patent number: 7074120Abstract: Automated loaders are configured with winding mechanisms that wind elongated products directly onto transfer members, such as sticks or rods, by causing the arm to follow a repetitive motion pattern above and below the stick or rod to discharge the elongated product in a winding motion onto the stick or rod. Methods for discharging elongated product, such as encased meats, so that they loop directly onto the stick, bar or other desired food support is also described.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2005Date of Patent: July 11, 2006Assignee: ConAgra Foods, Inc.Inventors: Sarid M. Shefet, Lawrence Alan Chandler, John Michael Phillips, Frank Michael Horvath, Jr., Richard Rodeheaver Hawkins, Larry Jones
-
Patent number: 7070492Abstract: Methods, systems, and associated devices for supplying support members to a product loading station and automatically removing loaded members therefrom include: (a) advancing in serial order and spaced apart relationship, a plurality of elongated support members having opposing first and second ends and an associated length, along a selected travel path; (b) loading each of the elongated support members individually with a respective continuous length of multiple loops or multiple discrete lengths of elongated product at the loading station; and (c) advancing the loaded elongated support members away from the loading station along the selected travel path.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2005Date of Patent: July 4, 2006Assignee: ConAgra Foods, Inc.Inventors: Sarid M. Shefet, John Michael Phillips, Frank Michael Horvath, Jr., Richard Rodeheaver Hawkins, Lawrence Alan Chandler
-
Patent number: 7048622Abstract: Commercial production transport systems, mechanisms, and guides for food processing are configured so as to automate food handling and/or transport. The systems employ fingers that can be inserted to gap spaces in a carrier surface so as to dislodge, guide and/or route food to travel over predetermined travel lanes. Associated methods can angularly translate food being transported in an automated food processing system in a longitudinally offset direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2002Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: ConAgra Foods, Inc.Inventors: Sarid M. Shefet, Lawrence Alan Chandler
-
Patent number: 7040974Abstract: Systems, methods, and associated devices for casingless production of food products include: (a) providing a series of shells, the shells having sufficient structural rigidity to define an enclosed cavity space of predetermined substantially constant size and shape; (b) injecting a quantity of flowable food emulsion into the shells in serial order; (c) moving the shells forward along a predetermined travel path with the emulsion in the enclosed cavities; (d) exposing the emulsion in the shells to predetermined processing conditions that alter the emulsion held in the respective shells to a non-flowable edible food product having the molded shape of their respective shell cavities; and then (e) releasing the non-flowable food products from their respective shells.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2002Date of Patent: May 9, 2006Assignee: ConAgra Foods, Inc.Inventor: Sarid M. Shefet
-
Patent number: 7040975Abstract: Methods, systems, and associated devices for supplying support members to a product loading station, loading, and automatically removing loaded members therefrom include: (a) advancing in spaced-apart relationship, a plurality of carrier members having opposing first and second ends and an associated width and length, along a selected travel path to a loading station; (b) straddling elongated product over each respective carrier member at the loading station so that portions of the elongated product are serially draped over the corner member along a length thereof, the straddling being carried out so that certain lengths of the elongated product hang from opposing sides of the carrier member; and (c) advancing the carrier members loaded with the straddled product downstream of the loading station.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2002Date of Patent: May 9, 2006Assignee: ConAgra Foods, Inc.Inventors: Sarid M. Shefet, Lawrence Alan Chandler, John Michael Phillips, Frank Michael Horvath, Jr., Richard Rodeheaver Hawkins, Larry Jones
-
Patent number: 7004307Abstract: Commercial production transport systems, mechanisms, and guides for food processing are configured so as to automate food transport. The system can direct food to travel serially over side-by-side predetermined travel lanes using one or more of a pick-up mechanism and/or router guide channels to pick-up and/or laterally translate the food product form the first travel lane to the second travel lane so that it travels greater than one, and typically a plurality, of revolutions about a tier or level in a vertically stacked food processing unit before moving to the next tier. Associated methods redirect and/or laterally translate food being transported in an automated food processing system.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2004Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Assignee: ConAgra Foods, Inc.Inventors: Sarid M. Shefet, John Michael Phillips, Frank Michael Horvath, Jr., Lawrence Alan Chandler, Richard Rodeheaver Hawkins, Larry Jones
-
Patent number: 6984407Abstract: A baked bread product having an increased or high satiety index (SI) is provided. The high SI baked bread product ingredients include a wheat flour product, a grain/seed source of soluble fiber, and a processed source of soluble fiber. The bread product has a total soluble fiber content of at least about 0.8 wt. % on a 42% moisture basis and a total beta-glucan content of at least about 0.2 wt. % on a 42% moisture basis. The high SI bread produce may also have a low glycemic index (GI).Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2004Date of Patent: January 10, 2006Assignee: ConAgra Foods, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Wolt, Elizabeth A. Arndt, John R. Hinchik
-
Patent number: 6878053Abstract: Automated loaders are configured with winding mechanisms that wind elongated products directly onto transfer members, such as sticks or rods, by causing the arm to follow a repetitive motion pattern above and below the stick or rod to discharge the elongated product in a winding motion onto the stick or rod. Methods for discharging elongated product, such as encased meats, so that they loop directly onto the stick, bar or other desired food support is also described.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2002Date of Patent: April 12, 2005Assignee: ConAgra Foods, Inc.Inventors: Sarid M. Shefet, Lawrence Alan Chandler, John Michael Phillips, Frank Michael Horvath, Jr., Richard Rodeheaver Hawkins, Larry Jones
-
Patent number: 6869352Abstract: Methods and devices for loading carrier members with suspended elongated product include straddling suspended elongated product over a carrier member having a width so that portions of the elongated product are serially draped over the carrier member along a desired length thereof and wiping, pushing, or pulling adjacent segments closer together to increase the amount or density of the product on the carrier member. The straddling is carried out so that the draped elongated product defines suspension regions that contact the carrier member intermediate lengths of the elongated product that hang from opposing sides of the carrier member. At least one of the suspended regions on the carrier member is moved in a predetermined direction at a first time then another one of the at least one of the suspended regions on the carrier member is moved in the predetermined direction at a second time.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2002Date of Patent: March 22, 2005Assignee: ConAgra Foods, Inc.Inventors: Sarid M. Shefet, John Michael Phillips, Frank Michael Horvath, Jr., Lawrence Alan Chandler
-
Patent number: 6866573Abstract: Methods, systems, and associated devices for supplying support members to a product loading station and automatically removing loaded members therefrom include: (a) advancing in serial order and spaced apart relationship, a plurality of elongated support members having opposing first and second ends and an associated length, along a selected travel path; (b) loading each of the elongated support members individually with a respective continuous length of multiple loops or multiple discrete lengths of elongated product at the loading station; and (c) advancing the loaded elongated support members away from the loading station along the selected travel path.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2002Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: ConAgra Foods, Inc.Inventors: Sarid M. Shefet, John Michael Phillips, Frank Michael Horvath, Jr., Richard Rodeheaver Hawkins, Lawrence Alan Chandler
-
Patent number: D560104Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2006Date of Patent: January 22, 2008Assignee: ConAgra Foods, Inc.Inventors: Steven J. Schomaker, Laura P. Ryan
-
Patent number: D577176Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2006Date of Patent: September 23, 2008Assignee: ConAgra Foods, Inc.Inventors: Harlow Young, John Julian