Patents Assigned to Duke Manufacturing Co.
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Patent number: 11967196Abstract: A food preparation appliance and associated components and methods. The food preparation appliance is configured to support transmission of operations updates and other data to/from a local or remote computer. In some embodiments, the food preparation appliance provides a virtual data bus for transmission of the updates or data. The virtual data bus may be bridged to a physical data bus of the food preparation appliance. The food preparation appliance can be configured to receive operations updates regardless of an operational mode of the food preparation appliance.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2018Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: DUKE MANUFACTURING CO.Inventors: Benjamin Kingbay Wann, Charles Jesse James, Anthony James Regna
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Patent number: 11912465Abstract: Food holding system, liner thereof, and associated methods. A food tray receiver liner is configured to be installed in a food tray receiver. The liner is configured to collect food that may fall into the food tray receiver. Desirably, the liner obstructs food from passing between the liner and side walls of the food tray receiver.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2022Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: DUKE MANUFACTURING CO.Inventor: Sai Ravi Krishna Subramani
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Patent number: 11779023Abstract: Dough preparation apparatus and associated methods. The dough preparation apparatus can store and be configured to execute a plurality of dough preparation recipes. In one example, the dough preparation apparatus is configured for thawing or slacking frozen dough and conditioning the dough prior to baking. The dough preparation apparatus facilitates production of baked bread having higher and more consistent quality.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2021Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: DUKE MANUFACTURING CO.Inventors: James W. Bigott, Daryl R. Monroe, Scott E. Willis, Phillip Tiberio, Michael W. McGaha, Robert J. Reese, Jeffrey A. Stafford, Gregory Glen Stettes, Thomas E. Kieffer, Kim Charles Fietsam
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Patent number: 11729015Abstract: Systems, components, and methods for use in a commercial kitchen intelligence system. A network appliance and a plurality of kitchen components are coupled to a data communication network. The network appliance establishes a VPN connection with a portal remote to the commercial kitchen. The network appliance establishes communication with a point-of-sale (POS) system for receipt of POS data. The network appliance facilitates communication among the kitchen components on the data communications network independent of different protocols by which the kitchen components are configured to communicate.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: DUKE MANUFACTURING CO.Inventors: Benjamin Wann, Brian Heuckroth, Canyon DeVille, Kwame Bamfo-Agyei, Norman Bernard, Brian Rain
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Patent number: 11602149Abstract: Food preparation apparatus and associated methods. In one method, dough is proofed in an oven compartment and then baked in the same oven compartment. Temperature and/or humidity can be controlled during proofing and/or baking cycles. A blower may be used, for example, to exhaust gas to ambient to reduce heat and/or moisture in the compartment. For example, the blower may be used between proofing and baking cycles to prepare an environment in the oven compartment for the baking cycle.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2020Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: Duke Manufacturing Co.Inventors: Robert J. Reese, Philip Gregory Geerling, Jeffrey A. Stafford, Gregory Glen Stettes, Thomas E. Kieffer, Kim Charles Fietsam
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Patent number: 11592975Abstract: Systems and methods for managing food processing and inventory. Food inventory held at food holding locations can be monitored. Food can be transferred among holding locations and served from holding locations. A prioritized food type list indicates food types to be processed and lists food types in order of determined priority. Food may be transferred to default destination holding locations. Food may be moved to and served from primary holding locations. Buttons associated with holding location displays can be actuated by different types of user engagement for executing various food management operations.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2016Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: DUKE MANUFACTURING CO.Inventors: Canyon DeVille, Joshua Lee Loy, Ord Lief Delaney, Norman J. Bernard, Anthony Horton
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Patent number: 11223498Abstract: Systems, components, and methods for use in a commercial kitchen intelligence system. A network appliance and a plurality of kitchen components are coupled to a data communication network. The network appliance establishes a VPN connection with a portal remote to the commercial kitchen. The network appliance establishes communication with a point-of-sale (POS) system for receipt of POS data. The network appliance facilitates communication among the kitchen components on the data communications network independent of different protocols by which the kitchen components are configured to communicate.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2017Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: Duke Manufacturing Co.Inventors: Benjamin Wann, Brian Heuckroth, Canyon DeVille, Kwame Bamfo-Agyei, Norman Bernard, Brian Rain
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Patent number: 11076604Abstract: Ovens and methods for preparing food. An oven includes a cabinet and an oven chamber in the cabinet. A fan is provided for moving gas in the oven. The oven can include a fan scroll housing having multiple fan discharge ducts defining respective gas flow paths from the fan. The oven can include a turning vane configured for turning gas flow and for heating the gas flow.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2018Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: DUKE MANUFACTURING CO.Inventors: Robert J. Reese, James W. Bigott, Amit Pachauri, Kim Charles Fietsam, Gregory Glen Stettes, Daryl R. Monroe
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Patent number: 10918112Abstract: Dough preparation apparatus and associated methods. The dough preparation apparatus can store and be configured to execute a plurality of dough preparation recipes. In one example, the dough preparation apparatus is configured for thawing or slacking frozen dough and conditioning the dough prior to baking. The dough preparation apparatus facilitates production of baked bread having higher and more consistent quality.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2017Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: DUKE MANUFACTURING CO.Inventors: James W. Bigott, Daryl R. Monroe, Scott E. Willis, Phillip Tiberio, Michael W. McGaha, Robert J. Reese, Jeffrey A. Stafford, Gregory Glen Stettes, Thomas E. Kieffer, Kim Charles Fietsam
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Patent number: 10743715Abstract: Food preparation apparatus and associated appliance modules and methods. Appliances modules can be selectively docked at docks of an appliance interface of a base. An appliance module includes a food container support surface movable between cooking and holding positions. An appliance module includes a receptacle having a holding well that can be selectively configured in a generally horizontal position or an inclined position.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2018Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: Duke Manufacturing Co.Inventors: Brent Jennings, James W. Bigott, Randy Lines, David Martin
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Patent number: 10694753Abstract: Food preparation apparatus and associated methods. In one method, dough is proofed in an oven compartment and then baked in the same oven compartment. Temperature and/or humidity can be controlled during proofing and/or baking cycles. A blower may be used, for example, to exhaust gas to ambient to reduce heat and/or moisture in the compartment. For example, the blower may be used between proofing and baking cycles to prepare an environment in the oven compartment for the baking cycle.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2017Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: Duke Manufacturing Co.Inventors: Robert J. Reese, Philip Gregory Geerling, Jeffrey A. Stafford, Gregory Glen Stettes, Thomas E. Kieffer, Kim Charles Fietsam
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Publication number: 20180235239Abstract: Ovens and methods for preparing food. An oven includes a cabinet and an oven chamber in the cabinet. A fan is provided for moving gas in the oven. The oven can include a fan scroll housing having multiple fan discharge ducts defining respective gas flow paths from the fan. The oven can include a turning vane configured for turning gas flow and for heating the gas flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2018Publication date: August 23, 2018Applicant: Duke Manufacturing Co.Inventors: Robert J. Reese, James W. Bigott, Amit Pachauri, Kim Charles Fietsam, Gregory Glen Stettes, Daryl R. Monroe
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Patent number: 9907436Abstract: Methods, ovens, and associated apparatus. Ovens and methods are adapted for maintaining the quality of a pre-cooked food product. Rapid temperature and/or relative humidity restoration may be used. Ovens may include a partition movable to vary sizes of oven cavities. Ovens may include removable interior panels. Humidification mechanisms are adapted for generating water vapor which may be used to maintain the quality of a pre-cooked food product.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2013Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: Duke Manufacturing Co.Inventors: Robert J. Reese, John Edward Wright, Philip Tiberio, Steven M. Shei, Ralph Lee Macy, Christopher Seay Green, Gregory Glen Stettes, Jeffrey Steven Markwardt
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Patent number: 9903598Abstract: A convection oven having a vapor collection system; water injection system; easily accessible electrical components; and a variable-speed, reversible blower is disclosed. The vapor collection system collects vapor from the cooking chamber during a cooking event, condenses the vapor, and drains the condensed vapor. The water injection system injects water for impact against a blower wheel for dispersion into the air circulating through the cooking chamber. The electrical components are housed within a housing that in a closed position conceals the components and in a closed position exposes the components for easy access. The rotational speed and direction of the variable-speed, reversible blower is controlled during a cooking event according to predetermined speed curves which may include one or more reversal events to achieve more uniform cooking of food. A main controller is programmable via an operator input (e.g., liquid crystal display touch screen) to control operating parameters of the oven.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2015Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: Duke Manufacturing Co.Inventors: Jack Greenwood, Robert J. Reese
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Patent number: 9788652Abstract: Pan support apparatus, systems, and methods. A pan support system includes a pan support having a pan storage space sized for receiving at least a portion of a pan. The pan support includes at least one slide surface for slidably receiving and supporting the pan in the pan storage space. A cover for covering an open top of the pan is selectively receivable in and removable from the pan storage space. A retainer retains the cover in the pan storage space. A pan storage module including a pan support is releasably mountable at a plurality of elevations on a frame.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2015Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: Duke Manufacturing Co.Inventor: Franklin D. Greer
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Patent number: 9746842Abstract: One or more commercial appliances for handling food and/or one of more subsystems of commercial appliances for handling food are linked to a master controller for controlling the operation of the commercial appliance(s) and/or its subsystem(s) via one or more CAN modules and a CAN bus.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2013Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: Duke Manufacturing Co.Inventors: Robert J. Reese, Jeffrey A. Stafford, David Robert Jones, Philip Gregory Geerling
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Patent number: 9693655Abstract: Pan support apparatus and associated methods. A pan is removably receivable in at least one pan storage space of the pan storage apparatus. A cover is supported in the pan storage space for covering an open top of the pan. The cover is removably supported in the pan storage space.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2015Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Duke Manufacturing Co.Inventors: Steven Shei, Ralph Macy, Douglas M. Lewis
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Patent number: 9560878Abstract: A food preparation assembly for use in cleaning food products generally includes a tank for holding washing fluid for use in cleaning food products positioned within the tank, and a pump in fluidic communication with the tank to provide movement of the washing fluid within the tank for use in cleaning the food products when positioned within the tank. A processing module is configured to receive settings from a user for cleaning the food products, and to monitor and adjust, as necessary, parameters of the washing fluid based on the user input settings. The processing module is also configured to report and/or store measured values of the parameters of the washing fluid in addition to select user defined input information (e.g., user defined wash settings, etc.). Labels may also be generated indicative of completion of cleaning of the food products by the food preparation assembly.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2014Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: DUKE MANUFACTURING CO.Inventor: James W. Bigott
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Patent number: D812417Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2016Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: Duke Manufacturing Co.Inventor: James W. Bigott
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Patent number: D1005781Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: DUKE MANUFACTURING CO.Inventor: Sai Ravi Krishna Subramani