Patents Examined by Anthony Weier
  • Patent number: 8347511
    Abstract: A concave tapered food product includes a cross section and a second end having a shape defined by a generally concave arc and a generally convex arc. The concave tapered food product has a first side and a second side shaped by a longitudinal cut along the foodstuff. A cutter assembly for cutting a foodstuff to form the concave tapered food product includes a housing member. The cutter assembly also includes a curvilinear blade including a cutting edge for cutting the foodstuff, the cutting edge defining an arc along a first portion of the curvilinear blade and a foot positioned at an end of the curvilinear blade for supporting the curvilinear blade. The foot is configured for being received and secured in the housing member. The housing member is configured for at least partially enclosing the curvilinear blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston, Inc.
    Inventors: Harlow Young, John Julian
  • Patent number: 8347780
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for separating air from a fluid, such as syrup, as the fluid enters a first chamber of a system; passing the fluid from the first chamber to a second chamber via a first device; passing the air from the first chamber to the second chamber via a second device so as to reintroduce the air back into the fluid and form a new fluid mixture having more uniform air bubbles; and discharging the new fluid out of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Xylem IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: John Fong, Peter Wright, Chris H. McDonald, Gerard K. Caldwell, David L. Phillips, David Allen, Thang Dang, Daniel Gudalj
  • Patent number: 8349382
    Abstract: A beverage system for providing a beverage, methods of making the beverage and the resulting beverage are shown herein. The system includes a beverage-forming concentrate and an aroma or aroma-providing component separated from the concentrate; wherein the concentrate and aroma are combinable upon reconstitution for providing the beverage. One method includes delivering a fresh beverage taste to an on-premise beverage at a point of dispensation, by delivering at least one aroma or aroma-providing component in an amount sufficient to enhance the organoleptic properties of a beverage separately from a beverage concentrate prior to when the beverage is dispensed, and mixing the aroma or aroma-providing compound with a liquid and the beverage concentrate or with a mixture of a beverage concentrate and a liquid when the beverage is being dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Pu-Sheng Cheng, Ying Zheng, Serena Laroia, Wenjie Hu, Rachid Rahmani, Eugene Scoville, Randall C. Chrisman, Shannon Joyce Gavie, Walter F. Landry, Brian J. McDonough, Randall L. Morrison, Anthony Klueppel, Christian Milo
  • Patent number: 8343565
    Abstract: Grape material is processed to yield a grape extract high in concentrated polyphenols, with ORAC values exceeding at least about 10,000 ?mol TE/g. The grape material is dried, and soaked in ethanol to commence desired concentrate extraction. Following ethanol removal, inactive residue is at least partially separated from the desired concentrate solution, which passes through a macroporous absorption resin that absorbs desired active ingredients. Ethanol resin washing yields an intermediate extraction solution. After ethanol removal, the intermediate extract solution with the mixed active ingredients is refined. During refinement, high concentration of polyphenols and monomeric phenols are separated, and collected. These collected materials yield a desired high ORAC extract solution. Further drying yields the desired material, which is tested and packaged. This material exhibits good water solubility, mild flavor, and can be added to foodstuffs and nutritional supplements as a beneficial antioxidant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Ethical Naturals, Inc.
    Inventors: Weichao Ying, Xiaoyan Xiong, Jiaomei Chen, Jianying Yang
  • Patent number: 8343562
    Abstract: The present invention describes a method and apparatus for aqueous extraction of chemical compounds from solid material in which the solid material is entrained in an extraction liquid phase that flowed around immersed sonotrodes emitting radial or focused high energy ultrasonic waves. A significant increase in extracted material and decreases in extraction time is observed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Cavitus Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Darren M. Bates, Arthur R. McLoughlin, Andrew Sin Ju Yap
  • Patent number: 8337925
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a component configured to be associated with a pipe arranged to supply a pressurized fluid into a beverage in order to admix the fluid to the beverage. The component includes a venturi having a first, upstream region at high pressure and low kinetic energy, and a second, downstream region at low pressure and high kinetic energy for said fluid. In the component, a first plurality of throughholes forms the venturi and puts the first region into communication with the second region, and a second plurality of throughholes is arranged so as to converge towards the second region. The present invention also relates to a device including the component and to a method of admixing a fluid to a beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Rancilio Macchine per Caffe' S.p.A.
    Inventors: Carlo Carbonini, Stefano Raimondi
  • Patent number: 8333144
    Abstract: A beverage machine having a height-adjustment device that includes a movable support plate for adjusting the position of the recipient relative to at least one beverage outlet. The support plate is movable relative to the at least one beverage outlet. The machine also includes a displacement mechanism for displacing the support plate relative to the outlet. The displacement mechanism includes a motorized driver for driving the displacement mechanism, a controller for controlling the actuation of the driver and which is configured to set a predetermined distance between the outlet and the recipient. A drip-collecting device can also be selectively provided to collect liquid falling from the beverage outlet when the recipient is not present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Christophe S. Boussemart, Fabien Ludovic Agon, Antoine Ryser
  • Patent number: 8322275
    Abstract: A leafy vegetable having a core end and a leafy end is processed after being harvested. The harvested leafy vegetable is transported to a trim area on a conveyor. A first cutting implement located in the trim area trims a portion of the core end. A second cutting implement located in the trim area trims a portion of the leafy end. The first and second cutting implements are spaced a set distance apart, which defines an amount of the leafy vegetable remaining after the portions of the core and leafy ends are trimmed. As the portions of the core and leafy ends of the leafy vegetable are being trimmed by the first and second cutting implements, a set of one or more nozzles located in the trim area sprays a rinsing liquid on cut sites on the leafy vegetable to rinse off natural juices exuding from the cut sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc.
    Inventors: Narayan Dnyanadeo Patil, Serafin Albarran, William Christopher Johnson
  • Patent number: 8323714
    Abstract: Shown herein is the use of crosslinked beta-cyclodextrin as a trap for removing cholesterol. The crosslinked beta-cyclodextrin is prepared by crosslinking beta-cyclodextrin in the presence of a crosslinking agent. Treatment with the crosslinked beta-cyclodextrin results in cholesterol-depleted foods. After application to foods, the crosslinked beta-cyclodextrin which traps cholesterol therein can be readily regenerated with organic solvents. The crosslinked beta-cyclodextrin can be applied to almost all cholesterol-containing foods, such as dairy products, meat products, and egg products, with excellent cholesterol removal rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventors: Hae-Soo Kwak, Song-Hee Kim, Jung Jwa Ahn
  • Patent number: 8323713
    Abstract: An apparatus to make home carbonated aqueous solutions using commercial low cost screw capped disposable pressurizable beverage containers. The apparatus including screw capped bottles with barbed fittings and flexible tubing and a manifold connection to connect the reservoir bottles with the reactor bottle and the receiver bottle. Valves or pinch clamps, tubing connectors and a pressure relief valve are used. Yeast and a fermentable carbohydrate and water are mixed together in one disposable reactor bottle. The carbon dioxide emanating from the disposable reactor bottle is fed into two or more disposable reservoir bottles such that the carbon dioxide is separated from the yeast, sugar, water, and fermentation alcohols. A pressure relief valve is placed on tubing whose internal pressure is derived from the reactor bottle to prevent unsafe pressures from occurring within in the system. A pressure indicator shows when the system is properly pressurized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventor: Corey Miles Selman
  • Patent number: 8318234
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mixed aqueous solution of L-lysine and L-threonine, which is industrially useful as an animal feed ingredient. The solution is stable, concentrated, and has good handleability. Therefore, a mixed aqueous solution of L-lysine and L-threonine is provided which contains L-lysine, L-threonine, and water. The solution has a viscosity of 3300 cp or less at 20° C., a pH of 10-13, and a total concentration of L-lysine and L-threonine in the mixed aqueous solution of 70 g/100 g of water or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Mathilde Crombez, François Lefebvre, Takehiko Chikamori, Loïc Le Tutour, Yasuhiko Toride, Ichiro Fuke
  • Patent number: 8318228
    Abstract: The present invention provides refined roasted coffee beans having a Hunter L value of 10 to 30 and a hydroxyhydroquinone content of not higher than 30 mg/kg by contacting an aqueous solvent with raw material roasted coffee beans. The invention also provides a process for producing refined roasted coffee beans, which includes contacting raw material roasted coffee beans having a Hunter L value of 12 to 35, with coffee bean-derived extract-containing water selected from water containing an extract derived from roasted coffee beans having a Hunter L value of 40 or more and water containing an extract derived from raw coffee beans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Chitoshi Shigeno, Yasushi Shioya, Tatsuya Kusaura, Yoshikazu Ogura, Yoshinobu Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 8313790
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for extracting carbonylated compounds from a drink by liquid-solid extraction with a functionalized inert support containing nitrogenous nucleophilic functional groups. Advantageously, according to the present invention, the drink is wine or fruit juice. The process according to the present invention is advantageously applied to the reduction of the sulphur dioxide combination capacity of a drink such as wine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
    Inventors: Hervé Deleuze, Mélanie Blasi, Jean-Christophe Barbe, Denis Dubourdieu, Bernard Jean Maillard
  • Patent number: 8309152
    Abstract: Process equipment for the separation of gluten from wheat starch including gluten process equipment configured to process gluten after the gluten is initially separated from A starch, the gluten processing equipment having a dewatering press configured to dewater gluten and modified gluten process equipment including at least one component selected from the group having a high pressure water wash system located upstream of the dewatering press, a kneader located upstream of the dewatering press, a homogenizer located upstream of the dewatering press, a dispersion tank configured to precipitate fines downstream of the dewatering press, a solids-ejecting centrifuge downstream, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: MGPI Processing Inc.
    Inventors: Clodualdo C. Maningat, Li Nie, Sukh D. Bassi, George A. Kelley, Edward E. Trompeter
  • Patent number: 8304007
    Abstract: Provided is a syrup extracted from red shiso and having a clear red color. The method of obtaining this involves: (1) draining water after blanching raw red shiso; (2) extracting, with water, the blanched red shiso while applying heat; and (3) adding an acid to the extract of the red shiso.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Mishima Foods Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Baba, Takeshi Ishikawa, Tsuneo Takei
  • Patent number: 8304006
    Abstract: A method for producing a beverage from an ingredient-containing capsule by inserting a sealed capsule into a capsule enclosure space of a beverage production device, enclosing the capsule by a relative displacement of at least two enclosing members which define the capsule enclosure space, and opening an inlet face of the capsule and injecting a fluid under pressure into the capsule in order to open an outlet face of the capsule. The capsule is provided at its outer surface with sealing material which is exposed to the fluid pressure in the capsule enclosure space. After enclosing the capsule, the fluid pressure in the capsule at least partially acts on the sealing material, such that in turn the sealing material is pressed against one of the enclosing members thus constituting a flow resistance that is sufficient to guarantee a pressure build-up inside the capsule sufficient for the pressure-assisted opening of the outlet face of the capsule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Alfred Yoakim, Gilles Gavillet, Jean-Paul Denisart, Alexandre Kollep
  • Patent number: 8304009
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing a processed tomato product having more tomato aroma inherent to grown tomatoes. Tomato fruits are washed and crushed. Juice is extracted from the crushed material, the extracted juice is deaerated and the deaerated material is heated. The crushed material and the extracted juice from immediately after the crushing until immediately before the deaerating are maintained at temperature of 15-40° C. The dissolved oxygen concentration of the crushed tomatoes and/or the extracted juice from immediately after the crushing until immediately before the deaerating is raised at least temporarily to 6 mg/L or over, and the dissolved oxygen concentration of the deaerated juice immediately before the heating is reduced to 3.5 mg/L or below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Kagome Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shimokawa, Takahiro Kawana, Kiro Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 8293315
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of active substance concentrates, which is distinguished in that an active-substance-containing starting material, (i) (a) is either brought into contact with a PIT emulsion and the mixtures are heated to a temperature above the phase inversion temperature of the PIT emulsion, where they are held for a sufficient period of time, or (b) is brought into contact with an aqueous mixture of lipids and emulsifiers, which mixture is suitable for the formation of PIT emulsions, and the mixture is heated with strong shearing to a temperature above the phase inversion temperature with in-situ formation of a PIT emulsion, where the mixture is held for a sufficient period of time, (ii) the mixtures are cooled and filtered and, if appropriate, (iii) subjected to ultrafiltration and/or (iv) a further solvent extraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Cognis IP Management GmbH
    Inventors: Carsten Beverungen, Albrecht Weiss, Eike Ulf Mahnke, Bernhard Gutsche
  • Patent number: 8293317
    Abstract: A food product and method are provided. The food product is a crisp expanded proteinacious food product characterized by an absence of objectionable protein fiber formation. The product is puffed to provide a low density while providing a good eating texture. The product may be coated to provide additional flavors and/or nutrients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Inventors: John E. Fannon, Phillip I. Yakubu
  • Patent number: 8287930
    Abstract: A free-flowing composition for reducing or replacing the egg and emulsifier content in baked goods and baked good mixes and a method of making the composition. In some embodiments, the composition may include a single free-flowing ingredient. In certain embodiments, the composition includes a wheat protein isolate and an emulsifier. In other embodiments, the composition additionally includes a flow agent. In one embodiment, the composition includes a wheat protein isolate, a propylene glycol ester, a glyceride, and a lecithin. Other embodiments may include a food product comprising the composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Archer Daniels Midland Company
    Inventors: Ali A. Elmusa, Charles A. Morris, Huey L. Willis