Patents Examined by Drew E Becker
  • Method of drying vegetables
    Patent number: 11252972
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of food dehydration and production of snacks. In particular, the invention relates to a method for drying vegetables using microwaves in order to produce an improved dried product. The invention also relates to said dried vegetables and to the use thereof in the agro-food industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Wild Pilot Food, S.L.
    Inventors: Saioa Alvarez Sabatel, Raquel Rodríguez Fernández, Izaskun Pérez Simón, Iñigo Martínez De Marañón Ibabe
  • Aroma recovery method and systems from fermentation vats
    Patent number: 11236295
    Abstract: The present invention consist of an aroma recovery system in an installation with a plurality of fermentation vats for preparing beverages such as white wine, red wine, beers and juices to apply a method of recovering aroma from said fermentation vats; said system comprises at least one connection system, and at least one aroma recovery equipment, wherein said connection system comprises control means such a logic controller (PLC). It is also provided a multiple connection system for connecting said plurality of fermentation vats and said aroma recovery equipment by automatic valves and a method of recovering aroma from fermentation vats of a beverage such as, for example, white wine, red wine, beer and juices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignees: PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATÓLICA DE CHILE, SOCIEDAD ANÓNIMA VIÑA SANTA RITA
    Inventors: Eduardo Esteban Agosín Trumper, José Ricardo Pérez Correa, Marianna Celeste Delgado Gómez, Chloé Capitaine, Álvaro Javier Lezaeta Valenzuela, Eduardo Andrés Alemparte Benavente, José Miguel Benavente Pereira, Jorge Alberto Heiremans Bunster
  • Shaker cup
    Patent number: 11234561
    Abstract: Apparatus for agitation of liquid and powder mixtures. The apparatus includes a vessel combining a tapered annular side wall of the body of the vessel, an angled top inner surface of the cap portion which creates greater turbulence, and a particular length to average diameter ratio. The interruption of currents to create shear, turbulence and eddy currents of the liquid within the vessel provides greater mixing of the powder within the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Inventor: Derek W Cornelius
  • Egg boiler device for a refrigerator appliance
    Patent number: 11236940
    Abstract: An egg boiler device for a refrigerator appliance is provided. In one aspect, a refrigerator appliance has a refrigerator door that defines a dispenser recess. The egg boiler device includes an end cap and a canister for receiving one or more eggs for cooking. The egg boiler device is positioned within the dispenser recess and the end cap is mounted to a dispenser assembly. A dispenser of the dispenser assembly directs a volume of heated water into the egg boiler device. The heated water imparts thermal energy to the eggs, and consequently, the eggs are cooked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Syed Moin Ahmed, Gaurav Kumar Verma, Sharath Chandra Prasad, Praveena Alangar Subrahmanya
  • Method and apparatus for cooling of milk
    Patent number: 11229186
    Abstract: A method for cooling milk in a milking arrangement, and a milk cooling apparatus of the milking arrangement that has a coolant circuit for heat exchange between milk and a coolant and a refrigerant circuit for heat exchange between a refrigerant and the coolant, where the method includes controlling the refrigerant circuit to maintain a predefined temperature range, receiving a first signal relating to commencement or increase of a milk flow from a milking system of the milking arrangement, starting or increasing circulation of coolant in the coolant circuit, and leading the milk flow through the milk cooling apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: DeLaval Holding AB
    Inventor: Jerzy Stopa
  • Frozen minced fish meat and method for manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 11224242
    Abstract: A frozen product of minced fish meat frozen into granules includes: 90 wt % or more of meat granules having a substantially columnar shape with a 3 mm to 7 mm diameter; and 10 wt % or less of meat granules with a short diameter of 2 mm or less. A method of producing the minced fish meat frozen into granules includes: raising the temperature of fish meat which has been frozen at ?20° C. or less to a temperature of from ?10° C. to ?5° C.; mincing the fish meat while maintaining the temperature of the fish meat at ?10° C. to ?5° C. by using a meat mincer having a feed screw, a plate, and a plate knife at a rotation speed of 200 rpm or less; lowering the temperature of minced fish meat to ?20° C. or less; and crushing the minced fish meat frozen at ?20° C. or less into granules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Inventor: Takahiro Ooba
  • Method for producing textured protein material
    Patent number: 11224236
    Abstract: Problem to be Solved An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a textured protein material having a meat-like fibrous texture. Solution The textured protein material having a meat-like fibrous texture can be produced by feeding a flat-sheet-like textured protein material prepared via pressurization and heating, and then extrusion by an extruder through cutting blade rolls composed of a pair of rolls facing each other and having a plurality of square-blade-like annular blades arranged in parallel, thereby making slits sheared on the topside and the underside of the textured protein material in the same direction as the extruded direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: NISSIN FOODS HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Minori Murata, Kazuki Yoshida, Jiro Seto, Tomoko Nambu
  • Wireless temperature sensing system for a cooking appliance
    Patent number: 11219333
    Abstract: A temperature sensing system for a cooking appliance includes a control unit having a receiver. The control unit and the receiver are housed within the cooking appliance. The temperature sensing system further includes a wireless temperature sensing probe having a temperature sensor and a wireless transmitter module. The wireless temperature sensing probe is configured to wirelessly communicate with the control unit housed within the cooking appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Conair LLC
    Inventors: Kam Fai Fung, Kin Man Lai
  • Process for cutting elastic strands, in particular meat strands and cutting machine therefor
    Patent number: 11213037
    Abstract: A method for slicing meat loafs that have a cross section that varies across their longitudinal extension into accurately weighted slices, that includes the steps of bringing the loaf into a defined shape with a uniform cross section across its length inside a forming tube by pressing the loaf before it is sliced. The pressing is performed in a longitudinal direction and a transversal direction relative to the loaf in a predefined order and in particular in multiple pressing steps. The pressing may also comprise pressure relieving strokes for the purpose of reducing the force exertion for pressing, and for keeping the tissue structure of the loaf intact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: TVI ENTWICKLUNG & PRODUKTION GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Völkl, Martin Mayr
  • Packaging dry leaves in sealed capsules
    Patent number: 11207694
    Abstract: A system for packaging tea in a sealed casing. the system includes a machine for breaking dried tea leaves, said machine comprising an inlet for supplying dried tea leaves, an outlet for releasing the broken tea leaves, and at least one breaker device including a first breaker member and a second breaker member that can be removed relative to the first breaker member, said first and second breaker member being configured to bend the dried tea leaves until they break.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: TPRESSO AG
    Inventor: Eric Favre
  • Cooking method for a cooking appliance with a motion-inducing means and corresponding cooking appliance
    Patent number: 11191384
    Abstract: Provided is a method of cooking for a food-cooking appliance having a reception means designed to receive the food products, a motion-inducing means positioned inside the reception means, and at least one main heating means. The method includes: a first cooking step during which the relative rotation of the reception means and of the motion-inducing means is neutralized and at least one main heating means is operated in order to regulate the temperature to a first set-point value; and a second cooking step during which the relative rotation of the reception means and of the motion-inducing means is active and at least one main heating means is operated in order to regulate the temperature to a second set-point value higher than the first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Inventors: Olivier Delrue, François Letain
  • Method and installation for the treatment of liquid food products
    Patent number: 11191283
    Abstract: A method for treating liquid food products after direct heating comprises a first cooling of the liquid food product occurring on a floor of the infuser vessel up to an outlet opening. A second cooling of the liquid food product occurs in a tubular section connecting directly to the outlet opening. A third cooling of the liquid food product occurs in a housing cover of a pump housing of a centrifugal pump. At least one flushing operation of the pump housing and of an impeller via a rear impeller gap is performed, wherein the at least flushing operation occurs via a front impeller gap located between the housing cover and the impeller. Volume flows of the at least one flushing operation are greater than equalization flows within the pump housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: GEA TDS GmbH
    Inventors: Hubert Assing, Helmut Buss, Uwe Schwenzow, Roland Stange, Ludger Tacke, Dietrich Zimmermann
  • Thawing method for thawing device
    Patent number: 11197352
    Abstract: A thawing method for a thawing device includes: generating a radio frequency signal; acquiring the radio frequency signal; an upper electrode plate and a lower electrode plate of the thawing chamber generating, according to the radio frequency signal, radio frequency waves having a corresponding frequency in a thawing chamber and thawing an object to be processed, obtaining voltages and currents of the incident wave signal and reflected wave signal, and determining a thawing progress of the object to be processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: HAIER SMART HOME CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tong Xu, Xiaobing Zhu, Peng Li, Ming Wang, Jianbin Dai
  • Cleated continuous conveyor fryer and associated systems
    Patent number: 11185190
    Abstract: A fryer includes a cooking chamber for holding a cooking medium and at least one heating element positioned within the cooking chamber. The fryer further includes a conveyor belt for selectively advancing food product through the cooking chamber. The conveyor belt includes first and second chains coupled together by a plurality of elongate members extending therebetween. The conveyor belt further includes a plurality of paddles coupled to the first and second chains and extending therebetween to define a plurality of compartments. Each of the plurality of paddles includes a screen, and each compartment is sized to receive at least a portion of the food product. The conveyor belt defines a continuous loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Henny Penny Corporation
    Inventors: Melissa M. Hohler, Thomas M. Smith, Steven V. Ricca
  • Extruder system and method
    Patent number: 11185094
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for producing multiple extruded products having different characteristics from the extruded stream of a single main extruder are provided. A satellite extruder assembly is removably attached to a main extruder allowing for the production of a plurality of different extrusion products from a single stream from one main extruder that is divided into multiple streams channeled to a plurality of satellite extruders. Each of the extruders may be operated at different temperature, pressure, moisture and shear conditions. Additional components may be selectively added to one or more of the material streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Mars, Incorporated
    Inventors: Neil Willcocks, Bruce Keen, Keith Chisholm, James Suttle
  • Dehumidification method and apparatus
    Patent number: 11178883
    Abstract: A system for dehydrating raw produce without introducing excess heat to the produce, including a first chamber for holding warm, moist air, a second chamber connected in fluidic communication with the first chamber for cooling and drying warm, moist air received from the first chamber, and a filter operationally connected between the first and second chambers for removing suspended particulates from warm, moist air flowing therethrough with a drain operationally connected to the second chamber for removing water therefrom. A third chamber is connected in fluidic communication with the second chamber for receiving cool, dry air therefrom and for receiving raw produce for drying, and a wind current generator operationally connected to the second chamber to urge cool, dry air therefrom and into the third chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Skinny & Co., LLC
    Inventor: Nguyen Tan Duc
  • Process for the production of a nest-shaped food product comprising strips of a dried vegetable and associated product
    Patent number: 11178891
    Abstract: A process for the production of a nest-shaped food product containing strips of a dried vegetable, preferably a garden vegetable, storable at room temperature for at least 7 days is disclosed. The process involves providing at least one fresh vegetable which has been previously washed, cutting the vegetable into strips, feeding the vegetable strips in metered amounts into a perforated mold, subjecting the strips to a stabilization heat treatment by means of saturated steam, drying the thermally stabilized strips by means of a flow of hot air so as to obtain a nest containing dried strips of vegetable with a moisture content of between 8% and 16% by weight of their total weight. The invention also concerns a nest-shaped food product which is obtained by means of the process and which may optionally contain strips of durum wheat semolina pasta.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: BARILLA G. E R. FRATELLI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Elena Bergamini, Nadia Morbarigazzi, Oreste Caselli, Paolo Bertolini
  • Method for preparing a carbohydrate and/or protein product
    Patent number: 11172697
    Abstract: The invention relates to method and a device for preparing a carbohydrate and/or protein product by subjecting a carbohydrate and/or protein to a heat treatment after a few ingredients have been added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Tun Food Innovation B.V.
    Inventors: Jeffry Raymond Steve Delhaye, Peter Gerardus Hubertus Marie Pijls, Reinier Ronald Van Der Hoeven, Gerardus Reinier Van Der Hoeven
  • Popcorn machines having removable kettle assemblies
    Patent number: 11172696
    Abstract: Popcorn machines having easily removable popping kettle assemblies are described herein. In some embodiments, a popcorn machine configured accordance with the present technology includes a cabinet and a pair of kettle supports mounted within the cabinet. A kettle assembly is configured to be positioned on the kettle supports and to pop popcorn placed in a kettle of the kettle assembly when the kettle assembly is in a popping position, and to discharge the popcorn when the kettle assembly is moved from the popping position to a dumping position. The kettle assembly can be lifted off the kettle supports in the popping position to facilitate removal of the kettle assembly from the cabinet for maintenance, cleaning, repair, replacement, etc. In some embodiments, the kettle assembly can be stopped in the dumping position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Inventor: Charles D. Cretors
  • Device and method for delivering liquid heated to a desired temperature under pressure in a microwave oven
    Patent number: 11166587
    Abstract: A device for delivering a liquid heated to a desired temperature under pressure in a microwave oven comprises a first chamber adapted to receive and hold a first volume of a liquid, a second chamber adapted to receive and hold a second volume of the liquid, a vapor flow path from the first chamber to the second chamber, and a liquid/vapor flow path from the second chamber to a destination outside of the second chamber. When the liquid in the first chamber reaches its boiling point and at least partially turns into a gas, at least a portion of the gas flows through the vapor flow path from the first chamber into the second chamber, thereby increasing a pressure in the second chamber. The increased pressure in the second chamber forces the liquid in the second chamber through the liquid/vapor flow path and out of the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Inventor: Peter C. Van Davelaar