Patents Examined by Robert W. Jenkins
-
Patent number: 5897203Abstract: A dough portioning and kneading machine comprises two dough hoppers separated from each other, a conveying chamber, in which a conveying piston is displaceably arranged, being disposed downstream of each dough hopper. At least one metering chamber is disposed downstream of each conveying chamber and is movable between a first position open towards the conveying chamber and a second position free from the conveying chamber. A metering piston is displaceably disposed in each metering chamber and partially releases the metering chamber in the latter's first position and empties the metering chamber in the latter's second position.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 1996Date of Patent: April 27, 1999Assignee: Werner & Pfleiderer Lebensmitteltechnik GmbHInventor: Gerd Kock
-
Patent number: 5832809Abstract: A coffee maker to be used in conjunction with a field of microwave radiation. An upper tubular reservoir is removably mounted to a lower tubular reservoir through the use of a connecting member that holds a valve assembly centrally therein. A coffee filter basket assembly is mounted within lower tubular reservoir below the valve assembly. A cap with an opening prevents spillage of hot water and the build up of pressure in the upper tubular reservoir member.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1995Date of Patent: November 10, 1998Inventor: Marlene Gras
-
Patent number: 5752768Abstract: A mobile cement mixer is provided with a programmed controller that automatically causes the mixing of concrete to follow a predefined mixing regime that is interruptable by an operator but will resume the mixing regime at the appropriate stage.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 1993Date of Patent: May 19, 1998Inventor: Daniel Assh
-
Patent number: 5713263Abstract: An improved apparatus for aerating wine. The apparatus includes a housing for containing wine and air, a baffle positioned within the housing interior, and a valve which permits the placement of the wine into the housing interior. The housing can be inverted to mix the wine and air, and the valve prevents the leakage of wine from the housing interior. In one embodiment of the invention, an aperture such as a spout can be attached to the housing to permit the removal of the wine from the housing interior, and the valve is selectively openable to prevent a vacuum as the wine is poured from the apparatus. In another embodiment of the invention, the baffle can be positioned to faciliate the valve closing when the housing is inverted to position the valve on the lower end of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 1995Date of Patent: February 3, 1998Inventor: Vance R. Burks, III
-
Patent number: 5709466Abstract: An improved mixer for cementitious materials is described. This mixer is mobile and carried to the desired site and comprises a series of tanks and bins for containing the material to be mixed. The device is particularly useful in mixing hazardous wastes (e.g. low level radioactive soils, for example) within cementitious material along with sealants and chemicals designed to encapsulate the hazardous wastes therein. In order to thoroughly mix, and thus contain the hazardous wastes, the residence time within the mixing means must be between 4 and 45 seconds. This residence time may be achieved by keeping the mixing means within certain parameters of angles, relative to the ground, speed of mixing and length of mixing. By carefully controlling these variables, it is possible not only to achieve thorough mixing and encapsulation of the hazardous waste and to make a mobile mixing device that is extremely useful within the metes and bounds of the invention.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 1996Date of Patent: January 20, 1998Assignee: Applied Innovations, Inc.Inventor: Ronald R. Weszely
-
Patent number: 5678472Abstract: A brewer and serving carafe for cold water infusion of string suspended tea bags. A frusto-conical diffuser member placed within the carafe includes a tea bag retainer at a lower end adapted for compensating adjustment of the length of the tea bag string to ensure liquid submergence during the brewing procedure. A reservoir at an upper end of the diffuser member simultaneously provides for the selective introduction of flavor enhancing agents and/or taste modifiers that gradually enter into solution.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 1996Date of Patent: October 21, 1997Inventor: Paul Millman
-
Patent number: 5669287Abstract: A method and system for brewing a desired volume of coffee at a selected brew time, in which a volume of water corresponding to the desired volume of coffee is heated and directed into contact with coffee grounds in a brewing chamber. Contact between at least a portion of the heated water and the coffee grounds is maintained for approximately the selected brew time to form brewed coffee. The brewing time, however, is substantially independent of the desired volume of coffee to be brewed and is controlled by control of the rate at which heated liquid flows into or out of the brewing chamber. At the expiration of the brewing time, brewed coffee is released through an opening in the brewing chamber and into an underlying receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 1995Date of Patent: September 23, 1997Assignee: Harry D. JeffersonInventors: Harry D. Jefferson, Jr., Dale W. Ploeger
-
Patent number: 5657683Abstract: A hot beverage brewing unit having an auxiliary boiler surrounding a stainless steel lined brewing chamber. The brewing unit includes a chamber block made of cast bronze and constitutes a second boiler for maintaining a sufficient volume of brewing water at the exact temperature in order to handle increased brewing frequency.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1995Date of Patent: August 19, 1997Inventors: Pietro Sandei, Stefano Sandei, Ugo Sandei
-
Patent number: 5653534Abstract: A screw apparatus comprises a melting extruder for melting a resin; a screw unit for kneading molten resin and reinforcing fibers to obtain a reinforcing fiber-containing molten resin and supplying it; and a mixer in which at least a part of the reinforcing fibers attach to the molten resin which is extruded from the melting extruder and flows down owing to gravity in an open space, and then the reinforcing fibers and the molten resin are fed into the screw unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 1995Date of Patent: August 5, 1997Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, LimitedInventors: Masahito Matsumoto, Takeo Kitayama
-
Patent number: 5651613Abstract: A 55 gallon drum is provided with a static mixer that enables internal mixing of product during barrel rotation. Before fastening of at least one of the respective lids, a circular elastic ring insert is place within the barrel. This circular plastic ring insert has a diameter exceeding that of the barrel, has two external protuberances for keying to the cylindrical inside of the barrel at internal ribs, and is cut across the ring so as to interrupt the otherwise endless dimension of the ring. Upon insertion to the barrel, the ring is opened at the cut and disposed in an auger like helix along the inside cylindrical wall of the drum. The two protuberances are keyed to the drum interior of the internal ribs to effectively fasten by friction its helical auger like path on the cylindrical inside wall of the drum. Thereafter, the drum is closed and filled with product. Upon drum rotation, relative motion between the contained product and helical auger like static mixer occurs.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 1995Date of Patent: July 29, 1997Assignee: North American Packaging CompanyInventors: Harry Mays, Michael Morrison
-
Patent number: 5650186Abstract: A hot beverage brewing and dispensing machine with the ability to dispense first and second successive single shots of espresso coffee with the dispensing of a second separate liquid additive such as foamed milk and/or hot water spanning the time lag between the end of the dispensing flow of the first shot of espresso and the beginning of the dispensing flow of the second shot in order to maintain a continuous dispensing flow.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 1996Date of Patent: July 22, 1997Inventors: Faust Annoni, Stefano Sandei, Ugo Sandei, Pietro Sandei
-
Patent number: 5649765Abstract: A conical mixer for mixing and processing materials comprises a mixing chamber, an orbit arm positioned within the chamber for rotating therearound and a mixing screw coupled to the end of the orbit arm for rotation simultaneous with the rotation of the orbit arm. A driver for rotating the screw is coupled to an orbit arm assembly which includes a first drive gear coupled to the driver and a first mixing screw shaft with a first driven gear which cooperates with the first drive gear to rotate the first mixing screw shaft. A second drive gear is positioned at the end of the first mixing screw shaft and cooperates with a second driven gear which is, in turn, coupled to a second mixing screw shaft. Each of the driven gears includes a plastic gear portion to engage the respective drive gear in a generally lubricant free engagement for reducing the amount lubricant exposed to the mixing space of the chamber. The first and second mixing screw shafts are supported by a plurality of bearings.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 1996Date of Patent: July 22, 1997Assignee: Littleford Day, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Stokes, Michael J. Middendorf
-
Patent number: 5647666Abstract: The invention concerns a device for installation of a mixer in a water tank. The mixer is arranged on the inside of a cover (4) in the tank wall (2) which means that only the electric connection means to the motor have to be sealingly drawn through the wall.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 1996Date of Patent: July 15, 1997Assignee: ITT Flygt ABInventors: Roland I. G. Narholm, Per G. L. Stjerna
-
Patent number: 5645345Abstract: A mixer feeder wagon (1) comprises a mixing compartment (4) and a dispensing compartment (5). A mixing rotor (7) rotatable in the mixing compartment (4) mixes animal feed therein and urges the mixed animal feed into the dispensing compartment (5) through a communicating opening (6). A dispensing auger (8) in the dispensing compartment (5) dispenses the mixed animal feed through a dispensing outlet (11). The mixing rotor (7) comprises a rotor shaft (55) and a plurality of mixing paddles (56) carried by radial carrier members (57). Each mixing paddle (56) comprises a radial leading surface (69) and a bevelled trailing surface (71) which define an included acute angle .alpha. of approximately 45.degree. for preventing a build up of dry fibrous ingredients on the paddles (56).Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 1995Date of Patent: July 8, 1997Assignee: Salford Engineering LimitedInventors: Oliver O'Neill, Thomas Foley
-
Patent number: 5644972Abstract: The present invention comprises a system for brewing and dispensing high quality beverages at remote locations comprising a high volume urn, a high volume transfer system, an insulated mobile canister, a dispensing system having a compressor, tank and hose assembly, and a dispensing tap. Coffee, or other brewed beverage, is brewed in the high volume urn. Once a complete batch of coffee has been brewed, the entire batch is transferred via gravity to a clean and empty mobile canister. Once full, the mobile canister can be moved to a remote dispensing location or stored for future use. When the mobile canister is moved to the dispensing location it is connected to the dispensing system which uses an air compressor to pressurize the beverage within mobile canister. The dispensing system also connects the canister to the dispensing tap, via a short, removable dispensing hose.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 1994Date of Patent: July 8, 1997Assignees: American Metal Ware Co., Starbucks Coffee CompanyInventors: William A. Dahmen, Christopher Paul Lojacono, Zbigniew Malec
-
Patent number: 5644971Abstract: A vessel for steeping grain having a tank (12). A central column (44) is disposed in the center of the tank (12) having transport lines (42) with air lifts (46) on the lower end of the lines for the transporting of grain and steeping fluid from the bottom of the tank to the top of the tank. Air for the air lifts (46) is introduced to the air lifts along line (50). Air is withdrawn from the tank by line 25 and compressed for the line (50) by air compressor (27).Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 1995Date of Patent: July 8, 1997Assignee: Andritz Sprout-Bauer, Inc.Inventor: Stephen Daniel Ward
-
Patent number: 5644973Abstract: Disclosed is a device for brewing the roasted and ground beans of the coffee used in a vending machine, which comprises a ground beans receptacle for containing the roasted and ground beans of the coffee, a mixing means for mixing the ground beans of the coffee with a hot water, an extracting chamber for providing a space used to extract a coffee liquid, an extracting means for extracting the coffee liquid by jetting a pressurized air against the mixture of the roasted and ground beans and hot water, a filter mechanism arranged below the extracting chamber for filtering the coffee liquid, a reciprocating means for lowering and raising extracting chamber, and a sweeper for removing the residue remaining on the filter mechanism, characterized in that the filter mechanism further comprises a porous filter part for passing pure coffee liquid only, a support part for supporting the filter part not to be distorted by an external pressure, and a buffer arranged between the filter part and the support part for absorbType: GrantFiled: June 14, 1996Date of Patent: July 8, 1997Assignee: Kwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tae Ho Kang, Dae-ryong Yun
-
Patent number: 5642940Abstract: An apparatus for the preparation of mixtures, especially dye solution. The apparatus includes a device for withdrawing a predetermined batch of product at a withdrawal station and for transferring the product to a separate dissolution station (SD). A device is provided for the dissolution of the product in the solvent, disposed in the dissolution station. A programmable electronic device is provided for operating the devices for withdrawal, transfer and dissolution of the product. The device for dissolution includes in a fixed horizontal plate with an annular seal housed in a corresponding channel of the lower surface of the plate making up a tight-sealing element for the mouth of a corresponding cylinder vessel containing the product to be dissolved. The vessel is associated with a vertical operating cylinder for driving the vessel from a lower to an upper position.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 1996Date of Patent: July 1, 1997Assignee: Tecnorama S.r.LInventors: Mario Scatizzi, Mauro Anguillese, Moreno Bartalucci
-
Patent number: 5642655Abstract: A device for brewing fresh coffee or tea from dry ingredients which uses a flexible moveable screen to filter the brewed coffee or tea and dispose of the used grounds at the completion of each cycle.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 1996Date of Patent: July 1, 1997Inventor: Alan M. King
-
Patent number: 5642656Abstract: An espresso machine having a filter holder which holds a filter strainer and which can, with the assistance of a handel, be detachably locked to the housing of the espresso machine by way of a bayonet coupling or the like. The espresso machine has a discharge section having a water conduit, there being a chamber in the water conduit and a locking member in the chamber. The locking member locks the filter holder on the housing of the espresso machine when there is a predetermined pressure in the chamber and releases the filter holder as soon as the pressure in the chamber has fallen below a predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 1996Date of Patent: July 1, 1997Assignee: Eugster/Frismag AGInventor: Walter Braendle